Pivot Mach Pivot 429 review

I did this review for Australia Mountain Bike magazine on the Pivot 429 a few months ago and photo shoot with Mark "Watto" Watson. Which is always good as Watto is the photographer that never wants to take pics of any bike (MTB or Motocross) with both wheels on the ground, as his own bike skills pertains to throwing himself off ledges and generally hurting himself in some way. Which I commend and can relate to so we work well together and hence why is photo’s have coveted almost every sports magazine globally.

Within just over 5 years, Pivot bikes have found the pure essence of developing Mountain bikes for mountain bikers. The vast experience brought by founder Chris Cocalis, who previously started Titus bikes 13 years ago, is clearly evident. The thing which I like about Pivot is that their predominant focus is developing high end dual suspension bikes. Like many great US and Canadian MTB companies they concentrate mainly on the MTB market, and these guys ride and test internally. The influence of Pivot’s Phoenix Arizona base can be suspected as the bike feels like it is built to handle challenging rocky drops and proper mountain biking, not just open fire roads. When a full suspension bike can feel good in various terrains, and push you to want to challenge yourself with the lines you take, you know you have a sweet ride.

Frame To put it straight out there, the highlight of this bike for me has to be the tried and tested DW link suspension. This suspension just works so good, the efficiency reminds me of riding my old Turner 6 years ago but with a further fifteen years technology on top of it. Pivot has nailed it for pedal efficiency with next to no pedal bob or squat when hammering the flats and climbs. The bike begs you to get out the saddle and try hammer down those XT cranks as hard as you can. For me the choice for riding a 29er makes riding easier, softer, and soaks up the rough stuff with ease, saving energy to ride longer and harder. The test bike frame was stealth black and seems like it would be pretty durable and not mark as easily as some carbon frames. I like the solidness of the frame and has some real tough looking pivots, bearings and the carbon rocker surrounded with some bling red anon parts make for an ascetically pleasing frame. The Mach 429 frame is made from hydroformed 6000 series aluminum tubing and 3D hollow aluminum forgings leading to a strengthened grain of the alloy. Although it does not turn out as the lightest bike in the pack, once I started riding it felt like I was back on a BMX and certainly didn’t feel heavy under my bum and rolled smoothly. Guys who ride in soft sand may want to watch the sand build up around the lower bearings as it does tend to suck sand and create a nice ledge for granules it to sit. The cockpit is nice and tight, well suited to putting the bike low into singletrack corners. The cornering was good for a 29er, and was not far off the capabilities of a 26er bursting out of the corners with minimal flex and transferring the power well. I did find the front end doesn’t pop as easy as other bikes, could be due to the fairly longer chainstay length, but this has its pro’s and con’s. Along fast rooty tracks where you might need quick front end lifts, I found myself just floating over obstacles with little effort. The handling tracks well with the 120mm CTD fork and goes where you point the bars, and although is probably not as nibble as a 100mm fork, but then you compromise the all mountain aspect of this bike.

Spec’s Pivot Mach429 Pro is one of the better spec’ed alloy bikes. I liked the fact that it has FSA carbon bars and post. With mostly XT components you know it’s a solid build topped with some carbon bling. The new XTR dyna-sys rear derailleur shifts 100’s with the ability to hinder chain slap. The thru-axles bolts on the front and rear makes for a stiff ride adding to better overall ride. I had a few punctures and changing the rear tube was as quick as with a QR release. The added stiffness and knowing your wheel is locked in, is a winner. Along with the Kashima Fox shocks, it looks the part with gold sanctions and I found the soft and firm adjustment did its job. I played with the rear shock settings whilst riding and didn’t really feel like it changed much which is testimony to how good the suspension works.

I took out the bike on a rainy day and found the XT brakes precise, and questioning why someone would pay for XTR brakes unless you are a weight weenie. Also threw it off some drop-offs which it handled well, but needed to centre weight a little further back to keep the front end up. I didn’t feel like the 100mm rear bottomed out and was deceptively plush in areas. Although the Stans ZTR Crest wheelset did untrue on the rear, you can’t really go past the quality of STAN’s rims and hubs for durability (not too sure if these are stock wheels). The 2.2 Kenda Slant tyres rolled well and stuck like glue to the dirt especially when climbing loose technical gradients, which was probably more down to the superior suspension. As far as things I would upgrade down the line are really little petty things: ESI grips to soak up vibrations, saddle of choice as WTB Volt is not for everyone- and that’s it really. The bottom-line price of $6099 with XT/XTR is what you are up for, unlike competitor’s bikes, begging for carbon bars and posts, etc. For an alloy bike it not the cheapest bike out there, but if you factor in spec’s, this bike can tick as many boxes as there is, no need for to two bikes. I believe it can handle aggressive terrain and can still mix it up on the less tech XC courses along with hopefully beating your mates to the top of the hill and down.

Verdict The bike feels as solid as a new Land Rover under you (which hopefully won’t leak oil). Although a little on the heavy side to race in the front pack, am positive it will get you through most XC or multiday stage races. Once you fling your leg over and start pedaling the efficiency and power transfer slaps you in the face over and over begging you to push harder in almost all area’s of the trail. There’s a lot of choice out there for bikes in different price brackets, but certainly throw the Pivot Mach 429 into the mix if you are looking for an all-rounder that climbs like a hardtail and descends like an AM bike. Personally would like to see some weight shredded on the frame somehow. If money wasn’t an object would love the carbon frame version with XX1.

Also note that the new Mach 429 carbon frame is now available, so if you got the cash to front up for the carbon model, I would consider the lighter faster option.