Pivot’s new Mach 429 Carbon is more than just a carbon version of the alloy Mach 429. As with all things Pivot, if it can’t be made better, it isn’t going to be made just for the sake of using a different material. As expected, it’s stiffer and lighter, but it also tweaks the geometry to get the most out of the bike.
Front end has a constant 69.3° head angle across the sizes (the alloy model varies by frame size) and a 2.5mm lower BB. Combined with the stiffer carbon frame and an 8mm shorter chainstay (448.3mm/17.65″ versus 456mm/17.95″ on the alloy), it supposedly provides a much quicker, nimbler ride. Top tube length stays the same, but standover improves by up to 1.5″ in the small, a small amount on the medium, 1″ on the large and 0.5″ on the XL. Frame is about 15% stiffer in the BB and rear triangle and 12% stiffer at the headtube.
Todd Tanner, Pivot Sales, says they’ve taken the chainstays as short as they can on a full suspension frame and still clear a triple crankset. It’s an XC/Marathon bike, but gets the 12×142 thru axle rear and ISCG05 chainguide tabs just in case. They’re spec’ing all models with a fixed 120mm fork. Last year, all Mach429’s came with a TALAS fork, but riders were requesting a lighter fork, and Tanner says because of the DW-Link’s anti squat characteristics, you don’t need to drop the fork to climb well. It can be ordered with a 100mm fork if you want, which will steepen the head angle to 70.3°.
These frames are production, But will get slight tweaks to the cable mounts on the side of the frame to clean it up a bit. Should be about 1/4 pound lighter than the alloy Mach429, which got a makeover last year and dropped a half pound from the frame. Because a few things may change slightly (and Cocalis said these were overbuilt a bit to make good demo bikes and arrive on time), we weren’t allowed to weigh them.
Internal shift cables only run from headtube to under the shock mount, and there’s a window with plug to make installation super easy. Tanner says the design eliminates any cable rattling, and rear brake and dropper post routing runs alongside it outside the frame.
All pivots use Enduro Max double wide bearings. They used to use two bearings per side in each pivot, in 2010 they went with the wider bearings. Frames get Lizardskin rubberized leather protective patches, note the extensive coverage in the pics above and below.
Pricing starts at $4,699 for the SLX/XT build up to $7,599 for the XTR. The XX1 build is $7,049.
Framsets are $2,799 (frame & shock) and a frame kit with headset, fork and BB is $3,599. Available November.
The XX1 group on this bike is a show piece only. Rear derailleur isn’t real and has no tension, hence the slack chain in this photo and the leaked photos posted earlier.
2013 PIVOT LES
“We don’t do bikes jut to do bikes,” said founder Chris Cocalis. We have to do something unique, and we had a number of customers asking for a hardtail frame. We used a lot of the carbon molding tech we developed with BH to make this frame.”
One of the more unique features is the replaceable dropout. The Swinger singlespeed dropouts are forged aluminum and have indexed Allen bolts on the rear with a spring tensioned ball bearing to give a tactile “click” every quarter turn.
The geared dropouts are full cabin and bolt into the frame in a fixed position. Final fit and finish will be a bit prettier than what you see here.
The rear end is designed to take some of the harshness off the trail, but they’re no claiming any particular deflection measurement. Laterally, it’s super stuff because it’s using the same design tech as the BH Ultralight road bike frame.
A panel on the bottom of the frame lets the cables dropout for easy installation.
The driveside chainstay has an internal ramp and inmolded cable channel to guide the rear dérailleur cable out the back.
Like the Mach429 Carbon, Tanner says the chainstays are as short as possible and still clear all chainring combos. Length is 434.3mm / 17.1″.
Pricing will be $3,799 for the SLX/XT kit, $6,149 for XX1 and $6,699 for XTR. Frameset is $1,999 and $99 for the Swinger dropouts to convert to singlespeed. Frame kit is $2,699. Available January 2013. Frame weight is about 1,200g for a medium (claimed).
