Earlier this year, the Pivot Switchblade got a total makeover. It only makes sense then that the Mach 6 wouldn’t be far behind. While the Switchblade is all about the wagon wheels, the Mach 6 has stuck with 27.5″ to offer balance to the Pivot lineup. That continues with the newest edition, which is sure to be just as popular as the Switchblade.
Just like the Switchblade, the Mach 6 get a completely revised suspension layout. Instead of the horizontally mounted rear shock, the new frames use a Phoenix DH inspired dw-link layout where the shock is mounted vertically. Rear suspension has been increased slightly to 158mm, and is meant to pair with a 160mm travel fork.
Compatible with both air or coil shocks, the frame includes a flip chip with two settings for a 35.3mm or 35.9mm bottom bracket height. To make sure you get the most out of the suspension, Pivot offers an extremely comprehensive suspension tuning guide to download.
Not only has Pivot used the opportunity to improve the bike’s ability to soak up square-edged hits, but the design is more compact and uses less material. It also leaves a lot more room for water bottles. And accessories.
Pivot has expanded on their Phoenix Tool Dock concept with an additional mounting point just in front of the bottom bracket in addition to the one under the top tube. Between the two dock mounts, and two bottle cage mounts, there are quite a few ways you could carry your gear – with most of it on your bike instead of your back.
Cable routing is still handled by the Pivot Cable Port System which offers easy full length housing internal cable routing that’s also quiet. Along those lines, a low-durometer chainstay guard helps protect the chainstay while keeping chainslap noise to a minimum.
New for the back end of the bike is a 157 x 12mm thru axle. That helps provide the proper clearance for 27.5 x 2.6″ tires, though the bike ships with 2.5″ Maxxis Assegai WT rubber.
Available in four sizes, all frames have a size specific design and suspension tune. This extends to details like a dropped top tube on the extra small and small sizes to offer more standover height on the smaller frames. Per size, the reach numbers have increased by a good amount, but an XL size is notably disappeared. Though to be fair, the new Large has almost the exact same reach as the previous XL. Our guess is that if you really need a longer bike, Pivot will steer you to the Switchblade whose XL frame has another 10mm of reach.
The new geometry also makes more room for dropper posts, with Pivot once again providing an excellent technical document to figure out just how much post you can run.
Hinting at the intended purpose of this bike, all of the Fox Coil builds will include a new Fox 38 suspension fork in a 44mm offset, and set at 160mm of travel. Less expensive coil builds will be offered with Marzocchi components, and those run the 36mm Bomber Z1 platform. For the lighter air shock builds, those bikes will run a Fox 36, also in 44mm offset.
Available in Mint Relic or the perennial favorite, Stealth Black, the Mach 6 will be offered in the usual plethora of configurations. That’s fourteen different build options (including Fox Live builds) before factoring the carbon wheel upgrades. Pricing ranges from $5,599 to $12,099 depending on the build and is available at key Pivot dealers now, world wide.
