Pivot Firebird Carbon

The Firebird is a longstanding member of the Pivot lineup and it hasn’t changed much since we last reviewed it as a 26er back in 2008. When 27.5 wheels rolled onto the scene, Pivot was able to accommodate them within the Firebird frame with minimal change, as it was originally designed to handle big volume 26-inch tyres (basically the same outer diameter as 27.5 anyway).

For this latest rendition, we see a massive update that takes on board all of the recent design trends. Obviously the frame is now carbon – both the main and rear triangles – and it features boost hub spacing to provide more tyre and drivetrain stiffness as well as stiffer wheels.

While it mightn’t be as visually obvious, the biggest rework comes with the frame geometry. At 430mm the chain stays remain a similar length. The head angle is a degree slacker; it’s now 65-degrees as opposed to 66, but the reach and seat tube angles are where the big changes can be seen. The reach on a medium frame has gone from a cramped 379mm up to 445mm; a massive 66mm increase. This allows for the use of a short stem without feeling cramped. Meanwhile the wheelbase on a medium has gone from 1,125mm up to 1,204mm while the chainstay length remained similar. The result is a substantially longer front centre; again using the medium as an example, it’s grown by almost 9cm up front (from 687mm to 774 measured from the BB to front axle). This will add a substantial amount of stability, especially when it comes to descending the steep stuff.

When it comes to climbing, the far steeper seat angle (now 74-degrees where it used to be 71) will place you right over the bottom bracket for efficient pedalling and it’ll also help to keep the long front end weighted when climbing steep stuff.

None of these features are particularly new – most fast-moving brands have already headed in this direction – it’s just that Pivot finally seems to be adopting this modern philosophy on frame geometry. Like their recently introduced 29-inch/27.5 plus tyre compatible Switchblade, the Firebird is now thoroughly up to date from a geometry perspective.

Suspension-wise the Firebird now sports 170mm of travel (up from 167mm on the older alloy version) but it still sticks with their super-effective DW-Link design. The leverage rate on the new Firebird has been tuned to work well with the progressive spring curve of an air shock, and the bike comes equipped with a Fox Float X2. This shock will have a low speed compression switch to assist with climbing, but the bike should pedal efficiently without it if our past experience with the DW-Link is anything to go by.

While the bike is not plus tyre compatible, it should clear tyres up to 2.5-inches wide. According to Pivot the new all-carbon frame weighs around 3,225g—certainly no lightweight but quite acceptable for a burly gravity bike that can handle a 170 or 180mm travel for up front.

For all the details check out the Pivot website and watch the video below to see world cup DH rider Bernard Kerr in action on the new Firebird.