Sport And Biking Talk: Pivot Mach 6 Carbon and Aluminum released

The carbon and aluminum Mach 6 paly ‘follow me’. Photo by Lear Miller

The Mach 6 is a Pivot bike near and dear to us since it catapulted Pivot into the front lines of the 27.5 movement as they were one of the first to offer an aggressive, full carbon bike. We used the bike for years and were happy with its very active and capable rear suspension. But times have changed and the Mach 6 is now in its third iteration with a host of improvements.

Most noteable is the head angle at 65.75 degrees and a 74 degree seat angle for all sizes except the S and XS. Reach has been increased by quite a bit from 158mm to 173mm. Head tube length, BB height and chainstay length were all pretty dialed so they are mostly unchanged. The S and XS have their own geometry with a slacker seat angle at 73 degrees and a slightly shorter reach. Chris Cocalis is a firm believer that fit for shorter riders deserves detailed attention in terms of geometry and suspension tunes.

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Smaller riders also benefit from customized geometry in every frame size. While sizes Medium, Large and X-Large see significant increases in reach measurements, sizes Small and X-Small are more compact, in keeping with our rider-size-specific design philosophy, while still offering the climbing advantages of the steeper seat angle, and a nimble, capable handling on descents.

The Fox Float DPX2 makes its way to the new bike as well on the higher-end builds and we already know this is a dramatic improvement over the old Float X. It has ultimate control on all modes, from Wide Open to Firm making them all useable. The adjustment knobs are easy to reach and have a huge range. And it’s smaller, allowing better water bottle fit.

Carbon model shown here with very short stems and wide bars. Photo by Lear Miller

Mach 6 Carbon Features

Full carbon frame featuring leading edge carbon fiber materials and Pivot’s proprietary hollow core internal molding technology.
Pivot’s size-specific long and low enduro geometry (Medium, Large and XL sizes)
155mm (6.1”) of renowned dw-link® suspension rear and 160mm front travel.
27.5-inch wheels for the flickable handling and superior rollover
Ultra-stiff, DH-inspired, double-wishbone rear triangle design
Cold-forged wide and stiff upper and lower linkage design with Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings
12 x 148mm Boost rear spacing for maximum stiffness and control.
Custom-tuned Fox Factory Float DPX2 shock with Kashima.
Internal cable routing, featuring Pivot’s Cable Port System and full Di2 integration.
Internal dropper post compatible
Pivot removable front derailleur mount for a clean frame design is 1X and 2X gearing compatible.
180mm Post mount disc brake mounts for precision and weight savings.
New ultra quiet low durometer rubberized frame protection

Geometry is updated in terms of reach, head angle and seat angle.

Pivot’s ultimate enduro/aggressive trail bike gets long and low

Pivot’s Mach 6 Carbon is longer, lower and sets a benchmark for enduro / aggressive trail bikes. The new design benefits directly from Pivot’s extensive gravity design experience – the perfect combination of progressive geometry and uncompromising pedaling capability – making it the right choice for dropping into advanced terrain and hitting technical features at race pace.

New Enduro / Aggressive Trail Geometry

With its new, slacker, 65.75 degree head angle, steep 74 degree seat angle, and Pivot’s long travel, downhill-influenced linkage, the 155mm travel the Mach 6 allows speed and control in the most challenging terrain. Descending, riders are “in” the cockpit rather than above, experiencing stability and control at high speeds, incredible rollover capability on technical trail features, and light, flickable, handling that attests to the influence of riders like Rupert Chapman and the ever stylish Bernard Kerr.

Climbing, the new steeper seat angles combined with the roomier cockpit on the Mach 6 Carbon keep the front wheel on the ground and the traction engaged, enabling riders to motor over the toughest climbing obstacles with surprising ease, making transfers easy and giving Pivot athletes a huge advantage over tricky uphill features.

Bernard playing with the Mach 6. Photo by Lear Miller

Carbon Frame and Linkage Design

With our exclusive hollow core internal molding process and the right combination of carbon materials and design features, we’ve created the Mach 6 Carbon to be an incredibly durable and light chassis, with levels of stiffness and strength that are comparable to our downhill designs. Large tube cross sections, double wishbone rear triangle, ultra-stiff clevis and linkage, and large, suspension specific, EnduroMax bearings all contribute to class leading power transfer and the point and shoot ride quality essential in a top flight enduro race bike.

DW-Link® And Fox Suspension

The Mach 6 Carbon features acclaimed dw-link® suspension, dialed for long travel applications. The dw-link®’s famed anti-squat delivers non-stop traction, while the variable wheel travel path provides unmatched square-edge bump absorption and control on technical descents. The responsiveness and bottomless feel of the Mach 6 is matched only by the exceptionally efficient climbing capability for faster, easier transfers – getting you to the next descent before everyone else.

The Mach 6 Carbon is spec’d with the New FOX Factory Kashima Float DPX2 shock with the EVOL air sleeve, tuned specifically for enduro and trail applications. The new Float DPX2 features X2 oil flow architecture in a lighter weight, better pedaling package for optimized performance in enduro / aggressive trail applications as well as offering an incredibly wide range of individual tunability. The EVOL air sleeve on the Mach 6’s DPX2 significantly reduces the force required to initiate travel, for the ultimate in small bump compliance and better bottom-out resistance. When combined with the ultra-low friction Kashima coating, this design offers an incredibly plush feel with a wide range of damping adjustments. The Float DPX2 also offers three on-the-fly lever adjustments using the new Open, Medium and Firm options with an additional adjustment for tuning low speed compression on the open setting, to suit a wide range of rider weights and preferences. While dw-link® is inherently efficient in every setting, the firm option is great for long fire road climbs or between stage transfers. These shock features are direct complements to dw-link® suspension tuning and patented position-sensitive anti-squat, giving riders even better traction on steep climbs and over rough trail.

To match Mach 6 Carbon’s rear suspension, we’ve paired it with the newest 160mm FOX 36 fork now featuring an EVOL air spring and updated upper tubes for unparalleled small bump sensitivity – It’s the perfect fork to match any trail rider’s need for high-performance, balanced handling on every part of the trail.

A playful race bike is one way to describe the new Mach 6. Photo by Lear Miller

Details

The Mach 6 Carbon is available in five sizes to fit riders from 4’11” to 6’3”+ from Extra Small (XS) to Extra Large (XL) options.

Getting the gearing setup that works best for you is easy with the Mach 6 Carbon. It is both 1x and 2x compatible, and offers full Di2 electronic integration and easy, clean internal routing of shifters, brakes and droppers via the Pivot Cable Port system.

Other essential details include rubberized leather downtube and swingarm frame protection, 180mm rear post mount disc brake, and Enduro Max cartridge bearings throughout.

Women and Pivot

At Pivot, we believe the bike should fit the rider, not the other way around. Our approach to rider-size-specific geometry relies on a balanced fit and adjusted geometry to maintain correct wheelbase length and handling to properly accommodate the proportions of every size ride, including smaller athletes. Our S and XS sizes are built with shorter head tubes to create more stand-over height, enabling you to ride in a centered, athletic position with tons of clearance over the top tube – essential to attacking descents and cornering with confidence and speed.

We create the same handling experience across the range by engineering specifically each frame size. Size-specific carbon molds enable us to use smaller diameters and unique carbon layups for lighter frames in the small sizes while maintaining the same high strength in a more compact design. Additionally, for riders on our extra small bikes, Pivot’s Float DPX2 tune offers an incredibly wide range of shock tuning which enables us to set up the Mach 6 Carbon for a diverse range of rider weights and abilities.

Pivot complete bikes are also designed to intelligently address real-world rider differences, with the option to choose women’s specific saddle on any size and shorter cranks on our S and XS sizes.

Seat angle is steepened to 74 degrees. Photo by Lear Miller

Builds

Pivot strives to optimize each bike with its build kits, delivering performance and value

Tires: For each of our bikes, we include the best version of every Maxxis tire model for each application – choosing rubber compounds, tubeless and sidewall technologies that are perfect for your specific Pivot.

Cockpit: Custom designed Phoenix Components work as a system to enhance cockpit comfort and control on every Pivot bike. To learn more about how these components enhance the quality of your ride, see here.

Wheels: Pivot bikes include the best wheel technologies available. DT wheels include the 36-tooth Star Ratchet hubs for immediate engagement off the line and the friendliest, most reliable tubeless system in the sport, with easy setup and inflation. Reynolds Carbon wheels feature industry leading composite materials and proprietary resins that give Reynolds rims the perfect balance of stiffness and ride-feel. Combined with the nearly instantaneous engagement and jewelry-like finish of the Industry Nine hubs and Reynolds’ new lifetime warranty, the Reynolds Enduro wheels are the ultimate wheel upgrade for your new Mach 6 Carbon.

Saddle: Pivot bikes feature WTB saddles that are specially made with the best, most durable, memory foam and feature a special hidden cutout for long ride comfort.