FIRST RIDE REPORT

THE ALL-NEW PIVOT FIREBIRD

Words, Photos & Video by Andrew “Chili-Dog” Villablanca

The previous Pivot Firebird was (and is) one of our favorite enduro bikes on the market, but Pivot Cycles has never been one to follow the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. Instead, they dove head-first into a complete redesign of one of their flagship bike offerings. The all-new Firebird has always changed with the needs of the market and their pro riders, and the latest iteration sees a firm and pointed shift towards Enduro racing. In short, Pivot set out to make a purpose-built bike to win EWS races.

I’ve had the honor of reviewing the last three generations of Pivot Firebird, which has given me the opportunity to watch the evolution of the bike over the years first-hand. The previous generation was one of my favorite long travel rigs, so to say I had high hopes for this next iteration would be an understatement. Thankfully it’s rare for Pivot to let us down.

THE LAB
The Firebird has always been Pivot’s no holds barred enduro race slayer, and this current generation takes that to the “nth” degree. It doesn’t take a keen eye to notice that there have been some major changes to the bike, with a completely redesigned rear suspension setup, linkage and overall frame. The new design offers the same DW-link suspension we’ve come to love, but with a vertical shock layout. This gives more room for a water bottle cage up front (a major complaint about the outgoing model) and offered Pivot the opportunity to fine tune the kinematics even further. The new Firebird sports 165mm of rear suspension travel, with a longer lower link and even larger emphasis on rearward axle path during the suspension stroke. Pivot backs that suspension design with aggressive geo numbers to go downhill as fast as possible, and more importantly geo numbers that are catered to the frame size. The bike comes standard with 29” wheels and 8” brake rotors on both ends with a 170mm suspension fork, signaling its aggressive intentions. Offered exclusively in Pivot’s Hollow Core carbon construction, this is a mountain bike serious about going fast.

Pivot also wanted to firmly position the Firebird as an enduro race weapon, meaning they moved a little further away from the freeride/bike park feel of the previous model. The new Pivot Firebird received longer chain stays, longer reach numbers and a more central riding position to aid in stability and confidence when riding at the upper limit on technical, steep trails. This mountain bike is firmly planted in the enduro-gravity category.

In the low BB setting, our size large frame had a 641mm top tube, 438mm chain stays and a 350mm bottom bracket height. The head tube angle comes in at 64 degrees, with a 77-degree effective seat tube angle. The reach number is a lengthy 488mm, giving an overall wheelbase that stretches out to 1267mm. Like the previous generation Pivot Firebird, the 2021 model retains an easy-to-use flip chip to alter the geo on the fly. It’s easy enough that it can be done trail side with the help of a hex key.

The high setting steepens things slightly with a 64.6-degree head tube angle, 77.5-degree seat tube, 355.8mm BB height and 1,266mm wheelbase. The change is noticeable and helps the bike navigate flatter terrain without feeling sluggish. If you’re keeping track, that’s still longer, lower and slacker (LLS) than the previous generation bike, which had a 65-degree head tube angle, and 74.5-degree seat tube angle.

One thing worth noting further is the importance of size-specific geometry numbers. As someone that’s at the upper end of the sizing spectrum at 6’3” (190cm), I’ve grown to appreciate brands that go the extra mile to make this happen. The tooling and development costs are higher, but the end result is a bike that rides just as well for someone on a size small as it does for someone like me at the top end of the spectrum. Pivot also claims that thanks to the geometry adjustment, this bike can be configured mullet style or full 27.5” with a replacement lower headset cup, adding further to the versatility of the design.

The sizing changes for each frame are subtle but important. This is especially noticeable between the L and XL frame. While I should have opted for the XL on paper due to my height, I chose the size L to keep things a little shorter and in line with my dirt jump background. After spending more time on the bike though, I would likely opt for the XL if I was doing more aggressive and high-speed riding in say BC or an area with steeper trails than SoCal.

Pivot offers three basic build levels for the Firebird under the Race, Pro and Team names, with price and parts spec ascending in that order. Within those levels are several other sub choices centered around the wheel material and suspension. Pivot offers a SRAM and Shimano model at every build level, as well as options for coil and air rear shocks. They also offer a Fox Live Valve setup for riders wanting to get the absolute most out of the bike. No matter what your budget and parts preference there is likely a Firebird to match. While it may seem small, this is a huge feature as you aren’t forced into a particular build level to get the shock type, or the brake/drivetrain brand you like. It’s something we’d love to see from more bike manufactures moving forward as you’re often forced up or down a build level if you have a preference between Shimano and SRAM.

Parts spec on our tester is top notch as one would expect for a price tag closing in on $10,000. Thankfully that same attention to detail is present through the whole line up, with Pivot prioritizing the important bits of gear like the suspension. They also don’t skimp on the details like their easy internal cable routing, universal derailleur hangers, and massive tire clearance on the rear triangle. It’s clear that the build line up is selected by people that know their bikes, and not a penny-pinching board room looking to maximize margin at all costs. Like the rest of their bikes, the new Pivot Firebird makes no apologies for its pedigree.

THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Typically, each new launch bike that goes through the Wolf Den comes bearing a full spec sheet with pricing, geo, parts list, and the like. I’ve always tossed them aside to go ride the bike without reading a thing. That’s not because I’m negligent, but because I always like to go into a first ride with an open mind that isn’t expecting a riding characteristic based on a geo chart I saw or a price sheet I read. It was a welcome change to see that Pivot took a similar approach with the Firebird, sending it out to media outlets like us with no info, no specs, and no preconceived notions. When I set up the bike and threw a leg over it for the first time, I had no idea what to expect, but I had high hopes based on my previous Firebird encounters. There is no doubting that Pivot made large and meaningful changes to the bike. It feels immediately different from the previous generation and takes things progressively forward with modern trends in geometry.

While it was never intended to be an XC machine, the new Firebird once again sets an impressive mark for pedaling efficiency on a long travel enduro mountain bike. If you don’t need this much bike, the Pivot Switchblade could be worth a look and is absolutely one of our favorite bikes currently on the market. The DW link suspension is supple yet exhibits very little pedal bob on the trail. That said, this new model does move further towards the downhill end of the spectrum. This was a conscious choice on the part of Pivot. As the Switchblade has evolved in capabilities, Pivot saw an increasing overlap between that and the Firebird. As a result, they pushed the Firebird further into the gravity category. This was also partly due to feedback from team riders like Eddie Masters, who are navigating EWS courses that share segments with UCI World Cup DH tracks.

While I have only been able to ride the new Pivot Firebird for a few weeks, I’ve been impressed with its capabilities. This isn’t a bike made for Sunday cruises or light pedals. If climbs are only something you put up with to get to the descent, this could be the right bike for you. As such, I headed straight for my local Downhill trails that require a fire road climb to reach the top, rewarded by rowdy and steep descents to the bottom. Despite the geometry of this bike, the DW-link suspension gets you to the top with surprising efficiency. I’m all for having the climbs end as soon as possible!

The new Pivot Firebird rewards wide open, aggressive riding. The DW link suspension pedals exceptionally well, yet still swallows rocks and roots. While many brands use flashy marketing to make up for lack luster suspension kinematics, Pivot lets the bike do the talking. The frame is stiff and snappy in corners, and the suspension is able to float through square-edge rocks and ledges effortlessly.

This new bike picks up where the outgoing Firebird left off, offering exceptional riding performance. I am very much looking forward to getting more bike park and off-piste laps for some proper vertical on this bike in the coming months. These days there’s less and less use for downhill rigs, and the Pivot Firebird makes a stronger case for that than ever! Stay tuned for a full review, but so far, we’re impressed with this purpose-built enduro race machine.

For more information visit Pivotcycles.com