PIVOT CYCLES 27.5 MACH 6 AND SHADOWCAT
MORE THAN FUN
Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Max Rhulen
Video by Brian Niles/Treeline Cinematics
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Typically, Loam Wolf Dissected features showcase our take on the newest tech and latest releases in the bike industry, but in this installment, we’ll be taking a closer look at two mountain bikes that have been out in the wild but had eluded us until now. Today we’ll be dissecting the 27.5-inch wheeled Pivot Mach 6 and Pivot Shadowcat bikes and the intended riders who may benefit from these slightly anti-trendy bikes. Pivot Cycles offers plenty of purpose-built race bikes, but that is not what these 27.5-inch wheeled models are about. Instead, these bikes are designed for fun, nimbleness and in some scenarios, being faster than their wagon-wheeled siblings. Make no mistake though, these bikes ooze every bit of refinement and steeze as their 29er counterparts, they just like to roll up their sleeves and party a bit more.
For many riders, it may feel weird to ‘revert’ back to a 27.5-inch wheeled bike after being sold on the benefits, speed, and capabilities of larger 29-inch wheeled mountain bikes, us included. So, when Pivot asked, “What do Loam Wolf readers think about 27.5 bikes?” We replied with a let’s find out, sort of attitude! And while we haven’t found out what our readers think just yet, the experience thus far has certainly changed what we think about 27.5 bikes. Before we get too deep into that, let’s learn about these two bikes.
PIVOT MACH 6
PIVOT SHADOWCAT
THEIR SIMILARITIES
Although both bikes sit in different categories thanks to travel and geometry, the two models share quite a few features along with that Pivot Cycles DNA. The Pivot Shadowcat is a 140mm rear travel trail shredder with a 160mm 36 fork while the Mach 6 is a 158mm/160mm bike park or backcountry machine with a burlier frame, a 38mm fork chassis, and a penchant for going downhill fast. What carries over is Pivot’s use of the DW-Link suspension platform; premium Hollow Core carbon frame construction; the Tool Dock system; full-length guided internal routing, and size-specific design and Pivot’s carbon ride tuning construction.
Pivot’s exclusive on-the-bike tool mounting system has multiple options depending on what you prioritize for on-bike-essentials. It was developed with Topeak and allows users to store tools, flat repair items or anything else that fits in the Dock Mountainbox or Toolbox containers. The system does mount to a standard bottle cage boss too, for consumers looking for a neat method of external frame storage.
THEIR SIMILARITIES
Although both bikes sit in different categories thanks to travel and geometry, the two models share quite a few features along with that Pivot Cycles DNA. The Pivot Shadowcat is a 140mm rear travel trail shredder with a 160mm 36 fork while the Mach 6 is a 158mm/160mm bike park or backcountry machine with a burlier frame, a 38mm fork chassis, and a penchant for going downhill fast. What carries over is Pivot’s use of the DW-Link suspension platform; premium Hollow Core carbon frame construction; the Tool Dock system; full-length guided internal routing, and size-specific design and Pivot’s carbon ride tuning construction.
Pivot’s exclusive on-the-bike tool mounting system has multiple options depending on what you prioritize for on-bike-essentials. It was developed with Topeak and allows users to store tools, flat repair items or anything else that fits in the Dock Mountainbox or Toolbox containers. The system does mount to a standard bottle cage boss too, for consumers looking for a neat method of external frame storage.
SIZE-SPECIFIC DESIGN AND RIDE TUNE
While Pivot isn’t alone in offering size-specific geometry on their bikes, something they offer that is a bit less common is Pivot’s Ride Tune carbon construction process. Each size frame receives independent strength (and stiffness) to weight analysis, so that the ride performance and quality will be even across a wide range of sizes. In short, a rider who’s 5’2 and weighs 130lbs won’t be rattled off the trail with the same carbon layup and thicknesses used to create an XL size bike designed to handle the loads of a 6’3 210lb rider. This is a neat process, and as riders who appreciate a comfortable and compliant ride with optimally placed stiffness, we give Pivot thumbs up for that endeavor and would love to see more companies follow.
PIVOT MACH 6 GEO
160mm Fork | Low-Position
PIVOT SHADOWCAT GEO
160mm Fork
Looking at the geometry of both the Pivot Shadowcat and Mach 6, you begin to see the differences and where the bikes are designed to thrive. When you look at numbers like bottom bracket drop, chainstay length and overall wheelbase of the bikes, it’s easier to see why these bikes are so much livelier on the trail.
B I K E I N T E N T I O N S
SHADOWCAT
Many would consider the Shadowcat the 27.5 version of the crowd-pleasing Pivot Switchblade, and before we sat down to talk with Pivot’s team to learn more about these bikes, we did too. I was surprised to learn that the Shadowcat was in fact, more of a replacement to the top-selling Mach 5.5. Pivot’s Shadowcat is a 140/160mm trail bike with a frame weight that’s lighter than the Trail 429 and only 45grams heavier than the impressively light Mach 4SL. So, don’t think that just ‘cuz this bike doesn’t have 29-inch wheels that it can’t hang on the climbs or XC loops. It is an absolute rocket ship to accelerate and snap around corners. Pivot tuned the DW-Link platform to have position-sensitive anti-squat to ensure the performance is there when you need it, but the progressivity and suppleness are on tap for the bumps.
MACH 6
Accoesing to Pivot, the Mach 6 is at home “From peak to park,” and from our limited time aboard it so far, that seems to be the case. More of a direct translation to 27.5 than the Shadowcat, the Mach 6 takes strong queues from the Pivot Firebird but makes it a more well-rounded and fun-ready mountain bike. The Firebird is a bike that has had some great results on the track but has also been a handful for mere mortals to handle on their local terrain. It’s a beast with very specific intentions and if you’re not riding in that mindset or terrain, it could bite you. The Mach 6 is the bike for everyone else.
With smaller wheels, a shorter wheelbase and a livelier and in-control feel, the Pivot Mach 6 is absolutely the bike for the riders who prioritize fun and want the confidence and speed a longer travel bike affords. The Mach 6 uses a longer, Phoenix DH-inspired DW-Link to maximize the rearward wheel path for increased roll-over performance and composure. Of course, being that it is a DW-equipped Pivot, you know it’s going to pedal well too, so riders who are looking for more than just a playful enduro bike will enjoy finding the techy grinds back to the top a little less brutal.
“Not only is 27.5 not dead,
it may be making a comeback!”
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
If we’re being totally honest, before we were asked by Pivot if we wanted to try some 27.5 bikes out, we didn’t really have any interest in riding smaller wheeled bikes. Sure, we like Mullet setups on our eMTBs and some DH bikes, but at this point we believed that 29ers had gotten so good that we would never want to give up that speed and efficiency through the rough. We also didn’t really think that there would that big of a difference in how the bikes would handle or accelerate, and we certainly didn’t think there’d be gains made to the climbing performance by going down in wheel size. Alas, we were wrong, at least in some instances. And, while our Dissected features are far from product reviews, what we did quickly realize is that it’s been too long since we’ve ridden a 27.5” bike, because hot damn are they a lot of fun! On top of that, the acceleration and climbing power on technical climbs was noticeable in a way we didn’t think would be.
Now, we’re not saying we’re gonna sell all our 29ers and make the switch, but so far, we’re definitely excited to spend more time on these bikes and enjoy all the smiles they bring. What has stood out so far is the ability to accelerate the bike in climbing scenarios, whether it’s between ledges and steps up in terrain or out of a corner to build up momentum for a feature, both of our riders dismissed how big of a difference it would be to “spin up” those smaller wheels, but it was one of the easiest things to decipher on the trail. Other big standouts were clearance over the bike and tires for playing around on the bike or moving the bike in weird ways beneath us. Whether it was styling a jump, tire taps or any other creative jib, the smaller wheelsize makes direction changes (on or off the ground) much snappier. Finally, we noticed increased speeds when it came to riding old-school trails, you know, the type where modern bikes and riders say, “There’s no flow on the trail.” Flat, awkward corners and switchbacks that were made decades ago by animals or hikers who didn’t know 63-degree head tube angles and 495mm reaches were optimal for MTB performance became a lot more fun! Instead of coming to near stops we were able to drop the outside foot and exit those corners with speed and a smile.
Over the next few months we’ll continue to put time aboard Pivot’s 27.5 bikes as we work on a long-term review focused more on the performance of the particular model, how they stack up to the field and what we think of them individually, but at this point, we can walk away from this experience saying, not only is 27.5 not dead, it may be making a comeback!
