Pivot - Mach 5 Review

7 months, 23 days ago.

Pivots should be arriving at the store in early January!

Here is a taste of what’s to come . . .

The first priority when arriving at this year’s Dirt Demo Days in Las Vegas was to ride a Pivot. For those who have not heard, Pivot was founded by former Titus man Chris Cocalis. As of now, Pivot offers two fully suspended machines that are geared towards XC racers. The 4 inch travel XC racer Mach 4 and the weekend warrior 5.4 inch Mach 5. Vegas luck was on our side and we easily finagled a Mach 5 with a full 2008 XT kit. Talk about Vegas glitz and glamour!

At first glance the Mach 5 looks just like any other four bar link system. However, it uses a modified version of the patented DW. This modified version has a raised lower pivot to bring it in line with the large chain ring. In comparison to VPP and other DW links, Mach 5 has a snappy acceleration without losing a comfortable, plush feel.

Attention to cosmetic detail is top notch on the Mach 5. The weld quality is as nice as it gets on an aluminum frame. The anodized finish looks great and the cable routing is sleek and efficient. Another nice touch that is sure to make anyone with style drool is the red pivot bolt and DW link. It is really eye catching.

The Mach 5 could be easily used as a XC race bike. The climb out of the outdoor expo is a soft gravel road that is not much fun, but with each pedal stroke the Mach 5 delivered a firm, efficient feel for a bike with 5.4 inches of travel. On the trail this bike is all about having fun. On the descents, the suspension easily soaks up what most mortals can bravely throw at it. Launching off jumps gives you no surprises and bunny hopping is easier than on most dual suspension bikes. On fast turns the Mach 5 really sticks to its line thanks to a laterally stiff rear end and well thought out geometry. Yet it is still nimble and quick in the tight stuff.

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