Crazy Fast, Ridiculously Capable – Pivot’s New 120mm 29er Trail Bike
Fri 18th May, 2018 @ 1:33 pm
Don’t think 120mm is enough travel? Pivots new trail bike says otherwise and combines a short travel bike with some modern geometry to create a genre-spanning machine able to turn it’s hand to pretty much anything. This update brings the 429 back into line with the rest of the fleet and freshens up the short travel end of the line-up.
What’s New?
3 years since the release of the Mach 429 Trail, Pivot have completely overhauled their 120mm 29er to create the brand new Trail429. With modernised geometry, the new bike is billed to be even more stable and confident at hight speeds and in rough terrain.
The head angle has been slackened, chainstays shorted and the reach lengthened. Overall wheel base has become longer to enhance stability, but the 430mm back end keeps the bike responsive, and quick. The head angle is 67.3 degrees, whilst the seat angle is 74 degrees, creating a poised climbing position.
It retains the mid-travel trail dw-link design, but the lower link itself has been widened by 25mm. In addition, the rear triangle now sports a double wishbone design rather than being single sided and the drop-out is a “super-boost” 157mm width. Put together, these three features combine to create a stiffer, more responsive bike. Nevertheless, the new frame has lost some weight, with our Pro XT build test bike weighing in at 13.5kg or 29.8lbs.
The stays retain the excellent heel clearance of the previous iteration, something many people will be glad of, especially with that super-boost rear end. Cable routing is now internal, but is left un-sleeved inside so that you can choose exactly how you route your cables. This might sound like a nightmare to some, but the cable covers are removable to make it a little easier, plus there spares are supplied to blank any unused ports off if necessary. There is also an internal Di2 battery compartment just in front of the bottom bracket should it be needed.
The bike comes supplied with a zero stack lower headset cup to be used with 29” wheels, but in the box you’ll also find a 17mm stack cup which is designed to be used with 27.5+ wheels – in order to raise the bottom bracket a little bit to compensate for the smaller wheels. It can of course be used with 29” wheels to slacken the front end a little if desired. First impressions suggest this bike will be a serious contender for anyone looking for a UK trail bike which can be pointed down all but the roughest and steepest of hills, and will climb back up without fuss.
The new bike will be available in 29” and 27.5+” versions.
Prices range from £4,750 for the Race XT equipped model, up to £8,100 for the Team Sram XX1 27.5+ version.
What Pivot Say
Pivot’s new Trail 429 retains the versatility of its predecessor—the popular Mach 429 Trail—and introduces an even higher level of stability and control over technical terrain with innovative frame design and progressive geometry.
When it debuted, Pivot Cycles’ original Mach 429 Trail quickly earned praise from media and riders around the world. No small feat. Today, Pivot introduces the next generation of trail bike—the Trail 429. Like its predecessor, this is a bike that offers world-class power transfer, acceleration and nimble handling. The Trail 429, however, was reshaped to make Pivot’s trail model even more stable and confident at high speeds and in rough terrain. The Trail 429 remains a jack of all trades that excels on a wide range of trails, but Pivot upped the ante on the bike’s descending abilities without sacrificing the agile ride and lively quality that made the original Mach 429 Trail so popular.
The Trail 429’s geometry has evolved: Chainstays are shorter, reach is longer, head angle is slacker and the seat angle is steeper.
“We shortened up the bike’s rear end while increasing its reach,” explains Pivot Cycles President and CEO, Chris Cocalis. “The overall wheelbase grew in length, which adds stability, but it’s not so long that it takes away the bike’s versatility. The shorter chainstays actually add to the Trail 429’s ability to quickly accelerate and keep the bike nimble in tight conditions.”
The frame also benefits from many of the same stiffness and strength-enhancing features found on Pivot’s longer-travel models, including a double-wishbone rear triangle, Super Boost Plus rear spacing, and ultra-wide suspension linkages and burly bearing assemblies. The bike boasts 120 millimeters of dw-link™ rear suspension, paired with a 130-millimeter travel Fox 34 fork. The Trail 429 is available in both 29 and 27.5+ options.
“Versatility is what made the original Mach 429 Trail our most popular bike,” says Cocalis. “Our goal here was to retain that awesome range while improving the bike’s descending abilities. People are pushing trail bikes harder and harder. The Trail 429 hits that sweet spot.”
The new Trail 429 will be available in two color options—steel blue with sky blue accents and crimson with bright red accents.
