Pivot updates the long-travel Firebird with 29er wheels. With 162mm of rear travel, the Pivot Firebird 29 is designed to enduro.
Before upgrading your mountain bike with a longer fork, consider how increased travel will affect handling, geometry, and frame durability.
Whistler's Creekside just opened for the season with 5 new trails that are part of a multi-year trail expansion at the bike park.
We share our tips for becoming a better mountain bike climber including equipment selection, technique, and mental hacks for getting to the top of the hill faster.
Ten more affordable mountain bike upgrades for under $100 including dropper post remotes, stash tools, tire inserts, and drivetrain updates.
Fathers can and do teach their children a lot through mountain biking. A Father's Day tribute to rad mountain bike dads.
This trail bike buyer's guide helps mountain bikers understand frame geometry, suspension travel, tire sizes, and more. Read this before you buy your next trail bike.
The Canyon Neuron is a light duty aluminum trail bike that sits between XC and trail bike territory.
The SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain offers 12 gears at an affordable pricepoint. The new cassette is compatible with standard, 8-, 9-, and 10-speed splined driver bodies.
Sea Otter Europe, held in Girona, Spain, features mountain bike racing, hundreds of exhibitors, and demo bikes. Tens of thousands of cyclists attended this free festival in 2018.
Ben Weaver is bikepacking the 2,700-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike route with his instruments so he can play 15 concerts along the way.
The new Jamis Portal trail bike and Hardline enduro bike will utilize a unique mountain bike suspension platform known as 3VO.
Trek recently settled a lawsuit brought by the estate of comedian Chris Farley over the name of the Farley fat bike.
XC mountain bike race courses are becoming more technical in a bid to become more spectator-friendly and also to keep up with bike design and suspension technology.
This is the third installment in the Outlaw Diaries series that follows mountain biker Patrick "Bengel" Rasche as he seeks out rad adventures in Germany, British Columbia, and now Russia.
Jefferson County, Colorado is testing mountain bike only trails within the popular park system.
Matt Miller is a journalism graduate and enduro mountain biker based in Golden, CO.
The 10 mountain bike descents on the East Coast are among the best downhill trails to shred.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest features excellent mountain bike trails to explore, including the CAMBA system.
The Prestacycle TorqRatchet is a compact, packable torque wrench for trailside mountain bike repairs.
Ten of the best kids' mountain bikes of 2018, including lightweight hardtails and even full-suspension bikes. Recommendations range from 12-inch wheels up to 24-inch wheels.
The UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup brings fast-paced, XC competition to the streets complete with ramps, wall rides, and dirt rollers.
Another mountain biker falls victim to a trail trip, this time barbed wire in Ontario, Canada.
Roam Bike Fests are designed for women to have fun on mountain bikes. Riders won't find skills clinics, competitions, or men here.
The Fox Factory Tune program allows mountain bikers to get a custom suspension tune and/or to upgrade to the latest tech for a reasonable price.
The All in Multitool fits inside a mountain bike crank spindle, and includes a chain breaker plus hex and Torx bits.
These aggressive hardtail mountain bikes are designed for trail riding and beyond, and each offers at least 120mm of front suspension travel.
Guidebook author Stephen Hlawaty talks about his favorite MTB trails in Colorado, and why he's still a fan of paper books in the digital age.
The National Recreation Trails class of 2018 includes notable mountain bike trails like Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Florida and the Climax Trail in New Mexico.
The BLM in Idaho is testing a new travel management plan that would allow Class 1 electric mountain bikes on previously non-motorized, multi-use trails.
The BLM approved an additional 22.5 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails at Phil's World and has begun construction, despite minor opposition.
Summer mountain bike camps for young riders are popping up all across the USA this year. Campers can learn new skills and get ready for NICA race season.
The second annual Epic 17K mountain bike race claims to be the world's highest, and is set to take place in India's Sikkim state June 26 - 29.
Youth conservation corps programs offer paid trail building programs this summer. Participants gain useful skills, while mountain bikers get new and improved trails.
This kid's hardtail mountain bike build was tricked out with electronic shifting, 4-piston brakes, and color-coordinated hardware.
Tips for dealing with knee, back, neck, and arm pain associated with mountain biking through exercise, stretching, bike fit, and recovery.
The updated Shimano XTR mountain bike line includes a 12-speed drivetrain and new 4-piston enduro brakes.
On May 17, 2018 a revised bill to possibly give bikes access to trails in federally-designated Wilderness areas was introduced to the US Senate.
The ShockStop from Redshift is a mountain bike suspension stem designed to lend some squish to rigid bikes without adding a lot of weight.
If your mountain bike isn't in top condition, it's often be a good idea to call off the ride. A lack of confidence in equipment can result in injury.
Rock Bar storage bags can be mounted to bars, top and down tubes, and even mountain bike fork legs.
Squeeze another season or two out of your mountain bike with these essential upgrades.
A mountain lion attacked two mountain bikers in Washington, killing one and injuring the other.
Get up to speed on the latest changes and trail conditions at the Whistler Bike Park from opening weekend.
The Singletracks community shares their best (and worst) mountain bike crash stories.
A surprising amount of mountain bike prototyping, testing, and even production takes place in the USA.
The 2018 IMBA Ride Centers are all Silver-level, and include Roanoke, VA; Eagle County, CO; and Steamboat Springs, CO.
The Stompump is a portable, mini foot-actuated pump designed for use with mountain bike tires.
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![[feature]
[caption id="attachment_242107" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-28.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242107" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-28-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
[/feature]
Pivot has a new edition of <a href="http://www.pivotcycles.com/bike/Firebird">the Firebird</a> available today, and <a href="https://www.pivotcycles.com/bike/firebird-29">it's a 29er</a>.
What was once Pivot's long-travel, downhill-inspired, park bike is now their long-travel, downhill-inspired 29er. Although it's a new platform, the geometry hasn't moved too far from last year's numbers, leaving the change in wheel size as the biggest difference on paper.
[caption id="attachment_242108" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1978.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242108" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1978-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
The rear travel was decreased by 8mm to 162mm, and of course is still managed by a DW-link. Up front, it'll still have 170mm of travel and a Fox 36 fork. The wheelbase lengthened by about a half-inch, and the head tube angle is the same as last year, except in high bottom bracket mode, which steepens the geo by one-half degree to 65.5 degrees.
Also in the high bottom bracket mode, the seat tube angle steepens by one-half degree to 75 degrees. The standover height is slightly lower than it was in 2017, and the reach is close to a half-inch longer on all sizes.
Perhaps the most visible difference is that Pivot straightened out the top and down tubes to keep in line with the straight-edged and squared tubing that has taken over mountain bike aesthetics. The same thing happened with their new Trail 429, a departure from Pivot's previously curvy tubes.
[caption id="attachment_242109" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-78.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242109" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-78-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
The new <a href="https://www.singletracks.com/bike-reviews/Freeride-bikes/Pivot-Firebird_2307">Firebird</a> 29 won't be a budget bike. The least expensive build starts at $5,099. With that, buyers get Fox suspension, a Shimano XT derailleur with SLX shifters and brakes, a Race Race Aeffect crankset, 30mm Sun Ringle Duroc rims, and a 125mm or a 150mm dropper post, depending on the size of the frame.
At the top end, buyers get a SRAM Eagle XX1 12-speed drivetrain, a Fox Float X2 shock, Fox 36 Fork, SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes, and Reynolds Black Label carbon wheels for $9,199.
It seems that this is really the year of the long-travel 29er. A few years ago, a 140mm travel full-suspension bike would've been dubbed a "long-travel 29er," but now brands have figured out how to stuff another inch of travel into the package. Of course 200mm travel downhill bikes are seeing World Cup races now, but most single crown enduro bikes with 29 inch wheels have stayed under 150mm of travel in the rear.
[caption id="attachment_242110" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1879.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242110" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1879-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Pivot's DW-link and their adjustable geometry chip. Photo: Pivot Cycles.[/caption]
In 2016, bikes like the Yeti SB5.5 debuted with 160mm and 140mm of travel in front and rear respectively, while the newest rendition of the Trek Slash notched things up to 160mm front, 150mm rear. Only a handful of 29ers, including the Specialized Enduro 29, the YT Capra 29, and <a href="https://www.evil-bikes.com/products/wreckoning">Evil's The Wreckoning</a> offer 160mm of rear travel currently. (Actually, The Wreckoning features 161mm of rear travel, which the new Firebird edges by a millimeter with 162mm of rear travel.)
[caption id="attachment_242111" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-235.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242111" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-235-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Eddie Masters whipping the new Firebird 29. Photo: Pivot Cycles.[/caption]
"The Firebird 29 is the perfect bike for an enduro racer or hardcore rider who really wants a long-travel 29er that won’t penalize them in any way for having way more bike than they need," says Pivot's Chris Cocalis.
Pivot says the Firebird 29 is available now in authorized dealers across the country.](https://images.singletracks.com/graphics/no_photo_750x500.png)
![[feature]
[caption id="attachment_242107" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-28.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242107" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-28-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
[/feature]
Pivot has a new edition of <a href="http://www.pivotcycles.com/bike/Firebird">the Firebird</a> available today, and <a href="https://www.pivotcycles.com/bike/firebird-29">it's a 29er</a>.
What was once Pivot's long-travel, downhill-inspired, park bike is now their long-travel, downhill-inspired 29er. Although it's a new platform, the geometry hasn't moved too far from last year's numbers, leaving the change in wheel size as the biggest difference on paper.
[caption id="attachment_242108" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1978.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242108" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1978-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
The rear travel was decreased by 8mm to 162mm, and of course is still managed by a DW-link. Up front, it'll still have 170mm of travel and a Fox 36 fork. The wheelbase lengthened by about a half-inch, and the head tube angle is the same as last year, except in high bottom bracket mode, which steepens the geo by one-half degree to 65.5 degrees.
Also in the high bottom bracket mode, the seat tube angle steepens by one-half degree to 75 degrees. The standover height is slightly lower than it was in 2017, and the reach is close to a half-inch longer on all sizes.
Perhaps the most visible difference is that Pivot straightened out the top and down tubes to keep in line with the straight-edged and squared tubing that has taken over mountain bike aesthetics. The same thing happened with their new Trail 429, a departure from Pivot's previously curvy tubes.
[caption id="attachment_242109" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-78.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242109" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-78-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Photo: Pivot Cycles[/caption]
The new <a href="https://www.singletracks.com/bike-reviews/Freeride-bikes/Pivot-Firebird_2307">Firebird</a> 29 won't be a budget bike. The least expensive build starts at $5,099. With that, buyers get Fox suspension, a Shimano XT derailleur with SLX shifters and brakes, a Race Race Aeffect crankset, 30mm Sun Ringle Duroc rims, and a 125mm or a 150mm dropper post, depending on the size of the frame.
At the top end, buyers get a SRAM Eagle XX1 12-speed drivetrain, a Fox Float X2 shock, Fox 36 Fork, SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes, and Reynolds Black Label carbon wheels for $9,199.
It seems that this is really the year of the long-travel 29er. A few years ago, a 140mm travel full-suspension bike would've been dubbed a "long-travel 29er," but now brands have figured out how to stuff another inch of travel into the package. Of course 200mm travel downhill bikes are seeing World Cup races now, but most single crown enduro bikes with 29 inch wheels have stayed under 150mm of travel in the rear.
[caption id="attachment_242110" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1879.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242110" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pivot_Firebird_29_bike_details-1879-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Pivot's DW-link and their adjustable geometry chip. Photo: Pivot Cycles.[/caption]
In 2016, bikes like the Yeti SB5.5 debuted with 160mm and 140mm of travel in front and rear respectively, while the newest rendition of the Trek Slash notched things up to 160mm front, 150mm rear. Only a handful of 29ers, including the Specialized Enduro 29, the YT Capra 29, and <a href="https://www.evil-bikes.com/products/wreckoning">Evil's The Wreckoning</a> offer 160mm of rear travel currently. (Actually, The Wreckoning features 161mm of rear travel, which the new Firebird edges by a millimeter with 162mm of rear travel.)
[caption id="attachment_242111" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-235.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-242111" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/zfaulkner_2018_NZ_Pivot_FB_29_Eddie-235-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780" /></a> Eddie Masters whipping the new Firebird 29. Photo: Pivot Cycles.[/caption]
"The Firebird 29 is the perfect bike for an enduro racer or hardcore rider who really wants a long-travel 29er that won’t penalize them in any way for having way more bike than they need," says Pivot's Chris Cocalis.
Pivot says the Firebird 29 is available now in authorized dealers across the country.](https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GIrls-on-Wheels-group-shot.jpg)
