This latest Pivot Mach 6 will fit riders of most sizes, with frames from XS to large for humans who stand between 4’10” and 6’2”. The new 27.5″ wheeled carbon fiber platform retains its DW-Link suspension design, with 158mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork.
Important changes? Well, the shock slid into a vertical position to open up space in the frame, it has two new gear mounting docks, and the suspension leverage curve is now optimized for a coil shock.
But did they update the geometry table? Indeed, the frame’s reach has lengthened by nearly 4cm on some sizes, with XS bikes stretching to 410mm, followed by 430mm, 460mm, and 480mm on a size large. Those reach numbers are in the low BB setting, and the headtube angle shifts between 65° and 65.5° while the BB shifts by 6mm between the two geo settings. The chainstay length on all sizes slid back a sliver to 431mm from the former 429mm. Finally, the frame’s notably short seat tubes that start out at 343mm on an XS are angled at 75.5° in the low position, and 76° in high.
For taller riders, the size large Mach 6 reach measurement may look insufficient, and the brand’s Switchblade at 490mm and Firebird model at 495.3mm might be worth a look. Given the 510mm+ reach measurements we’re seeing on a lot of large and XL gravity bikes of late, we can safely expect to see even longer versions of the Switchblade and Firebird in the near future.
The Mach 6 DW-Link driven shock orientation is now horizontal, with a more progressive leverage curve to play better with coil-sprung shocks. The bike does still work with air cans, and complete builds can be ordered with either spring option.
The reconfigured front triangle now has space for a water bottle and a gear mount under the top tube. There’s also a “gear dock” under the BB, leaving no reason to strap things to the frame and scratch up the pretty paint. Cable routing on this latest Mach 6 is internally guided to make it quiet while simplifying maintenance, and Pivot says that the chainstay protector is “ultra-quiet.”
On to the build options, there is no inexpensive or “entry-level” Mach 6. The lowest-priced “Race” model starts at $5,599, kitted with a Shimano XT drivetrain, SLX brakes, a Marzocchi Z1 Bomber fork and Bomber CR shock, SLX 4-pot brakes, a Fox Transfer performance dropper post, and a DT Swiss M1900 wheelset. Climbing the lineup, the next model up sells for an additional $400 with a mixed SRAM X01 and GX drivetrain and Code R 4-pot brakes. The top-tier frame is mounted up with Fox Live Valve suspension, a SRAM AXS wireless drivetrain and dropper, Code RSC brakes, and Reynolds carbon wheels for a jaw-dropping $12,099.
All of the builds are shod in a set of Maxxis Assegai 27.5 x 2.5″ tires with the 3C Max Terra tread compound and EXO+ casings.
Click over to the Mach 6 page for additional info.
