Pivot Phoenix DH Bike with a Singlecrown and AXS Dropper for Enduro? Let's Go Racing - Episode 3 29

Why would you want to make a Pivot Phoenix downhill mountain bike ready for enduro racing? Brian Cahal goes through the details of his bike setup, converting a DH bike into a race-ready enduro rig with a singlecrown fork, dropper seat post and 12-speed drivetrain. He has to run a SRAM AXS dropper seatpost because the Phoenix doesn't have cable routing for a dropper and his RockShox Zeb fork is 180mm travel because axle-to-crown of the 190 was too tall. Plenty more bike tech where that came from!
Credit: Brian Cahal
Related:
SRAM
Troy Lee Designs
Maxxis
RockShox
Pivot
Enduro
Brian Cahal
Let's Go Racing
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29 comments

View replies to: Pivot Phoenix DH Bike with a Singlecrown and AXS Dropper for Enduro? Let's Go Racing - Episode 3

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Burgh
3 years ago
Sounds like he's trying to create a size small Nicolai G1. Sweet rig regardless. A+ on the intro!
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Pierrot_22
3 years ago
What a sweet setup! I run a Mondraker summum with a 180 durolux, dropper post and 11 speed xo drive train when lift season has not started yet and it’s as an absolute hoot! Way to be cost efficient dude
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Paco77
3 years ago
This is awesome. Interested to know why you didn't stick with the double crown fork though (since many people seem to be experimenting with them for enduro now)
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Brian Cahal
3 years ago
Yo! A few reasons that I went with the single crown. Weight is one of them but also I really like the performance and feel of the Zeb, I feel like it has a little better small bump performance than the Boxxer and its better suited for trail use. Also I had the 51mm offset boxxer and I liked the feel of the shorter offset on the zeb. And it didn’t happen often but on tight switchbacks I would max out the steering on the boxxer every once and a while. Plus I can do x ups now.
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GeorgeMichael
3 years ago
Cool video, thank you. Yes, the Geometron G1 (in the shortest size) is very similar to the Pivot and gives you exactly what Brian pointed out as good: the long chain stays and 62 degree HA. Plus a steep seat tube. Never had a bike that climbs so well (just as Brian describes). Climbes better than the Yeti SB150 and SB130LR.
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astrizzle
3 years ago
This is the future of enduro bikes right there! How much does it weigh? Has to be pretty darn close in weight to some of the bigger enduro bikes these days and idk about you but I think I'd rather have this...
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fartymarty
3 years ago
I completely agree. I see enduro and DH frames morphing into the same thing with different components hung off them. After all they are built to do the same job - getting down a hill as fast as possible. DH bikes just don't need to pedal back up.
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Brian Cahal
3 years ago
For a bit I was running double down rear, exo+ front with no insert and it think it was right around 36 with pedals. The frame is really light. At race spec with heavier tires I think its low to mid 37s. Not to shabby for running a coil shock, if I really tried I could get this thing even lower.
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astrizzle
3 years ago
Thanks man, I wonder what the ST angle ends up being with the dropper post extended fully on it too. Might be proving the whole steeper seat tube angle making a better climbing bike crowd WRONG! (A.K.A. the entire bike industry)
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EBlackwell
3 years ago
According to Pivot's website, the STA on the stock Phoenix is 76 degrees. Assuming this is with a 200mm fork, this 'enduro' version probably has a steeper seat angle, as the front end is probably lower (although long travel SC forks can have a pretty long axle to crown). I'd wager the steep STA is a big part of why this bike can pedal uphill decently at all. While suspension design matters, in my experience, being in the more biomechanically advantageous position that comes with a steep STA makes a huge difference on steep climbs.
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CadeG4
3 years ago
Nice job bro! Currently riding the other way. Have my geometron set up with a 180mm boxxer with 175 back. Similar idea as my bike is still over half a degree slacker.
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DHmental
3 years ago
I’m currently running a Canfield one.2 with a mezzer pro single crown up front. Best all mountain bike ever, really gives me the confidence to send it. I used to just ride my dh bike up hills, but I’m getting too old for that.
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beachmtb
3 years ago
i don´t get why more people isn´t doing this. I know why I am not doing it at the moment : money for a new bike. But this is amazing, and great video. thanks.
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Eoin
3 years ago
My guess is because so many brands will sell you a super-enduro bike: 170-180mm travel bike marketed as pedal friendly mini-DH bike. But there is a good point made here that the geo on DH bikes isn't quite the same as the latest and greatest super-enduro bikes.
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yzedf
3 years ago
For all but the nastiest raw double black tech trails I’m perfectly comfortable with my 170/170 bike that has a flip chip. The dh bike just needs to be cleaned up a bit so I can sell it.
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BlazersDad89
3 years ago
Super interesting video.

I always thought it was weird that Shark Attack Jack ran a Large bike at his size but the parallels you draw on for reach and having room to move on the bike are very valid points.
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Explodo
3 years ago
He did quite a good job of explaining his geometric ideas. I was pleased to see that.
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