First Look: Pivot's New Mach 6 1

Pivot Cycles has been steadily building up an impressive range of bikes over the past couple of years, reaching peak awesomeness in 2016 with the Arizona-based brand's incredibly versatile Switchblade snagging the prestigious Vital MTB Shreddy award for best trail bike. Not ones to rest on their laurels, the Pivot crew has been hard at work refining and evolving their 6" trail slayer, the Mach 6. Perhaps the bike that historically has had the most trouble living up to its full potential, the Mach 6 is Pivot's answer for those looking for a big bike that can tackle any trail and get you back up to the top for one more run. For 2018, the Mach 6 sees a complete make-over, with size-specific geometry numbers to ensure riders of all sizes can benefit from a great fitting bike. With a 65.75-degree head angle, the bike is now slacker - but not super slack. With 460mm of reach on the size L, the bike is now longer - but not super long. And with a 74-degree seat tube angle, it's steeper - but not super steep.

“The Mach 6 Carbon is one of our most loved and best Pivot designs ever, so we took the update of this model very seriously.” said Pivot President/CEO Chris Cocalis. “This new design takes the Mach 6 performance to another level by maintaining the climbing and all-around trail bike performance that the Mach 6 is famous for, while giving it the aggressive descending capabilities of our longer travel bikes.  With the new Mach 6 we continue to expand the boundaries of versatility as both the ultimate enduro machine and the right choice for aggressive trail riding.” (hear more from Chris in his Inside Line episode)

Built around 27.5" wheels, the Mach 6 features Dave Weagle's well-proven DW-link and based on our previous Pivot experiences, the bike should deliver an efficient yet compliant ride. The geometry numbers also suggest a more well-rounded package, with Pivot looking to strike a good balance between maneuverability and stability, as opposed to jumping on the ultra-long, ultra-slack bandwagon. The longer reach and steeper seat-tube should also make it better on steep climbs. We'll know more when we get a chance to ride one, in the meantime, you can scroll down for the lowdown and to see the bike in action.

2018 Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Carbon

• Full carbon frame featuring leading edge carbon fiber materials and Pivot’s proprietary hollow core internal molding technology.
• 155mm (6.1”) of renowned dw-link® suspension Pivot’s size-specific long and low enduro geometry (Medium, Large and XL sizes)
• 160mm front travel
• 27.5-inch wheels for the flickable handling and superior rollover
• Ultra-stiff, DH-inspired, double-wishbone rear triangle design
• Cold-forged wide and stiff upper and lower linkage design with Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings
• 12 x 148mm Boost rear spacing for maximum stiffness and control
• Custom-tuned Fox Factory Float DPX2 shock with Kashima
• Internal cable routing, featuring Pivot’s Cable Port System and full Di2 integration
• Internal dropper post compatible
• Pivot removable front derailleur mount for a clean frame design is 1X and 2X gearing compatible
• 180mm Post mount disc brake mounts for precision and weight savings
• New ultra quiet low durometer rubberized frame protection
• MSRP: $3899 (alloy base model) to $10,398 USD (top end carbon model)

2018 Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Aluminum

• Pivot aluminum frame with next-generation, variable wall thickness hydro-forming - for carbon-level strength, stiffness, precision, and control
• Pivot’s size-specific long and low enduro geometry (Medium, Large and XL sizes)
• 155mm (6.1”) of renowned dw-link® suspension rear and 160mm front travel
• 27.5-inch wheels for the flickable handling and superior rollover
• Cold-forged wide and stiff upper and lower linkage design with Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings
• 12 x 148mm Boost rear spacing for maximum stiffness and control
• Custom-tuned Fox Float DPS shock with EVOL
• Internal dropper post compatible
• Pivot removable front derailleur mount for a clean frame design is 1X and 2X gearing compatible
• 180mm Post mount disc brake mounts for precision and weight savings
• New ultra quiet low durometer rubberized chainstay protection
• MSRP: $3899 (alloy base model) to $10,398 USD (top end carbon model)

2018 Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Geometry

2018 Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Build Kits

To view all the build kits available, point your browser to www.pivotcycles.com.

Carbon Build Kit Selection:

Aluminum Build Kit Selection:

What About the Ladies?

Here is what Pivot has to say to all you ladies who shred:

At Pivot, we believe the bike should fit the rider, not the other way around. Our approach to rider-size-specific geometry relies on a balanced fit and adjusted geometry to maintain correct wheelbase length and handling to properly accommodate the proportions of every size ride, including smaller athletes. Our S and XS sizes are built with shorter head tubes to create more stand-over height, enabling you to ride in a centered, athletic position with tons of clearance over the top tube – essential to attacking descents and cornering with confidence and speed.

We create the same handling experience across the range by engineering specifically each frame size. Size-specific carbon molds enable us to use smaller diameters and unique carbon layups for lighter frames in the small sizes while maintaining the same high strength in a more compact design. Additionally, for riders on our extra small bikes, Pivot’s Float DPX2 tune offers an incredibly wide range of shock tuning which enables us to set up the Mach 6 Carbon for a diverse range of rider weights and abilities.

To learn more and to discover the full new range of Mach 6 bikes, head on over to www.pivotcycles.com.