mountain bikes: Test: First Ride Pivot Trail 429 – New trail bike from the high-end manufacturer

Test: The Pivot Trail 429 is the successor to the best-selling Mach 429, which was one of Pivot's first 29-inch fullys. With the trail rocket, Pivot Cycles wants to enrich the bike scene with new innovations. The bike, which is available in three main configurations and in five different sizes, uses new technologies. We had the opportunity to test the jewel in the Pro version for €6799, plus €149 for the Fox DPX2 damper, at a Pivot press camp.

The Pivot Trail 429 is one of the most unusual trail bikes we've had the privilege of testing to date. On the one hand, there is the extremely stiff construction, with which you can compete with one or the other Enduro. On the other hand, the extreme versatility of the bike. The bicycle manufacturer from Phoenix, Arizona, advertises with the slogan "Extremely fast and incredibly versatile" for a reason. The selection of components is also versatile, so you can freely choose between Shimano or Sram attachments for each model. Speaking of models: a distinction is made between Team, Pro and Race. Race is the cheapest, starting at €5649; Whereas the team accounts for a whopping €10399. The damper upgrade option is available for all variants. Which is definitely very interesting for downhill-oriented trail fans.

Pivot Trail 429 – The frame

Pivot engineers are among the pioneers of carbon manufacturing in the bicycle industry. This experience is also reflected in the performance of the bikes. The frames are not manufactured from the outside in as usual, but are laminated from the inside out using Hollow Core Internal Molding Technology. Which has some advantages, such as a crease and bubble-free bonding of the individual layers. As a result, the stability increases with less weight. The narrower manufacturing tolerances ensure a long service life.

Let's get down to a few facts that make Pivot Trail 429 with 120 mm travel so unique. On the one hand there would be the use of Super Boost, which ensures sufficient rigidity, especially for the 29-inch wheels. What's behind it? Super Boost describes the installation width of the rear wheel and measures 157 mm in width. We actually only know this standard from thoroughbred downhill cars. Unfortunately, there is not yet the large selection of hubs, but we are sure that this will change in the next few years. If you are now thinking about freedom on your heels, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

The S-shape of the rear end ensures there is enough space between the shoe and the carbon strut. You don't have to stop at big tires either, there is room for 29 x 2,6 inches and in 27,5 even for 3,0 inch tires. The space for the drinking bottle is also generous, even in the XS frame there is space for a 0,7 liter bottle. Many details have been considered here. The internally routed cables, which are already de rigueur today, are clamped to the frame with specially designed covers (cable port systems) as in other models. We also really liked the solution with the frame protectors and they passed the test in practice. The rear triangle concept has also passed, as with the other models, a DW link is used here. In combination with the metric Fox DPX2 damper, this promises pedal-free pedaling.

Pivot Trail 429 – The Geometry

Apparently they also thought about the right geometry for a worthy successor. Compared to these, the long and flat orientation ensures sufficient stability. The short chainstay, at just 430mm, ensures agility in tight, technical terrain. The steep seat angle of 74° particularly increases efficiency when pedaling. If the steering angle is still too steep, you can use the 17 mm spacer supplied by Pivot.

Pivot Trail 429 Equipment

The equipment is largely dominated by Shimano, in our test we rode the XT/XTR version with a single drive. The handlebars were adorned with Shimano XT brake levers and a Shimano XT shifter as well as PIVOT's own integrated Phoenix grips PadLoc called gel pads on the outside. Due to the diagonally sawn PIVOT Phoenix Team Carbon handlebars (760 mm width), these gel pads can dampen vibrations and ensure relaxed hands even on long tours.

A Shimano XT M8000 brake with 180 mm rotors decelerates on the front and rear wheels. In all trail situations, this can be dosed cleanly, but also ensures a decent deceleration. DT Swiss supplies the wheels for our test bike, we rolled on the 29" M1700 with an inner width of 30mm. The MAXXIS tires in tubeless construction provided a good grip.

It is shifted with a Shimano XTR 11SPD GS rear derailleur. Seat post and chassis come from Fox. A Fox 34 Factory with 130 mm travel works on the front wheel, this suspension fork can also be exchanged for a 140 mm version. A Fox Float DPX2 works at the rear, which is equipped with Pivot's own sag indicator.

Pivot Trail 429 - On the trail

Our day started relaxed in the morning with the setup of the bikes. The chassis, which harmonizes perfectly with the frame, was adjusted to our wishes, and this was done quickly with little helpers such as the sag indicator. Now we come to the actual topic. The first few meters went slightly uphill on a single trail. I confidently set the damper to "Firm" and was enthusiastic about the climbing properties.

At the top I turned the lever to "Open" and looked forward to the upcoming descent. After the first few turns it was immediately clear that it would be a great day and the wheels made everyone smile. The rear end works very sensitively and responds very well to impacts from below. The short chainstay promises maximum riding fun and ensures maneuverability. This, in combination with the longer reach and the lower bottom bracket, balances the balance between smoothness and agility.

After a few laps in the trail park, I also found that it is not necessary to lock the suspension every time you go uphill. For the rest of the day I didn't touch the levers again, but it didn't make any noticeable bobbing on the climbs. After a while, the confidence in the Pivot Trail 429 grew and after a quick look at the damping elements, I also noticed certain reserves. I really wanted to take advantage of this, so after lunch I went to the Winterberg Bike Park. My assumption was confirmed after the first descent, the bike can definitely do more than what was expected from the sheet. We could test the bike for two days on a wide variety of trails and were amazed at how much fun it was.