2018 Pivot Mach 5.5 Carbon Race Race XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

 

In a vacuum, it’s easy to classify a mountain bike: measure the head tube angle, check the reach, and check the depth of travel. But vacuums suck, and Pivot’s re-imagined Mach 5.5 Carbon Race XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike refuses to so easily be classified. It’s titular 5.5in of DW Link travel and Switchblade-esque reach may suggest pure all-mountain bike at first, but the head tube angle rides the boundary of what we’d consider enduro slack. The bike is finished with a selection of kit from Shimano and Race Face. The build may lack the golden sheen of current one-by royalty, but makes up for the absence of shiny bling with the kind of bullheaded durability that better survives the occasional digger.

The slack head tube and surprisingly deep-feeling travel reward aggression in chunky stuff, but our favorite part of the bike may be the rear triangle. Or rather, it’s what’s happening between the rear and front triangles; DW-Link may never have shined brighter than on the Mach 5.5. It combines the same pivot cartridge bearing featured on models like the Phoenix, but it ditches the clevis altogether. That makes for less weight, a tighter back end, and a light-off-the-top feel that stays glued to the trail—a trait only enhanced by the addition of mid-plus tires and a steep seat tube. We expect a bike with such a long cockpit and a 66.5-degree head tube angle to leave us giddy on descents, but the suspension and 2.6in tires mean that it makes us just as happy while earning our laps on climbs.

 

2018 Pivot Mach 5.5 Carbon Race Race XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

A climb-happy trail bike that drops in with bad intentions

5in of DW-Link suspension with light-off-the-top DH pedigree

Removable front derailleur mount tidies up a one-by

Longer, lower geometry than the previous version

Steep seat tube and stubby stays keep climbing on point

Boost spacing stiffens the rear wheel and allows truncated stays

Pivot’s carbon expertise protected by rubber frame guards

Workhorse build kit shrugs off trail abuse

 

2018 Pivot Mach 5.5 Carbon Race Race XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

Frame Material:

carbon fiber

Suspension:

DW-Link

Rear Shock:

FOX Float Perfomance DPS EVOL

Rear Travel:

140mm

Fork:

FOX 36 Performance

Front Travel:

160mm

Headset:

Pivot

Shifters:

Shimano SLX M7000

Front Derailleur:

n/a

Rear Derailleur:

Shimano XT M8000

ISCG Tabs:

ISCG 05

Crankset:

30t Race Face Aeffect SL

Bottom Bracket:

PF92

Cassette:

11-46t Shimano SLX M7000

Brakeset:

Shimano M615

Brake Type:

hydraulic disc

Handlebar:

Phoenix Race Aluminum

Handlebar Width:

750mm

Grips:

Phoenix Team Padloc

Stem:

Phoenix Team Enduro

Stem Length:

[XS, S] 45mm, [M – XL] 55mm

Saddle:

Phoenix WTB Vigo Race

Seatpost:

[XS] LEV Integra 100mm, [S – XL] FOX Transfer

Seatpost Diameter:

30.9mm

Wheelset:

Sun Ringle Duroc 40

Front Axle:

15 x 110mm Boost

Rear Axle:

12 x 148mm Boost

Tires:

[front] Maxxis Minion DHF, [rear] Maxxis Rekon

Tire Size:

27.5 x 2.6in

Pedals:

not included

Extras:

rubberized frame guards

Recommended Use:

trail

Manufacturer Warranty:

3 years on frame