All New 2021 Pivot Trail 429 // First Ride Report

When I got the call to head down to Pivot Bicycles HQ to pick up a new test bike I was absolutely frothing. Excited would be an understatement! I have had a few Pivot’s of my own in the past and have been an on looker to their new models. The build quality and riding characteristics of Pivot's bikes really suit my style of riding, the new Pivot Trail 429 is no exception.

There are some very pronounced updates to the 2021 Trail 429 model, as well as some hidden goodies Pivot went above and beyond with, but more on that later.

What's New
Right off the bat you can tell this bike has had some major changes to the frame. Pivot has gone with a vertically mounted Trunnion layout with a new progressive DW Link with 120mm of travel that prioritizes pedaling efficiency. Paired with the new linkage is a high volume Fox Factory Float DPX2, a shock that I am a huge fan of. This new linkage gives you the hard charging support that you want when the going gets rough while also keeping you high up in the stroke on technical climbs. When standing up and grinding up a tough climb, the pedaling efficiency is immediately noticeable.

A change that's not readily noticed just by looking at the bike is the introduction of a proprietary hollow core carbon mold, as well as full length internal cable routing. The new Pivot Trail 429 frame with the shock comes in at a 5.9lbs, a full 300 grams lighter than the previous version. Our Pro XT/XTR build comes in at an impressive 26.5lbs. This  weight is very noticeable and has helped push my riding distances with less fatigue. While losing some grams Pivot was also able to increase the frame's stiffness. This is a frame that encroaches on XC race bike's efficiency and speed with the ground-pounding durability of a trail bike. A really cool feature that I think makes a big difference to the rider is that each size frame has a specific stiffness tune. A size Medium bike is going to be more compliant than a Large in the testing machines, but the theory is that different sized frames will have riders of different weights, and those weights will change the demands put on the frame. So if a size Medium needs to be as stiff and strong as an XL to pass durability testing, a 5'6 145-pound rider is going to get railroaded while the 6'3 210-pound rider will feel like the bike is just right. It's a great concept that certainly adds cost to the equation but makes sense considering Pivot is a brand that puts performance above all else. 

Check out our full write up at theloamwolf.com

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