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EB15: Pivot Speeds Up Mach 6 with New Aluminum and Carbon Models

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Team rider Aaron Chase spotted out on his new aluminum Mach 6 scouting for new trails.

Aluminum. Typically the word is associated with affordability more than high-performance, but for Pivot’s newest mountain – bike being more affordable is only part of the story. Earlier this year, while taking a tour of Pivot’s headquarters in Tempe, Arizona we were shown a few sections of aluminum tubing. These pieces of metal stood out for their impressive use of hydroforming and while we weren’t told what they would be for, we were told we could expect something new around Eurobike.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, check out the all new Pivot Mach 6 Aluminum. There is also a new Pivot Mach 6 Carbon which is worthy of excitement in its own right, but we have a feeling that the aluminum model might be more exciting for many readers since the use of metal for the frame will save you $1000 on the frameset and $1200 on the least expensive complete bike. Stuffed with many of the features you will find on the carbon Mach 6, the aluminum bike may have you reconsidering alloy frames…

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-4

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-2 Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-3

When it came to designing the aluminum Mach 6, one of the main goals was to reach the same stiffness numbers as those of the carbon frame. That was a tall order especially considering the carbon frame has gotten quite a bit stiffer with the latest iteration.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-22

Pivot factory tour bikerumor (100) Pivot factory tour bikerumor (101)

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-16Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-9

To create an aluminum frame with carbon like stiffness but without the weight of a tank, the aluminum Mach 6 relies on what Pivot is calling next generation hydroforming. By using variable wall thicknesses and custom jigs in order to machine the complex seat tube shape, the new aluminum frame boasts all of the stiffness and precision of the carbon fuselage and comes in at 7.4 pounds for a medium frame with shock.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-19 Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-17

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The Mach 6 aluminum continues with 155 mm of Dw-link suspension that is controlled through a new cold forged double wishbone linkage design that is wider and 150% stiffer at the upper link and uses larger Enduro Max cartridge bearings at the frame attachment points. The shock clevis has also been redesigned for improved strength as well as increased clamping force on the shock body. Meant for air shocks only, the frame can be paired with a 150 mm–160 mm suspension fork.

Like the new Mach 6 Carbon, the frame uses Boost 148x12mm rear spacing with 27.5 inch wheels. Designed for 1x or 2x drive trains, the aluminum frame includes a removable Side Swing front derailleur mount. Built with mostly external cable routing, the shift cable passes internally through the chain stay and the frame is compatible with internal or external dropper posts. The aluminum frame continues the use of a PF92 bottom bracket and provides ISCG05 mounting tabs. Post mount disc brakes and a tapered head tube finish up the vitals.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-21

Sold with a custom valved Fox Factory Kashima Float DPS Shock with EVOL air sleeve, the Mach 6 aluminum will be available in frame only for $1999 or complete builds starting at $3499. These will start shipping to dealers in September.

Pivot mach 6 carbon aluminum alloy 2016-23

If you want the ultimate in light weight performance in the Mach 6 package, the carbon bike is still king. Not only is the carbon frame still lighter, but the addition of new suspension linkages means the new frame is substantially stiffer than the old one as well.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-48

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-46 Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-38

Using the same code forged double wishbone links used on the new aluminum model, the carbon Mach 6 sees an increase of stiffness by 150% at the upper link. The frame also uses the redesigned clevis and larger EnduroMax sealed cartridge bearings. Another big change for the frame is the switch to Boost 148 spacing for increased frame stiffness as well as improved tire clearance.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-43

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Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-37

This was also a perfect time to update the Mach 6 carbon with the Shimano XTR Di2 compatible Pivot Cable Port System. The cable ports allow for extremely clean routing of all possible drivetrain options as well as providing a battery hatch on the downtube to keep the weight as low to the ground as possible.

Pivot mach 6 aluminum alloy 2016-29

Also equipped with a custom valved Fox Factory Kashima Float DPS Shock with EVOL air sleeve, Mach 6 Carbon frames will start at $2,999 while complete builds will start at $4699. You’ll be able to find these at dealers effective immediately.

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Both bikes share the same geometry and are available in five sizes.

pivotcycles.com

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21 Comments
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Mattoid
Mattoid
8 years ago

Pivot’s lines just never translate well to aluminum. However, the price point is awesome.

Blerb
Blerb
8 years ago

Sweet, they fixed the janky cable routing on the carbon Mach 6

Reformed Roadie
Reformed Roadie
8 years ago

No bottle mount in the front triangle.
sub-24″ tt in Large.

FAIL

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

Whatever. Wake me up when they create a dedicated Mach 5.7 for 27.5 wheels.

davechopoptions
davechopoptions
8 years ago

Wake me up when the geometry is dragged kicking and screaming out of the 1990s. Medium with the reach figure of 401mm???

Chad
Chad
8 years ago

PIVOT! PLEAASSSEEE put bottle cage mounts in your frames again! I prefer 1 bottle on my rides over camelbacks. I also use the bolts for a bracket that holds my pump. I understand that it might not be possible for them in ALL SIZES and depending on rear shock configuration for the mach 6 a bottle might not fit but it would still be so nice to have the option. I’d like a Mach6 but would probably end up buying the 4 just for that single reason. Speaking of, when you going to make the mach 4 in alum with 650b?

Chad
Chad
8 years ago

P.S. Great job making these frames in aluminum more affordable.

gbcoke
gbcoke
8 years ago

Kinda starting to see its age imo,and the alu version doesn’t really help.
Also,cable routing on the alu version looks real sloppy and out of place on such a high end frame
(1999usd for an alu frame is fair,but not exactly a bargain).
Last thing, the geo looks way off than whats considered the standard these days (slack sta,short wb/reach/tt).im sure that some will say that the new norm of long,low,slack is wrong,but the market and most riders says different.

Stampers
Stampers
8 years ago

for my local riding I go minimalist, which means no tools, no tubes, no air etc. The only thing I carry is a water bottle and snacks. Yes I’m willing to do the walk-of-shame but with tubeless I haven’t gotten a flat in 3 years. I can’t stand hydration packs. a bike w/o a water bottle mount (on the top of the downtube) is a deal breaker for me…

Tilla
Tilla
8 years ago

I put a DB Inline on my M6 carbon and rigged a bottle cage to it, so now it works with a 22oz bottle, but it would be much nicer to mount a cage on it without a bunch of hardware.

chris
chris
8 years ago

The angled shots it looks OK. but those side on shots make for a funky looking bike!!!

Nick
Nick
8 years ago

Speaking as past Pivot owner (original generation Mach429) I’d love to take a look at the Mach 6 in the future, but the geo is continuing to throw me. Just looking at reach, its almost 2 inches shorter than my current bike (Banshee Phantom)… and sizing up isn’t an option, as the XL isn’t very XL to me. I’m sure the geo is working for somebody, but its not me. And yes, I know I’m basing this all on the internet, and not an actual ride.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

To those of you speaking about no bottle mounts. Both the Carbon and the Aluminum have them on the underside of the down tube.

Bog
Bog
8 years ago

I’m definitely in agreement with others here. The sizing is all messed up with 1980’s numbers. Give us decent reach numbers and a steeper STA and you’ll have a winner. Until then – no thanks.

Fred Vitale
Fred Vitale
8 years ago

I can totally tell how that bikes from the geometry sheet.

When I give it a solid amount of input into a corner, it reacts predictability, but coming in a tad hot makes things more complicated. I had to scrub speed and pedal coming out of the corner.

It’s so obvious it says right there on the Geo sheet.

davechopoptions
davechopoptions
8 years ago

Fred – Handling from geo charts is tough to predict. Fit from reach/stack figures is not – that’s what is being criticised.

Taylor
Taylor
8 years ago

2015 Mach 6 Carbon rips, bought one this season. Can only imagine how sweet the new ride will be. Also rode the 429Trail recently and it’s reeeeeeeeally nice.

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

So all of you that are complaining have any of you actually rode one of the PIVOT Mach 6’s? If not go to PIVOT web-site look at when a demo is in your area and take the time to go and ride one. That’s what I did and these bikes ride amazingly.

If you are just looking at a Geo chart how can you tell what a bike rides like.

Ob1Hoagie
Ob1Hoagie
8 years ago

Chris… put some water bottle mounts on your frameset ! We DO live in the desert ! 😉

Keith
Keith
8 years ago

I own a 2014 429 carbon and LOVE it! Have carried it across the country and rode the wheels off of it! I recently rented a ’15 mach 6 to see what the big deal is about 27.5 wheels and the longer travel. Was skeptical at first but not far into my first ride I was sold. There is NO way I will sell my 429, but I WILL be buying a new 2016 Mach 6 Carbon this year for sure. With these 2 bikes most trails are covered 😉
I don’t work for Pivot. Wish I did though. I’d work for bike discounts..lol
I’ve owned several high end bikes through out the years and chase the dragon no more. The people who ditch and bitch about Pivot have either never ridden one, or don’t wanna work the extra hours to afford one. So ride one for yourself and make your OWN decisions.

todd
todd
8 years ago

I rented a Pivot Pivot M6 from a shop an hour away. I rode 2 rides that I would otherwise do once in a day. I broke my dh PR on both rides on a bike I was not “used” to. I bought a 2014 M6C and have never looked back. I am 51 years young and am in the top 10% if not higher on most all of my Strava rides. Yes this bike rips but I will tell you I can climb as well or better than any bike I have had ever owned in the last 30 years of riding. We have some pretty technical rocky trails out here and the Pivot just goes over,through, around anything these trails dish out. If you are sitting behind a screen making Pivot judgements I encourage you to sit behind the real thing. I do not work for Pivot and no animals were hurt in the testing of this bike..ha.
Really want the 2016…maybe I could go from super happy to super happier/est/er ha.

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