Pivot Trail 429 Trail Bike Review: Climbs as Well as It Descends [Mid-Travel Mashup]

The latest generation of the Pivot Trail 429 moves the trail bike to a similar frame design that the Switchblade and Firebird have, with a vertical, rearward shock orientation. The frame also gains more progressive geometry, though not more progressive than it needs.

We tested the very lightweight Team XTR build with a Shimano XTR groupset, Fox Factory Kashima coated suspension, carbon Reynolds Black Label wheels, and carbon cranks and handlebars. This build retails for $9,800.

The Pivot Trail 429 at around 27 pounds, proved to be one of the lightest and most efficient climbers we reviewed this for the Mid-Travel Mashup, mixing a supportive rear with great traction.

Pointing this bike downhill, it's easy to tell that the Trail 429 is a trail bike through and through. It's capable, agile, and precise, but is one of the lighter-handed trail bikes in our tests.

Riders who want something that will excel up and downhill and aren't chasing steep and rocky descents all the time will love the Trail 429. Complete carbon bikes start at $5,900 and top-of-the-line builds can cost upwards of $13,000.

Pros
-Light, responsive and capable climber
-Agile handling makes it a fun trail bike
-Well balanced suspension for climbing and descending

Cons
-Expensive, even at the entry-level builds
-No aluminum option

0:00 Introduction
0:46 About the Bike
2:10 Geometry
2:34 Build Kit
3:28 Climbing
5:20 Descending
7:34 Picking it Apart
8:28 Who This Bike is For

Read the detailed bike review at: https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear...
See the other trail bikes we tested here: https://www.singletracks.com/MTM

#pivotcycles #bikereview #mountainbike
--
Follow Singletracks:
On the Web: https://www.singletracks.com/​​​​
Facebook:   / singletracksmtb​​​​  
Instagram:   / singletracks​  
Twitter:   / singletrackscom​​​​  

Get Merch:
https://shop.singletracks.com/