I’m 5’11” and got a large firebird, shortened the stem at a 32 mm but love the speed this bike can carry. Be warned the technical quick turns need much attention, still trying to master my stoppies… wish me luck!
I truly enjoy the banter between brothers it's nothing that can be faked. Would be great to get your take on the Orbea Rise. Great work guys and top notch camera work.
Hello Rich... I have a firberd 29 2019 the One before this one, I realy like it and I am thinking about Changing to the new one BUT I am listening lot of peopel that didnt like it...is the new one more unstabel than old version going dowhill... How is the bike descending to rocky terrain? How does it jumps? Is it poppy? Having the old version am l moving to worst? If you could awser those questions I apreciate my friend Thanks for the help 🙏
i’ve demoed the new one(medium) and by switching to this you’ll be moving toward a much more fast/aggressive bike. I rode it on some double black tech and it was extremely easy to keep the bike controlled and chose almost any line i wanted. In addition it was super playful and easy to pull gaps on, not mainly because of the geometry(although the 434 chain stay did help) but because of how stiff the carbon frame was. Hope this helps
@@camerondavis7291 it did help a lot Cameron... thanks Whit so many diferente opinions I was confuse but I am convicted that I am moving to a beter bike🙂 thanks very much
@@ricardojorgedelgadopinto134 i think the opinions just go to show how much bike setup matters, in vital they had a divey suspension and cockpit set up which completely changed the feel of the bike, and in this review the tires made the bike a burden to lug around
@@camerondavis7291 I have the old one 2019 and I realy love it, after you told me that you find the bike stabel and Playfull I am shore that I will be upgrading...so I hope...thanks for the help my friend 🙏
Can I ask how tall you are? I'm 5'9" and I've got a large '20 trail429 with a 35 stem and 9° backsweep bars and I'm comfortable on that, but in the videos you look taller than me.
I run an assegai up front but I'd never run it rear. I've pedaled my buddies nomad with f&r assegais and it was painful. The dhf is great as a rear tire
I loved my demo on an XL I'm 6' with a 6'3" arm span. I hate the DHR2 tire tho, on this bike and many others. It just makes the pedaling sluggish. I can very easily see Assegai DDs ruining the experience of a great bike tho. Those belong strictly on a downhill rental. Put a 2.4 Dissector on the rear and a 2.6 DHF on front and it will transform that bike.
With your recent experience on the same trail on izzo, Delano, firebird, can you compare the different travel numbers and how they perform practically on the trail? Are you hitting the same lines at the same speed? What are you giving up on a given trail to get the pedaling efficiency of the shorter travel bike? I think that would be a helpful video/ig live. See ya in Dallas next weekend.
You would enjoy the bike on the up, but the dh has some technical obstacles that can overwhelm anyone quickly, its doable but the locals don’t recommend it lol
I'm not sure that this applies to anything in this video but clearly you and Rob know specs and test things out often. What do you think about crank lengths? Living in Indiana all our trails are up down up down, lot of climb.( Funny I know for a corn field.) I'm on 170 stock cranks I don't have a lot of pedal strikes, but I have read that shorter might get faster speeds and power? Thoughts please. Btw keep kicking ass I really enjoy y'all's stuff!
Hated the assegai's as well, they came on my ripmo so I gave them a shot as never riding them before. First thought, man this thing feels like it pedals hard and cant maintain speed.....
I put this on Pivot. You never get a second chance on a first impression. Maybe the bike would be better with different tires but if you are Pivot you should know better than to supply a UA-camr with nearly 50k subscribers a sub-optimal setup.
I’m sure the bike would be better with different tires. There’s no fault to be had here honestly. I rode a big bike with gnarly tires in a place it wasn’t suited for. I certainly don’t hope that people take away “don’t buy this bike” from my first impression.
@@richdrewtherideseries agreed and I appreciate the expertise that you and your brother bring to the table such that you could diagnose the issue and say with confidence different wheels and tires will make the bike perform much better for these conditions. I just think bike manufacturers are sometimes slow on the uptake on this and it's a missed opportunity for Pivot. I'm thinking in particular that I saw another manufacturer do this right recently and their release of a new bike highlighted specifically what the bike did well and what trails and conditions it was made for.
I would like to see you guys Demo the Propein Enduro if it posible one day so far Im driving a Megatower and I really like this bike. And thanks for your video. Like always is a great to hear an experience. Of a new bike. Thanks Los Dos amigos
Touche! Sedona certainly wasn't the best place for a "first impression" on this bike. I was told it was "built to handle the toughest EWS tracks on the planet." Well, I'm never going to ride one of those, so I guess it just isn't the bike for me.
@@richdrewtherideseries hard to find anything like that here! But you guys are not the only one. Vital didn’t like it, and it seems like pivot made them do another review, but they still didn’t like it... I just don’t think it s all in the tires. not every bike is for everyone. This one maybe be too specific for most people.
Sounds like they are going too far in general with geo and tires. Ive been riding bikes with a 67 degree ht angle and I never feel like im going to fly over the bars or anything crazy. But im also not riding at those speeds. This bike sounds very enduro specific. I actually expected you to demo the trail 429 over the firebird as that seems to be what your overall preference is.
oooooo K.... Soo how about correcting the issues and giving it another test , and see if it shines with some basic mods (Tyres and angle kit). Do we give the designers a chance to prove themselves or do we go with the fitters "interesting" choices and give up on it. Do we make lemonade, or pull a sour face and spit it out... ok.. I'm outta metaphors. q8)
@@richdrewtherideseries I wasn't thinking of a change before 1st impression... but a... "So this is what we did and it was" ; [Insert Excellent/Worse/still just as bad etc]. There was a time when there were some cheap bikes you could buy, swap tyres and throw on hydraulic calipers/levers and end up with a bike that would compete with some twice the price... There's so much selection out there now there must be some gems eager for a cheap upspec... I went for the other trick, 10yo really well spec bike now cheap because it's lost that new car smell... fixed a few things and got a Giant Faith 0 for a third the price of an entry level Giant Trance...
Bummer to hear the review. The bike comes spec’d with DHF 2.5 front, and DHRII 2.4 rear. I Demo’d a Bird with that set up, and really enjoyed it. I’m no pro though! I’m riding a Trail429 V2 that I absolutely love, but I was impressed how well the FB climbed for an enduro machine. It really shines pointing downhill and eating up the chunk IMO.
So let’s make sure I’ve got this right. You think pivot bike believe the way to deal with punctures is double down assegai? You got a demo bike didn’t set it up/tune it to your personal preference/a predefined standard? Then you try and review it by saying it has the wrong tyres and wasn’t set up right. Well hey you know what if any one takes the best bike they ever rode, puts tyre they dislike on it and set it up in a way they don’t like it won’t be the best bike they ever rode any more.
Hey Rich. I don’t know if they believe that double downs are the way to deal with punctures. I did the same with this bike that I have done with EVERY other bike I’ve demoed. Why should this one be any different. Also, the title of the video clearly states “first impression.”
@@richdrewtherideseries my bad.. everyone else calls that one 2022 since the flipped the rear shock vertical. Why did you leave pivot or did they find a new version lol ;) lol. ??
@@senderoni5oh Haha, most people use a model year. I don't think they care too much, but the internal verbiage is generation or version. I was pretty low level man and I wanted to try to make an impact in a manner other than racing and they weren't too into that at the time. This was the end of 2019 and the whole "influencer" thing hadn't quite taken off yet.
@@richdrewtherideseries that’s respectable. I just consider my firebird 2021. Again I’m just a fanboy trying to ride as much as possible. I’m super low level but I def like mountain bikes. Heading to AZ right now I would love to ride with you and your brother sometime. You’re doing goood stuff man keep after it..
It's not a great technical climbing bike, it's too long of a wheelbase, it's more a downhill enduro ripper. The previous Firebird, with its shorter chainstay is the ideal bike for the ups and downs...
I had the previous Firebird and i Sold it. I believe they own the rights for the name Pivot shuttle name and thats what I would call it as this bike only works when you shuttle. its was too draggy and terrible climber. I now own 21 Stumpy evo that costs exactly half and works way better. P.S I also have the Izzo for a year now as my trail bike and that thing is a rocket compared to the firebird, but only up hill.
First. Interesting honest opinions from both of you guys. I’ll be interested to watch your follow up review in January.
I recently tried LMNT at the Sedona MTB Festival. Awesome stuff. It will be my drink going forward.
Heck yeah, love yo hear this 👊🏻
I’m 5’11” and ride a large Switchblade v2. Seems like the medium would be plenty cramped for you.
I'm 6' and ride larges in recent history bikes -nothing super progressive geo yet. I also wonder if Rich is sizing down?
I’m 5’11” and got a large firebird, shortened the stem at a 32 mm but love the speed this bike can carry. Be warned the technical quick turns need much attention, still trying to master my stoppies… wish me luck!
Sizing question: how tall are you both? Who would you recommend the medium size to?
You mentioned DHF’s are fast rolling and durable. Are you running a DD DHF or a dual compound EXO DHF in the back?
I truly enjoy the banter between brothers it's nothing that can be faked. Would be great to get your take on the Orbea Rise. Great work guys and top notch camera work.
How does it compare to a circa 2018 Ellsworth Rogue?
Touché
Hello Rich... I have a firberd 29 2019 the One before this one, I realy like it and I am thinking about Changing to the new one BUT I am listening lot of peopel that didnt like it...is the new one more unstabel than old version going dowhill...
How is the bike descending to rocky terrain?
How does it jumps?
Is it poppy?
Having the old version am l moving to worst?
If you could awser those questions I apreciate my friend
Thanks for the help 🙏
i’ve demoed the new one(medium) and by switching to this you’ll be moving toward a much more fast/aggressive bike. I rode it on some double black tech and it was extremely easy to keep the bike controlled and chose almost any line i wanted. In addition it was super playful and easy to pull gaps on, not mainly because of the geometry(although the 434 chain stay did help) but because of how stiff the carbon frame was. Hope this helps
@@camerondavis7291 it did help a lot Cameron... thanks
Whit so many diferente opinions I was confuse but
I am convicted that I am moving to a beter bike🙂 thanks very much
@@ricardojorgedelgadopinto134 i think the opinions just go to show how much bike setup matters, in vital they had a divey suspension and cockpit set up which completely changed the feel of the bike, and in this review the tires made the bike a burden to lug around
@@camerondavis7291 I have the old one 2019 and I realy love it, after you told me that you find the bike stabel and Playfull I am shore that I will be upgrading...so I hope...thanks for the help my friend 🙏
@@ricardojorgedelgadopinto134 awesome! i actually have one on order for myself
Can I ask how tall you are? I'm 5'9" and I've got a large '20 trail429 with a 35 stem and 9° backsweep bars and I'm comfortable on that, but in the videos you look taller than me.
Hey Wayne! I’m 5’10 and this medium feels like the right size. A 55mm stem is certainly needed in my opinion
I run an assegai up front but I'd never run it rear. I've pedaled my buddies nomad with f&r assegais and it was painful. The dhf is great as a rear tire
I loved my demo on an XL I'm 6' with a 6'3" arm span. I hate the DHR2 tire tho, on this bike and many others. It just makes the pedaling sluggish. I can very easily see Assegai DDs ruining the experience of a great bike tho. Those belong strictly on a downhill rental. Put a 2.4 Dissector on the rear and a 2.6 DHF on front and it will transform that bike.
I would like to see you demo a Specialized Kenevo SL. Thanks for another great video.
Me too!
With your recent experience on the same trail on izzo, Delano, firebird, can you compare the different travel numbers and how they perform practically on the trail? Are you hitting the same lines at the same speed? What are you giving up on a given trail to get the pedaling efficiency of the shorter travel bike? I think that would be a helpful video/ig live. See ya in Dallas next weekend.
If you have not attending a Ride series event yet you are missing out! Can't wait for you guys to come back to SoCal next spring!
Seems sweet. I know is off topic but, would you take a XC bike with SID 120 travel on that trail ? Or just not recommended Thanks Rich ! 💯👍.
You would enjoy the bike on the up, but the dh has some technical obstacles that can overwhelm anyone quickly, its doable but the locals don’t recommend it lol
I'm not sure that this applies to anything in this video but clearly you and Rob know specs and test things out often. What do you think about crank lengths? Living in Indiana all our trails are up down up down, lot of climb.( Funny I know for a corn field.) I'm on 170 stock cranks I don't have a lot of pedal strikes, but I have read that shorter might get faster speeds and power? Thoughts please. Btw keep kicking ass I really enjoy y'all's stuff!
A Tractor pull sled??
Which i9 wheel set would you recommend?
Any of them!! I prefer the Hydra hubs
Hated the assegai's as well, they came on my ripmo so I gave them a shot as never riding them before. First thought, man this thing feels like it pedals hard and cant maintain speed.....
I’d loan Rob my well built RipMo af (large) to see what he thinks… set it up however my measurements and positions are all paint pen marked
I put this on Pivot. You never get a second chance on a first impression. Maybe the bike would be better with different tires but if you are Pivot you should know better than to supply a UA-camr with nearly 50k subscribers a sub-optimal setup.
I’m sure the bike would be better with different tires. There’s no fault to be had here honestly. I rode a big bike with gnarly tires in a place it wasn’t suited for. I certainly don’t hope that people take away “don’t buy this bike” from my first impression.
@@richdrewtherideseries agreed and I appreciate the expertise that you and your brother bring to the table such that you could diagnose the issue and say with confidence different wheels and tires will make the bike perform much better for these conditions. I just think bike manufacturers are sometimes slow on the uptake on this and it's a missed opportunity for Pivot. I'm thinking in particular that I saw another manufacturer do this right recently and their release of a new bike highlighted specifically what the bike did well and what trails and conditions it was made for.
I would like to see you guys Demo the Propein Enduro if it posible one day so far Im driving a Megatower and I really like this bike. And thanks for your video. Like always is a great to hear an experience. Of a new bike. Thanks Los Dos amigos
But it s a 170 travel bike, if you use it for what it is, you need those tires... it s not an xc bike to sprint up the hill!
Touche! Sedona certainly wasn't the best place for a "first impression" on this bike. I was told it was "built to handle the toughest EWS tracks on the planet." Well, I'm never going to ride one of those, so I guess it just isn't the bike for me.
@@richdrewtherideseries hard to find anything like that here! But you guys are not the only one. Vital didn’t like it, and it seems like pivot made them do another review, but they still didn’t like it... I just don’t think it s all in the tires.
not every bike is for everyone. This one maybe be too specific for most people.
Sounds like they are going too far in general with geo and tires. Ive been riding bikes with a 67 degree ht angle and I never feel like im going to fly over the bars or anything crazy. But im also not riding at those speeds. This bike sounds very enduro specific. I actually expected you to demo the trail 429 over the firebird as that seems to be what your overall preference is.
An honest review. I like it.
oooooo K.... Soo how about correcting the issues and giving it another test , and see if it shines with some basic mods (Tyres and angle kit).
Do we give the designers a chance to prove themselves or do we go with the fitters "interesting" choices and give up on it.
Do we make lemonade, or pull a sour face and spit it out...
ok.. I'm outta metaphors.
q8)
Haha, straight sour face!! I’ll certainly give it another chance if it works out. Again, I’ve never made changes to demo bikes for a first impression.
@@richdrewtherideseries I wasn't thinking of a change before 1st impression...
but a... "So this is what we did and it was" ; [Insert Excellent/Worse/still just as bad etc].
There was a time when there were some cheap bikes you could buy, swap tyres and throw on hydraulic calipers/levers and end up with a bike that would compete with some twice the price... There's so much selection out there now there must be some gems eager for a cheap upspec...
I went for the other trick, 10yo really well spec bike now cheap because it's lost that new car smell... fixed a few things and got a Giant Faith 0 for a third the price of an entry level Giant Trance...
Oh damn....opening with Gang Starr?!
Bummer to hear the review. The bike comes spec’d with DHF 2.5 front, and DHRII 2.4 rear. I Demo’d a Bird with that set up, and really enjoyed it. I’m no pro though! I’m riding a Trail429 V2 that I absolutely love, but I was impressed how well the FB climbed for an enduro machine. It really shines pointing downhill and eating up the chunk IMO.
Get the Pivot Shuttle XTR
So let’s make sure I’ve got this right.
You think pivot bike believe the way to deal with punctures is double down assegai?
You got a demo bike didn’t set it up/tune it to your personal preference/a predefined standard?
Then you try and review it by saying it has the wrong tyres and wasn’t set up right. Well hey you know what if any one takes the best bike they ever rode, puts tyre they dislike on it and set it up in a way they don’t like it won’t be the best bike they ever rode any more.
Hey Rich. I don’t know if they believe that double downs are the way to deal with punctures. I did the same with this bike that I have done with EVERY other bike I’ve demoed. Why should this one be any different. Also, the title of the video clearly states “first impression.”
Speaking of dumpers...13:50
The tittle says 2021 firebird. You were riding a 2022 firebird. I’m a pivot fanboy Lol.
Hmmm, Pivot doesn't actually label bikes by year my man. They go by "Version." ;) I was a factory Pivot rider for two years.
@@richdrewtherideseries my bad.. everyone else calls that one 2022 since the flipped the rear shock vertical. Why did you leave pivot or did they find a new version lol ;) lol. ??
@@senderoni5oh Haha, most people use a model year. I don't think they care too much, but the internal verbiage is generation or version.
I was pretty low level man and I wanted to try to make an impact in a manner other than racing and they weren't too into that at the time. This was the end of 2019 and the whole "influencer" thing hadn't quite taken off yet.
@@richdrewtherideseries that’s respectable. I just consider my firebird 2021. Again I’m just a fanboy trying to ride as much as possible. I’m super low level but I def like mountain bikes. Heading to AZ right now I would love to ride with you and your brother sometime. You’re doing goood stuff man keep after it..
It's not a great technical climbing bike, it's too long of a wheelbase, it's more a downhill enduro ripper. The previous Firebird, with its shorter chainstay is the ideal bike for the ups and downs...
The previous Firebird was one of my favorites. Had the greatest race of my life on that bike.
Rich looks pretty pissed/bummed here. Was having none of it no matter what
I had the previous Firebird and i Sold it. I believe they own the rights for the name Pivot shuttle name and thats what I would call it as this bike only works when you shuttle. its was too draggy and terrible climber.
I now own 21 Stumpy evo that costs exactly half and works way better.
P.S I also have the Izzo for a year now as my trail bike and that thing is a rocket compared to the firebird, but only up hill.
U made my decision I will not buy one of these bikes an I’ll go with GG American made 🦅
The firebird comes with the Assegai front and rear, my brother bought one, my Cannondale habit smokes it everywhere and was 1/2 the price
It sure doesn't :
Maxxis Minion DHF 29" x 2.5" WT, TR, 3C, EXO+, MAXXTERRA
Maxxis Minion DHRII 29" x 2.4" WT, TR, 3C, EXO+, MAXXTERRA
I would’ve like to ride it with these tires.
@@richdrewtherideseries I bet, those tires are literally perfect for that bike I wonder why the demos are running so far out of spec.
Pivot - epic fail. Superboost means I can't trash a wheel and borrow a buddies replacement. Overpriced against equal players.