PHOENIX, AZ – FEBRUARY 16, 2016 – Just in time for the 2016 season, Pivot Cycles has unveiled the all new Phoenix DH Carbon. Driven directly by Pivot’s work with the Pivot Factory racing team, the new chassis is 2/3 of a pound lighter and yet incredibly strong and stiff. With tons of new details that make it the fastest and most technically advanced World Cup-tested downhill design available, this is the right choice for racers on the hunt for podium spots in 2016.
In an video filled with great riding in Queenstown, NZ, the Pivot Factory Racing team (including 2015 King of Crankworx, Bernard Kerr), share their experiences on the Phoenix – details include Eliot Jackson’s perspective on using frame size as a tuning option, the team’s decision to run the incredible Fox Float X2 rear shock, and Emilie Siegenthaler’s take on setting up the Phoenix DH Carbon for riders from 5’4” all the way up to 6’7”.
The Phoenix DH Carbon frame itself features even more tire clearance for big knobs and muddy tracks, new additional frame protection on the rear-triangle upright, chainstay and seatstay, as well as the mechanic-endorsed Pivot Cable Port System for clean, easy to maintain internal routing for all your component choices.
Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: The Phoenix DH Carbon frameset features a Fox Factory Float X2 shock with EVOL air sleeve and will retail for $3,299USD. Pivot offers 2 complete bike builds, with either Shimano Saint ($7,599USD) or Zee ($5,499) drivetrains. The Saint complete bike also includes the option to upgrade to the same Reynolds Carbon wheelset as used by the Pivot Factory Racing team, as pictured above for a complete bike price of $8,499USD. All build options are in stock and ready to ship now, as are sizes Small, Medium and Large. Size X-large begins shipping in 4 weeks. All options can be ordered immediately from authorized Pivot Dealers.
Pivot Phoenix DH Carbon
- Full carbon frame featuring leading edge carbon fiber materials and Pivot’s proprietary hollow core internal molding technology
- 27.5-inch wheels for the fastest runs, bigger tire contact patch, increased stability and steering quality
- 204mm dw-link® suspension
- Fox Float X2 shock with Evol
- 157mm X 12mm rear end
- Designed to work with forks from 200mm in travel
- Full length internal cable routing with Pivot’s exclusive cable port system
- Adjustable +/- .75 degree headset option
- Internal dropper post compatible
- Cold forged alloy linkages with Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings
- Extensive, highly durable, rubberized molded downtube and swingarm protection
- 180mm rear carbon post mounts disc brake mounts for precision and weight savings
- Carbon ISCG-05 tabs
- 107mm full carbon BB shell
- Available in sizes S, M, L, XL for riders between 5’4″ and 6’7″
SET YOUR RACING ON FIRE
Crankworx. The World Cup. Red Bull Rampage. Stoppie Sunday – the ultimate tests of athlete and bike. The Phoenix Carbon DH comes through these tests and for 2016 debuts with new carbon, new weight and new features as the lightest, strongest, fastest, most technically advanced and stylish DH chassis in the world. Working directly with the Pivot Factory downhill racing team and Aaron Chase, the Phoenix Carbon frame has dropped over 2/3 of a pound, features 27.5” wheels and more go-fast features than on any other gravity offering. All together, this is a bike that can take you straight to the top of the podium.
CARBON FRAME DESIGN
For 2016, the new Phoenix Carbon has dropped over 300 grams. Pivot’s frame shapes are 100% driven by our pursuit of the perfectly tuned ride, the cleanest design, the strongest product and the lightest possible weight. With our own hollow core, internal, high compression carbon molding process we can deliver on the performance requests of our top athletes by finding the perfect combination of composite materials and shapes for the best possible ride qualities. For us, it means that we put months of engineering and testing into the update, for you (and Bernard Kerr), it means a sub 31lb downhill bike that can land a 30 ft gap into a nose wheelie with confidence.
DW-LINK
Dave Weagle, the brains behind dw-link™ and Chris Cocalis, Pivot’s president and founder, have worked together to produce incredible suspension designs since Pivot was launched. For the Phoenix Carbon, they have created a bike that uses the best attributes of the dw-link for the ultimate in downhill performance. With the dw-link’s anti squat and variable wheel travel path and we were able to develop a bike that pedals better than anything else in the downhill category. Because the Phoenix Carbon doesn’t squat or bob under pedaling force we are able to lower the bottom bracket height and slacken the head angle to achieve the best performance in the most technical descending sections while also maintaining precise handling on the faster pedaling sections of the course.
AIR SHOCK
For 2016, and as a direct result of feedback from our athletes, the Phoenix Carbon comes with the Fox Float X2. While still coil compatible for riders who prefer that set up, our racers have found that the Fox Float X2 air shock offers better control and a plusher feel allowing them to go faster with greater confidence. The X2 shock features include independent high and low speed compression and rebound adjustments, an EVOL air sleeve for better sensitivity through the reduction in the amount of force it takes to initiate travel, exclusive Kashima coat for durability and friction reduction and the new RVS (Rod Valve System) for a seamless transition between the response to small and large impacts.*
*(Float X2 on the Expert build features hard anodize and independent low speed compression and rebound adjustments). With the air spring and volume adjust spacers, the Fox Float X2 is far more tunable for rider weight and course conditions than is a coil shock with a selection of springs. After a full season of racing on both shock types, our athletes and in house test riders universally chose the Float X2 as their preferred option.
WORLD CUP GEOMETRY
The Phoenix features 204 mm of travel and is designed to be at the forefront of World Cup racing geometry – long and low – with a range of reach measurements to accommodate a wide range of rider sizes and riding styles. We’ve carefully designed our frames so that both riders who want a racing stance meant for the steeps and those who seek a shorter, more playful fit can find exactly the right Phoenix Carbon.
Every size frame has the same headtube length and seat tube lengths. Riders who want a shorter top tube can go down a size for a playful bike that handles the park with style – perfect for the next Whip-Off World Championships. Riders who want a missile on the racecourse may select a larger size with a longer toptube. For sharper handling with a longer frame, the angled headset offers a plus minus ¾ degree adjustment, especially with the Phoenix 30mm stem option.
The Phoenix Carbon features ultra short 440mm chainstays, and 27.5” wheels. This ultra compact rear triangle rivals 26”wheel designs for handling characteristics with the speed and roll over of 27.5 inch wheels. Additionally, the larger wheels offer a significant increase in contact patch size and stability – even if the course puts you in the back seat, your front wheel is going to track where you want it.
FRAME DETAILS
We’ve designed this full carbon frame with the obsessive detailing you expect from Pivot. New for 2016 is significantly increased the tire clearance. A direct result of requests from our racers – this new Phoenix Carbon has tons of room for big knobs and mud for the best performance on messy tracks.
In addition to challenges from terrain and weather, downhill bikes are subject to incredible abuse in a season – from racing to crashing to training shuttles, smart frame protection will give long life to your investment. For this new Phoenix frame, we carefully studied wear patterns on frames ridden everywhere from the World Cup to the backcountry of Colombia, and added updated rubberized frame protection. Now in addition to the molded rubber downtube protector, the seatstay protector on the drive side has doubled in length and we’ve incorporated new protection on the front upright of the rear triangle – all while still dropping an incredible amount of weight.
The Phoenix Carbon also features integrated rubber fork stops at the headtube for even more protection. These same stops do double duty as a part of the Pivot Cable Port System for internal routing. This is the easiest to use internal routing system available and keeps the bike looking clean and functioning perfectly. The 2016 Phoenix features 2 new paint options – Team Blue or Stealth Black.
BUILD KITS AND ASSEMBLY
The Phoenix Carbon is available as a complete bike with either Saint or Zee components or as a frameset. We’ve carefully selected every part and only spec components we would ride ourselves.
We take quality and workmanship seriously at Pivot, and know that the details are what make a great rider experience. Every Pivot Cycles frame undergoes a 28-step assembly and quality control check to ensure that every ride on the new Phoenix Carbon meets your high expectations.
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Action photos: Colin Meagher