{"id":10284,"date":"2025-04-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/?p=10284"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:19:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T07:19:36","slug":"pivot-firebird-2025-first-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/technews\/2025\/pivot-firebird-2025-first-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Pivot Firebird 2025: first ride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Only few hours have passed since the world premiere of the new Pivot Firebird, and we are in a hurry to provide the first impressions of riding the new model. As you could already read in the official press review<\/a>, a few things have changed, which in practice means even greater possibilities of adjusting the bike to the user’s requirements. How does it work in practice? Let’s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Kyle H<\/a>, Evolve Finale<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Pivot\u2019s Polish distributor, Protocycles, I went to Finale Ligure in Italy to test drive the new Firebird. As a user of the previous generation from 2022, I already had some expectations and knew more or less what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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John Pentecost from Pivot Cycles explaining changes on new Firebird \/ photo: Kyle H<\/a>, Evolve Finale<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pivot Firebird 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The third generation introduced to the market in 2022 changed a lot compared to the previous version. Now, however, there is no revolution, you can simply say that there has been a facelift. The changes in geometry are cosmetic, but a whole range of possibilities for adjusting the geometry to the requirements of users have been added. The idea is to “change and forget”, but for people who like to tinker with angles and perfectly match equipment to the trail, it can be a job for long hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mullet or full 29er?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New things in the frame<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Before we discuss the numbers and bike fit options, it’s worth mentioning the two most visible changes (apart from the colors, of course). In line with the latest trends, the frame has a special storage compartment where you can store anything, such as a sausage for the road or a tool kit. All of this is hidden under the bottle holder, and for quietness and organization, there’s a special bag inside. Interestingly, we get not one, but two bags, which are stuffed into the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An additional bonus is the fact that the “basket” that secures the storage compartment under cover is also a cable guide, which, compared to the previous model, should significantly reduce the noise of cables hitting the frame. The cover itself also has a little secret, which is the ability to attach it with Velcro (not included) or a zip, e.g. your favorite multitool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unfortunately the bags & plastic cover are not waterproof…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The second visible thing is the so-called Tailgate Protection, which is nothing more than an additional cover on the upper part of the downtube, which is supposed to protect the bike from damage when transporting it in the bed of a pickup truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The final visual innovation is the new cable routing ports, which are now integrated under a single cover. This solution not only makes it easier to route cables for the first time, but is also more aesthetically pleasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Geometry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For fans of numbers, I have a small table comparing the geometry of the 2022 model with the latest one. It is worth noting that in the case of the 2025 model, the manufacturer has prepared as many as 8 (!) tables, which include the Flip Chip High\/Low options, short and long chainstays, as well as Full 29er and mullet 29\/27.5″ wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>
Geometry Pivot Firebird 2022<\/strong><\/center><\/td>
|<\/td>
Geometry Pivot Firebird 2025<\/strong><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>
Flip Chip in Low \/ High<\/center><\/td>
|<\/td>
Flip Chip in Low \/ High<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
frame size<\/strong><\/td>S<\/strong><\/td>M<\/strong><\/td>L<\/strong><\/td>XL<\/strong><\/td>|<\/td>XS<\/strong><\/td>S<\/strong><\/td>M<\/strong><\/td>L<\/strong><\/td>XL<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wheel size<\/strong><\/td>29\"<\/td>29\"<\/td>29\"<\/td>29\"<\/td>|<\/td>mullet 29\"\/27.5\"<\/td>29\" or mullet 29\"\/27.5*<\/td>29\" or mullet 29\"\/27.5*<\/td>29\" or mullet 29\"\/27.5*<\/td>29\" or mullet 29\"\/27.5*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
seattube length<\/strong><\/td>375mm<\/td>410mm<\/td>440mm<\/td>470mm<\/td>|<\/td>365mm<\/td>385mm<\/td>415mm<\/td>440mm<\/td>475mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
toptube length<\/strong><\/td>598 \/ 597mm<\/td>624 \/ 623mm<\/td>641 \/ 640mm<\/td>665 \/ 664mm<\/td>|<\/td>559 \/ 558mm<\/td>595 \/ 594mm<\/td>620 \/ 619mm<\/td>634 \/ 633mm<\/td>656 \/ 655mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
headtube length<\/strong><\/td>95mm<\/td>108mm<\/td>118mm<\/td>128mm<\/td>|<\/td>85mm<\/td>95mm<\/td>108mm<\/td>118mm<\/td>128mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
headtube angle<\/strong><\/td>64\u00b0 \/ 64.6\u00b0<\/td>64\u00b0 \/ 64.6\u00b0<\/td>64\u00b0 \/ 64.6\u00b0<\/td>64\u00b0 \/ 64.6\u00b0<\/td>|<\/td>63.1\u00b0 \/ 63.4\u00b0<\/td>63.8\u00b0 \/ 64.2\u00b0<\/td>63.8\u00b0 \/ 64.2\u00b0<\/td>63.8\u00b0 \/ 64.2\u00b0<\/td>63.8\u00b0 \/ 64.2\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
seattube angle<\/strong><\/td>76\u00b0 \/ 76.5\u00b0<\/td>76.5\u00b0 \/ 77\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.5\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.5\u00b0<\/td>|<\/td>76.8\u00b0 \/ 77.6\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.75\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.75\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.75\u00b0<\/td>77\u00b0 \/ 77.75\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
chainstay length<\/strong><\/td>431 \/ 430mm<\/td>434 \/ 433mm<\/td>438 \/ 437mm<\/td>445 \/ 444mm<\/td>|<\/td>431 \/ 430mm**<\/td>431 \/ 430mm**<\/td>433 \/ 432mm**<\/td>435 \/ 434mm**<\/td>438 \/ 437mm**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bb height<\/strong><\/td>350 \/ 350.8mm<\/td>350 \/ 350.8mm<\/td>350 \/ 350.8mm<\/td>350 \/ 350.8mm<\/td>|<\/td>342 \/ 347mm<\/td>349 \/ 354mm<\/td>349 \/ 354mm<\/td>349 \/ 354mm<\/td>349 \/ 354mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bb drop<\/strong><\/td>-20 \/ -14.2mm<\/td>-20 \/ -14.2mm<\/td>-20 \/ -14.2mm<\/td>-20 \/ -14.2mm<\/td>|<\/td>-10 \/ -15mm<\/td>-25 \/ -17mm<\/td>-25 \/ -17mm<\/td>-25 \/ -17mm<\/td>-25 \/ -17mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
standover<\/strong><\/td>662.1 \/ 667.2mm<\/td>672.4 \/ 677.9mm<\/td>693.5 \/ 698.8mm<\/td>704 \/ 709.4mm<\/td>|<\/td>675 \/ 678mm<\/td>687 \/ 692mm<\/td>692 \/ 697mm<\/td>713 \/ 719mm<\/td>716 \/ 720mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wheelbase<\/strong><\/td>1207 \/ 1206mm<\/td>1239 \/ 1237mm<\/td>1267 \/ 1266mm<\/td>1300 \/ 1299mm<\/td>|<\/td>1118 \/ 1117.9mm**<\/td>1218 \/ 1217mm**<\/td>1249 \/ 1248mm**<\/td>1272 \/ 1271mm**<\/td>1300 \/ 1299mm**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
stack<\/strong><\/td>615.4 \/ 612mm<\/td>627 \/ 624mm<\/td>636 \/ 633mm<\/td>645 \/ 642mm<\/td>|<\/td>618 \/ 615mm<\/td>622 \/ 619mm<\/td>633 \/ 630mm<\/td>642 \/ 639mm<\/td>651 \/ 648mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reach<\/strong><\/td>445 \/ 450mm<\/td>468 \/ 473mm<\/td>488 \/ 493mm<\/td>510 \/ 515mm<\/td>|<\/td>405 \/ 410mm<\/td>445 \/ 449mm<\/td>468 \/ 472mm<\/td>485 \/ 489mm<\/td>505 \/ 509mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>* geometry for 29\"
\n** long chainstay option also available +8mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n

As you can see, the changes in geometry are quite cosmetic, and the most important ones include a slight flattening of the head angle or reach shortening of larger sizes, as well as extending the wheel base. The biggest revolution is actually in the chainstay, which, thanks to an additional option, extend the wheel base by another 8 mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2×29″ or 29″\/27.5″ ??<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Flip Chip no.1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Flip Chip, located in the upper suspension link, allows for quick and easy geometry changes and has two settings: Low and High. This is the same patent as in the previous model and changes the most at once. Moving from Low to High plumbs the head angle, raises the bottom bracket, increases the standover and reach, and shortens the chainstays and wheelbase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flip Chip no.2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The second Flip Chip is hidden in the lower shock mount. Here, after changing the setting, there is no effect on the geometry, but there is a change in the kinematics of the suspension. The choice is basically limited to more linear and more progressive. Presenting it in numbers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n