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Today’s Deals2021 Pivot
Trail 429 Race XT
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with upper mid-range components.
Manufacturer Price
$5,899| Frame | Carbon |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 120 / 130mm |
| Fork | Fox Performance Float 34 |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Performance |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | XT, SLX |
| Brakes | Shimano SLX Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
4'9" – 5'5"
5'3" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'1" – 6'8"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
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Summary
The Pivot Trail 429 is celebrated for its lightweight design, versatile performance, and excellent climbing efficiency, making it a standout in the trail bike category. Its suspension is praised for being supple yet progressive, offering a balanced ride both uphill and downhill. While it excels in versatility and build quality, its premium price point and some specific design choices like Super Boost spacing are noted as drawbacks.
Efficient climber
Extremely versatile
Lightweight
Modern, but moderate geometry
Plush ride on descents
Expensive entry point
Internal cables were rattly and loud
Superboost may be a turnoff for some
Not as stiff and racey as some competitors
Pivot, please don’t ever change.
BetaThe Pivot Trail 429 descends better than any of the bikes I’ve tested in its class.BIKEPACKING.com
For what mountain biking is for most people, the 120mm bike is the bike that does it all for them.Bicycling
Feedback?
View all reviews
Mar 2022 · Julian Schwede
The all-new Pivot Shadowcat is a super light trail bike with 650B wheels and long travel. Read our review to find out how it behaves on the trail.
Efficient climber
Supportive and poppy suspension
Sufficient mounting options on the frame
Overwhelmed in very rough terrain
Sep 2021 · Logan Watts
The Pivot Trail 429 was updated with a new geometry, more mounts, and a different linkage design. Find our review after trail riding and bikepacking here…
Well-designed geometry that feels balanced and versatile (even with the longer fork in the “Lower” setting)
Ability to tweak the geometry to your liking with the flip-chip
Incredibly agile, predictable, and sure-footed while descending, particularly on twisty and fast corners
Progressive suspension feels relatively supple while moving slow and doesn’t bottom out as much as other 120mm bikes I’ve ridden
Decent frame triangle and plenty of bottle mounts
Internal cables were rattly and loud
Having a 34” inseam, I wish there was a little less standover and a larger triangle
Superboost is good in theory, but now that Boost has seemingly won the standards battle, it’s not ideal for swapping out wheels
Expensive
Jul 2021 · Nicole Formosa
The Pivot Trail 429 has always been a few generations ahead of other aggressive short-travel bikes, and it is still true to its roots.
Efficient climber
Extremely versatile with 20 build kits
Lightweight
Expensive entry point
Mar 2021 · Spencer Astra
It’s always exciting when a new test bike spices up the ride on my favorite trails—and lately it seems that mid-travel bikes have added the most spice, due largely to their maneuverability and point-and-shoot control. So, from the moment I hopped aboard the new Pivot Trail 429—the Arizona-based company’s third-generation version of its best-selling model—it was clear this bike was going to have a real kick to its performance. The new Trail 429 was redesigned to be a lightweight climb assassin that descends with agility and precision, with 29-inch wheels and 120 millimeters of rear-wheel travel. It comes with two travel options in the front—130 or 140 millimeters—and given the renowned steepness of many of Bellingham, Washington’s trails, Pivot wisely sent us the 140-millimeter Pro Enduro version to put through its paces. Its climbing credentials were validated from the first few pedal strokes uphill. The ultra-lightweight bike (the frame and shock weigh only 5.9 pounds) gets up to speed quickly, and the tried-and-true DW Link rear-suspension platform allows for efficient use of all 120 millimeters of the Fox Factory Float DPX2 shock’s travel without the slightest hint of pedal bob. This was true when pedaling both in and out of the saddle, which is a rare trait when a rider of my size is standing and stomping on the pedals. The ultra-progressive leverage curve provides suppleness off the top while still enjoying a near-bottomless end stroke, and I was able to maintain traction through rough terrain without paying the price in speed-stifling bottom-outs.
Feb 2021 · Matt Phillips
It can go anywhere and shred (almost) any trail
Feb 2021 · Daniel Sapp
The Trail 429's geometry and suspension layout have been updated for 2021.
Feb 2021
Pivot Cycles has just launched its 3rd generation Trail 429, and this one's a doozy! Featuring an all-new carbon frame, improved suspension performance and contemporary geometry, the Pivot Trail 429 is one of the most efficient and most versatile trail bikes we've ever tested. Read on for our in-depth review.
Beautifully crafted carbon chassis
Wheelsize, fork & ride height adaptability
Incredible technical pedalling performance
Masterfully controlled for a 120mm trail bike
Sag guide is so simple, but bloody brilliant!
Light & whippy Reynolds wheels
Rattly cable port
Rattly brake pads
Super Boost may be a turnoff for some
Apr 2020 · Ian Collins
This year Pivot Cycles took the Mach 429 Trail and, mainly via spec, gave it more of an aggressive kick, thus transforming it into the Trail 429 Enduro Edition. Personally I’ve always liked the idea of taking somewhat aggressive short travel 29″ bikes and replacing a meager inline shock with a piggy back shock, overforking it by ~ 10mm and beefing up the tires. Provided the bike starts out as competent in the first place, that usually makes for a really fun, and surprisingly capable bike. Well – that’s precisely what Pivot did with the Limited Edition Trail 429 on test
| Frame | Trail 429 Colors: Pacific Blue; Silver Metallic |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox Performance 34 29", GRIP - 130mm Travel: 130mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Performance Float DPS Travel: 120mm |
| Headset | Pivot Precision Sealed Cartridge |
| Stem | Phoenix Team Enduro/Trail |
| Handlebar | Phoenix Race Low Rise Aluminum - 780mm |
| Saddle | Phoenix WTB Volt Race (Medium Width) |
| Seatpost | Fox Transfer Performance Elite 100mm (XS), 125mm (SM), 150mm (MD) 175mm (LG), 200mm (XL) Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Phoenix Factory Lock-On |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT M8100 SGS 12-Speed |
|---|---|
| Crank | Race Face Ride 32t |
| Shifters | Shimano SLX M7100 ISPEC EV 12-Speed |
| Cassette | Shimano SLX M7100 10-51t |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M7100 12-Speed |
| Brakes | Shimano SLX M7120 4-piston Type: Shimano SLX Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | DT Swiss M1900 w/ DT Swiss 370 hub, 30mm - 29" 15x110 F/12x157 R |
|---|---|
| Tires | Maxxis Dissector 29" x 2.4" WT, TR, 3C, EXO, MAXXTERRA Maxxis Dissector 29" x 2.4" WT, TR, 3C, EXO, MAXXTERRA |
| Disc Rotors | Shimano SLX 6-bolt - 180mmShimano SLX 6-bolt - 180mm |
First added October 8
Last updated August 13
Not listed for 1,753 days