Pivot Bikes Review


Pivot Bikes Review

*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Pivot Bikes are an American-made mountain bike. They are some of the best-designed, highest quality bikes you can buy. Whether your forte is climbing hills, riding trails, endurance riding, or cyclocross, Pivot Cycles makes the right bike for you.

The business is located in an industrial area of Phoenix, Arizona as are the prototype workshop, engineering and development, manufacturing and assembly, and warehousing and storage headquarters. The company currently employs 34 people and is a popular brand internationally. These bikes are sold in 30 countries through several distribution channels.

The company’s bikes are fully assembled in Phoenix and shipped directly to the dealers. Upon arrival, the dealers put the wheels on the bikes and adjust them to the client’s individual needs. The dealer checks the wheel true and brake adjustment before tuning in the shifter cables and derailleurs. After that, the Pivot Bike is ready to ride.

BIKE DEVELOPMENT

Pivot Bikes focuses on performance, simplicity, and durability. Development, prototyping, and laboratory tests are completed in the USA. Smaller quality checks can be done in Phoenix, but larger testing is usually done in a laboratory in California.

The bikes are tested both in the design phase and the final stage under real-life, mountainous conditions. The Phoenix terrain is a mixture of sand, stones, rough rock, and cacti. This makes for a perfect testing ground for the bikes and ensures the bike you receive will be in quality working condition when you receive it.

FRAME MANUFACTURING

The people at Pivot Cycles are carbon fiber frame specialists. Of the 16 hard-riding mountain bikes Pivot Bikes produces, 14 come with carbon fiber frames. The other 2 are aluminum.

This company produces durable bullet-proof frames for use on hard-driving mountain bikes. These frames come with a 10-year warranty. Although the bikes are engineered, designed, and assembled in the U.S., they outsource the actual frame production to a much larger factory in Taiwan.

Pivot Bike’s in-house manufacturing produces frames in small runs, but the company does not have the manufacturing capabilities in Phoenix to do mass manufacturing. The standard production facility is located in Taiwan.

Pivot Bikes quality controls its manufacturers in Taiwan by sending them the correct machines to use in Pivot Bike production. The machine tools and hydroforming molds for the production bikes are all manufactured in the US and then shipped to Taiwan. This ensures that the fabricators can stick to Pivot’s tight design specifications.

The welding machines are also manufactured in the US and shipped to Taiwan. Quality checks are taken very seriously as Chris and his engineers frequently fly to Taiwan to check the production processes for themselves.

PIVOT BIKES COMPANY HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Pivot Cycles was established in 2007 by Chris Cocalis. He maintains a long history in the biking industry. At an early age, Cocalis made the difficult decision to end his studies in accounting and got into the bike business. He started out as the manager of several bike shops.

Then, as part of the US Cycling Federation, went to a mechanics workshop where he learned to build bikes. After that, Cocalis founded Titus Bikes with some investors. Over the years, Cocalis became a frame specialist and learned to design, develop, and weld frames on his own.Years later, Cocalis branched out and started Pivot Cycles.

PRODUCT SPECS

Pivot Bikes makes 16 models of mountain bikes, trail bikes, and one cyclocross bike. All the bikes are built on carbon fiber frames, except two made with aluminum frames. The bikes generally roll on standard 27.5 in. and 29 in. tires, though the cyclocross bike has 700c tires. Features on your bike vary and will depend on your selections.

HOW PIVOT COMPARES

We picked a couple of similar products available on the market to see how these bikes compare to other bikes:

  • Diamondback Bicycles Atroz Comp Full Suspension Mountain Bike
  • BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Hardtail MTB SHIMANO M610 DEORE 30 Speed Ultralight
  • Murtisol Mountain Bike 27.5’’ Men’s and Women’s Bike 21 Speeds Fast Hybrid Bicycle

PIVOT BIKES

  
PRICEThe Pivot Bikes range in price from the Mach 429 Trail 27.5+ Race X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike at about $3500 to the Mach 5.5 Carbon Team XXI Live Valve Complete Mountain Bike which costs over $11,000. These bikes are sold mostly through standard bicycle dealers, though it is possible to order them from online bike dealers.
EASE OF USEThese bicycles are easy to use.
ASSEMBLY TIMEIf you buy your Pivot Bike from a brick-and-mortar walk-in dealer, assembly by the dealer is free. However, if you order it online from Competitive Cycles, minimal assembly will be required.
DESIGN QUALITYPivot Bikes’ design is second to none. The high-quality steel frames, standard mountain biking tires (on most bikes), and ease of assembly contribute to the quality of these bicycles’ design.
WARRANTYThere is a 10-year warranty on the frame, but not on the whole bicycle. If purchased from Competitive Cycles, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pivot Bikes does not warranty the extra components on their bicycles since they come from other manufacturers. They only warranty the frame. One should use the component manufacturer’s warranty if there is a problem with one of the bicycle components.

PROS

  • Suspension travel
  • Room to move
  • Can travel on bumpy terrain – rock, dirt, etc.
  • Made in America

CONS

  • Expensive

​DIAMONDBACK BICYCLES ATROZ COMP FULL SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKE

This full-suspension mountain bike has a 6061-t6 aluminum alloy frame with formed and double-butted tubing. The bike has standard 27.5 in. wheels, 9 gear speeds, and comes with front and rear disc brakes.

  
PRICEThe Diamondback Atroz Comp is no longer available directly from the manufacturer. It is superseded by the Atroz 1, 2, or 3. You can purchase an Atroz Model 1 on Amazon for about $900.
EASE OF USEThese bicycles are easy to use.
ASSEMBLY TIMEIf you buy your Diamondback Atroz from a brick and mortar walk-in dealer, assembly by the dealer is free.If you order it online, however, it comes in a box mostly assembled. You will need to install only the seat, handlebars, front wheel, and pedals. You will be riding in anywhere from 30 (skilled bike mechanic) to 120 minutes (no prior experience building bikes).After assembly, you should take it to a local bike dealer and pay them to true the spokes, check the inner-tubes, adjust the brake and shifter cables, and tune in the derailleurs. Since this will take some time and money, we marked down on assembly time.
DESIGN QUALITYThe Diamondback is a well-designed bike with Rock Shox combo works and gear ratios that have enough momentum for uphill and power for downhill riding. The front and rear disc brakes make the bike much safer for riding in wet conditions.
WARRANTYThere is a lifetime warranty for the frame, while components have a 6-month warranty. There is no coverage for normal wear parts as these would be covered under their own manufacturers’ warranties, if applicable.

PROS

  • Great beginner’s bike
  • Sturdy frame
  • Suspension simple to use
  • Great for a new inexperienced rider to the mid-range hobbyist

CONS

  • Weak brakes
  • Seat post does not clamp easily
  • Heavy

​BEIOU CARBON FIBER MOUNTAIN BIKE HARDTAIL MTB SHIMANO M610 DEORE 30 SPEED ULTRALIGHT

BEIOU bikes are manufactured by Zhe Jiang Beiou, a composite manufacturer in Hangzhou Qiandao Lake, China. The BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike is a carbon fiber frame mountain bike.

This is a hardtail trail bike with a 3 X 10 Shimano Deore 30 Speed Ultralight shifter and derailleur set. It also has hidden disc brakes, front fork suspension, and 26 in. aluminum alloy rims. The frame, seat post, and handlebars are carbon, but the pedals, forks, and crank are not.

  
PRICEThis BEIOU bike is for sale on Amazon for just under $1200.
EASE OF USEThese bicycles are easy to use.
ASSEMBLY TIMEIf you order online, this bike comes mostly assembled. You will need to install only the seat, handlebars, front wheel, and pedals, but can be riding in 30-120 minutes after assembly. You should also take it to a local bike dealer to have them true the spokes, check the inner-tubes, adjust the brake and shifter cables, and tune in the derailleurs. This will take some time and money, so we marked down on assembly time.
DESIGN QUALITYExcellent quality control, functional design, and stunning cosmetics all come at a reasonable price with this bike. The front and rear disc brakes make it much safer to ride in wet conditions than other bikes not included in this review.
WARRANTYThe BEIOU Composite Manufacture Company sells this bike directly from the factory on Amazon and offers a 5-year limited warranty. However, be aware that to apply the warranty, you will need to send the bike back to BEIOU. There is also a 30-day Amazon return policy.

PROS

  • Fantastic bike for the price
  • Competes with bikes of higher price ranges
  • 30-speed 
  • Capable of climbing inclines and riding on difficult terrain

CONS

  • Needs bigger pedals
  • Shifters do not have barrel adjusters

​MURTISOL MOUNTAIN BIKE 27.5’’ MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BIKE 21 SPEEDS FAST HYBRID BICYCLE

Murtisol bicycles are manufactured by Hansentus, Ltd. in Tianjin, China and imported by Uenjoy Direct. This is a heavy steel frame “dime store” or “discount store” bike. It is not made or supported by the regular type of bicycle company and you get no direct contact with the manufacturer by purchasing this bike.

This is a good bike to ride around the block in the neighborhood or take to the local convenience store, but not necessarily usable for extremely difficult terrain. While labeled a mountain bike, be cautious using this one. A higher-end bike may be a better choice for your outdoor adventures.

  
PRICEThe Murtisol Mountain Bike 27.5’’ Men’s and Women’s Bike is available on Amazon for under $150 and, thus, is a great discount bike for riding around the city or suburban areas. However, based on our review, we do not recommend for use on difficult terrain. The price is great, however, for a simple commuting bike and, perhaps, some light outdoor riding.
EASE OF USEThese bicycles are easy to use.
ASSEMBLY TIMEIf you order online, the Murtisol Mountain Bike comes in a box mostly assembled. You will need to install only the seat, handlebars, front wheel, and pedals. You should be riding in anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on your assembly skills.Like the others, after you assemble the bike, you should take it to a local bike dealer and pay them to true the spokes, check the inner-tubes, adjust the brake and shifter cables, and tune in the derailleurs. This will take some time and money, so we marked down on assembly time.Uenjoy offers assembly for 58.99. That package comes with some guidance on how to tune-up the bike.
DESIGN QUALITYThe design quality is decent for a one hundred and fifty dollar dime store bike, but the bike is obviously not going to offer the same endurance and performance you would get with a one thousand dollar bike. The front and rear disc brakes make it safe to ride in wet conditions, but you may be better off choosing a more expensive bike to get you through difficult rides.
WARRANTYUenjoy Direct has a 90-day return policy.

PROS

  • Quality welds
  • Great for light riding
  • Cheaper than most bicycles

CONS

  • Some parts may need to be aligned
  • Not recommended for difficult terrain
  • Heavy 

CONCLUSION

Pivot Bikes products a five-star product that outweighs the competition on every point, except for the price. The bikes come from a fantastic company with a vision. That vision is to turn out more and better mountain bikes every day.

As a result, the company maintains a constant and steady goal to always be the best in every category, producing a high-quality product and leading in the bicycle design and engineering field. If you purchase a Pivot Bikes bicycle, you will pay for this quality, but the investment will be worth it.

Recent Posts