The new 2025 Pivot Firebird On Test – The Turbo Toucan

The new 2025 Pivot Firebird isn’t just meant to stand out from the crowd – it was developed to rise above it. In this price range, that’s no small feat, and with the 6th generation of their top-tier enduro bruiser, Pivot aim to raise the bar. It’s supposed to be fast and versatile, with a little touch of class rounding off the overall package. But does it deliver on the trail with its proprietary solutions, thoughtful upgrades, and proven concepts?

The new 2025 Firebird is the uncompromising shredding and enduro racing machine in Pivot’s lineup, offering plenty of reserves with 170/165 mm of travel. For 2025, the Firebird has been redesigned from the ground up, rolling into the new season with an updated geometry and kinematics, and brimming with adjustment options. One of the highlights: the patented Swinger Drop-Out system, which allows you to adjust the chainstay length – something we haven’t seen on the market before. More on that later.

All spec variants of the 2025 Pivot Firebird fall into the high-end price segment, which is typical for Pivot. Prices start at € 6,999, and with countless spec options to choose from, you can spend up to € 14,199 on your new enduro bike.

The new 2025 Pivot Firebird in detail

The new 2025 Pivot Firebird is only available with a full carbon frame, which comes as no surprise given that Pivot relied on the black gold for nearly all their bikes in recent years. Like several other manufacturers, Pivot adapts the carbon layup to each frame size to ensure optimal stiffness for all rider weights. Straight out of the box, you’ll notice the bike’s high-quality finish and craftsmanship, with a-robust looking paint finish rounding off the overall high-quality look. That said, small paint chips became visible on our test frame after just a few weeks, but that’s pretty normal.

One of the biggest innovations is the new Toolshed storage compartment in the slim downtube, which was introduced just a few months ago with the new Pivot Trailcat. The cover doubles as a bottle cage mount, and can be operated intuitively via the lever once you’re familiar with the system, even with gloves on. It closes tightly and doesn’t move around, even with a full bottle in the cage. The edges of the opening in the frame are lined with plastic at the top and bottom, which makes it easier to position the lid into place. The carbon is exposed on the sides but isn’t sharp, so you can safely pull items like a windbreaker from the compartment without tearing them. The compartment comes standard with two sturdy pouches for all your trail essentials. Neat extras include small dividers and zippered pockets to securely stash things like chain links. However, the actual opening of the compartment is relatively narrow, meaning that you won’t be able to stash away bigger items like a pump, for example. On the plus side, the pouches sit firmly in the frame and are thick enough to prevent rattling. If you want to carry additional gear, the top tube’s existing tool mount is still there for you to use.

The cable routing has been updated, too, and still relies on conventional cable ports on the head tube. These are securely clamped, and unused ports can be sealed off completely with plastic covers. A common point of criticism in the past was the routing between the main frame and the swing arm, which caused the cables to rattle on rougher trails. Pivot now addressed this issue by adding special guides to keep the cables in place – a very welcome improvement! While the cables aren’t routed through an internal channel inside the frame, they’re secured along the edges to prevent rattling.

Like its predecessor, the new 2025 Firebird has a generously-sized chainstay protector that effectively dampens chain slap, thus ensuring a quiet ride. Pivot also maintained the small mud guard on the linkage, which prevents small rocks from getting jammed in the gap between the main frame and the swingarm. The protection around the bottom bracket area, on the other hand, has been extended over the sides to shield the frame against debris more effectively. Additionally, nearly the entire downtube is covered with a thin but futuristic-looking plastic guard. At the lowest point of the downtube, there’s also a small hatch that can be opened to provide easier access to the dropper post cable.

The spec of the 2025 Pivot Firebird

For this first ride review, we tested the 2025 Pivot Firebird Team XX Eagle Transmission spec variant, which retails at € 11,899. Our test bike in size XL tips the scales at 15.9 kg. The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory fork and a brand-new FOX FLOAT X2 air shock. The fork relies on the latest GRIP X2 damper, which leaves nothing to be desired both in terms of adjustability and trail performance – and also secured victory in our recent fork comparison test. In its latest iteration, the FLOAT X2 shock relies on a monotube design, but still allows for both low- and high-speed compression and rebound adjustments. In typical Pivot fashion, the new 2025 Firebird employs a twin-link rear suspension design with the DW-Link system, which is also approved for use with a coil shock.

Shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM Eagle XX Transmission 12-speed drivetrain, which delivers butter-smooth gear shifts and relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur. Pivot opted not to include a bash guard, but did add a small chain guide to the chainring. However, if you prefer to use the integrated bash guard of the SRAM XX drivetrain – which we recommend for added protection against impacts – you’ll have to forgo the chain guide. SRAM also supplies the electronic Reverb AXS dropper post, which only offers a meager 170 mm of travel– far too little for a bike in this league… Fortunately, this shouldn’t be an issue for much longer ;). On the plus side, the electronic components ensure a clean cockpit, where the only visible hardware is the powerful SRAM Maven Ultimate brake system. This delivers exactly the kind of stopping power and reliability you need with a bike of this kind, especially with the big 200 mm brake rotors front and rear. The only downside: the 29” Reynolds Blacklabel Enduro Pro carbon wheelset with Industry Nine Hydra hubs come with the thinner Centerline rotors with Centerlock system, which limits compatibility with after-market rotors and can develop slight play at the rotor interface over time.

Even though we’re not huge fans of carbon wheels on enduro bikes, the Reynolds Blacklabel Enduro Pro wheels performed flawlessly throughout the entire testing period. And here’s a cool little detail: the wheels come with a lifetime warranty – even if you buy them as part of the new 2025 Pivot Firebird! For the European market, however, Pivot equipped the bike with Newmen wheels. The SuperBoost+ system, primarily used by Pivot, remains unchanged, featuring 157 mm wide rear hubs. This is intended to increase rear-end stiffness but also makes it harder to source spare parts. That said, most downhill bikes use the same hub spacing, so many common enduro wheels are available in this size. The carbon wheels are paired with Continental Kryptotal tires – with the front-specific FR variant in the Soft rubber compound up front and the rear-specific RE version in Soft compound at the rear. Both tires come in the robust Enduro casing and are a good match for the new 2025 Pivot Firebird, but we would recommend a SuperSoft compound on the front.

The spec variants of the 2025 Pivot Firebird

The new 2025 Pivot Firebird is available in two or three colours: White Gold – like our test bike – Purple Galaxy, and YOLO, whereby the latter is limited to just 200 units.

The spec variants are divided into three groups: Ride, Pro, and Team. Each group offers a version with either SRAM or Shimano brakes and drivetrains. All models rely on suspension components from FOX. The Pro and Team models come equipped with FOX Factory suspension, while the Ride variants employ FOX’s Performance suspension components with a GRIP damper and the previous-generation FLOAT X2 shock.

The geometry of the 2025 Pivot Firebird

The new 2025 Pivot Firebird is available in five sizes, XS to XL. The smallest XS frame is available exclusively as a mullet bike, while all other sizes allow you to switch between wheel configurations – you can choose your favourite wheel size at the time of purchase. Reach values range between 405 mm (size XS in the low setting) and 508 mm (size XL in the high setting). The intervals between values are well balanced, and the actual frame sizes are neither excessively long nor short. The same applies to the seat tube length, which, at 440 mm in size L, is slightly longer than average for a modern enduro bike.

Once you’ve chosen the right frame size, the new 2025 Pivot Firebird can be tuned from front to back. Starting up front, the 56 mm head tube allows you to use different headset cups to adjust the reach and head tube angle. A flip chip in the lower shock mount lets you adjust the shock’s progression by approximately 5% – but unfortunately the chip isn’t labelled. The front position is more linear, while the rear position offers a more progressive setup.

On the seat stay, you’ll find Pivot’s typical high/low flip chip, which can be found on most of their bikes. This primarily affects the bottom bracket height and, consequently, the sensation of how deeply you’re integrated into the frame. It’s definitely worth trying both settings. In addition, reach, head tube angle, and seat angle are all affected, becoming either slacker or steeper depending on the setting, and resulting in a noticeably different ride feel.

With the introduction of the UDH standard and, in particular, the adoption of Transmission drivetrains, flip chip systems for adjusting chainstay length have become extremely complex, posing a challenge for many manufacturers. Pivot are now the first manufacturer we’re aware of to offer a solution. The patented Swinger Drop-Out system allows you to adjust the chainstay length by 8 mm – despite using UDH. No new parts are needed either; simply insert the included extender and rotate the brake mount. In some cases, you might need to adjust the chain length too, which is explained in Pivot’s manual. This lets you adjust the chainstay length significantly to your preferences, even on the fly. Additionally, the chainstay length grows with the frame size. On our test bike in size XL, this can be increased from 438 mm to 446 mm.

Lastly, Pivot offer a mullet conversion with a 27.5” rear wheel. However, this only involves swapping the 29” rear wheel with a smaller 27.5” wheel, with no adjustments made to the geometry or kinematics – which is a bit of a missed opportunity. The smaller wheel significantly affects key geometry values, slackening the head angle by up to 0.8° and lowering the bottom bracket height. While the other adjustment options can compensate to some extent, doing so limits the range and effectiveness of the flip chips.

Overall, though, the 2025 Pivot Firebird offers an impressive range of adjustment options to tailor the bike to your personal preferences and riding style. The flip chip systems are, for the most part, well thought out and finely engineered. The bike comes standard with the short chainstay setting, low bottom bracket, and 29” rear wheel – and we recommend starting with this setup, as it offers the best all-round characteristics.

We’ll spare you all eight geometry charts and just give you the key figures for the standard setting: 29” / Short CSL / Low BB

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat Tube	385 mm	415 mm	440 mm	475 mm
Top tube	595 mm	620 mm	634 mm	656 mm
Head tube	95 mm	108 mm	118 mm	128 mm
Head angle	63.8°	63.8°	63.8°	63.8°
Seat angle	77°	77°	77°	77°
Chainstay	431 mm	433 mm	435 mm	438 mm
BB Drop	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm
Wheelbase	1218 mm	1249 mm	1272 mm	1300 mm
Reach	445 mm	468 mm	485 mm	505 mm
Stack	622 mm	633 mm	642 mm	651 mm

The 2025 Pivot Firebird on Test

We had the chance to test the new 2025 Pivot Firebird Team XX Eagle Transmission extensively over a two-month period, riding it not only on our trusted home trails but also in a wide variety of locations. From shuttle laps in the Canary Islands to epic backcountry expeditions in the Alps – it was all part of the mix, and we spent around 20 full days on the Firebird. This allowed us to gather a solid impression of the bike’s performance, experiment with many of its settings, and get an initial sense of how durable the bike and its components really are.

As expected, the new 2025 Pivot Firebird climbs like a rocket, with the pedal-neutral DW-Link rear suspension playing to one of its key strengths. You can safely forget about using the climb switch on the shock – or at most, reserve it for long climbs on paved roads. The pedalling position is comfortable, neither too compact nor overly stretched, and nicely centered over the bottom bracket. This allows you to apply solid pressure to the pedals from above, even with the saddle fully extended, without pedaling from too far behind. On technical climbs, the rear suspension still generates plenty of traction over steps and roots, and doesn’t require you to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel tracking. All of this makes the Firebird a strong climber, and totally suited for long days in the saddle – pretty awesome for an aggressive enduro bike!

As soon as you point its nose downhill, you’ll notice one thing: the deeply integrated, secure riding position. Especially with the flip chip in the low setting, you’re positioned centrally on the bike, and the Firebird inspires huge amounts of confidence and control, making you feel at ease from the get go. Even when riding at the limit, the Pivot never feels unfamiliar or unpredictable. Particularly in the standard Team XX Eagle Transmission spec, the 2025 Pivot Firebird responds extremely quickly and directly to rider input. In some cases, however, it can feel slightly too direct – the stiff front end demands constant attention, takes a toll on your energy, and leaves little room for error. That said, if you push the Firebird hard and commit fully to the descent, the precise handling helps you generate impressive speed. That said, a bit more compliance wouldn’t hurt. Our experiments with alloy handlebars and wheels really paid off – even with a more forgiving front end, the 2025 Pivot Firebird remains direct and playful, and it’s super easy to flick from one berm to the next without feeling completely spent at the end of a long day.

The firm suspension delivers a tremendous performance, too, offering plenty of support and reserves in the process. Especially when riding at high speeds, the Firebird feels stable and composed, flattening everything in its path and sticking to your line with great precision. The rear end always remains active and sits high in its travel, making it easy to pop off kickers and spontaneously change your line without requiring excessive input. It also delivers filtered but clear feedback, so you always know where your rear wheel is. Braking traction in rough and loose terrain is spot-on too, even though there are bikes out there that bite into the ground even more tenaciously.

For the most part, we rode the Firebird in the low setting, with the shorter wheelbase and linear shock progression – and that’s the setup we’d recommend for all-round use. Switching to the high setting is quick and easy, and it makes the bike a touch more agile on mellow terrain while putting you in a more upright pedaling position. However, this also robs you of confidence slightly, as it positions you higher on the bike. If you’re looking to squeeze even more composure out of your Firebird – which we didn’t feel was necessary – you can opt for the longer chainstay setting, which makes them 8 mm longer. We also didn’t miss the added shock progression, at least under the current wet conditions, but the difference is definitely noticeable and makes sense for specific trails and rider types. If you go for the mullet setup, we recommend starting with the flip chip in the high setting to counteract the geometry changes – with the small rear wheel, the position is very extreme and, in our opinion, only makes sense in truly steep terrain. One very positive note: even after hard, extended use, not a single bolt came loose and no creaking noises developed – impressive!

Who Should Take a Closer Look at the 2025 Pivot Firebird?

The 2025 Pivot Firebird remains a purebred race- and shredding-machine, and is also a blast on more moderate trails thanks to its agile character and firm suspension. Together with the superb climbing performance, this makes it a fantastic all-rounder with loads of customisation potential. On the trail, it’s reassuringly composed and yet surprisingly nimble, inspiring huge amounts of confidence in all situations. Once again, Pivot managed to successfully unite two opposing characteristics. While the stiff components are a matter of personal taste and can lead to fatigue relatively quickly, the new Firebird is an absolute blast – and even more composed and easier to ride than its predecessor.

Our conclusions about the 2025 Pivot Firebird

Fast, direct, and agile – the new 2025 Pivot Firebird is one of the best bikes in its class. The combination of outstanding composure, agile handling, and a superb suspension system with a pedal-neutral rear end makes it not only a top-tier race bike but also a strong all-rounder. On top of that, you get countless adjustment options, thoughtful features, and a premium look – though all of this comes at a price!

For more information, visit Pivot-Cycles’ website.

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words & Photos: Peter Walker