Pivot Trail 429 Team XX1 AXS Live Valve Carbon Wheel Mountain Bike

There's nothing not to love when the Pivot Trail 429 Team XX1 AXS Live Valve Carbon Wheel Mountain Bike is doing most of the work while we're ripping fresh trail. This version of the 429 is equipped with LiveValve suspension a modern adjustment tech with roots in the truck racing world. Pivot has completely redesigned the 429 giving the frame a vertical shock upgrade to complement its DW-link suspension linkage. The new frame design drops 300g off a size large so we're half tempted to rip trail one day and sign up for our local cross-country race the next. Geometry on this version of the 429 is dialed for a competent trail bike that relishes the descents as much as it pushes us up the climbs. A flip-chip in the rear lets us choose between 'slack' and 'slacker' so naturally we're going for the slacker option. In this setting the headtube drops to 66 all while keeping a relatively steep seat tube angle of 75. Combined with a middling wheelbase of 1188mm(size M) we're having fun no matter what direction the trail goes or how long the next descent is. Helping us out in the fun department is 'set and forget' suspension performance with help from FOX and their Live Valve tech. Live Valve keeps the suspension hyper-active judging the terrain and making small adjustments as we ride with its electric brain system. LiveValve is hooked up to FOX Factory suspension front and rear allowing for a plush ride that stays at peak performance for longer thanks to a Kashima coat. That's not all the electronics the Trail 429 gets with a full SRAM AXS drivetrain providing the most advanced and easy-to-use shifting bits. Additionally even the dropper post is wireless AXS so we're enjoying a clean and clutter-free cockpit with the immense lack of cables. Finishing off the build is a set of Reynolds carbon hoops these strong wheels are dialed in for trail riding with offset widths. Running in a 30mm inner width upfront and 28mm in the rear the wheelset allows for a larg...