Pivot's Trail 429 has gotten an update for 2021. This iteration brings in a host of frame updates and a vertical shock position all to create a more capable machine. There's also a range of new kit on the bikes and better integration for Fox's Live Valve system.

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Pivot touts the new Trail 429 as a 29er trail bike with cross country bike-like performance that can keep up with the most featherweight of XC rigs but also a bike that can offer a tonne of confidence through untamed singletrack.

The new bike benefits from Pivot's Hollow Core moulding technology to make up its frame. That sees in a new carbon layup which is said to make up a stiffer frame that shaves 300 grams against the old bike.

Now for the elephant in the room. Pivot has reworked the DW Link suspension on the new Trail 429, positioning it vertically in the frame. This has been done for a number of reasons; it makes for a more compact frame design that Pivot says is stiffer, lighter, and uses less material. 

It also accommodates better Fox Live Integration and results in a more progressive shock rate that works better with air shocks, says Pivot. Of course, it then offers a lower standover and space for a bottle cage.

The frame comes built with Pivot's Proprietary Ride Tuning. That means each frame size gets a custom-tuned carbon frame with scaled stiffness, so that should ensure a consistent ride characteristic for all riders. 

Pivot has also kitted the 2021 Trail 429 with a geometry adjusting flip-chip. The "Low" and "Lower" settings allow the rider to tweak the head and seat tube angle by .5° while offering a 7mm of bottom bracket drop adjustment.

On the subject of geometry, the Trail 429 has seen a bit of a tweak. In the Lower setting, the bike gets a 66° head tube angle, a 75° seat tube angle, and a 432mm chainstay. The reach on a size large measures in at 470mm. As touched on before, in the steeper Low setting, the angles steepen by half a degree and the reach stretches by 5mm.

Another neat trick that comes on the frame is Pivot's Tool Dock System which has been designed in collaboration with Topeak. This dock lets riders clip on Topeak tools underneath the top tube or by the bottom bracket. Handy if you like to ride packless.

The 2021 Pivot Trail 429 comes in a range of builds to suit a variety of riders. There's a choice of Pro or Team builds which come with either a Fox DPS shock or kitted with Fox Live Valve tech. Those come with a 130mm Fox 34 Fit4 Factory fork.

This Trail 429 also comes in an Enduro build which comes sorted with a Fox DPX2 and a Fox 36 GRIP2 Factory with 140mm of travel.

The new Pivot Trail 429 comes in five sizes from XS up to XL and will set you back £5,700 for the Race XT build. For the top of the range bike, that'll cost you £11,350.

• pivotcycles.com

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