Every once in a while, life hands you something new to try. This past week, I lucked into two such opportunities: riding the brand-new Pique X ADV SL 0, and then, perhaps more daunting, writing a review about them. Reviewing bikes isn’t totally foreign territory for me, but it’s far from my daily comfort zone. Typically, I prefer to follow the immortal wisdom of Freddie Mercury: get on your bike and ride.
With that… let’s dive into what’s new with the Liv PiqueX.
What You Should Know About the Pique X
The Liv Pique X is a lightweight, high-performance XC bike that pairs 130mm of front travel with 120mm of rear travel and a responsive new FlexPoint Pro suspension system. This bike has a lively, sporty feel that makes it easy to maneuver and surprisingly fast. It’s designed for riders who want one bike that can race up climbs, handle technical descents, and keep them stoked the whole ride.
PIQUE X Geoemtry (Size S)
- Head Tube Angle: 66° – 66.5°
- Effective Seat Tube Angle: 75°- 75.5°
- Reach: 509 mm
- Chainstay: 448 mm
- Wheelbase: 1124 mm
Setup Notes
- Rider weight: 135 lbs
- Rider Height: 5’2″
- Sag: 30% rear / 25% front
- Tire pressure: 16 psi front / 18 psi rear
Live PIQUE X: TLDR SUMMARY
What it is.
A lightweight, slightly longer-travel evolution of the old Pique built to blend the line between XC & trail-bike. It rides fast, feels responsive, and offers noticeably more downhill capability than a traditional XC race bike.
Who it’s for.
Riders who want an efficient climber that doesn’t hold them back on technical descents, longer rides, or mixed terrain. It’s ideal for those who enjoy a lively, sporty feel but still want stability when the trail gets rougher.
Why you should buy it
Buy it for its balanced personality, impressive speed, and playful handling on descents. Skip it if you prefer a plush, ultra-smooth suspension feel or want the razor-sharp efficiency of a pure XC race bike.
LIV PIQUE X : Ride Review
Climbing Performance: +2
SURPRISINGLY QUICK FOR A “NON-CLIMBER”
I am not a climber. In fact, I like to think of my climbing style as enjoying the moment and breath work. In other words, I am slow and there isn’t enough oxygen in Utah. But regardless of my uphill talent, the Pique flies! I got up steep hills I had no business climbing, and while I was definitely breathing hard, the usual screaming of the leg muscles wasn’t there. It was amazing! I felt like the little engine that could. The 3 degrees of engagement of the free-hub helped with almost instant power to the wheels, so once you wanted to go, you were off.
TIRES AND LOCKOUTS LIMIT TECHNICAL CLIMBING
There are Sram Twistloc lockouts on Pique Adv SL 0 and manual lockouts for the Pique X Adv SL 0. I mostly rode the Pique X and I didn’t particularly love riding with it locked out and in fact only did for about 5 minutes. I prefer having the grip and softer ride than the stiff and efficient ride. But they are there for those who do enjoy riding in the locked out position. The con that I found in the uphill has more to do with my own dislike of the tires. I wasn’t a fan of the Rekon/Rekon Race combo. I had a few moments of spin out while trying to get up the more technical parts of the trail. My opinion is that for a trail bike it should have a more aggressive tire combination. But again that is just me. If you were to ask an old coworker of mine, the rekon race is too aggressive. Each to their own I guess.
Downhill Capability: +1
SPORTY, RESPONSIVE, AND SURPRISINGLY FAST
A few words to describe the Pique X on the downhill are sporty, responsive, and a little stiff. Overall, I had a blast on the downhill. There isn’t much in the world that can compare to sending it down a mountainside at 20+ mph. The slacker head angle and the 130mm travel just ate everything up. With it being a shorter travel bike, one does need to pick the lines more carefully than if you were on an enduro or all-mountain bike, but that is what I like. It carries speed so well that there were a few times I had to speed check myself going into features because I was going too fast.
The Pique X comes stock with either a carbon or alloy integrated bar and stem on all their builds. I found that this setup made the bike incredibly responsive. Couple that with the weight of the bike and you can throw this steed around like nobody’s business. When I found myself slipping or taking a wrong line, I could quickly adjust, and the bike would follow suit. It liked getting into the air, which made the mellow parts of the trail more fun. You can easily unweight the bike and bunnyhop rocks, roots, and whatever else in the trail. Despite my dislike of the tires, the bike cornered well. I do wish I could have ridden the bike with a little bit more aggressive tires, just to see how that would have changed the ride. With the new single-pivot rear suspension, it is a little bit stiffer than I am personally used to. But that is what this bike is all about, being fast and efficient, so I can give it some leeway here. Just know “plush” will not necessarily be a buzzword for this bike.
Suspension Performance: 0
On the suspension side of things, Liv has gone away from the four-pivot maestro setup and has gone with the single-pivot, Flexpoint Pro (think flex-stays) setup. This allows the bike to stiffen up quite a bit while also shedding some weight. With these changes, the efficiency factor is also improved.
Handling: +2
LIGHTWEIGHT FEEL MAKES THE BIKE EASY TO MANEUVER
The integrated bar-and-stem setup paired up with the bike’s low weight makes the Pique really responsive. You can move this bike around with very little effort, whether you’re correcting a line, threading through tight terrain, or popping the bike into the air just for fun. It’s easy to unweight the front end, bunnyhop obstacles, and make quick adjustments when things get loose. The bike wants to play, and it rewards active riding.
STIFF REAR END Gives lots of control, but it lacks plushness/forgiveness
With the new single-pivot rear suspension, the back end is noticeably stiffer than I’m used to. That stiffness adds stability and control at speed, but it does mean you feel more of the trail underneath you. While “plush” isn’t the keyword for this bike, the tradeoff is a level of directness and feedback that helps you stay connected to the trail. The Pique responds to rider input quickly and consistently, giving it a sharp, confident feel in corners and fast choppy sections.
Versatility: 0
A BIKE THAT BALANCES SPEED AND CAPABILITY
The Pique X shines in its ability to handle most anything you want to ride. With enough travel to boost confidence on the downhill, but still light and efficient enough to chase climbs, it sits perfectly between XC sharpness and the fun of a trail bike. The Pique X adapts without feeling over- or under-gunned. It’s a do-it-all machine for riders who want one bike that never really feels out of place.
Intangibles: +2
Clean Frame, Well built
Liv has taken the Advanced SL Composite Technology that is used on their high-end road bikes and incorporated it into the mountain bike scene. Each model of the Pique X is made using the continuous-fiber “one-piece molding” technique. So we will sum it up by saying, all these changes give the Pique the highest Liv standards for the weight-to-stiffness ratio. In other words, it’s light, it’s stiff and it looks great.
PIQUE X: Comparisons
When you stack the Pique X up against bikes in its class, it quickly becomes clear where it shines and where it stands apart. Compared to options like the Orbea Oiz, the Pique feels more playful and confident on descents while still holding strong in the efficiency department. Here are the biggest differences:
Liv Pique X VS Orbea Oiz
PIQUE X FEELS MORE PLAYFUL AND DOWNHILL-READY
The Liv Pique X leans toward a more playful, lively trail feel compared to the Orbea Oiz. The Pique’s slacker head angle, slightly longer travel options, and responsive chassis make it easier to throw around, adjust mid-line, and have fun on varied terrain. Where the Oiz feels fast and precise, the Pique feels fast and expressive, more willing to leave the ground, change direction, and carry speed through chunkier sections.
OIZ MAINTAINS A SHARPER, MORE RACE-ORIENTED FEEL
The Orbea Oiz is purpose-built for XC racing and it shows. It’s lighter overall, more efficient under power, and delivers a firmer, more immediate pedaling platform. Compared to the Pique X, the Oiz tracks the ground with a slightly racier feel, prioritizing speed and efficiency over comfort or versatility. Riders coming from a race background will appreciate the Oiz’s laser-focused handling and acceleration, while the Pique X offers a more forgiving and playful approach to riding fast.
Who is the PIQue X for?
PIQUE X Adv SL
Who they are: The Pique X Adv SL is for those who want more downhill capability and longer rides, while still chasing the uphill KOM/QOM. It’s for those looking for a ride that will get you grinning from ear to ear.
Why they’ll enjoy the Pique X: It blends XC speed with the confidence of a trail bike, making every climb faster and every descent more fun.
Final Thoughts
For a bike that pushed me outside my comfort zone in all the best ways, the Pique X made it easy to simply “get on a bike and ride,” just like Freddie Mercury advised.
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