Pivot’s newest XC bike is the revamped Mach 4 SL. Gone is the choice between two models (short and long travel), replaced by a single version with adjustable travel between 110mm and 120mm.
Rear suspension is delivered by Dave Weagle’s venerable DW-link design.
The V4 includes down-tube storage that, along with the increase in travel from 95-115mm on the previous bike, should make this a more trail-friendly and versatile bike than the outgoing V3.
- Read more: Pivot Mach 4 SL Team XX SL review
Adjustable travel
Cross-country bikes have been seeing a gradual increase in travel and aggressive geometry in recent years, so it's interesting to see the new Mach 4 SL following suit.
Although officially labelled an XC bike by Pivot, it could easily demolish trail centres as a downcountry bike, too.
Previous versions of the Mach 4 were offered in either short- or long-travel guises. The former, 95mm/103mm-travel, bike was supplied with a 100mm-travel fork and aimed at XC and marathon racing on less technical tracks. The latter 106mm/115mm-travel bike had a 120mm fork and was aimed at more technical XC racing and downcountry riding.
Pivot has done away with this, now offering one frame configuration with longer travel adjustable between 110mm and 120mm – 5mm more than the outgoing model, even in it’s longest-travel setting.
The inclusion of down-tube storage makes the new bike even more trail- and downcountry-friendly than the more race-focused V3.
Geometry
The head angle is an aggressive two degrees slacker than the old Mach 4 SL’s 68-degree head angle.
The bottom bracket height is slightly higher, at 336mm (compared to the outgoing version’s 329mm), but due to the increased rear-wheel travel, expect the dynamic geometry (when the bike is under sag) to be very similar.
There are five sizes on offer: XS, S, M, L and XL. Reach starts at 410mm and goes up to 495mm for the XL, while the wheelbase measures 1,131mm for the XS and 1,236mm for the XL.
Build options
There are four models: Team, Pro, Expert and Ride. The Ride starts at $6,399 and prices rise to $13,999 for the top-spec Team model. The Mach 4 SL is available in Blue Stellar Fade and White Avalanche colourways.
There are both RockShox and a Fox-equipped Team-build models available. The Team XX SL Eagle Transmission model has Fox Factory suspension and SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission.
The Team XX SL Eagle Transmission Flight Attendant bike comes with RockShox Flight Attendant suspension from the SID Ultimate fork and unconfirmed model of RockShox shock, and XX SL Eagle Transmission.
The Pro build has Fox Factory suspension and SRAM’s X0 Eagle Transmission.
The Expert build has Shimano XT Di2 shifting and Fox Performance suspension.
The Ride model is the most budget-conscious, with a Fox Performance 34 Step-Cast fork, Performance Float shock and SRAM Eagle 70/90 mechanical Transmission.
A frame-only option is also available for riders wanting to build their own ideal setup,
Pricing and availability
There are four models available, including two Team builds and a frame-only option.
- Mach 4 SL V4 Team XX Eagle Transmission Flight Attendant: £13,999 / $13,999 / €12,999
- Mach 4 SL V4 Team XX Eagle Transmission: £11,999 / $11,999 / €12,299
- Mach 4 SL V4 Pro X0 Eagle Transmission: £8,799 / $8,799 / €8,799
- Mach 4 SL V4 Expert XT Di2: £7,499 / $7,499/ €7,199
- Mach 4 SL V4 Ride 70/90 Eagle Transmission: £6,399 / $6,399 / €6,199
- Mach 4 SL V4 Frameset: £TBC / $TBC / €TBC
