Arizona-based Pivot Cycles has long been known for its premium mountain bikes, but the new Mach 4 SL really pushes the boundaries for publically-available bikes, as does its price tag.
The Mach 4 SL is a lightweight, 29-inch-wheeled, 100mm-travel, cross-country racing and singletrack blasting weapon. It comes in five sizes, three colours, and a multitude of frame-only, frame kit and full-build options, ranging in price from £3,500 (frame only) to £11,800.
The Mach 4 has gone through several iterations and featured 27.5- and 29-inch versions in its lifetime. This latest version merges the Mach 4 and Mach 429SL into one superfast racing machine.
It features a revised DW-link suspension configuration with vertically-positioned shock (the previous model’s rear shock hung off the top tube) and settles on 100mm travel and 29-inch wheels.
Pivot says it retains the nippy ride qualities of its previous version.
It makes no attempts at hiding its intentions. As Pivot’s CEO Chris Cocalis put it: “We wanted to give our athletes every advantage possible in the upcoming Olympic year. With the development of the Mach 4 SL we exceeded all our weight and performance targets.
"This one really takes both the Mach 4’s light weight and agility as well as the Mach 429SL’s speedy heritage to an entirely new performance level. The bike just flat out rips.”
What makes the bike so fast? It is certainly feathery-light at a claimed 1,845g frame weight (9.4kg complete as size M with XTR World Cup build) and its geometry numbers are adequately on-the-money.
A significant section of Pivot’s launch blurb for the Mach 4 SL is focused on the use of Fox’s Live Valve shock system, the electronic automatic setting-changing suspension that uses accelerometers to read trail situations and rapidly adjust the ride setting.
Pivot is certainly convinced of the effectiveness of Live Valve: “Fox Live Valve integration gives the Mach 4 SL next level cross country suspension. The efficiency benefits are undeniable, and the speed gained on every part of the course is truly mind-blowing.”
Pivot Mach 4 SL geometry
- Head angle: 68.5 degrees (all sizes)
- Seat angle: 74.5 degrees (all sizes)
- Chainstay: 431mm / 16.98in (all sizes)
- Seat tube: 457mm / 18in (size L)
- Top tube: 636mm / 25in (size L)
- Head tube: 119mm / 4.7in (size L)
- Bottom bracket height: 325mm / 12.8in (all sizes)
- Wheelbase: 1,160mm / 45.7in (size L)
- Stack: 612mm / 24.1in (size L)
- Reach: 460mm / 18.1in (size L)
Pivot Mach 4 SL Pro X01 with Fox Live Valve specifications
Pivot offers a great number of build options for the Mach 4 SL, nearly all of which are offered with or without Live Valve suspension — good news for technophobes.
The options begin at £5,250 and go all the way up to an eye-watering £11,800, a sum potentially worth splashing out if there is an Olympics near you soon and you are thinking of participating.
The Pro X01 build comes in at £9,300 — not cheap by anyone’s standards, but it’s funny how the mortgage-grade price tag can look almost reasonable compared to its pricier counterparts.
This build is, of course, well equipped with high-end kit, although you’ll have to extend that loan if you are after the electronic shifting offered on other models.
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colours: Team Blue, Cherry, Stealth
- Weight: 1,845g (4.06lb) frame only
- Frame: Mach 4 SL Carbon
- Fork: Fox Factory Stepcast Live 34 29in 44mm offset FIT LIVE 120mm
- Shifters: SRAM X01 12-speed
- Derailleur: SRAM X01 12-speed
- Cranks: SRAM X01 Eagle DUB SL 32t
- Wheelset: 29in DT Swiss M1700 (25mm)
- Tyres: Maxxis Ardent Race 29in x 2.2in TR, EXO w/Stans Sealant
- Brakes: Shimano XT M8000
- Bar: Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon 740mm
- Stem: Phoenix Team XC/Trail 75mm
- Seatpost: KS 100mm (XS), Fox Transfer 125mm (S, M, L), Fox Transfer 150mm (XL)
- Saddle: Phoenix WTB Team Volt
- Price: £9,300 / €10,649 / $8,899 / AU$13,999
All in all, the Mach 4 SL is aimed at flat-out fast cross-country riding and racing. If it’s as good as its, and judging by Pivot’s enthusiasm, we expect to see it doing damage to results sheets soon.
