PIVOT MACH 4 SL TEAM XX SL
£12,500 Pivot’s latest XC rig gets adjustable travel
The new Pivot Mach 4 SL is a race bike with a difference. It’s available in two versions, each with two suspension travel settings. Want to go super-light and punchy? The World Cup models may be for you, with 95mm or 103mm of rear-wheel travel and a 100mm fork. If technical trails are more your sort of thing, the standard Mach 4 SL, tested here, is the machine to go for, with 106mm or 115mm of bounce out back and a 120mm fork. The frame is the same for both and has a flip-chip to change the geometry.
THE FRAME
Pivot have stuck with their customary DW-link system, which couples solid front and rear triangles together with a pair of co-rotating 7000-series aluminium links. Designed by suspension guru Dave Weagle, this set-up remains efficient under higher pedalling loads and separates the suspension from braking forces.
The new carbon frame is said to be 300-400g lighter than the previous version, while retaining the same stiffness. There’s room for a couple of bottles within the large frame’s front triangle, plus a tool or bottle under the down tube. Ample rubberised frame/bearing protection is attached at the right points.
Geometry is modern, without pushing boundaries. Our bike (with 120mm fork) had a 66.7-degree head angle and a 462mm reach. The listed seat tube angle is 74.7 degrees,
