Mach 4 (XTR Group) The Pivot Mach 4 is the first choice for obsessive perfectionists seeking the ultimate cross-country mountain bike. With an unmatched pedigree, it's the most technologically advanced suspension bike made. The DW-Link suspension is active when hitting bumps and under braking, but resists squatting when pedaling.
The Mach 4's alloy frame and advanced linkage design make for a bike that is ultra-light but maintains excellent stiffness. Optimized for racing and aggressive cross-country riding, the Mach 4 is lightweight, agile and efficient. It is Cross Country, Redefined.
Submitted by
The Nomad
a Racer
from Higlands Ranch, Co, USA Date Reviewed: November 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
The PM4's has many strengths. It is the best pedaling bike I have ever ridden. My PM4 is as efficient as my hard tail except I gain all the benefits of a very plush, small bump compliant full suspension bike. I have owned Santa Cruz Blur and Nomad, Rockey Mountain Element, Elsworth and Gary Fisher. Several are award winners on this web site. One was gear of the year from outside magazine they are all great bikes. My points is that I would not trade my Pivot for any of them. It climbs, descends and corners beautifully. Some have said that it weighs a lot. Well mine tips the scale at 24lbs and 4 oz. I don't have the lightest helium parts but respectable XO, XTR, King wheels etc.. All of these parts were on my Rocky Mountain and the bikes are within 4 oz of each other. The Pivot is about 100 grams more. For me its a no brainer that the quality and efficiency of the Pivot far out weighs the 100g difference. Last season racing on the Pivot I consistently placed the highest I have ever placed in the races I entered. The last thing I will say is that that Pivot has engineered the bike to have the best chain line in the Biz. My PM4 shifts better than any bike I have ever been on front and rear. This sure comes in handy when you need to make a quick shift under torque and the bike shifts instead of grids!
Weaknesses:
Even after a full season the only things I would change about my bike don't have anything to do with the frame.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Blur and Nomad, Rockey Mountain Element, Elsworth and Gary Fisher
Bike Setup:
XO, XTR, King wheels, Easton monkey lite and Thompson,
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that the Pivot will do anything that the rider wants. It would be a great weekend warrior or xc racer or a long distance marathon bike (Leadville 100 anyone). It is tough enough to handle all mountain riding and fast enough to satisfy the most picky racer. This is not conjecture on my part I have used this bike to race on and have tackled the best Moab has to offer. I have put well over 500 miles on it and all I can say is its an awesome machine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dwayne
a Racer
from Ft. Lauderdale,Fl. Date Reviewed: November 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
The one I'am on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Handles, climes,and does everything that I throw at it great. I am a clydesdale at 6'1" 240+lbs. Try to ride at least 3 days a week and race it.........and no problems at all. It has made me faster.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Bullit, 2-Specialized SX, Jamis Dakar,and others
Bike Setup:
Xt drive-train, I-9s, Marta SL's, Fox rp23-F-series fork
Bottom Line:
The best Cross Country bike I have ever owned. I have broke many bikes but this bike just wants more, the more you push it the better it is. Don't get me wrong I wont be doing any downhilling with it. But everything else.
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Submitted by
wee hee
a Weekend Warrior
from Muar, Johor, Malaysia Date Reviewed: October 30, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5500.00
Strengths:
It rides like a hardtail bike. Climb is fast with little effort. The frame feels stiff and rigid. The DW link is superb pushing the bike faster and faster when climb and of course downhill. Downhill is really fast if the Pro-pedal is left open. It is like a wild stallion let loose.
Weaknesses:
To fast going downhill with the DW link. (Maybe is my technique no good - need more practice)
Similar Products Used:
Giant Anthem X1 - a slightly lighter XC bike. Maybe lighter by 600g. But the Pivot Mach 4 still feel lighter when pedaling uphill due to the brilliant DW link.
I sold my Giant Anthem X1 frame for the Pivot and used back the accessories.
Bike Setup:
Race Face Next handle bar; Rockshox SID team; Fox RP23; XTR Crank, FD and BB; XT Front and Real brakes; SRAM XO shifter and RD; KCNC Seatpost; Michelin XC Dry tires; WTB light hub and Mavix 717 rim.
Bottom Line:
Extremely fun bike to ride and the key words are: FAST; VERY FAST and STIFF frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oldgoat61
a Racer
from Greenville, SC Date Reviewed: October 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Paris Mt., Dupont, Pisgah
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5700.00
Purchased At:
Ride On Bicycles
Strengths:
Components, Light weight, Handling is telepathic
Weaknesses:
None that I can see. Give it a year though before I can truely comment.
Fox Fit fork, Fox RP23 rear shock, Shimano XTR,Magura Marta SL brakes,Syntace,Ritchey,& Kenda.
Bottom Line:
The bike handles like its on rails. Steering is telepathic. No bob when climbing even with the Propedal on the rear shock turned off. This is the first full suspension bike I was able to get the front and back suspension balanced. The compression and rebound settings you can tell a difference on both shocks when you move the knobs.
The components are all high quality and work flawlessly.
This by far is the best Mountain bike I've ever owned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pinstripes
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, nc Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
286
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Franks Cyclery
Strengths:
Stiff and fast! No bob, no flex. Perfect geometry.
Weaknesses:
My heart and legs are the only weakness. The juicy's are pretty vocal but that's not a dig on the bike.
King inset headset, fox 32 f100 rlc, dt Swiss xr4.2 on king hubs, nevegals, xt cranks, xtr pedals, x9 shifters and rd, xt fd, pressed in xtr bb, juicy 5 brakes(for now)
Bottom Line:
Originally went shopping for another hardtail, but found the Mach 4 to be the best of both worlds. These are my first impressions after 2 weeks of ownership and 120 miles of singletrack.
It climbs like a champ and you can stand on it and crank without any bob or flex. Remarkably plush over the rough also. The geometry is spot on and the bike handles quickly and predictably in all situations. The frame is an engineering work of art and IMO is far more advanced than anything I had ridden from the larger companies. With Pivot, the philosophy was clearly - solid engineering first, marketing second- instead of the other way around. I look forward to many thousands of grin filled miles.
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Submitted by
tacobob1982
a Cross Country Rider
from Farmington N.M Date Reviewed: September 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere in the mountains
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3800.00
Purchased At:
Cottonwood Cycles
Strengths:
The Pivot Mach 4 is an extremely versitle mountain bike. This bike can be used for XC and long distance riding, trails that one might consider using a 5 inch travel suspension. When climbing it is hard to tale the differance between a hard tail or softtail suspension. The bike allows for easy control coming down hills just as well. This bike also corner very well and can take a pretty mean jump.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found one yet that deos not compare with other bikes of this caliper. And by that I mean its price. But with that said all good XC bike run about the same.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Truth, Trek Top Feul 9.9, Titus Race X, Scott Spark 15
Bike Setup:
XO rear derailer, XT front derailer, XT crankset, X9 trigger shifters, Bontager racce lit wheels, Bontager 2" tires, Avid Juicy five brakes
Bottom Line:
This is a great all around bike. I use mine for everyday use. It is lite and great for racing I used my bike for an xterra triathlon and it worked great. The bike does not come in carbon fiber but the few extra pounds didn't bother me. I have real trust issues with carbon on a mountain bike. It may provide a stiffer ride, but that isn't the case with the Mach 4. With the exception of weight I fill its pretty safe to say it can go round for round with any carbon fiber frame. Plus I haven't found a better lokking bike any where.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
madcat291262
a Cross Country Rider
from Bunbury Date Reviewed: August 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
depends on mood
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
KOM cycles
Strengths:
Climbs like mountain goat. The rear end just will not give in. I am riding faster down and uphill. Rode hard tails for last 15 years and dont miss them at all.
Weaknesses:
When you pick it up by seat and stem you feel that this bike could not go that fast.
Similar Products Used:
Nil similar. Only ridden carbon fibre hard tails with frame weights of under 1300 grams for 10 years.
Bike Setup:
Stans Olympic laced to DT 190s. XT. Avid brakes. all came off my hard tail. I purchased frame only and built up.
Bottom Line:
This is the first ever review I have written. I did this becaause I feel this is such a great frame and I needed to let others know. You will read other professional reviews saying that this bike is heavy. You need to stop thinking only about weight and think about efficiency. Speed is about how effective the bike is at getting the power to the track and how well it handles. This bike is excellent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lsutigerindogland
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpharetta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: August 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Big Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4200.00
Purchased At:
Outspokin' Bikes, Wo
Strengths:
I rented one of these while on a vacation with friends in Park City, UT a couple of months ago and was impressed with the ride. Bike goes up hills like a hardtail and isn't too plush on the descents, but enough to take the edge off. Very little lateral movement. Can't tell a difference with the pro pedal in either position, but then again, I weigh 155 lbs, so weight may be an issue. Great design and no regrets getting this bike.
Weaknesses:
None so far. I don't have a problem with the weight since I would probably shy away from it if it were a couple of pounds lighter and made of carbon. Don't know, just have a hard time trusting carbon on a mtn bike. Price may be higher than bikes with similar components, but the DW Link more than makes up for it. You get what you pay for and then some in the case of the Pivot.
Similar Products Used:
GT Marathon Carbon XTR, Cannondale Rize w/ Carbon Lefty.
Bike Setup:
All XT - XT hydraulic brakes and XT hubs and wheels. Ritchey Pro Logic seatpost and stem. Fox RLC front paired with a Fox RP23 rear shock. Kenda Nevegal front, Kenda Small Block 8 rear.
Bottom Line:
The beauty of the Pivot is the linkage, plain and simple. I'd ridden the GT Marathon Carbons and a Cannondale Rize with a carbon Lefty and while they are both great bikes, there's too much energy loss in the linkage, IMO. I've never been a fan of carbon mountain bikes, though the technology has certainly gotten better. While both bikes rode well, they are spongy compared to the Pivot. Neither tracked as well as the Pivot up hill. I got to spend a few hours demo-ing all three bikes on the trails so I got a good feel for them in real-world conditions. Sure you can drop a lb. or two depending on the spec, but either way it's hard to find a flaw with this bike. Got mine at Outspokin' Bikes in Woodstock, GA (www.outspokinbikes.com). Thanks, Kevin & Josh! Great shop and fantastic service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hostile42
a Weekend Warrior
from Rancho Cucamonga, Ca Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm on at the time.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
ebay used with 50 mi
Strengths:
This bike climbs better than Sir Edmund Hillary and a raped ape's love child. I always forget about the pro-pedal because there isnt much of a difference when it is on or off. Love the Fox forks. Bike is a work of art from the cool ano blue color down to the the red nipples on the spokes. They took some pride designing and building these bikes. Customer service was great for the few questions i had. Thanks Adam. Never seen another one on the trail so I'm the only one looking this good. Weight is alright in the high 26lbs range.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
I owned a Diamondback Mission 2 all decked out and loved it, but wanted something less all mountain and more XC. Tried both and Epic and Stump Jumper that were very nice rides too.
Bike Setup:
XT build with XTR front derailleur, Sella SMP Glider saddle, FSA carbon flat bar, Ritchey WSC post and stem, Kenda Nevegal tyres. Aim Sports My-Tach GPS unit, Eggbeaters.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike going up and coming down. If anything it is too fast for me. I quickly run out of talent well before the bike does. It took me 6 weeks to get this bike thanks to Fed-Ex destroying the downtube in shipping. Had to get insurance approval which was not easy to do for a non bike appraiser questioning why a bike was 3 grand used. Once that cleared we got a new frame and the seller rebuilt the bike again and shipped it back out. It was worth every pain staking day I waited. I chose Pivot based only on reviews and a buddy who works for another brand saying how nice they were. Never saw one, and never sat on one until the damaged one got to my door. Even ruined this bike had me at hello. At the ebay price I feel really good about this purchase. No buyers remorse. At full retail I might have rated value a chili lower. Would have liked it to be a pound lighter but I would still want a pound lighter on any bike. I'm not the best rider by any means and know nothing about head tube angle, DW-Link suspension and rear stiffness, but I do know I go up faster and come down faster than I did on my other bike. The trails seem a lot smoother at all speeds and the medium hits have become small bumps. The suspension soaks up everything but the power. I push on the pedal and it goes forward quickly. Now if I could find some watts and skills I would be unstoppable. Cockpit feels a little bigger for a medium than my Diamondback but standover is about the same. I'm 5'10 150lbs with a 30" inseam. One last thing: my wife even likes this bike. She hates all my toys but the Pivot blue won her over.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Racer
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: July 21, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bikesport in Houston
Strengths:
Virtually no suspension bob
Stiff rear end
Beautiful blue color
Weaknesses:
My only complaint is trivial - The bottle cage sits a bit low on the downtube
I purchased the frameset so components aren't included in this review
Bottom Line:
Wanting something that’s light, nimble, and smooth to replace my Giant Anthem, I began the search for a suitable cross-country race bike. After searching the web for different bike designs and reviews, I decided to test ride a Pivot Mach 4 since the Pivot website had so much encouraging press. WOW! I was blown away by the rear suspension on this bike during my two hour test ride on the trails. I was so impressed that I ordered one from the LBS the next day and my frame arrived less than a week later.
I quickly built my baby and was impressed again on my first trail ride. The rear suspension easily absorbed the big hits without feeling squishy on the trail AND it also easily soaked-up the small stuff with no harsh feeling when the rear shock was tuned to Pivot’s recommendations and ProPedal “off”. At first, I felt like I was riding the trails slower than usual but I soon realized that the suspension was much better at smoothing out the trail and was transferring fewer hits to my hands, feet, and spine. I also noticed that the rear end of the bike felt really stiff in all of the corners – smooth corners as well as bumpy corners.
Furthermore, with ProPedal still set to the “off” position, the rear suspension felt like it only moved slightly during hard seated and hard standing accelerations. This was the most surprising aspect of the design since most full suspension bikes suffer from pedal bob when large forces are applied to the pedals. With no lockout available on the Fox RP-23, the frame design and Pivot’s recommended shock settings were keeping the suspension in check. Also, with ProPedal set to level 1 and under hard accelerations, the rear suspension moved even less. I use this setting on our local trails, which consist of mostly hard pack dirt, roots, trees, and wood bridges.
In addition, the frame geometry is great with respect to cornering, flick-ability, and front-back weight distribution. In other words, this bike fits ME wonderfully and responds very well to rider input. Again, this bike is right at home on the rooty, twisty trails of southeast Texas and would be a great choice.
However, the bike corners less intuitively at speed than my 2008 Giant Anthem or my 2005 Titus Racer-X. In other words, it takes just a tiny bit more concentration and rider input (e.g., body English) to get the bike to rail a corner at speed.
Bottom line – this design is what all of the other designs want to be when they grow-up and I highly recommend a Mach 4 to whoever is looking for a full suspension XC race bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crowbar12
a Weekend Warrior
from Dania Beach, Florida Date Reviewed: July 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Alex's pro bike shop
Strengths:
Excellent build quality, super tight handling, impressive small bump compliance, no pedal bob at all, great to look at.
Weaknesses:
Cost is up there for a non-carbon frame but you get what you pay for in this case.
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper, Cannondale Rize, Scott Ransom LTD
Bike Setup:
Sram XO drive train, Crank Brothers Cobalt wheel set, Carbon seat post and bars
Bottom Line:
This may be the very finest mountain bike that I have ever ridden, it really does live up to all the hype. Rails the corners and love tight twisty trails, excellent small bump compliance, deals with big drops like a 5" travel bike, a very stiff frame and it sticks to the trail like velcro...I really like this bike and will be a Pivot fan for many years to come. I cant wait to see the Mach 4 in Carbon...but it work just fine like it is! Quit complaining about the price and just go get one...its worth it....Remember "you get what you pay for"
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kleinhead
a Weekend Warrior
from Reston, VA, USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Gambrill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3560.00
Purchased At:
Conte Bikes, Arlingt
Strengths:
Build quality is excellent; stiff rear triangle; DW-link provides great in and out of the saddle acceleration with no noticeable bob. Square edge bump compliance is amazing.
Weaknesses:
Cost
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Dakar; Klein Mantra
Bike Setup:
XT/X9 Limited Edition; XT cranks, XT front derailleur, X9 rear derailleur, X9 shifters, DT Swiss X1800 wheels, Fox F32 RLC 100mm, Ritchey WCS stem and post, Ritchey Pro bars and headset
Bottom Line:
I've been looking for a new FS bike for over 6 months. Read everything there is regarding the Pivot, SC Blur, Turner Flux and Maverick ML7. Very happy that I chose the Pivot. Build quality is excellent. Initial impressions mirror the numerous press reports, bike mag reviews and user comments. The bike climbs extremely well (feels like my Klein Adroit hardtail), but can soak up the downhills. Steering is very tight - definitely an XC racer. Fox fork and rear shock provide numerous tuning options (almost too many as it'll take a while to completely dial it in). Will post back up in 6 months when I logged some high miles and a few races under my belt on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
akerth
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ, United State Date Reviewed: June 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Black Canyon City
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At:
MTBR
Strengths:
This bike has awesome Technology! Supper responsive and fast. You can stand up and hammer down with no bobbing!!!
Weaknesses:
Can't find one yet.
Similar Products Used:
Fisher hard tail and stumpjumper expert
Bike Setup:
XT/XTR/Easton Rims and bars
Bottom Line:
This bike raises the bar for all competition. You get what you pay for. If your looking for a bike that responds when you ask it to and be able to take 4 foot drops this is your bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Archie Brown
a Racer
from Melbourne Victoria Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anything around Forrest VIC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5800.00
Purchased At:
VIC MTB
Strengths:
Fast. Excellent small bump compliance, stiff under power and tracks beautifully at speed. Suspension is active under braking and it opens up a whole new world of dumb jumps and crazy downhills.
Weaknesses:
Expensive. But thats one of the offsets of living in Oz. Weight on the scales. 12kgs for a XT/X0 build in an XL. Having said that , it feels lighter than my hardtail on the trails - which is weird. If this was carbon, it'd be pure p0rn.
Similar Products Used:
Epic marathon, Yeti 575, Scott Genius and Spark 20, Trek Fuel EX-8, some Jamis rubbish etc.
Bike Setup:
XT build with XO mech etc. Some carbon bling but pretty much standard.
Bottom Line:
I was frothing when I got this ride, and have held off reviewing it until I was sure that the excitement wouldnt be washed off after a few races. It hasn't.
Im a pretty dumb rider who picks stupid lines and usually break lots of stuff, but this bike has been flawless in all my training rides, the enduros and 100km painfests Ive entered - which is testament to both the build and the design. It does everything the marketing guff says it will and even has a comfy top tube to sit on while you wait for your riding partners to catch up.
6 months later, the love for this bike hasn't died. 5 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kalcreager
a Racer
from Arizona Date Reviewed: January 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mormon to National Loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Great pedal efficiency. Awesome on the descents especially on droppy rocky stuff. Super Stiff out of the saddle.Great small bump absorption.
Weaknesses:
None. Different material like Carbon would be sweet for lighter weight.
Similar Products Used:
Racer X. Epic. Ellsworth Truth. Jamis Dakar.
Bike Setup:
Full XTR Stans race wheels. 23 pound build with heavier Fox fork.
Bottom Line:
Great riding bike. Blazing fast XC machine that is easy on the body. It can handle anything a cross country trail can throw at you. DW-Link is golden in all situations. National trail is an extremely technical trail and with some skill this bike flys down it. If you want the ultimate XC machine forget hardtails, forget the epic and get this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Top Fool Seven
a Weekend Warrior
from Cary, NC Date Reviewed: January 2, 2009
General XT build, DT Swiss wheels, Ritchey Pro stem, bars and post. Replaced the grips with ODIs
Bottom Line:
Solid bike. I thought my Trek was a good bike, but after a few rides on the Mach 4, I now realize what a superior bike the Pivot is. I sold my Trek.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
770nbp
a Cross Country Rider
from Acworth, Ga Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1995.00
Purchased At:
Suck Creek Cycles
Strengths:
efficient, extremely maneuverable, small bump compliant, comfortable geometry, beautiful welds, nice ano paint job, 2 bottle holders
Weaknesses:
steep head tube takes some geting used to. Not a great technical, fast descender. dont like the zero stack headset.
Similar Products Used:
Racer X - Several other FS Bikes that squat so are not comparable
Bike Setup:
Old Pushed Talas (85-125), X9 shifters and derailure, Spinnergy Cyclone Disk Wheels, Thomson post and stem
Bottom Line:
Quick to post a review because I'm excited about the bike. I only have 150 miles on it.
I have a XL frame. I'm 6-4 and had to have a setback seat post. I think the frames are small-ish on the top tube.
I'm a much better climber on this bike. Try losing momentum on a step climb and then gassing it again. This bike feels like a hardtail, no squat at all.
Quality of frame is outstanding. The welds are perfect. It is obvious I paid for a ton of engineering, not just a name.
Man this bike will turn. Its a blast in XC conditions but dont get lazy. The steep headtube will throw you to the ground quick. Not a ton of confidence blasting on rocky/rooty descents but I'm hoping this will become more natural over time. It turns in technical steep switchbacks better than any bike I've ridden but it feels more twitchy than my Racer X 100. Sitting side by side, it has a little shorter wheelbase and the headtube is noticeably steeper than the Racer X.
Over all, I am very happy. I think I am far more efficient and comfortable. Time will tell on quality but I am impressed so far. Like I said, I got a ton of engineering for my $.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan white
a Racer
from Trabuco Canyon, CA Date Reviewed: September 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm riding
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
I love this bike. The Pivot frame is truly a work of art! The intricate bends of the down-tube, top tube, seat-tube and chain stays are beautiful and the quality of the welds are as good as I've seen. Add the state-of-the-art pressed in XTR bottom bracket, bolt-on XTR front derailler, stiff sealed pivots carbon link, integrated headset and it makes most other frames look dated.
Okay, riding the Pivot. This is no mushy power sucking FS bike; it sprints in or out of the saddle w/no perceptable BOB. The DW link system really does work! Geometry is right-on; bike steers like a champ and overall balance is really good. I rode the Trek Fuel EX this past weekend at their dirt demo; nice bike but feels slow compared to my Pivot.
Weaknesses:
None. I would like to see a really light weight version that I could build into a sub 23# lb. XC race bike.
Similar Products Used:
Titus Racer X, Turner Flux, Fisher ProCaliber Hardtail
Bike Setup:
Full XTR components & brakes, DT Swiss 1540 wheels w/Specialized Fast Trac tubeless, Ritchey WCS Stem & Carbon Bar, Fox F100X Fork, Syntac Carbon Post,
Bottom Line:
Owner Chris Cocalis, previous owner of Titus Cycles, has really built a winner here. The Racer-X was a great bike for the time but the Pivot Mach 4 is much improved!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
michgri
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Ft. Custer, MI
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
My Blur XC was a few years old and I wanted to try something different; the Pivot Mach 4 seemed to fit the bill. So far the bike performs as advertised and is similar to the Blur in that it’s an awesome XC ride with an efficient pedaling platform. In the few weeks that I’ve had the Pivot, I’ve noticed a few things that it seems to do better than the Blur – the Pivot suspension seems smoother when pedaling over rocks/roots and it seems to better balanced with an upright pedaling position while climbing. I’m still experimenting with the suspension but it seems that there might be more options/distinctions with the Pivot design. As a standard suspension setup, Pivot recommends turning off the pro-pedal feature of the Fox RP23 (interesting). Of course you can do this with the Blur as well, but it feels like the Pivot has more pedal platform than the Blur in this configuration. Also, there’s a nice distinction when you switch on the pro-pedal set to its lightest setting (another Pivot recommendation). I love the feel of the front derailleur as it is bolted to the frame, and I departed from the recommended XTR spec and went with SRAM XO which I love as well. The Mach 4 frame is touted as being very stiff and not allowing much flex and I can attest to this. If you lock out the front fork and really stand on the pedals, it feels like a hardtail; definitely less flex than the Blur but in fairness my Blur needs a full suspension bearing job.
Weaknesses:
The frame is not the lightest in the world, but if you have the coin to configure it properly you can spec out a nice light ride. Mine is 24.6 lbs with pedals and dried mud. I’ll have to provide another review later on its service requirements once I take it through a midwest winter. The Blur’s pivot points required frequent servicing and we’ll see what the Pivot requires after I give it the same treatment (beating the hell out of it).
Similar Products Used:
Blur XC, Specialized Epic, Trek Fuel
Bike Setup:
Fox 32 F100 RLC fork, a Ritchey Zero WCS Carbon Zero Stack headset, Thomson X4 stem, RaceFace Next SL Carbon Riser bar, SRAM X.0 shifters and rear derailleur, Shimano XTR M970 bolt-on front derailleur, Avid Juicy Ultimates, Thomson Masterpiece seatpost, WTB Rocket V SLT saddle, Shimano XTR crank, Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL pedals, DT Swiss Champion XR1450 wheelset, and Kenda Tomac Small Block 8 tires.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line, the Pivot Mach 4 is a smoking fast super efficient XC machine and I couldn’t be happier. Its look and design is unique and definitely turns heads on the trail. Check it out - http://www.speedgoat.com/galleryB.asp?p=1243
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
24Solo
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Big Ring Cyclery (La
Strengths:
Absolutely no frame flex and no noticeable loss climbing. Great customer service from Big Ring and Pivot. I had a couple of questions about the bike since there wasn't an XL for me to test ride in the area. The shop answered what they could and put me in touch with Rob at Pivot for the rest.
Weaknesses:
I would have liked it to be a little lighter, but when you are 6'5" you can't have too light a bike.
Similar Products Used:
Titus Racer X, Litespeed Tansi, GT Zaskar
Bike Setup:
XTR, Manitou Minute MRD
Bottom Line:
You are going to want more hours in the day to be able to ride this. Truly fun to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nicholas Clark
a Racer
from Brisbane Date Reviewed: June 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Gap Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
This bike is awesome. Its light, fast and all but locks out the pedal bob. Climbs like a scared monkey and desceneds beautifully. Perfect geometry, Comfy to race over long periods with 4 inches in the rear but it still has a nice aggressive head angle.
Weaknesses:
Absolutely none. If there is anything it would be the build not the frame. They only come in a few models so if your not happy with the XTR build or X9 build, go custom.
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose canaan, TREK Liquid, GT Zascar
Bike Setup:
SRAM XO rear, XTR front, Fox F100X, Juicy carbons, easton carbon cockpit, FSA carbon seatpost and cranks, Stans ZTR Olympic wheelset.
Bottom Line:
This is the best frame on the market. The geometry, pivot link and rear wheel path make it a pleasure to ride. Technically it can not be faulted. And from a comfort perspective. AWESOME!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmurlaub
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX, USA Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bikesport
Strengths:
Impressive craftsmanship with thoughtful attention to detail in the design and construction. You have to see the frame to truly appreciate it! Fast rolling, great handeling bike!
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel 9.9, Fisher hard tail
Bike Setup:
pretty much stock
Bottom Line:
Fantastic bike! I'm a female rider riding varied terrains and was looking for a no nonsense bike that I could ride/race short distances (30 mi) as well as longer distances (100 mi +) So far I have about 300+ miles on it and have found that it accelerates fast and is great on descents. My favorite feature is that it is an incredibly stable bike. No flex and great in the corners. I can't say enough great things about this bike! And...The customer service is outstanding..thank you Rob!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston Salem, NC USA Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Overmountain Victory Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cycle Therapy
Strengths:
Quality construction fit and finish. Great efficiency, super plush, respectably light (6lbs including frame, shock, BB and front der and headset) great handling and very stiff. ZERO frame flex. Integrated BB is easy to set up and with XTR, quality is assured. (3 year warranty on the BB) Intergrated front der required only trim to be dialed in. Set the first gear, set the out-board stop and done. Nice.
Weaknesses:
I dont think the integrated headset brings that much to the table. I would prefer a King. Specific BB and front derailleur required. No flexibility there. Gotta run what they give you. Not that the parts are cheezy, its just some folks are picky like that. You decide.
Similar Products Used:
SC Blur XC, Blur LT, Rush,
Bike Setup:
Stans ZTR 355 and Hope Pro II wheels, Raceface Deus crank (2X9), 08 XT shifters, Shadow rear der, Front Der and cassette and 08 XT brakes, Thomson post and stem, 09 F100 RLC fork, RP23 shock, Avid Flak Jacket cables, Kenda Small Blk 8 2.35 tires w/Stans, ODI rouge grips, Monkey Lite XC high rise bar, Rocket V saddle, Salsa Flip offs, Salsa liplock.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this bike has really impressed me with its paradoxical ability to remain super plush and ultra efficient at the same time all the while void of ANY pedal feedback. This bike moves forward with every pedal stroke and makes you feel faster and stronger. Like most XC race bikes it could get tiresome on long epic rides but that is not what this bike is for. For racing and blasting singletrack this is a hot ticket and it will keep the leg shavers happy. If you want more rough and tumble go Mach 5. Chris and Dave have got winners here.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve S
a Weekend Warrior
from Chattanooga, TN, usa Date Reviewed: May 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4100.00
Purchased At:
Suck Creek Cycles
Strengths:
Accelerates like a demon in all conditions. Great to climb and descend with. Has no powerloss in the uphills and screams on the down. Great xc bike
Weaknesses:
Price
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Epic
Bike Setup:
XT all the way around even the rims and hubs. Love the xt brakes.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for those who can't stand powerloss when climbing, it feels fast the whole time I'm riding. If you're looking for a bargain this isn't the bike. But goes real fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR, USA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4800.00
Purchased At:
Sagebrush cycles
Strengths:
Light weight yet strong build. Razor sharp handeling, a bike that begs to be ridden hard and rewards the rider.
Weaknesses:
None found as yet.
Similar Products Used:
Seventh mountain bike, ( GT's, Bontrager Ti, Specialized S Works FSR ). Last being a well build Ellsworth Truth.
Bike Setup:
Hays Stroker brakes, WCS carbon seat post, WCS stem, rizer bar. Sram XO grip shift, XO carbon rear,Sram rear cas, XT front der, XTR crank set. Fizik Alante carbon / ti seat. Fox RLC front shock, RP 23 rear. WCS wheel set. Egg beaters.
Bottom Line:
Total weight of bike built just over 23 pounds. Initial test ride was proof of quality, and stability of the bike. Feels very responsive and light to ridder imput, but not twitchy. As a past CC racer and now a multi mile a week cross country rider, and road rider, I truely feel this is one of the best bikes on the market. Good for option for someone looking for a high level cross country ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
clay ramsey
a Cross Country Rider
from Notrthern CA Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
hole in the ground
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4100.00
Purchased At:
Roaring Mouse Cycles
Strengths:
Anti sag DW Link suspension design. Incredibly stiff and efficient climber (forget lockout). Compilient on small stuff. Fantastic out of corner handling.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Titus Racer X, Titus Switchblade, Ibis Mojo, Yeti 575.
Bike Setup:
Mix of XT, XO and plenty of carbon goodies.
Bottom Line:
Solid, fantastic new ride. You really have to see the frames in person to appreciate how radical the design is. No buyers remorse. Pivot's version of the DW Link design has a tighter, more cross country feel than the Mojo, which suits my riding style. To be fair, the Pivot Mach 5 would be a better comparison to the Mojo (also, a great ride). If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area (or not) contact Chris @ Roaring Mouse Cycles. Fantastic service, follow up, and up to date information. Zero attitude, and did not flinch at a million questions and requests Thanks Chris!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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