Previous Gen Mach 4 SL vs current Mach 4 SL?

slipstream · Jul 31, 2025

I'm hoping to get some feedback from the Pivot community on the differences between the older generation and current Mach 4 SL as my chance of riding the current model in my size (XL) is zero. I am looking at the 120/115mm travel version.
Background:
I have owned a Mach 4SL since 2020 (started life as a XL Race X01 and has been slowly upgraded as parts wore out or were broken), and it has been raced in a variety of races from XCO to Cape Epic. I know the bike very well, to say the least.
Positives:
1. Climbs like a mountain goat on steroids-very efficient DW Link-I'm a big DW Link fan as I have ridden/owned a Ripley V4, and currently own a Switchblade as well
2. Frame quality is second to none (it's a Pivot) and durable (I tend to break frames at 6'4", 200lbs)
3. I can fit 4 water bottle cages on frame (nice for big epic rides)-doesn't look like new iteration can do this

Negatives:
1. Slacker STA-definitely noticing this as I age, and ride more 'modern' geo bikes
2. Non UDH hanger-the hanger is definitely delicate
3. Lower shock bolt has snapped on me twice, which is a bit of delicate fix as the bolt remnants have to be drilled out

On paper, it looks like new Mach 4 is a great update except for the water bottle capacity (only 2 cages now?)
Can anyone comment on the durability of the new frame as lighter can sometimes mean more fragile?
Does it retain its exceptional pedalling manners at the 115mm rear travel setting?
Any other things of note?
Might there be an update coming next year possibly?
The other bike I'm also considering is a Santa Cruz Blur TR

Thanks for any info that can be shared, or any insights that can be passed along

arnea · Jul 31, 2025

I have no experience with previous Mach 4 SL, but I have current one. The weight reduction is not so big as advertised. Some people have found rear end to be too flexible. My riding is mild, so I have noticed only a few times that the rear tire buzzes the seatstays. The rear brake mount between the seatstay and chainstay is very un-ergonomic. With 160mm rotor you have to remove the brake caliper to change the pads. Mounting of the 180mm rotor is very tricky and only few adapters will work. There is very little room to work with the front caliper mount bolt. On XL frame I can only mount one big 1L bottle inside the front triangle (on top of downtube). I use bolts under the toptube to mount framebag. No room for meaningfully large bottle there. I do not use the mounts under the downtube. It pedals great and is very maneuverable. I have rear shock that does not have any preload or pedaling platform and it is still very efficient to pedal. All-in-all I like it, but if I had old Mach 4 SL I probably wouldn't upgrade it.

slipstream · Aug 1, 2025

Thanks for the feedback, the rear rotor/caliper is a bit of a design miss, especially with a 180mm rotor. The water bottle mounting capability is also a step backwards from my model. Where I live, we often ride with bear spray mounted in a bottle cage as a last resort for a bad bear encounter, so having the ability to carry 2 bottles plus bear spray on the bike is a huge plus to any bike I'm considering.

Az2Au · Aug 1, 2025

I used a Wolftooth adapter when I want to carry two bottles. The rotor issue is real and I believe the rear flex is also real which causes compatibility issues with some types of rotors (Hope Centerlock for example). Still, either my favorite or second favorite bike of all time. I didn't own the previous version so I can't compare but if I look at my riding history this is the bike I pick the most. I have over 3,000 miles on my frame, it has been on everything from the easiest of green trails (sometimes with one of my two kids on the top tube) to double black diamond trails (less common but it is has done). It has been to Sedona multiple times and always holds up fine. I've at times put way more aggressive tires on it and it still rides great. I rode it forever with Fox suspension that comes on the team build but I upgraded it to Flight Attendant last year and it is now even better than before. I wish I had the previous one to tell you the difference. I can say this, I upgraded both my Switchblade and my Firebird when the new models came out. I don't have regrets because I knew exactly what I was doing but I would say that is pretty hard to tell the difference in the Switchblade but a little easier on the Firebird. So, if a friend asked me on those two I would tell them that there is no need on the Switchblade unless there's something being addressed that you're missing while the Firebird would be a deeper discussion.

slipstream · Aug 1, 2025

My older gen Mach 4 is still the bike I reach for most of the time in the garage (and probably my favourite bike as well). I was hoping the current gen would be a refinement of all the little things, and keep all the good, but it's never that easy, unfortunately. For Pivot's reputation on attention to detail, I'm surprised the rear end flex, and brake caliper mounting issues were carried into production.

Az2Au · Aug 1, 2025

I believe that they believe that compromise on the rotor was justified and, eh, ok. There are always decisions to be made. The rear end flex is not significant but I believe it is real based on seeing marks that could only exist from that. I wouldn't say it impacts my riding in a negative way so I'm not complaining but I also feel that it is something that needs to be mentioned. I'd absolutely buy the next version of it tomorrow without a second thought because even slight improvements would be awesome on an already amazing bike. But, again, I'm a bit of a lunatic when it comes to trying new stuff and Pivot bikes*

*-Non e-mtbs but I have owned a Shuttle SL previously. Just not a huge fan of riding e-mtbs.

tommyrod74 · Aug 2, 2025

I'd only add that my M4SL (2024) has been fantastic through 2 seasons of Cat 1 racing. I'm only 150 lbs but I can drive the heck out of a bike, and the flex has never bothered me in the slightest. I also have a Switchblade which is obviously stiffer laterally, but with the extra weight and Superboost it darn well should be.

End of the day, it's a light XC race bike and rides as well as any of the best ones.

Edited to add: I've never given one thought to the brake mount, but I have no need for a 180mm rear rotor on a race bike.

Jayem · Aug 4, 2025

My flex-stay bike is noticeably flexier than my Mach 429SL, dual link designs are generally stiffer than the flex-stay designs and most other designs. It's likely they are still "decently stiff". It's also always going to end up heavier with dual links, but IMO the tradeoff should be better stiffness, which is important for XC thrashing.

slipstream · Aug 5, 2025

What flex stay bike do you ride? Being an XL frame rider, I'm generally not too concerned about frame weight within the same class of bike as too light a frame results can often result in a warranty situation for me anyway. My local riding terrain is definitely on the more technical end of XC riding, so having a stiffer and more "capable" XC bike is high on my list.

Jayem · Aug 6, 2025

slipstream said:
What flex stay bike do you ride? Being an XL frame rider, I'm generally not too concerned about frame weight within the same class of bike as too light a frame results can often result in a warranty situation for me anyway. My local riding terrain is definitely on the more technical end of XC riding, so having a stiffer and more "capable" XC bike is high on my list.

Allied, but if you are a heavier rider, yeah I'd recommend the less flexy bike.

Previous Gen Mach 4 SL vs current Mach 4 SL?

slipstream

arnea

slipstream

Az2Au

slipstream

Az2Au

tommyrod74

Jayem

slipstream

Jayem

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