2023 Pivot Mach 4 SL Review | Pivot’s premium XC bike gets A LOT lighter & more adjustable


The not-so-minor details

Product

Pivot Mach 4 SL

Price

From $10,499 AUD ($16,499 AUD as tested)

Weight

10.91kg

Positives

- Suspension delivers excellent grip and control
- Neutral pedalling manners
- Sorted geometry offers peppy all-round handling
- Adaptable travel
- High quality frame construction

Negatives

- High entry price
- TwistLoc remote impacts on brake lever setup
- The Shimano builds have quite a busy cockpit

Wil reviews the 2023 Pivot Mach 4 SL

Today sees the arrival of the new Pivot Mach 4 SL. It replaces the first generation Mach 4 SL, which made its debut back in 2019. We thoroughly enjoyed riding that bike, and so we were keen to see what updates Pivot would be bringing to its flagship XC bike.

As part of the official launch, I was invited out to Cortez in Colorado to put the bike through its paces over a week of riding. Here I’ll be diving into all the technical details behind the new Pivot Mach 4 SL, how it rides on the trail, and how it compares to some of the best XC bikes on the market.


Watch our Pivot Mach 4 SL video review here:


It’s this combination of traction and control that makes the Mach 4 SL so good when the terrain is loose, chunky and constantly changing in elevation.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The Pivot Mach 4 SL is all-new for 2023, and it’s an absolute scorcher of a bike!

An overview of the Pivot Mach 4 SL

The Pivot Mach 4 SL is a short travel XC race bike that’s designed to compete with the likes of the Giant Anthem, Scott Spark and Specialized Epic World Cup.

While it looks similar to the old version, the frame is all-new for 2023. It draws a lot from the development of the latest Les SL hardtail, with the primary goal being to reduce overall weight.

Compared to the previous model the tube profiles are notably slimmer, the linkage has been pared right back, and the carbon layup has also been updated. The rear brake mount now sits on the chainstay, which allows the seatstay tubes to be made thinner and lighter.

Furthermore, each frame size is said to have undergone an independent strength-to-weight analysis to ensure that overall stiffness and ride quality is consistent across the range regardless of rider height.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The Pivot Mach 4 SL offers 95-115mm of rear travel, and it can be run with a 100-120mm travel fork.

It’s gotten much lighter

The result of all this crafty carbon engineering is a claimed weight reduction of 300-400g. That represents an enormous drop of around 17% over the previous version, which is huge!

According to Pivot, a Medium size Mach 4 SL frame weighs 1,975g including the shock. After some digging, it turns out that this number doesn’t include any hardware. Once you add in all of the cable ports, Tool Dock cover and the very generous amount of frame protection, the claimed weight grows to 2,087g. Here’s how that number compares to the claimed weights from Pivot’s competitors;

2023 pivot mach 4 sl frame weight
Pivot went all-out on reducing weight on the new Mach 4 SL, which may very well be the lightest dual-link XC bike on the market.

As you’ll see from that list, the Mach 4 SL isn’t the lightest XC bike on the market. However, it is the only one that doesn’t use a flex-stay suspension design, so we’re not exactly comparing apples to apples here.

It would seem that apples are hard to find too, as there are very few bikes on the race circuit that use a multi-link platform. The BMC Fourstroke is the most well-known example, and that frame is claimed to weigh 2.4kg with the shock and hardware. That is quite a bit heavier, and it makes the Mach 4 SL’s svelte figure all the more impressive.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The regular Pivot Mach 4 SL models come with a 120mm travel Fox 34 Step-Cast fork.

Dual-link, dual-travel suspension

Just like its predecessor, the new Mach 4 SL is designed around a 100-120mm travel fork.

The World Cup models come with a 100mm Fox 32 Step-Cast fork, while the standard models are equipped with a 120mm Fox 34 Step-Cast fork. Rear travel is also different between the two builds.

The World Cup bikes feature a shorter 40mm stroke shock that delivers 95mm or 103mm of rear travel, depending on the flip chip setting. In comparison, the regular Mach 4 SL models utilise a 45mm stroke shock that produces 106mm or 115mm of rear travel.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The flip chip in the upper shock eyelet offers two different travel settings that ride quite differently.

The two-position flip chip is located at the upper shock mount. It’s claimed to only affect the rear suspension, with the geometry remaining the same between the two settings.

Controlling rear travel is an updated dw-link suspension platform. The one-piece swingarm connects to the front triangle via two 7000-series forged alloy links and custom Enduro Max bearings.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The one-piece carbon swingarm articulates around two compact links that are made from cold-forged 7000-series alloy.

There’s no Live Valve here. Yet…

Unlike the previous version, the new Pivot Mach 4 SL frame isn’t designed to accept Live Valve. Or at least, not the current production version that we’re familiar with.

This seems a bit unusual given Pivot’s previous commitment to the electronic suspension system across most of its full suspension range, and the fact that Live Valve was such a big story of the original Mach 4 SL.

Instead, the new bike employs the latest RockShox TwistLoc remote to manually adjust the suspension.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr rockshox twistloc
Instead of Live Valve, the new Pivot Mach 4 SL is equipped with a RockShox TwistLoc remote for manually controlling the suspension modes.

On the World Cup models, the TwistLoc connects to both the fork and shock to offer three positions (Open, Medium & Firm). On the regular models, the TwistLoc only activates the rear shock between two positions (Open & Firm).

Having given up any provisions for Live Valve, the Mach 4 SL frame is said to be both lighter and easier to manufacture. It’s also much neater without the Live Valve battery, sensors and the associated tangle of wires. However, given there have been wireless Live Valve prototypes floating around the enduro race circuit over the past year, perhaps the new Mach 4 SL is proof that the next iteration will indeed be wireless.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The World Cup models get a 190x40mm shock, while the standard Pivot Mach 4 SL models use a 190x45mm shock.

Refreshed geometry

There have been some notable updates to the Pivot Mach 4 SL geometry, which varies depending on the fork travel.

With a 100mm travel fork the head angle is 68°, the effective seat angle is 76° and the reach on a Medium frame is 450mm.

With the 120mm fork the head angle kicks out to 66.7°, the seat angle to 74.7°, and the reach shrinks to 437mm.

All five frame sizes feature the same 432mm rear centre length, and the swingarm will handle up to a 2.4in wide tyre. Pivot has achieved this with conventional Boost hub spacing (no Super Boost here), and most models feature a 52mm chainline to keep the Q-factor nice and narrow.

Despite featuring an impressive amount of standover clearance, each frame size will accommodate a large-size bottle. The Medium and above will actually fit two bottles inside the front triangle, and there’s a third mount underneath the downtube along with Pivot’s Tool Dock system.

The World Cup models come with a 100mm Fox 32 Step-Cast fork, while the standard models are equipped with a 120mm Fox 34 Step-Cast fork. Rear travel is also different between the two builds.

pivot mach 4 sl size chart geometry
Pivot Mach 4 SL Geometry Chart
2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
We’ve been riding the Pivot Mach 4 SL with a 120mm travel fork, which kicks the head angle back to 66.7°. That’s pretty darn slack for a lightweight XC bike!

Pivot Mach 4 SL price & specs

There will be eight build kit options across the Pivot Mach 4 SL range for 2023. Prices will start at $10,499 AUD for the Ride SLX/XT model, and will top out at a valiant $19,499 AUD for the Team XX Eagle Transmission bike.

The Mach 4 SL frameset will be offered separately, but we won’t see those arriving in Australia until 2024.

As part of the official launch of the Mach 4 SL, I was invited out to Cortez in Colorado where I had the opportunity to test out the Team XTR model. While I am eager to ride it on home trails to compare it directly with some of the other XC bikes we’ve reviewed lately, I managed to put in over 130km of riding in during the week to get a solid impression of what the Mach 4 SL is all about.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The Pivot Mach 4 SL Team XTR comes in $3K cheaper than the SRAM version due to the lack of wireless electronics.

2023 Pivot Mach 4 SL Team XTR

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
Testing the new Pivot Mach 4 SL on the brilliant singletrack around Cortez in Colorado.

It’s poppy and energetic, and it all adds up to create a really fun and capable XC bike that simply feels like a lighter and zippier version of the Trail 429.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
To suit his 175cm height, Wil’s been testing a Medium size in the Pivot Mach 4 SL.

Pivot Mach 4 SL sizing & fit

At 175cm tall I’ve been riding a Medium size in the Pivot Mach 4 SL.

With the stem in a neutral position and the 120mm fork propping the front end up, the riding position is comfortable and easy to get used to. While it does feel sporty, it’s not as aggro as some other XC bikes like the Canyon Lux World Cup or Merida Ninety-Six RC. No doubt you could achieve a lower and more stretched-out racing position by flipping the stem or running a shorter travel fork, and it’s good to see plenty of steerer tube for dialling in your preferred bar height.

The grips are nice and tacky, and while I don’t love the Volt saddle, it’s been plenty supportive on some of the longer rides we’ve taken the Mach 4 SL on.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
Each Pivot Mach 4 SL comes fitted with 760mm wide bars and a 60mm stem.

I’ve appreciated the generous 150mm travel dropper post on the Medium frame, which has been made possible thanks to a short and uninterrupted seat tube. There’s also plenty of standover clearance thanks to the low top tube. This provides good freedom of movement on the descents, which proved welcome when riding some of the more technical trails around Cortez.

Suspension setup

As with all Pivot full suspension bikes, the Mach 4 SL comes with a small clip-on sag indicator for the rear shock. I’ve banged on about this before, but I’ll mention it again since it’s such a brilliant aid for helping riders to get their rear suspension set up properly. Seriously, I can’t understand why more brands don’t do this.

The sag indicator has two lines on it to denote two different sag positions; Race (26% sag) and Trail (31% sag). Of course you can set it up anywhere in between, though given this is an XC race bike I went with the former setting. I needed 140psi to support my 68kg riding weight, and I set the rebound damping one click faster than halfway (8/14 clicks).

Inside the air can is a 0.5³in volume spacer, which gives you plenty of options for going bigger or smaller should you wish to fine-tune progression.

It’s worth noting here that the internal compression and rebound tune on the Fox Float shock is lighter on the XS and S frame sizes. The idea here is to provide a more appropriate level of damping for the smaller and lighter riders that are likely to be aboard on those bikes.

I’ve had a lot of experience with the 34 Step-Cast fork (see our Fox 34 SC review for more), and I set it up to my usual preference with 72psi in the air spring and the rebound damping halfway in its range (10/20 clicks).

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The little sag indicator is a fantastic way of helping riders get their suspension dialled in quickly and accurately. Can more brands please do this?

Pivot Mach 4 SL weight

My Pivot Mach 4 SL Team XTR test bike came in at 10.91kg. That’s without pedals and with the tyres set up tubeless.

You may spot the Rekon front tyre in the photos, which is a deviation from the standard spec. Stock bikes will come fitted with Rekon Race tyres front and rear, so they’ll be marginally lighter.

Regardless, the sub-11kg complete weight is impressive given this is a proper dual-link suspension bike with high volume rubber and a long-stroke dropper post.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
Our Pivot Mach 4 SL test bike came in at 10.91kg, though the World Cup models weigh as little as 10.39kg.

The Reynolds Black Label XC wheels certainly help. I’ve tested a pair of these separately and they are quite light at 1,540g confirmed. The Race Face Next SL cranks also help to shed grams compared to Shimano XTR, and spec decisions like 160mm rotors and carbon saddle rails also contribute to the low overall weight.

For the ultra weight weenies out there, I did manage to also weigh one of the World Cup XX Transmission models at the launch, which came in at a feathery 10.39kg without pedals. Not too shabby at all!

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The neutral pedalling performance of the Pivot Mach 4 SL is a real standout. Combined with the light and stout carbon frame, this bike doesn’t hang about!

What do we dig about the Pivot Mach 4 SL?

Riding the new Pivot Mach 4 SL for the first time, it was the efficient pedalling performance that immediately stood out to me. This wasn’t exactly a surprise. Pivot bikes have always pedalled well thanks to their dw-link suspension design, which offers great efficiency and support even with the shock in the fully open position.

There isn’t quite the same lurch under power that you’ll get with single-pivot bikes that feature high levels of anti-squat, like the Canyon Lux World Cup and Orbea Oiz. It’s also not as hardtail-like as the short travel Trek Supercaliber and Specialized Epic World Cup.

However, the suspension on the Mach 4 SL is much more neutral in comparison. It delivers superb small-bump sensitivity for plenty of grip on rough and technical climbs, along with notable support throughout the travel to soak up bigger hits.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The dw-link suspension seeks out traction on rocky and loose technical climbs.

That support and lack of wallow is also really noticeable on the climbs. Initially I’d thought the seat angle might have been a bit slack on paper, but that wasn’t the case in the real world. The shock remains high in its travel, helping to maintain your seated position while heading up steep inclines.

It’s this combination of traction and control that makes the Mach 4 SL so good when the terrain is loose, chunky and constantly changing in elevation.

The back end isn’t as plush as the Scott Spark, but the flip-side is that Mach 4 SL isn’t reliant on its remote lockout. In fact, early on during testing I kind of forgot the TwistLoc remote was even there. Unless you’re riding on smooth fireroads or tarmac, or you’re racing, you can confidently leave the shock wide-open.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
A short and stiff rear end gives the Pivot Mach 4 SL great precision when ripping through corners.

The responsive suspension is complemented nicely by the chassis, which feels solid and planted for such a lightweight XC bike. According to Pivot the new frame shares similar lateral stiffness values to the old bike, which is impressive given how much weight it’s lost.

It feels particularly stout through the compact rear end, and that helps to enhance steering precision through tight corners. It’s poppy and energetic, and it all adds up to create a really fun and capable XC bike that simply feels like a lighter and zippier version of the Trail 429.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
It’s more playful and capable than your average XC bike, and feels a lot like the longer travel Pivot Trail 429.

Adaptable suspension

I also love the versatility that’s been baked into the new Pivot Mach 4 SL frame design.

Serious racers will likely look straight to the World Cup models, which offer a weight advantage thanks to their Fox 32 Step-Cast fork, shorter travel Transfer SL dropper post and smaller Fox Float DPS shock. They also come with a 3-position TwistLoc remote and a firmer compression tune for the shock’s climb mode.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl world cup team xx transmission
The Pivot Mach 4 SL World Cup models feature a 100mm travel Fox 32 SC fork, a smaller Fox Float DPS shock, and a lighter Transfer SL dropper post.

A lot of riders are looking for a little more travel from their XC bikes these days however, and so the regular models are likely to be the more practical and versatile choice.

Whichever model you go for, the fact that you can change the fork and shock travel gives you useful options down the line for adapting the setup as your riding (or racing) evolves.

Speaking of adjusting the travel, I did try out both flip chip positions on the Mach 4 SL and was surprised to notice a big difference between the two settings.

The result on the trail is that the suspension is considerably firmer and even more responsive under power.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The short travel setting makes the whole bike feel considerably racier.

In the 106mm travel setting, the leverage rate is lower overall but especially towards the end of the stroke. The result on the trail is that the suspension is considerably firmer and even more responsive under power. In this setting I found the TwistLoc remote was almost redundant since the bike pedalled so damn well. And because the back end sat up even higher in its travel, I found the steering was a little sharper and more direct, giving the whole bike a racier feel from tip to tail.

Personally, I preferred the ride quality of the 115mm travel setting, which offers more grip and comfort when the trail gets rough. And having access to a Firm mode with the TwistLoc remote gives you the option to adjust the suspension on-the-fly. Still, if I was heading away for a weekend of racing, I’d definitely be making use of the short travel setting to provide maximum efficiency with less need for the remote.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
If it’s maximum pedalling efficiency you’re after, flip the chip into the short travel setting.

What didn’t we like?

Obviously the price of entry for the new Pivot Mach 4 SL is high. Then again, this isn’t a bike that’s trying to compete at the low-end of the market. Much like Santa Cruz, Ibis and Yeti, Pivot Cycles isn’t a budget brand. The Mach 4 SL is a seriously premium product, and Pivot would point towards the frame construction, materials and manufacturing tolerances to justify the high price tag.

It’s also worth noting here that while Santa Cruz and Yeti produce their carbon frames in two tiers so that they can offer cheaper complete bikes, Pivot only makes a single tier for its carbon frames. You won’t find an alloy version either, though not many brands do in the XC space. The Orbea Oiz is a notable exception, and it means the entry price is quite a lot lower.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The Pivot Mach 4 SL is a seriously premium piece of kit, though pricing is comparable to Santa Cruz, Yeti and Ibis.

Moving on to the TwistLoc remote, and while I do like the action and overall feel, the main assembly is quite wide. This means that the brake lever is pushed a little further inboard than I’d prefer.

Also, if you run the lever reach all the way in on the Shimano XTR brakes, the lever blade can actually contact the body of the TwistLoc remote when you’re pulling hard on the anchors.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The TwistLoc feels great, though the wide body does push the XTR brake lever a little further inboard than we’d like.

We managed to get around this by advancing the pistons to reduce the dead stroke, but it’s obviously not ideal. This is a premium bike after all, and I’d expect the ergonomics to be perfect.

If this were my bike, I’d remove the lock-on grips and replace them with cut-down silicone foam grips, which would allow me to run the brake levers further outboard in my preferred position.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
The cockpit is fairly busy on the Pivot Mach 4 SL, but we’re thankful that it doesn’t feature headset cable routing.

While I’m on the cockpit, things are pretty busy on the Team XTR build due to the cable-activated derailleur, dropper post and shock lockout. It isn’t a huge deal, but the difference is pretty noticeable when compared to the super clean cockpit of the Specialized Epic World Cup that we recently reviewed. Still, we’re glad that Pivot decided to avoid the current trend for headset cable routing.

As for the overall ride quality, there’s not much that hasn’t impressed me about the new Mach 4 SL on the trail so far. I’ll reserve final judgement until we can get a bike back in Australia on more familiar home terrain, but first impressions are certainly positive.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
There’s little that hasn’t impressed us about the new Pivot Mach 4 SL so far.

Flow’s Verdict

The new Pivot Mach 4 SL has taken everything that we loved about the original model, and turns the dial up several notches.

Thanks to its svelte tube profiles and chiselled linkages, it’s significantly lighter than its predecessor. It isn’t exactly the lightest XC bike on the market, but it isn’t that far off despite having retained the excellent dw-link suspension design. I’m glad Pivot stuck to its guns and avoided going down the flex-stay route too, as the suspension performance is a huge contributor to why this bike rides so damn well.

The addition of a new two-position flip chip adds useful trail-tuning adaptability, and the capacity to run different length shocks and forks gives further options for dialling in the handling and suspension performance.

Combined with the excellent geometry and well-considered build kit, the Pivot Mach 4 SL presents as a highly capable and efficient XC bike that thrives on technical terrain. I’ve been thoroughly impressed so far, and I look forward to spending more time on it in the near future.

2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
Catching the last of a glorious Colorado spring sunset.
2023 pivot mach 4 sl team xtr
Oh go on then, one more lap!

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