Inside Line: New Mach 4 carbon from Pivot

The Mach 4 has always been an important bike for Pivot Cycles. It was the brand’s first big hit, and long a mainstay of the lineup. But let’s face it, a 26-inch bike with 100mm of travel is a hard sell these days, and the new, fourth-generation Mach 4 Carbon has not only embraced all the current design trends and standards, it is creating new ones.

Like all Pivot bikes, the heart of the full carbon frame is the dw-link rear suspension, considered one of the finest ever created for controlling pedaling forces into the suspension. Instead of choosing a travel number and going for it, Pivot tried lots of different suspension setups before deciding on 115mm as the best compromise between racy pedaling feel and trail-bike performance. The 27.5 wheels allow for industry-leading standover height in all sizes, including extra small.

The Mach 4 is also the first bike on the market to be specifically designed to accommodate Shimano’s XTR Di2 electronic shifting system. A plug under the downtube holds the battery and junction box inside the frame, and the swappable cable ports can fit traditional cable and housing or Di2 wiring through the frame, or cover the hole if using a single chainring setup. There are three models of plugs, all supplied with each bike, and they are interchangeable between positions, so you don’t have to worry about which one goes where.

The frame also has cable routing options for any possible derailleur setup (or lack thereof) including Shimano’s new side-swing front derailleurs, and internal dropper post routing. It will also be able to accommodate wiring for other applications such as the electronic suspension controls coming down the line.

The frame and shock come in a just a hair over five pounds, with complete bikes being ridden at just 22 pounds. It can be paired with a 100mm-130mm fork based on rider preference and terrain. Pivot also worked closely with Fox to achieve the proper shock tune, and the shock features a two-line sag gauge (it’s a bit hard to see in the photo) to tune your suspension to your desired performance, Race (blue) or Trail (red).

With a 120mm fork, you’ll find a head tube angle of 68.2 degrees, and effective seat tube angle of 72 degrees, 16.85 inch chainstays and a 13 inch bottom bracket height.

Look for the Mach 4 Carbon to be available in August with an astonishing 11 build kit options, ranging from $4,499 for the Shimano SLX kit to $8,999 for a Shimano XTR Di2 kit with double chainrings. A frame is available for $2,899 and a frame package that includes a Fox 120mm fork, headset and Shimano bottom bracket for $3,799.