Pivot Mach 4 Carbon: XC Trailbike, Wired for Speed
Pivot had a number of Mach 4 Carbon demo bikes at the launch, but they kept the Shimano Di2 model inside the condo. Pivot founder Chris Cocalis joked that it may be one of the only complete XTR Di2 groups in the country.
Pivot Cycles joins the less-is-better suspension trend with the carbon fiber version of the XC trailbike that almost singlehandedly put the Arizona-based bike brand on the map. Founder and designer Chris Cocalis gave the Mach 4 a complete makeover for 2015, with 27.5 inch wheels, a 120-millimeter fork, more aggressive frame numbers and a beautifully-executed carbon chassis. Because Pivot worked closely with Shimano during the development stages of Di2, Cocalis also had a chance to integrate its new electric components into the carbon frame. Those who can pop for the premium price of Di2 can enjoy a seamless Mach 4 build with internal wiring and battery ports. The Mach 4 Carbon is also configured for internal routing of conventional cables and housings.
(Clockwise) The Mach 4 Carbon's internal wire and cable routing is cleaned up further with screw-down caps at the entry points. A different cap is used for cable housings or hoses. There is a dedicated port for a Di2 front derailleur, and also provision for either a SRAM direct-mount front changer, or the new Shimano XTR Side pull mechanical mech. The Di2 battery has a dedicated port in the downtube. A look at the Di2 wiring for the rear derailleur.
Flip the Mach 4 up-side down and there is a flush-mount port for the Di2 battery. Screw-down caps are included that lock into the ports where the frame's internal cable housings enter and exit. One style holds Di2 wires, the other clamps hoses or housings firmly in place. To keep the Mach 4 running silently and to protect the carbon frame, flush-mounted rubberized guards are bonded to the downtube and to the left chainstay. The Mach 4's XC/trailbike mission statement requires a downtube water-bottle mount, so it gets one inside the frame above the down tube and there is another location below the downtube. Mach-4 frames are internal-dropper-post ready, and also have routing for both electronic and cable-operated remote shock controls.
The Mach 4's numbers are contemporary for an XC-oriented trailbike. Head angles are 67.5 degrees, with the suggested 120-millimeter-travel fork, and the steering is further stabilized by the bike's 27.5-inch wheels. Top tubes are long, with a medium size frame measuring 23.75 inches (603mm), so riders who prefer shorter stems will not be cramped in the cockpit. Chainstays are on the short and sporty side, at 16.85 inches (428mm) and the seat angle, is either 72.8 or 73.8 degrees, depending upon fork choice. Pivot put the bottom bracket at 13 inches (332mm), which is low enough to keep the bike turning well, but not so low that you will be bashing crank arms on every log or rock in your path.
The XTR Di2 left shifter can be used conventionally to shift the front derailleur, or the right-side shift lever can be programmed to shift both derailleurs sequentially, which frees the left shifter to operate a Fox iCD lockout fork and shock - or it can be abandoned entirely.
Like all Pivot suspension bikes, the Mach 4 Carbon's suspension is an anti-bob dw-link design that drives a top-tube-mounted shock, and all pivot points rock on Enduro Max sealed ball bearings. Pivot works closely with Fox to arrive at a custom tune for its shocks, which in the case o the Mach 4, is a Kashima-treated Float CTD damper. A full range of sizes, X-small, small, medium and large, is offered and Pivot takes pride in the Mach 4's excellent stand-over clearance in all four offerings. How much does it weigh? Frames begin at five pounds (2.3kg) and complete bikes start at 22 pounds (10kg). To sum it all up, Pivot's second-gen Mach 4 checks all the boxes that a top-level XC trail rider or marathon racer needs or wants. Prices? Complete bikes, trimmed in both Shimano and SRAM begin at $4499 for a Shimano XT/SLX-based build and top out at $8999 for the Shimano Di2 XTR build. The Mach 4 Carbon frame with a Fox CTD Kashima shock will run you $2899 USD.
Pivot Cycles
Member since Mar 23, 2011
Sure it's going to cost a lot at first, but that $600 derailleur does at least have a neat feature, besides absolutely perfect shifting. It senses impacts, and "lets go" aka - crash mode. It instantly retracts the derailleur when is senses a crash.
Is that worth it, along with the best shifting available? Your call.
typically, the batteries are held inside the seat tube using some cr*ppy plastic / rubber shims (these tend to only come with the big brands bikes), the small brands do not have resources to manufacture a "fitting kit" for the Shimano internal battery stick.
on some of the unusually shaped triathlon and time-trial bikes I had to fashion battery mounts using foam rubber blocks and then force the assembly down inside the frame. I've had bikes built by other dealers come in for service with "dead" Di2 and found their attempt to fit the battery has failed over time and the battery has dropped into the BB area damaging the wire plug connection.
On most of the road bikes we stopped using the supplied "shims" for the internal battery and moved towards what we called the "hand grenade" which resembled the WW2 german stick grenade, where we wrapped the top and bottom of the internal battery with electrical tape and adjusted the diameter to carefully allow an interference fit inside the seat post that will not work loose with road vibration and impact
full marks to Pivot for their clean design and integration
Forget all of that and I bet it is one hell of a good ride!
Function-wise I love the direction the geo and integration is heading. Practicality-wise leaving somewhere muddy I feel it will be demanding of time to keep running well. Even a single pivot can be a PITA to live with over a hardtail in the UK winter
I cannot make it work. Can you tell my how?
Regards
Johnni
This doesn't look good?