Grant, there are only a couple cross country MultiLink suspension bikes out there. I think you found the one! The reason you like it is because the DW link suspension is what you’re used to. There might not be a better cross-country bike out there than the pivot, but having said that, there’s the Bmc four stroke, ibis XC, beyond that I think canyons specialized, and Santa Cruz bikes are all flex arm, single pivot bikes.
@TheRickysee - You bring up a good point, it's easy to like what feels familiar. But I can say since this vid, I purchased the Mach 4 and have a few miles on it so far, and there is a distinct difference between the Trail 429 and the Mach 4 in ride and handling characteristics and performance. Don't you ride the BMC Four Stroke? Truth is, there are alot of great bikes to pick from. I would love to do a side by side ride comparison with a multi-link and a single-pivot bike of the same category.
Fellow UT boy here! Great review. All the bikes are doing more with less travel. I have an old Pivot 429 from 2010. Great bike that serves as my gravel bike. I have owned a few steeds over the years. But current summer set up is an Element and a Rallon. One thing that made me stay away from Pivot in the past was their super boost spacing. The 429 SL doesn't have the super boost correct? The Blur looks to be a fun one in the category too. The Oiz and Epic also appear to be great XC bikes. I tend to like more beefy tires than what XC tires give me. But I really like the Recon and Bontreger X4 tires. What trail do you ride most when we don't have snow? I'm up in Davis County.
@lazylearner967 - Howdy! I just looked up your Orbea Rallon, and dang that looks like a fun ride! I've been riding shorter travel bikes the last two years and miss the pure confidence bigger bikes like yours give. I hear you on the super boost (157mm rear hub), I didn't realize how currently limiting it was until I tried to finding a power meter for my Trail 429. Super limited options. Luckily the new Mach 4 went to just boost (148mm). Not sure I would ever notice a stiffness difference. You're right, there are so many good bikes out there, like your Element and the Blur, and... I just wish more companies or stores offered demo rigs to ride, so hard to spend $$$ without riding a bike first. During the winter, I try to ride in STG as much as possible, down here now. But summer I mostly ride PC since I live near I-80. It's close. Always wanted to try up north. I almost signed up for Epic Eden in '23 but opted for Point to Point instead. I need to get up to your area!
@@elroobike I grew up around I-80 as a kid, but only rode Tanner Park's trails in the 80's and 90's. Biker's Edge in Kaysville has demos. They have a number of brands too! P2P is the real deal. Looking forward to seeing your training regimen this season.
@victorschepisi590 - Your short list of bikes looks very similar to mine. I added the Specialized Epic Evo in the mix. I've heard mixed things about that Cervelo. I may be able to take it off the list now!
You mentioned and showed the Santa Cruz blur at end of video. Did you have a chance to try the blur? What did you think of the blur? Was it the tr or xc version? How did it compare to the Mach 4 sl?
This almost sounds like a myth, its to good! Ive been spending less time online as of late but every time I come back these videos are sharper and sharper!
@sirtottswithamustache2646 - First off, thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the vid! And to be honest, this bike was so good it was a bit strange. I can't wait until I can have another go with it. Happy riding!
Nice vid! I bought the World Cup Version The bike rips…love it The bike really wants you to stand up and charge the trail. I’m sure the Xc version is the same and maybe a bit more versatile. But if your looking for a very capable XC bike I think the WC is top notch Ride on 👍🏼
@SWFlowseeker - Thanks for watching! Love to hear the WC version is serving you well. Question on the flip chip; do you go back and forth between the 95 mm and 103 mm depending on the day, or do you leave it it one setting? Thanks!
@@elroobike I’ve left it in the 103 setting Unless I was a serious XC racer on doing a Gravel ride I don’t see the need. The bike is vey efficient with 103mm. I might change fork to a 120mm just for the heck of it. But for now the 100mm and 103mm setup works well for me
A little of both.. Not a big fan of some of the components that come on the Pivot bikes!! Like the stem and the handlebars the saddle. I’m very particular about all the components, so why not use what you’re comfortable with and what you really like. also building a bike up there’s so much reward in that I built it myself exactly the way I like it. Pivot needs to take all that into consideration they’re just worried about making profit off each sale.
@@davewallace9048 - I hear you on being particular about the kit you use. I compromised yet again with this bike (I bought one after I rode the demo bike) to get the new AXS drivetrain and got stuck with Sram brakes. I also would have loved to spec out shorter cranks. But I guess those can be future projects, not ideal but not sure there is another way now.
@@elroobike Yes that’s another thing that I like is Shimano brakes will not use Sram brakes with brake fluid that will eat paint. I definitely want to try the new Sram transmission drivetrain. I also run XX 1 crank at 170mm
@brianwilliams2907 - The 115 seems to be the setting of choice. Prior to your Mach 4, did ride a short travel XC style bike or some sort of longer travel bike? Thanks!
@Miguel-ex5vf - We are the same height. I have shorter legs than my torso. The Mach 4 is a taller bike in the standover measurement. The reach is shorter compared to trail bike of the same size. To make the small work for me, I swapped out the 60mm stem that came with the bike for a 70mm, stuck with a 125mm dropper and have it slammed all the way down. The bike's cockpit is tight and the wheelbase is short, but it's so fast and nimble and a total blast to throw around. I'm happy I went with the small. A medium for me would make it feel a bit more like a trail bike. Depends what you want the bike to handle and where your height is.
@@elroobike Thanks for the input. Finding a bike locally is a hard task (live in a tiny rural mountain town) so any input is useful. I have sat on a medium 2024 Santa Cruz blue tr. and felt it was a good fit, but they didn’t have a small to try.
@AOL0321 - I didn't grab the weight of the demo Mach 4 SL I rode. But I will have my hands on another one very soon. I will make a vid on how much it weighs.
@brianwilliams2907 - Funny you mention the rekon race, just picked one up to try as a rear tire in my new set up. It's surprisingly different than the rekon.
Rekon Race is semi-slick with near zero rolling resistance. But it will suck and lose traction up front. Don't do it. Go Rekon or Foresaker up front. Rekon Race can work in the back.
What's your top pick for the best short-travel bike?
Ibis Ripley
Epic Evo
I was gonna say epic evo as well
Yeti asr
Grant, there are only a couple cross country MultiLink suspension bikes out there. I think you found the one! The reason you like it is because the DW link suspension is what you’re used to. There might not be a better cross-country bike out there than the pivot, but having said that, there’s the Bmc four stroke, ibis XC, beyond that I think canyons specialized, and Santa Cruz bikes are all flex arm, single pivot bikes.
@TheRickysee - You bring up a good point, it's easy to like what feels familiar. But I can say since this vid, I purchased the Mach 4 and have a few miles on it so far, and there is a distinct difference between the Trail 429 and the Mach 4 in ride and handling characteristics and performance. Don't you ride the BMC Four Stroke? Truth is, there are alot of great bikes to pick from.
I would love to do a side by side ride comparison with a multi-link and a single-pivot bike of the same category.
Fellow UT boy here! Great review. All the bikes are doing more with less travel. I have an old Pivot 429 from 2010. Great bike that serves as my gravel bike. I have owned a few steeds over the years. But current summer set up is an Element and a Rallon. One thing that made me stay away from Pivot in the past was their super boost spacing. The 429 SL doesn't have the super boost correct?
The Blur looks to be a fun one in the category too. The Oiz and Epic also appear to be great XC bikes. I tend to like more beefy tires than what XC tires give me. But I really like the Recon and Bontreger X4 tires. What trail do you ride most when we don't have snow? I'm up in Davis County.
@lazylearner967 - Howdy! I just looked up your Orbea Rallon, and dang that looks like a fun ride! I've been riding shorter travel bikes the last two years and miss the pure confidence bigger bikes like yours give.
I hear you on the super boost (157mm rear hub), I didn't realize how currently limiting it was until I tried to finding a power meter for my Trail 429. Super limited options. Luckily the new Mach 4 went to just boost (148mm). Not sure I would ever notice a stiffness difference.
You're right, there are so many good bikes out there, like your Element and the Blur, and... I just wish more companies or stores offered demo rigs to ride, so hard to spend $$$ without riding a bike first.
During the winter, I try to ride in STG as much as possible, down here now. But summer I mostly ride PC since I live near I-80. It's close. Always wanted to try up north. I almost signed up for Epic Eden in '23 but opted for Point to Point instead. I need to get up to your area!
@@elroobike I grew up around I-80 as a kid, but only rode Tanner Park's trails in the 80's and 90's. Biker's Edge in Kaysville has demos. They have a number of brands too! P2P is the real deal. Looking forward to seeing your training regimen this season.
I did my own personal shootout after a week of demoing the Mach 4, Blur CC, Top Fuel and Cervelo ZFS. All 2023 bikes. For me the Mach 4 worked best.
@victorschepisi590 - Your short list of bikes looks very similar to mine. I added the Specialized Epic Evo in the mix. I've heard mixed things about that Cervelo. I may be able to take it off the list now!
@@elroobikewhat's mixed about cervelo? I've been seeing lots of hype
You mentioned and showed the Santa Cruz blur at end of video.
Did you have a chance to try the blur?
What did you think of the blur? Was it the tr or xc version?
How did it compare to the Mach 4 sl?
I haven’t been able to ride the Blur yet. I’m starting to see bike demos in my area, hopefully Santa Cruz is coming to town this year.
This almost sounds like a myth, its to good! Ive been spending less time online as of late but every time I come back these videos are sharper and sharper!
@sirtottswithamustache2646 - First off, thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the vid! And to be honest, this bike was so good it was a bit strange. I can't wait until I can have another go with it. Happy riding!
Nice vid!
I bought the World Cup Version
The bike rips…love it
The bike really wants you to stand up and charge the trail.
I’m sure the Xc version is the same and maybe a bit more versatile. But if your looking for a very capable XC bike I think the WC is top notch
Ride on 👍🏼
@SWFlowseeker - Thanks for watching! Love to hear the WC version is serving you well. Question on the flip chip; do you go back and forth between the 95 mm and 103 mm depending on the day, or do you leave it it one setting? Thanks!
@@elroobike
I’ve left it in the 103 setting
Unless I was a serious XC racer on doing a Gravel ride I don’t see the need. The bike is vey efficient with 103mm. I might change fork to a 120mm just for the heck of it.
But for now the 100mm and 103mm setup works well for me
Sweet - thanks!
Cervelo ZFS trail vs Mach 4 SL for sure.
Still Pivot will not sell frame only..why not?
@davewallace9048 - Would you spec your pivot with parts outside of what they offer, or just wanting to reuse kit from a previous bike?
A little of both.. Not a big fan of some of the components that come on the Pivot bikes!! Like the stem and the handlebars the saddle. I’m very particular about all the components, so why not use what you’re comfortable with and what you really like. also building a bike up there’s so much reward in that I built it myself exactly the way I like it. Pivot needs to take all that into consideration they’re just worried about making profit off each sale.
@@davewallace9048 - I hear you on being particular about the kit you use. I compromised yet again with this bike (I bought one after I rode the demo bike) to get the new AXS drivetrain and got stuck with Sram brakes. I also would have loved to spec out shorter cranks. But I guess those can be future projects, not ideal but not sure there is another way now.
@@elroobike Yes that’s another thing that I like is Shimano brakes will not use Sram brakes with brake fluid that will eat paint. I definitely want to try the new Sram transmission drivetrain. I also run XX 1 crank at 170mm
I own one....with carbon wheels and carbon cranks....YES! That bike is a ROCKET SHIP!!!!!
@MXJEFF94 - Nice! I'm asking everyone who has this bike - what flip-chip setting do ride with?
@@elroobike the one that allows more travel. I believe it turns it into a 115 in the rear
@@elroobike I live in Arizona with lots of lose/ jagged rocks so I need extra travel when I can
@@elroobike I ride mine mostly in 115mm. Then lock it out when I need to.
@brianwilliams2907 - The 115 seems to be the setting of choice. Prior to your Mach 4, did ride a short travel XC style bike or some sort of longer travel bike? Thanks!
Curious.
You said you ride a size small.
How tall are you?
I’m 5’6” and can’t decide between the small and medium.
@Miguel-ex5vf - We are the same height. I have shorter legs than my torso. The Mach 4 is a taller bike in the standover measurement. The reach is shorter compared to trail bike of the same size. To make the small work for me, I swapped out the 60mm stem that came with the bike for a 70mm, stuck with a 125mm dropper and have it slammed all the way down. The bike's cockpit is tight and the wheelbase is short, but it's so fast and nimble and a total blast to throw around. I'm happy I went with the small. A medium for me would make it feel a bit more like a trail bike. Depends what you want the bike to handle and where your height is.
@@elroobike
Thanks for the input.
Finding a bike locally is a hard task (live in a tiny rural mountain town)
so any input is useful.
I have sat on a medium 2024 Santa Cruz blue tr. and felt it was a good fit, but they didn’t have a small to try.
Any body have a comparison with a Yeti SB100
If Charlie from always sunny in Philadelphia was into mountain biking
@85klifter - "Plus there's a good deal of mountain bike in your axle here." Love that show!
Did you happen to weigh the bike?
@AOL0321 - I didn't grab the weight of the demo Mach 4 SL I rode. But I will have my hands on another one very soon. I will make a vid on how much it weighs.
Rekon Race brother, you won't look back
@r0dclarke - Rekon Race is now added to the "must-try" list - thanks!
@@elroobike Rekon Race with Rekon front for trail riding, Rekon Race front/rear for xc riding and racing. Both great combos for this bike!
@brianwilliams2907 - Funny you mention the rekon race, just picked one up to try as a rear tire in my new set up. It's surprisingly different than the rekon.
Rekon Race is semi-slick with near zero rolling resistance. But it will suck and lose traction up front. Don't do it. Go Rekon or Foresaker up front. Rekon Race can work in the back.
@@JasonJen-JungKuo-ot4rh agree 100%