Once I consider Pivot Bikes, high-end mountain bikes are the primary issues that come to thoughts. The Arizona-based model has molded itself into one of many main gamers in premium mountain bikes. But, they’re no stranger to skinnier tires with a cyclocross/gravel bike that dates again nearly ten years now. That bike is the Pivot Vault, and it only recently obtained one other main replace.
Now fully centered on the world of gravel, the Vault Gen 4 doesn’t observe within the footsteps of different mountain bike manufacturers which have entered into the world of gravel with ultra-slack, drop-bar mountain bikes. As an alternative, the most recent Vault appears to journey straight down the center with a design that’s half racing, half journey, however all Pivot.
Redesigned Iso Flex
Following the latest design language of their mountain bikes, the Gen 4 Vault will get much less swoopy and extra angular whereas adopting a extra svelte profile. Pivot labored to scale back the visible impression of their Iso Flex seatpost damper, nevertheless it’s nonetheless noticeable. Nonetheless, until you already know what you’re on the lookout for, most individuals would overlook the elongated seat tube as some kind of aero contact reasonably than a hidden elastomer sleeve for the seat put up. A part of the flexibility to make the Iso Flex smaller is a transfer to a 27.2mm seatpost. Smaller diameter inflexible posts must also add to the compliance of the bike a bit, although it’s barely limiting when it comes to dropper put up alternative. The Iso Flex meeting could be serviced with simply Allen wrenches, although there’s a course of that you need to observe, outlined by Pivot.
So far as the journey high quality for the Iso Flex, it by no means looks like a suspension seatpost – in a great way. The gap out of your saddle to the pedals by no means modifications, however the elastomer does appear to take the sting off bumps and vibrations. I’d be curious to journey the very same body with and with out the Iso Flex system (if that have been attainable) to see how a lot it actually did change the journey, however barring that, it looks like an excellent addition. The Vault remains to be lots gentle at 18.25lb (8.28kg) as pictured with out pedals, and whereas eliminating the Iso Flex might save a little bit of weight, I feel extra riders shall be happier with a extra comfy journey.
Cable Routing Choices
One other large issue within the visible impression of the body is the a number of cable routing choices. These wanting the sleekest look can go for a completely inner cable routing setup with the hoses working below the stem (by way of a decrease cowl) and headset. Should you’d want a extra conventional routing the place you don’t have the reduce the brake line to service the headset, you should utilize the Pivot Cable Port System to run the cables, which remains to be inner however bypasses the interior routing on the headset. One among my favourite touches right here is that the bikes ship to the vendor with out the cables and hoses run, so you may work out your match and resolve which manner you need the cables run to your first journey.
Geometry & Match
My evaluate bike was arrange with the cables routed internally by way of the Pivot Gravel Stem and Token C-Field headset, nevertheless it was shipped on to me from Pivot, and I had given them my measurements forward of time. The match was dialed out of the field in consequence and is one in all my favourite features of the bike. Going off the attain numbers and evaluating the general geometry to a few of the different gravel bikes I’ve ridden, I opted for the small body which appears proper on the cash(I’m 5’8″ with a 690mm saddle top for reference). Pivot added an extra body dimension for the Vault, giving riders a greater probability for an ideal match – for the complete geometry chart, try our first put up right here.
I’ve ridden lots of gravel bikes over the previous years, and it appears that evidently the gravel world on the whole remains to be grappling with the perfect geometry and match. We’ve heard rather a lot about geometries with longer attain numbers meant for shorter stems, however there are few bikes that I’ve ridden that didn’t find yourself feeling both too lengthy or too brief. The Vault is the primary shortly that I jumped on with out having to vary out the stem.
Semi-integrated Stem
As an alternative, the 70mm stem and 44cm SL70 XPLR bar felt fully pure and put me in an aggressive but comfy place. That roughly sums up your entire bike – it’s a motorbike that clearly is constructed for going quick if you wish to, nevertheless it’s simply as glad cruising at a cushty tempo for an extra-long day within the saddle.
Loads of Mounts
Alongside these strains, the Vault is constructed for carrying all of the water and equipment you might want, in need of inner dynamo routing. Not like the bigger frames, which might maintain as much as 5 water bottles, my small body has one set of two on the highest and backside of the downtube and one set on the seat tube. There’s additionally a set of three mounts below the highest tube, and a set of two behind the stem. Pivot didn’t embody braze-ons for the fork legs, however the body and fork do have detachable mounts for full protection fenders. That fork can be now “suspension corrected” with a 415mm axle-to-crown measurement and 52mm offset, which ought to work properly with present gravel forks providing 30-40mm of journey.
For extra storage, Pivot is introducing its ToolShed storage system hidden within the downtube. The storage door, which serves because the bottle cage mount on the downtube, opens and closes simply with a easy latch. The system is properly designed, however it’s restricted by the comparatively small diameter of the downtube. Pivot contains two storage luggage with the system, however you’ll need to pack them well with smaller instruments for them to suit contained in the downtube. I used to be capable of match a Tubolito spare tube in a single bag, and a flat Shimano PRO multitool and a Dynaplug Racer Professional plugger device within the different. I might most likely match a couple of extra issues in there, however as it’s, it’s a decent squeeze to get the luggage out and in of the body.
Happily, the underside of the ToolShed door additionally has storage choices, together with a masterlink holder (good spot), and a strap loop so you may mount a device or small pump instantly below the door. I do recognize the added storage, particularly for a tube which can be seldom used. You simply need to plan to spend a while initially to determine your setup and get it dialed in. Ideally, you received’t contact many of those instruments for months, perhaps years, so it’s good to have them saved in a spot that you simply don’t have to consider it that’s shielded from the weather – simply bear in mind to test if something will get damp on actually moist rides.
MTB Transmission on a Gravel Bike
For the construct, Pivot despatched a Workforce Power Large Vary AXS construct with carbon wheels. Which means it has SRAM Power AXS shifters and brakes blended with an X0 Eagle Transmission rear derailleur and a 10-52t cassette. After spending a while on this construct, for the Vault, I feel I’d go for the Workforce Power XPLR AXS construct as a substitute because of the smaller jumps within the 10-44t cassette. I really like having the additional vary of that honkin’ cassette, however the Vault likes to go quick, and I’m usually left wishing I had a gear between sure gears. Actually, I’d adore it with the brand new SRAM RED XPLR 13 pace group with that 10-46t cassette since that looks like it will be the right mix of big selection and shut gear steps. However that group wasn’t even launched when Pivot launched the brand new Vault, and it’s not supplied as an entire construct from Pivot but.
Has Room for Larger Tires
Whereas my evaluate bike was outfitted with Reynolds ATR gravel wheels, full bikes are transport to clients with the broader Reynolds G700 wheels. These have a 25mm inner width and are a greater match for contemporary gravel tires. That’s essential because the Vault has clearance for as much as 700c x 50mm tires (and extra within the fork).
The 700c x 40mm WTB Vulpine tires that include the bike are high quality, however I’d instantly swap these out for the Vulpine 45, or Vulpine S 45. The distinction in journey high quality from the 40 to the 45 is dramatic, and the burden distinction is barely about 60g per tire. Each the 40 and 45mm tires are barely undersized, however the 40mm tires appear to run extra undersized, not even measuring 39mm. Racers might benefit from the 40mm tires (though even that’s debatable with gravel professionals working larger and larger tires), however swapping out to the 45mm rubber on the Vault actually made the bike really feel extra assured and composed in nearly each circumstance.
Driving Away
That final bit sums up the Pivot Vault fairly properly. It’s a gravel bike that evokes pace and confidence in almost all situations, all whereas remaining supremely comfy. I’d purchase this bike if I wished one thing that was race-ready, however was equally comfy exploring my yard roads and trails. It’s an enormous and welcome enchancment from the earlier era of the bike, from the geometry to the tire clearance, and the expanded versatility.
