The Pivot Vault has modified quite a bit over time. When it was first launched in 2015, it was a cyclocross-specific mannequin that included hidden cantilever bosses, and fast launch dropouts.
It wasn’t lengthy till the Vault shifted its focus to a extra versatile focus with geometry designed for cross, gravel, or street. Basically an all-road bike with clearance for as much as 38mm tires. The second-gen Vault continued with that theme, nevertheless it was the third-gen the place issues began to get extra attention-grabbing. The Vault Gen 3 supplied comparatively huge 47mm tire clearance and launched the Pivot Iso Flex system. Gen 3 was nonetheless billed as a do-everything drop bar bike, nevertheless it was skewing increasingly more in direction of gravel.
Which brings us to the newest Vault Gen 4. The most recent iteration of the Vault remains to be a quick journey worthy of the Pivot title, however it’s firstly a gravel bike constructed to maximise versatility and luxury.
Pivot left nearly nothing untouched for the brand new bike and regardless of including extra options to the bike and making the frames longer, Pivot labored their engineering magic to make the frames even lighter.
Improved Geometry
Pivot was fast to level out that the brand new Vault will not be a mountain bike in gravel garments, however it’s a longer, slacker, and taller bike with “progressive gravel geometry.” This could enable riders to drop stem lengths by 10-20mm, and improve confidence on descents and corners with out sacrificing effectivity.
Each attain and stack numbers have elevated throughout the board, and Pivot can also be introducing a sixth body measurement. All sizes are constructed with Pivot’s Proprietary Journey Tuning which incorporates custom-tuned carbon layups for size-specific stiffness and “impartial energy to weight evaluation for every body” which is alleged to offer constant efficiency from measurement to measurement.
Whereas Pivot doesn’t provide any full builds with a suspension fork, the body is suspension-corrected and runs a 415mm axle-to-crown fork with a 52mm offset.
Iso-Flex Slims Down, Drops 30.9 Choice
It’s not simply the geometry that will increase consolation – Pivot Iso-Flex is again and higher than ever. The brand new model is lighter and fewer cumbersome, giving the body a extra streamlined look. It’s nonetheless apparent that one thing is up with the seat tube, however you’d be forgiven to suppose it was just a few kind of aero remedy moderately than a ride-smoothing seatpost damper.
For these uninitiated, Iso-Flex is basically a damping sleeve that sits between the seat publish and the body. This sleeve absorbs vibration and affect earlier than it travels as much as the seat publish to the rider, making for a extra snug journey. The latest model is comprised of a tuned elastomer with a fiber-reinforced nylon inside sleeve and a {custom} seatpost clamp. It’s additionally now appropriate with 27.2mm seatposts solely (Gen 3 might run 27.2 or 30.9), nevertheless it’s nonetheless dropper publish appropriate. It’s additionally serviceable with solely Allen wrenches.
Extra Drivetrain and Cable Routing Choices
It’s no secret now, SRAM RED XPLR 13 is right here and it requires UDH. Naturally, most new gravel bikes we’re seeing embrace the transfer to a UDH dropout just like the Vault. As a reminder, the UDH hanger is appropriate with any rear derailleur, not simply Transmission.
Able to argue about absolutely built-in cable routing via the headset? No want. The Vault can route the cables via the headset if you’d like the cleanest look, however it will possibly additionally run them via the downtube utilizing the Pivot Cable Port System. All bikes will ship with the Pivot Gravel Stem which might direct the cables into the included Token C-Field headset.
Higher nonetheless, Pivot will ship these bikes to sellers with out the cables run so the shopper can select how they need it run, swap stems, add/take away spacers, and so forth. Pivot additionally imagines this will likely be helpful for becoming – when you’re undecided of your good match, you may initially match the bike with longer hoses and run them via the Cable Ports, then when you’re dialed, you may route it via the headset when you desire.
Tire Clearance
Even by trendy requirements, the earlier era Vault already had wonderful tire clearance at 700c x 47mm. Now, it tops out at 700c x 50mm, or 700c x 47mm with fenders.
Sure, the Vault is fender-ready with hidden mounts and a detachable rear fender bridge.
On the subject of mounts, the Vault has a LOT of them. Apparently, it will possibly match 5 water bottles on the body, 4 inside the primary triangle and one beneath (it’s not clear what body sizes can maintain what bottle sizes). There’s additionally a prime tube mount for gasoline tank-style luggage.
If that’s not sufficient storage, we haven’t even talked about the brand new ToolShed but. Pivot’s tackle in-frame storage features a easy and safe latching door with some trick options together with an built-in magnet for storing chain fast hyperlinks. There’s additionally an built-in strap loop to connect instruments or equipment to the door.
Contained in the body, you’ll discover two ToolShed luggage that are designed to retailer a spare inside tube, instruments, and so forth. The ToolShed door additionally contains clips to carry internally routed cables out of the way in which to forestall them from impeding the set up or elimination of your device luggage. One of many clips can also be designed to be barely looser to can help you slide your dropper publish cable in or out to regulate the place or take away it from the body.
Different Body Particulars
The Vault continues with a entrance derailleur choice with a detachable braze-on plate that will also be used for an higher chain information if operating 1x. Spacing is an ordinary 142mm rear, and 100mm entrance, and Pivot continues with their use of the BB386EVO Press Match backside bracket. You’ll additionally discover a molded rubber downtube and chainstay protector.
All in, the brand new frames weigh in at a claimed 995g for a small with out {hardware}. That’s down from 998g for the earlier gen, which isn’t a lot – till you think about that the brand new frames are longer, taller, provide extra tire clearance, and embrace the ToolShed storage. Spectacular.
- FRAME WEIGHT – 995g, small body, no {hardware}
- FORK WEIGHT – 428g uncut
- FORK SPEC – ATC 415mm, 1.125”-1.5” tapered
- FORK OFFSET – 52mm
- HEADSET SPEC – appropriate with 52mm built-in bearing techniques
- HUB SPEC – 100mm entrance, 142mm rear
- MAX TIRE SIZE – 700x50mm
- BB TYPE – 386EVO Press Match
- MAX CHAINRING – 46T for 1x setups
- SEAT POST DIAMETER – 27.2mm spherical
- DERAILLEUR COMPATIBILITY – UDH
Builds & Pricing
Out there in Stealth Black or Mossy Forest, the Vault will likely be supplied in three construct choices with one Shimano and two SRAM builds.
The Professional GRX construct is priced at $3,999 and features a Shimano 1×12 GRX drivetrain with DT Swiss CR 1600 Spline wheels. The Group Pressure XPLR AXS construct bumps as much as $4,999 and features a SRAM Pressure XPLR ETAP AXS 1×12 drivetrain with a 10-44t cassette and DT Swiss CR 1600 Spline wheels. The opposite choice is the $5,499 Group Pressure/X0 Extensive Vary AXS construct which bumps the cassette as much as a 10-52t with a mullet drivetrain.
Each the SRAM builds could be upgraded to Reynolds ATRx carbon wheels for an extra $650. All fashions will ship with 700c x 40mm WTB Vulpine TCS Mild/Quick rolling 120 TPI tires with SG2 casing up entrance, and GS2 casing within the again.
Take a look at the bikes beneath for a extra detailed spec.
