Pivot LES SL Drop Bar Brings 100mm Travel to Gravel

The Pivot LES SL Drop Bar is a carbon hardtail mountain bike fitted with drop bars, built for riders who want to cover serious distance on terrain that is closer to singletrack than conventional gravel. VeloNews tested it in Squamish, B.C., and its central proposition is clear: a Fox Performance Stepcast 32 fork with 100mm of travel, paired with a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 12-speed drivetrain. At $6,399 and 9.78kg, this is not a lightweight gravel racer in disguise. It is a specialist tool.

A drop-bar bike for real rough stuff

That 100mm fork is the reason to consider the LES SL, according to VeloNews. On rooted, rocky trails, it brings more traction and reduces the constant hand and arm tension that can make multi-day rough riding exhausting. For ultra-endurance athletes plotting routes that blur into mountain-bike territory, that comfort and control could matter far more than a fast-looking position on a smooth road.

There is a technique shift. VeloNews says the fork moves substantially compared with shorter-travel gravel suspension, bobs when standing to sprint, and asks riders to use its lockout and adjustment knob. The intended style is more seated, weight-back mountain-bike riding than frequent out-of-saddle accelerations. We would call that a fair trade if the route is properly rough. If most of the day is fast gravel and pavement, it is a bad trade.

The stock build backs up the off-road brief: DT Swiss X1900 wheels, Schwalbe G-ONE RX 50 tires and clearance for 2.4-inch tires. A dropper post is compatible, too. These choices make sense for steep, technical descents and unpredictable surfaces, while the 32t chainring with a 10-52t cassette keeps the gearing focused on climbing rather than big-road speed.

Capability comes with compromises

The key ergonomic limitation is low saddle-to-bar drop. A 100mm fork has a taller axle-to-crown measurement than a typical rigid gravel fork, which raises the front end even though Pivot keeps the head tube short. Combined with the wide bar, VeloNews found the position upright and less convincing when trying to tuck in and push hard on smoother fire roads. That is the important warning for endurance racers: this bike may save energy through rough sections, yet feel sluggish during long exposed or fast stretches.

Its mountain-bike heritage also narrows the upgrade path. The LES SL uses Boost spacing and a PF92 bottom bracket, so wheel and crank choices skew toward mountain-bike standards rather than typical gravel parts. There is UDH, but no top-tube mounts or in-frame storage, and chainring size tops out at 38t. For bikepacking, the absent top-tube mounts feel especially disappointing. Riders carrying electronics and navigation gear, even alongside a watch such as the [Suunto Run 2](/en/articles/suunto-run-2-review-offline-maps-meet-a-leaner-watch-2026-10-24), will need to plan cockpit and bag space carefully.

What is missing is versatility. The LES SL does not offer the aero posture, smoother-surface efficiency or gravel-specific storage that many endurance riders expect, and its fork demands active management rather than a set-and-forget approach. It is also heavy by the standards of bikes aimed at riding fast for long periods.

Verdict: choose the Pivot LES SL Drop Bar for big-distance routes with genuinely technical mountain-bike trails, or events in the mold of the Tour Divide. Against a conventional gravel bike, it gives up speed and everyday practicality for far more front-end confidence when the trail gets ugly.