We tested the Pinarello Dogma XC, is it as fast as Tom Pidcock?

With just a few months on the market and a couple of seasons in competition, the Pinarello Dogma XC has generated a lot of buzz and has achieved a difficult to surpass record in such a short time. After a first contact in Italy, we have now had it at home for several months, trying to discover if a bike designed for the highest competition can be the ideal companion for training and daily rides.

Pinarello Dogma XC: innovation and originality at the service of performance

All XCO-oriented bikes seek maximum performance and efficiency, and after many years of development in this sport, it seems quite clear what works and what doesn't.

The current trend towards which most Cross Country bikes are oriented is towards simplicity in design, to reduce weight, and towards longer suspensions and modern geometries that allow the bikes great capabilities in descents.

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But Pinarello is Pinarello, and in their XC bike they have followed their own path, differentiating themselves from others in the search for the fastest bike in competition. In fact, it is a bike designed by and for races, with market acceptance being secondary to them.

The type of suspension system is the only thing that coincides with the current trend, as it is a single pivot without rear articulation, with flexion in the chainstays.

The main feature, which somewhat breaks with what is seen lately in new releases, is the choice of travel. The stock bike has 90mm of rear travel and 100mm in the fork. We say stock bike because in competition they reserve the possibility of changing the shock attachment and, by changing both suspensions, giving the bike 100mm of rear travel, combined with a 120mm fork.

For the construction of this exclusive frame, they use what, according to Pinarello, is the best carbon fiber for an MTB. It is the Toray M40 J fiber which, as we will see, has been worked to shape a spectacular frame.

In the design of the Dogma XC, a great effort has been made in the search for maximum stiffness and energy transmission. And in pursuit of that goal, they have reached the striking design of this frame with that characteristic additional triangle in the bottom bracket area.

Seeking the same goal of stiffness, they have opted for a really oversized main pivot point, to the point that they do without additional bridges in the chainstays or seatstays, allowing to shorten the chainstays to 427.5mm without problems of mud accumulation.

As for the geometry, it is quite moderate compared to what is seen lately. With a 67.5° head angle that is sufficiently slack but not radical.

A reach of 455mm in size M and an approximate 75.5° seat tube angle (slightly varying by size) are also fairly neutral measurements currently.

In fact, one of Tom Pidcock's premises in the design of the Dogma XC was that the bike did not require much adaptation when getting on it. And that's because Tom spends most of the season on the road and cyclocross, and usually gets on the MTB just a few days before the big races.

Luxury is the norm in the Pinarello Dogma XC

It's no surprise that a brand like Pinarello goes all out when it comes to dressing up their top-of-the-line model. The Pinarello Dogma XC comes with an exquisite selection of high-end components.

Complete Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission groupset combined with Shimano XTR brakes, the best of Fox for XC with the new Fox 32 Step Cast Factory Kashima fork and Float SL Factory Kashima shock absorber, the exclusive DT XRC 1200 Spline wheels, a spectacular integrated cockpit manufactured by Most and Fox Transfer SL Factory dropper post.

All these components compete to be the best in each area and come together in the Dogma XC to complete a spectacular bike, as is also its price, which is close to €14,000.

With this price, it is surprising the absence of a power meter, especially when the potential user of a bike like this would likely consider it a priority.

The Dogma XC is impressive in person

When we first saw it, we clearly realized that photos do not do justice to the Pinarello. It is in person and up close where it truly captivates.

First of all, the shapes of its frame are spectacular, and, looking closely, we can see that not only the rear triangle is asymmetrical, but even the top tube has different shapes on each side. It is a level of detail in the shapes that is not usually seen in other bikes.

In addition, the decoration is eye-catching. With those colors that refer to the rainbow of the world champion and the gold, which commemorates the gold obtained by Pidcock in the Olympics (to date, two). The truth is that they have achieved a superior aesthetic and, in fact, we can say that, by far, this is the bike that has received the most looks and comments of admiration during the time we have been riding it.

Before going out for the first ride, we had to make the necessary adjustments to the controls, position, and suspensions, as well as weigh it on our scale, where it showed a weight of 10.45kg without pedals. A competitive weight although considering the build, it could be lower. As we have seen before, at Pinarello, rather than aiming for a weight record, they have preferred to maximize stiffness and energy transmission.

Regarding the suspension adjustments, we realized that it is necessary to be precise with the remote control adjustment, as it determines whether we get three distinct compression positions. The shock absorber is quite sensitive to cable tension, so to ensure that the middle position is not practically a lockout or, on the contrary, too open, it must be adjusted properly. In the new Fox 32 StepCast fork, we also get three well-differentiated positions, which does not always happen in all forks.

Once everything was in order, we started testing it on our usual routes.

The position on the Dogma XC is demanding, not only because of the frame geometry, but also because it features a very aggressive cockpit, with a negative angle of -18°, which places the handlebar very low, in an optimal position for climbs or pedaling at high intensity, but outside of competition, it can be a bit uncomfortable on longer rides.

The potential buyer of this bike can add some spacers under the stem, but in our case, they were not provided, as in this bike it is not enough to invert the one on top, as they must be specific for cable routing.

The Pinarello is enjoyed by giving it your all

Getting on such an aggressive Cross Country bike like this makes us feel like we are infected with that competitive spirit. The truth is that the Dogma XC responds so well to our accelerations that almost unintentionally we end up with our heart rate soaring at every moment. The bike demands speed and it's hard not to give it.

The suspensions are controlled by a three-position lever that, as mentioned before, offers three distinct behaviors if adjusted properly.

The lockout is complete on both ends, and this, combined with the great stiffness of the Pinarello, makes standing pedaling on very smooth tracks or asphalt feel agile and fast, as close as possible to a road bike.

When we enter pedaling areas with more irregular terrain, we switch to the middle position. Here we have really low contamination, as the suspension feel is already quite firm, and we can ride at high speeds, and even pushing hard on the pedals while standing, we don't notice much loss of efficiency.

But if we want to maximize traction or, of course, descend trails with more control, we open up the suspensions and the Pinarello offers us sufficient absorption for those rougher sections, where we can pass at quite respectable speeds, maintaining control at all times.

In the Dogma XC, we don't have that feeling of a bike that swallows up everything and is comfortable that offers sensations close to a Trail bike. It is a purebred and is designed to go fast in general.

As for the traction it offers on uphill trails, we have to say that it doesn't quite reach the level of other more complex rear suspension systems that read the terrain in a sublime way, but the open suspension works and makes the most difficult sections much easier, and this, combined with the agility and liveliness that the Pinarello Dogma XC boasts, makes it a great climber on all terrains.

A positive aspect of the Pinarello Dogma XC in challenging situations is its agility and ease of handling. Its lightness and overall stiffness make it a very responsive and easy bike to ride where we want. This is also contributed by a geometry that has not gone to the most radical side of very slack angles and long lengths. The Dogma XC maintains a very positive balance.

We have had the Pinarello for a fairly long season and have done all kinds of routes, some marathon ones, which don't seem to be the strong suit of this bike at first glance. For this, we have used the option of mounting two bottle cages in line on the downtube, a solution that we didn't initially like, but has proven to be a useful and very convenient option, allowing us to carry a 500ml bottle at the bottom and a 750ml bottle at the top.

On these long rides on the bike, we have noticed the demand of the racing position we adopt on the Dogma XC and, over time, the neck and hands suffer the most. This is also influenced by the stiffness of the integrated Most cockpit and lock-on type grips, which do not offer much absorption.

Conclusions

We have had to say goodbye to one of the most luxurious bikes on the market and also, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful we have tested. We have felt like the best riders in the World Cup riding one of the most successful bikes of today.

Nowadays, competition bikes are easy to ride and you don't have to have the skill of a world champion to enjoy them, although getting the most out of them is another story, of course.

The only somewhat limiting factor we have found for an average user is the demanding posture, but it is something that can be solved by using spacers under the cockpit.

Those riders who like reactive and fast bikes have in the Pinarello Dogma XC an ideal candidate, of course, the price is something to take into account because we are talking about a really expensive bike. The most luxurious MTB from Pinarello costs €13,995, or €6295 if you buy the frame with shock absorber.

There is only an alternative version of this model, baptized as just Pinarello XC, made with Toray T900 fibers, somewhat less exclusive and a somewhat more earthly assembly for a price of 8495 €.

Specifications, weight and price

• Frame: Toray M40 J
• Fork: Fox 32 SC Factory Kashima 100mm
• Shock: Fox Float SL Factory Kashima 190x45
• Groupset: Sram XX SL Eagle AXS
• Brakes: Shimano XTR
• Wheels: DT Swiss XRC1200 Spline
• Tires: Maxxis Rekon Race EXO TR 2,25” / 2,35”
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer SL Kashima, 30,9, 100mm
• Handlebar: MOst Talon Ultra XC
• Weight: 10,45kg Frame weight: 1,75kg +252g (shock)
• Price: 13.995€
• Frame price: 6.295€ (with shock)