Trying to find if this has been discussed before, but my searchs have come up empty. Is there any differences between 2 piece rods versus 4 piece? Other than the fact of size when broke down, any changes in action, responsiveness, sensitivity, or anything else that I forgot? Have only had the 2 sectioned rods, but now riding motorcycle and want to be able to transport fishing gear on it. Have a PVC tube for the rods, but kinda ong and hard to secure it to the bike. Was wanting to go to smaller 4 sections, but also dont want to lessen the rods action. Any help would be appreciated.
I’m not the world’s greatest caster but I can’t tell the difference between a 4 piece or a 2 piece. With the technology involved in today’s multiple piece rods, I think their castability has improved markedly. Given a choice between a 2 piece and a 4 piece, I’ll go with the 4 piece every time.
I sure cannot tell the difference between them when fishing.
The way I look at it, even if you could tell a slight difference, the fact that you can easily take your 4 piece out with you on the bike while the 2 piece is more of a pain means you’ll be fishing with the 4 piece and just riding your bike with the 2 piece. Any rod is only as good as the amount you use it.
Jeff
None that I can detect. I am working on slowly changing out my 2 piece rods to 4 piece.
yes! 2 pieces. 
as to all of the other things you ask, no. some folks wills tell you some 4 piece rods even cast better than 2 piece rods. todays rod technology make 4 piece rods indestinguishable from their 2 piece brothers
The technology has certainly caught up. BTW, don’t be afraid to go even smaller than 4 pieces. My lightest rod is a 9’ 6 weight that is a 6 piece model. And it casts like a dream.
Simply put Performance wise, no difference for transportability/packing its the size. I don’t buy anything that is less than 4 pieces except for my 'boo.
jed
I’ll still argue that 4-piece rods are slightly stiffer than 2-piece. 4-piece have two more ferrules which increase the stiffness.
I’ll buy only 4-piece, even though I think the biggest downside to them is that they’re more likely to come apart, and possibly break - when casting.
I now use ferrule wax on all my rods.
Randy
My bike rod is a 7 piece. It’s got a tube about 18" long that bungies nicely on the bike. I don’t mind fishing with it 'cause I’m fishing. Jim
…has to be one of the most profound quotes
I’ve ever heard…regarding anything to do with
flyfishing…
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
Based on Randy’s post:
As for the higher stiffness of 4 vs 2, I think that is more used to be true than currently true. I could definitely notice the difference in the earlier multi-piece rods, but now can really tell. I’ve also switched to only 4 pc rods.
On the breaking - I had a pre-IPC/ART St. Croix 4 pc break at a ferrule. That model was known for it (which I found out after I bought it), but I haven’t had trouble with my newer rods. I, too, use just one small stripe of the wax.
Science would say that a interrupted beam cannot have the same properties as a continuous beam with respect to weight. strength, and stiffness. As a practical matter, graphite rod ferrules are so close to continuous sections so as to be imperceptible.
Bamboo - that’s another story. Bamboo ferrules are heavier.
Bob
I broke two ferrules on two different 4-piece rods - both top of the line. So now, in addition to using wax I check my ferrules every hour or so of fishing, if I don’t forget.
Randy
I own 2pc rods, 4pc rods, 5 and 7pc rods. I notice no difference in the casting performance as a result of the number of pieces. I do notice that I don’t use the 2pc rod as much since it is a little harder to pack and carry. Even when I bring the 2pc on a float trip it tends to sit in the car since it’s a pain to deal with the long rod tube while in the boat. The multi piece rod tubes fit nicely under the seat.
As far as breakage, of the 8 or so rods that I have seen broken over the years between myself and my fishing buddies. I see no evidence that any type of rod is more prone to damage. ALL of the breaks have been due to pilot error. I or someone else did something to damage the rod and it broke. Sometimes we didn’t notice the damage until we made a cast, but the damage was done elsewhere AND was preventable.
The length or number of pieces doesn’t matter when you… yank the the tip back and forth to dislodge a fly from a tree (2 rods), or when you close the car window on them (1 rod), or when you step on them entering the boat (2 rods), or when you fall down a steep trail with rod in hand (1 rod), or when you double the tip section back trying pull a leader knot through the guides! (2 rods, same day, same guy)
Got away from using 2 pc. rods long time ago, and as a builder I try to encourage folks to use muti-piece rods as well …but… Some folks will never be convinced that anything is better than a 2 pc. rod ,other than a 1pc rod. So for those folks I build what they want.
PS… I have noticed that those folks are the ones with the longest cars though…LOL
I’ve always had that feeling when test casting as well, but test casting and really spending some time working with the rod would probably make a whole lot of difference. I think I’ll go with what Jim said a little while back…
In response to the original question: I cannot tell any difference in performance based on the number of pieces. I own 2, 3 & 4 piece rods.
In response to all of those who tout the virtues of 3 + piece rods over 2 piece rods. Thank You . You have reinforced my belief that the best rods for me are two piece rods.
Tim
One big difference is price. Multi piece generally cost more.
I have been fishing with 4 pc TFO Pro 5WT for 3 years and I think it cast very well. My buddy who has fly fished for 50+ years says he feels some stiffness but he regularlly fishes with Orvis and boo, all in all he thinks they are very good.