FIRST LOOK: Pivot Shuttle Team XTR eMTB
We've just had the new Pivot Shuttle Team XTR eMTB land - so what's new?
Photos: Nick Waygood
Late last year, Pivot announced a new and improved Pivot Shuttle eMTB. With refinements to the carbon frame to house the new Shimano EP8 motor and larger battery, the Pivot Shuttle gains more range, and more travel in the front end with a stiffer Fox 38 160mm travel fork.
The model we have on test is dripping with top components. From a Shimano XTR 12-speed group set, to a Fox Factory e-MTB 38 with GRIP 2, and a DPX2 rear shock. The wheels are DT Swiss EB 1535, which are eMTB specific wheels, wrapped in Maxxis Assegai tyres. YOu can find the full spec list online.
The rear travel stays at 140mm, and the bike is a 29" platform, as opposed to a mullet or mixed wheel set up like many new eMTBs. We have found that the mullet platform does work to an eMTBs strengths, but on the other hand, 29ers roll over more and are fast. Given that Pivot still deliver a 441mm chainstay length, they aren't compromising on handling by sticking with two big wheels.
On the geometry front, the head angle is 64.3 degrees across all four sizes (we have a large on test) and the seat angle is 74 degrees. Reach is 460mm on our large, which is pretty middle of the range for modern eMTBs. Some are longer, but this is about where many brands are settling. The fork has a 44mm offset to work with the slacker head angle.
Of note, the Pivot Shuttle frame is full carbon, and the battery is 726Wh as stock, although smaller (and lighter) battery options are compatible. The battery has a two bolt release option from the underside of the downtube.
So what has changed on the Pivot Shuttle?
We had a Pivot Shuttle on test a few years back, and clearly a big change is the move to 29" wheels. It's impressive that the chainstay length only grew about 5mm with this move, although using the Shimano EP8 motor which is smaller, lighter and more efficient has helped this process.
The reach has actually come back 5mm from 465mm to 460mm, likely due to the increase in travel from 150mm to 160mm, along with the wheel size change.
The original Pivot Shuttle was the lightest eMTB we had tested at the time at 21kg, and the Shuttle is still a light overall package, but probably also more capable. The full test will reveal what the changes feel like on the trail – keep an eye out on our YouTube channel and for Issue #191.
RRP: $16500
From: Pivot Cycles Australia
