TESTED: PIVOT SHUTTLE SL 2023

Photographer: Matt Jones

Tester: Ryan Walsch

Riding Experience: Enough to make him know boats.

Generally Rides: Sideways. And a Forbidden Druid

Height: 178cm

Weight: 73kg

Bike Test Track: Monarch Crest, Rainbow Trail and surrounds – Colorado.

There is a clear divide in the e-bike market now. One option is the hard-hitting, long-travel shuttle beast designed for punching out laps of the park and charging the rough. Alternatively, the super light options have lower torque and therefore use smaller, ligher batteries, which results in more familiar weights and handling characteristics. Pivot have been in discussions with Bavarian compact motor specialist Fazua since 2017, to work on the evolution of their Pivot Shuttle eMTB range. Pivot’s CEO Chris Cocalis acquired two early units of the Fazua Ride 60 system to build up some test mules after the success of their road/gravel Ride 50 equipped Vault. Cocalis decided the new Ride 60 motor would be a great motor for a SL model of the Shuttle.

A fixed battery (which still can be removed along with the motor) enabled Pivot to drastically reduce the weight and down tube size of the SL. At the same time, rotating the motor forward no longer constrained Pivot to using a straight downtube, so the Shuttle SL’s silhoette does not look dissimilar to that of a 429 trail or Switchblade, which is exactly what was on the cards.

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As an early launch partner of Fazua, Pivot provided crucial input to the new Ride 60 and the compact size allows for analogue or “muscle” bike length chain stays, very low stand over and good airflow and cooling of the motor. The Ride 60 motor weighs a scant 1.9kgs and utilises a new spindle standard ETOR which doesn’t look dissimilar to that of an 8 splined BB30 spindle and already has support of Rotor, E-Thirteen and there are rumours of Race Face on the uptake too.

Along with the battery, the Fazua Ride 60 has an impressive complete package weight of 4.2kgs boasting a peak power of 450w, a 430Wh battery and huge 60Nm of torque on demand. This means the Pivot Shuttle SL is dipping its toes into figures of e-bikes far bigger but 4.5kgs less weight, or more.

Initial Impressions

‘Well it doesn’t look like an e-bike.’ 

That was the general feeling as we all circled around the Shuttle SL like vultures at the launch camp. Pivot had two models on display, the Team XTR and a World Cup model. The Team, which we would later ride, was a sturdy build, 150mm Fox Factory 36 upfront and a Fox Factory Float X on the back delivering 132mm of DW-Link goodness and tipping the scales at 17.9kgs with bidon cage. The World Cup model shaved further weight, with a 140mm Fox Factory 34 and +10mm lower headset cup to retain the same geo, carbon fibre KS LEV dropper and an eye watering 16.5kgs on the scales.

Fazua have a new bar mounted controller call the Ring Controller, rotating on a series of opposed magnets it is smooth and intuitive in its operation and is easy to get used to. The unit is super compact and unlike anything I’ve used before. It allows riders to toggle between 4 modes including 3 continuous ride modes, Breeze, River and Rocket and a Boost mode that can be accessed from any ride mode by simply holding the ring controller up for a few seconds giving riders a full 10 second overboost of 450W peak power comparedto the Rocket mode’s 350W. As a reference, Shimano’s EP8 motor on the Shuttle LT produces 500W peak and 85Nm of torque.

The robust dashboard display contains a small row of LEDs showing the user different colours for each mode and a clear indicator on battery life. Real world testing found the Ride 60’s 430Wh battery and bike’s drastically low weight could keep it up with a conventional e-bike with 630Wh battery for a total of 2400m of climbing in Breeze mode.

The system and the assist parameters can be tuned via Fazua’s powerful and constantly expanding App, many updates have already been made and according to Fazua’s tech wizard Lars, more to come. There is also a range extending battery in the near future that will pack 215Wh and weigh 1.1kgs. This should be a great addition to the system for riders who wish to go further still. The Range extender battery is planned to mount via a Fidlock Range Rack.

The Shuttle SL is available in 4 sizes, the small has a tiny 67.4cm standover and modern 439mm reach making it one of the lowest and more compact e-bikes available, perfect for smaller riders. All 4 models have a size specific chain stay length achieved by changes to the mainframe and bottom bracket position, one rear stay is a bonus for after sales support, something Pivot are very conscious of and passionate about.

I was paired with a size large test bike which has a 478mm reach, 434mm rear centre or chain stay length and with the flip chip in the low setting I had a  familiar 65 degree head angle. All these numbers are within my preferred zone and for a rider either side of 178cm in height.

On The Trail

You are going to hear this lots and read it in Pivot’s marketing spiel, but the Pivot Shuttle SL really does ride like a bike. Even when it is turned off there is less than 5W of total drag in the Ride 60 system. This bike is almost exactly 1kg heavier than my personal bike of the same travel (albeit with DH tyres) but you get the idea, this thing is seriously light and isn’t packing flimsy parts on board.

As Pivot’s design team explained, the Shuttle SL sits between the 429 Trail and the Switchblade and first and foremost it is a great handling bike. Chris Cocalis, Pivot’s owner, explained that when the first rideable carbon frames arrived at the office, he looked at them for a few days and then decided to build one up and ride it without a battery for 6 whole months before the batteries arrived from Germany. 

Rotating the Ring Controller upwards selects Green or Breeze mode, a very subtle yet supportive power can be felt, taking the edge off the climbs giving an extra push out of turns. Next is Blue or River mode which in my opinion is the most natural and intuitive of the modes, with seamless coasting and just the right amount of assistance for the majority of riding. Red or Rocket mode boasts 60Nm and a max of 350W and really pulls very well and near silently, bar for a high cadence effort up a steep incline where a very faint whirring could be heard. Hikers and other riders would be none the wiser it’s barely audible. Regardless of which mode you are riding in, pushing the Ring Control upwards and holding it there for a few seconds will slip the system into Boost mode, a full 450W peak power held for 10 seconds to punch up any steep climbs you need additional support on, this boost can be repeated if an additional burst is required.

While the Fazua Ride 60 motor and impressively stashed 430Wh battery are standouts, the best part of the Pivot Shuttle SL in my opinion is how well it handles, as a bike. The 65 degree head angle and dialed kinematics make the SL track superbly, with sharp and precise steering while retaining stability when pointing it downhill. Sure 132mm of travel doesn’t sound like a heap but it eats chunder with ease and had me feeling planted and free to keep pushing.

This precise handling makes tight turns, tricky lines and precise gaps a heap of fun to seek out and requires a different style of riding than its big sibling the Shuttle LT. I have always said I would never buy a short travel under powered motor cycle, but this SL is so close in power and torque than the vast majority of e-bikes, it is way quieter and feels like a sturdy trail bike that now I’m not so sure, I may have to change my stance.

While I did not have any issues during the test there was a couple of test bikes that cut out for a few minutes and then back on. The Fazua tech team wasn’t able to tell what it was on the trail but assured us it may be an early teething issue that could be ironed out with a simple firmware update. With a recent acquisition by some German car manufacturer called Porsche, we expect to see more seriously cool product from Fazua in the future and an impressive support network being rolled out.

Fazua’s dealers are currently receive reimbursement for their time spent working on their systems and hold stock on hand so timely repairs and servicing can occur. The future looks bright for the Bavarian company!

Our Take

From riders who are hesitant on a cumbersome E-bike or the skilled bike handler the Shuttle SL will not disappoint. To me, it adds an ideal amount of support to a bike that has excellent ride characteristics. The Pivot Shuttle SL blurs the line between a trail bike and a trail e-bike. This is a space that has been pioneered by Specialized with the Levo SL, and the Orbea Rise and Trek Fuel Exe are other major players in the mid-power market. However, I feel like the Fazua Ride 60 motor and battery have the edge on the competition, and when paired with such a superb riding bike, it’s hard to beat. Of course, this capability and performance comes at a cost, with the Team builds selling for $20999 and the Ride from $14499. But the quality is second to none, and the Shuttle SL has seriously made me reconsider what kind of eMTB I would call my own.

Specifications 

Brand: Pivot

Model: Shuttle SL Team

RRP: $20999

Weight: 17.9kg 

From: pivotcycles.com.au

Available Sizes:  S, M, L (tested), XL

Frame Material: Carbon Fiber

Fork: Fox Factory 36, 150mm, eMTB tuned, 44mm offset

Shock: Fox Factory Float X Trunnion mount, 132mm

Drive Unit: Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery: Fazua 430Wh

Shifters: Shimano XTR M9100, 12sp

Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9100, 12sp

Crank: ROTOR Ekapic eMTB, 32t

Chain: Shimano XT M8100, 12sp

Cassette: Shimano XT M8100, 12sp 10-51t

Wheel set: Reynolds Blacklabel 309/289 30mm

Tyres: Maxxis Dissector 29 x 2.4” WT, EXO 3C TR

Brakes: Shimano XTR M9120 4 piston, 203/180mm rotors

Stem: Phoenix Team Enduro/Trail

Handlebars: Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon

Seatpost: Fox Factory Transfer 175mm, 31.6mm

Saddle: Phoenix WTB Volt Team