New Pivot Shuttle LT

Pivot enters the scene with the new Shuttle LT aiming for no less than creating the best e-MTB for maximum downhill performance. The US brand relies on the proven Bosch CX Race motor, but more importantly, on a wealth of adjustment options. We took the “Baller Bike” with 170 mm travel through the test course to find out: Do the geometry gimmicks provide real benefits, or is it just technical mumbo jumbo for the spec sheet?

The Pivot Shuttle LT stands out from its high-end competitors thanks to the variety of its customizations. Pivot takes a very clear approach here: The customer should have maximum freedom of choice over critical areas and not be dictated by the manufacturer.

Of course, there is also an economic interest underlying this. After all, many options also mean few exclusion criteria and addressing the maximum target audience. A prime example is the cable routing. While many bikers find routing through the headset awesome, for others it’s a dealbreaker when buying a bike. Pivot offers the option to route the cables traditionally or through the headset, ensuring no customer group is alienated. We also took a close look at the other areas of adjustability.

Pivot has patented a system that changes the seat angle independently of the head angle or bottom bracket height. The seat post is shifted parallel using an insert system.

Long chainstays were once considered sluggish, but now we know they bring balance. Pivot achieves two positions despite the UDH standard (SRAM T-Type): 443 mm (short) and 451 mm (long). And that’s a special feature. Because no other manufacturer can offer chainstay adjustment with the UDH standard like this.

We tested both options for chainstay length and were surprised by the clear test impressions. In size L, the “Long” setup felt noticeably better. The weight distribution between the wheels is more balanced, which provides more grip on the front wheel in open corners. The fact that Pivot allows for this adjustment is ingenious. Especially because it allows the rear triangle to scale sensibly from size S to size XL. This keeps the riding feel balanced across all frame sizes.

For the first time, Pivot offers a removable battery (accessible through a hatch in the bottom bracket). The company has responded to the demands of the European market, where this removable battery is a must for many.

Options: The bike comes from the factory with an 800 Wh battery, but a 600 Wh battery can be easily installed, shaving a solid 1 kg off the bike’s weight. A range extender option with 250 Wh is also available.

The trick: Installing the smaller battery noticeably improves handling by reducing weight by a kilogram. For a quick evening ride, the 600 Wh battery is the better choice. For a long Alpine adventure with 2000 meters of ascent or more, the 800 Wh battery is probably more suitable. This flexibility is currently offered by hardly any competitor. Bikes like the Orbea Wild, Yeti MTe, or Santa Cruz Vala/Bullit, Cube AMS Hybrid 177 all rely on fixed and mostly small 600 Wh batteries. The option to swap the battery could potentially double the range. Investing in a smaller 600 Wh battery is definitely worthwhile to be equipped with a second battery for particularly long days.

By default, the Shuttle LT rolls on a mullet setup (29″/27.5″). Conversion to a full 29er is possible, but it requires a visit to the dealer as the software of the Bosch motor needs to be adjusted.

With the mullet setup, the Pivot Shuttle LT, despite its generous travel, is a bike that allows for intuitive and non-cumbersome handling. The 29er rear wheel increases the weight and might dilute the pleasantly playful character of the Shuttle LT. Therefore, our clear advice is: better stick with the mullet setup.

We also recommend staying in the “High” setting on the flip chip when using the mullet setup. In “Low”, the head angle becomes extremely slack at 63°, making the bike wobbly and cumbersome on flat trails. It’s not worth experimenting here.

With a flip chip on the lower shock mount, the progression of the rear suspension can be set separately. This option is also known from the Santa Cruz Vala. However, one must remain realistic: Adjusting the progression on the rear suspension is more of a fine-tuning.

The fundamental character of the Shuttle LT remains sporty-tight. It’s not an “iron”, absorbing everything, but a sports device that wants to be ridden actively. The DW-Link rear suspension has a legendary reputation and also convinces us in the Pivot Shuttle LT. The bike responds sensitively and swallows large obstacles but doesn’t sink into its travel.

And this is the major crux that many other manufacturers in this travel class struggle with. Bikes like the Centurion No Pogo or the Rose Slab don’t achieve the balancing act nearly as well with traditional four-bar link rear ends as the Pivot Shuttle LT.

The setting in which you ride the DW-Link rear suspension remains a matter of personal preference with the large X2 shock from our test. For more affordable bikes with the smaller Fox shock, we would choose the slightly more linear option.

The Bosch CX Race Motor fits perfectly into the concept. It delivers power more aggressively than the standard CX when you engage Race mode. However, the decision remains in the rider’s hands.

For those who enjoy technical uphill riding, we recommend activating the eMTB+ mode, as the Race mode can be almost too explosive when starting. This can often lead to a loss of grip due to excessive power. Additionally, the eMTB+ offers the Overrun, which allows the motor to push over steep steps without full pedal rotations.

The hardware of the Bosch CX-R motor differs from the Bosch CX without the “Race” addition through a titanium axle and ceramic bearings. This saves 100 grams. The motor operates very quietly both uphill and downhill, which is probably the greatest advantage compared to the old Pivot Shuttle LT that still has the 4th generation CX motor, which rattles on the trail when heading downhill.

Luxury comes at a price – and at Pivot, this is almost traditionally high:

Pivot applies a similar pricing strategy with the Shuttle AM, and manufacturers like Orbea, Santa Cruz, or Yeti aren’t shy when it comes to the customers’ wallets either. The trend of companies like Cube, Canyon, or even Rose recently lowering prices on EMTBs noticeably is not being followed in Arizona, USA. It almost seems that they consciously use the price to solidify their premium image.