E-mountain bikes: Test: Pivot Shuttle 2019 – E-MTB Champions League

Test: E-MTBs are still a very rare topic in America and are sometimes even restricted by bans. The bang was all the bigger when the Pivot brand from Arizona around founder Chris Cocalis with the shuttle presented their first E-MTB at the end of 2017. Less than two years later, Pivot presented the next evolutionary stage of the carbon bolide in Winterberg and we were able to test the Pivot Shuttle 2019 for the first time.

Test: Pivot Shuttle 2019 - Frame

No question - the starting position of the Pivot Shuttle was excellent. That's why the Americans didn't have to do a completely new development, but rather a further development. The basic substances on the frame have remained the same. It is still made of the finest carbon and at the rear there is still a dw-link rear triangle with 140 mm of travel. According to Pivot, the frame is one of the lightest in the comparable E-MTB segment and, together with the light equipment, achieves a very low overall weight. The rear end is tamed by a Fox DPX2 damper that has been specially tailored to the needs of the E-MTB. The suspension travel at the front is new. While the previous model still had 150 mm of travel at the front, the new Shuttle now comes with a 160 mm fork with a 44 mm offset. In addition, Pivot now prefers 29″ wheels on the shuttle, although 27,5+ configurations are still possible. If you rely on the large wheels, tires up to 2,5″ wide also fit into the frame – despite the short chainstays. This is made possible by the Super Boost standard on the rear wheel mount. Instead of the conventional 148 mm, the rear end is 157 mm wide here.

The Shimano motor and battery are discreetly integrated into the carbon chassis of the Pivot Shuttle 2019. The battery is hidden behind a carbon cover that is attached with 8 screws. The cover is a supporting element in the frame and thus provides more rigidity. This means that less material can be used and weight can be saved. After removing the cover, the battery can be removed from the frame with a newly designed quick-release fastener. So if you want to remove the battery on tour, you have to plan a few more seconds.

The coloring and design language have changed only slightly compared to the predecessor. It's a bit more discreet, the new shuttle. Pivot now offers one color variant for each of the two trim levels:

Review: Pivot Shuttle 2019 - Geometry

As with its predecessor, the shuttle should ride like a conventional mountain bike without a motor. No tank feeling, but lots of agility. The aim was to achieve a geometry that gives the rider as much security and confidence as possible in fast and technical passages, but also invites them to play. The 160 mm fork with 44 m offset, together with the slack steering angle and the long reach, ensure stability and safety in fast and technical passages. The extremely short chainstays make the bike agile and easy to maneuver around tight corners. The fact that you sometimes like to climb steep technical ramps with an e-bike is the Pivot Shuttle's seat angle with a steep 74° on XC bike level. As a result, the front wheel tends less to climb and you sit comfortably centrally over the bike in steep passages.

Test: Pivot Shuttle 2019 - equipment, motor and battery

The previous model was only offered in one equipment variant - for a stately 10.000 euros. The demand for a cheaper model was correspondingly high and that's why Pivot now offers a race and team build for the shuttle. The Race Build comes with Shimano XT equipment, Fox Performance chassis and Shimano E7000 motor. The race build bike weighs around 21 kg and costs €7.899. The team variant comes with XTR gears, Fox Factory chassis, light DT Swiss wheels and Shimano E8000 motor. And with 20.29 kg almost cracks the magical 20 kg mark. In terms of price, however, it will be in five figures at €10.499.

Both bikes are equipped with the BT-E8010 battery with a capacity of 504Wh and the new Shimano mode shifter has also been installed, which makes the cockpit cleaner and makes it easier to install the dropper support remote control.

Pivot provided us with the new shuttle in the Team XTR variant for the First Ride. We were able to test the bike extensively in the Trail Park and Bike Park in Winterberg. Without a lift but with the shuttle. The low weight was already noticeable on the first meters. Despite the deep-treaded Maxxis tires, the bike rolled lightly across the parking lot even without assistance. The bike showed its climbing qualities on the first climbs. The steep seat angle allowed the bike to climb well. Eco mode was often enough. In steeper or more technical terrain, Trail mode was the right choice. The motor of the Pivot Shuttle 2019 assisted the driver as required and you also left behind steep ramps interspersed with stones and roots. The wide rear end bothered me a bit when pedaling, as my feet kept touching the struts.

Of course, after the ramps came the corresponding downhills. A specialty of the Pivot Shuttle. The location in Winterberg gave us the opportunity to discover different facets. On the one hand very technical terrain, but we were also able to take on flowy trails. The Pivot coped superbly with both terrains. The look down often strayed to check whether you were really sitting on an e-bike. But it also has to be said that the bike shows its qualities above all at high speeds and that it really thrives with an experienced rider in the saddle. The 160 mm Fox fork and the rear triangle iron out quite a bit. The 29″ wheels also allow the Shuttle to roll lightly over obstacles. The long reach and flat steering angle ensure extremely smooth running even at high speeds. The complete equipment also makes a coherent overall picture. The Maxxis tires provide plenty of grip and the XT stoppers tame the bike well. The 1×12 XTR also offers the bike a wide range of gear ratios, so that you can still pedal up steep climbs with ease.