RELEASE & FIRST RIDE REPORT
THE NEW PIVOT SHUTTLE AM REVIEW
BETTER THAN EVER?
First Ride by Drew Rohde | Photos by Matt Jones Photography
Back with a vengeance for 2024, the new Pivot Shuttle AM is the first Shuttle eBike to utilize the highly desirable Bosch Performance Line CX system and receives a redesigned frame with a feature menu that should have all-mountain eMTB riders frothing. Sporting 148mm of DW-Link rear wheel travel and 160mm up front, Pivot’s Shuttle AM is designed to mimic the crowd-pleasing Switchblade and offer a versatile feel on a wide variety of trails. We were lucky enough to spend a few days in Crested Butte, Colorado aboard the new Shuttle AM to develop some good first impressions and can’t wait until our long-term test bike shows up for lots more miles for the full review. Below you’ll find plenty of technical information and our first thoughts on how the new Shuttle AM rides and compares to one of our personal favorites; the eMTB Shootout Award Winning Pivot Shuttle LT.
The Shuttle AM doesn’t shy away from touting itself as an all-mountain masterpiece that dominates the realm of e-mountain performance. This awe-inspiring e-bike strikes the perfect chord, delivering an unmatched blend of lightweight agility and long-travel prowess that hits the all-mountain sweet spot. So, brace yourself as Pivot introduces the Shuttle AM, an e-bike that conquers every type of terrain with ease, from fast-flowing singletracks to breathtaking back country descents.
BOSCH PERFORMANCE DRIVE SYSTEMS
Powered by the latest Bosch Performance drive systems, all Shuttle AM models deliver class leading performance. The range-topping Team build features Bosch’s all new, limited-edition Performance CX Race motor, enabling the ability to select the optional “Race” mode that reverberates with the bike’s DNA of pure velocity.
The elegant Bosch wireless remote, SRAM wireless shifter (Team and Pro builds) and Phoenix Factory Lock-On grips mounted to our Phoenix Factory Tuned-Flex carbon bar transforms the cockpit into an ultra clean command center.
LONG LASTING BATTERY OPTIONS
- Pro and Team builds come equipped with the awe-inspiring 750Wh battery.
- Ride builds come equipped with a long lasting 625Wh battery.
- All builds have Bosch’s New PowerMore range extender capability | The Bosch PowerMore Range Extender (250Wh) is a water-bottle sized additional battery that allows extra power and range for that one last lap, or that last pedal to the truck.
DW-LINK
Pivot’s masterfully tuned dw-link with Fox suspension swallows any terrain with total confidence and control, with enough platform to feel lively and pedal efficiently, and enough progression to crush rock gardens and nimbly land the biggest drops.
DW-link is the perfect suspension platform for Pivot’s eMTB’s by providing the optimal amount of anti-squat, enabling the Shuttle AM (and all Pivot Shuttle models) to harness the full power of the drive system, with optimal traction and incredible suspension performance.
VERTICAL SHOCK LAYOUT
The vertical shock layout enables Pivot to design a more compact framedesign that is both stiffer and lighter, as well as providing for increased tunability of the Shuttle AM’s kinematics. In addition, the design allows for full size water bottle clearance on all sizes (or a range extender) and the lowest stand-over heights possible.
FLIP CHIP ADJUSTABILITY
- “High” and “Low” settings on the Pivot Flip Chip allow riders to easily configure geometry.
- Make adjustments to accommodate rider style or trail conditions.
- Moving from the “High” to “Low” setting changes the BB height from 35.0cm to 34.5cm and steepens the head and seat angles by .4 degrees.
BOSCH X PIVOT FLOW APP
The customized Bosch x Pivot Cycles Flow app is a user-friendly mobile tool that provides seamless connectivity with Bosch-powered e-bikes.
The system allows the user to select 4 modes from a total of 7 available modes. The Pro and Ride level builds have Turbo, eMTB-short crank, Sport, and Tour+ modes preinstalled. While the Team level build with the CX Race motor comes with the powerful Race mode in place of Tour+.
The Bosch x Pivot Cycles Flow app offers features such as recommended maintenance intervals based on mileage, find a Pivot/Bosch dealer, real-time charge percentages and estimated range all in one easy to navigate app.
VERSATILE, DIALED-IN BUILD OPTIONS
Three no compromise build options allow all riders to select exactly the spec to complement personal riding style. Ride builds feature Fox Performance suspension, while the Pro and Team builds feature Fox Factory suspension.
The range-topping Team build features SRAM’s new XX transmission, Shimano’s powerful XTR brakes, lightweight carbon cranks, carbon wheels and all the Fox Factory suspension.
THE MODELS
PIVOT SHUTTLE AM
TEAM XX EAGLE TRANSMISSION
Price: $13,999
PIVOT SHUTTLE AM
PRO XO EAGLE TRANSMISSION
Price: $11,799
PIVOT SHUTTLE AM
RIDE SLX/XT
Price: $8,999
PIVOT SHUTTLE AM GEOMETRY
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After spending a few memorable days with Pivot and Bosch representatives while riding the Shuttle AM, I’ve come away with an excitement for more trail time aboard this bike. I was given the top-of-the-line Team model, complete with Bosch’s Performance CX Race motor, and it was a blast to ride. Per Bosch’s mandates, brands will only be allotted 500 Race drive units if they’re approved. While I don’t think that it’s a must-have, those who’ve got to have that extra oomph or conversation piece should act fast. Even with the extra power consumption of the Race motor, at 190-195lbs I was able to ride over 29 miles with 4,300 feet of climbing almost entirely in Turbo and eMTB modes, which was a pretty solid ride in the Rocky Mountain range.
Riding unfamiliar trails is a bit of a blessing and a curse when it comes to testing new bikes. On one hand, you can quickly get yourself into tricky situations by entering corners way too fast, requiring evasive maneuvers to stay safe. It also means last-minute decisions, and bouncing through less-than-desirable lines are par for the course. In those scenarios the Shuttle AM saved me plenty of times and usually left me with a smile and a hoot. It reacted quickly, lifted off the ground easily, and it plowed over plenty of loose boulders and big roots when I needed it to.
Of course, the downside to riding new trails as a tester is that I don’t have a long Rolodex of historical data on how other bikes perform on the same trails, so I can’t draw a comparison. Stepping back and looking at things a bit more subjectively, Pivot’s Shuttle AM did just about everything I could have asked of it, and never gave me any strange sensations. I’d love to have more time to play with the suspension tuning and volume reducers, compression and rebound settings, but by and large, I was left with a very positive impression of this bike overall.
It’s safe to say that Pivot have done a good job updating their Shuttle AM, making it a fun, versatile and well-mannered eMTB that will be equally comfortable on backcountry missions or self-shuttling more aggressive descents that may not quite necessitate the travel of Pivot’s big and burly Shuttle LT. We’re very excited to add the Shuttle AM to our stable of long-term test bikes and will be itching to put many more miles aboard this eBike.
For more info, visit Pivotcycles.com
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