HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST EMTB FOR YOU
PIVOT SHUTTLE SHOWCASE
SHOULD YOU PICK THE SL, SL-AM, AM OR LT?
December 20, 2025
One of the most frequent questions we receive from our audience is, “Can you help me decide which bike to buy?” Sadly, no single answer suits everyone. Each subset of electric (and regular) mountain bikes has their own strengths and weaknesses for each style of rider and terrain. We understand the uncertainty and confusion around making such an expensive decision. There are so many options that have such subtle differences it can lead to analysis paralysis! For example, in this video we’ll be trying to help you while vindicating your confusion as totally valid. For example, just one brand has four different eMTBs that could work for most riders.
We’ll be using the Pivot Shuttle range because in it, we can highlight four of the most common styles of eMTB. Speaking to a range of riders who each prefer a different model in Pivot’s eBike lineup, we hoped to show exactly what each style offered and what different rider types found beneficial or less-than-ideal for their own type of riding. Skip to the bottom to see what sort of key questions we usually reply to people with as we help them narrow down their bike selection.
MEET THE BIKES
PIVOT SHUTTLE SL
Travel: 150F / 132R
Category: Light Trail
Drive Unit: Fazua Ride 60
Battery: Fazua 480Wh
PIVOT SHUTTLE SL-AM
Travel: 160F / 150R
Category: Light All-Mountain
Drive Unit: Bosch SX
Battery: Bosch 400Wh (+250Wh)
PIVOT SHUTTLE AM
Travel: 160F / 150R
Category: Full Power All-Mountain
Drive Unit: Bosch CX Gen 5 / CX-R
Battery: Bosch 800Wh (+250Wh)
PIVOT SHUTTLE LT
Travel: 170F / 160R
Category: Full Power Enduro
Drive Unit: Bosch CX Gen 4 Race
Battery: Bosch 750Wh (+250Wh)
XC-GUY RYAN’S EFFICIENT PICK – PIVOT SHUTTLE SL
Ryan typically rides cross-country, gravel and light trail bikes. He had never properly ridden any eBikes before this test. With his preferences towards a lighter and more agile bike that performs best in rolling terrain, it was no surprise that the Pivot Shuttle SL was his preferred eBike.
Ryan appreciated the natural feeling of the Fazua Ride 60 system, both under power and when above the motor cut-out speed. For the style of trails Ryan frequents, with minimal steep climbs, the SL proved to come close in speed to the full-power bikes. This was achieved without the feeling of hitting the “wall” that full-power motors can produce.
Impressed by the Shuttle SL’s rear suspension, Ryan felt it punched above its travel category. But still, it offered the speed, efficiency, and snappy handling that Ryan was seeking.
Check out our detailed review of this bike in the 2024 SL eMTB Shootout.
SOURPATCH’S SNAPPY SELECTION – PIVOT SHUTTLE SL-AM
As the electric version of the Switchblade – one of Sean’s favorite mountain bikes – the Pivot Shuttle SL-AM is the eBike that Sourpatch regularly reaches for. Compared to the Shuttle AM – which shares many similarities but weighs more due to its larger battery and more powerful motor – Sean appreciates the more agile handling the SL-AM provides.
For Sean’s typical riding, the power of the Bosch SX system is plentiful to propel his 160lbs mass up the hill, and the 400Wh battery with optional 250Wh range extender offers sufficient range. While it may not get him up the hill as fast as the full-power Shuttle AM or LT, he favors the more playful handling the Shuttle AM provides, while still giving more stability and confidence than the Shuttle SL on more technical terrain.
See how the Shuttle SL stacked up in our 2025 Mid-Power eMTB Shootout.
MORGEN’S MID-TRAVEL, BIG RANGE DO-IT-ALL EMACHINE – PIVOT SHUTTLE AM
Morgen likes to ride for fitness anf fun, but without having to suffer. Wanting to ensure he can ride long enough to be satisfied, he favors full-power eBikes with larger batteries to reduce range anxiety. With many of Morgen’s rides being enjoyed with friends for up to 40-miles, Morgen likes to ensure he can keep up and doesn’t run out of battery before the ride is over.
He considered the power of the SL-AM to be acceptable for riding alone, but when trying to keep up with full-power bikes, it didn’t quite cut it. That said, he appreciated the fun-factor the lighter-weight Shuttle SL and SL-AM provided for jumping.
The Pivot Shuttle AM took the edge over the LT for Morgen due to its “perfect mix” of playfulness and capability. Still offering enough confidence for his trips to Squamish, but with increased enjoyment on mellower trails around Bend, OR, he called the Pivot Shuttle AM the “Swiss Army Knife” of eBikes. Plus he also LOVED the CX-R drive unit’s power, claiming it was every bit as good as his Avinox Powered Amflow bike.
Learn more about the Shuttle SHAM and see some amazing BC trails here.
DH JOSH’S LONG TRAVEL SHREDDER – PIVOT SHUTTLE LT
Josh has a background in BMX, and more recently, downhill mountain biking. As such, he’s seeking an eBike that’ll offer the confidence and capability to tackle DH trails, while having the power to climb back up steep terrain. Compared to his DH bike, Josh loves that the Shuttle LT will let him get many more laps in, without sacrificing much performance on the way down.
Josh also uses the powerful Bosch drive unit to help him access trails with tools strapped to his pack, making a dig day that little bit easier. He concedes that the SL eBikes are more flickable and can feel better in certain trail scenarios, but he liked the Shuttle LT so much that he bought one, regardless. It’s been through hell and back as he’s known for building some of the most rugged and rocky technical trails in Bend’s lava fields and he can’t wait to replace it with a future generation LT when the time is right.
Check out the Shuttle LT long term review here.
SO, WHICH ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
We recommend thinking hard about your aspirations as an eBiker before you buy one. Choosing the eMTB that’s going to maximize the fun on the part of the ride you’re most excited about is a solid approach. Alternatively, choosing the electric mountain bike that will compensate for your weaknesses is a good ploy, too. We’d suggest that you search yourself and see if you’re trying to be competitive with yourself or your friends and get a bike that will make you faster, or if you want a bike to serve you. Whether that be to offer a safety cusion for the occasional DH trails you end up on, or you want something that’s light enough to ride like a regular bike but takes the sting out of the climbs on your regular training rides, we suggest you figure out what matters most to you, and pick the travel or genre of bike that will suit those needs most.
There’s no denying the amount of options we have is both amazing and dizzying. Hopefully some of the insights shared here will help as you seek out your next bike. If you feel like you’d still benefit from some more one-on-one guidance, check out our Member’s Platform here.