ABOUT THE PIVOT SHUTTLE SL/AM
FRAME AND FEATURES | Pivot’s Shuttle SL/AM carbon fiber frame is constructed using their proprietary molding technology to obtain the best strength to weight ratio they can achieve. Pivot has never been shy about their premium price tag but they stand by it with their attention to detail and industry leading frame alignment. This allows for complete build weights to touch the 40lbs (18kg) mark on some sizes and builds. This carbon frame is designed around a pair of 29” wheels (XS is MX only), though Pivot says it will work well with a 27.5” rear wheel on all sizes when run in the high geometry position of the two-position flip chip.
The frame features the typical premium niceties of a Pivot mountain bike. There’s well-considered protection on the downtube and around the drive side chainstay and seatstay. Additionally, a neat mud flap protects the lower suspension link from debris being fired off the rear wheel – a simple detail we really appreciate.
Pivot‘s Cable Port system gives clean internal cable routing, designed to minimize rattle thanks to the clamped ports. This doesn’t go through the headset, much to the relief of internet commenters and bike mechanics alike. Out back, the UDH hanger makes sourcing replacements easier and allows for SRAM T-Type compatibility. The rear hub uses the 157mm SuperBoost Plus standard to push the flanges wider, giving a claimed 30% stiffness increase over a standard boost spacing.
With short seat tube lengths and deep insertion depths, Pivot can spec longer travel dropper seatposts to afford improved clearance on the descents. They made provisions for a large water bottle or a PowerMore Range Extender to fit easily on the top of the downtube, and there’s a second mount on the underside of the top tube to fit a tool such as Pivot’s Tool Dock system.
DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | Pivot’s Shuttle SL/AM utilizes the Bosch Performance Line SX drive unit, offering mid-torque but “full power” performance out of its 2.0kg (4.4lbs) motor. As standard this drive unit produces 55Nm Torque and outputs 600W peak power, but Bosch has launched an update where the user can choose to increase torque to 60Nm if desired. This boost to the torque was much appreciated to give some extra grunt for the steepest pitches of climb.
This Bosch SX system is powered by a fixed internal 400Wh CompactTube battery, which can be increased by 250Wh using the PowerMore Range Extender.
The Shuttle SL/AM sleekly integrates the Bosch LED System Controller in the top tube to display battery life to the nearest 10% and the power mode selected. On the handlebar, the Wireless Mini Remote allows for the system to be toggled between power modes and for the walk function to be activated by holding the “–“ button. The speed sensor takes the form of a valve stem-mounted magnet on the rear wheel, which is sensed by the motor body and prevents any extra cables from being required.
Speaking of power modes, the Bosch Flow App lets users connect their phone to their bike via Bluetooth in order to perform an array of functions such as tailoring the power modes. Up to four power modes can be selected for the system, each of which can be independently tuned in assistance level and dynamic to deliver the feeling desired by the rider. The Flow app also allows for over-the-air updates to be performed; the bike to be tracked and locked in case of theft, and any issues to be diagnosed.
SUSPENSION | The Pivot Shuttle SL/AM uses Pivot’s signature DW-Link suspension to deliver 150mm of rear wheel travel. Up front, a 160mm fork leads the charge.
Pivot designed their midpower all mountain ebike to play nice with air or coil shocks, and recommends the use of Fox’s Live Valve NEO to boost the performance and efficiency of the system further. The NEO technology is offered as an upgrade to selected high-end builds for $1,500 which we have tested on this bike.
GEOMETRY | Pivot gave the Shuttle SL/AM some well-rounded geometry figures to balance stability at speed with agility in the tech. As a result, it happily slots into that do-everything category, with figures that pleased our crew overall.
Highlight figures are a 64.1 deg head tube angle (Low) and 76.5 deg effective seat tube angle. It is important to note the actual seat tube angle is slightly slacker than this, giving slacker effective angles for those with saddle heights higher than average.
A size large sports a comfortable 476mm Reach paired with a 648mm Stack height, adding up to a 1,267mm Wheelbase when the 444mm chainstays are added.
PIVOT SHUTTLE SL-AM BUILD OFFERINGS | Pivot offers the Shuttle SL-AM in a range of 10 build options, spanning budgets from the $7,999 Ride Eagle 70/90 to the $14,299 that the decked-out Team XX Eagle Transmission NEO will cost you if you add a range extender.
We tested the Shuttle SL/AM Pro X0 Eagle Transmission Neo, which came equipped with the Fox 36 Factory Grip X2 160mm fork and Factory Float Neo Live shock. The drivetrain is the SRAM X0 T-Type with a 10-52t cassette and Praxis cranks. SRAM Motive 4-piston brakes with 200mm HS2 rotors handle stopping duties. Our bike also came with Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR II tires in EXO+ casing and Maxxterra compound. Wheel spec on this model is a set of DT Swiss XM1700 with DT Swiss 350 hubs. Total weight for this build in size large came in at a respectable 43.5lbs (18.4kg).
THE DIRT
SETUP | Setting up the Pivot SL/AM was pretty straightforward as there aren’t a ton of geometry or other settings to lure you in. You either pick High or Low BB and get to work on suspension tuning. I preferred the bike in High but Cole and Robert both like their bikes in the Low position. Tuning in the suspension took a little bit longer, and we did play around with Neo Live settings a bit, but ended up liking the most open, or minimally invasive option for our rougher terrain and more DH-focused goals.
ELECTRONICS & INTEGRATION | Other electronic integrations beyond the Fox Neo components were flawless and easy to use. We logged into the Bosch Flow app to see how these came pre-set but left them as they were for the duration. On these SX drive units, the power and delivery out of the box really suits us.
We also really liked the charge port door on the new SL/AM. It was a small feature but one that helped keep things tidy, clean and never frustrated us.
CLIMBING | When it came time to climb the SL/AM, our testers quite enjoyed the bike overall. It put our crew of 5’11 – 6’2” riders in a solid position, leaving only the leggiest testers wishing for a little steeper of a seat tube angle. It wasn’t quite enough to complain about, but Robert’s very long legs had him sliding the seat all the way forward on the rails to keep his body weight forward a touch.
The Fox Neo suspension did a great job of managing itself so long as the front tire remained on the ground. The fork sensor reacts quickly and would allow the rear end to open up and help us get over rougher terrain while climbing yet maximized an already efficient pedaling platform for eking out every watt of power on big days and big climbs.
DESCENDING | We had four different riders put time in aboard the Shuttle SL/AM. These riders have quite a bit of experience on lots of other bikes from brands like Trek, Yeti, Specialized and others. Everyone that hopped off the SL/AM commented on it’s playful demeanor and how fun it is to ride.
Keeping in line with the strengths, the bike’s cornering prowess is impressive. It intuitively leans over and drops the bars. The rear end stiffness is also a nice compliment to the low weight as it makes pushing the back of the bike around rather easy. Whether you like snapping the back end into catch berms or you’re looking to save yourself from an unexpected obstacle, the bike receives input quickly and moves without much hesitation.
The low weight and suspension platform also aid in making the SL/AM an incredibly poppy and lively bike on mellower trails and jump lines. Whether you like styling jumps, reaching for gaps, manualing between rollers or just want a bike that helps you catch a little air, the SL/AM is ready to party.
Downsides to the downhill…We know that Pivot often appeals to the XC or gram-counting crowd but we’re not thrilled with the EXO+ tire casing or Motive brake spec call on this machine. With a bike that has such a capable geo and frame feel, it’s a shame that we can’t really tap into it’s full potential without a bit of hesitation due to a lack of braking power and worrying about flatting a tire. The tire swap is a relatively easy one, though we’d still just like to see Double Down casing at least out back, but the brake situation is a more costly and time/labor intensive sorting.
Another small bit of feedback on the bike was how it handled extended chunky terrain on flatter gradient trails. We have a non Neo shock that we’re going to swap onto this bike now, but we noticed that sometimes on flatter trails that had lots of roots, the shock could be a bit rougher or deader feeling than we’d like. In the near future we’ll be putting the updated bike/shock in our SL eMTB Shootout and will make note if the rear shock changes the feel, or if perhaps that’s just a characteristic of this bike’s kinematics. It’s not enough to be a deal breaker for us, however, we would not be bummed to see a little more sensitivity and plushness on some of those square-edge hits.
FINISH AND VALUE | Talking about value and a $11,849 mountain bike is a tricky thing. We’re not in a financial position to whip out the American Express and buy a Pro Neo-equipped Pivot. That said, the bike rides very well, has held up incredibly and has the usual Pivot attention to detail. When compared to other similarly priced bikes, it’s every bit worth the price tag, although we’d likely be looking at a Ride level build for ourselves. You’d still get the high quality frame but with parts that get you on the trail and would be easy to upgrade as you see fit later on down the trail.
COMPONENT REPORT | We’ve had no issues at all on the bike and have taken it on everything from Oregon backcountry rides to Bike Park laps and everything inbetween. The Bosch Performance Line SX drive unit ran smoothly and quietly, never throwing up an error code or presenting any quirks.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
Compared to other SL, low-power eMTBs, the Shuttle SL/AM sits quite high on our list. When looking at bikes like the Levo SL, Yeti MTe or YT Decoy SN, the Pivot absolutely holds it’s own. While different riders all prioritize different aspects of performance for their ride, the Shuttle SL/AM is a bike we’d easily recommend to a wide range of riders looking for a fun, playful and energetic lightweight eMTB.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Our crew have spent countless hours testing full and low power eMTBs over the years and the Shuttle SL/AM is certainly one of the bikes that stands out from the crowd. From it’s impressively refined appearance to class-leading playfulness and cornering, it’s a very fun and capable bike and has been the SL Shuttle we’ve been waiting for. 
Price: $11,849
Weight: 43.5 lbs
Website: Pivotcycles.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Drew went from chasing a dream of racing downhill to testing and reviewing bikes. Founded Loam Wolf in 2017 and have been trading the bike saddle for the office chair more and more each year sadly. Once in a while the team lets him out of the cage to throw his old bones on an exciting new bike.
Rank: Slowing Down
Size: 5’11” | 188lbs
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