In a bid to ‘redefine what’s possible in all-mountain riding’, Pivot has overhauled its Shuttle AM platform. Now utilising Bosch’s latest drive system, it’s an e-MTB that’s crafted to do it all. I got hands-on with the bike ahead of launch, and here are my early impressions.
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The big headline above the new Shuttle AM is Pivot’s choice of motor. It’s still Bosch driven but the brand has brought the package bang up to date, equipping it with the Gen 5 Performance Line CX system. However, this build, along with the Team build, gets the CX-R motor, the newest version of the Race motor. Apparently, it’s 100 grams lighter thanks to a titanium spindle, while delivering 100Nm of torque and 750 watts of peak power. That’s paired with an 800W battery on this model, and the rest of the range.
That drive system is then combined with Bosch’s new Kiox 400c display, which presents a heft of ride information from distance, to battery level, to power put in by the rider, and output by the motor. That’s all scrollable via the handlebar-mounted remote. Additionally, Pivot has developed its own charging port for better protection against water and dirt ingress.
For the very first time, for Pivot, the Pro build we’ve got on test is equipped with suspension components from RockShox. This move has come as the brand believes that the current crop of RockShox bouncers perform up to its discerning standards. Of course, there are Fox-equipped models available, and even a Live Valve Neo upgrade, if you’re flush with cash.
The bike utilises internal cable routing, but it uses the updated port design we saw on the Trailcat. It’s a tidier setup too.
As always, the Shuttle AM gets all of the Pivot hallmarks, one of which is the brand’s Proprietary Ride Tuning, which uses different carbon layups for each frame size. This is in a bid to keep the ride feel consistent regardless of the size a rider chooses. Its suspension is also delivered thanks to a dw-link layout.
Wrapping up with the bike’s geometry, the large frame on test boasts a 64.1 degree head tube angle, a 76.5 degree effective seat up angle, a 444mm chainstay length, and a 476mm reach. That’s all in the low position.
Running on 29in wheels as standard, there’s a flip chip that can either alter the bike’s geometry, which’ll steepen those figures by half a degree. It’ll also retain the bike’s geometry when running a 650b wheel at the rear. As for suspension, there’s 160mm up front, paired with 150mm at the rear, proper all-mountain numbers, right there.
Pivot Shuttle AM Pro X0 Eagle: componentry
Here, we’ve got one of the bikes that runs RockShox suspension, so we’ve got a burly ZEB Ultimate at the front and a Super Deluxe Ultimate shock. As its name suggests, it’s sorted with SRAM’s X0 Transmission drivetrain, and it’s slowed thanks to a pair of SRAM Maven Silver brakes. All great stuff for an e-mountain bike like this. The whole bike will set you back £11,900.
In another fresh move for Pivot, this bike rocks OneUp Components’ Dropper V3 dropper post with a very generous 210mm of travel, and the bike rolls on a pair of DT Swiss HX1501 rims on the brand’s 350 hubs.
Those hoops are finished off with Maxxis rubber in the form of a Minion DHF up front with a 2.5in width, and a DHR II at the rear. Both get EXO+ casings and MaxxTerra compounds. For a bike like this, I would prefer an Assegai on the front, but I DHF does just fine.
Pivot Shuttle AM Pro X0 Eagle: ride impressions
Let’s start with the motor, which is a fine bit of kit. Bosch has clearly taken inspiration from DJI and its Avinox motor with the updated eMTB+ mode. It’s a mode I enjoyed to start with, as it tapers the motor’s output to the power the rider is putting in, so pedal harder, and you’ll get more assistance, but the brand has added a level of traction control. It works, too. Pedal hard up a loose climb, and the motor adjusts its output to reduce wheelspin and maintain traction. Granted, there was the odd occasion where the rear wheel would slip, but when it did, it was momentary as the motor dialled back the power to regain grip.
Of course, there’s an improved race mode too, which knocks out a mighty three-second overrun. It’s super responsive, and that overrun opens up some serious opportunity for uphill shenanigans, but it’s not a mode I’ve used all that much yet.
With that, the bike itself is a comfortable climber. There’s a good level of sensitivity at the start of the shock stroke that helps bring decent traction, but the position in which it puts the rider balances weight reasonably evenly between both wheels, so they stay glued to the ground, even with a high handlebar position. In fact, the Shuttle AM dispatched steeper climbs with ease and without a hint of breaking traction. Simply keep the front wheel weighted, and it’s keen for some serious ascent.
Pivot has managed to bring a very cohesive feel to the bike, so it feels and rides like a Pivot, and the Shuttle LT, to be specific, but it very clearly leans more to the trail/all-mountain genre. That’s not just through lesser suspension, but how that suspension has been designed.
In fact, its suspension kinematic is the biggest difference that sets the Shuttle AM apart from the Shuttle LT. It’s more pedal-friendly as it focuses on efficiency. Because of that, it’s not quite as plush or as chunk-gobblingly composed as its bigger-travelled range mate. There’s a little more harshness when barrelling through technical sections, as it’s a little more conservative with its travel. The bike prefers wise line choice, rather than monster-trucking through. However, its rear end does track the ground rather well. When smashing through roots and fast consecutive hits, the bike stayed true to its line and was rather composed. It’s just when the tech gets larger and faster that the Shuttle AM can begin to feel a little out of its depth.
The overall geometry isn’t one that’s pushing the boundaries of progression, but on an e-bike like this, it’s a great move. The reach, overall wheelbase, and the characteristic chainstay (which is long by Pivot standards) make for a bike that’s a joy to corner. Despite being built with a pair of 29-inch wheels as standard, the Shuttle AM is mighty responsive and relishes tight consecutive turns. And that’s where I found it to really come into its own. Its mass is low, and its overall geometry isn’t particularly lengthy, so it’s happy to be thrown about a bit.
Where the Shuttle AM isn’t all about absolute composure through the roughest of trails, it finds a super comfortable home where flow and milder tech are common. Its suspension provides a solid platform when pumping through rollers and berms, where it rewards with easily regained speed. It’s not completely held back when trails get mega-technical, which adds another string to its quiver; it just requires a touch of finesse when the tracks get more demanding.
That said, it’s solid all-round, as any good all-mountain machine should be. In the straights, it’s stable and comfortable at speed, where the chunky ZEB fork brings plenty of confidence to the front end. Edging towards a 64-degree head angle is a solid move too, as it helps the bike provide solid support when the going gets steep.
So where there is a clear compromise in its composure through tech, the Shuttle AM shows its performance when traversing distance, and taking on a bit of everything, which is what the bike is all about. In that, Pivot has done a commendable job.
Pivot Shuttle AM: early verdict
Where the Pivot Shuttle AM may not be as outright composed through super technical terrain as the Shuttle LT, it carves its own spot in Pivot’s e-MTB lineup for those who aren’t always hunting for gnar. Over undulating trails that don’t require advanced finesse, it manages to hold speed while complementing confidence. It’s an e-MTB that manages to make the most of a trail, rather than absorb all of its features, and if a feedback-rich ride is what you’re all about, the Pivot Shuttle AM is looking like a great high-end choice.
