By Dean Hersey

Published: Thursday, 01 September 2022 at 12:00 am


Pivot unveiled its first electric mountain bike in 2017 with the launch of the Shuttle (now labelled the Shuttle AM), before bolstering its ranks with the lightweight Shuttle SL in August this year. Now the brand has unleashed the long-travel Shuttle LT as part of its eMTB line-up.

This addition to the range takes inspiration from Pivot’s non-motorised enduro bike, the Firebird. Sharing a similar profile, the pedal-assisted Shuttle LT wears a 170mm fork and gets 160mm of travel in the rear. The frame cradles a Shimano battery and EP8 motor.

The Pivot engineering team claims the Shuttle LT is race-ready but capable of every-day riding. “We really pulled out all the stops with the Shuttle LT. This bike has the heart for enduro racing and is still the bike you’ll want to ride every day,” says Chris Cocalis, Pivot founder and CEO.

Pivot Shuttle LT frame and suspension details

""
All Pivot full-suspension bikes use the DW-Link suspension platform.
Pivot

The carbon fibre frame gives an impressive claimed weight of 22.5kg (49.8lb) in the Team XTR trim. It’s available in four sizes, small to extra-large, and two colourways, ‘Bass Boat Tri-Tone Blue’ or ‘Northern Lights Green’.

All Pivot full-suspension bikes use the DW-Link suspension platform (named after the suspension engineer Dave Weagle) to control the 160mm of travel.

""
The compact frame and vertical rear shock arrangement gives clearance for a water bottle.
Pivot

The shock sits vertically in the frame for a compact frame design, allowing a decent standover height and a full-sized water bottle to be accommodated.

Although only available with a Fox Float X air shock, the Shuttle LT is coil-shock compatible.

You’ll also find ‘Super Boost’ 152x12mm rear-axle spacing, first introduced on the Pivot Switchblade, to reportedly bolster rear-wheel stiffness.

Pivot Shuttle LT battery and motor details

""
The Shuttle LT uses Shimano’s popular EP8 motor.
Pivot

This eMTB shares the popular Shimano EP8 motor with its smaller-travel stablemate, the Shuttle AM. However, the battery size in this new bike increases from 726Wh to 756Wh. In addition, it’s slung lower in the down tube, aiding removal and enhancing the handling, according to Pivot.

The charging port sits on the non-driveside of the seat tube above the motor. The system is customisable via Shimano’s E-Tube app to suit your local trails and range preferences.

Pivot Shuttle LT geometry

""
Pivot says the Shuttle LT is an eMTB ready for riding hard.
Pivot

Because this bike mirrors the capabilities of the Firebird, you can expect plenty of room, with a long reach, slack head angle for attacking steep technical descents and an extended chainstay length to provide stability at speed.

The flip chip comes installed from the factory in the low setting and gives riders a 64-degree head angle. Changing it to the high setting steepens it by half-a-degree, adds 0.5mm to the bottom bracket height and pushes the reach out by a few millimetres.

The Shuttle LT can be run as a mullet bike. Swapping for the mixed-wheel setup will slacken the head angle and drop the bottom bracket, calling for the flip chip in the high position.

LOW SETTINGSMLXL
Seat tube length (cm)37404347
Top tube length, effective (cm)60.5636566.9
Head tube length (cm)11121314
Head tube angle (degrees)64646464
Seat tube angle, effective (degrees)76.576.57777.5
Chainstay length (cm)44.144.144.144.1
Bottom bracket height (cm)35.235.235.235.2
Bottom bracket drop (cm)22222222
Standover height (cm)68.66969.269.3
Wheelbase (cm)123.4125.7128.2130.8
Stack (cm)63.564.465.366.2
Reach (cm)44.546.848.851
HIGH SETTINGSMLXL
Seat tube length (cm)37404347
Top tube length, effective (cm)6062.364.567.2
Head tube length (cm)11121314
Head tube angle (degrees)64.564.564.564.5
Seat tube angle, effective (degrees)76.576.57777.5
Chainstay length (cm)43.943.943.943.9
Bottom bracket height (cm)35.735.735.735.7
Bottom bracket drop (cm)16.916.916.916.9
Standover height (cm)68.66969.269.3
Wheelbase (cm)122.9124.5128.1130.7
Stack (cm)63.16464.965.8
Reach (cm)44.947.149.151.4

Pivot Shuttle SL specs and prices

""
The Pivot Shuttle LT will be available in two specs.
Pivot

The Pivot Shuttle SL will be available in two variations at launch: the Ride SLX/XT and flagship Team XTR.

The Team XTR comes with a Shimano XTR/XT drivetrain and brakes, while the Kashima-shod Fox Factory 38 fork and Fox Factory Float X shock take care of the suspension duties.

As the name suggests, the second-tier Ride SLX/XT also utilises Shimano kit to cover both going and stopping, with the Fox suspension components coming from the less expensive Performance range.

Pivot Shuttle LT Ride SLX/XT

""
Pivot Shuttle LT Ride SLX/XT.
Pivot
  • Fox Performance E-Tuned 38 170mm fork
  • Fox Performance Float X shock
  • Shimano SLX / XT drivetrain
  • Shimano SLX 4-piston brakes with Galfer 223/203mm rotors
  • DT Swiss M1900 29 inch wheels
  • Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5 TR EXO+ 3C front and rear
  • £10,000 / $9,899 / €9,999

Pivot Shuttle SL Team XTR

""
Pivot Shuttle SL Team XTR.
Pivot
  • Fox Factory E-Tuned 38 170mm fork
  • Fox Factory Float X shock
  • Shimano XTR/XT drivetrain
  • Shimano XTR 4-piston brakes with Galfer 223/203mm rotors
  • DT Swiss HX1501 29 inch wheels
  • Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5 TR EXO+ 3C front and rear
  • £12,000 / $11,999 / €11,999