{"id":33973,"date":"2022-03-02T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=666841"},"modified":"2022-03-02T19:20:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T18:20:23","slug":"the-pivot-shadowcat-trail-bike-is-poised-to-be-a-genre-blending-quiver-killer","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/the-pivot-shadowcat-trail-bike-is-poised-to-be-a-genre-blending-quiver-killer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pivot Shadowcat trail bike is poised to be a genre-blending quiver-killer\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 02 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Pivot has announced its new trail bike, the Shadowcat, designed with a focus on low weight and versatility across a range of terrain.<\/p>\n

The carbon fibre Shadowcat uses 27.5in wheels, bucking the trend towards 29ers, and sports 160mm of suspension travel<\/a> at the front and 140mm out back.<\/p>\n

Starting at $6,199 in the Race XT build, the Shadowcat will replace the Mach 5.5<\/a> in Pivot\u2019s range.<\/p>\n

Long travel, conservative geometry<\/h2>\n
\""Pivot\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Pivot Shadowcat looks ready to pounce on the trails.<\/span><\/figcaption> Pivot Cycles<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Pivot has stuck steadfastly with 27.5in wheels<\/a> on the new Shadowcat, despite a general industry-wide shift towards 29in wheels<\/a> for most trail<\/a> and enduro<\/a> bikes. The result, according to the brand, is a bike that offers a more playful and agile ride than a 29er.<\/p>\n

The Shadowcat features a 65.8-degree head tube angle and 76-degree seat tube angle. The reach comes in at 460mm on a size medium. Pivot says that, with the geometry of the bike, it was looking to \u201cmeld super-confident handling with lightning-fast reflexes\u201d.<\/p>\n

These numbers initially might not sound particularly progressive on paper compared to the Shadowcat\u2019s competition. There has been a shift to more progressive geometry, which translates to efficient yet confident handling on descents while retaining nimble steering, rather than relying on a shorter reach and longer stem.<\/p>\n

Comparable bikes from other manufacturers include the Santa Cruz 5010<\/a> and Transition Scout<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 5010 features 140mm travel at the front and 130mm at the back, and sports a 65.4-degree head tube angle and a 77.4-degree seat tube angle \u2013 figures that are both slacker and steeper respectively than the Shadowcat\u2019s figures. The reach is slightly shorter at 450mm.<\/p>\n

The Transition Scout is a slightly meatier frame, with 150mm travel at the front and 140mm at the rear. The head tube slackens to 64 degrees and the seat tube is a fraction slacker than the 5010 at 77.2 degrees. The reach is identical in a size medium at 460mm.<\/p>\n

So why is the Shadowcat\u2019s geometry, on paper, more conservative considering it has more suspension travel?<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Shadowcat is designed to combine both the lightning speed and slower hunting prowess of a cheetah.<\/span><\/figcaption> Pivot Cycles<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Although Pivot says the Shadowcat is designed for capability on technical terrain, with its longer suspension travel, the brand says it has also been designed to be efficient and agile for cross-country riding. This is why the geometry may not seem as up-to-date as its competitors on paper, because it\u2019s performing a wider range of duties.<\/p>\n

The Shadowcat will be available in four sizes and has been designed specifically to accommodate smaller riders. It features a low standover due to its vertically mounted shock (more on that shortly), and riders upwards of 4ft 10in will be able to fit the new frame, according to Pivot.<\/p>\n

<\/p>

<\/colgroup>
\ufeffFrame<\/th>XS<\/th>S<\/th>M<\/th>L<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Wheel size <\/b> (inches)<\/td>27.5<\/td>27.5<\/td>27.5<\/td>27.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle <\/b> (degrees)<\/td>65.8<\/td>65.8<\/td>65.8<\/td>65.8<\/td> <\/tr>
Effective seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>76<\/td>76<\/td>76<\/td>76<\/td> <\/tr>
Effective top tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>569<\/td>595<\/td>627<\/td>650<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b> (mm)<\/td>85<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td>130<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>343<\/td>368<\/td>394<\/td>432<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop <\/b>(mm)<\/td>17<\/td>17<\/td>17<\/td>17<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b> (mm)<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover height <\/b> (mm)<\/td>624<\/td>638<\/td>657<\/td>671<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1,142<\/td>1,172<\/td>1,206<\/td>1,230<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>410<\/td>430<\/td>460<\/td>480<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>582<\/td>605<\/td>614<\/td>623<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>