Pivot Shuttle AM Review | The All-Mountain Gold Standard?

The Pivot Shuttle AM looks, and more importantly, feels like a premium ride.

The frame is made of carbon, which makes it relatively lightweight with the motor and battery it’s packing. It weighs around 50 lbs, but it feels lighter on its feet than that. It moves easily on technical trails. I was a little surprised carbon wheels didn’t come on our Pro build, but I didn’t find myself needing them, at least regarding weight-related concerns.

The DW-link suspension is known for being supportive on climbs and pliant on the downhill. Sure, some say efficiency in climbing isn’t as big of a deal with an e-bike, but you can still feel the difference since the DW-link largely staves off pedal kickback. Overall, it’s just a smooth and comfortable ride.

The Fox Factory 36 and Float X shock are great-quality components with earned reputations. They keep things comfortable, and the 148/160mm of travel they provide helps you tackle a wide variety of trails and terrain in relative comfort. Overall, you will want to steer clear of the most extreme chunky stuff if you’re flying downhill, but if that’s your appetite anyway, then the Shuttle AM LT with its Fox 38 and 170mm travel is likely more up your alley.

The bike has a slack head tube angle (64.1°) and a steep seat tube angle (76.4°). These added to the stable feel for descending, but it still puts you in a solid position for climbing well. The stack height (651mm)felt taller than similar-sized frames we’ve ridden, too, which helps you feel a bit more upright and comfortable. There is a flip chip for low or high settings. I largely kept it in the low setting, but the chip will help should you opt for a mullet setup.

The Shuttle AM shines in corners. The bike has shorter chainstays (444mm) than I expected, which gives it nice maneuverability around tighter tracks and berms. I also liked the traction and feel of the 29″ Maxxis tires through the turns—great traction from start to finish.

The Shimano XT 4-piston brakes have wonderful stopping power. They keep the ride under control when navigating winding switchback-filled descents, and with a tight squeeze of the trigger, they can also bring you to a halt in a hurry.

The cockpit is inviting. It’s clean and uncluttered, and I’m a fan of a wide 800mm bar, long reach (480mm), and higher stack height (647mm). It makes me feel like I can control my weight distribution pretty well throughout the ride, which further reinforces a planted feel on trails.