2023 Pivot Shuttle SL E-Bike Test Ride & Review

Below are links to the products & gear I use everyday! Anything you purchase using these affiliate links to Backcountry .com go directly to support my channel. This is what keeps this channel going and I'm incredibly grateful for your support! Thank you!!

[albunge]

I have a full power EMTB and just bought a Pivot Shuttle SL. Check your local dealer, because Pivot apparently have excess inventory of the blue versions. I got the SLX/XT version for $7200 for an XL. Now for what I think since I have had it for 2 weeks...I may never ride my full power again. I always rode it in eco mode and sometimes it just assisted too much. My primary function of mtn biking is to get exercise (I'm 58 and need all the exercise I can get). I still am riding the Pivot in there version of eco mode 99% of the time, and I live in Colorado and ride at about 9000ft almost exclusively. The feel is much more natural vs my full power (Focus Jam2). Also, at 58, I'm not charging down any hills any more. I'm a trail rider now and an SL is perfect for that! Also in there Eco mode, I rode about 21 miles on the first ride and had 60% battery left, so for sure can get 40 miles on a single charge which is way more than I will ever go in a day.

[thorcat]

All I know is that my Pivot Shuttle allows me to ride up much steeper technical trails and manoeuvre over technical trail features much easier than with a regular bike. I find riding up the trails now is almost as much fun as the always exciting downhill sections. I can go up trails with much more speed and am not redlining my heartbeat rate. I love long bikes and at 5 foot 11 I got the large. Great stable bike that is surprisingly easy to get air on and handles small to medium size drops with ease. Best bike I ever bought. Great review of this light but powerful e-bike. Thanks and yes the display panel needs improvement.

[jdazmtnbkr]

Great Review! Been riding a LEVO SL 1-2 times a week (along with my analog)for the past 3 years & love it! I think the “SL” e-bikes is where it’s at.

[thim]

You have a Garmin right there, I think you can sync the 2 and it will show you percentages and other stuff. On specialized levo and most other ebikes, you can go to settings and change that power take off.

[mikes.]

Solid review as always and I love that you don’t know the e-bike part of what you are riding! More authentic from a person that’s e-bike curious. I have the heckler SL so same motor and battery but on a 150/160 platform and I love it.

[braaap]

Great video Jason! Please do more eMTB reviews! Thanks!

[brianwilliams]

Another thing: with a Garmin (maybe Wahoo also?), you can get a page on your computer that shows exact battery % left and other e-bike metrics.

[Scott_Bishell]

Love your reviews, best on the internet!

[lars_atx]

Great review. I have a Med V2 Switchblade, so appreciate the comparisons. I appreciate the feel and real world use aspect of the review, and not so much the marketing "E" part of it. How does it corner, jump, climb. How long to charge, real world range, etc. I too am 5' 8", 5' 9", and sit right in between sizes on Pivot.

[jasoncapecod]

I was i the fence about them until i rode a trek exe in Moab...Then i rented one in Bentonville for a short stay...I'm totally sold. Only complaint was that my jaw was cramping, from the constant smiling... I'm also a 61 yr old rider, I ride a Ripmo AF..

[brianwilliams]

Another solid review! I got a size Small at 5'7" and with a 50mm stem, it's great for the tighter, twistier trails I ride mine on. Also, the bike has a 65* HTA in the Low setting, which is what it looks like yours is in. You mentioned a 67.7* HTA, which might scare a lot of folks off these days. Great bike!

[charlieharper]

Excellent, first rate video. Motor noise is a deal breaker for me and you covered that. I am going to test ride this bike shortly. It looks like you are in SoCal. Where is this trail at? Looks like a fun ride. I live in the Bay Area and almost all rides are straight up or straight down. I am 5'8" 120lbs so your comments there were very helpful.

[Bessunger]

GREAT Vid, thanks. How does the 150/132 mm travel work in roughr, chunkier terrain? I own a Switchblade and am always amazed how it copes with all immaginable terrain in mid mountains and Alps. Had a '23 Levo SL for two days in Italy, was great, but I felt a lot the 42 lbs compared to the 31 lbs of the switchblade, on the backcountry enduro trails. The Shuttle AM is more like the switchblade re. suspension travel, however, I fear it might be too heavy for my likings. And I do not need the stronger engine... YOUR thoughts?

[bigadventure]

Killer video of you racing down the mountain

[dralexbrothers]

Great review - I have Trek Fuel exe but my acoustic is a Pivot 429. I love the Pivot suspension but I wish the Pivot SL had the TQ motor that Trek has (you can't here it and the range extender is great).

[timc]

great review! You should get your hands on a Santa Cruz Heckler Sl next.

[cantwheelie_rob]

Best bike reviews on YouTube!!
Yeti SB135 next please!

[nickjones]

Couple more years and the Fazua system will be dialed with better display and adjustability
Hopefully they can catch up to specialized on the intergration.
You should review the new Levo SL and see how that compares to the shuttle SL.
I bet you would like the geo on the s3 Levo SL better than the shuttle. I think Spec has the best Geo on there bike’s currently not to long and not to short.

[jlgjavier]

Another great review! I wonder how much less range you will get on a rider that's 200 lbs? Will you be doing a test/ review on the Yeti 160e?

[peterleibrock]

How do you like those wheels? I have a Pro X01 with XM1700 wheels and am wondering if the trade off of ride feel for less weight/snappier acceleration would be worth it? I've read those XMC1501 are pretty stiff?