The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 – In our huge “Best e-mountainbike of 2023” group test

The € 10,999 Shuttle SL Pro X01 combines 150/132 mm of travel at the front and rear. Not only is it Pivot’s first Light-eMTB but also one of the first bikes ever with the new FAZUA Ride 60 motor. How did it fare against the competition in our 2023 eMTB group test?

**Pivot** Shuttle SL Pro X01 | FAZUA Ride 60/430 Wh | 150/132 mm (f/r)
18.7 kg in size L | € 10,999 | Manufacturer’s website

With the Shuttle SL Pro X01, Pivot have finally dipped their toes into the Light-eMTB segment. The Arizona-based manufacturer rely on a compact Fazua Ride 60 motor, which churns out 60 Nm of torque and draws its power from a 430 Wh battery. Pivot wasted no time when developing the Shuttle SL Pro, as one of the first brands to use the new drive system. With its discreet, sleek look, the Shuttle SL strongly resembles Pivot’s analogue trail bruiser, the Switchblade. Alongside its all-round counterpart, the Shuttle LT, it clearly distinguishes itself from its beefier predecessor, the Shuttle AM. With its 150/132 mm suspension setup, it’s Pivot’s shortest-travel eMTB, and also one of the competitors with least travel in our huge eMTB group test. Can it hold its own against strong competition with more travel and power?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2023 – 30 models in review

Stay true to yourself – What makes the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 tick

In keeping with the lightweight concept, the Shuttle SL X01 boasts a sleek silhouette with straight lines and square edged tube shapes. The bright, slightly retro-looking finish underlines the elegant look and, together with Pivot’s distinctive DW-Link rear suspension, gives away the brand behind the bike.

**A match made in heaven**
The light Fazua Ride-60 motor perfectly suits the efficient rear end of the Pivot Shuttle SL.

**From the pound shop?**
The Ring Remote is easy to control but looks and feels cheap, providing poor haptic feedback.

**Finicky**
The charging port is recessed too deeply in the chunky down tube protector, which makes it hard to open.

The Ride 60 motor is integrated into the bottom bracket, and paired with a Fazua RING CONTROL remote on the handlebars and a matching Fazua LED HUB display in the top tube. The latter shows the charge status in 20% increments via LEDs, which change colour depending on the current support mode. A practical USB-C charging port hidden under the display allows you to charge a bike computer or mobile phone while riding. The plastic remote is easy to operate but looks and feels cheap, thus providing poor haptic feedback. The battery is permanently integrated into the frame, meaning that it can’t be removed for external charging.

**Hotter than a pool party.**
The small 180 mm rear rotor overheats quickly on descents.

**A touch of magic**
The DW-Link suspension adds a touch of magic to the conservative 132 mm of travel.

If you’ve already had a look at the spec sheet, you might have noticed that our Shuttle SL Pro X01 test bike is missing the one component that gives it its name: the SRAM X01 drivetrain. Instead, it features a Shimano XTR rear derailleur with XT shifter, which delivers just as excellent performance on the trail, ensuring crisp and precise shifting. Shimano also supply the four-piston XT brakes, which are paired with a 200 mm rotor at the front and smaller 180 mm brake disc at the rear, This tends to overheat quickly, especially with heavy riders. Pivot haven’t fully committed to the lightweight concept after all, with the Shuttle SL Pro tipping the scales at 18.7 kg, which places it in the middle of this test field. The highlight of the spec is the FOX Factory suspension, which consists of a FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and matching FOX FLOAT X Factory shock. Cool detail: to facilitate the suspension setup, Pivot include a small sag indicator on the shock. During this test, we had a few issues with the MAXXIS DISSECTOR tires, which might be a good choice for rocky Arizona trails, but struggle to generate traction in loamier conditions, where tires with a more aggressive profile, like the MAXXIS MINION DHR or ASSEGAI, would be a more sensible option. We would also recommend upgrading to a tougher tire casing, both front and rear, and a softer rubber compound at the front.

**Rubber Downer Jr.**
Robust tires with tougher casing would suit the character of the Pivot Shuttle SL better.

**Japanese work ethic**
As usual, the Shimano XTR drivetrain ensures crisp, precise shifting.

Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01

€ 10,999

Specifications

Motor FAZUA Ride 60 60 Nm
Battery FAZUA Energy 430 Wh
Display FAZUA LED HUB
Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 Kashima 150 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X Factory 132 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 175 mm
Brakes Shimano XT 200/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR/XT 1x12
Stem Phoenix Team Enduro/Trail 40 mm
Handlebar Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon 780 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN EVOLUTION SL A.30 29"
Tires MAXXIS DISSECTOR 3C MaxxTerra EXO/MAXXIS DISSECTOR 3C MaxxTerra EXO 2.4/2.4

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 18.7 kg
Perm. total weight 149 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 130 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Specific Features

Flip-Chip
Toolmount

Tuning tips: Upgrade to more robust tires with a chunkier tread and tougher casing, like EXO+ or DoubleDown, both front and rear and softer MaxxGrip rubber compound at the front.

Flowtrail hero – what is the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 capable of?

If there’s one thing the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 is good at, it’s putting a massive grin on your face on flow trails! The efficient rear suspension provides tons of support, allowing you to generate insane amounts of speed by pumping through rollers and pop off ledges with more confidence than ever. Moreover, the Pivot implements steering inputs willingly and directly, increasing the number of teeth on your face as you flick its rear end from corner to corner. Here the light, fast-rolling tires come in handy, although in flat corners, the hard rubber compound forces you to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking. Together with the Orbea Wild M-LTD, the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 is our favourite bike for flowing trails. But can it hold its own on more technical trails? Here it provides good reserves and tons of progression, making you feel as if you have more than 132 mm on tap, but at higher speeds and with bigger impacts, the suspension provides plenty of feedback, forcing you to hold on tight. For comparison’s sake, the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 offers more trail performance than the SCOTT Lumen but is slightly more demanding than the Trek Fuel EXe, which fall into more or less the same travel category.

**Taking off**
The Pivot Shuttle SL encourages you to pop off every ledge

**Hold on tight**
With bigger hits and at higher speed, the Pivot requires an experienced rider to hold the line.

The firm rear suspension also has its perks uphill, where it works efficiently without swallowing up your energy but at the same time releasing enough travel to absorb nasty bumps and potholes without smashing your sacrum. In terms of efficiency, the Pivot Shuttle SL trumps all other Fazua bikes in this test, but still lags behind the SCOTT Lumen, which employs a TQ motor and is even more efficient. The rear suspension sits high in its travel and yet generates tons of traction, following the contours of the terrain with clinical precision. On steeper climbs, however, you’ll have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking.

Only 132 mm?! The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 efficiently uses every millimetre of travel.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	368 mm	394 mm	432 mm	470 mm
Top tube	598 mm	632 mm	646 mm	660 mm
Head tube	95 mm	112 mm	117 mm	130 mm
Head angle	65°	65°	65°	65°
Seat angle	76°	76°	76°	76.8°
Chainstay	432 mm	432 mm	434 mm	438 mm
BB Drop	27 mm	27 mm	27 mm	27 mm
Wheelbase	1,186 mm	1,223 mm	1,240 mm	1,272 mm
Reach	435 mm	465 mm	478 mm	500 mm
Stack	610 mm	626 mm	630 mm	642 mm

**Helmet** Giro Tyrant | **Glasses** Melon Optics Kingpin | **Hip Pack** CAMELBAK Flow 4 | **Jersey** DHaRCO 3/4 Jersey Bull Ant | **Pants** DHaRCO Gravity Pants | **Shoes** Crankbrothers Mallet BOA | **Socks** Stance Hot Wheels

Who should consider the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 as their next bike and who should look elsewhere?

The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 isn’t a bike for riders who like to just cruise along – it requires an active, experienced rider who knows how to deal with the direct handling and huge feedback while committing to a techy line. If that’s you, you might have just found the ideal companion for your typical, low-mountain home trails. Here the Pivot allows you to generate plenty of speed by pumping through flat trail sections, and the demanding handling and shallow-profiled tires don’t hold you back. Moreover, the stylish retro finish provides the optimal “look at me” factor when heading to the pub for a quick post-ride pint.

Bish, bash, bosh! The direct, precise handling allows you to throw the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 from one corner into the next.

Riding Characteristics

DESIGN

unbalanced
coherent

USER FRIENDLINESS

cumbersome
clever

VALUE FOR MONEY

flop
top

TREKKING & COMMUTING SUITABILITY

low
high

HANDLING

demanding
intuitive

FUN FACTOR

boring
lively

Intended Use

Gravel roads

Technical climbs

Flowtrail descents

Technical descents

Conclusions about the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01

Uphill, the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 convinces with its trademark DW-Link suspension, which makes it the most efficient bike with a Fazua Ride 60 motor in this test. Downhill, it impresses with lively handling and uses its travel efficiently, providing tons of support and making you feel as if you have more than 132 mm of travel on tap. However, inexperienced riders will struggle to hold their line on technical terrain, which is made even harder by the shallow-profiled tires.

Tops

Very efficient suspension
Feels like more than 132 mm of travel
Very precise

Flops

Battery can’t be removed for charging
Tires don’t do justice to the potential of the bike
Demanding handling

You can find out more about at pivotcycles.com

The test field