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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2023 – 30 models in review
All bikes in test: Berria Mako Hybrid GT LTD (Click for review) | Bulls SONIC EVO SL EN-1 (Click for review) | Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1 (Click for review) | Flyer Uproc X 9.50 (Click for review) | Focus SAM² 6.9 (Click for review) | Focus JAM² 6.9 (Click for review) | Focus Jam² SL 9.9 (Click for review) | Forestal Siryon Diōde (Click for review) | Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Ltd (Click for review) | Haibike Lyke CF SE (Click for review) | Ibis OSO (Click for review) | KTM Macina Prowler Exonic (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975 (Click for review) | Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-Team (Click for review) | Orbea WILD M-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 | Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR (Click for review) | Radon Deft 10.0 (Click for review) | Rotwild R.X735 Ultra (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Heckler MX XO1 AXS RSV (Click for review) | SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL (Click for review) | Simplon Rapcon Pmax TQ (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo Expert (Click for review) | Transition Repeater AXS Carbon (Click for review) | Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS (Click for review) | UNNO Mith Race (Click for review) | Yeti 160E T1 (Click for review)
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Words: Felix Rauch Photos: Peter Walker