The Pivot Shuttle AM makes a serious case for the title of best all-mountain eMTB with a well-balanced approach. It has power, agility, and performance in spades.
The all-mountain eMTB category has many impressive options to sort through, but Pivot went swinging for the fences with the design of the Shuttle AM. One quick look at the spec sheet of the Pro X0 Eagle Transmission that Pivot sent us for testing was enough to get my mouth watering: Bosch’s CX race motor with a big ol’ 750Wh battery, a full Fox 148/160mm suspension setup, SRAM’s wireless 12-speed drivetrain, and Shimano XT brakes on a carbon frame with 29″ Maxxis tires.
Those ingredients sounded like a recipe for success, but the final product still exceeded my lofty expectations.
The power was terrific – the Bosch motor is punchy in the climbs and can help you get to speed in a blink. It was built for racing, after all. It doesn’t take a racer mentality to appreciate it, though. It multiplies the fun of the ride and enables you to get through climbs that I would otherwise “NOPE!” away from.
The geometry feels spot-on. It’s what you want for a variety of mountain biking applications, and thanks to the flip chip, you can tailor the build to your liking. It can be made into a mulleted-wheel setup while keeping the geometry inline, or you can pick the high or low option if you can appreciate the subtle shift that change makes on the 29ers it comes with.
There’s no such thing as the perfect suspension setup, but the DW-link paired with Fox’s Float system had an impressive feel. The rear triangle feels supportive and efficient when pedaling uphill, but it feels compliant and plush when pointed downhill. No, it’s not the same bomber as the Shuttle LT, but it still does well in point-and-go scenarios over some chop.
Perhaps the most surprising thing was how light and poppy the bike felt. It weighs 50 lbs, which is common for a full-power build. However, the front end felt incredibly light and maneuverable. It was fun to jump with and easy to pull up over technical obstacles on a climb.
There are a couple of nits to pick at, but for the purpose of being designed for an all-mountain ride, it’s one of the more impressive eMTBs our team has ridden all year. The Pivot Shuttle AM is worth recommending to those seeking a jack-of-all-trades mountain bike that rides like a top-tier machine.
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