SHORT TERM REVIEW: PIVOT’S REDESIGNED SHUTTLE LT POWERED BY BOSCH

 

When MBA’s wrecking crew reviewed Pivot’s Shuttle LT, they were impressed by the bike’s well-rounded aptitude, not just for descents but also for its ability to scale seemingly impossible climbs. It was a great all-around long-travel eMTB, but then along came Pivot’s Shuttle AM shortly after—a bike so good that, in the eyes of our test crew, it stole the LT’s thunder. Pivot clearly thought along similar lines because they have revamped the Shuttle LT, giving it a new Bosch motor, mixed wheel setup, and other minor updates that may seem small on paper but out on the trail add up to a surprisingly new feel.

One of the biggest changes on the Shuttle LT is the addition of a Bosch drive unit. However, unlike the Shuttle AM, where you can choose between the standard Bosch Performance Line CX motor or the lighter and faster limited-edition Race version, the LT is available with Race spec only.

Since this bike is essentially a Firebird with a motor, Pivot wanted to make it as fast as possible, so all Shuttle LT builds (Ride, Pro, and Team) are spec’d with Bosch’s fastest and most powerful system.

All builds also come equipped with an integrated 750-watt-hour battery, fully compatible with Bosch’s 250-watt-hour MorePower range extender ($500) for a total of 1,000 Wh of available power.

Like Bosch’s other systems, this one is fully tunable via Bosch’s Flow app. The app allows the user to select four modes from a total of eight available modes. This bike also features Bosch’s new wireless remote and a small, top-tube-integrated display for a very clean-looking cockpit.

Like the previous Shuttle LT, this version has a full carbon frame, but it looks sleeker and more svelte than the Gen One version. Pivot says they spent a lot of time tuning the ride quality of the frame to ensure it’s not too rigid and matches more closely to that of its non-pedal-assist sibling.

The most visually noticeable update comes in the form of a more vertical shock orientation that aligns with the seat tube angle. Previously, the lower shock mount was positioned a bit forward due to motor packaging constraints, but the new Bosch unit alleviates this, giving the bike more uniform and eye-pleasing lines.

Pivot could have easily changed the geometry when updating the frame to integrate the Bosch motor, but everyone seemed happy with what they had, so they kept it the same. The flip chip still exists, and since the bike is now spec’d with a 27.5” rear wheel, it is delivered in the high setting. In this mode, most key numbers are identical to the previous 29” wheel spec’d model in low mode, such as the 64-degree head angle, 76.5-degree seat tube angle, and 468mm reach in a size medium.

Chainstay lengths differ slightly due to the flip chip being in the high mode, coming in at 439mm across the frame size range, but if you put it in the low setting, it’s right back to the original’s 441mm. And yes, you can put a 29” rear wheel on the bike, switch the flip chip to low mode, and ride it in that configuration.

All cables are internally routed through the frame using Pivot’s cable port system—no headset routing here, thankfully. Full-size water bottles fit inside the frame on all sizes, and there is an accessory mount under the top tube for Pivot’s Phoenix Dock line of tools or anything else you want to put there.

The Shuttle LT still has 160mm of dw-link rear wheel travel. The lower link remains the same, but the upper has changed to retain the suspension kinematics with the reoriented shock. Pivot still claims that dw-link shines when you put more power into it—particularly on an e-bike. They say that compared to a four-bar link design that tends to squat more and require more compression damping, dw-link relies on its pivot placements to counteract this squat, allowing them to run lighter, more active shock tunes.

Pivot’s Pro Shuttle LT builds feature either a Fox Factory Float X paired with a Fox Factory 38 GRIP X2 170mm travel fork. Team builds have the same fork but feature a Factory Float X2 shock spec. Both Pro and Team builds can be upgraded to Fox’s new Live Valve NEO DHX rear shocks for an additional $1,500. Ride builds feature a Fox Performance Float X and the Performance 38 GRIP 170mm travel fork.

The three Shuttle LT builds range in price from $8,699 for the Ride SLX/XT spec to $12,999 for a Team XX Eagle Transmission setup. They all feature Shimano brakes with Galfer rotors, DT Swiss wheels, and Pivot’s own Phoenix cockpit components.

One key spec to pay attention to is the Continental Kryptotal tires. The front is a 2.4” wide spec, while the rear is a fatter 2.6”. This has been the go-to setup for many at here at MBA on eMTBs.

SHORT TERM REVIEW

We have been riding the new Shuttle LT hard for two months now. Initially, expectations were that it would be similar to the old version because they are not all that different. However, everyone who rode both bikes was shocked at the difference in feel.

Bosch’s Race motor is still impressively fast, and the extended boost is incredible in technical climbing situations. With the added power of the motor and the mixed wheel configuration, the bike has a lighter, snappier feel.

It’s almost as if the battery is smaller and lighter because it seems easier to flick from side to side on the trail and has a lower center of gravity. Descending performance is a touch above the old version, mostly due to the mixed wheel configuration and tire spec but also due to the lighter, lower center of gravity feel.

The 2.6” rear tire offers a lot of grip, and the bike snaps through corners quicker than before. The bike also has a more refined ride quality that reminds us more of the Shuttle AM than the old LT. From a ride-feel perspective, the new bike feels like it lost three to four pounds, but it didn’t.

Climbing performance is still excellent—the suspension is quiet under power yet active enough to provide grip and control while pedaling in the saddle. We spent a lot of time with Fox’s new Live Valve Neo DHX shock on this bike and were quite impressed with its performance—even on an e-bike where the climbing advantages aren’t as necessary.

Yes, it climbs a bit better with Live Valve, but the system offers other benefits elsewhere on the trail, such as air shock-like support at times and plush coil shock sensitivity at others—all on the same ride without having to adjust anything. We gravitated towards the Plush tune most of the time.

We are still putting the Shuttle LT to the test. Look for a long-term review in Mountain Bike Action, where we’ll share all our thoughts after a few more months of testing.

For more information on the Shuttle LT, please visit https://www.pivotcycles.com/en/