When I first saw the press release, I figured Pivot had fat-fingered the keyboard and accidentally named its new eMTB the ‘SLAM’. I mean, ‘SLAM’? Sounds like what happens when I forget to unclip. Turns out there’s a dash in there, making it the SL/AM, seemingly a hybrid blend of the brand’s Shuttle SL and Shuttle AM.
The Pivot team have certainly been busy, as this is the Arizona-based brand’s third new bike for 2025. First came the Trailcat, blending the outgoing Trail 429 and popular Shadowcat models. Then came the revised Firebird, the brand’s Enduro race-ready bruiser. And now a brand-new eMTB?! Bravo Pivot, bravo… Let’s take a closer look at this whip now, shall we?
Pivot’s all-new Shuttle SL/AM takes the popular DW-Link suspension platform, and pairs it with the lightweight Bosch SX motor and a 400Wh battery.
An overview of the Pivot Shuttle SL/AM
This isn’t just a Shuttle AM with a fresh motor and battery — Pivot went full reset, heading back to the drawing board and using the same lugged carbon prototype approach they used for the Phoenix and Trailcat to create the new Shuttle SL/AM. We’ve been lucky enough to have a behind-the-scenes look at how the brand completes this process in-house. This is a worthy read for the tech-heads amongst us – check it out here.
Similar to the rest of the Pivot eMTB lineup, the Shuttle SL/AM sports a full-carbon frame, paired with 150mm of rear wheel travel that is controlled via a DW-Link suspension platform. Up front we have a 160mm travel fork, which Pivot has confirmed can not be extended to 170mm.
Please excuse us for a minute while we lift our jaws off the desk – this prototype looks unreal!
The most obvious difference from the Shuttle AM is the inclusion of the Bosch Performance SX motor; the German brands mid-powered drive unit. This sees up to 55Nm of torque and 600W of peak power. This is then paired with a 400Wh battery bolted within the downtube, and is compatible with the Bosch 250Wh PowerMore range extender. We have a full review of the Bosch Performance SX motor, so head over to check out how it stacks up against the competition in the mid-power drive unit battle.
The Shuttle SL/AM is designed to roll on a pair of 29in wheels, with the exception being the XS size, which will come stock in a mixed wheel setup and is not full 29in compatible. That being said, all sizes of the Shuttle SL/AM can be run with a smaller 27.5in rear wheel, and Pivot recommends running the flip-chip in the ‘High’ setting to correct the geometry.
CNC’d alloy lugs paired with custom carbon tubes let Pivot whip up prototypes in a flash — ideal for rapid R&D. But as cool as this early version looks, the production model won’t follow the same recipe.
Where does the Pivot Shuttle SL/AM sit in the brand’s eMTB lineup?
Now that the Pivot Shuttle is available in four variations, it might be a little confusing trying to work out the differences between them. Here’s a brief look at the key specs of each model;
Pivot Shuttle LT | 170/160mm travel, MX Wheels, Bosch Performance CX Race & 750Wh battery, 22.3kg (Team XX)
Pivot Shuttle AM | 160/148mm travel, 29in Wheels, Bosch Performance CX & 625/750Wh battery, 21.7kg (Team XTR)
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM | 160/150mm travel, 29in Wheels, Bosch Performance SX & 400Wh battery, 18kg (Team XX)
Pivot Shuttle SL | 140/132mm travel, 29in Wheels, Fazua Ride 60, 430Wh battery, 16.44kg (World Cup XTR)
So the Shuttle SL/AM, nicknamed by FlowHQ the ‘SLAM’, sits as a lightweight variant of the brand’s do-it-all Shuttle AM eMTB. The travel numbers make it versatile, and with a mid-powered motor drawing less juice, they’ve reduced the battery size to make for a lighter overall package.
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The Bosch Performance SX motor is the key difference between the existing Shuttle AM model, but don’t be fooled, it’s still a punchy little unit.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Geometry & Sizing
Geometry figures are all within a hair of the Shuttle AM, no surprises here given the similarities between the bikes. There is a single geometry adjust flip-chip on the seatstay, which has two positions fittingly names ‘Low’ and ‘High’. This adjusts the head angle by 0.4° and BB height by 5mm, a fairly subtle change in the grand scheme of things.
In the low geometry setting, all five sizes sport the same 444mm chainstay length, 64.1° head angle and 76.5° seat tube angle. Stack heights start at 610mm for the size XS, and grow by approximately 9mm per size up to 657mm on the XL.
New for the SL/AM is an XS size, catering for riders in the 150-163cm height range. This size will come stock in a mixed wheel configuration as mentioned earlier, and won’t be compatible with the wagon 29in sized rear wheel. Due to the reduced clearance within the front triangle, the XS-sized bikes will come stock with a shock without a piggyback, allowing clearance to run the PowerMore range extender.
Geo numbers don’t stray far from the Shuttle AM, but the addition of a XS size is new for the Shuttle SL/AM.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Price & Specs
At launch the Shuttle SL/AM will be available in three different build configurations, with prices ranging from $15,499 AUD for the Ride 70/90 build kit, to $22,999 for the top tier Team XX Transmission build. All three builds will be available in two colours; Brownstone, or Gloss Grey, both fairly classy and a departure from some of the wild colours we’ve seen recently.
We agree, those are some eye-watering price tags, but with Pivot’s being pitched as a premium-level product, we don’t expect them to come in as the cheapest option on the market. Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to swing a leg over the Shuttle SL/AM in the near future to see if they ride as good as they look!
Top-tier build for the Shuttle AL/AM that doesn’t come cheap, and the range extender costs more coin on top.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Team XX Eagle Transmission
Frame | Full Carbon, DW-link Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Drive Unit | Bosch Performance Line SX w/ 400Wh Battery
Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP X2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | Fox Float X, Factory Series, 185x55mm (Fox Float Factory on size XS)
Wheels | Reynolds Blacklabel Trail Pro Carbon w/ Industry Nine Hubs, 29/27.5in (Size XS), 29in (Size S-XL)
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.5in EXO+ MaxxTerra Front, Maxxis Minion DHRII 29×2.4in EXO+ MaxxTerra Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission 1 x12 w/ 34t Praxis Carbon eCranks & 10-52t Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Motive Ultimate 4-Piston w/ 200mm SRAM HS2 Rotors
Bar | Phoenix Race Low Rise Carbon, Width: 760mm (XS), 780mm (S-M), 800mm (L-XL)
Stem | Phoenix Team Enduro, 45mm Length
Seatpost | Fox Transfer, Factory Series, Length 150mm (XS-S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L-XL)
Price | $22,999 AUD
The Pro build is slightly easier on the wallet, and forgoes the fancy carbon wheels along with a few spec changes.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Pro X0 Eagle Transmission
Frame | Full Carbon, DW-link Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Drive Unit | Bosch Performance Line SX w/ 400Wh Battery
Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP X2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | Fox Float X, Factory Series, 185x55mm (Fox Float Factory on size XS)
Wheels | DT Swiss XM1700 w/ DT Swiss 350 hub, 36t Star Ratchet, 29/27.5in (Size XS), 29in (Size S-XL)
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.5in EXO+ MaxxTerra Front, Maxxis Minion DHRII 29×2.4in EXO+ MaxxTerra Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission 1 x12 w/ 34t Praxis Alloy eCranks & 10-52t Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Motive Silver 4-Piston w/ 200mm SRAM HS2 Rotors
Bar | Phoenix Race Low Rise Carbon, Width: 760mm (XS), 780mm (S-M), 800mm (L-XL)
Stem | Phoenix Team Enduro, 45mm Length
Seatpost | Fox Transfer, Factory Series, Length 150mm (XS-S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L-XL)
Price | $19,499 AUD
While certainly not a budget proposition, the Ride 70/90 build is the best value of the bunch.
Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Ride Eagle 70/90
Frame | Full Carbon, DW-link Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Drive Unit | Bosch Performance Line SX w/ 400Wh Battery
Fork | Fox 36, Performance Series, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | Fox Float, Performance Series, 185x55mm
Wheels | DT Swiss Hybrid H1900, 29/27.5in (Size XS), 29in (Size S-XL)
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.5in EXO+ MaxxTerra Front, Maxxis Minion DHRII 29×2.4in EXO+ MaxxTerra Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission 1 x12 w/ 34t Praxis Alloy eCranks 160mm & 10-52t Cassette
Brakes | SRAM DB8 Stealth 4-Piston w/ 200mm SRAM Centreline Rotors
Bar | Phoenix Race Low Rise Alloy, Width: 780mm (XS-M), 800mm (L-XL)
Stem | Phoenix Team Enduro, 45mm Length
Seatpost | TransX YSP23GLS, Length 150mm (XS-S), 170mm (M), 200mm (L-XL)
Price | $15,499 AUD
The post First Look | The all-new Pivot Shuttle SL/AM eMTB gets the Bosch SX treatment appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.
When I first saw the press release, I figured Pivot had fat-fingered the keyboard and accidentally named its new eMTB the ‘SLAM’. I mean, ‘SLAM’? Sounds like what happens when I forget to unclip. Turns out there’s a dash in there, making it the SL/AM, seemingly a hybrid blend of the brand’s Shuttle SL and Shuttle
The post First Look | The all-new Pivot Shuttle SL/AM eMTB gets the Bosch SX treatment appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike. Read More Flow Mountain Bike
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