Review

Pivot Switchblade Pro 29 review – the ultimate all-purpose bike?

26.08.2016
by

Declaring the Switchblade as a ‘next level enduro bike’ might seem like a bold statement from Pivot, but anyone who knows this Arizona-based brand will recognize that they don’t use such hyperbole lightly. So does the new Pivot Switchblade live up to its promises?

Pivot Switchblade PRO XT/XTR 29 | 150 / 135 mm (v/h) | 13,32 kg | 8,499 €
Pivot Switchblade PRO XT/XTR 29 | 150 / 135 mm (front/rear) | 13.32 kg | € 8,499

Before you can properly assess the credentials of a bike, isn’t it right that it’s properly labeled and assigned a category? But, dang, something’s not right here: the Switchblade vehemently refuses to be put in a box. With 135 mm rear travel and 150 mm at the front, it begins to sound like a tame trail bike, but the burly FOX 36 forks are a defiant statement that the bike is capable of throwing itself down the toughest downhills. Plus, when it comes to wheels, you can choose between 29″ and 27.5+. To ensure the BB height isn’t too low when riding with plus-size tires, Pivot delivers the bike with a spacer under the head tube. Interestingly, the same spacer can be used to slacken the head angle when running 29er wheels, which is exactly what we did on our test bike.

Pivot Switchblade PRO XT/XTR in spec

Fork: FOX 36 Factory 150 mm
Rear shock: FOX FLOAT Factory DPS Evol 135 mm
Brakes: Shimano XT
Drivetrain: Shimano XT/XTR
Seat post: FOX Transfer 125 mm
Stem: Phoenix Trail Enduro
Handlebar: Phoenix Carbon Riser
Wheels: Reynolds Carbon 29 Enduro
Tires: MAXXIS HighRoller II 29×2.3
Weight: 13.32 kg
Price: € 8,499

The lively carbon frame has 135 mm of travel at its disposal from the FOX FLOAT DPS.
The lively carbon frame has 135 mm of travel at its disposal from the FOX FLOAT DPS.
The spacer under the steerer tube generates both the right BB height for 27.5+ wheels as well as a slacker head angle if you go for the 29er setup.
The spacer under the steerer tube generates both the right BB height for 27.5+ wheels as well as a slacker head angle if you go for the 29er setup.
The new FOX Transfer seatpost performs diligently, but its 125 mm of adjustment is rather limited for tall riders.
The new FOX Transfer seatpost performs diligently, but its 125 mm of adjustment is rather limited for tall riders.

The rear is where the bike really gets exciting. Even though the dust still hasn’t settled on the Boost rear axle standard, Pivot have taken things a step further by launching the Super Boost Plus 157 axle. By combining the 157 mm width known from downhill bikes with an even wider hub flange than Boost hubs, the new wheels are said to offer all the same advantages as Boost but intensified. So alongside even stiffer wheels, there’s the unashamedly short 428 mm chainstays and tire clearance that will satisfy even the filthiest mud conditions. DT Swiss, Industry 9 and Reynolds are already on board, and SRAM are offering a similar 157 mm hub concept that’s also compatible.

Super Boost Plus 157: The new axle’s name comes with a hint of self-irony, but it hits the mark on the head.
Super Boost Plus 157: The new axle’s name comes with a hint of self-irony, but it hits the mark on the head.
The wider 157 mm rear axle asks for a revised chainline, but there are sufficient options and you can also go for a double chainring at the front too.
The wider 157 mm rear axle asks for a revised chainline, but there are sufficient options and you can also go for a double chainring at the front too.

Geometrie des Pivot Switchblade 29

Size XS S M L XL
Seat tube 368 mm 406 mm 425 mm 457 mm 495 mm
Top tube 550 mm 582 mm 615 mm 635 mm 660 mm
Head tube 85 mm 90 mm 101 mm 108 mm 120 mm
Head angle 67.3 ° 67.3 ° 67.3 ° 67.3 ° 67.3 °
Seat angle 74.7 ° 74.5 ° 74.2 ° 74.2 ° 74.2 °
Chainstay 428 mm 428 mm 428 mm 428 mm 428 mm
BB Height 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm
Wheelbase 1111 mm 1133 mm 1167 mm 1190 mm 1220 mm
Reach 390 mm 410 mm 440 mm 460 mm 485 mm
Stack 600 mm 605 mm 615 mm 620 mm 630 mm

The Pivot Switchblade on the trails

It’s immediately evident on the trail that it’s a concept that rightly deserves a place on bikes. The Switchblade keeps significantly more planted than the shorter-travel Mach 429 Trail. Like its little brother, the Switchblade offers incredible versatility – albeit more towards the downhills. Its long and slack geometry make it hungry for speed, asking you to throw it down trails, while those short chainstays that we mentioned keep it agile and playful. The Switchblade climbs effortlessly for a bike of this caliber and is therefore perfectly suited for long days in the saddle.

Wheelie’ing the Pivot Switchblade is easy, and even with its long frame and big wheels it’s still super lively.
Wheelie’ing the Pivot Switchblade is easy, and even with its long frame and big wheels it’s still super lively.

Stable and predictable but never boring and sluggish, the Switchblade is equally as apt for fast loops after work on mellow, flow trails as well as tackling steeper, trickier terrain. It has an brilliantly chosen spec list with consistency and cohesion: our test bike came with the optional Reynolds carbon wheels with a 28 mm rim width, whose low weight assisted our attempts at speed – but the fairly noisy freewheel remains a question of taste. If you ate all your greens as a kid and grew up tall then you’re likely to prefer a seatpost with more adjustment. On a similar note, the Shimano XT brakes still suffer with the now well-documented inconsistent bite point and the small 160 mm rotors should be swapped for some larger ones. Apart from these minor issues, the specs give absolutely no reason to complain.

The suspension keeps the bike satisfyingly planted to the trail, and there’s the welcoming sense that it easily outclasses its 135 mm of travel when you hitting rough stuff and jumps.
The suspension keeps the bike satisfyingly planted to the trail, and there’s the welcoming sense that it easily outclasses its 135 mm of travel when you hitting rough stuff and jumps.

Conclusion

The Switchblade is a convincing all-purpose weapon that rolls on 29ers or plus-size tires. Traversing trails and enduro-style terrain, the Arizona-born rig is able to master the demands of a multitude of topographies with composure. With its wisely configured geometry and superb suspension, it ranks highly on the list of dream bikes – its price tag might be the only hurdle.

Head to the Pivot Website to find out more about the Switchblade!

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