The Switchblade is a bestseller from Pivot Cycles. It has been completely redesigned and all that remains of the old version is the name and the DW link. The shock is now vertically linked, which allows for more compact frames in the smaller sizes. This design makes them stiffer and lighter and the kinematics more progressive. This means that shock absorbers with steel springs can also be installed. Even XS frames can accommodate a bottle cage with large bidons. The Switchblade is prepared for Fox's Live Valve integration and corresponding equipment variants are available. Versions without this technology have a Fox DPX2 rear shock. These are fitted with custom internals, which will initially only be installed on Pivot bikes. The bike now has 142 millimeters of rear travel. All equipment options come with a Fox Factory 36 with 160 millimetres of travel.

The bike can accommodate 29-inch wheels up to 2.6 inches wide or 27.5+ up to 2.8 inches wide. For the smaller wheels, Pivot recommends moving the flip chip on the rocker to the high position and installing an optionally available higher lower headset shell. This raises the bottom bracket and generally optimizes the geometry. According to the manufacturer, the bike can also be set up with different wheel sizes - 27.5+ at the rear and 29 inches at the front.

Five frame sizes are available. XS should be suitable from a height of around 152 centimetres, XL even for riders up to two meters. The rear frame triangle is identical for all versions. Depending on the size, more or fewer carbon layers are used in the front triangle in order to achieve the necessary stiffness values across the entire range. A straight seat tube that is continuous up to the pivot point of the rocker enables the installation of a telescopic seat post with 175 millimetres of travel, even on the smallest frame size.

First ride report

During the two half days that the Switchblade was tested on Gran Canaria, most of the elevation gain was downhill. The terrain was mostly rough and rough with loose gravel or slippery sand. Just right to test the enduro capabilities of the bike.

Equipment

The tested model was equipped with the "Pro-Kit XT/XTR". The 4-piston brakes are from Shimano's XT groupset, as are the shifters. The rear derailleur comes from the XTR groupset. Some savings were made on the crank: Race Face Aeffect. The wheels, on the other hand, have been given a boost with carbon rims from Reynolds combined with hubs from Industry Nine. The latter are a joy to ride, the fine whirring of the freewheel and the super-direct engagement of the fine gearing are second to none. Thanks to 690 engagement points, an engagement angle of just 0.52 degrees is achieved, resulting in hardly any idle travel when pedaling. The stem, handlebars and grips are completely in-house developments by Pivot and will be sold under the Phoenix brand in the future.

Processing & details

The specially developed chainstay protector with cavities efficiently eliminates noise. Pivot has fitted rubber protectors to almost the entire right-hand side of the rear end. These will be replaced free of charge if they die - as will the dust protection for the rear linkage. The so-called cable ports, which ride the cables into the frame, are all bolted and are designed to provide a secure hold and minimize noise. On the test bike, however, a slight cable rattle could be heard on rough descents.

On the flat

As is so often the case, the bare geometry data is deceptive. According to the paper, size M is quite long, but the riding position is comfortable. Straight ahead, the bike runs very smoothly, when it gets twisty, it shines with a good mix of agility and smoothness. Yes, it's a hackneyed phrase, but sitting up and feeling comfortable is the name of the game with this Pivot. It's nothing new that mountain bikes with a DW-Link rear triangle pedal well and with a neutral drive. This is also the case with this bike, it goes off with a lot of propulsion.

Up the mountain

Moderate climbs are no problem, we didn't have to master any steep ones. Blocky passages can also be ridden at minimum speed. The bike is perfectly balanced, so you would probably easily win at the "Abstiegerlis". But back to the handling: Keeping the cockpit low pays off. It's good if you have a lot of pressure on the front, so the Switchblade climbs quite well.

Downhill

Cruising or heating up? Both are great fun. It's surprisingly easy to get to grips with the bike, so there's no need to get used to it. The setup is not quite as fast. "Set and forget" is not the order of the day here. You should take your time until it fits. Tuning the high-end suspension is worthwhile, as is changing the volume spacers if necessary. The spring characteristic curve has a very high end progression and this is not everyone's cup of tea.

Once everything is perfectly tuned to your personal preferences, you don't have to think about the bike anymore and you can just ride down the trails with a big grin on your face. In Gran Canaria, the gravel often took the test riders off the ideal line, but they never lost control. This is thanks to the potent rear end - which always delivers "plenty of grip" - and the smooth steering behavior that doesn't throw you off track.

Conclusion

The Pivot Switchblade gives you a lot of confidence and is easy to control at all times. The rear end copes well with rough obstacles and landings on the flat thanks to the high end progression. All of this coupled with a very high quality of workmanship and a high-quality and elaborately produced frame makes for a great overall package. There's really nothing to complain about, unless you're picky, in which case you might wish for a higher-quality crank and the elimination of cable rattling.

Recommendation

Who is the bike suitable for? Or more simply, who isn't it for? Downhillers and cross-country racers are out of the question, but everyone else should take a closer look at the bike.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.pivotcycles.com / www.r-cycles.ch