Coming May 31st, according to Pivot website. Any ideas what it is?
My old Titus Switchblade was one of my favorite bikes ever.
My old Titus Switchblade was one of my favorite bikes ever.
Pivot Switchblade
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BmanInTheD
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2.55kg is 5.62lbsFor the kicks and giggles, my M black frame is 2.55kg (w/ monarch shock, otherwise naked), so 50gr below santa's specs
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Nice short travel, long travel. Do you plan to put 29er wheels on the SB?
Wow. Just ... wow.
This morning at South Mountain, Phoenix. Just missed the "dawn patrol" hours. It was about 90 degrees and super-humid at 6 am when I pulled into the trailhead. Kinda overcast, though, so that helped.
IMG_1005 by dbozman1173, on Flickr
Rode up National Trail to the Buena Vista saddle, then back down, peeling off to drop down Mormon Loop for a change of pace.
I can't find much to complain about, other than the slightly draggy feel of the wheels/tires from a 29er guy. I'm not setting any climbing speed records at this point, but the weather is brutal here and I imagine my body will acclimate to the wheels. Did have a few pedal strikes I wasn't expecting. And I actually did slip a tire, which was unusual (for locals, first big step-up climbing up the Upper Waterfall).
That's really all I've got in the "bad" department. This bike is frickin' dialed. Not gushing yet, but it may actually be the best technical climbing bike I've owned. In Phoenix, particularly on South Mountain, we have a lot of big square ledges, often series of them that require finesse, some ratchet pedaling, track stands, etc.
I don't know what it is -- a combination of unusual frame stiffness, plush initial suspension and lots of traction -- but I actually cleaned every obstacle climbing Lower National today. For some superheroes, not a big deal, but for me it is.
Descending is a no-brainer and super-sorted. Definitely used up all the suspension on some of the bigger drops to flat on Upper National, but the rear ramps pretty nicely.
I'm getting some chain noise at high speed on successive hits, so may try to fiddle with the clutch. That's one area I think Sram beats Shimano is rear derailleur clutch action. Also, I still don't really trust these tires. But to be fair, I rode them exactly like I ride any other tire here and they're still alive, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I think Pivot has a winner here. Super-fun bike. I can't wait to give it a whirl with a 29er wheelset.
IMG_1007 by dbozman1173, on Flickr
(at the Waterfall on National Trail, South Mountain, Phoenix)
This morning at South Mountain, Phoenix. Just missed the "dawn patrol" hours. It was about 90 degrees and super-humid at 6 am when I pulled into the trailhead. Kinda overcast, though, so that helped.
IMG_1005 by dbozman1173, on FlickrRode up National Trail to the Buena Vista saddle, then back down, peeling off to drop down Mormon Loop for a change of pace.
I can't find much to complain about, other than the slightly draggy feel of the wheels/tires from a 29er guy. I'm not setting any climbing speed records at this point, but the weather is brutal here and I imagine my body will acclimate to the wheels. Did have a few pedal strikes I wasn't expecting. And I actually did slip a tire, which was unusual (for locals, first big step-up climbing up the Upper Waterfall).
That's really all I've got in the "bad" department. This bike is frickin' dialed. Not gushing yet, but it may actually be the best technical climbing bike I've owned. In Phoenix, particularly on South Mountain, we have a lot of big square ledges, often series of them that require finesse, some ratchet pedaling, track stands, etc.
I don't know what it is -- a combination of unusual frame stiffness, plush initial suspension and lots of traction -- but I actually cleaned every obstacle climbing Lower National today. For some superheroes, not a big deal, but for me it is.
Descending is a no-brainer and super-sorted. Definitely used up all the suspension on some of the bigger drops to flat on Upper National, but the rear ramps pretty nicely.
I'm getting some chain noise at high speed on successive hits, so may try to fiddle with the clutch. That's one area I think Sram beats Shimano is rear derailleur clutch action. Also, I still don't really trust these tires. But to be fair, I rode them exactly like I ride any other tire here and they're still alive, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I think Pivot has a winner here. Super-fun bike. I can't wait to give it a whirl with a 29er wheelset.
IMG_1007 by dbozman1173, on Flickr(at the Waterfall on National Trail, South Mountain, Phoenix)
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I'm glad the bike is working out so well for you.
I'll be keen to hear what you think of the 29er wheels. That's the format I'm most interested in.
Regarding the unusual wheel slip you had with the 27+ tires...my own 29+ experience has been that some situations where you need the tire to penetrate a slippery surface [ie. mud or dust/sand on rocks, etc...] the lower pressure of a bigger tire can actually work against you for getting traction. You've got more tire, but less force on any one part of the tire trying to get down through the surface.
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Headed up to Oakridge, OR last week and was absolutely ecstatic to see the Pivot demo truck pull into the parking lot. Within 15 minutes I was pedaling around on a medium Switchblade leaving my large Mach 6 with the demo driver.
I must say I was very, very impressed with the bike. Stiff, beefy, and very capable. Had to adjust my riding style a bit back to my 29er riding days to get the longer wheelbase and bigger wheels around tight switchback but this thing just wanted to pop off everything, roll over roots, and rail flat or off camber turns.
I must say I was very, very impressed with the bike. Stiff, beefy, and very capable. Had to adjust my riding style a bit back to my 29er riding days to get the longer wheelbase and bigger wheels around tight switchback but this thing just wanted to pop off everything, roll over roots, and rail flat or off camber turns.
yeah that's with no giant 17 mm headset cup pressed in, no axle, probably no seat collar, or bag
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That is not an easy feat. ti'SSer and the locals I've ridden with love to stop and play on those three (or is it four) tricky sections on the way up Lower National. I have cleaned them all, but not without several attempts and I don't think I've ever cleaned them all in the same ride. Good job. Do you think you were just having a good day or do you credit the bike? Or a little of both?
How was the fit? I know you struggle sometimes with getting the fit right with some bikes. Steeper STA should be a plus.
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I knew you'd get one, Toby! I got one a couple weeks ago but haven't ridden it yet. Hernia surgery and family trip to Seattle. Mine's black/red with the XTR and 29'er wheels, what'd you go with? I wanted the blue/red, small's were all gone in that color. I put a 120mm Fox 34 on my 429Trail and it's a better bike now for the trails around here; quicker and lower with a better seating position.
Brian - I would have bet money you had one too! I got the Black XTR 29er. Did you leave yours stock? What did it end up weighing? I'm going to sell my 429 Trail.. to many bikes.
Kent: To be clear, I cleaned all the obstacles (not including the gatekeeper), but didn't link them. Needed a couple breathers on the way up.
And for all the success on lower, I definitely dabbed a couple things on upper National that I normally clean. Get some, give some.
Based on the heat/humidity and a pretty good digger I took about 10 days ago, I have to give a lot of credit to the bike as I wasn't feeling particularly good.
I really like the fitment. Although it's not a small rig, it FEELS compact and tight. I feel IN the bike perhaps moreso than any other frame I've owned.
And for all the success on lower, I definitely dabbed a couple things on upper National that I normally clean. Get some, give some.
Based on the heat/humidity and a pretty good digger I took about 10 days ago, I have to give a lot of credit to the bike as I wasn't feeling particularly good.
I really like the fitment. Although it's not a small rig, it FEELS compact and tight. I feel IN the bike perhaps moreso than any other frame I've owned.
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Kent,
The SB wins...period. Fastest bike I've ridden up National by far. The 2 rides I have been up National in 29er form I cleaned all the tech spots first try. I can't say the same in 275+ form, but the tires I was running were really heavy and very sticky. With those tires, the bike lacked the quick, snappy feel of the 29er. To be clear I was not on the Recons the bike comes with.
The SB is really a 29er version of the M6 with newer geometry and in a more efficient package. It is the perfect all day bike. It is more bike that the 429 Trail. I find the 135mm of travel to be the perfect one bike quiver. I do find the M6 to have a deeper feeling to the travel and ultimately will be a better bike on Geronimo, Viejo, Alta, etc due to the travel and the snappy, quick handling 27.5 wheels.
The SB in 29er form really has me thinking it's time for a new bike.
I've been riding a MK 2 aluminium Nomad for 4 years and think its high time for a new bike. So far this looks to be the ONE. But before this bike was announced, I was leaning towards a bike with a suspension design like the Remedy. Any particular comments as to how the Switchblade trumps the Reign and Remedy?
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The 7lb 3 oz [7.19lbs] SB scale photo that was posted had no axle either. So you've got a seat collar, the 15mm cup and plastic bag to account for the 1.57lbs weight difference in 29er mode
In 27+ mode the 15mm cup is part of the bike just like the HT's flip chip.
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Yeah, stock so far. Gonna ride the tires and see if I like them, may go to DHF/DHR2 combo. Now it's at 27.5 pounds w/o pedals. Keeping my Trail for a more-fun XC bike with the 120mm fork. It's at 25# and makes a helluva aggro XC bike for Northshore, Boulder, etc when not trying to race Strava.
There's NEVER too many bikes, just not enough time!
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Do you think you'll bother getting a set of 27+ wheels/tires for the SB or just run it as a 29er full-time?
The SB is way more lively than either of my previous bikes. I had the remedy 27.5 and it was alright for climbing, but if you got out of the seat the suspension would wallow and I had trouble clearing sections. The SB I found to be a more fun descender then the reign. The reign was very planted but it also was so long that it was a lot of effort to do any technical switchbacks down or up. I never got on with the maestro as I found it to be super plush and required serious terrain and speed to bring out any smiles. The SB however has me smiling all the way to the top and back down, I've smashed my previous times on some local downhills and have also been able to climb must faster and with less effort
My wife doesn't know how much the bikes are but she can count so I got to keep the number in the garage close to 5! The Trail just never delivered for me, I wanted it to be an enduro race bike (not BME, but local Texas and Arkansas races), but it always just felt like a heavy xc bike with a dropper to me. I'm almost as comfortable descending on my Czar with a total xc setup. I'm not sure if it was the short reach on the Trail, but I think back to my Mach4c and I think I was actually more comfortable descending on that bike. If my SB weighs what yours does (I'm on a medium) then my SB will be the same weight or maybe even under my Trail so I'm hoping for a better race bike that will also be something I can live with on local trails.
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