Switchblade Carbon 29 XT Pro 1x Mountain Bike - 2017
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Once relegated to industry fiction and our own daydream fantasies, long-travel 29ers have officially become not only the stuff of reality, but the norm. This transition has only happened over the past few years, so we’re still adjusting from hoping to expecting; however, that didn't stop Pivot Cycles from raising our still-nascent expectations even more with the Switchblade Carbon 29 XTR 1x Complete Mountain Bike. The all-mountain bar for 29ers is already set pretty high, but the Switchblade raises it by a measure of 9mm, 12mm, or 16.85in, depending on where you take the measurement.
If you were to start at the root of the change (our preferred method), you'd highlight the number nine first, as in: The Switchback's Super Boost Plus 157 rear axle adds 9mm to the standard Boost axle spacing, bringing it up from 148 to a gravity-inspired 157mm. This change's most tangible on-trail effect comes in the form of the number 12, as in: The Switchblade's Super Boost rear axle nets 12 additional millimeters of tire clearance. That lets Pivot shove the rear wheel up even more than a standard Boost axle, chopping the chainstays down to a mere 16.85in while allowing 27.5+ or (as is the case here) 29in wheels and preserving a Q-factor on par with typical 5in bikes.
The Super Boost axle's additional real estate also makes for a still stiffer spoke bracing angle, which conspires with a double wishbone rear triangle and Phoenix-inspired clevis to stiffen both the pedaling interface and the linkage design. This makes the rear triangle more resistance to torsional flex, which increases pedaling efficiency and decreases the stress put on the pivot bearings. It's easier on your legs and on the hardware you rely on to bail you out of situations where overly ambitious line selection lands you in water that's just a little too deep.
The rest of the geometry is similarly capable. Where the concise back end makes for a sharp knife while dicing rooty sections, the relatively steep head tube and low bottom bracket height make for a slack, low chassis that further contributes to DH stability. Despite the frame's big-line parachute qualities, its seat tube sits relatively steep, keeping you forward and on top of the pedal stroke while climbing. Compared to Pivot's Mach 429 Trail frame, the Switchblade is slacker up front and steeper in the seat tube, perfecting the art of aggression whether you're climbing out or dropping in.
Of course, an impressive launching pad is no use if you're just tossing paper airplanes off of it, so Pivot spec'd the Pro 29er build to take flight. The build kit strolls straight passed the hang-on-the-wall-and-admire tier of components, opting for XT M8000, which is Shimano's one-by version of a wilderness survival hatchet: durable, simple, and effective at what it does. The drivetrain is finished with a Race Face Aeffect SL crankset, which is ubiquitous for a reason, and the reliable imprimatur of DT Swiss on the wagon wheels themselves. A stealth-routed KS LEV dropper puts the cherry on the, err, hatchet, because an overly ambitious trail adventurer can't live on slack head tubes alone.
Details
- A 29er that defines the crossroads of trail and enduro
- 135mm of DW-Link suspension keeps pedaling sharp
- Long, slack geometry bails you out on bigger than expected lines
- Super Boost rear axle adds DH aggression to the rear triangle
- Linkage inspired by Pivot's gravity machine, the Phoenix
- Fast-rolling wagon wheels maintain pressure on ups and downs
- Item #PIV002Z
- Frame Material
- carbon fiber
- Suspension
- DW-Link
- Rear Shock
- FOX Float Factory DPS EVOL Kashima
- Rear Travel
- 135 mm
- Fork
- FOX Factory 36 Float Kashima
- Front Travel
- 150 mm
- Headset
- Pivot Precision Sealed Bearing
- Shifters
- Shimano XT M8000 (right-only)
- Front Derailleur
- n/a
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano XTR
- ISCG Tabs
- yes, ISCG 05
- Crankset
- 30 t Race Face Aeffect SL
- Bottom Bracket
- PressFit 92
- Cassette
- 11 - 42 t Shimano XT M8000
- Brakeset
- Shimano XT M8000
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Handlebar
- Phoenix carbon riser
- Handlebar Width
- 740 mm
- Grips
- Phoenix lock-on
- Stem
- Phoenix Trail Enduro
- Saddle
- [sizes medium, large, x-large] WTB Vigo Race, [sizes x-small, small] WTB Hightail
- Seatpost
- KS LEV Integra dropper
- Wheelset
- DT Swiss XM
- Hubs
- DT Swiss Star Ratchet freehub
- Front Axle
- 15 x 110mm Boost QR thru-axle
- Rear Axle
- 12 x 157mm Super Boost Plus 157 thru-axle
- Tires
- Maxxis High Roller II TR
- Tire Size
- 29 x 2.3 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- trail, all-mountain
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 3 years on frame
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