Traditionally, when invited to take a look at the newest Pivot mountain bike in Tempe, AZ I’ve discovered myself packing to navigate the extreme warmth. Which is why this time round, I discovered it notably odd to be stressing about what chilly and moist climate gear to deliver.
By this level, you most likely know that Pivot has a new Switchblade. Not sure of what to anticipate out of a motorcycle that had simply relaunched a couple of years in the past, I dumped all my rain gear right into a bag and headed off to Phoenix.
After a manufacturing facility tour tried to delay the inevitable, we set off for our first journey straight from Pivot’s headquarters in Tempe to their native testing grounds – South Mountain. The skies seemed promising, and as we pedaled our method up the mountain, I used to be capable of begin specializing in the bike. Air down the tires. Verify the suspension. Regulate saddle place.
From my first impressions (which in typical Pivot style, got here earlier than we had been advised something concerning the new bike), the seat tube angle felt noticeably steeper than the prior model. It seems that it’s 1º steeper, however to me it looks like extra. To me, the dimensions medium STA feels steeper than the Yeti SB120 that I’ve been driving, however each have an efficient STA of 76.5º on paper. For me, the STA is lots steep however I’m additionally on the small facet of a medium body, that means my efficient seat tube angle might be steeper than somebody driving a medium with the put up prolonged additional.
Earlier than lengthy, I had issues fairly properly dialed and we had made stable progress up the climb. And that’s when the skies opened up. It was mild at first. Then got here and went, earlier than opening up right into a full deluge that remodeled the paths into their very own little rivers. Thankfully, the rocky & sandy trails are constructed to shrug off the occasional downpour, however it did present us with fairly an fascinating descent.
Rapidly, you might now not see the path in spots. It was only a string of puddles with no indication of how deep they could possibly be. Having simply ridden up the path I had some concept of what to anticipate, however it was nonetheless an train in fast decision-making whereas squinting to see via the barrage of water.
The storm didn’t final all that lengthy, however it helped create a long-lasting impression of the bike. Within the second, compelled to resort to my lizard mind, there wasn’t time to assume. In that scenario on a totally new bike, it might go considered one of two methods – it might really feel utterly pure and cozy, or it could possibly be alien and not sure. The Switchblade was the previous.
Thankfully, our second journey on the bike was in a lot higher circumstances. This time we headed out to the Hawes path community for a day of true hero filth. Simply the most effective filth circumstances I’ve ever skilled within the Phoenix space, the journey began off cool however completed almost good with blue sky.
On this journey, pondering was now not a luxurious and I used to be capable of concentrate on how the bike was performing. Most noteworthy to me was how properly the Switchblade climbed up tight switchbacks. Driving in a bunch at all times features a little bit of yo-yoing, and that potential bunching might be difficult on a good switchback. Even in these technical conditions, the Switchblade is extremely poised.
Going sluggish or quick up the climbs, it didn’t appear to matter. The entrance wheel appeared unflappable, and the rear wheel actually did appear to ‘dig’ into the terrain, propelling you ahead. Greater than as soon as I obtained right into a scenario the place I felt a dab was inevitable, solely to pedal via and carry on going.
With a head tube angle of 65.7º, it’s solely 0.3º slacker than the earlier technology. However the attain has additionally elevated by 15mm on the medium. The mixture makes for a pointy dealing with bike that’s nonetheless utterly assured in awkward tech sections of path. To me, the geometry strikes a stable stability for all-around mountain biking which is what the Switchblade is supposed to be. That is speculated to be that one bike which you can head out for some XC missions at some point, whereas hitting up the bike park the following.
By the previous couple of lengthy descents of the day, I used to be feeling extra assured on the most recent Switchblade than any of the earlier generations. Regardless of being stiff in all the proper locations with razor-sharp dealing with, the most recent Switchblade is a motorcycle that appears to be extremely user-friendly.
At this level, I’ve ridden all the previous Switchblades, and there’s no query that that is the most effective but. Followers of inner storage might be upset, however the Pivot Dock System does offer you a further spot to stash your instruments. On the plus facet, the body will match a big water bottle simply, and with out a particular cage.
Finally, the brand new Switchblade isn’t an enormous departure from the model launched in 2020, however it has the proper updates to maintain it aggressive. It won’t be sufficient of a change to tempt present Switchblade house owners to improve, however those that do are absolutely getting a greater bike.
