Pivot Shadowcat first ride review: lightly outrageous

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Pivot’s replaced the 5.5 Mach with a smaller, lighter, upright suspension trail killer. Is it enough fun to justify a starting price of over 7 grand? Tim Wild investigates…

  • Brand: Pivot
  • Product: ShadowCat Pro XT
  • From: upgradebikes.co.uk
  • Price: £7,500
  • Tested by: Tim Wild for 6 days
Pivot Shadowcat XT

Three things I liked

  • Incredibly light
  • Playful geometry
  • Short stack and chainstays make for great manoeuvrability

Three things I’d change

  • I’d love wider tyres and rims
  • Two downtube bottle mounts seems pointless – why weaken a fancy carbon frame?
  • Limited colour range (for now) – the Danger Fruit looks great, the Corporate Blue not so much

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Review Info

Brand: Pivot
Product: Shadowcat XT
From: upgradebikes.co.uk
Price: £7500
Tested: by Tim Wild for 6 days
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Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
  • Pivot Shadowcat first ride review: lightly outrageous
  • honourablegeorge
    Full Member

    I wonder how relevant reviews on those dry dusty trails are to most STW readers who are back here sloggin through mud.

    No, I’m not jealous. You’re jealous.

    Nice to see Pivot ditching SuperBoost for this bike also, hope it dies a death everywhere

    Posted 2 years ago
    ChrisL
    Full Member

    Interesting juxtaposition of the “So. Much. Fun.” heading and the following “So. Much. Serious.” photo. :-)

    Posted 2 years ago
    molgrips
    Free Member

    Brand: Pivot
    Product: ShadowCat Pro XT
    From: upgradebikes.co.uk
    Price: £7,500

    No wonder people think they are being priced out.

    Posted 2 years ago
    teethgrinder
    Full Member

    That is terrible VFM

    Posted 2 years ago
    Fat-boy-fat
    Full Member

    Plus no bike for lofty peeps above 6’2″. Booooo.

    Posted 2 years ago
    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    No wonder people think they are being priced out.

    That is terrible VFM

    I’d suggest if Pivot inform your opinion of either of these things the issue isn’t the price. You’re a likely to find a cheap Pivot as you are a cheap Rolex.

    Posted 2 years ago
    argee
    Full Member

    As above, if you’re reading a review for a Pivot, then you can’t really be surprised at the end of it to see a high price tag, the frames are nearly 4k on their own.

    There are markets within markets, and the reality is that those looking seriously at this bike are probably looking at it on a shortlist that’ll include a Santa Cruz, Yeti, etc.

    Posted 2 years ago
    hooli
    Full Member

    Pivot have always been stupid top end price wise, its hardly a surprise when they release new stuff and it’s expensive.

    Posted 2 years ago
    desperatebicycle
    Full Member

    Can I start the use of the phrase “you could get an eBike for that!” please.

    No? ok soz. :P

    Posted 2 years ago
    Akers
    Full Member

    So, like a Santa Cruz 5010, with a bit MORE on everything?

    Posted 2 years ago
    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    Oh needs a check edit BTW…

    tons of travel (up-to-160mm forks, 125mm rear)

    and Float Performance 140mm rear makes the Shadowcat pretty tasty for a trail bike.

    Unless it’s schrodinger’s shadow cat only one of those things can be true.

    Posted 2 years ago
    timnwild
    Full Member

    That’s my fault, that is. Thanks for the spot.

    Posted 2 years ago
    karlp
    Free Member

    Tim, you mention how light the bike is several times, and highlight this as a key feature of the bike, yet don’t share what that bike actually weighed.
    Is there a reason for this?
    Are you able to share the weight of that actual bike?
    Cheers.

    Posted 2 years ago
    Blackflag
    Free Member

    That looks soooo nice and ideal for my riding. Just need to retrain as an IT contractor so I afford it.

    Posted 2 years ago
    Blackflag
    Free Member

    Im not sure about the authors chunky chain necklace though. Does he also sell used caravans?

    Posted 2 years ago
    TheFlyingOx
    Full Member

    Pivot have always been stupid top end price wise, its hardly a surprise when they release new stuff and it’s expensive.

    Maybe not, but when the article states that the Shadowcat seems to be Pivot’s solution to being “worried that the majority of us – the people with regular jobs, and less-than-perfect riding ability, were leaving Pivot out when they thought about their next bike.”

    I doubt anybody with a ‘regular job’ is dropping £7.5k on a bike.

    Posted 2 years ago
    tomhoward
    Full Member

    I doubt anybody with a ‘regular job’ is dropping £7.5k on a bike.

    Wanna bet?

    Posted 2 years ago
    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    “worried that the majority of us – the people with regular jobs, and less-than-perfect riding ability, were leaving Pivot out when they thought about their next bike.”

    Well think of it like this, the evoque was range rover’s solution to the same problem, its still a £32k car.

    Most people spending £8k on a bike won’t see themselves as loaded, they just have a different opinion of normal to you and I.

    There needs to be a lot of black zeros on your bank balance before you start to think of yourself as well off.

    Posted 2 years ago
    mmannerr
    Full Member

    I don’t know about UK prices but my LBS in Helsinki sells the Shadowcat at similar price (~ 6000€) to Specialized Stumpjumper evo Comp or Marin Alpine Trail Carbon 2 in other local shops.

    Expensive yes but in line with other brand name bikes.

    Posted 2 years ago
    ShanAndy
    Full Member

    Can we have tldr for every review? It’s great.

    Posted 2 years ago
    alanclarke
    Full Member

    Nice to have a review that makes me happy with my current bike, and no wish to be poorer – this Pivot sounds much like my four year old trail bike: a touch unfashionably short, but lightweight and fun to ride – though of course mine was half the price of this one

    Posted 2 years ago
    timnwild
    Full Member

    I do indeed. Can I interest you in a 1978 soft-top Bedford Rascal? Never been crashed and only stolen twice.

    Posted 2 years ago
    arkike
    Free Member

    I like when an honest review tell us that a 27.5 wheel bike is actually more efficient and fun than what the market want to tell you is “better”.
    I don’t have so much fun on my 29er than what I have on my 27.5 bike, and mountain bike is all about fun for me. Perhaps for those who race would prefer a 29er.

    Posted 2 years ago
Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)

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