Pivot Shuttle SL: 60Nm, 430Wh, 16.5kg, £12.5k

The Pivot Shuttle SL has not been the most under-wraps ebike of 2022. Keen e-peepers out there will have seen it popping up on various social media fe …

By mark

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Pivot Shuttle SL: 60Nm, 430Wh, 16.5kg, £12.5k

Yet another stupidly over priced bike.

Can you do a review of the cheaper version ie the one that people might be able to afford ie £3k ?

Yet another stupidly over priced bike.

It’s not over priced, they’ll sell every one they make. Whether everyone can afford/justify one is another matter.

Can you do a review of the cheaper version ie the one that people might be able to afford ie £3k ?

Lolz.

Base model is £8.5k.

Honda Rally 300, 20.1kw, 26.6Nm, 153kg, £6.4k
https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/adventure/crf300-rally/specifications.html

It’s not over priced, they’ll sell every one they make. Whether everyone can afford/justify one is another matter.

Ok fair point if they sell them all they are not over priced, just a ripoff/value for money as muted by RustyNissan’s post.

This is what put me off buying STW, they only review the most stupidly expensive bits of kit.

This is what put me off buying STW, they only review the most stupidly expensive bits of kit.

‘our bike came equipped with SRAM AXS, Factory Fox and finishing kit made from the tears of a unicorn’ 😂

To be fair £3k buys you an enduro bike weighing possibly more than this ebike so look at it like that and it’s good value, less than £10k for a motor weighing 0g!

When we go to buy a bike we search out reviews of it and demo it etc so if a magazine is going to write a review of something random I’d take this over a Bossnut for example, far more interesting

If a car mag reviews a Dacia and a Tesla I know which one I’ll read first

Honda made a $5.5 billion dollar profit last year. Now I don’t know how much Pivot made, but with their rip off prices, it would be more than that, right?

Honda made a $5.5 billion dollar profit last year. Now I don’t know how much Pivot made, but with their rip off prices, it would be more than that, right?

Obviously, because a tiny volume MTB company is directly comparable to the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, not to mention the car side, lawnmowers etc etc etc.

Honda Rally 300, 20.1kw, 26.6Nm, 153kg, £6.4k

Ducati V4 Superleggera, £90,000.
https://www.dmcmoto.co.uk/detail/2020-ducati-superleggera-v4

Top of the range things are expensive shocker.

I do wish people would stop with the ‘you could buy a car/motorbike/small house for that!’ arguments, you can say that about anything that’s in the top few % of the price range – watches, computer graphics cards, etc.

If a car mag reviews a Dacia and a Tesla I know which one I’ll read first

Me too. I’m never going to buy a Tesla, so why do I care what it’s like?

This is what put me off buying STW, they only review the most stupidly expensive bits of kit.

Whilst this isn’t entirely true (recent Decathlon jacket being a good example), I’m going to say that I have some sympathy with this. I absolutely get that there’s an ‘aspirational’ angle to these kind of reviews, which is fine, but more reviews of actual stuff people might actually buy would be a welcome addition.

If a car mag reviews a Dacia and a Tesla I know which one I’ll read first

I dont disagree that you need balance of reviews to work out if the expensive bike is worth the premium over the cheaper. But this mag only ever reviews the expensive and never balances it with the affordable.

Honda made a $5.5 billion dollar profit last year. Now I don’t know how much Pivot made, but with their rip off prices, it would be more than that, right?

So are you suggesting that because Pivot are a small company they have developed a bike with a big margin to up their profits?

Its the equivalent of Ferrari in some ways, everyone knows it doesnt cost £3m to make a Ferrari, but they keep the numbers low, and the prestige high so certain people will buy.

Not many people can afford a Ferrari (Pivot at £12k) but there are much much much cheaper alternatives at a fraction of the cost that do 95% of the same job.

But this mag only ever reviews the expensive and never balances it with the affordable.

This, and every other mag/youtuber, can only review what the manufacturers offer them for review.

But this mag only ever reviews the expensive and never balances it with the affordable.

I don’t think they get a choice as to which model they get sent for review… And as with any review models (cars, motorbikes, cycles) the manufacturer will normally send out a high end model to show the best of the new tech off.

Look at any car review. It’s never the base model that’s reviewed, it’s at least the mid-high model, often with all the options ticked.

However – it doesn’t matter really. In this instance, the base frame/motor/suspension design is the same, so what if it’s got blingy components bolted into it?

Similar to the 12k specialized ebike I do wonder what value the company is putting on the frame/brand, as when you remove the components costs your still left with a 6-7k frame. Considering a ‘standard’ pivot frame are around 4k, a grand for a batty and another for the motor still seems excessive to me.

I’d love an ebike, but the lack of frame kit or frame only options means I’ll not be able to buy one. I generally build bikes component by component and upgrade the frame every 3 years or so, as it works out more economically viable for me.

Honda made a $5.5 billion dollar profit last year. Now I don’t know how much Pivot made, but with their rip off prices, it would be more than that, right?

But that’s not the point being made, it’s why can’t ST seem to cover better value kit.

I’m sure the Honda would be ruinously expensive if they made a carbon frame and built it with CNC’d aftermarket everything too. But then MCN still review the £6k one you can buy on the shop floor.

When we go to buy a bike we search out reviews of it and demo it etc so if a magazine is going to write a review of something random I’d take this over a Bossnut for example, far more interesting

Is it though?

If the interest is that it’s supposedly the bleeding edge of tech, then the engineering really needs to go further than mentioning a brand name for the parts and a few buzz words. Just as I’d be more interested to see how Dacia managed to knock several thousand pounds off the RRP of a Renault by attention to details than some overgrown manchild packing their 800 words of copy with more superlatives about how fast a tesla goes in a straight-line (a teardown of the motors and battery on the other hand …) .

And as with any review models (cars, motorbikes, cycles) the manufacturer will normally send out a high end model to show the best of the new tech off.

Brands would love to send out more bikes with bottom end kit to review… but then some reviewers would focus on the short comings of that kit ($350 shock not as controllable as a $850 shock etc) rather than the bit that is unique to the brand and common through the range of build options… ie the frame.

But in this case… this isn’t a review, or even a first ride, or a quick look… just news of a new bike. There’s no getting past the price of these bikes though. Even given everything costing more that goes into making them.

So why not review this bike along side something like an Orbea Rise H15 ? (which is still a pricey bike) but less than half the price of this bike.

Orbea Rise H15: 60Nm, 540Wh, 20.0kg, £5.5k

That would make for an interesting review. Would 4kg justify the increased price and less powerful battery ?

‘Hello Orbea, we’d like to do a comparison review of your £5.5k bike with a £12.5k Pivot, to see which is best, you game?’

‘Errr’

I don’t think they get a choice as to which model they get sent for review

I don’t buy this. If STW decided they were going to do a, say, ‘get into biking with our entry level hardtail test’, or a “where would we put our £2k Cycle to Work money” type feature, and approached the brands with that, they would definitely be given stuff to test as the brands have those bikes to sell.

‘Hello Orbea, we’d like to do a comparison review of your £5.5k bike with a £12.5k Pivot, to see which is best, you game?’

That’s about as missmatched as the average ST grouptest TBH.

So why not review this bike along side something like an Orbea Rise H15 ?

A very good idea.

But this here little bit of news isn’t a review.

Oh, and the Rise has been covered a lot by Singletrack. Didn’t Mark single it out as his game changer bike of the year type thing?

‘get into biking with our entry level hardtail test’

Isn’t Ben doing a piece on how cheaply you can get into mountain biking, riding a real mountain route? There was a news story showing the affordable bike and explaining the plan.

I’d love an ebike, but the lack of frame kit or frame only options means I’ll not be able to buy one.

Pole do one, the new Bird/Ethic will be available as one, some shops are selling Specialized frame kits. They are out there. Or buy the base model, sell all the bits you don’t want and build as you like, over as long as you like, seeing as you’ll have a functioning bike rather than a pile of bits waiting to be finished.

Isn’t Ben doing a piece on how cheaply you can get into mountain biking, riding a real mountain route? There was a news story showing the affordable bike and explaining the plan.

Ah, really? Well, fair enough then.

**EDIT – I found it, and good on him/them

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/q-how-much-to-start-mountain-biking-a-605-00/

I don’t buy this. If STW decided they were going to do a, say, ‘get into biking with our entry level hardtail test’, or a “where would we put our £2k Cycle to Work money” type feature, and approached the brands with that, they would definitely be given stuff to test as the brands have those bikes to sell.

Yes that’s true, but for new model launches, all the press outlets generally get sent the same model, with no choice as to which one they receive.

I will say though that the price of top end ebikes is getting a bit ridiculous – but then pivot bikes aren’t exactly at the ‘budget’ end, the switchblade starts at £5700 ffs. Top model is £9k.

I’d love an ebike, but the lack of frame kit or frame only options means I’ll not be able to buy one.

Commencal do some as well but prices have gone up (I paid 2.5k including import duty for frame, e8000 motor, 504wh battery, charger 18 months ago)
https://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=3717857

It’s still not going to be cheap though. Wouldn’t be suprised if even the Bird frame only option is upwards of 4k. After 3 years when you come to sell, the warranty will have expired (motors aren’t generally serviceable or repairable) and the battery will be quite worn, so the frame/motor/battery isn’t going to be worth much.

I’ve bought a cargo ebike recently, and the hub motor and battery seem a lot cheaper and easier to deal with.

motors aren’t generally serviceable or repairable

Most are. It’s just shimano ones that aren’t.

After 3 years when you come to sell, the warranty will have expired (motors aren’t generally serviceable or repairable) and the battery will be quite worn, so the frame/motor/battery isn’t going to be worth much

The key thing I think, is will you be able to buy a replacement motor on its own? and for how much? (for what would then be 3+ year old tech). That risk and potential cost is part and parcel of buying a used MTB, meat or electric.

Would love to see the working for why the battery will be worn after 3 years. Say 150 cycles from full to 20% cpaacity, with slow recharging. Why would that wreck it? or is there something in emtb motor tech I am missing?

The key thing I think, is will you be able to buy a replacement motor on its own? and for how much? (for what would then be 3+ year old tech).

I did. Was £375, direct from Specialized (in return for the knackered motor) with a 2 year warranty.

Isn’t Ben doing a piece on how cheaply you can get into mountain biking, riding a real mountain route? There was a news story showing the affordable bike and explaining the plan.

Which is fair enough, but the way it’s written makes it sound like a Top Gear challenge rather than a proper review of the best bikes in the £600-£1200 bracket.

I guess I’m just annoyed that I’m too old for mbuk, too bored of the 12month cycle of MBR articles, and too alienated by ST. Where’s the articles for the 99% of people who will never buy an ebike or AXS/Di2 and just want to rag their £1k bikes up and down hills?

Price is an issue in every avenue of life, it’s just priorities or lack of cash that change our buying preferences. I’ve had people going on about the madness of me spending 5k on an ebike, whilst they drive their 30k plus car, or go to disneyworld for a holiday.

No matter how many times i think that bikes are too expensive, i’ll still see lots of people on top spec levos or kenevos at FoD each week, as well as many other bikes, i’d love to have something like this Pivot, but family and funds just don’t stretch to that, so the giant will have to last another couple of years, or do the usual and in one months time break down after the warranty ends 😂

but more reviews of actual stuff people might actually buy would be a welcome addition.

But people do buy them and people reading STW buy them. Plenty of expensive ebikes amongst the readership.

Where’s the articles for the 99% of people who will never buy an ebike or AXS/Di2 and just want to rag their £1k bikes up and down hills?

All the articles that aren’t about new bikes – which was most of them in the last mag…..

But people do buy them and people reading STW buy them. Plenty of expensive ebikes amongst the readership.

There’s a handful of people I’d recognise as regular posters on e-bike threads. But the PSA: Bargain fork/jacket/helmet/shoes threads still seem more popular.

I just don’t get the ‘I can’t stand STW because they dare acknowledge that there are expensive bikes and people do buy them’ mindset. I have no intention of buying one, but enjoy reading the reviews.

Where’s the articles for the 99% of people who will never buy an ebike or AXS/Di2 and just want to rag their £1k bikes up and down hills?

thats the forums…

weekly riding pic thread, route discussions, how do I fix this bike from 2009.

But the PSA: Bargain fork/jacket/helmet/shoes threads still seem more popular.

They’re for stuff that’s discounted normally, not just ‘here’s a really good value (at RRP) product.’

I have no intention of buying one, but enjoy reading the reviews.

Exactly. I quite enjoyed watching the test drive of the new £2m Ferrari Daytona SP3. I doubt I’ll ever be in the position to own one… 🤣

Personally, I don’t read the mag as I find it quite boring.

I don’t read the reviews of bikes like this as its just another E-bike with a hefty price tag. Means nothing to me. I popped in here as I wanted to see how many posts before someone said How Much!?!?!…

I read the one recently about the Nukeproofs, as thats interesting to me to see what kit you get on a bike that won’t normally have a rediculous price tag attached to it.

Whilst 12.5 k a lot of cash, if you think that’s over priced then don’t look at the price of a top end road bike. 12.5k gets you a top end tarmac. It has no motor, no suspension, no fancy dropper. In fact it actually costs about a grand more than if you bought all the parts individually at rrp.

I’ve had people going on about the madness of me spending 5k on an ebike, whilst they drive their 30k plus car, or go to disneyworld for a holiday.

What’s the going rate of raising a kid from 0-18? £100k+? And plenty of people have more than one of those. But that’s another thread.

Whilst 12.5 k a lot of cash, if you think that’s over priced then don’t look at the price of a top end road bike. 12.5k gets you a top end tarmac. It has no motor, no suspension, no fancy dropper. In fact it actually costs about a grand more than if you bought all the parts individually at rrp.

The top end Tarmac is the most common bike in my Saturday riding group – 4 of them IIRC. Quite a few have been ‘upgraded’ as well..

I’m merely on a mid range £7k Orbea Orca….