Bike Review:
Pivot Switchblade Version 2
Ultimate lightweight trail ripper?
Riding this bike it was a bit obvious what was different on some of the newer bikes I have ridden and I am sure the next generation is around the corner. Looking over this bike and some other bikes from 2020 it’s funny how they were ahead on the Mullet idea but behind on size specific rear center, seattube and head angle. Climbing the seat angle was obvious but while a 66.5 or 66 head angle may not be where some other brands are, or were, its more dependent on what you’re looking for and the short chain stays add to this feeling of playfulness and agility.
Geometry:
The Reach is a pretty standard 470 or 475 millimeters for a size large. That is a number I can get behind but a lot of newer bikes will be longer. The short 627 or 630 stack is helpful to keep weight on the front wheel with a seat tube angle at 75.5 or 76 degrees, but not generally what I’m looking for. As I said The head angle is on the steeper side at 66.5 degrees and 66 and with the super short 431 or 430 chain stays that all adds up to a wheelbase of just 1216 or 1215. The geometry lends itself to a more XC feeling quick and snappy ride.
Climbing:
I took this bike out for a rip at Apex Park in Golden, CO. This Trail in the heat of summer tends to be extremely hard pack with gravel as well as some more technical rocky moves. Last time I rode this trail I was on the new Trek Fuel EX and it will be good to see how they compare. It was immediately apparent the Pivot was efficient. After bouncing around on the coil for a parking lot test I was surprised how stiff the suspension felt when pedaling. This was great as I knew I would be struggling to keep up with my sea level lungs.
After a couple switchbacks I was able to get a feeling for how the switchblade likes to turn. It does require a bit more weight on the front than the Trek but with the lower stack height surprisingly short wheelbase it wasn’t hard.
There are a couple moves on this climb that really require keeping the pedals going on some good size boulders. This was probably where I struggled the most and the Switchblade did not seem to want to help. I continually broke traction which made the effort that much harder. After the initial climb, things get mellower and again the DW link provided an efficient platform to finish out the climb to the top.
Overall, focusing on Traction, efficiency,and Switchbacks for a climbing grade. I would give this bike a A for efficiency but was definitely harsh under my butt. Traction was not where I wanted it to be, so I’ll give it a B. Finally the short wheelbase made quick work of some tighter switchbacks even if it did require me to shift more weight forward, so a B+ for switchbacks.
For the seasoned rider that doesn’t want the upright climbing position of some newer bikes this will feel fine, but for the rider already struggling there are other options out there.
Descending:
The Pivot Switchblade is a light and snappy descender. It rewards a lot of input from the rider and likes to pick out smooth and fast lines. You’re not going to want to pull and pray with this bike, but it pops off side hits and boost jumps giving you that feeling of going twice as high. The suspension can feel harsh when things get rowdy and you may not want to blindly huck into a rock garden.
I also had some time on the Switchblade coming off of Georgia pass into Breckenridge. This is a rather chunky and fast descent. Riding the Switchblade reminded me more of the Trek Top Fuel rather than the Fuel EX. It was great for getting up the Pass but left me wanting more on the descent. Overall the Pivot Switchblade is a fun, quick handling bike that likes sliding corners and bouncing around the trail.
Who’s this bike for?:
Trail riders looking for a snappy ride or XC racers that want more travel. I can definitely see this bike being good for long rides on terrain that is a bit mellower. Pivot’s desert surrounding seam to come through with this bike. The stiff pedaling platform is quick out of the corners and loves ascending hard park and rock. This is a bike that will require more from the rider on technical terrain but if you want something that feels fast and goes when you stand on it the Pivot Switchblade is your bike.
Final Thoughts:
To me this is a racer’s trail bike. It has the travel but rides like you’re in a hurry. The stiff carbon frame and DW suspension give you everything you put into the bike. However, when things get rocky and fast you may find yourself slowing down and letting the bike catch up. When descending the suspension does a good job on getting off the ground and likes to move about the trail but can feel overwelhmed in the rough. Climbing is efficient but requires more weight on the front when things get steep and the stiff platform struggles for traction when things get technical. Often bikes are a product of their surroundings and I think that is the case here or just a product of the time. Bikes continue to evolve and I’m interested to see what direction the next generation of switchblade goes.
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