Pivot Switchblade Pro XT/XTR
By launching an all-new sequel to its popular predecessor, Pivot has their fans world over excited about the launch of the new Switchblade. The genre bending original opened riders’ eyes to the possibility of a true all-in bike, switching from 27.5+ to 29” wheels along with geometry that pushed the conventional norms, they produced a bike that would take riders everywhere from after work spins to Enduro World Series stages. In launching the all-new Switchblade with a completely redesigned DW-link suspension layout, has Pivot been able to hit that all mountain sweet spot again? Or has the need to satisfy so many different scenarios produced a bike that makes too many compromises to please everyone? Let’s take a closer look.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The first thing you notice on the new Pivot Switchblade is the new shock orientation, Pivot has finally given in after years of slinging the rear shock horizontally mid-frame, it’s now placed it in the similar spot to nearly all of its competitors, running parallel to the seat tube just above the bottom bracket. While aesthetically it may start to look like some of its competitors, there are so many benefits to this configuration that it’s surprising it has taken this long for it
