Pivot's Switchblade is a razor-sharp tool to cut it at the highest level

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Arizona-based Pivot Cycles is a company that's been gaining more and more attention thanks to the stylish riding and top results of team riders Bernard Kerr and Elliot Jackson aboard the super lightweight Phoenix downhill bike.

Pivot's range of trail and enduro bikes is less well known about, but this is likely to change with the release of its first 29er and 27.5+ models. The new Switchblade gives the versatility to run either wheel size in the same frame and promises to be a one-bike-does-it-all machine for enduro or serious trail riding.

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Pivot Switchblade highlights:

• Designed to fit either 29in or 27.5+ tyres
• Longer and lower geometry than Pivot’s previous bikes.
• Short chainstays for snappy handling
• 'Super Boost' Plus 157 hub spacing for improved tire clearance and stiffness
• 135mm rear travel and 150mm forks
• XTR/XT build – £5000 with alloy wheels or £5900 with carbon wheels (see below for further details and international pricing)

So what is there to get excited about the new Switchblade then? Lets start with the frame. The carbon front end is paired to a one-piece carbon rear triangle with a double wishbone, which Pivot claims provides excellent stiffness.

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In geometry terms, it’s bang up to date and combines super short 428mm chainstays with reach measurements of 390-485mm across five sizes, so riders of almost all heights are catered for. The idea of the short back end is to keep the handling sharp while providing the stability at speed of a more spacious cockpit.

At 340mm, the bottom bracket, and therefore the centre of gravity, is super low, so the bike should feel like it’s cornering on rails. There is no adjustable geometry, but a 17mm lower headset extension is included to raise the BB height while using 27.5+ tyres or slacken the angles of the 29er.

First ride impressions: likeable and capable in either 29er or 27.5+ mode

Models, pricing & availability

UK pricing:

• £5000 for the build with DT Swiss XM Series alloy wheels
• £5900 for the addition of Reynolds carbon rims laced to Industry-Nine hubs, with graphics to match the frame

US pricing:

• Switchblade XTR Team 1x $8,399
• Switchblade XTR Team 2x $8,699
• Switchblade XTR Team Di2 1x $9,299
• Switchblade XTR Team Di2 2x $10,099

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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