On Tuesday, both Pivot Cycles and Trek released slimmed down versions of their top of the line eMTBs.
Pivot Shuttle SL
Hitting the inbox first in the morning was the new Pivot Shuttle SL. Sitting somewhere on the boundary between the XC and Trail categories, the Shuttle SL weighs in at a relatively svelte 36.25 pounds. The 132mm travel, do-it-all mountain bike is equipped with a 60Nm FAZUA motor hidden just above the bottom bracket and a 430Wh battery nested in the downtube.
The FAZUA Ride 60 motor disengages completely when not in use, making for silent, drag-free operation when unassisted and an abundance of up-tempo, terrain-devouring boost when you need it. The Shuttle SL brings the power to go further, the power to go bigger, with no weight penalty. DW-link suspension, proprietary carbon fiber construction, size-specific chainstays, and super low standover all contribute to the Shuttle SL’s unrivaled performance; an e-bike that could only be the product of Pivot Cycles pedigree.
“The Shuttle SL bridges the gap between an analog bike and an e-bike,” says Chris Cocalis, founder and CEO of Pivot. “It gives you that same dialed in, nimble traditional mountain bike feel while the power characteristics provide that perfect amount of an assistance making it feel like you’re having a really strong day on the bike-only you get to have it every day! We did this by laser-focusing on the strength to weight ratio, geometry and suspension to create an insanely light, yet perfectly powerful e-MTB.”
Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: The Shuttle SL will be available in Desert Sage Green and Blue Denim and can be purchased in either World Cup (Fox 34 140mm fork, DPS shock) or Team, Pro and Ride (Fox 36 150mm E-Tuned fork, Float X shock) builds, and priced from $8,299/8,999€ to $11,999/12,599€. Available now, in sizes S through XL, at key Pivot dealers worldwide.
Trek Fuel EXe
Trek, meanwhile, dropped their latest go at the eMTB market with the Fuel EXe. Like the Pivot, the Trek Fuel EXe sports a highly-integrated mid-motor design.
According to the Singletracks article, the Fuel EXe comes with a 360-watt hour battery (neatly integrated into the downtube) that should cover two to five hours of riding. A 160-watt hour range extender fits neatly inside the bottle cage and can be added for an easy 40 percent increase in range.
Fuel EXe rolls on 29-inch wheels and gets a little more travel than the Pivot, with 140 millimeters of rear travel paired with a 150-millimeter fork. The geometry is fine-tuned for stability on steep, high-speed descents and an efficient pedaling position for climbing.
The Fuel EXe, at 40 pounds, carries a little more weight than the Pivot, but gives out 50Nm of pedal assist power. Some of the weight savings comes from its smaller battery. At 360Wh, it’s around half the capacity of modern e-MTBs that come with 720-750Wh capacity. Still, the TQ drive unit is significantly more compact than other motors too. The compact motor has allowed Trek to make the back end of the bike (chainstays in other words) very normal, at 440mm in length.
Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: I don’t have all of the specifics, but the Fuel EXe does get a wider range of colors than the Trek, and prices start at $6499 USD for a Deore equipped model. The range extends into the stratosphere with an XTR-equipped version priced at $12,999 and a SRAM XX1 AXS-shod model for $13,999.
Which Would I Choose?
While Singletracks gives the nod to the Trek Fuel EXe, I’d personally choose the Pivot Shuttle SL (and hey, if they want to send me one they should HMU!).
The Shuttle SL brings more power and longer battery life in a lighter package. I don’t need the additional travel, and at my age, getting the bike on top of the car is getting increasingly difficult.
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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