REVIEW: Pivot Switchblade V3 First Ride 10

Chris Cocalis first introduced the Switchblade in 2001 as the do-it-all all-mountain bike under his brand Titus. 23 years later, the Switchblade is now in its third iteration as one of the most popular models in the Pivot Cycles lineup. The same goal of creating the ultimate all-mountain bike still applies today, but the intended use has expanded further into gravity-oriented performance with each iteration. Upon the second redesign, the Switchblade received high praise from Vital in 2020 for its highly active suspension, light feeling on trail, and confidence-inspiring geometry. Rather than re-invent the wheel, for 2024, Pivot wanted to build on prior success with a refined, next-generation bike. 

Highlights

• Full carbon frame
• 29-inch wheels with mixed wheel compatibility
• 142mm rear wheel travel // 160mm fork travel
• Geometry flip chip
• DW-Link suspension platform
• Size-specific rear center
• Internal cable routing with modular ports
• Pressfit 92 bottom bracket
• Super Boost+ 157mm rear spacing w/ 12mm thru-axle 
• 10-year warranty
• Molded frame protection
• Pivot Dock tool system
• Five size options - XS, S, M, L, XL
• UDH compatible
• Measured weight (size XL, no pedals): 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg) 
• MSRP: $6,399 - 11,599 USD — Tested, Pro XT/XTR Build with carbon wheel upgrade - $8,999 USD)

Overview

Leading up to the press camp, I wanted to revisit the outgoing Switchblade and re-familiarize myself with how it rides to draw comparisons between the two bikes. After two weeks aboard the old bike, I took a trip down the street to Pivot headquarters for a tour around the facility to gain some insight into their development process and get the new Switchblade out on the trails I ride daily. For this article, I'll primarily refer to what changes I noticed compared to the outgoing model. 

I felt a heightened sense of confidence diving into turns at higher speeds than I would have on the previous Switchblade

Descending Performance

As mentioned, the changes made to the Switchblade are primarily downhill performance-focused. The result is, unsurprisingly, a bike that is far more comfortable at speed. Coming off the old bike, the two most noticeable differences were a more planted rear wheel and increased front-wheel traction when pointed downhill. Rear wheel tracking across chatter and successive hits is excellent, and I felt a heightened sense of confidence diving into turns at higher speeds than I would have on the previous Switchblade. Still, the increased stability doesn't take away from the snappy handling the old bike is known for; the ability to tighten up turns at a moment's notice is still very much there. My body position on the bike felt more in the middle than before but still slightly rearward. The growth in chainstay length put the rear wheel in a more predictable spot for my size XL test bike and provided more room to lean back into than on the old bike. 

 

 

Pedaling Performance

When it came time to climb back to the top, the benefits of the revised geometry and axle path carried over into pedaling performance. From the first spin up the fire road at South Mountain, power transfer felt as direct as it did on the old bike with no loss of energy over small bumps. There was an improved performance over more significant bumps and ledges which resulted in a less interrupted cadence than before. Compared to the V2 Switchblade, the front wheel was easier to hold down when climbing steep pitches but could lift easily to maneuver ledges while the rear wheel remained glued to the ground. The seated pedaling position is slightly more upright than before, but it still warrants a higher cadence to maximize efficiency; grinding up climbs with less momentum resulted in a more spotty cadence with a bit more bob than when mashing. I found the pedaling performance most beneficial for covering ground quickly. 

Build Kit

My test bike came spec'd with the Pro XT/XTR build kit and the carbon wheel upgrade option, retailing for $8,999. The build kit features Shimano Deore XT 4-piston brakes with 200mm front and 180mm rear centerlock rotors mounted to DT Swiss XMC 1501 wheels wrapped in 2.4" Maxxis Minion DHF/DHRII tires in the EXO+ MaxxTerra compound. The drivetrain is a mix of a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed shifter, cassette, chain with an XTR derailleur (the only XTR part on the build), and RaceFace Aeffect crankset. Suspension is a 160mm FOX Factory 36 with Grip 2 damper and 44mm offset and Float X shock. A 200mm FOX Transfer dropper post clamps to a Pivot-branded WTB Pro level High Tail Trail saddle with chromoly rails. Pivot's own Phoenix components are found in the form of an 800mm carbon handlebar, 45mm stem, full waffle grips, seat clamp, and headset. The complete bike without pedals weighed in at 31.5 lbs, which is pretty impressive for a size XL.

Long-Term Durability

The most overlooked part of Pivot's bikes could be their long-term durability. The level of attention to detail Pivot goes to is painstaking, but for good reason. During the visit to their headquarters, Founder Chris Cocalis shared some examples of the quality control process their frames go through in-house and how they relate to manufacturing processes overseas. Cocalis explained how heavily Pivot emphasizes precision manufacturing and how they have gone above and beyond what many other brands do to ensure a controlled manufacturing process from square one. With high torque values on all bolts, aerospace-grade material bearings, and the alignment of their frames being a top priority, I sensed no durability concerns at any point of the frame. Regarding components, the FOX Transfer post was the only concern in my mind, as they have commonly had questionable durability in recent years. Aside from that, the build kits offered all seem to carry the same durability-minded approach when it comes to components. 

What's The Bottom Line?

The Switchblade is a ton of fun to ride; it has a playful feeling that pairs excellent bump absorption with plenty of support and traction on tap. The changes Pivot made from the previous generation bike have succeeded in improving downhill performance while maintaining the attributes associated with the Switchblade as a light-footed trail bike made to tackle any terrain. Body position on the bike is more comfortable than before for descending but considers a wider range of use for seated pedaling. I found the bike to be great for covering a lot of ground quickly, whether going flat out across rolling singletrack, navigating awkward climbs, or throwing the bike into aggressive descents and seeing how late I could brake. The bargain hunter or penny pincher will probably pass on the Switchblade with a starting price of $6,399. For those less constrained financially, the Switchblade is a great option for anyone who wants efficiency out of a daily driver while holding onto the ability to hit the park on occasion without feeling under-gunned. Visit www.pivotcycles.com for more information on the Switchblade.

View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the new Pivot Switchblade in the Vital MTB Product Guide.

About The Tester

Jonathon Simonetti - Age: 30 // Years Riding MTB: 21 // Height: 6’4” (1.93m) // Weight: 230-pounds (97.5kg)

Jonny started mountain biking in 2003 after a trip to Northstar showed him how much more could be ridden on 26” wheels than on a BMX bike. He began racing downhill in 2004 and raced for 12 years until ultimately deciding having fun on a bike was more important than race results. After working as a mechanic in the industry for a few years and developing a deeper understanding of bikes inside and out, he has an aptitude for pairing his riding ability with the analysis of bikes and breaking down what makes them work well. He spends most of his time between trail rides and skatepark sessions, with occasional days on the downhill bike.