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2020 Pivot Switchblade Pro XT/XTR 29 (product)

Vital MTB's 2016 Bike of the Year went to the previous Pivot Switchblade. How do you improve on that? Give it a few years and some fresh ideas. With 142mm of rear travel and 160mm up front, this all-new 2020 version one-ups its predecessor pretty much across the board. Join Vital MTB's Produc...

Posted by bturman on 2/3/2020 3:47 PM

The Good:

~ Easily over-forked, to 150-160mm ~ Climbs stepped, rock faces like a Boss
~ Sends five foot drops to flat, without issue
~ Potential to build 26-pound Trail rocket
~ One of the toughest carbon fiber frames in the industry
~ Begs to be ridden fast and hard

The Bad:

~ Your skills will need to catch up

Overall Review: I have tested a whole gaggle of bikes: 1) Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2) Yeti SB95c 3) Ibis Ripley v.4 4) Pivot Mach 429 Trail 5) Trek Remedy 9.9 6) Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1 7) Transition Scout 8) Kona Process 134 9) Rocky Mountain Slayer MSL When the smoke cleared.... on...

Posted by Zachariah on 11/5/2019 8:19 AM

WTB Ranger Tires (product)

Intense Launches the 2020 Primer in Three Wheel Size Options (feature story)

Posted by sspomer on 8/20/2019 7:59 AM

2017 Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Expert 6Fattie E-Bike (product)

2017 Pivot Switchblade Team 29/27.5+ XTR 1x (product)

Maxxis Chronicle 27.5+ / 29+ Tire (product)

Super Serious: Meet the All-New 2019 Pivot Firebird 29, Featuring Eddie Masters (feature story)

Posted by bturman on 6/20/2018 1:03 AM

2019 Pivot Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR 1X (product)

Pivot's Mach 429 Trail was born from cross-country roots with a hint of some big bike influence. During a previous Vital MTB Test Sessions it wowed us with its incredible sense of efficiency and playful, spritely, rocket ship feel, but it often fell behind when trail conditions got hairy. New ...

Posted by bturman on 5/16/2018 6:20 PM

Making the Pivot Switchblade in Aluminum - Sea Otter Classic (feature story)

Posted by bturman on 4/25/2018 4:59 PM

2016 Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon CC X01 29 (product)

Shift in Perception (feature story)

Posted by iceman2058 on 10/31/2017 5:17 AM

2017 Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon C S 29 (product)

SO ELECTRIC (video)

SO ELECTRIC Rider: Piotr Szwed Szwedowski Location: Srebrna Gora / Poland bike: Specialized turbo levo fsr

Posted by Piotr_Szwed Szwedowski on 9/18/2017 8:07 AM

Have you seen many + / plus bikes on the trails? (forum topic)

Posted by sspomer on 6/21/2017 7:17 PM

2017 Sea Otter Classic Pit Bits (photo album)

Posted by FredLikesTrikes on 4/25/2017 2:33 PM

2017 Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol Race with Pistola Setup (product)

The Good:

Geometry; Suspension kinematics; High quality, USA made aluminum frame

The Bad:

The small spacer used for the top bolt on the ISCG tabs; Cockpit feels short at first, but only when seated

Overall Review: I just can't believe how much fun I have had on this bike! The Trail Pistol climbs really well, making easy work of ascents. The steep seat tube angle puts you over the pedals making it easy to climb incredibly steep pitches. Seated, there is no noticeable pedal bob, and the heavily d...

Posted by benthandlebars on 4/6/2017 1:13 PM

Santa Cruz’s Hightower was just released a year ago, benefiting from the company's continued refinement of the VPP suspension system. It combines 135mm of travel with 29-inch or 27.5+ wheels to create a bike that can take on a wide variety of terrain while keeping up speed and staying as efficie...

Posted by bturman on 4/6/2017 12:27 PM

"Why does the guerrilla fighter fight? We must come to the inevitable conclusion that the guerrilla fighter is a social reformer, that he takes up arms responding to the angry protest of the people against their oppressors, and that he fights in order to change the social system that keeps all h...

Posted by bturman on 3/1/2017 10:33 PM

Full Rigid at Mammoth & Big Bear - The Wildman Ain't Scared (video)

Legendary BMX ripper, Todd Lyons, shows off the capabilities of the SE Racing OM-Duro bike, the first 27.5+ BMX bike.

Posted by sspomer on 1/11/2017 8:35 AM

2016 BIKE OF THE YEAR - Vital MTB Shreddy Awards (video)

2016 Bike of the Year: Pivot Cycles Switchblade Picking just one bike to rule them all is no easy task, but our team of testers spent hundreds of hours riding the latest and greatest two-wheeled steeds over the past twelve months enabling them to do just that. Which one came out on top? 2016's...

Posted by sspomer on 12/29/2016 11:17 AM

The Good:

Want to ride like an EPO junkie that lives at 10000' elevation racing at sea level, this is the bike.

The Bad:

Lots of diehard MTBrs hate electric bikes.

Overall Review: Federal law defines ebikes with a CONTINUES max power output of 750 watts,and 20MPH top speed with NO PEDALING with a 170# rider input as a bicycle. See 15 U.S. Code 2085 Low-Speed Electric Bicycles (B) for exact definition details. So in consulting with my attorney/friend, his professional opin...

Posted by dirk.diggsbabs on 11/8/2016 7:30 AM

EUROBIKE - 2017 Enduro and Trail Bikes (photo album)

Posted by sspomer on 9/1/2016 2:16 PM

First Look, First Ride: 2017 Devinci Marshall (feature story)

Posted by FredLikesTrikes on 8/30/2016 3:00 PM

Beware, It's Getting Weird Out There (feature story)

Posted by sspomer on 8/29/2016 11:36 AM

New 2017 Formula Linea Wheels for 29, 27.5 and 27.5+ (video)

Formula has launched a new line of mountain bike wheels dubbed Linea. The range features aluminum rims for 29-inch, 27.5-inch and 27.5+ tire options with both Boost or standard hub spacing and SRAM XD or Shimano driver availability. Formula Linea 2 Wheelset The Linea 2 wheelset is an XC/all-...

Posted by sspomer on 8/26/2016 8:20 AM

PIT BITS - New 2017 Products from Crankworx Whistler (photo album)

Posted by bturman on 8/22/2016 2:13 PM