Wil tests the new Pivot Trailcat
A brand new model for 2025, the Pivot Trailcat represents the amalgamation and evolution of the previous Trail 429 and Shadowcat. The mid-travel space is a popular one for Pivot Cycles, so to help maximise its appeal the Trailcat is actually two-bikes-in-one. There’s the Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT, both of which share an identical carbon frame. However, the use of a different linkage, shock and fork helps to create two distinct personalities to serve the needs of different riders.
As part of the launch of the new Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT, I was invited out to Pivot Cycles HQ in Phoenix, Arizona, to meet the design and engineering team behind the new bikes. In addition to getting a peek behind the curtain of the prototyping process, I had the opportunity to put both bikes to the test over several days of riding to find out what sets them apart.
Watch our video on the Pivot Trailcat here:
Courtesy of some clever engineering, the Pivot Trailcat pulls off an impressive trick by using one frame to build two very capable but distinct trail bikes.

An overview of the Pivot Trailcat SL & LT
Designed to be a versatile mid-travel trail bike, the new Pivot Trailcat straddles the gap between the Mach 4 SL (the lightweight XC racer) and the Switchblade (the All Mountain rig).
As with all Pivot full suspension mountain bikes, the Trailcat is built around a full carbon frame and dw-link suspension platform. Both the SL and LT share the same lower link, though the rocker is unique to each bike. In combination with a different length shock and fork, Pivot is able to switch up the amount of travel between them;
- Trailcat SL – 140mm travel fork & 120mm rear travel (165x45mm shock)
- Trailcat LT – 150mm travel fork & 135mm rear travel (185x55mm shock)


Of course Pivot isn’t the only brand to extract multiple travel options from the one frame. Some do it by simply changing the shock stroke, like the Trek Top Fuel. Others, such as the Ibis Ripmo and Ripley, take a more involved approach with a shock and linkage swap.
In the case of the Trailcat, not only is there a different upper link and shock for the SL and LT, the lower mounting bracket is also flipped around. This changes the position of the shock, allowing the engineering team to achieve the desired leverage curve for each model while still making use of the same frame. Clever!
Furthermore, the fork and shock spec are specific to each bike. The Trailcat SL comes with a 140mm travel Fox 34 fork and a Float shock, while the Trailcat LT gets a bigger Fox 36 fork and Float X shock. As I’ll discuss in more detail shortly, the resulting impact on the trail is significant.

Storage galore
Another big story with the new Pivot Trailcat is its in-frame storage. First introduced on the Vault gravel bike, the Tool Shed is making its mountain bike debut on the Trailcat.
Measuring 135mm long by 40mm wide, the opening isn’t the largest on the market but it is still plenty useful. And unlike some of the competition it doesn’t result in a comically oversized downtube that looks like it’s hiding a battery. Pivot also claims there is just a 50g increase in weight due to the additional high modulus carbon fibre that’s required to reinforce the frame around the cutout.
Sealing the downtube is a snug-fitting hatch that uses a pleasingly smooth alloy lever to lock it in place. The hatch is identical to that used on the Vault and we expect it’ll be appearing on future Pivot models too.
You can mount a bottle cage on top and the reversible design means you can shift it up or down to improve clearance with piggyback shocks. Underneath the hatch is an optional tool strap for stowing items you might want quick access to, and there’s even a hidden magnet for attaching chain quick links. Pivot also includes two storage pouches with each bike, one for carrying a standard 29er tube and the other for your tyre levers and CO2.
A full-size bottle is claimed to fit on every frame size including the Extra Small, and there’s room to bolt on additional tools and accessories externally via mounts underneath the top tube and bottom bracket.

Fine frame details
The Trailcat frame also incorporates an updated cable port design that gives you the option to route two, one, or zero lines on either side of the head tube. You’re free to route the rear brake hose in whichever configuration you like since there are no moulded guide tubes inside the frame. Press-fit clips built into the Tool Shed are said to keep the hose and cables tight inside the downtube to avoid rattling.
Otherwise you’ll find many of the same features that have been on Pivot mountain bikes for the past decade including a 92mm press-fit BB shell and Super Boost 157x12mm rear hub spacing. While these are not universally popular, the purported benefits to chassis stiffness and tyre clearance are significant enough for Pivot to stick to its guns.
Chris Cocalis, the owner and lead bike designer at Pivot Cycles, is also keen to point out the high tolerances that his frames are manufactured to. Particular attention is paid towards chassis alignment as well as the machined bores that house premium-spec Enduro bearings. And instead of batch testing like many other brands, Pivot uses its own custom-built alignment gauges to ensure that every single frame meets its strict tolerance requirements. These quality control checks are performed both at the factory in Asia and when they arrive at Pivot’s HQ in Arizona, which obviously costs more time and money. It might sound over the top, but Cocalis and his team are so confident in the build quality that they’re using the launch of the Trailcat to announce a new lifetime frame warranty and a courtesy bearing replacement program. This will apply to all new bikes sold from the start of 2024 onwards, which is a nice touch indeed.
Pivot Trailcat geometry & size chart
The Pivot Trailcat is available in five sizes from Extra Small through to Extra Large. While the same swingarm is used throughout, the engineering team has gone to considerable lengths to develop unique tube profiles and carbon layups for each front triangle. In fact, Cocalis explained that this independent stiffness-to-weight analysis is often the most time-consuming part of designing any new bike. The goal is to achieve a consistent level of strength and stiffness for every size based on the expected average rider weight. As such, you’ll find significantly larger cross sections for the tubing used on the Extra Large to accommodate a heavier rider.

With the Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT utilising the same frame, geometry is very similar between the two. The key difference comes from the 10mm change in fork travel, which has a relatively small but notable impact on the angles and BB height;
- Trailcat SL – 65.8° head angle, 76° seat angle & 338mm BB height
- Trailcat LT – 65.3° head angle, 75.6° seat angle & 340mm BB height
Further adjustability can be had with the Hi/Lo flip chip located in the upper rocker pivot. Bikes come from the factory set in the Low position, and flipping it into High will steepen the angles by 0.3° and lift the BB by 6mm. Using the High position is recommended should you wish to run the Trailcat with a 27.5in rear wheel, and it’s also worth noting that the frame is rated for use with up to a 160mm travel fork that would slacken things out again.

Pivot Trailcat price & specs
With Shimano and SRAM build kits, there is an enormous range of models available in both the Pivot Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT.
Prices will start at $9,999 AUD for the Ride SLX/XT build, which features exactly the same full carbon frame as the top-end models.
Further customisation can be had with the option to upgrade to a set of Reynolds carbon wheels, and you can also choose to spec a Fox Live Valve Neo shock if you like the idea of electronic automation. Alternatively, the Trailcat SL and LT framesets will be available separately for those who have something more custom in mind.
For the launch, all of us spoiled journos were put onto the top-spec Team XX bikes. These are equipped with Fox Factory Series suspension, Reynolds Blacklabel carbon wheels, a SRAM XX Transmission and powerful Maven Ultimate brakes.

Pivot Trailcat SL Team XX
- Frame | Full Carbon, dw-link Suspension Design, 120mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 34, Factory Series, GRIP X2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float, Factory Series, 165x45mm
- Wheels | i9 Hydra Hubs & Reynolds Blacklabel 309/289 XC Carbon Rims
- Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C Maxx Terra 2.4in Front & Dissector EXO 3C Maxx Terra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/32T Carbon Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Maven Ultimate 4-Piston w/180mm HS2 Rotors
- Bar | Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon, Width: 780mm (XS-L), 800mm (XL)
- Stem | Phoenix Team Trail, Length: 35mm (XS), 45mm (S), 55mm (M-XL)
- Seatpost | RockShox Reverb AXS, Travel: 100mm (XS), 125mm (S), 150mm (M-L), 170mm (XL)
- Confirmed Weight | 13.27kg
- Price | $18,999 AUD

Pivot Trailcat LT Team XX
- Frame | Full Carbon, dw-link Suspension Design, 135mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP X2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X, Factory Series, 185x55mm
- Wheels | i9 Hydra Hubs & Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro Carbon Rims
- Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C Maxx Terra 2.4in Front & Dissector EXO 3C Maxx Terra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/32T Carbon Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Maven Ultimate 4-Piston w/180mm HS2 Rotors
- Bar | Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon, Width: 780mm (XS-L), 800mm (XL)
- Stem | Phoenix Team Trail, Length: 35mm (XS), 45mm (S-XL)
- Seatpost | RockShox Reverb AXS, Travel: 100mm (XS), 125mm (S), 150mm (M-L), 170mm (XL)
- Confirmed Weight | 13.67kg
- Price | $18,999 AUD

Sizing & fit
At 174cm tall I was set up on a Medium size Trailcat SL and LT. As discussed in my long-term review of the Switchblade, Pivot’s sizing has trended towards the longer side of the spectrum these days. The 460-465mm reach is substantial, and combined with a not-overly steep seat angle you end up with quite a roomy cockpit.
To mitigate some of that length I slid the saddle nearly all the way forwards on the rails. Along with trimming the bars to my preferred width of 760mm and dropping the stem down a couple of spacers to push more weight onto the front wheel, I was able to achieve a purposeful, yet comfortable riding position with each bike.

The difference between the two bikes is minor, with a slightly taller stack and a shorter 45mm stem being the only notable changes for the Trailcat LT. I ended up preferring the handling and fit on the LT, so I’d consider fitting a 45mm stem on the SL if I were to spend more time on it.
Both bikes come fitted with a 150mm travel RockShox Reverb AXS dropper that suited me just fine. Should you wish for more than that, the use of a short and straight seat tube provides plenty of insertion depth for fitting a longer stroke dropper.

Suspension setup
Showing fantastic attention to detail, Pivot has one of the most comprehensive suspension setup guides that we’ve come across. It covers all of the Fox forks and shocks featured across its range, with recommendations for air pressure, rebound and compression settings based on rider weight.
Furthermore, the Trailcat comes with a nifty clip-on sag guide for the shock. The blue line gives you 28% sag for a firmer feel, and the red line puts you at 32% sag for a plusher ride quality.
I went with the red line on both bikes, which worked beautifully for the Float shock on the Trailcat SL. However, the rear suspension on the Trailcat LT felt a little too firm and I struggled to achieve full travel. We removed the stock 0.4³ volume spacer to open things up, resulting in a much smoother ride quality that better suited my relatively low weight. In the same vein, I also took out one of the two volume spacers from the Fox 36 to get a bit more compliance up front.

On the note of the forks, lately I’ve been trending towards running about 10% less pressure than Fox recommends on its setup guide. I’ll typically have the high-speed rebound damping set wide open and the low-speed a little quicker than halfway. Thanks to the improvements with the latest GRIP X2 damper, I’ll usually run both compression dials about halfway through their range.
Pivot Trailcat weight
Confirmed weight for the two test bikes was 13.27kg for the Pivot Trailcat SL Team XX and 13.67kg for the Trailcat LT Team XX. The 400g weight difference is almost entirely due to the bigger fork and piggyback shock, as the spec is otherwise almost identical between the SL and LT.
Neither bike is breaking any records, but that’s to be expected given the SRAM Transmission, Maven brakes, HS2 rotors and Reverb AXS dropper post aren’t the lightest components out there. If you are chasing grams, it’s worth noting that the Team XTR builds are quite a bit lighter. Those claimed weights come in at 12.58kg and 13kg respectively.
As for a bare frame, Pivot says the Trailcat tips the scales at just 2.43kg. Here’s what that ends up at with the respective shocks;
- Trailcat SL – 2.66kg (frame & Fox Float shock)
- Trailcat LT – 2.92kg (frame & Fox Float X shock)
Those figures are in-line with fellow competitors such as the Trek Top Fuel (2.6kg), Giant Trance X (2.82kg) and Santa Cruz Tallboy (2.83kg).

Testing the Pivot Trailcat SL & Trailcat LT
As part of the launch in Arizona we had two days of riding aboard the new bikes. Day one was spent on the Trailcat SL at South Mountain, and the following day we took the Trailcat LT out to Hawes, about a half hour drive East of the city.
While most journalists had to fly out early the next day, I wouldn’t need to be at the airport until the evening. That gave me an extra day of riding up my sleeve, and so I organised to take both the SL and LT back to South Mountain for some back-to-back testing. The loop took me up the Javalina Canyon Trail, across Mormon and then down National, providing a smorgasbord of technical climbing and high-impact descending.
With a very similar build kit between the SL and LT, riding the same trails right after each other made it easy to discern the differences in suspension performance and handling. While the first two days offered plenty of insights, it wasn’t until this final day that I was able to really dig down into the differences.

The Trailcat SL
If you’re familiar with the rocky desert terrain around Phoenix, you’ll know it can serve an absolute beat-down on both bike and rider. You need to be on your toes the whole time to ensure you’re managing grip on the sandy trail surface, while simultaneously dodging saguaro cactus and surfing down car-sized rock slabs. It’s awesome adrenaline-pumping stuff, though it would prove to be quite the baptism of fire for my jet-lagged brain.
Despite having the cards stacked against it, the Pivot Trailcat SL performed admirably right off the bat. I spent a lot of time on the previous Trail 429, and this resulted in few surprises when climbing aboard its successor.
Looking at the geometry, the differences between the two are relatively minor. The Trailcat SL has a 0.2° slacker head angle and the BB sits 2mm lower. It does get a 10mm longer reach (and a larger wheelbase as a result), but a 1° steeper seat tube angle means the effective top tube length is much the same when you’re at full pedalling height.

Along with the broader footprint, it’s really the 140mm travel fork and high volume Float shock that have helped to elevate the overall ride quality. Indeed the suspension is excellent on the Trailcat SL, with a very supple and active feel at each end.
This was my first time riding the Fox 34 with the GRIP X2 damper, and I have to say it is absolutely superb. There are no slurping noises during the rebound stroke like you have with the Fox 34 GRIP X fork, and I also found the heavier GRIP X2 damper to offer smoother performance and greater high-speed control. Having the excellent Minion DHR II up front lends further confidence and front-end traction.
Combined with the sturdy carbon frame and short rear end, the Trailcat SL has a nice and lively feel to it. The rear suspension is poppy with a good amount of ramp-up towards the end of the stroke. Yes there’s only 120mm of travel back there, but the dw-link platform does well to keep the rear wheel tracking along when walloping into rocks at speed, and I never once encountered a harsh bottom-out.
Overall the Trailcat SL felt a lot more assertive than I expected on this punishing terrain. Even when crushing through the travel, the whole chassis feels impressively solid. Pivot would point towards elements such as the wide BB shell, stout suspension links and 157x12mm rear end as contributing to the lack of unwanted flex.
Whatever the case, the Trailcat SL is no wet noodle. That makes it predictable and easy to ride, with crisp handling that lets you make split-second changes of direction to veer around those rocks (or cactus!) that seemingly jumped out of nowhere.

The Trailcat LT
My first ride aboard the Pivot Trailcat LT took a little longer to ease into, since the first half hour was spent removing volume spacers from the fork and shock. After that everything felt considerably better, and more akin to what I’d expect for a bike with 150/135mm of travel.
While the static riding position is similar to the SL, the extra travel on the LT results in more sag that slackens and lowers the dynamic geometry. This meant I had to crouch down a bit more over the grips to keep the front wheel tracking around tight uphill switchbacks, but within a few corners I’d adjusted and forgot of any differences.
My attention then turned to pedalling efficiency as we ascended the Alpe d’Huez climb of the Hawes trail network. Having spent most of 2024 on a Pivot Switchblade, I was finding the Trailcat LT to be noticeably more responsive. The Switchblade is of course no slouch, it’s just that the Trailcat LT is that much zippier. I’d say the pedalling performance is closer to the Mach 4 SL race bike.

With very little bobbing from the back end, I felt no need to touch the Climb switch on the Float X. For that reason I’d find it hard to justify upgrading to the Fox Live Valve Neo shock on the Trailcat LT since it’s already so efficient.
Winding our way down descents like Red Mountain Rush and Big Sister, I enjoyed the LT’s bigger safety net compared to the SL. The 36 GRIP X2 is a ripper fork, with its burlier 36mm chassis resulting in less torsional flex and a more planted feel under heavy braking. Combined with an extra 10mm of travel, you’re encouraged to push the front end harder and faster.
There’s more support on offer from the rear suspension to back it up too. The Float X manages the latter half of its stroke with impeccable panache, and the additional 15mm of travel meant it took a significantly bigger impact to unsettle the Trailcat LT. Despite not having any volume spacers inside, the end-stroke was smooth and quiet when landing to flat.

Shock decoding
One thing I picked up during back-to-back testing was that the Trailcat LT didn’t feel any plusher than the SL, despite having the extra travel.
Part of this comes down to the fork. As a lighter rider I’ve generally found the 34 to offer better sensitivity and compliance over the 36. The other and more significant factor is the result of the shock tune and rear suspension kinematic.
The SL has a higher average leverage rate of 2.67:1 (compared to 2.45:1 on the LT), which gives the rear wheel more mechanical leverage over the shock. This is particularly noticeable early on in the stroke, with the SL producing excellent off-the-top sensitivity and a livelier feel.
On the same trail it was clear that the LT takes a bit more force to push through its travel. Removing the stock 0.4³ volume spacer certainly helped, but I was still finding the back end to be a little firmer than I would have liked.

According to the codes on each shock, Pivot specs both the Float and Float X with a medium compression tune. Digging a little further, it turns out that the Float X on the Trailcat LT is shared with the Switchblade and Shuttle AM – two bikes that have more travel and are designed for harder riding. I suspect this is why the shock felt over-damped on the Trailcat LT, since it doesn’t have the same degree of leverage to break through that damping support.
I’ll point out that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While it might not be quite as sensitive across smaller rubble, the firmer tune gives a strong platform for your feet to push against. That’s ideal for ripping through berms and hitting jumps, and I expect it’ll be appreciated by heavier and more aggressive riders who like to get both wheels off the ground.
As someone who’s on the daintier side of the weight spectrum however, I’d be curious to try the Float X with a lighter tune to see if I could achieve a plusher ride quality.

What kind of rider will each bike will suit?
Given the similarities between the Pivot Trailcat SL and LT, prospective customers may be wondering which way to go.
For the most part I’d suggest that lighter riders will be better suited to the SL, and heavier riders will prefer the LT. That’s because travel aside, it’s really the fork and shock spec that determines how these bikes ride.
Bigger and harder-hitting folks who still want a trail bike with efficient pedalling manners will be well served by the Trailcat LT. The travel isn’t that far off a Switchblade, but it comes in a lighter and more efficient package. The chassis is still plenty stiff, and the Fox 36 and Float X combo offer capable suspension performance. Factoring in that you can extend the fork to 160mm of travel and set it up as a mullet, the LT is an appealing option for those who want a light and agile trail bike that they can really throw around.
In contrast, the Trailcat SL will draw more appeal from those who like the idea of the Mach 4 SL but see it as being a bit too spindly for the type of terrain they want to ride. The Trailcat SL is a much sturdier bike overall, and its extra travel gives it a plusher ride with better stability when things get chunky and fast. It’s still efficient and relatively light, making it a great choice for riders who aren’t serious about racing but might want to get involved with some XC and multi-day events.

What about changing the travel?
It is indeed possible to turn a Trailcat SL into an LT (and vice versa) by changing the fork, shock, upper linkage and lower shock mount orientation. However, while the new Trailcat is technically two-bikes-in-one, it’s worth noting that Pivot isn’t necessarily marketing it as such. The expected demand for complete bikes will allegedly outstrip supply for 2025, and that means you won’t be able to get your hands on aftermarket linkages in the immediate future.
Additionally, the feeling at Pivot HQ is that since the SL and LT employ a different fork and shock as well as the linkage, the expense is high enough that they aren’t anticipating many owners to purchase all of those parts and expect to switch up the travel on a regular basis. Furthermore, the lower shock mount is bolted in place with a lot of torque and high-strength Loctite that apparently makes it quite the task for a home mechanic to wrestle with. Of course it is still possible, and it’s not to say that links won’t be offered in the future, but Pivot really is steering riders to approach the SL and LT as two different bikes and to choose accordingly.

Component highs & lows
Because I’ve only had limited time on each Pivot Trailcat, I won’t be delving too much into the specific parts that come bolted to them.
I do need to touch on value for money though and the staggering $18,999 AUD price of the Team XX builds. Unbelievably, that’s actually comparable to the Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 ($19,500 AUD) and the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS ($18,499 AUD). However, it is quite a bit higher than a Santa Cruz Tallboy XX AXS RSV ($16,999 AUD) and a Yeti SB135 XX AXS ($15,290 AUD).
If I were spending my own cash, I’d opt for the base level Ride SLX/XT model. It features an identical frame and comes with Fox Performance Series suspension, SLX brakes and DT Swiss alloy wheels for almost half the price of the Team XX bikes. Ten grand is still a lot of money for a mountain bike with SLX on it though.

One thing I will say about the components on the Trailcat SL and LT is that I do think there could be a little more separation between them. Specifically, the SRAM Maven brakes seem out of place on the shorter travel Trailcat SL. Pivot explained that it wanted to gives its customers more power rather than not enough, and it’s true that Mavens are a popular brake at the moment. That said, I found their insane power and chunky callipers to be somewhat overkill and would have been happy with Codes or even Levels.
On a similar note, I could see the SL coming with the lighter Fox 34 GRIP X fork as well as some faster-rolling tyres like the Maxxis Forekasters.
Otherwise there’s not a lot to be said about the rest of the build kit. The SRAM XX Transmission offers reliable shift performance, and the Reynolds wheelset is plenty responsive with its super-speedy Hydra freehub. It’s all top-notch stuff, as it should be for the price.

Flow’s Early Verdict
Courtesy of some clever engineering, the Pivot Trailcat pulls off an impressive trick by using one frame to build two very capable but distinct trail bikes.
The fact that there’s only a 10mm change in fork travel means the static geometry and riding position is quite similar between them. They’re both very responsive under power thanks to the efficient dw-link suspension platform, and the taut carbon frame ensures accurate steering and a solid feel when pushing the limits.
By switching the fork, shock and linkage, each bike possesses its own personality that will appeal to different riders. If the Mach 4 SL is too racy for you then the Trailcat SL will likely fit the bill. And if the Switchblade is too enduro, the Trailcat LT could very well be the ticket.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time aboard both bikes during the Trailcat launch, and I’d be curious to spend more time on them on local trails to see how they compare to some of the other mid-travel trail bikes we’ve been testing lately. First impressions are certainly positive though, and we expect there’ll be a lot of Pivot fans out there who will be very happy with what the Trailcat platform has to offer.



ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Wil Barrett
Bendigo, Victoria
175cm
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