Review | Wil’s custom-built Pivot Switchblade with mullet wheels & Fox Live Valve

Wil takes us through his custom-built Pivot Switchblade

Slotting in between the Trail 429 and the Firebird, the Pivot Switchblade is a 160/142mm travel ride-all-of-the-things mountain bike. It was updated this year with a new carbon frame that features revised geometry and suspension kinematics to help close the gap on the bigger travel Firebird.

I enjoyed riding the new Pivot Switchblade earlier this year at the launch in Arizona, but was keen to see how it would perform on more familiar home trails. We were able to organise a frameset through Pivot’s Aussie distributor, Jet Black Products, and the Switchblade has been my long-term test bike since. It’s worn a variety of components over the past nine months and that’s allowed me to try a variety of setups while dialling in the performance to my personal taste. Some things have improved, though other aspects I haven’t quite been able to get around.

With the Switchblade frame due to be returned soon, now’s a good time to walk you through the final setup and touch on how everything has fared so far.

The mullet setup

Although Pivot primarily designed the Switchblade as a 29er, it is possible to run it as a mullet with the flip chip in the High position. I briefly rode it with a 27.5in rear wheel at the launch and really dug it, so when it came time for the initial build I requested a Race Face Era wheelset in a mixed configuration.

These wheels feature front and rear-specific carbon rims with a low profile that puts a strong emphasis on compliance. They’re built around Race Face Vault hubs with a buzzy 3° engagement and come in at a respectable weight of 1,750g for the pair. Despite their low weight they’ve been impressively solid all year long. The bearings and freehub mechanism are clearly well sealed and I’ve yet to bust out a spoke key as the rims are still running dead true.

I set those up with a pair of Continental Enduro casing tyres with a Kryptotal Fr on the front and a Xynotal in the rear, both in a 2.4in width. The quick-rolling Xynotal on the rear makes quite a difference to general speed on the trail, and it’s proven to be a fantastic option for my dry and dusty local trails where it produces good surface contact on big granite rock slabs.

Hiding inside the rear wheel is a CushCore Trail insert to provide a little more protection for the carbon rim. It’s allowed me to run pressures as low as 23psi (I’ve got 19psi up front) while helping to fend off almost everything I could throw at it. During the final ride I did manage to shimmy into a particularly sharp hidden rock as I rolled through a water race, which put a slice into the tyre and chipped the edge of the carbon rim. That’s the first modern Continental enduro tyre I’ve ever punctured, which as far as I’m concerned is a damn good track record.

How does the 27.5in rear wheel affect the geometry?

It’s worth noting that the flip chip only changes the BB height by 6mm. Ideally you’d have 10mm of adjustment to properly compensate for the smaller 27.5in rear wheel. As such, my Switchblade test bike has ended up being a little lower and slacker than stock, though I expect that’ll appeal to the sort of folks who are interested in mullet bikes in the first place.

I measured the BB at 335mm off the floor with the 27.5in rear wheel and the flip chip in the High setting, which is on the lower side for a bike with this amount of travel. Compare that to the Santa Cruz Hightower (341-344mm), the Scott Genius (342.5mm). and the latest Specialized Stumpjumper 15 with a 160mm travel fork (340mm).

The mullet setup also produces a slacker head angle, which I measured at around 64.3°. Likewise the seat angle has relaxed to 75.3°, which is pretty slack for a modern trail bike. I’ll discuss the overall fit and sizing in more detail shortly.

Fox Live Valve Neo suspension

Over the past couple of months I’ve had the new Fox Float X Live Valve Neo shock fitted to the Pivot Switchblade. The second generation Live Valve system is now fully wireless, relying on two external sensors that bolt onto the brake callipers. That makes it considerably neater than the original version and you’re able to run it with whatever fork you like. It’s also way more tuneable thanks to the excellent Fox Bike app and two external dials on the shock that allow you to independently adjust the compression damping of both the Open and Firm modes.

While the Switchblade is already a great pedalling bike thanks to its dw-link suspension design, the Live Valve Neo system takes it to a whole other level. The firmer platform provides noticeably better pedalling response and a taller dynamic ride height. This gives you more pedal clearance and steepens the effective seat angle, helping to offset some of the downsides of running the 27.5in rear wheel. I’ve encountered far fewer pedal strikes, and the whole bike just feels more planted on steeper gradients.

The real beauty of the Live Valve system is just how quickly it responds, allowing the shock to open up near-instantaneously when required. Because of this seamless transition and the beautifully plush performance in the Open mode, once I had it set up to my preferences I simply forgot about it.

I’m looking forward to trying out the electronic shock on a few more bikes, but already I can recommend it given how well it works on the Switchblade. Check out our in-depth Fox Live Valve Neo review for the full story.

Fox 36 vs RockShox Lyrik

Up front I’ve been testing the latest versions of the Fox 36 GRIP X and RockShox Lyrik. Both forks have been updated for 2025 with a new damper and fresh bushings, but they otherwise carry over the same chassis and air spring designs from previous versions.

To suit the Switchblade I’ve been testing each fork with 160mm of travel. They’re both relatively straightforward to set up with just a single rebound adjuster and two compression dials. However, the overall execution and on-trail performance is quite different between them. Check out our Fox 36 vs RockShox Lyrik review to see which one came out on top.

Drivetrain & brakes

Another component I’ve been experimenting with on the Switchblade is the crankset. Originally I had 170mm crank arms but those were leading to constant pedal strikes due to the low BB height. I subbed in a Race Face Era crankset with 165mm arms, which made an immediate and positive difference.

I’ve also changed from a 30T to a 32T Race Face Era chainring. This helped to improve the gearing with the smaller rear wheel, but it also had a surprisingly noticeable impact on overall drivetrain smoothness by reducing the level of anti-squat. The Switchblade has a more rearward axle path due to its longer lower link, which leads to some initial chain growth. Fitting the larger chainring helped to mellow that out, resulting in less feedback through the pedals when traversing over rocky sections of trail.

The drivetrain itself comes from Shimano’s XTR family, which despite being six years old now is still bloody brilliant. Shifting is smooth and reliable, and the components are very light. Those same attributes apply to the XTR 4-piston brakes, which I currently have set up with TRP resin pads. Braking performance is quiet and assured, and I appreciate the tidy aesthetic of the direct-mount callipers when combined with the 180mm Ice Tech rotors.

Pivot Switchblade fit & sizing

At 174cm tall I ride a Medium size in most brands. However, a lot of modern trail and enduro bikes are getting longer each year so my ideal fit is less clear cut than it used to be.

In the case of the Pivot Switchblade, the reach on the latest version has grown 10mm over its predecessor. With dual 29in wheels the reach on the Medium is 465-470mm (depending on the flip chip position), which would have been considered a Large not that long ago. Combined with the relatively slack seat angle you get a stretched-out 634mm effective top tube.

I mitigated this as best as I could with a short-as-you-can-go 32mm stem bolted to a Race Face Era handlebar. As mentioned earlier, I’ve also slammed the saddle all the way forwards on its rails. Finished with the excellent Ergon GDH Team grips and SM Pro saddle, the cockpit is plenty comfortable. That said, I’d really like to see Pivot go steeper on the seat angle to match up with the longer reach. Or perhaps I just need to accept that I’m increasingly becoming a ‘Smedium’ rider and get on to the Small size.

One very welcome aspect of the Switchblade’s frame design is its use of a short and uninterrupted seat tube. This means that even on the Medium I’m able to run a whopping 210mm travel Fox Transfer dropper post, which is something my stubby legs have only dreamed of in the past. The Transfer can have its travel reduced using clip-on spacers underneath the main collar, but I’ve not needed to make use of that function. It’s an absolute pleasure being able to drop the saddle so completely out of the way, and combined with the low-slung top tube it lends to the Switchblade’s overall agility.

Pivot Switchblade weight

My custom-built Pivot Switchblade weighs in at 14.14kg with the Fox Live Valve Neo shock and a CushCore Trail insert in the rear wheel. Remove the insert, fit the regular Float X shock and the weight drops down to 13.76kg. That is quite light for a bike in this category.

Of course the carbon wheels, cranks and handlebar help to shed grams over their alloy alternatives. The Shimano XTR groupset is also lighter compared to a SRAM Transmission and Code or Maven brakes. The Fox 36 GRIP X is also very light for a 160mm travel fork, just squeezing in below the 2kg barrier.

For those wondering, the Switchblade frame weighs in at a confirmed 3.27kg including the Fox Float X shock.

What do I dig about the Pivot Switchblade?

The Pivot Switchblade is a fantastic all-rounder. A lot of bikes in this category end up on the portly side with a stronger bias towards full-blown descending, but the Switchblade is pleasingly efficient and eager to scurry uphill.

Pedalling performance is impressive even without the fancy Live Valve shock, and the quality of suspension in general is a real highlight of this bike. Bump response has improved over the previous generation Switchblade thanks to the more rearward axle path, and combined with the custom-tuned Float X shock the back end is supremely well controlled at speed.

I’ve also been stoked on the overall comfort level. The Race Face Era handlebar and wheelset have been tuned for compliance, and combined with the CushCore insert in the rear and the ability to run fairly low pressures (19psi front, 23psi rear), the Switchblade absorbs a lot of trail buzz before it makes its way to my hands, feet and bum.

Despite the smooth ride quality, handling response remains direct. The short chainstays and sturdy linkage minimise rear end waggle, and the mixed wheel setup encourages you to lean over hard and rip into each turn. There’s great agility through flowy singletrack and being able to drop the saddle so far out of the way makes the Switchblade a joy to jump with. All-up, it’s just a really fun and capable trail bike.

What haven’t I liked?

The main issues I encountered with the Pivot Switchblade stem from my previous comments about sizing. I wouldn’t be opposed to the reach being a bit shorter, though at the very least it should have a steeper seat angle.

While I mostly love the ride quality of the mullet setup, the BB does end up quite low. The shorter crank arms and Live Valve shock do a lot of the legwork to make sure it’s not a constant issue, but there are situations where a hard pedal whack is inevitable. On choppier tech climbs where the Live Valve sensors are regularly triggered to open up the shock, the slack seat angle also makes itself known. It can feel like you’re off the back of the bike, which is compounded by the short chainstays.

This will be less of an issue with the dual 29in setup, and as mentioned earlier I’d be curious to try out the Small to see if its shorter 440mm reach would suit me better.

Otherwise I have few complaints with the Switchblade frame, which is finished to a very high standard. Cable routing is well managed and easy to work on, there’s a good amount of rubber protection throughout, and I’ve had no issues with creaks or play developing over the past nine months of riding.

The Super Boost 157x12mm rear hub spacing has been annoying from the perspective that I’ve not been able to easily swap the rear wheel. Pivot remains committed to the Super Boost standard and claims the benefits in rear wheel stiffness due to the wider hub flange spacing are worth it. However, with most drivetrains moving to the 55mm chainline (like SRAM’s Transmission), there is less of an advantage to the Super Boost’s 56.5mm chainline when it comes to clearance between the tyre and chainring.

Some folks may be bothered by the lack of internal storage, though I’m perfectly happy with the external mounts. Thanks to the Crank Brothers S.O.S bottle cage, tool kit and tube strap, I’ve got all the key essentials within easy reach. There are also benefits from an engineering perspective since the downtube can be made a lot slimmer and there’s no gaping hole that needs to be overbuilt to maintain adequate stiffness.

Flow’s Verdict

The Pivot Switchblade has been an awesome trail companion throughout the year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on it, and it’s been a rewarding process being able to try different components while honing in on the perfect setup.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend that prospective buyers take a good look at the geometry chart and consider sizing down rather than up. And while Pivot says the Switchblade is mullet compatible (and many other brands claim the same thing with their own dual 29in bikes), slotting in a 27.5in rear wheel does present some compromises.

Still, there’s no denying that this is one high quality chassis with fantastic suspension performance. For anyone who wants an efficient long travel trail bike that isn’t only built for going downhill, the Switchblade is a terrific option.

Pivot Switchblade Specifications

• Frame | Full Carbon, dw-link Suspension Design, 142mm Travel
• Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP X Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
• Shock | Fox Float X Live Valve Neo, Factory Series, 185x55mm
• Wheels | Race Face Era, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Width
• Tyres | Continental Kryptotal Fr Enduro 2.4in Front & Xynotal Enduro 2.4in Rear
• Tyre Insert | CushCore Trail (Rear)
• Drivetrain | Shimano XTR 1×12 w/32T Race Face Era Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XTR 4-Piston w/180mm Ice Tech Rotors
• Bar | Race Face Era, Carbon, 10mm Rise, 760mm Width
• Stem | Race Face Turbine R, 32mm Length
• Grips | Ergon GDH Team, S/M Diameter
• Seatpost | Fox Transfer Factory Series, 210mm Travel
• Saddle | Ergon SM Pro, S/M Size
• Actual Weight | 14.14kg

See our video review of the 2024 Pivot Switchblade here: