Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR Review
- Price: $9,899
- Frame: Carbon
- Tires: 27.5″ Carbon
- Gear: 1×12
What we like about it: The carbon frame has a light weight, strong and stiff, and with top-notch components, it rides strong.
What we don’t like about it: It’s expensive and difficult for some riders to choose with a limited budget.
Rating: (4.9/5)
The combination of the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR’s ultra-lightweight, discount-needed suspension design and relaxed geometry creates a bike with an incredible ride feel.
It’s a very nimble, ultra-lightweight, full-suspension bike.
Below, we analyze the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR’s riding experience, key features, components and specifications, and other versions.
At the end of the REVIEW, we have also compared several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, you can follow us.
Cycling Experience
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR has a lightweight carbon frame with top of the line components that have a strong ride and can adapt to a lot of rough road riding.
For this I took the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR to Deer Valley Resort MTB Park, and booked the neighboring hotels on IHG in advance.
The route I chose this time had big drop jumps, winding trails, and intense steep fast descents.
Climbs
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR has excellent climbing ride support on climbing rides with its lightweight carbon frame and well-adjusted dw-Link suspension. It kept my pedaling from feeling too deflated, and upward climbs were faster.
Then the excellent geometry, coupled with the steep seat tube angle, gave me a more direct drivetrain of power for upward climbing rides.
I could keep my weight evenly distributed front to back, and upward rides could be easier.
The Race Face Next SL 32t crankset coupled with the Shimano XTR M9100 10-51t flywheel has an abundance of speeds, and as long as I used the largest couple of flywheel cogs, pedaling became instantly lighter.
Riding up the climbs was much easier and saved energy.
Then the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR carried a Maxxis Dissector 27.5″ x 2.4″ inch large-grain outer tire that had great grip and didn’t slip on the outer tire when pedaling.
In the end, I found the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR to be efficient on the climbs, with excellent suspension adjusting and capable components that made my climbing rides faster with less efforts.
Descents
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR is tough and reliable when it comes to descending.
For starters, the Fox Factory Live 36 fork and Fox Factory Live Valve rear shock absorber provided a front 160mm and rear 140mm of damping travel.
This helped me absorb the full shock impact when landing on big drop jumps, landing smoother and safer, giving me the confidence to complete more aggressive rides.
Then, as I descended quickly on the intense, rock-strewn route, the slack geometry and longer bodywork had a fast descent, and the Shimano XTR M9100’s drivetrain assembly had a strong rear derailleur tension, which kept it stable even with the sharp jerks.
Lastly, the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR’s trail riding ability is something I really like.
The 27.5 wheel diameter plus 2.4-inch large grain outer tires ensureD grip and agility for trail riding.
The Shimano XTR M9120 4-piston top-of-the-line braking plus front and rear Shimano XTR CenterLock 180mm discs had a strong braking ability, which could reduce the speed of the bike in the shortest possible time when entering a corner, making cornering smoother and faster.
Specification
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR has a total of (XS-L) 4 sizes of internally cable routing carbon frames to choose from, suitable for riders from 4’11”-6’2″ tall.
The internally routed frame is cleaner and neater, making daily cleaning easier. Silent cable tube design reduces noise during riding.
There are two mounting holes at the full frame, one at the downtube to support full-size water bottles, and one at the top tube to allow you to carry your riding gear for better distance riding.
The design of the ride dropper allows the rider to adjust their riding center of gravity at any time during the ride between climbs and descents, further ensuring riding efficiency.
Finally, protective patches at the downtube and on the rear dropouts reduce damage to the carbon frame from flying rocks on the ride, as well as reducing noise caused by chain slap.
Video
Other Version
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR has a lightweight carbon frame, excellent geometry and top-notch components.
But this bike is too expensive, not friendly enough for budget riders and novice riders.
For this reason we offer a full-suspension trail bike with the exact same carbon frame, with slightly lower level but equally powerful components, at a friendlier price point and with a wider audience.
Pivot Shadowcat RIDE LIKE A PRO
The Pivot Shadowcat RIDE LIKE A PRO features the same internally cable routing carbon lightweight frame, ensuring that this bike is a powerful presence as well.
In terms of damping the Fox Performance Float 36’s damped fork and the Fox Factory Float DPS rear shock absorber are equally reliable, with great support and ease to handle bumps in the road.
Drivetrain components on the SRAM X01 Eagle 12-Speed is SRAM’s second-leading mountain bike electronic shifting drivetrain components.
Its drivetrain efficiency is excellent, and shifting feel is hard, rugged, but still stable-operated in harsh environments.
Finally, when it comes to the braking system, SRAM Guide RE 4-piston brakes’ braking ability, as a trustworthy brake, is strong and efficient, with hard and responsive feel, instantly reducing the speed.
Below, we will list the specific and detailed parameters of Pivot Shadowcat RIDE LIKE A PRO and some other brands of full-suspension trail bikes with similar price for your reference.
What we like about it
- Hydraulic caliper brakes for reliable performance, no matter how harsh the environment.
- Internal cable routing design makes the appearance looks neater and more convenient for daily cleaning.
- Excellent geometry coupled with a 27.5-inch wheelset makes the drop ride more stable and pass better.
- The drivetrain of the Shimano XTR M9100 has a reliable and sturdy performance with high efficiency.
- The dropper is designed to put the rider in the right position between climbing and descending transitions.
- The dw-Link Suspension Kinematics has great support and makes climbing and riding easier.
What we don’t like about it
- Expensive and difficult to choose for some riders with a limited budget.
FAQs
- What is the maximum outer tire width supported by this bike?
It can run up to 2.6-inch Maxxis REKON tires.
- Can this bike be fitted with chain guides?
It has ISCG05 installed on the frame. Most upper rails on the market will fit.
- How do I choose the right size?
Here we provide you with a size chart, but of course you do not have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 4’11” – 5’4″ | XS |
| 5’1″ – 5’8″ | S |
| 5’5″ – 6’0″ | M |
| 5’8″ – 6’2″ | L |
Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR Specs
Build
| Frame | ShadowcatColors: Dangerfruit; Blue Mirage |
| Fork | Fox Factory Live 36 27.5″, 44mm offset, FIT LIVE – 160mm |
| Rear Shock | Fox Factory Live Valve |
| Headset | Pivot Precision Sealed Integrated Cartridge |
| Stem | Phoenix Team Enduro/Trail |
| Handlebar | Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon – 760mm (XS-SM) 780mm (MD-LG) |
| Saddle | Phoenix WTB Team High Tail Trail (XS, SM), Phoenix WTB Volt Team (Medium Width) (MD-LG) |
| Seatpost | Fox Transfer Factory Series 125mm (XS), 150mm (SM), 175mm (MD-LG) |
| Grips | Phoenix Factory Lock-On |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XTR M9100 SGS 12-Speed |
| Crank | Race Face Next SL 32t |
| Shifters | Shimano XTR M9100 ISPEC EV 12-Speed |
| Cassette | Shimano XTR M9100 10-51t |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M9100 12-Speed |
| Brakes | Shimano XTR M9120 4-piston |
Wheels
| Rims | Reynolds Blacklabel Trail Pro w/ Industry Nine hub, 32mm – 27.5″<br>15×110 F/12×148 R |
| Tires | Maxxis Dissector 27.5″ x 2.4″ TR, EXO<br />Maxxis Dissector 27.5″ x 2.4″ TR, EXO |
| Disk Rotors | Shimano XTR CenterLock – 180mm<br />Shimano XTR CenterLock – 180mm |
Comparison Table
| Bike | Click View | Travel | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Pro | Click View | 150mm rear, 160mm front | Carbon | SRAM Code RSC | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| YT Industries Capra Uncaged 6 29 | Click View | 1650mm rear, 170mm front | Carbon | SRAM Code RSC | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Santa Cruz BRONSON X0 AXS RSV / Carbon CC | Click View | 150mm rear, 160mm front | Carbon | SRAM Code Silver Stealth | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition | Click View | 160mm rear, 170mm front | Carbon | Shimano XTR M9120 | 1 × 12 |
Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR vs Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Pro
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR and Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Pro are both excellent full-suspension trail bikes when compared to each other, and both bikes have excellent suspension designs that give them great climbing ride support.
In terms of drivetrain components, the former Shimano XTR M9100 drivetrain is a little more advanced than the latter’s SRAM GX Eagle AXS, with better drivetrain efficiency, lighter weight and strong rear derailleur tension, but the latter’s electronic version of the shifting will be simpler and easier to adjust.
In terms of braking components, the former uses Shimano XTR M9120 brakes with a linear braking feel, while the latter’s SRAM Code RSC brakes have a more violent and direct braking feel.
In the end, between these two full-suspension enduro bikes, I’d recommend the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR because it has more advanced components and rides better.
Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR vs YT Industries Capra Uncaged 6 29
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR and the YT Industries Capra Uncaged 6 29 are both top of the line full-suspension enduro mountain bikes by comparison.
First of all, the former’s FOX damping component, with its strong performance and higher support, is suitable for making big drop-offs and leap landings.
As for the latter’s ROCKSHOX’s damping components, the support is not as good as Fox’s, but the excellent initial sensitivity makes it smoother on continuous bumpy sections.
For drivetrain components, both the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR and the YT Industries Capra Uncaged 6 29 utilize top-of-the-line drivetrain components. The drivetrain efficiency is excellent and they are reliable and durable.
So, both bikes are top of the line, full-suspension enduro mountain bikes, and either one is a good choice.
Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR vs Santa Cruz BRONSON X0 AXS RSV / Carbon CC
Between the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR and the Santa Cruz BRONSON X0 AXS RSV / Carbon CC, the former has a more advantageous component load, but the latter’s VPP frame construction design is more to my liking.
On the damping system, the former’s Fox damping system has better support for more aggressive riding conditions. The latter’s RockShox damping system has better initial sensitivity.
In terms of drivetrain components, both bikes use powerful and reliable enough components, but the former has a smoother, more comfortable shifting feel. The latter enjoys a crisper, sharper shifting feel.
In the end, between these two bikes, the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR rides stronger, but the Santa Cruz BRONSON X0 AXS RSV / Carbon CC has more frame potential.
Learn More: Is Santa Cruz BRONSON XX1 A Good Bike? [2022 Santa Cruz BRONSON XX1 Review]
Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR vs Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition
The Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR and Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition are both full-suspension enduro bikes with aggressive riding abilities.
Both bikes use fox’s damping system, but the latter has a thicker tube diameter and longer damping travel for more aggressive and complex descending rides.
Shimano XTR grade components are used for both the drivetrain and brake components, which are Shimano’s top-of-the-line components for excellent performance and reliability.
But the former’s geometry, and excellent suspension design, gives it better climbing ride support and lighter weight.
Overall, the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR is the better all-round performer of the two bikes, while the Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition will have a more reliable descent.
Summary
Above is my riding review of the Pivot Shadowcat Team XTR. In our opinion, it’s a lightly ridden, reliable full-suspension enduro bike with a powerful climbing and descending experience. That’s why we gave it a 4.9 rating.
Of course, if you want to know about other full-suspension trail bikes, we also review a lot of interesting bikes at various price points, so feel free to take a look at our tests on that as well.
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