Switchblade – V5

To ensure the best sizing, we recommend that you visit your local Pivot dealer to get a professional fit and refer to our geometry chart to check your measurements. However, we can provide a rough guideline:

X-Small: 5’ – 5'4"

Small: 5'4" – 5'7"

Medium: 5'7" – 5'11"

Large: 5'11" – 6'2'

X-Large: 6'2" – 6’7”

We suggest that you pick your Switchblade size based on your riding style. The Switchblade features progressive long reach geometry with both short seat tube and head tube measurements per size – this geometry means that most riders can go up or down a size and should base their choice on riding-style, reach and stem length preferences. Be sure to also consult our dropper post fit guide (located under the Tech Specs tab) when making your selection. You can always reach out to us on Live Chat for additional guidance.

We make it easy to get the best ride out of your Pivot bike with a simple sag indicator already installed on your shock, and this follow-along video featuring our own Bernard Kerr:

https://vimeo.com/pivotcycles/sag

The flip chip is a simple way to adjust the geometry on your Switchblade. It allows you to either adjust the geometry for different trail conditions (using 29” wheels) or can allow for the use of 27.5” wheels with 2.6”-2.8” tires and a 27.5” rear/29” front “reverse mullet” setup as well. The chip comes set up in the low BB setting. This is perfect for riding fast, technical and steep terrain. However, if your preference is for a little more crank clearance and slightly quicker handling for tighter terrain with more climbing and/or roots and rocks, you may prefer the high BB setting. The high BB setting will raise the bottom bracket and steepen the head angle by .5° degree giving the bike faster turn in. The high setting is also a great starting point for running a 27.5” rear/29” front “reverse mullet” setup. Additionally, if you want to run 27.5” wheels with 2.6”-2.8” tires, you would also need to run the bike in the High BB setting combined with our 17mm extended headset cup (more on that below). The combination of the higher BB setting and the taller cup allow the smaller diameter wheels to be used while maintaining the same geometry and similar BB height to the bike set up with 29” wheels.

The Switchblade’s flip chip geometry adjustment system is super easy to use. Simply loosen using a 6mm hex wrench (these are reverse, so you need to turn the wrench to the right to loosen). Partially back out the bolts – there is no need to completely remove the bolts. Then pull the chips out and rotate them to your desired position, tighten the bolts to 35 Nm and enjoy your bike’s new handling and feel. Please see the geometry chart for the numbers associated with the different settings.

Yes, the Switchblade will fit 27.5” wheels with 2.6”-2.8” (Maxxis) tires on up to 40mm wide (inner) rims.

The 27.5” wheels with Maxxis 2.8” tires have a smaller diameter than the 29” wheels with 2.4” and 2.5” wide trail tires used on the Switchblade. This difference results in a lower bottom bracket height when running 27.5” wheels. To adjust the BB height, the Switchblade comes a flip-chip upper link mount with high and low settings. Pivot also sells an optional 17mm lower headset cup that when used in conjunction with the high flip chip setting brings the bottom bracket back to the same height as when using 29er wheels in the low chip setting. Some riders will just leave the 17mm cup regardless of the wheel’s size. Please note that we ship all complete bikes with enough spacers to allow for the addition of a 17mm cup. If the fork is pre-cut for the zero-stack cup and additional spacers are not installed, you will not have a long enough fork steer tube to run the 17mm cup option.

The Switchblade uses a ZS (zero stack) 44mm top and (zero stack) 56mm bottom. If you are running the zero stack option on the bottom (instead of Pivot’s extended cup) then a Chris King Inset 2 is compatible. If you are running the 17mm lower cup then it needs to be run in conjunction with the Pivot headset. You cannot press another brand of zero stack headset into the 17mm cup as the 17mm cup is the lower headset cup.

Yes, you can mount a water bottle cage inside the front triangle and put a large water bottle in it on all sizes - even the XS. There is also an additional water bottle cage mount under the base of the downtube for a second bottle for long rides.

Yes. The Switchblade features ISCG05 mounts on the frame. Most upper guides on the market will fit but compatibility is dependent on the Q factor of the crank. Narrow 168mm Q Factor cranks will have clearance issues with some of the more popular guides on the market.

The Switchblade will fit a 180mm rotor without an adapter. A 203mm rotor with an adapter will also fit.

The Switchblade was designed for a 160mm travel fork. We use a 160mm fork in all our complete bike builds. The maximum travel length that can be used on the Switchblade is 160mm travel.

44mm

Yes, The Switchblade features a rising rate design that functions well with coil-over shocks. If you want to run a coil over shock, we recommend the Fox X2 for its best in class performance, reliability and adjustability.

*Please note, the Marzocchi Bomber CR and Fox VAN RC reservoir will not clear the frame at full travel. Please check all clearances prior to using any shock other than those spec’d or specifically recommended by Pivot. Your Switchblade will not be covered under warranty if damage occurs due to shock incompatibility.

The Switchblade’s metric shock has a trunnion style upper mount, 185mm eye-to-eye length, and 55mm stroke.

The Switchblade shock uses M8 through bolt hardware on the bottom mount. Shock spacer dimensions are 30mm wide on the bottom mount. We typically run medium valving on the compression side (depending on rider weight) and medium rebound damping.

The Switchblade frame uses a 30.9mm seatpost.

The Switchblade frame uses a 34.9mm or 35mm (as some manufacturers call it) seatpost clamp.

The Switchblade has short seat tube lengths and deep insertion depths for compatibility with long travel dropper seatposts. Please see the dropper seatpost guide for common dropper post model compatibility. You can check the maximum insertion depth of other seatposts per frame size below:

XS – 245.5 mm

S – 270 mm

M – 290 mm

L – 325 mm

XL – 360 mm

No, the Switchblade is not Di2 compatible. It is possible to externally route the wire to the rear derailleur but it will not have the same level of integration as some of our other models. The frame does not feature the Di2 wiring holes between the front triangle and swingarm. Pivot does not endorse drilling holes in your frame.

Pressfit BB92 bottom bracket

Pivot uses a 1.5 thread pitch on the rear thru axle, and this can be purchased through our online store. Most Shimano compatible axle should work as well if you somehow manage to lose your Pivot or DT Swiss rear axle and need something compatible to keep you going.

The Switchblade uses a 157mm rear hub spacing in a configuration called Super Boost Plus 157. The rear hub spacing is the standard 157mm spacing available from every hub manufacturer in the world so any 12mm x 157mm hub is compatible with the Switchblade. Super Boost Plus 157 builds on the idea of wider flange spacing pioneered by Boost 148. Super Boost Plus spreads the flanges even wider (up to 14mm wider than a 142mm hub) and increases wheel stiffness substantially, which is a huge benefit on 29” enduro and 27.5” wheels. Although any 12mm X 157mm hub can be used, the special Super Boost Plus versions developed with Pivot, DT Swiss, Industry 9, and Reynolds makes for a highly optimized 29er enduro and 27.5 wheel combinations that take wheel performance to another level. Super Boost Plus Hub flange spacing is also available on wheels from Stan’s and hubs from Onyx. Most hub companies are adopting the Super Boost wider flange spacing to their 157mm hubs so if you have a particular brand of hub that you are looking at, its best to check with the manufacturer as to what they are running.

Super Boost Plus 157 uses the existing chainline developed for DH bikes but uses standard trailbike BB widths and crank combinations to take 29” and Plus bike performance to the next level. The current Boost 148 standard moves the drivetrain out 3mm (providing 6mm more tire clearance) which is perfect for XC, and 27.5” enduro bikes, but it did not go far enough to meet the rapidly evolving 29” trail, enduro and 27.5” bike needs. Super Boost Plus 157 takes the concept further and optimizes it for 29” trail, enduro and Plus bikes by moving the drivetrain out a full 6mm (with a 12mm tire clearance gain) while maintaining the same Q factor (crank width) and heel clearance of our Boost 148 equipped bikes. Super Boost Plus 157 is a highly optimized combination of existing standards and technologies. The Super Boost Plus 157 idea has enabled us to build the Switchblade with a level of performance previously unattainable with any other 29” or 27.5” all mountain bike on the market.

* Short 431mm (16.95”) chainstays perfectly complement the Switchblade’s long and low stature allowing you to manual up and over even the gnarliest obstacles while keeping the wheelbase length in check so that you can still clean tight switchbacks and rail corners with confidence and agility like you’ve never experienced before.

* A massive increase in tire clearance for running up 27.5”X2.8” and 29”X2.6” tires with incredible mud clearance: Who doesn’t like that! You can run your racy 29” X 2.4WT tires in the summer and then step up to something wider in bad weather to extend your riding season or just plow through the mud on your 29er wheels with confidence knowing that the Switchblade can handle it all.

* Increased frame stiffness: A better performing bike allows you to push the limits even further and the Switchblade has no weak links. This is the bike that allows you to set new boundaries.

* Increased wheel stiffness: The Super Boost Plus specific hubs on all our Switchblade builds increase the hub flange width and provide for more even (better) spoke tension and the results are incredible. On a DT Swiss 29er alloy wheel with a 25mm inner width rim, the Super Boost Plus wheel is 46% stiffer than the same wheel built with a 142mm hub and 30% stiffer than the same wheel built with a Boost 148mm hub. Interestingly, the Super Boost Plus rear wheel and a standard Boost front wheel wind up being very similar in overall stiffness. What this means for the trai

Yes and no. We do love being the topic of conversation, but the reality is that Super Boost Plus will make you a better rider. Just watch Switchblade video and you’ll see just how Super, Super Boost Plus really is. You and your Switchblade will be able to manual for DAYS and you will look amazing doing it!

The Switchblade will accept all cranks designed for the Super Boost Plus 157 system and compatible with a press fit 92mm bottom bracket. The Super Boost Plus system is based on several standard cranks in the market. When you purchase your Switchblade complete from Pivot, PRO XT/XTR and RACE XT level builds will feature a custom spindle Race Face Aeffect SL or Ride crankset to optimize the chainline. TEAM XTR builds feature a special Race Face Next R crank with Cinch spindle. SRAM equipped Switchblade’s from Pivot come equipped with SRAM cranks with chainrings and/or spindles optimized for the 56.5mm Super Boost Plus chain line.

The standard Race Face Turbine and Aeffect SL cranks with the Cinch chainring flipped is also fully compatible with the Super Boost Plus 157 system (although the chainline will be approximately 1mm outboard compared to the custom configurations provided with our complete bike offerings). One Up (Switch Spider and chainring system) and Wolf Tooth both offer Super Boost Plus spiders and/or chainrings to make standard SRAM GXP and DUB cranks Super Boost Plus compatible. One Up information can be found at: https://www.oneupcomponents.com/collections/switch/products/switch-sdm?variant=31481758337 SRAM has also added some new Super Boost Plus specific crank options to their lineup.

The Switchblade will accept cranks with a standard Q factor measurement as low as 168mm and featuring a 56-57mm chainline. Several other crank manufacturers are working on compatible designs that will be available in the market in the very near future.

Absolutely not! All Pivot bikes with Super Boost Plus 157 spacing are highly optimized to achieve even better heel clearance than our previous generation 142mm spaced XC bikes. Some of our designers and engineers at Pivot have abnormally large feet, and we all know what they say about large feet. Yep…Bad heel clearance. So, with that in mind, we made sure that our heal clearance is best in class. If it clears our abnormally large clown feet (which it does), it will clear yours.

No, the Switchblade is only 1x drivetrain compatible. To achieve the stiffness goals that make this a class-leading all mountain bike, we designed a new wider lower link that’s leaving no room for a front derailleur.

The Switchblade frame weights start at 5.7lbs and our complete Team XTR build comes in at under 29lbs. Pivot bicycles are among the lightest available, but the weight is only one of many factors that make a great bicycle. Other aspects such as frame stiffness, strength, durability, and ride quality are just as important as weight to our engineers when designing our Hollow Core Carbon and aluminum frames. Instead of comparing grams online, we suggest you visit your local Pivot dealer and see our attention to detail, smart, high value spec, and class leading features. Bring a scale if you’d like but take just one demo ride and you’ll feel why Pivot Cycles are the most well-rounded, highest performing bicycles on the market and in many cases, yes, it’s the lightest as well.

Yes, all Switchblade frames are fully compatible, and Fox offers a complete preprogrammed system that is specific to the Switchblade. However, the system would need to replace your current Fork and Shock and is far more cost effective when purchased as part of a Switchblade complete bike. Please see your authorized Pivot dealer for information.

You set sag just as you would on regular suspension, but with the Live Valve system turned off so you get accurate readings. We make it easy to get the best ride out of your Pivot bike with a simple sag indicator already installed on your bike, and this follow-along video featuring our own Bernard Kerr:

https://vimeo.com/pivotcycles/sag

Battery life is highly dependent on Live Valve settings and terrain. Average life ranges between 16 and 26 hours. For most riders, that covers several weeks of riding.

Charge times range between 1.5-2 hours depending on the power source. If you forget to charge the system before a ride it only takes 15 minutes to get enough power for a 2-hour ride.

When the system detects a low battery it goes into open mode and shuts down.

Yes. Riding Live Valve powered off is just like riding your bike with the suspension in the open mode. Pivot’s awesome dw-link suspension always offers class-leading performance with the system on or off.

No, the Live Valve system requires an accelerometer integrated near the rear axle, system mounting, and suspension tuning specific to the bike design.

Yes, within reason. Things like washing your bike, riding in the rain or normal puddles and small water crossings are fine. We do not recommend total submersion or a direct blast of water from a pressure washer – both could push water past seals and compromise the electronic system.

The Live battery can be charged on or off the bike and is charged using a standard micro-USB cable.

If you forget to turn the system off, Live Valve shuts off automatically if motion is not sensed for 1.5 hours. However, it is best to turn it off manually for battery charge preservation.