Pivot Founder Chris Cocalis on Their New Insanely Powerful Shuttle AMP’d, XC Race Bike Design, 32” Wheels, & More
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In this episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, host Simon Stewart sits down with Pivot Cycles founder Chris Cocalis to dive deep into the company's latest innovations, centered around the newly launched Shuttle Amped, a full-power e-bike powered by Avanox's new M2S drive system. Cocalis shares the story of how Pivot quickly integrated the Avanox motor into their Shuttle SLAM frame after receiving a prototype, highlighting the company's agile R&D process and commitment to quality over speed. The Shuttle Amped features a beefed-up chassis, a 32-inch rear wheel option (via a mullet setup), and a quiet, powerful motor that delivers over 800 watts while maintaining a sub-48-pound weight. The episode also covers Pivot's other new models: the upgraded Shuttle LT (a burly enduro e-bike with UCI race compliance) and the Mach 4 SL, a high-performance cross-country race bike that retains Pivot’s signature DW-Link suspension for superior climbing efficiency and descending control. Cocalis discusses the growing trend of 32-inch wheels, the importance of rider versatility, and the future of e-bike customization through software updates. The conversation wraps with reflections on the evolving landscape of mountain biking, from e-bike performance to the resurgence of XC racing and the excitement in Supercross and road cycling.
Pivot’s Shuttle Amped integrates Avanox’s M2S motor into a beefed-up chassis, delivering high power with minimal weight increase and offering an extra-small size for riders under 5'3"
The new Avanox motor is exceptionally quiet and efficient, with a software update enabling fully customizable power modes for personalized riding
Pivot’s Mach 4 SL retains DW-Link suspension for superior climbing efficiency and descending control, proving that traditional designs still outperform modern flex pivots in XC racing
The Shuttle Amped blends AM and LT characteristics, offering gravity-focused capability with a lightweight, agile chassis perfect for technical trails
32-inch wheels are on the horizon, with Pivot already prototyping them—expected to appear in elite events like the Cape Epic and World Cup races in the near future
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Introducing the Shuttle Amped and Avanox M2S Drive System
“We had that motor in a pivot within a few weeks of receiving the initial bike from them.”
The Avanox Integration: From Prototype to Production
“It could have been more of a plug and play, let's get this to market and be one of the first non-AMFLO bikes out there.”
Beefing Up the Chassis for High Power
“This thing needs to the making it too lightweight is maybe not the direction on this like we could still keep it much lighter than the lt but really this frame needs to be beefed up.”
Suspension, Quietness, and the New RockShox & Fox Components
Cocalis praises the new RockShox Zeb and Super Deluxe suspension components, noting their quiet operation and improved performance. He compares them to Fox’s new 38 and Float X, emphasizing that both brands have raised the bar in plushness and control.
The Shuttle Amped as a Hybrid: AM Meets LT
“It's like you guys drew up a perfect design suited to me. So thanks for that.”
“I've already predicted, I'm already on record for predicting that there will be a 32-inch wheel bike on the podium at a World Cup event this year.”
“We had that motor in a pivot within a few weeks of receiving the initial bike from them.”
“This thing needs to the making it too lightweight is maybe not the direction on this like we could still keep it much lighter than the lt but really this frame needs to be beefed up.”
Host
Guest
Chris Cocalis
person
Pivot Cycles
brand
Avanox
brand
Shuttle Amped
product
Mach 4 SL
product
Shuttle LT
product
DW-Link
other
RockShox
brand
Fox
brand
Supercross
other
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