xt mountainbike Pivot Shadowcat Pro XT/XTR Bike

The Pivot Shadowcat Pro XT/XTR Bike is built around a straightforward premise: a trail bike shouldn't have to weigh like one. The frame is Pivot's Hollow Core Carbon construction — a layup light enough that Pivot places it within 45 grams of their Mach 4SL cross-country race frame, and lighter than their Trail 429. For a bike running 140mm of rear travel and 160mm up front, that weight changes how the whole machine feels in the air and under power on climbs.

The suspension system is dw-link, Pivot's four-bar kinematics developed with suspension engineer Dave Weagle. The design separates the brake and pedaling forces from the suspension's active travel, which means the Shadowcat doesn't squat under power or spike through its travel under braking. In practical terms: 140mm on this bike climbs with more snap than most and stays plush when you stop pedaling. The rear shock is a Fox Factory Float DPS, dialed for the dw-link's specific motion ratio. Up front, a Fox Factory 36 with FIT4 damper runs 160mm of travel — 20mm more than the rear — for a progressive head tube angle and confident descending posture without giving up pedaling efficiency on the way up.

Pivot chose 27.5" wheels for the Shadowcat, and the choice defines the bike's character. Smaller diameter means faster acceleration, quicker direction changes, and a more responsive feel through technical terrain than a 29er of equivalent weight. Combined with 430mm chainstays held constant across all four sizes and a 65.8° head tube angle, the geometry is sharp and reactive without being nervous. A 76° seat tube angle keeps you over the pedals on extended climbs. Reach runs from 410mm in the XS to 480mm in the Large — sizing that covers small riders properly, not just as an afterthought.

Hollow Core Carbon Frame

The Shadowcat frame uses Pivot's Hollow Core Carbon construction — the same manufacturing process Pivot applies to their lightest cross-country and endurance builds. The result is a trail frame that handles 140mm dw-link kinematics without the weight penalty typically associated with longer-travel designs. Low standover height across the size range makes the XS and S useful bikes for smaller riders who often can't find trail options that fit.

Fox Factory Suspension — Both Ends

Fox Factory components appear at both ends of the Pro XT/XTR spec. The Fox Factory 36 fork runs 160mm of travel with a FIT4 damper — Fox's top-tier cartridge with independent high- and low-speed compression adjustment. The Fox Factory Float DPS rear shock is tuned to the Shadowcat's dw-link motion ratio, with three-position lever for open, medium, and firm modes. The Fox Transfer Factory dropper seatpost travels 125mm on the XS, 150mm on the S, and 175mm on the M and L.

Shimano XTR/XT Drivetrain

Pivot specced a Shimano XTR M9100 rear derailleur — the top of Shimano's mechanical mountain hierarchy — paired with XT M8100 shifters and an XT M8100 10-51 cassette. The XTR derailleur brings precise, consistent shifting mechanics at the component that takes the most abuse on a trail bike, while the XT cassette and shifters keep the overall build cost honest. A Race Face Aeffect R crankset runs a 32t chainring through a Race Face bottom bracket. The 10-51 cassette range covers everything from sustained singletrack climbs to full-gas descents without a front derailleur adding weight or complexity.

Shimano XT 4-Piston Brakes

Shimano XT M8120 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes front and rear with 180mm CenterLock rotors at both ends. Four-piston calipers provide consistent, modular stopping power across the full speed range — relevant on a bike that descends as well as the Shadowcat's geometry suggests it should.

DT Swiss XM1700 Wheels with 350 Hubs

The wheel build pairs DT Swiss XM1700 alloy rims — 30mm internal width, tubeless ready — with DT Swiss 350 hubs running a 36-tooth Star Ratchet engagement. The 350 hub is DT Swiss's mid-tier mountain hub, built for durability and field-serviceability. The 36t ratchet provides quick, positive engagement without the mechanical noise or weight of a high-tooth-count system. Both wheels run Boost spacing: 15x110mm front, 12x148mm rear. Maxxis Dissector 27.5" x 2.4" TR EXO tires come stock front and rear.

Final Take

The Shadowcat Pro XT/XTR is a complete, well-thought-out trail build: Fox Factory suspension at both ends, XTR's top mechanical derailleur, DT Swiss 350 wheels, and a dropper post sized to the frame. At $7,699, you're paying for a Hollow Core Carbon platform that rides lighter than its travel number suggests and a component spec that won't need upgrading to perform. Available in XS, S, M, and L in Blue Mirage or Danger Fruit.