Making the Pivot Switchblade in Aluminum - Sea Otter Classic - Mountain Bike Feature

Making complex shapes in aluminum isn't as easy as you might think, which is why Pivot's 135mm travel Switchblade has taken a little while to be complimented by an aluminum version. We caught up with Kevin Tisue, Pivot's Director of Engineering, during Sea Otter for a quick chat about how this one is made and the challenges Pivot had to overcome to pull it off:

"It might sound counter-intuitive, but years of working with carbon actually changed how we build aluminum bikes. Carbon construction techniques enable you to create all manner of frame tube shapes. The kind of shapes that improve ride quality, but were impossible to achieve not so long ago with aluminum. So we pushed the boundaries of aluminum. We pioneered ways to get the same complex multi-axis shapes, variable wall thicknesses and the same outstanding strength and stiffness from aluminum that we’d already achieved with carbon." - Pivot Cycles

Pivot Switchblade Aluminum Highlights

Hydro-formed aluminum frame
Compatible with both 29 and 27.5+ wheel sizes (27.5+ tires up to 3.25-inches wide)
135mm (5.3-inches) dw-link rear suspension with upper clevis and linkage and double wishbone rear triangle
Designed for a 150mm (5.9-inch) travel fork, fits forks up to 160mm (6.3-inches)
Excellent mud and tire clearance
Front derailleur compatible
Two bottle mounts
Super Boost Plus 12x157mm rear axle
Fits riders between 4'11" and 6'2"+
3-year warranty
Two color options: Aqua blue with lime green highlights or electric blue with red accents