Giant and its women's specific brand Liv has announced an update to its full-suspension electric trail mountain bikes.
The Stance E+ is a unisex model. In keeping with Liv’s design ethos, the Embolden E+ features women's-specific geometry.
Both bikes feature 140mm of front suspension, with 125mm of rear suspension controlled by Giants FlexPoint suspension linkage.
The bikes are now available, with the Giant Stance E+2 and Liv Embolden E+2 both starting at £3,499 / $4,400 / €3999.
Flex stay suspension and new linkage
The bikes are built around a new 6061 aluminium alloy frame, using Giant’s single-pivot FlexPoint design.
This is a single-pivot linkage-driven suspension system, which doesn’t require a pivot in the rear triangle. It instead uses the flex of the seat stays and chainstays to provide the articulation needed for the rear wheel to move.
The system provides the bikes with 125mm of rear travel, which is the same as on the previous Stance E+, but is a 5mm increase for the Embolden E+.
An update to the linkage gives the bikes a sleeker-looking rear end compared to the previous models that featured a similar silhouette to Giant’s maestro linkage.
The Maestro linkage is Giants twin-link virtual pivot system, the brand says by moving away from it has saved weight as it eliminates the need for a rocker arm and two pivot points.
Both bikes feature mounts for racks, mudguards, and a kickstand.
The US will receive hybrid EX models that ship with accessories similar to the Specialized Terro X, and are designed to cross the disciplines between a mountain bike and a utility bike – an SUV of sorts.
Giant Stance E+ geometry
Giant says it wanted to add more confident handling characteristics to the Stance E+ and has paid more attention to the descending capabilities of the bike.
The new Stance E+ features a significant reach increase of 29mm, up from 421mm to 450mm for a size medium.
Reach determines the front centre of the bike – the longer it is, the less you feel that you’re going to go over the bars on steep terrain.
This is matched with a slacker head angle of 65.5 degrees – a significant slackening from the 67-degree head angle on the previous model.
The Stance E+ is only available in a 29in wheelsize.
Liv Embolden E+ geometry
The Embolden E+ features women-specific geometry and size-specific wheel sizing. This means that the size XS bikes feature a 27.5in wheel, while the S, M, and L frames are built around a 29in wheel.
Liv says this gives riders greater control and optimises the bike for all sizes.
Similarly to the Stance E+, the new Embolden E+ has a slacker geometry than the model it replaces, with the head angle slackening by 1.5 degrees from 67.5 to 66 degrees on the 29in bikes.
Reach measurements have also increased, with a size M increasing from 410mm to 437mm.
The previous Embolden E+ was only available in sizes XS, S, and M but the new bike caters to taller female riders with a size L. This features a 455mm reach.
More motor torque
The bikes will use the updated SyncDrive Sport 2 motor, provided by Yamaha.
The new motor has an increased torque output of 75nm, up by 5nm on the previous motor, and a 400 per cent maximum support ratio – meaning the motor can multiply your pedalling input up to four times.
The models of the bikes feature the EnergyPak 625whr battery, with the more expensive E+ Pro models using the 800whr version.
The UK will only receive the Embolden E+ Pro, which also features a SyncDrive Pro motor featuring 85nm of torque.
There is also the option of adding a 250whr battery extender to both bikes.
Giant Stance E+ spec and price
Giant Stance E+1
- Fork: RockShox 35 Silver
- Shock: SR Suntour Raidon R
- Motor: SyncDrive Sport 75nm
- Battery: EnergyPak 625Wh
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Shimano BR-M420
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.50 (front), Maxxis Dissector 2.40 (rear)
- Price: £3,999 / $4,800 / €4,499
Giant Stance E+ 2
- Fork: SR Suntour XCR 34 LO-R
- Shock: SR Suntour Raidon R
- Motor: SyncDrive Sport 75nm
- Battery: EnergyPak 625Wh
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M745
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.50 (front), Maxxis Dissector 2.40 (rear)
- Price: £3,499 / $4,400 / €3999
Liv Embolden E+ Pro 1
- Fork: RockShox 35 Silver
- Shock: SR Suntour Raidon R
- Motor: SyncDrive Pro 85nm
- Battery: EnergyPak 800Wh
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M745
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.50 (front), Maxxis Dissector 2.40 (rear)
- Price: £4,299
Liv Embolden E+ 2
- Fork: SR Suntour XCR 34 LO-R
- Shock: SR Suntour Raidon R
- Motor: SyncDrive Sport 75nm
- Battery: EnergyPak 625Wh
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M745
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.50 (front), Maxxis Dissector 2.40 (rear)
- Price: £3,499 / $4,400 / €3999
