With the Intrigue X Elite, Giant's women's brand Liv added a light e-MTB to its range last year especially for women and smaller and lighter riders. The bike is based on the Giant Trance X E+ Elite, but offers smaller sizes. Some of the components used have been specially adapted to the needs of smaller riders, especially women. With frame size XS, the bike should also be suitable for riders from 152 cm tall.
Liv Intrigue X E+ Elite V2 at a glance:
- Motor: Giant Syncdrive Pro 2 / Pro 2 Mg (85 Nm)
- Battery: 400 Wh permanently installed, range extender with 200 Wh optional (€599.90 / 1.1 kg)
- Frame: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 150/140 millimetres
- Wheel size: Mullet (29 inch front, 27.5 inch rear)
- Price: three models between 5499 and 7999 euros
- Weight: approx. 20 kg (factory specification)
- Permissible total weight: 156 kg
- Sizes: XS to L
Motor with magnesium casing: The new Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg
Despite the light approach, the Liv Intrigue X Elite is powered by a classic Syncdrive Pro 2 motor with a full 85 Newton metres. This means that Liv uses the same motor as in the brand's full-power models. This means that the Light-E-MTB also offers full motor thrust on request. This was already the case on the previous bike. New: Like its sister bike, the Giant Trance Elite V2, Liv now relies on the lighter Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg with magnesium housing.
Although the performance of the Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg is slightly lower than that of the EP8, Bosch CX and co, but noticeably above the level of classic light drives such as Fazua Ride 60 or even TQ HPR 50 or Specialised SL 1.2. This also enables short, particularly lively rides with a lot of motor assistance or joint tours with classic full-power e-bikes.
As with its predecessor, the power for the bike comes from a 400 watt-hour battery permanently installed in the frame. For longer tours, the range of the Liv can be extended with an additional battery in the bottle cage (200 Wh / 1.1 kg / €599.90).
From 5499 euros: The Liv Intrigue E+ Elite V2 models
Until now, Liv has relied on the electronic Live Valve suspension from Fox, at least for the top model Intrigue E+ Elite 1. This is now a thing of the past. All bikes come with conventional suspension elements again. This makes the bikes more affordable and is even more conducive to performance. the somewhat harsh fork in the Fox electric suspension was one of our biggest criticisms of the 2023 bike.
The Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg magnesium motor is also new, and Liv has also installed new, in-house wheels. They are called TRA (aluminium) and TRX (carbon) and are designed to be lighter and ensure fewer punctures thanks to a specially designed rim flange. Despite the carbon frame and Fox Marzocchi suspension, the entry-level price for the most affordable Intrigue Elite V2 is only € 5499, although this model still comes with the conventional Pro 2 motor with aluminium housing and an aluminium rear triangle.
The lighter Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg is then available from the Intrigue X Elite 2 for € 6499, and a carbon rear triangle reduces the weight from this model onwards. Liv uses Fox performance suspension and Shimano SLX components throughout. The top model leaves nothing to be desired with a one-piece full carbon cockpit, Fox Factory suspension and carbon wheels and costs € 7999.
EMTB conclusion on the Liv Intrigue X E+ Elite V2
With its particularly small XS frame, the Intrigue X Elite was already a hot tip for small riders, and Liv has now brought the bike up to date with technical updates such as the new motor, fresh wheels and classic Fox suspension. The price is fair, and the full-power motor with a small battery means that the range of use is wide, especially for lightweight riders. - Adrian Kaether, Editor EMTB
Adrian Kaether
Editor
