Jean Turner | April 14, 2023
Taking to the Utah trails on Liv’s all-new premium offering in the eMTB segment.
Designed for women? Yes. Exclusive to women? Nope. The Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite is worth a look for any rider seeking a premium eMTB.
Photography by Jeff Clark
There’s nowhere quite like St. George, Utah, to overwhelm you with the reality that there is so much out there, and so little time to explore it all. The southwest pocket of the state is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, and a mecca of all things outdoors. Whether it’s on foot, on two wheels or four, St. George beckons you to come play in any heart-pumping form you see fit, which made it an ideal playground for the world launch of the all-new Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite.
An eMTB melts together the land-access of mountain biking with the go-power of a dirt bike into a tantalizing form of hybrid fun, giving you the ability to go three times and far and four times as fast as an analog mountain bike. (That’s what they’re calling old-school pedal-bicycles these days, FYI.) In a place like St. George that’s exactly what you want to do, ride farther, go faster and keep whipping through trails until every drop of daylight is done. Maximizing the experience means maximum performance from your weapon of choice, and in that regard, I’m pleased to report that Liv—sister brand of Giant Bicycles—has stepped up big time with their most advanced weapon yet.
Take a look at one of the lightest full-size, full-power eMTB in the world. The size small checks in at 41.4 pounds.
Ladies Only?
Liv is a women’s cycling company that designs bikes for women. What exactly does that mean? It means the company builds bicycles around a baseline of exclusively female body dimensions and riding feedback. But much like “men’s” bicycles, there is nothing overtly gender-specific to Liv eMTB models beyond that.
As a sister brand to Giant, it follows suit that a “men’s” equivalent of the Liv Intrigue X Elite has also been recently revealed. The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is claimed as the lightest full-size, full-power eMTB available today, the medium checking in at 41 pounds. The Liv is right in the ballpark at a fighting weight of 41.4 pounds for the small. Another first for both
St. George, Utah, provided a stunning backdrop, and ideal proving grounds for the world launch of the Liv Intrigue X Elite.
The Bike
In creating the newest generation Intrigue X Elite, aimed squarely at the most hard-core MTB crowd, Liv had three goals in mind: light weight, big power and nimble handling. The primary goal was light weight, since women want an eMTB that is easy to handle in every aspect, from riding to transporting. Liv set out to deliver the experience of an eMTB without the heft of a dirt bike, and they succeeded in going from 56.4 pounds to a jaw-dropping 41.4 pounds (small frame size). The all-new carbon frame and above-mentioned in-tube battery were key in accomplishing this remarkable light weight. The battery is all but hidden in the narrow down tube, cables are also neatly tucked away inside, and the result is an impressively slim and seamless profile that hardly looks like an e-bike at all.
The SyncDrive Pro 2 motor from Yamaha provides 85Nm and a range of 28-93 miles, according to Liv. The 400Wh battery houses all-new cells—22,700 of them—exclusively used by Liv and the first of their kind. An auxiliary 200Wh extender is also available, which the company states can get you up to 140 miles on a charge.
No need to touch a thing; the Fox Live Valve electronic suspension always seems to know what you’re doing, and how to help.
The all-new frame, Fox Live Valve suspension and a mullet wheel setup (29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear) come together in the Intrigue X Elite chassis. If you’re familiar with Giant Bicycles, you will recognize the Maestro suspension system and the Flip Chip adjustability. What that means, in a nutshell, is frame geometry designed for responsive handling and adaptive suspension action across multiple conditions—big hits, small bumps, high speeds, slow speeds and climbing.
Adjustability is a big feature of the Intrigue X Elite, starting with the obvious such as bars, controls and seat. The head-tube angle and seat-tube angle can also be altered, and the suspension and power modes are also fully tunable. Power levels can be selected through the RideControl Ergo 3 buttons integrated into the grip, or, in another first for Liv, power can also be configured to your own personal preferences by way of the RideControl App.
The mullet wheel setup (29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear) provides a stable ride with moto-like cornering that was a blast on the Utah trails. Climbing hills, no problem.
In case you don’t want to mess with adjusting power levels on the go, the Liv features a SmartAssist mode that handles the task for you, metering power output based on six sensors (cadence, speed, torque, rpm, slope and acceleration). And if you want to add your own intelligence to the SmartAssist equation, yep, you can adjust that within the app, as well.
There is literally too much technology and adjustability built into the Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite to list here, so if you’d like to marvel at the full suite of whiz-bangs on Liv’s flagship eMTB, head to Liv-cycling.com/us.
Selectable power modes offer a wide range of power, from 20-85Nm, though you might find the SmartAssist auto mode to be your best bet.
The Ride
At first glance, the Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite might not even look like an eMTB. The streamlined down-tube that houses the battery is hardly wider than that of an analog bike, and at a curb weight in the low 40-pound range, it is as light as it looks. Of course, less weight will automatically amount to better power and more nimble handling (perhaps a note that should be on my refrigerator door?) but it’s more than the featherweight nature of this samurai sword of a bike that will wow you on the trail.
Those coming from an off-road/motocross background will find plenty to love in the handling of the Intrigue X Elite. The frame geometry, together with the Fox Live Valve Electronic adaptive suspension and the mullet wheel setup, offers handling on the trail that is nothing short of phenomenal. The 29-inch front wheel does an excellent job of providing stability through tricky, rocky terrain, yet retains a sharp, responsive feel when it comes to whipping through the turns. Frame geometry and flex points also aide in this endeavor, and all I can say is, bravo. It was the front-end stability in particular that had me feeling a new level of confidence I can’t honestly say I’ve ever experienced on a bicycle, e-power or otherwise. The bike practically dares you to get up over the front end and charge down hills and through technical terrain, and I found myself happily obliging. Throughout the course of our two-day ride experience, the more confidence I had in the bike, the more reward it returned. In the right hands (not mine), I can only imagine the limits of the Intrigue X Elite’s performance.
Selectable power modes offer a wide range of power, from 20-85Nm, though you might find the SmartAssist auto mode to be your best bet.
Power output is another wow factor, and with up to 85Nm of torque at your disposal and maximum support of 400%, you can quickly find yourself reaching speeds and tackling climbs that you might not have previously attempted without a throttle. Some of the steeper climbs had me “shifting into fifth gear” on the power modes (I realize they’re not gears and I wasn’t shifting, but that’s just what I’m going to call it) and at full power, it was almost too much to keep the front end down. As the day wore on, I found myself settling into the SmartAssist mode even through steep sections and sand, and the bike’s auto-power output just about always struck the right chord. I say almost, because at a lower cadence of pedaling, the power could feel a little surgey at times. But for the most part, the SmartAssist dialed in the right amount of power for whatever we got into, and after half a day of manual tinkering, I found myself opting for the auto setting. Not having to manage the power output or worry about adjusting suspension between climbs and descents took a little getting used to, but much like the chassis, as you learn to trust it, you will reap the rewards.
Power is provided by a sleek but potent 85Nm SyncDrive Pro 2 Yamaha motor.
The final standout feature, of course, the ergonomics. Swinging a leg over a bike that is built to suit my specific dimensions is a revelation. This must be what it’s like to be a 5’10” 180-pound man on a modern 450cc motocross bike. Everything here is built exactly to fit you. There is nothing to adapt to, no bars to trim or dimensions to compensate for. Slim grips at exactly the right width and a stand-over position that doesn’t challenge my back makes everything easier. Ladies of shorter stature will particularly find lots to love with all Liv offerings. The Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite comes in sizes XS to L, with its generous adjustability making it particularly accommodating for ladies 5’2” and under. With a maximum weight capacity of 344 pounds (156 kg), larger riders will also be right at home.
The grip-integrated controls are as narrow and streamlined as the chassis, the lady-finger-sized buttons activating shifting and power modes with the lightest touch. This sleek design is very appealing at first, but I found it a little difficult to alter the power modes at speed through bumpy terrain. Buttons with a more tactile press would make it easier to “shift” on the fly, but perhaps the slick controls simply take some getting used to.
The adaptive suspension behavior has a lot to do with the Maestro chassis design.
Actual gear shifting is handled seamlessly by SRAM wireless electronic shifting, which never skipped a beat across the 12-speed cassette. SRAM hydraulic disc brakes are another premium component, their stopping power a proportionate response to the Intrigue’s beefy pedal power. TRX rims and hubs are wrapped in Maxxis rubber, which provided a surprisingly confident grip, even across tricky surfaces like wet, sandy rockface. At one point I experienced some slip on an uphill, but a little less tire pressure was all it took to get rear-wheel grip back on point.
VIDEO | Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite eMTB Review
Liv Intrigue
Bottom Line
Liv’s premium offering comes at a premium price. The Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite that we rode carries an MSRP of $10,000. Multiple trim levels will also be available, with the Elite 2 and Elite 3 coming in at $7200 and $6000, respectively. These options both feature the same frame, motor and battery, but complete the package with different suspension, drive train and brake components, as well as different rims and hubs (same mullet wheel sizes). But if it’s the top-shelf option you’re looking for, be prepared to cough up five figures.
It’s rare to come away from an all-new platform wondering “How good can it possibly get?” but this was one of the rare moments. Liv has a real game changer on its hands that I feel will make its way to riders seeking a potent lightweight trail weapon, regardless of gender. Of course, the Giant Trance version is also worth checking out, and is equally upping the ante with incredible power packed into a sleek design. It’s always a bonus to have more options for sizing, ergonomics and suspension. No matter where the baseline measurements come from, if the shoe fits, send it. CN
Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite Specifications
| MSRP: |
$10,000 |
| Motor |
SyncDrive Pro2 85Nm, powered by Yamaha |
| Controller |
RideControl Ergo 3, RideControl GO integrated in T/T |
| Display |
ANT+ Wireless display compatible |
| Battery |
EnergyPak Smart Compact 400 |
| Sizes |
XS, S, M, L |
| Frame |
Advanced-grade composite frame, Advanced-grade rear triangle, Advanced forged composite upper rocker, 140mm Maestro suspension system MX (front 29″, rear 27.5″) |
| Fork |
Fox 36 Performance Elite Live Valve, 150mm travel, 44mm offset, Grip2 damper, Boost 110x15QR, electronic adaptive suspension, e-bike integrated |
| Shock |
Fox Float X Live Valve, 185×52.5mm Trunnion mount, electronic suspension, e-bike integrated |
| Handlebar |
Giant Contact SLR Trail, carbon, 760mm (XS-S), 800mm (M-L) |
| Stem |
Giant Contact SLR Trail, integrated,40/45/50mm Reach, 7/9degree Sweep Adjust System |
| Shifters |
SRAM AXS Rocker Paddle, wireless electronic shifting |
| Front Derailleur |
MRP 1X HD2 custom co-molded chain guide |
| Rear Derailleur |
SRAM GX Eagle AXS |
| Front Brake |
SRAM Code R, 220mm hydraulic disc |
| Rear Brake |
SRAM Code R, 200mm hydraulic disc |
| Cassette |
SRAM XG-1275, 10-52T, 12-speed |
| Chain |
SRAM GX Eagle PowerLock |
| Crankset |
Praxis Performance Carbon e-crank arms SRAM X-Sync Eagle 36T chain ring |
| Rims |
TRX 2 Hookless Clincher, 29-in front, 27.5-inch rear, 30mm inner width |
| Hubs |
TRX 2 MTB Alloy Hub, 6 Bolt, Pawl Driver (3 Pawl 30T) SRAM XD, 110 x 15 [F] / 148 x 12 [R] Thru-axle |
| Front Tire |
Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.50″ Foldable, TLR, EXO |
| Rear Tire |
Maxxis Dissector 27.5×2.4″ Foldable, TLR, EXO |
