The Liv range of women's bikes isn't new, but 2015 is the first year where Liv sits as its own brand - David Rome / Immediate Media
The biggest news in the 2015 Liv range is the new Avail endurance road bike series with completely re-designed frames and the addition of disc brakes on many models - David Rome / Immediate Media
The D-Fuse technology is used on many of Giant's performance bikes. Vertical compliance is added by creating a D-shaped seat post - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Envie range is aimed at the road and triathlon racers seeking a speed advantage - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Envie Advanced Pro 0 (US$8,300 / AU$7,699 / £TBA) is a pro-level race bike worthy of world champion Marianne Vos - Courtesy
Keeping the same frame as the Advanced Pro 0, the Liv Envie Advanced Pro 1 (US$5,325 / AU$4,999 / £TBA) with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Giant P-SLR1 55mm deep wheels is just as ready to race - Courtesy
The Liv Envie Advanced 1 (US$2,775 / AU$2,799 / £TBA) uses a slightly cheaper carbon frame to the Pro, but we suspect it will be a popular choice - Courtesy
The Liv Envie Advanced 2 (US$2,250 / AU$2,299/ £TBA) is the base-model in the Envie range, it offers a Shimano 105 groupset - Courtesy
That is the only reference to Giant on the whole frame, although the wheels and cockpit components remain with Giant branding - David Rome / Immediate Media
The biggest change to the 2015 Envie lineup is a new brake. Previously the Envie brakes were known to be fiddly and underperforming - these new alloy models should fix that - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Trinity Composite W (US$N/A / AU$2,799 / £TBA) is a purpose built time-trial and triathlon machine. In the US, there'll be a tri-specific Envie instead - Courtesy
The Thrive CoMax 2 Disc (US$1500 / AU$1,599 / £TBA) is a new carbon composite flat-bar road bike. While an Avail or Envie will still be more efficient (faster), the Thrive range is better suited to commuting or general fitness riding - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Thrive ranges offers many of the same features as the Thrive CoMax, but in a cheaper aluminium frame. The aluminium will be a little heavier and not quite as comfortable as the more expensive carbon composite option - Courtesy
Sharing the same components as the Thrive CoMax 2 Disc, this Thrive 1 Disc (US$925 / AU$999 / £TBA) should prove a hit - Courtesy
Sitting on the top step of Liv's mountain bike range is the LUST Advanced 0 (US$8,050 / AU$6,999 / £TBA), with its RockShox SID XX fork, SRAM XX1 11-speed gearing and, interestingly, a Giant Control SL Switch dropper seatpost - Courtesy
The Liv LUST Advanced 0 blends purple with aqua - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv LUST Advanced combines a carbon front triangle with an alloy rear triangle. Note the popular SRAM 1x11 gearing on this model - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv LUST Advanced 2 (US$3,600 / AU$3,299 / £TBA) looks like a high-value endurance and cross country bike. It has Fox Suspension and Shimano SLX/XT gearing - David Rome / Immediate Media
Confused about the numerous wheel size options? The Liv performance range only gives you one option – 27.5in - David Rome / Immediate Media
Every Liv bike is handcrafted by giant - David Rome / Immediate Media
The head tube is traditionally the proudest place to put your brand name - David Rome / Immediate Media
Giant's well-regarded Maestro suspension system is featured on all Liv LUST and Intrigue models - David Rome / Immediate Media
Many of the Liv performance mountain bikes had these comfortable and lightweight silicone grips - David Rome / Immediate Media
The bikes in the LUST range all feature full-aluminium frames. This Liv LUST 2 (US$2,450 / AU$2,499 / £TBA) is another high-value option - Courtesy
The cross-country race focused Obsess Advanced 2 (US$2,775 / AU$2,799 / £TBA) shares the same frame used by the professional Liv racing team - Courtesy
The Giant Trance is a bike you'll often see on the trails with its 140mm of suspension travel; the Liv Intrigue is the female specific version. Pictured, the Intrigue 2 (US$2,775 / AU$2,699 / £TBA) with a price conscious RockShox Revelation RL front fork and Shimano Deore 20-speed gearing - Courtesy
The Liv Tempt is a budget orientated range trail ready 27.5in wheeled hardtails. Pictured is the range-topping Liv Tempt 1 (US$1,700 / AU$1,599 / £TBA) - Courtesy
Sitting one lower, the Tempt 2 (US$1,075 / AU$1,149 / £TBA) - Courtesy
For the cyclocross crowd, there is the Brava SLR. The Brava SLR 1 (US$3,500 / AU$N/A / £TBA) looks ready to race with its Shimano Ultegra gears and matched hydraulic disc brakes - Courtesy
Sitting one below, the Brava SLR 2 (US$1,650 / AU$1,799 / £TBA) should be popular for those looking to give cyclocross a go - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Brava SLR 2 features Shimano 105 gearing and a cross-specific crankset - David Rome / Immediate Media
While still sold through Giant dealers, Liv is being marketed as its own brand - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Brava SLR features internal cable routing at a location that won't get in the way during dismounts - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Brava SLR series features a lightweight aluminium frame and carbon fork - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Brava SLR2 will come with TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. These are different from most mechanical disc brakes in that both pads move to clamp the rotor - David Rome / Immediate Media
And for the adventure seekers, there's the new Invite CoMax (US$1,650 / AU$N/A / £TBA) - Courtesy
BikeRadar recently broke the news on the Giant Bikes 2015 men’s performance range. One notable thing was the clear separation of the men's and women’s ranges; Giant has taken the bold step to rebrand its female-focused bikes as Liv. So female riders looking for a Giant, will now be offered a Liv – but they’ll find a subtle ‘handcrafted by giant’ marked somewhere on the frame.
The other big news for the Liv range was the recent launch of the completely revamped Avail endurance road bike range, with many options now featuring disc brakes and greater comfort. As well as this, the aero race-focused Envie (Propel for the men) now has improved brakes and there's also a new performance flat-bar road bike.
For the racers, the aerodynamic Envie range continues with numerous options, all well-suited to road or triathlon racing. The Envie offers a different carbon layup and geometry to the men’s Propel bike, and there's also differences in gearing ratios and contact points.
The biggest change to the 2015 envie line-up is a new brake. previously the envie brakes were known to be fiddly and underperforming - these new alloy models should fix that : - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Envie range gets new and improved brakes
All Envie models receive a small but significant switch to better performing integrated brakes. As well improved lever feel, the new brakes offer a two-position cable stop to enable simple swaps between wide carbon race-day wheels and narrow alloy training wheels.
The liv envie advanced pro 0 (us$8,300 / au$7,699 / £tba) is a pro-level race bike worthy of world champion marianne vos : - Courtesy
The Liv Envie Advanced Pro 0
Sitting at the top of the range is the Envie Advanced Pro 0 (US$8,300 / AU$7,699 / £TBA), a bike that's worthy of world champion Marianne Vos. This full-carbon model features a Giant P-SLR0 carbon race wheelset, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 gearing and an aero integrated handlebar and stem combo.
Sitting a few price points below is the Envie Advanced 1 (US$2,775 / AU$2,799 / £TBA) in a super bright blue and yellow, which we expect to be a popular choice. This carbon-framed model features Shimano Ultegra mechanical gearing.
For the ironman and triathlon focused, there’s now a Envie Advanced Tri (US$4,250 / AU$N/A / £TBA), which takes the aero road model and adds composite clip-on aero bars, bottle cages and Giant 55mm deep aero wheels. This model won’t be offered in Australia (other markets TBC), because the purpose built Trinity Composite W (US$N/A / AU$2,799) is available. In any case, it’s quite easy to turn a standard Envie into a bike like this.
The thrive comax 2 disc (us$1500 / au$1,599 / £tba) is a new carbon composite flat-bar road bike. while an avail or envie will still be more efficient (faster), the thrive range is better suited to commuting or general fitness riding : - David Rome / Immediate Media
New for 2015, the Liv Thrive CoMax 2 Disc
The Thrive CoMax Disc models are designed for commuters or fitness seekers – it's a range of performance-orientated flat-handlebar road bikes with carbon composite frames. The Thrive CoMax 2 Disc (US$1500 / AU$1,599 / £TBA), a model we suspect will do well, offers Shimano Tiagra gearing and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes.
At a lower end of the price spectrum, the Thrive Disc models move to aluminium frames, but lose little in the way of components. For example, the Thrive 1 Disc (US$925 / AU$999 / £TBA) has many of the same components as the Thrive CoMax 2 Disc.
Mountain bikes
The Liv mountain bike range mirrors Giant's push on the 27.5in (650b) wheel size. All but the entry-level Enchant series is now offered with middle-sized wheels only. Another key change for the mountain range is the removal of Giant’s OD2 technology – a proprietary fork steerer and stem size that made finding aftermarket stems a real hassle.
The liv lust advanced 2 (us$3,600 / au$3,299 / £tba) looks like a high-value endurance and cross country bike. fox suspension and shimano slx/xt gearing : - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv LUST Advanced 2 (US$3,600 / AU$3,299 / £TBA)
The LUST Advanced series of race and endurance-focused cross-country dual suspension bikes headlines the mountain bike range. The 'Advanced' part of the name refers to a carbon front triangle, matted to an aluminium rear triangle. Those seeking absolute performance will likely gravitate toward the LUST Advanced 0 (US$8,050 / AU$6,999 / £TBA), with its RockShox SID XX fork, SRAM XX1 11-speed gearing and, interestingly, a Giant Control SL Switch dropper seatpost.
The fully aluminium-framed LUST series is the more affordable option – the LUST 2 (US$2,450 / AU$2,499 / £TBA) is likely to be popular, thanks to its Fox suspension package and Shimano Deore 20-speed gearing.
Cross country race focused, the obsess advanced 2 (us$2,775 / au$2,799 / £tba) shares the same frame as used by the professional liv racing team : - Courtesy
Liv Obsess Advanced 2
The Obsess, a carbon race hardtail used by the likes of two-time U23 world champion Jolanda Neff, is on offer for the speed seekers. In both the US and Australian markets, the Obsess Advanced 2 (US$2,775 / AU$2,799) will be the only model offered; it features a Fox Float Evolution front fork and a Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain. UK models and pricing are TBA.
The giant trance is a bike you'll often see on the trails with its 140mm of suspension travel; the liv intrigue is the female specific version. pictured, the intrigue 2 (us$2,775 / au$2,699 / £tba) with a price conscious rockshox revelation rl front fork and shimano deore 20-speed gearing : - Courtesy
Built for technical trail riding, the Liv Intrigue 2
And for the less race-focused riders, there’s the 5in (140mm) travel Intrigue trail bike. It's available in two models: the Intrigue 1 (US$4,700 / AU$N/A / £TBA) with a Fox Talas Performance front fork and SRAM X0 20-speed gearing, and the Intrigue 2 (US$2,775 / AU$2,699 / £TBA) with a more basic RockShox Revelation RL front fork and Shimano Deore 20-speed gearing.
Cyclocross bikes
Sitting one below, the brava slr 2 (us$1,650 / au$1,799 / £tba) should be popular for those looking to give cyclocross a go: - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Liv Brava SLR 2
Introduced last year, the Brava SLR is an affordable cyclocross race bike with disc brakes and a lightweight aluminium frame. While the Brava SLR 1 (US$3,500 / AU$N/A / £TBA) looks fantastic with its Shimano Ultegra gears and matched hydraulic disc brakes, it’s the more affordable Brava SLR 2 (US$1,650 / AU$1,799 / £TBA) that will likely be a popular starter bike. The SLR 2 features Shimano’s workhorse 105 gearing and TRP’s Spyre mechanical disc brakes.
If you’re seeking a little adventure, the new Invite CoMax (US$1,650 / AU$N/A / £TBA) is worth a look. A carbon composite frame is combined with a drop handlebar and a reasonable width tyre for touring, commuting or all-day adventures on a variety of surfaces.
As indicated throughout this article, UK pricing and availability is still to be annouced. Where a price is listed as N/A, the model is not available in that region.