Giant, the world’s biggest bike manufacturer, is all-in with e-bikes and this week the Taiwanese company has launched its range for 2017, which includes everything from sensible city commuters to the Road E drop-bar machine and an updated version of the Full-E trail bike. Here's a quick look at those last two...
Giant has focused on integration with its latest line-up, with newly refined batteries that blend neatly with down tubes rather than simply piggybacking on top of them, and updates to the RideControl head units and controllers designed to improve their appearance and usability.
Range highlights
Full-E trail bike
The big news for 2017 is a redesigned Full-E, now called the Full-E , which features a far more cleanly integrated battery than its predecessor, and debuts an update to Giant’s Maestro suspension platform in the form of a slinky forged composite linkage that’s designed for the new trunnion-mount metric-sized shocks. (Forged composites are so hot right now, because lighter, stiffer…)
The bike is powered by a Yamaha SyncDrive motor with a nominal output of 250W, and in its top Full-E 0 SX spec it’s built with SRAM’s new e-bike specific EX1 groupset LINK and matching Guide RSC brakes, along with a Rockshox Lyrik 160mm fork and a custom-tuned DebonAir 140mm shock. 27.5in wheels are the order of the day, with DT Swiss doing the honours. We'll be bringing you a first ride on this remarkable bike in the coming days.Giant will also be offering two cheaper builds, the Full-E 1 with Shimano SLX and Fox suspension, and the Full-E 2 with Shimano Deore and basic Suntour bouncy bits.
Pricing and availability on all Full-E models is to be confirmed.
Road-E road bike
First launched in April, Giant’s Road-E+ is a full-on electric road bike that uses the same Yamaha power unit as the Full-E+. With endurance-style geometry, big clearances, and mounts for mudguards, the Road-E+ could be the ultimate commuting machine, or an excellent way to cheat on climbs. More on that to come...
Available in two models, the higher-spec Road-E+ 1 has a mixture of Shimano Ultegra and 105 components, along with RS685/785 hydraulic disc brakes. The Road-E+ 2 gets Tiagra and mechanical TRP Spyre calipers.
Current pricing for the Road-E+ is as follows; however this may be subject to change as we roll over to the 2017 model year, with increases likely for the UK market if sterling does not recover from its recent slump following the EU referendum. Pricing and availability in other markets is to be confirmed.
- Road E+ 1 £2749
- Road E+ 2 £2299
