2023 · GiantStance E+, 2 625

A high quality ebike from a mainstream company with loads of dealers in North America. The purpose built full-suspension frame comes in four sizes and features internal cable routing, custom metallic paint, and all-black accessories. It delivers cross country geometry with 130mm front and 120mm rear suspension travel. Air suspension is lightweight and highly adjustable for different rider weights.

Boost hub spacing with a 15mm thru-axle adds stiffness and strength for the front wheel. Interestingly, the rear hub is not Boost and uses 141mm hub spacing with a traditional 9mm axle and skewer. Quick release for both wheels and seat clamp offer easy transport prep and trail maintenance. Large 203mm hydraulic disc brakes and quad piston calipers offer quick stops and fast cooling.

The motor is very quiet and offers a satisfying ride. Giant offers a smartphone app for tuning the different levels of assist and the bike is now Bluetooth and Ant+ wireless compatible for use with Garmins and other devices. Rubberized button pad is easy to reach and seems very durable, but the readouts are limited and a bit confusing in my opinion. There appears to be a kickstand mounting point for riders who wish to add one (great fo SUV type riders who park in garages and at bike racks vs. pure off-road users).

No dropper post on this model, which seems like a common option for mountain bikes at this price level. Very heavy battery for the average 500 watt hour capacity... even compared to Giant's own prior-year battery packs. Large motor casing hangs down a bit which isn't as visually satisfying and might introduce rock or log strikes. Battery lock and charging port are on the no-drivetrain side of the bike (facing the ground when the bike is laid down) and the charging port is in the left crank arm's rotation path. Very large and heavy battery charger, requires a dongle adapter to charge the pack off the bike.

Supple suspension performance

Comfortable & compliant ride quality

Usefully low-gearing

Smooth & reliable Shimano brakes

A lot of bike for the money

Quick release dropouts limit upgrade potential

Rear-end flex may be an issue for heavier riders

Handlebars are far too narrow

Effective seat angle is quite slack