Giant’s Trance E+ series of electric bicycles provide full on excitement and ride quality whether riding around town or in the backcountry

As I wound my way through the varied singletrack expanding its way through the dense piney woods of central Texas, GIANT’s Trance E+ 1 Pro electric bike glided across deep ruts and thick, wayward tree roots as if to ask, “Is this all you’ve got to throw at me?”

These past few years have seen an emergence of electric bicycles designed to make recreating on two wheels not only a bit easier when traversing varied terrains but more importantly provide access to two-wheeled adventures for those who might not feel physically apt to leave their front doorstep. Two years ago, I had the pleasure of joining Yamaha for the media launch of their power assist bicycle line-up (Yamaha first developed eBike technology over 27 years ago for use in Japan and only later made that technology available for the international stage) and since that time, I’ve been hooked on the functionality and challenge a power assist bike can provide. You can read that article in Issue 27 of OutdoorX4 HERE.

To clarify, electric bikes can be broken into two groups: throttle and power assist. Throttle bikes, as the name implies, have a throttle integrated into the bar grip, similar to a motorcycle, and can move with or without the user pedaling the bike. Depending on type, these bikes typically have more restrictions on where they can be used (think National Parks) and rely less, if at all, on the user to propel the bike forward. Power assist bikes, on the other hand, do exactly as the name suggests. There are multiple “assist modes” that are integrated into a drive train that can provide varying levels of assist, as needed, whether traveling along an incline or other types of challenging terrain that might facilitate the need for a little boost. The user must still pedal while using power assist; however, the bicycle can literally assist by using torque from its motor while still allowing the user the benefit of engaging with the terrain by pedaling the crank. This is particularly useful when ascending a steep trail or traveling along a path with ruts, loose gravel, sand, mud, or other challenges that could make it a bit more difficult to traverse on a regular bicycle.

The Trance E+ Pro model line is built on an aluminum alloy frame and features the GIANT Sync Pro motor powered by Yamaha. This motor operates a bit differently than the traditional Yamaha motor by delivering 80Nm and can deliver 360 percent tunable support. What does this mean? The factory delivered support modes are fully tunable via Giant’s RideControl app, available in Android, and IOS. Additionally through the app, basic diagnostics, battery health, and firmware updates can be accessed to keep the bike updated for the long haul. The app also has the capacity to talk to Garmin and other brand head units which makes it quite versatile. I admittedly didn’t download the app to tune the bike from its original setup though I did have the bike set based on my weight, height, and ride position to properly evaluate its ride quality while in the field. I will note there is a 6-sensor system that will support the rider up to 20mph though you can exceed this speed unassisted by the motor beyond 20mph.

Within the support levels there is a Smart Assist mode. This mode takes torque, cadence, slope, and speed into account and determines the most efficient motor output for the rider’s needs. This gives the rider an incredibly smooth and natural feeling support. The sensors also aid in lengthening the life of the drive train, encouraging and rewarding a higher cadence, and putting less strain on the drive train. This translated to silky smooth transitions between gears without straining the drive train but utilizing the drive train’s capability once the gear is engaged and the crank is turned. The impact on ride quality is exceptional. Additionally, there are varying levels of power assist available at the touch of a strategically-placed button on the handlebar, making it easy to adjust the amount of assist needed depending on incline, terrain, etc. There’s also a “walk” mode that provides assist while walking the bike up a steep gradient or through thick sand or mud and can be accessed by depressing a button located on the bottom side of power assist toggle switch. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there but is extremely handy given the bike weighs approximately 45lbs.

Speaking of ride quality, the Trance E+ line is equipped with GIANT’s Maestro suspension. Maestro uses four strategically placed pivot points, along with two linkages, to create a floating pivot point which translates to active and efficient rear wheel travel. Additionally, Maestro provides a near vertical axle path, virtually eliminating rear wheel hang up experienced in other designs. The Advanced forged composite rocker on the maestro system provides an incredibly torsional rigid rear end which provides the rider with incredible control at high speeds and efficient power transfer to the rear wheel. All of this translates to an extremely comfortable, efficient ride capable of handling virtually any terrain and complimented by the exceptional Fox 36 front fork with floating axles. Both the front and rear are fully adjustable based on load and rebound, similar to the four-wheeled vehicles many of us drive with upgraded suspensions for off-pavement travel. My jaunts at speed along jagged terrain with tree roots and loose scree felt like more than riding on clouds along otherwise significantly imperfect terrain. Rarely did I find myself out of the saddle, which rests on a drop down seatpost that raises and lowers at the press of a button on the handlebar. Also of note is the 203mm hydraulic brakes that provide instant stopping power.

The motor is powered by GIANT’s EnergyPak Smart 500 battery. This battery is constructed from Pioneer lithium ion cells which feature twice the space between them compared to other batteries on the market, enabling the system to manage temperature fluctuations more efficiently. The system transfers power amongst the cells to increase the life and output of the battery. It’s hard to say how this translates to battery longevity because my demo unit had been used a lot prior to delivery and I found it necessary to recharge the EnergyPak after every other ride. For reference, my rides typically lasted about 1.5-2 hours in length with a distance per ride of approximately 16-18 miles strictly through dense singletrack in the woods. I’ve been told the EnergyPak Smart battery couples with GIANT’s Smart Charging system, allowing the battery to charge from 0% to 60% in 90 minutes. For those looking for longer adventures, GIANT does offer a range extender. The EnergyPak Plus gives the rider an additional 240Wh of capacity. It is light weight and compact, and I’ve suggested offering an adapter to allow for connection to portable solar panels when bikepacking or on an extended two-wheeled adventure where charging isn’t as accessible like at home.

My only real complaint is my demo bike didn’t include a display readout showing speed, cadence, and distance. It’s true many experienced riders don’t care to have this and I will note it’s available as standard equipment on the lower end units from GIANT or as an aftermarket add-on for the Trance E+ lineup. Of course, the RideControl app mentioned previously has the capacity to track this for you and I did mount a Quadlock phone mount onto the bar to allow access to music via Bluetooth from my phone while riding.

In short, the GIANT Trance E+ lineup, and really all power assist bikes in general, are exceptional for those who haven’t been on a bike in years as well as seasoned riders really looking to maximize the riding experience. The cardiovascular benefit of bicycling is profound and I’ve enjoyed mountain biking for nearly three decades because the experience allows for me to not only enjoy the physical challenge but also escape on a platform that can take me most anywhere. And that’s something the GIANT Trance E+ bikes do and do so quite exceptionally. As for cost, the Trance E+ bikes start at $4,500 which is a lot of coin for those of you who don’t ride frequently. There is a hardtail (no rear suspension) offering from GIANT dubbed the Fathom E+ that starts at $2,700 which may be a little more accessible, based on cost, and utilizes a SyncDrive Sport drive train also developed by Yamaha. Regardless, I’m highly impressed with the end product of what you get in these GIANT bikes and would love to have one sitting in my garage, awaiting my next biking adventure.

Likes:

• Wheelbase and geometry design maximize all-around capability of the bike
• Sync Pro motor by Yamaha is silky smooth with power assist modes providing plenty of boost as needed
• Maestro rear and Fox 36 suspension provide exceptional ride quality across varied terrains and is fully adjustable based on load and rebound need
• RideControl app allows for tuning of the bike to meet user’s specific needs
• Hydraulic brakes featuring 203mm rotors provide plenty of stopping power
• Walk mode provides just enough assist when walking with the bike along an incline or through deep sand/mud
• EnergyPak Plus option extends battery range of the bike by 240Wh, allowing for longer distance adventures

Dislikes:

• Solar panel adapter/integration would be nice for bikepacking in remote areas
• Like all eBikes, the Trance E+ is heavy at 45lbs
• Cost of entry may be prohibitive

Learn more by visiting the GIANT website at www.giant-bicycles.com.

OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible vehicle-based adventure travel and outdoors adventure