Our friends at Giant, one of the biggest manufacturers of bikes in the world, are always pushing the envelope. They’ve recently updated their mighty Reign enduro MTB whip, and the all-new Contend SL might well be the best aluminium road bike on the market. Now they’ve turned their attention to updating their Road E+ model, the one that pretty much started the road e-bike concept when it first appeared four years ago.
E-bikes are proving increasingly popular. An electric motor opens up a whole new world of cycling, with riders able to go further and faster than ever. They’re great for those new to cycling, enabling them to feel the buzz of the ride without the burn. For more experienced riders they’re just damn good fun, widening horizons beyond their normal rides. Giant’s new Road E+ Pro is the perfect way to extend your road riding adventures.
An e-bike made for performance road riding
Look back a few years and e-bikes were fairly heavy beasts, great when the motor engaged but a bit of a tank when you had to turn the pedals all on your own. Not any more - with the new Road E+ Pro Giant have made a lively road bike that just happens to have a secret weapon to allow you to ride further and faster than before. The lightweight and responsive aluminium frame provides unmatched ride quality and the SyncDrive Pro motor can reach a whopping 170rpm cadence with a powerful 80Nm of torque output. That should be plenty!
Giant’s Integrated Tubeless WheelSystem and tyres deliver maximum comfort and Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes provide all the control you could need. Speaking of Shimano, the Japanese component gurus provide the groupset for the Road E+ Pro, offering super-reliable shifting in all conditions. All you have to do is sit in and enjoy the ride.
Power, power, power
All of this sounds good, but we know what you’re wondering. Is the battery and motor any good? Well, we’re glad you asked. The SyncDrive Pro motor is engineered for performance riding. With that max 170rpm cadence output, 80Nm of torque and five support modes, it helps you conquer climbs with ease.
The new integrated EnergyPak Smart 375 compact battery delivers 375Wh of power in a streamlined design that integrates with the bike beautifully. You can ride longer and cover greater distances than you ever thought possible on a bike that looks damn fine at the same time.
Giant has spent a lot of time working on what they call their Hybrid Cycling Technology. On some e-bikes, the motor engagement can be a little, well, clunky to say the least. The Giant SyncDrive motor delivers power based on a rider’s input and the chosen support mode. This pedalling support blends seamlessly with you, so it feels smooth and natural.
The range
There are two bikes in the Road E+ Pro range, the difference being the choice of groupset. The Road E+ 1 Pro features Ultegra, a hydraulic disc groupset that really is at the pinnacle of Shimano engineering. Almost indistinguishable from their pro-level Dura-Ace, the 11-speed shifting and stunning braking performance can’t be beaten. For riders looking for the best road e-bike, this is the one for you.
The Road E+ 2 Pro puts Shimano’s 11-speed 105 shifting and braking at your disposal, and other than that the models are identical. Really, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value ride.
For performance-minded road riders looking to climb higher mountains and ride longer distances, the fantastic new Road E+ is well worth a look. We’ll have this new beauty in store soon.
