Giant have wielded the creative knife with both the name of the Dirt-E as well as their stylish integration of the motor. But have they cut it too fine for the trails, and will its ride match up to its style?
Developed alongside Yamaha and the battery experts at Panasonic, Giant have dubbed the motor ‘SyncDrive.’ Tidily integrated into the downtube with 80 Nm torque, 250 W performance, and a 500 Wh battery capacity, the Yamaha motor serves up great support, but it suffers if your cadence tops eighty rpm – and first you’ll have to find the tiny bar-mounted button to switch it on. Pedal any faster and the power will just dwindle away. The Dirt-E+ 0 has quite a roomy riding position, making it super-comfortable and well suited to long rides. The handling is also very quick and precise, showing a great balance of agility and smoothness.
Our bike came with a solid spec, including the ultra-direct 2×11 Shimano XT drivetrain, but we could happily scrap the lock-out lever for the FOX 32 FLOAT fork, as well as the front derailleur. The stock dropper post is a wise addition, adding fun and confidence on the descents. The FOX fork is reliable and responsive, although much like the inexpensive Performance model of the Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires, it turns into a bit of an instrument of suffering when the terrain gets challenging. The Giant’s big display shows all its information with ease, but like the motor’s remote lever, its exposed position and less-than-ideal ergonomics won’t be winning any pageants.
The Giant Dirt-E+ 0 in detail
Fork FOX Float 32 Performance 100 mm
Motor / Battery Syncdrive powered by Yamaha / 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano XT
Drivetrain Shimano XT
Seat post Giant Contact SL Remote
Stem Giant Connect
Handlebar Giant Connect TR
Tires Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance
Wheels Giant PXC-2 Disc
Giant have stylishly integrated the battery into the downtube, but the otherwise clean silhouette is tainted a bit by the number of cables and the front mech.
A dropper post is a mega-bonus point for an E-MTB. Giant’s choice of their in-house model doesn’t have internal cable routing, but it does work well.
The cockpit on the Giant Full-E+ 0 is chaotic, with a mass of cables that aren’t particularly attractive. You can definitely get rid of the cable for the fork’s lockout lever. Ciao!
The stock Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance tires are likely to puncture, and only offer minimal grip for real trail adventures.
Conclusion
The Giant Dirt-E+ 0 is a great rig for anyone who likes full days out in the saddle on fairly firm tracks. Giant have integrated the battery really well, and the spec mainly consists of lovely stuff, although there’s still room for improvement with certain parts and the motor.
Strengths
- Super-comfy position for long rides
- Great battery integration
- Good range
Weaknesses
- Tires lack grip and puncture resistance
- Motor works best with a low cadence
- Cockpit crowded and awkward
For more information head to the official website of the manufacturer!
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best E-MTB you can buy for less than € 4000? We test 6 leading bikes
All bikes in test: BH Revo 29 ER746 | FOCUS Jarifa Fat Pro | Haibike XDURO HardSeven Plus RX | SCOTT E-Aspect 910 CX | Specialized Turbo Levo HT Comp 6Fattie
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Noah Haxel
