In an eMTB quartet card game, the Giant Full-E+ 1.5 Pro LTD would easily trump the competition with its powerful motor. But everyone knows that in practice power without control is useless. Could the bike convince us?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB around € 4,500 – 11 exciting and affordable bikes go head to head
For € 4,199 the Giant Full-E+ 1.5 Pro has a lot on offer. For the motor, the Taiwanese manufacturer relies on the SyncDrive Pro. It is based on the powerful Yamaha PW-X system, but with differently tuned support levels. In particular, the lower support levels of the Giant are much more powerful, which makes it easier to save battery power on long trips, as you can generally ride in a lower setting. Giant relies on entry-level models from FOX for the suspension, and they deliver a solid performance on the trail. Grippy MAXXIS tyres, reliable Shimano Deore brakes with 200 mm rotors, and a dropper post with 125 mm stroke managed to convince us also. The front derailleur and the two chainrings on the crank, on the other hand, were met with criticism.
No rush! The Giant climbs and descends in a relaxed manner!
On an electric mountain bike, 22 gears are simply superfluous; they reduce durability, lead to shifting errors, and increase chain slap. Even if riders still dream of a maximum number of gears, the range of gears offered by modern drivetrains with only one chainring is completely sufficient. Have you ever heard of an ebiker with a Bosch motor (it can only take one chainring) that didn’t get up a mountain? And the Yamaha motor on the Giant is more powerful than a Bosch!
The Giant Full-E+ 1.5 Pro LTD in detail
Fork FOX Rythm 34 Float 140 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe RT 140 mm
Motor/Battery Giant Syncdrive Pro / Giant Energypak 500 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano Deore XT
Brakes Shimano MT500 200/200 mm
Seatpost Giant Contact Switch Remote 125 mm
Stem Giant Connect 60 mm
Handlebar Giant Connect 780 mm
Wheels Giant GE35 Disc
Tires Maxxis Rekon 2.6″
The FOX Rhythm fork responds sensitively and offers a lot of comfort. Aggressive riders should half-close the compression lever to prevent excessive sagging and consider adding spacers to the air chamber.
The Maestro rear end is in a class of its own and offers a lot of comfort and traction
No one needs a 2x drivetrain on an eMTB! Downhill the chain slaps the frame, and uphill the front derailleur doesn’t shift under load… right when you need it.
The large display is very exposed and likely to get damaged in a crash
The geometry of the Giant Full-E+ 1.5 Pro LTD
The sitting position on the Giant Full-E+ is rather upright and very comfortable. The high front end relaxes the shoulders and shifts more weight to the saddle. Going uphill, however, this leads to a slight loss of grip on the front wheel on steep climbs. You will have to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel on the ground. The pedal assistance is super-powerful from the get-go, delivering a lot of watts even at low cadence. When climbing, it becomes clear how well the rear linkage of the bike works. It filters out bumps very sensitively and provides a lot of traction.
The beer-belly of the integrated battery makes the bike look unbalanced, but that’s not the case at all. Thanks to the short front triangle, the bike is very easy to steer. The handling is very quick and direct, and even narrow, technical trails can be mastered with ease. The entry-level FOX 34 Rhythm fork responds very sensitively, but then quickly uses up a lot of travel. Aggressive riders will want a little more support and should increase the progression with spacers in the air chamber. The high cockpit provides a lot of confidence on descents and reduces the feeling of going over the bars.
Conclusion
The Giant Full-E+ 1.5 LTD is a very comfortable eMTB with a relaxed sitting position. It provides a high level of stability and is easy to control. The motor is awesome, but there is room for improvement regarding display integration and spec.
Strengths
– very comfortable
– easy handling
– powerful motor´
Weaknesses
– 2x drivetrain unnecessary
– aggressive riders will want more feedback from the suspension
– display integration
– Beer-belly look of the integrated rechargeable battery
Uphill
Downhill
Stability
Agility
Value
For more information head to: giant-bicycles.com
The testfleet
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB around € 4,500 – 11 exciting and affordable bikes go head to head
All bikes in test: BULLS SIX50 EVO AM2 | Conway eWME 627 | FLYER Uproc 4.10 | FOCUS JAM² Plus | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 7.0 | KTM MACINA KAPOHO 273 11 PT-CX5I | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | Moustache Samedi 27 Trail 6 | SCOTT E-Genius 720 | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6Fattie
This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #013
E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone. 100% free!
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl
