Giant Reign Advanced E+ 2 e-MTB

The Giant Reign Advanced E+ is a full-power, hard-hitting enduro e-bike that devours rough terrain in a controlled and predictable manner thanks to a well-proven Maestro suspension system. The adjustments on offer allow the characteristics of the ride to change from a high-speed monster-truck to something a little more playful. The SyncDrive motor system provides a very sensitive and natural feeling assistance, however, it proves to be power hungry in the full-power mode. A couple of electrical gremlins along with some very annoying rattles from the motor and battery degrade the riding experience, however, as an entry-level carbon-framed e-bike, it’s sensibly specced with room to upgrade when funds allow.

Giant Reign Advanced E+ 2 – Technical Details

The Giant Reign Advanced E+ is built around the SyncDrive Pro 3 motor, which puts out 90Nm of torque and 800 Watts of peak power. A 560Wh removable battery sits in the downtube with a claimed weight of 2.7Kg alongside an included range extender which adds 280W and a further 1.5Kg. The system runs on 48 Volts, which Giant claims helps with durability, expecting up to 2300 full charge cycles from the batteries.

Charging is taken care of with a 4-amp charger, which Giant claims will charge the 560Wh battery up to 80% in two hours.

The RideControl GO Lux 2.4” screen is flush-mounted into the top tube. It is not responsive to touch but is controlled by a handlebar-mounted remote which cycles through the power modes and displays data such as speed, cadence, battery percentage and predicted range.

The Giant Control app is used to connect to the system and provides a battery status along with a whole host of options within the set-up menu. The data displayed on the top-tube screen is customizable to show a whole range of useful stats, whilst the motor assistance modes can be tuned to adjust the support, power and launch settings. If you were wondering, “launch” refers to the ramp-up to full power when setting off from a standstill, where, in low-grip situations, a softer, or less intrusive launch could be beneficial.

Aegis is a suite of additional functionality such as the E-Lock system, which disables motor support and digitally locks the bike through the app, remote, or a PIN. If the bike is moved whilst the lock is active, an audible alarm is set off. More security is present in the form of Apple Find My, which allows the bike to be located in the same way as other Apple devices. Finally, the tyre valves look a little funky thanks to a sensor bolted to the valve which monitors tyre pressure in real time. This is connected to the data displays so you can check this on the fly and set alerts if the pressures drop too much.

Moving on to the frame, it’s a full carbon-fibre affair, made in-house by Giant. Giant makes carbon frames for a whole range of brands, so it has the process very heavily controlled. So much so it weaves its own carbon and has custom resins to achieve the best possible layup.

The Reign Advanced E+ frame delivers 170mm of rear travel through the Maestro suspension layout. Maestro has been the cornerstone of Giant for many years, utilising a lower linkage to create a virtual pivot point and an upper rocker to actuate the shock.

It’s adjustability galore in the Regin Advanced E+ with flip chips on the rocker link to adjust the head angle from low to mid to high and a similar flip chip design in the headset to adjust reach by +5mm. This bike comes as a mullet setup with a 27.5 rear wheel and 29-inch hoop at the front; there is no provision to run a 29” rear wheel.

Storage on the bike is taken care of with a bottle mount on the downtube, however, running the range extender will involve fitting the magnetic mount in place of a water bottle. A further accessory mount is in place underneath the top tube and above the rocker link.

Internal cable routing keeps things tidy, and fortunately, Giant hasn’t used any internal headset routing. Plenty of rubber on the chain stay reduces chain slap noises whilst a rubber flap on the main pivot keeps mud and grit away from the bearings. UDH compatibility comes as standard, although it is only the higher spec models which use SRAM T-Type derailleurs. A dual density battery cover helps to shrug off impacts whilst a sturdy titanium motor guard and dampened MRP bash guard keep the drive unit protected.

The Giant Reign Advanced E+ comes in four sizes ranging from S – XL, which is said to cover riders from 5’4” (162cm) up to 6’6” (198cm), and the model 2 comes in a singular grey and paint-splattered colourway named moon dust.

Geometry on the Reign Advanced E+ looks to favour a stable and hard-charging ride. Chain stays are relatively long at 450mm across all sizes, which’ll help with full-power climbing and give a stable descending position.

The head tube angle sits at 63.5˚ in the mid position with + 0.4˚ adjustment, giving a reasonably slack, verging towards very slack, offering more stability at speed. A seat angle of 77-78˚ is right up to date, offering a comfortable, efficient and controlling seat position ideal for technical climbs.

Thanks to the headset adjustment and flip-chips, reach numbers on the large can range from 471mm (low and -5mm offset) up to 490 (high and +5mm offset). This offers the ability to massively change the character of the bike – more on that later.

Giant Reign Advanced E+ 2 – Componentry

Three spec levels are available: model 0, 1 and 2. All three specs come with the same battery and motor system and use the same frame. Prices range from £6,500 for the model 2 up to £10,000 for the model 0.

The model 2 on test is the base level offering which blends reliable performance at a sensible price point. A stiff Rockshox ZEB fork upfront with the base-level Select damper offers 180mm of travel whilst the rear end is controlled by a Fox Float X Performance shock utilising a custom tune.

Shimano takes care of shifting with the Deore-level mechanical drivetrain, which offers plenty of range in the 10-51T cassette along with a 36T chainring. Relatively short 160mm cranks are fitted across all sizes. Shimano SLX four-piston brakes help stop this brute, employing 220mm discs front and rear.

A Giant finishing kit covers a lot of the controls, such as the alloy handlebar, stem, saddle and dropper post. The aforementioned dropper has 30mm of adjustability in drop length and is size-specific, with the L / XL on test featuring a 200mm offering.

Finally, wheels are also from Giant featuring alloy rims with a standard 30mm inner width. These are wrapped in Maxxis rubber with the classic Assegai and DHR II combo, with a thinner Exo+ casing up front and a thicker DoubleDown casing out back, both in the sticky MaxxGrip compound. The rear hub is e-bike friendly, being rated up to 260Nm.

Giant Reign Advanced E+ 2 – Performance

Setting up the bike was a simple affair with the usual sag and rebound checks to get the suspension at a good baseline. I settled for 90PSI in the fork and 240PSI in the shock to support my 95Kg riding weight. I found the app intuitive to use, allowing me to customise a couple of the data display screens and tweak the mode power outputs. As much as I tried, I did struggle to get the tyre pressure monitoring to work, which is a shame – no doubt your local Giant dealer would be able to get this set up and working.

When it comes to weight, with the range extender and pedals it comes in at around 25.3Kg (55.8lbs) – 1.5Kg can be dropped by not running the range extender – so it’s not particularly light for a carbon-framed e-bike.

Initial impressions were positive in the climbing department with that seat angle offering a comfortable and stable seated position. The longer chainstays aid stability, and with the sticky tyre compound and active suspension, there is plenty of grip available.

The assistance from the motor is managed smartly to give a very natural feeling shove up the hills. With six sensors, the motor is very sensitive to your pedal input and reacts quickly to your effort, giving a very engaging and natural pedalling experience. As a predominantly analogue rider, I enjoyed this feature of the SyncDrive motor, but it may not be to everyone’s taste. In the full power mode, there is plenty of power to get you up the hills in a controlled yet meaningful way.

The motor generally manages the battery life well, however, it has proven to be very thirsty in the full-on Power mode. As an example, it ate through 24% (from 24% – 0%) in one road climb (2km distance and 150m elevation) – much to my surprise. I will put this down to the battery being close to empty because on the same hill it ate through 10% battery on another test, but the battery started at 83% this time. So it isn’t as dramatically thirsty for power when the battery contains more charge, but I still recommend using full power mode carefully! As a small consolation, I discovered the motor is by far the best I’ve ridden when it’s off, with very little drag at all. In the lower assistance modes, the battery consumption is much better managed, proving to be frugal – 1000-1200m of elevation is possible with some careful use of the modes.

When pointing the Reign Advanced E+ down a hill, the bike really comes alive, offering a very stable and controlled ride. The slack head angle, solid reach numbers and longer rear end keep the bike tracking in a predictable and manageable manner. The nature of the bike can be adjusted, dialling in maximum stability or more playfulness thanks to the reach adjusters and flip-chips. With 180mm fork and 170mm rear travel, this bike is well equipped to handle the chunk, however, it’s impressive how well the Maestro system keeps the bike composed, even when braking. It can be a real monster-truck of a bike handling some serious rough and yet, with a little less rebound damping, the bike is still playful enough to pump and bounce out of corners.

Using that travel like a pogo-stick, the ride can still be active and engaging, but changes of direction do need to be planned for. When the bike is in a slacker setting, that e-bike heft does mean it’s not as agile as others – I much preferred the ride in its steep setting for the slower speed trails I tend to ride. With the monster-truck nature of this bike egging you on to hit stuff harder, I’d recommend upgrading the tyres, a DoubleDown casing upfront at the least but a DH casing rear would also help to provide a welcome boost of puncture protection and support.

A frustrating characteristic of the SyncDrive system is the very annoying rattle from the clutch. This is similar to Bosch systems of old (Gen4) where hitting bumps will pull the chain and cause a very metallic rattle emanating from between your feet. The battery catch doesn’t hold the battery particularly securely either, which causes it to rattle inside the down tube, although I found I could pack the battery out with some foam to at least quieten this down.

I’ve had a couple of electrical gremlins with the test bike which are annoying but not deal breakers. On the first ride, I had an error saying the range extender battery was overheating. I think this was down to some moisture getting into the extender cable, and after leaving the cable on the radiator to dry out, I haven’t seen this error come back. The remote controller sometimes drops out of communication with the motor, which stops you changing the assistance modes. This happens after prolonged periods of not using the remote (30-60mins), however, turning the bike off and on again fixes the issue, but it’s annoying, nonetheless. One final note to be aware of on the dotted paint job – it leaves a raised texture which may not allow a protection wrap to adhere properly.

Giant Reign Advanced E+ 2 – Verdict

Retailing at £6,500 in the model 2 spec, the value for money here is reasonable, offering a solid entry-level e-bike with componentry that won’t let you down. Of course, there are many options to consider in the long travel (170mm), full-power e-bike market.

The Trek Rail+ Gen 5 is a safe bet, and in the 9.7 spec it offers the same suspension, equivalent brakes and a slightly higher-end drivetrain for £1,000 less. The only catch is 160mm front and rear suspension, so a little less than the Giant.

For £500 more you at £7,000, you can get a Norco Range VLT CX C2 which sports a carbon frame, Bosch CX motor and mullet layout with 160mm rear travel and 170mm fork. Spec is comparable to the Giant but will offer a different ride thanks to the Virtual High Pivot suspension layout.

For the same money and a very comparable spec, the Merida Lithos, in its base 6000 model, is another great option. Powered by a Bosch system, it offers 170mm of travel in a carbon-framed package.

The Giant Reign Advanced E+ is an all-out brute of a bike designed to handle the roughest trails with ease. The long-travel and generous geometry offer a stable and predictable ride alongside the well-proven Maestro suspension layout, which smooths out some horrible terrain. The SyncDrive motor system provides the most natural feeling assistance I’ve experienced, offering a very smooth and measured ride with great climbing traction. It’s not been without its little electrical hiccups, and the rattles from the battery and motor degrade the riding experience somewhat. As an entry-level, base-spec bike, the model 2 offers a solid foundation to upgrade from, and at £6,500, it’s priced similarly to other options, but there are certainly cheaper equivalent alternatives.