Many bike brands that produce e-mountain bikes built their bikes to fit off-the-shelf motors. But thanks to Giant’s close collaboration with Yamaha, it’s able to design the whole system as one. The result of that is the brand-new Trance E+ Advanced that offers more power, more integration and less weight.
New motor and battery mean more power, less weight and extra density
At the heart of the new Trance Advanced E+ is the Syndrive Pro 4 motor, which Giant says is its highest power-to-weight motor to date. Key figures include 120Nm of torque, 850W peak power and a 2.4kg weight. The brand also lists its torque-to-weight ratio of 50Nm per kilo.
This motor is designed to work a little differently to others. Rather than relying on cadence in part to match its output to the rider’s input, Syncdrive Pro 4 is entirely torque-based. As such, Giant reckons that the motor can reach its peak torque within 0.28 seconds, offering up to 500% support.
With that, the brand has heightened the system’s overall integration with a new Ergo 5 remote. It features three buttons: two to flick through power modes, while the third is intended to actuate electronic dropper posts. However, we’re told that this is all customisable, offering options to tinker with ride modes, a dedicated Boost mode, walk assist, and e-shift. Of course, the Trance Advanced E+ uses the Go Lux screen, which utilises a single button, and gets fancy tech like a light sensor that adjusts the screen’s brightness to the available light.
Another new feature that comes with the new motor is traction control, something we’ve seen pop up on Bosch and Avinox motors recently. This system is constantly checking in on cadence and torque in order to detect the rear wheel spinning, after which it’ll adjust the motor’s output to keep traction coming.
As for the battery, the e-MTB is powered by Giant’s Energypak Smart 840, so yes, it’s an 840Wh battery that’s apparently 36% denser than the Smart 800 battery, but 23% smaller and 700g lighter, says the brand. There is also the Energypak Plus 280 range extender, which deploys its power before the main battery steps in.
Better integration for better suspension performance
As well as all of the neat features built into the motor itself, the shape of its housing has been tweaked especially to allow more room for Giant’s designers to tune the Trance Advanced E+’s suspension kinematic, promising 120Nm ‘that actually reaches the ground’. Yes, it’s tuned for the demands of an e-MTB, resulting in the brand’s ‘mixed-path axle curve’.
Starting with the anti-squat, it benefits from a U-shaped curve, which is said to keep the rear wheel gripping, even as the motor is generating its full power. Then, the anti-rise has been boosted, but the curve isn’t as harsh as in previous models. According to Giant, this means that braking is more independent of the suspension, so the bike should still provide good traction under heavy braking loads.
The Trance Advanced E+ is full of features
While all of that is rather exciting, the bike itself doesn’t look to hold back. There’s a flip chip in the Maestro rocker link offering three geometry positions and a head angle of 64.1 to 64.9 degrees, and there’s a 443mm chainstay. As is common on many e-bikes, this one uses a mullet wheel setup, so a 650b wheel at the rear with a 29-inch one up front. Oh, and the bike benefits from a 10mm boost in suspension travel, with 150mm at the rear and 160mm at the front.
Interestingly, Giant has graced this bike with an integrated handlebar and stem for a super sleek look, too.
Durability has also been a big focus for the new Trance E+ Advanced, to the point where Giant has even kitted the bike with an extra-strong chain from KMC that promises 35% more pin strength. Additionally, the E+0 and E+1 models roll on wheels that benefit from a new HD WheelSystem, that boasts 20% extra ratchet strength, says the brand.
In classic Giant style, all of this transfers over to the new Liv Intrigue Advanced E+, with the aim of bringing the performance to a package that’s more suitable for female riders.
While we don’t yet have prices, we have a Giant Trance Advance E+1 in for testing, so stay tuned for a verdict coming soon.
