LIV THRIVE E+ EX PRO (2022) – ECHEVERIA

The Liv Thrive E+ EX Pro is a new model – a completely new take on the electric Thrive platform from recent years.

Skinny tyres and the smaller 375Wh battery are nowhere to be seen on the “EX” version. Replacing it are tyres that generate more comfort and a larger battery to get you exploring more places and further.

THE FRAME

Is made from Giant’s ALUXX-grade aluminium. It’s lighter than average and well designed to neatly fit the mid-drive motor and battery.

Electric, brake and gear cable routing has been kept internal, so it doesn’t look messy and to minimise the chance of cable damage.

Thru-axles is another high-end feature on the new Thrive EX. The axles that hold the front and rear wheel in place, are much larger in diameter compared with normal axles. The purpose of this is to improve the Thrive’s handling.

Adding a motor and battery, obviously adds more weight. But what isn’t readily apparent is that it also places more strain on the “connection” between the frame and wheel. Under braking forces and cornering, the wheels “twist” and affect the overall handling – badly.

Larger thru-axles create a stronger connection. Stopping this “twist” and delivering better handling.

Comfort has also been improved. Liv has employed their D-Fuse seat post.

Meaning, the seat pillar is in the shape of a “D”.

The big deal?

Flex. The “D” shape moves back and forth, much more than a circular seat post does. It mutes vibrations better and minimises discomfort.

THE ELECTRONICS

Giant has worked closely with Yamaha to design a motor called the SyncDrive Pro. This outputs 80Nm of torque and has 5 different assistance (or power) levels.

The Pro is the most powerful of Giant’s motors.

It delivers 360% support and 80Nm of torque. Numbers that very easily allow you to ride up many steep inclines.

The motor is a mid-drive setup. The benefit of this is most of the weight is centred between the wheels and is at the lowest portion of the frame. This translates into a bike that feels very natural and easy to ride – especially descending and cornering.

The main controller (called RideControl Ergo) displays battery level, controls the lights, assistance level, and turns the Thrive E+ on and off. It’s also the “link” that connects to the Giant RideControl app on your smartphone.

The phone (with a phone holder like the QuadLock) can be mounted on the handlebar or stem. The app does have its advantages because it’s like a mini GPS. It shows distance, maps, average speed, riding time, bike health, riding history and more.

Liv’s new Thrive E+ also comes standard with front and rear lighting. Use them at night and as daytime riding lights. If they are not required, the bike can be used without them on.

And the new Thrive E+ comes with much more range because battery size has grown to 500Wh (from 375Wh). Charging can be done while the battery is in the bike.That said, the battery is removable with a key-lock setup. It neatly fits within the side of the Thrive.

THE MECHANICAL SIDE

The Thrive E+ is built with excellent mid-range components. These components are a mix from Shimano’s Tiagra and GRX400 families.

There are 10-gears on the rear with a versatile spread. The range (11-tooth to 36-tooth) paired to a large (42-tooth) front chainring, will deliver enough top-end speed for cruising comfortably along flat bike paths and also give you enough low-end range for tackling serious climbs.

Shimano brakes are getting rare to see (yeah, another product affected by supply) but they are still one of the benchmark brakes at this price point. They deliver superb modulation and power – both a must for e-bikes.

For smaller riders or those with limited reach, the lever can be adjusted closer to the handlebar.

Comfort is another key design feature. We touched on the D-shaped seat post before. And another feature are the tyres.

The balloon shaped tyres help absorb road vibrations and impacts. That’s because these tyres have more air volume. More volume equals a smoother ride. The last Thrive e-bike came with 32mm wide tyres, the new Thrive E+ EX uses 60mm wide tyres – so, a lot more volume.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, wider must mean there’s more rolling resistance. Well…No.

The new Thrive EX’s balloon-type tyre has less rolling resistance than a thinner 37mm wide tyre – up to 11 percent less (German Sports University, Cologne). But pressure is crucial here. A good starting point is 30psi.