This year Giant Bicycles unveiled its biggest, burliest and longest travel electric mountain bike yet; the 2020 Giant Reign E+. Based upon the popular Reign enduro platform, the Reign E+ is a full suspension e-MTB that’s designed to help you access the steepest, roughest and gnarliest descents around.
We took a detailed look at the three-strong Reign E+ range back in August, all of which are built around the same ALUXX hydroformed alloy chassis and the new SyncDrive Pro motor system. This new motor now features 6 sensors (versus 4 on the previous version), and has been updated to be smoother, quieter and more responsive. According to Giant, the SyncDrive motor offers a whopping 80Nm of torque, and it features tuneable assistance via the RideControl ONE app. The motor is powered by a 500Wh battery pack that bolts into a recess underneath the downtube.
Not The $11,499 Model
Of the three Reign E+ models that Giant launched in August, of course it was the range-topping $11,499 Reign E+ 0 Pro that garnered all the attention. That model actually found its way into our article on the Top-17 most expensive bikes of 2020, largely because of its chi-chi build kit that includes a wireless SRAM AXS drivetrain and Reverb AXS dropper post. Swanky!
For our review bike though, we decided to exercise some restraint and went for the much more reasonable Reign E+ 1 Pro, which sells for nearly $3,000 less. It works the price down by using a cable-activated dropper and derailleur (how very pedestrian!), and swapping the Kashima-bling for all-black Performance Series Fox suspension. Mind you, you’re still getting a huge 170mm travel Fox 36 fork (the stiffer e-MTB specific version to be specific), and 160mm of rear travel via a Fox Float X2 piggyback shock.
And crucially, it still features the same chassis, motor and battery system as the top-end model.
Big Mountain Ready
Whereas the Giant Trance E+ is more of an all-round trail bike, the Reign E+ is made for accessing much steeper and longer descents. To handle that kind of terrain, Giant has given it a slack 64.5° head angle and a reduced offset fork (44mm) for increased high-speed stability. It’s a darn long bike too, with huge 470mm chainstays out back helping to increase the bike’s overall footprint. We’re eager to see how the long back end goes on our local test trails.
For traction, the Giant Reign E+ is rolling on broad 27.5in rims fitted with 2.6in wide Maxxis rubber. There’s an EXO+ casing up front, and a heavy duty DoubleDown casing on the rear. To slow things down, there’s a set of the new Shimano Deore XT M8120 four-piston brake callipers with huge 203mm rotors front and rear.
Of course you’ve gotta get up to get down. Giant has given the Reign E+ a relatively steep 76° seat angle, and short crank arms (160mm on the S/M sizes, and 165mm on L/XL sizes), to provide more ground clearance while pedalling through the chop. There’s plenty of breathing space in the cockpit too, with 800mm wide riser bars paired to a 40-50mm long stem.
2020 Giant Reign E+ 1 Pro Specifications
- Frame | ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum Alloy, 160mm Travel
- Motor | Giant SyncDrive Pro, 80nM
- Battery | Giant EnergyPak Smart 500Wh, 36V Lithium Ion
- Fork | Fox 36 Float Performance Series, 3-Position GRIP, E-MTB Chassis, 170mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X2 Performance Series, 205×62.5mm
- Wheels | Giant E-TR1 27.5, 30mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Front & High Roller II DoubleDown 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore XT 1×12 w/Praxis e-Cadet+ Crankset
- Brakes | Shimano Deore XT M8120 4-Piston, 203mm Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact Trail Alloy, 35mm Diameter, 800mm Width
- Stem | Giant Contact SL, 35mm Diameter, Length: 40mm (S/M), 50mm (L/XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Contact Switch Dropper, Travel: 100mm (S), 125mm (M), 150mm (L), 170mm (XL)
- Saddle | Giant Contact, Neutral
- RRP | $8,699
We’ll be putting the Giant Reign E+ to the test on our local trails, and we’ve got plenty of other adventures around the country planned to see exactly what this big electric mountain bike can do, in order to see how it stacks up alongside the likes of the Specialized Levo, Merida eOne-Sixty, and Trek Rail.
In the meantime, let us know if you’ve got any questions or requests on the Reign E+ test bike. And for further information on the full range, be sure to check out our detailed launch story on the 2020 Giant Reign E+.
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