Giant Full-E+ 1 SX Pro Trail Bike Review

As you’d expect when you collaborate with one of the leading motorcycle brands on the market, the Giant’s SyncDrive Pro motor — powered by Yamaha — packs a serious punch.

There’s plenty of grunt on tap, and by fitting big-volume Plus tyres, Giant gives you the traction to really exploit this torque. With a generous 160mm of travel front and rear, the Full-E+ 1 SX Pro is just as comfortable on the descents. Slam the dropper post and those 2.6in tyres create a big footprint on the trail and a real sense of confidence in the rider, helped further by the extra control afforded by the wide, 800mm handlebar.

The lithium-ion battery pack is branded Giant, but it’s actually produced by Panasonic, and features cobalt manganese cells, which are long lasting and charge quickly. Giant has done a great job of mounting it, as it is easily accessible and removable for charging at home, but seamlessly integrates with the down tube to make it look internal. Giant also offers a lighter 400Wh unit for $450, which can be stuffed in a backpack, and is perfect for extending the bike’s range.

Falling easily to hand is the push button control for the Giant RideControl Evo display unit, with the main screen above the stem. There are five ride modes on offer — Eco, Basic, Active, Sport and Power — and also walk assist, which pushes the bike along when you’re walking uphill. There are also a couple of handy features on the display like ride time, distance and cadence.

The Full-E+ 1 SX Pro features a conventional crank — in this case a cold forged Praxis Works. It’s fitted with a 36t ring with a narrow/wide tooth profile, but to ensure ultimate security there’s also a Shimano XT clutch mech and MRP chain device. To deal with the extra torque from the motor and ensure you don’t have a long trudge home, Giant also includes a reinforced, e-bike specific chain.

Like all e-bikes the Giant Full-E+ 1 SX Pro makes light work of the climbs but its supportive suspension, neutral handling and wide bars ensure you’re just as confident dropping back down.