Liv’s Thrive E+ EX Pro is Fast, Smooth, and Fully Equipped for Commutes
The Takeaway: A stable, comfortable commuter e-bike with customizable assist modes and route-mapping capabilities
• Commute-ready with fenders, a rear rack, a kickstand, and lights
• Five assistance levels with a 28 mph maximum e-assist
• Screen displays directions to destinations and phone notifications via RideControl App
Price: $3,500
Weight: 49.1 lbs
Commuters, hang on to your backpacks. This extra-fast commuter e-bike is ready to get you to the office on time early. The Thrive E+ Ex Pro is a supercharged e-bike with a motor that tops out at 28 mph (most have a maximum assistance of 20mph) and is fully rigged with features you want on a do-it-all commuter. We rode the bike to and from the office, around town, and on lunch runs, and discovered that it is one sleek, useful machine.
Commuter-Friendly Features
The Thrive E+ EX Pro comes with many accessories that enhanced our daily rides. The sturdy rear rack fit well with our Electra clamp-on rack basket when we took it for a burrito run, and the fenders allowed us to ride right through wet patches of sidewalk in our work clothes. The Thrive E+ EX Pro is equipped with a front and rear Ava BlueLine light, both of which are connected to the battery and turn on automatically, but can be turned off with a button on the control pad. And—my personal favorite—if you’re riding to a new place, the RideControl Evo system can give you directions as you ride.
High Stability
The wide, stable tires lended a confident, planted feeling to the ride, which is absolutely necessary when you’re riding at 28 mph. Despite the weight, the 27.5-inch wheels kept it feeling maneuverable, another crucial factor at high speeds or on crowded streets.
Sizes available XS, S, M, L
Frame Aluminum
Motor Giant SyncDrive Pro (Yamaha)
Battery 36V Integrated Lithium-Ion
Shifters Shimano Tiagra, 10-Speed
Brakes Shimano hydraulic disc, 180/160mm
Cassette 11-36
Crankset 42T
Rims Giant eX-2, Tubeless Ready, e-bike optimized
Tires Kenda Kwick Seven.5 (27.5 x 2.40)
Saddle Liv Sport
Riding Position
The geometry of the Thrive E+ EX Pro puts the rider in a slightly forward position, which strikes a balance between optimal power output (for when you really gotta get there) and comfort (for when you don’t). It also tucks the front wheel up underneath the handlebar for a more responsive steering experience.
The RideControl System
To me, the coolest part of control unit was the route mapping. You don’t need to sync the device with a third-party account or upload GPS files—just pop the destination address into the app and the monitor will display turn-by turn directions. In addition to route mapping, the handlebar-mounted RideControl system lets you adjust the amount of pedaling assistance you get for each level (eco, basic, active, sport, and power) from 50 to 360 percent. It also allows your phone to send call, text, and email notifications to the monitor. If the rider is wearing a heart rate monitor, the RideControl screen will also display that number.
Pedal Assistance
The Giant SyncDrive Pro provides a super-smooth engagement and acceleration, so bumping up the assist mode or shifting gears provide a natural increase in speed, rather than a jerky or inconsistent feel. And this was no happy accident: The motor system takes into account your current speed, the amount of torque you put on the pedals, motor rpm’s, the slope you’re riding at, and an accelerometer to asses how much pedal assistance to provide. This also allows the motor to continue to offer adequate assistance at high cadence, which you might use when riding up a steep hill. Riding this bike feels just about as predictable and natural as your old cruiser, and it’s surprisingly quiet. And if you’re taking it on a longer trip, the Thrive E+ EX Pro is also compatible with an EnergyPak Plus range extender, which sits in the bottle cage and adds an extra half-battery (250 watt-hours) worth of juice.
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