Tested: Liv Avail Advanced E+ Elite 0

E-road bikes continue to grow in popularity, with the Liv range recently launched. Our editor, Nicola Rutzou, put the top-of-the-line model through its paces.

The Giant women’s brand Liv might be a little late to the party, with many of their competitors having a range of e-road bikes for several years, but they’ve nailed it with the new Avail Advanced E+ Elite range of women’s specific e-road bikes.

It doesn’t look like an e-bike. The only giveaways are the control panel on the top tube and the oversized rear hub. Otherwise, it’s a sleek machine with a cool paint job that graduates from gloss black to unfinished carbon.

Before we start, I should also tell you that Liv’s ‘brother’ brand, Giant, also has the Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite range, which has the same specs as the Liv models. So, much of what you read here applies equally. The key differences are the frame geometry and saddle, plus the colour and graphics.

Since e-bikes entered the market, I’ve been lucky enough to ride several of them, including cruiser-style, mountain bike, and road bikes, so I’ve got a fair idea of what it feels like to ride one, although I don’t own one. Well, not yet anyway.

I’ve heard many riders say that e-bikes are ‘cheating,’ but I disagree. E-bikes are an awesome addition to the range of bicycles available. They enable people who might not otherwise be able to ride to get out there, and that has to be a good thing. Whether they are ageing, have a health condition, don’t want to sweat on their commute, want to keep up with their faster friends, or just because they don’t want to work as hard, e-bikes are great. And contrary to some perceptions, you still get a good workout. You still pedal, put in plenty of effort, and gain the amazing benefits of exercise.

The Liv flagship Avail Advanced E+ Elite 0 model is an impressive road machine. Its geometry is based on the regular Liv Avail, an endurance bike built for comfort and long rides. Liv describes the frame and fork as an advanced-grade composite that balances stiffness, comfort, strength, and precision. So, it’s not surprising that it is a comfy ride.

I admire Liv for sticking with the women’s geometry bike concept when most other major manufacturers have abandoned it in favour of unisex frames. The other companies still customise for women with componentry like narrower handlebars, shorter stems, and women’s saddles, but Liv is the only one that has stuck to the philosophy.

To me, the most important characteristic of any bike is how it feels to ride. Yes, the running gear and other technical stuff are significant, and we’ll talk about that later, but the feel is what gets you in.

At around 12kg, the first thing you notice before you even hop on is the weight when you wheel it. It is considerably heavier than my regular road bike by about five kilos, but it seems light and rolls nicely once you’re riding it.

Some e-bikes I’ve ridden in the past have a strong acceleration feeling when you take off and seem to surge forward; this bike didn’t have that surge, at least in the lower power modes. Instead, it felt much like a regular road bike, and it wasn’t until I started riding that I felt the pedal assistance kick in.

The Liv Avail E+ has five power modes, providing a good range of assistance from minimum to maximum and accessing them while riding is easy with a light indicator strip on the top tube and controls. But the best feature is the buttons integrated into the levers, making it simple to change the power level up and down using your thumbs. On the top-of-the-line model I tested, these buttons are SRAM Bonus Buttons. The other models have SRAM Blips, which are buttons mounted under the bar tape.

For most of my riding on either flat or slightly inclined terrain, I used just the lowest and second lowest power modes. In these modes, it felt like I was riding with a slight tailwind. I think the lowest mode partly compensates for the extra weight, and when I switched it off altogether, I definitely noticed the difference.

I increased the power level when I rode up hills and chose the level depending on the steepness and length of the incline. The steepest hill I rode up is about 300 metres long and has a maximum gradient of 9.2 per cent, and the Liv Avail E+ handled it with aplomb. I still had to work a bit, but compared to my regular road bike, it was easy!

Of course, the gears also allowed me to vary the degree of difficulty. It took me a while to get a feel for when to change gear and when to alter the power mode. There are no rules here and each rider will develop their own way, depending on their riding style, terrain and how they feel on the day.

Groupset and componentry

As you’d expect with a high-end road bike, the Liv Avail E+ is equipped with high-quality running gear. The SRAM RED AXS groupset is smooth and sleek. My own bikes are all Shimano-geared, so I’ve had limited SRAM experience, but I found it simple to master the gear changing and braking.

Gear changes were smooth, and the choice of 33/46T chainrings and 10-33 12-speed cassette seemed the right combination for this set-up, which is not dissimilar to my road bikes.

Braking with the SRAM RED AXS set-up felt comfortable and stable. The addition of good brakes, particularly given the extra weight on steep descents, was comforting.

The bike’s cockpit looks like many high-end road bikes, with all the cables running internally. Liv says the handlebars’ D-shaped tubing is tailored for women’s hands. They have an 8-degree flare drop for stability, and they certainly felt comfortable.

Photos by: https://www.instagram.com/tomjoyphoto

The carbon seat post also features a D-shaped shaft that absorbs road vibrations and shock, reduces fatigue, and keeps the ride comfortable even on bumpier terrain. I also found the Liv Alacra SL saddle comfortable because it is similar in shape and size to the saddles on my own bikes. At the base of the seat post is an integrated rear tail light that is always on while using any power assist mode.

Here is a bit more about the powered part of this bike. A SyncDrive Move Plus motor in the rear hub powers the Liv Avail Advanced E+ Elite bike. Liv says it delivers 30Nm of torque, comparable to 75Nm in a mid-drive motor. You might expect it to feel heavy in the bike’s rear end, but it doesn’t feel heavy when you’re riding.

The 400Wh battery within the downtube accounts for it being a little chunkier than the average downtube, but not in an obvious way. Liv says it includes temperature monitoring and ‘smart’ charging to extend its lifespan with room in the downtube for an optional 200Wh range extender. It’s also easy to access the charging point on the bike, which is located near the base of the seat tube, just above the cranks.

Liv describes several scenarios to explain how the bike functions, and although I was unaware of them at the time, I experienced each one while testing it.

When you start pedalling from a static position, the motor gradually increases the power, giving you a smooth start with no sudden surge of power. Conversely, when you stop pedalling, the motor gradually reduces support to avoid a sudden feeling of power loss.

To compensate for the e-bike speed limit of 25 km/hour in Australia, the motor gradually eases off before you reach the speed limit for a smooth transition. I did notice a significant loss of power when I reached 25 km/hour, and while it felt a little weird, I was happy to work harder when it occurred. I suspect that most people in the market for an e-road bike don’t often travel much faster than this on flat terrain, so that it won’t be an issue. But it’s important to be aware of before you hand over your hard-earned cash for one.

Liv says the bike also boosts power on the highest power level. When the motor detects that you’re pedalling hard, but your speed is slow, like when riding into a headwind or up a hill, it automatically provides a power ‘boost’.

Ride Control App

Like all good electronic devices, the Liv Avail E+ has a companion app Called RideControl. It allows the rider to customise the bike. By connecting your phone to your e-bike, you can customise your motor’s support ratio, acceleration timing, and torque settings to suit your preferences. You can even track your fitness by recording and sharing your ride data, including time, distance, speed, calories, elevation, and cadence.

One of the app’s most helpful features is the diagnostic check, which allows the rider to check the health of the bike’s e-components and the battery level and range in real-time. I didn’t use the app extensively, but I could see the benefit, particularly the range you still have left when you’re in the middle of a ride.

How far can you ride on a single charge?

Now, the all-important question. How far can you ride? Drivers of electric vehicles speak of ‘range anxiety’, and riders of e-bikes, I’m sure, also suffer from the same condition.

Of course, there is no one answer to this question. It depends on many variables: the selected power mode, outdoor temperature, wind resistance, tyre pressure, terrain elevation and surface, rider weight and luggage, acceleration, maintenance, and number of charges.

However, Liv reports that with optimised battery usage, the Avail Advanced E+ Elite can reach 150km by using the 400Wh main battery and a 200Wh range extender. Even with just the 400Wh main battery, the range can exceed 100km.

During my test rides of no more than 60km each, I didn’t get anywhere near using the full battery, so I suffered no anxiety. I also knew that if it ran out altogether, I’d still make it home; it would just be a bit harder.

You might also like to know how long it takes to charge. Liv reports that it takes three hours and 55 minutes to charge it fully.

The practical stuff

Although it is heavier than I’m used to, I comfortably lifted it into the back of my hatchback to transport it. It is also easy to remove both the front and rear wheels, that are fitted with thru-axles. The front wheel has a removable lever you should carry with you on a ride, and the rear has an attached lever. The tubeless tyre setup was faultless, and the 28mm wide tyres made it a comfortable and stable ride. It will accommodate up to 38mm wide tyres.