We tested the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro: a caterpillar going up, a rocket going down

The Giant brand has an e-bike in its 2020 catalogue that knows how to conquer any Enduro and All Mountain enthusiast, the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro. We have been lucky enough to ride it for a few weeks and here is our vision for this electric full suspension bike with generous travel, 27.5" wheels, a powerful engine developed with Yamaha and a 625 Wh battery.

As we have already mentioned in the title, this model seems to have been developed to push the limits of any biker, no matter what problems you find going up or down, with the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro everything is easier.

Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro, technologies and geometry at the service of the wildest mountain bike

You only have to take a look at the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro to discover that this is an aggressive mountain bike in concept and geometry, but if that's not enough, the 27.5" wheels and the 170 mm front and 160 mm rear travel make it clear that this is a downhill bike for Enduro and All Mountain.

Manufactured from hydroformed Aluxx SL aluminium, Giant does not produce any carbon eMTBs. The Reign E+ 0 Pro feels like a very balanced bike in terms of lightness and strength, but aesthetically it stands out for the total integration of both the engine and the battery in a frame where thanks to the internal wiring it offers clean and elegant lines.

In numbers, the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro has a wheelbase of 1,249 mm in size M, a throwing angle of 64.5° and a saddle angle of 76°, which along with other components and technologies, such as the Maestro system, translates into a very stable and safe bike that offers its full potential on the wildest of downhills.

Following the brand's Hybrid Cycling technology concept applied to all its eBikes, the Giant Reign E+ 0 combines both electric and human power to make the driving experience as efficient, powerful and natural as possible. This is particularly true of an Enduro mountain bike, as we have seen that the power delivery on the downhill side is still as effective as on the uphill side.

This is the electrical part of the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro

The core of the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro is the SyncDrive Pro, a new engine that Giant has developed in collaboration with Japanese brand Yamaha. It is an 80-Nm electric motor, the most powerful on the market today, with a 360% increase in pedaling power. This is a real sample of muscle that, fortunately, can be regulated with up to 6 different modes, since at maximum power the bike can become unmanageable in certain areas.

The Ridercontrol One is located on the left hand side of the handlebars for adjusting the engine power. A simple and functional control that is operated by two large buttons and by means of light leds we visualize the battery status (it has 5 points of light and each one represents 20%) or the selected power mode. Thanks to ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity the Ridercontrol One can be linked to any smartphone that has the Giant app installed to use it as a screen.

We can raise or lower the engine power up to 5 steps or select the Smart mode directly. With this smart mode, the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro uses up to six different sensors that measure values such as amount of torque, cadence, ground clearance and speed, to automatically provide one assistance or another. This is the mode we've used the most, and it's the one that saves the most on the whole system.

The 625 wh removable battery is perfectly integrated in the diagonal tube. Another of the successes of this model is its autonomy, as it has a generous battery that can be used for routes of up to 4 hours without any problem. But it can also be easily extended with the Energy Plus kit, an external battery that is anchored in the place of the bottle cage and increases the total capacity to 775 wh.

Thanks to the quick charger we only need 60 minutes of charging to make the battery available again at 80%, something that is appreciated for routes where we have the chance to stop, charge and almost double the autonomy again.

Both the battery and the engine are perfectly protected by heavy-duty rubber and plastic protections inserted in the lower part of the frame, and the connectors have water and dirt-proof magnetic fasteners. Removing the battery is very easy and just by turning a screw it can be removed from the left side.

 Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro assembly and components

The Giant Reign E+ is in the Giant catalogue in up to three different models, but the E+ 0 Pro is the top of the range, and that is evident in its assembly.

Starting with the suspensions, we find the Fox Factory 36 fork with kashima finish, the highest range of Fox that offers 170 mm of travel for 27.5" wheels and Grip2 Dumper cartridge. The 36mm bars plus the Boost axle give all the stiffness we are looking for in the front of this mountain bike.

The 160mm Fox Float X2 performance shock absorber is the perfect partner for this Giant's Master system. A twin-rod rear suspension system capable of efficient operation regardless of pedalling. This e-bike-specific shock absorber has a 205x62.5mm trunnion mount and a 2-position adjustment lever. It does not lock completely, but the truth is that its behaviour in the hardest position is outstanding when climbing.

To complete the suspension section, the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro is fitted with the new SRAM Reverb AXS telescopic seatpost, a 30.9mm diameter telescopic seatpost with wireless control, which can be seen in different travel sizes depending on the size of the bike (Travel: 100mm-S / 125mm-M / 150mm-L / 170mm- XL).

In the drivetrain we found a pleasant surprise because of the electronic shifting. It may seem a bit odd for an Enduro mountain bike, but the truth is that the SRAM X01 Eagle AXS is more than proven and its performance is outstanding. The SRAM PG-1230 12v, 11-50 cassette is perhaps the most basic thing we find in the assembly of this bike and can be justified by its strength.

Attached to the Giant's engine are 160mm Praxxis e-Carbon crankshafts for size S-M and a 36T 104 BCD SRAM X-Sync Eagle crankset. Everything is connected by the SRAM X01 Eagle chain, special for e-bike, and is controlled by the SRAM X01 Eagle Etap AXS button, also specific for e-bike, which only allows us to change one by one so as not to damage our chain with the power of the engine. 

A small chain guide, the TR MRP 1X custom V3, ensures that the chain is always reliably in place and lightweight.

Brakes are a key aspect of any e-MTB, we are looking at a bike that weighs more than 24 kg and we need braking power. Something that we find in the SRAM Code R, 4 piston brakes with 220mm discs in front and 200mm that will make us have a progressive and lasting braking even on the longest and riskiest paths.  

The wheels are of the brand itself, a Giant e-TRX 27.5 with carbon ring and 30 mm wide tubeless ready. The Giant e-TRX [F] hubs, both boost, and the e-TRX spokes complete a set of light, rigid and resistant wheels that cannot be asked for anything else. 

The front tyre is a Maxxis Minion DHF 27x2.6", tubeless with EXO+ protection and 3c MaxxTerra and the rear tyre is a Hig Roller II 27x2.6", tubeless, Double Down, 2x120TPi and 3c MaxxTerra Compound. Resistant and with a perfect grip in paths of all kinds.

Like the frame, both the handlebars and stem are made of aluminium, both Giant contact SL 35 Trail. The 35x800mm long handlebar is perfect for controlling complicated situations such as jumps or turns. The saddle is a Contact SL Neutral, a comfortable, lightweight and resistant saddle.

The Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro in action

After assembling and adjusting the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro, the first thing we did was to put it on the scale and it weighed exactly 24.93 kg, with everything needed for pedaling and a size M. At first sight it seemed that with that weight it could be a "clumsy" bike but it only took us a couple of hours riding it to forget about that idea forever.

Once on the bike the first thing you feel is that the pedalling position is very centred and with it it will be very easy to get down in sight for almost any area. The Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro offers a sense of security and confidence from the first pedal stroke, but it was still a first impression and there were many things to check.

It is clear that this bike was going to look better on the downhills but the electric part invited to try it out first on all kinds of uphills. As for the electrical assistance, 80% of the time we used the intelligent mode and we did it because it really works very well and if you are not in very low form it is perfect to ride anywhere saving battery and effort.

If we go to extremes, the maximum power mode seems to us to be unusable in most circumstances as the bike quickly loses traction on climbs or directly becomes unmanageable. But if we want to save some sections of fast climbing, it is certainly a lifesaver. 

As for the power delivery, in the intelligent mode, it is done in a natural, progressive and effective way. One of the situations in which this Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro has surprised us the most is in the transition areas on long downhills where you go fast, as soon as you have to pedal so as not to lose inertia the power delivery is effective from the first stroke of the pedal. This is something that Enduro and aggressive downhill enthusiasts will appreciate.

But if we continue with the behaviour of the bike uphill, we have to say that its weight is not a burden even in technical climbs where the wheel has to be directed precisely. The Reign E+ 0 Pro proved to be very agile in these situations and we believe this is partly due to its intelligent electric assistance, which pushes just when needed, and its rear Master suspension system combined with the closed position of the shock. The bike becomes a real track capable of climbing anywhere with precision.

Now it's time to go down with it and we've done it countless times because from the first time you try it you only think about buying all the tokens of this fair attraction. The Fox 36 170 mm fork and 160 mm shock swallow everything and the geometry of this bike does the rest to make it very agile and fast in any situation despite its 25 kg.

We emphasize the weight because it doesn't do justice to the sensations it conveys. The Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro really does feel like a lightweight bike in any situation. Even for those moments when we have to climb on foot and push it, it has a button with assistance mode that allows it to climb without any effort.

In conclusion, the Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro is a mountain bike to have fun with, no matter if you are riding downhill or on a long day of riding. It is a very comfortable bike in any situation and it is the only one that can make up for the shortcomings that anyone may have while riding, thanks to its outstanding electrical assistance, or make up for errors and lack of technique while riding down with its long-distance geometry and suspension.

Giant Reign E+ 0 Pro: pricing and models