Today, we’ve got the Giant Stance E+ back on the channel. The first time around, the bike didn’t really butter my toast, but it’s since seen a massive update. It has new geometry, and our version gets the SyncDrive Pro drivesystem. So, is it better this time around? Stick around to find out.
Giant Stance E+ 1 Pro Geometry and Details
The Stance E+ is Giant’s value-oriented eMTB. Currently, it’s on sale and comes in at $4,000 — which is a hell of a deal for a full suspension ebike with a great drivesystem. I don’t usually bring up price and value when it comes to these reviews, but with a bike as inexpensive as this, it’s tough not to. So what’s the catch? Giant foregoes some tech and high-end components to get the price tag so low.
One way Giant get’s this bike so cheap is in the suspension design. The Stance E+ uses a flex stay suspension design rather than the Maestro platform, like most of Giant’s nicer bikes. On some of the models of the Stance E+, you’ll find the SyncDrive Sport motor. It’s still a great system, but the SyncDrive Pro found on our build takes the cake. It’s an excellent drivesystem, which I’d put up against any other drive system on the market. It’s quiet, powerful and smooth. It offers 85NM of peak torque, which is right in line with the competition. Our bike came with an 800Wh battery, which I’m certainly not complaining about. You can certainly feel the weight of that battery, though, when lifting the bike in and out of the truck and out on the trails. We’re talking around 55lb for this bad Larry.
The Stance E+ rolls on 125mm of rear-wheel travel and a 140mm fork. It has 29” wheels at both ends. The geometry on this new version now looks a lot more like a modern MTB. We have a 65.5° HTA, a 76° STA, and a lengthy 510mm reach in our size XL. Giant has shrunk the chainstays by a few millimeters, making them 468mm across all four sizes. That’s a significant improvement over the previous edition, where the chainstays were longer than the reach in every size.
Giant Stance E+ Review
Uphill
The difference in climbing ability between the previous version and this one is about the same as comparing my kid’s blue power wheels to a Dakar Rally Kamaz. There’s a night and day difference in both the performance and comfort of the new Stance.
Let’s start with the biggest upgrade in my mind. The Previous Stance E+ had a super slack seat tube angle, which didn’t do you any favors when climbing steep and technical terrain. It led to the front wheel lifting and wandering all over the trail. The new Stance E+ fixes that problem with its 76° STA. It helps keep your weight from hovering way behind the rear axle. Instead, the body position on the new version keeps plenty of weight over the front wheel. I had no issues with climbing steep, desert sandstone or rocky terrain.
The second biggest upgrade is the SyncDrive Pro motor. The extra 15 Nm are rather noticeable on the climbs. The old version wasn’t particularly slow, but the upgraded motor does help when it comes to keeping up with full-power ebikes. I’m a big fan of the SyncDrive system. It offers a very smooth power delivery while being one of the quietest motors on the market.
The suspension design hasn’t changed from the previous version, so there’s still a bit of pedal bob on the Stance E+. Pedal bob typically isn’t the biggest problem on an ebike because you have a motor to overcome any efficiency. The added traction from an active design can be a nice feature, too. It certainly helps in steep, loose terrain.
Overall, the climbing performance of the new Stance E+ has vastly improved. It’s still not the most refined climber, but for the price and category, it does a great job.
Downhill
I’m not going to go as far as saying the Stance E+ is a high-performance descender, but it sure as hell is an MTB now. I’m finding it difficult to believe it only has 125mm of rear travel. It rides bigger, smoother, and nicer than most 125mm travel bikes.
The suspension design on the Stance E+ is very active. It’s easy to get into the travel, making it smooth through trail chatter and medium-sized bumps. It’s tough to know if the bottom outs I felt were deserved or not. The bike weighs upwards of 60 lbs and only has 125mm of travel, so bottom-outs will likely be frequent when the suspension is set up for off-top performance. Luckily, none of them were harsh. The bike tracks well, and I didn’t find myself getting bounced around in the rough and high-speed sections. I’m pretty impressed with how the suspension feels. It’s funny because it’s still the same flex stay design as before, but with the geometry updates, the bike feels so much better on the descents.
Easily, the biggest factor in the ride quality is the updated geometry. The head tube angle is right in line with a modern trail bike. The reach is roomy enough for actual trail riding now, too. Both of these adjustments make the Stance E+ a stable and confident bike. The wheelbase grew 60mm from the previous version. That’s a huge update and likely the biggest reason the bike feels so stable and confident now. Watching the previous version’s footage, I could tell the bike made me timid. That certainly wasn’t the case on this one.
While I’m not too picky when it comes to individual suspension components, I don’t think the Suntour Raidon is up to the task. I found it heated up quite a bit throughout the day and struggled to get it set up correctly. The rebound adjuster has plenty of clicks but seems to lack mid-range adjustment. The rebound went from being too fast to too slow within a single click — It may as well only have two positions. I’d certainly be looking for an upgrade if I bought this bike.
The Stance E+ is heavy — no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The handling feels heavy, too, if that makes any sense. It’s especially noticeable on slower speed and tighter sections of trail. It can end up being a bit of a wrestling match from time to time. It prefers a little gravity and momentum for the handling to feel better.
Overall, the updates Giant made to the Stance E+ have brought it into the MTB category for me. It’s now a great value option for someone who rides all kinds of trails.
Comparison to Previous Giant Stance E+
Previous Giant Stance E+ vs Stance E+
Well, the previous version wasn’t much of a mountain bike. It was more of a full-suspension commuter or rail trail bike. The geometry wasn’t ideal, with the seat tube angle being really slack — I had little to no control over the front end on the climbs. The bike didn’t inspire much confidence on the descents either. It may have been suitable for someone brand new to the sport, but someone interested in learning and progressing would outgrow it quickly. The new model is improved in every way. It’s a viable option for a MTBer.
Read the Previous Stance E+ Review Here
Who is The Giant Stance E+ for?
The new Stance E+ is a great value-oriented eMTB that suits a handful of different rider categories. The first group I see enjoying the Stance E+ are the newer riders. The Stance E+ isn’t the most refined option out there, but it’s plenty good for a newer rider. It will be enough bike for them to learn, grow, and progress not only in their own skill level but in the difficulty of trails they feel comfortable riding.
The second group of riders that I think will enjoy the Stance E+ are the folks on a budget. At $4000, the Stance E+ is one of the cheaper eMTB options on the market. There’s something to be said for not having to take out a second mortgage to buy a bike.
The Bottom Line
The new Stance E+ is a huge improvement over the previous model, bringing the bike up to date and in line with modern trail eMTBs.