a throttle. Some of the
steeper climbs had me
"shifting into fifth gear"
on the power modes (I
realize they're not gears
and I wasn't shifting,
but that's just what I'm
going to call it) and at
full power, it was almost
too much to keep the
front end down. As the
day wore on, I found
myself settling into the
SmartAssist mode even
through steep sections
and sand, and the bike's
auto-power output just
about always struck the
right chord. I say almost,
because at a lower
cadence of pedaling,
the power could feel a
little surgey at times.
But for the most part,
the SmartAssist dialed in the right
amount of power for whatever we
got into, and after half a day of
manual tinkering, I found myself
opting for the auto setting. Not
having to manage the power
output or worry about adjusting
suspension between climbs and
descents took a little getting used
to, but much like the chassis, as
you learn to trust it, you
will reap the rewards.
The final standout
feature, of course, the
ergonomics. Swinging
a leg over a bike that is
built to suit my specific
dimensions is a revela
-
tion. This must be what
it's like to be a 5'10"
180-pound man on a
modern 450cc moto
-
cross bike. Everything
here is built exactly to
fit you. There is noth
-
ing to adapt to, no bars
to trim or dimensions
to compensate for.
Slim grips at exactly
the right width and a
stand-over position
that doesn't challenge
my back makes every
-
thing easier. Ladies of
shorter stature will particularly
find lots to love with all Liv offer
-
ings. The Intrigue X Advanced E+
Elite comes in sizes XS to L, with
its generous adjustability making
it particularly accommodating
for ladies 5'2" and under. With a
maximum weight capacity of 344
pounds (156 kg), larger riders will
also be right at home.
(Above) The mullet wheel setup
(29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear)
provides a stable ride with
moto-like cornering that was
a blast on the Utah trails.
(Below left) The Intrigue X Elite is
sleek and streamlined throughout.
Integrated controls require hardly
a touch to activate. (Below right)
The adaptive suspension behavior
has a lot to do with the
Maestro chassis design.
RIDE REVIEW I LIV INTRIGUE X ADVANCED E+ ELITE eMTB
P100
