Liv Intrigue X Adv. E+: Small weaknesses, great riding fun - Liv E-MTB endurance test results

When I roll the Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite 2 out of the test cellar for the first time, there is immediately a quiet feeling of anticipation. Not because it had to be a women's e-mountainbike. But because this bike radiates something: lightness, elegance, a confident purple colour with a metallic sheen. We have now covered many kilometres. Home trails, long tours, alpine descents. So it's time to take stock.

The question of size

When choosing the frame size, I was unsure at first. Size L, at 1.75 metres tall - just about right according to the table. The first time I sat on it, I felt almost a little too high. I pushed the seatpost all the way down and set off. Everything fitted on the trail. I quickly found the riding position to be harmonious, the bike didn't feel bulky, but balanced.

Relaxation instead of a pulse alarm

I know my home trails between Lake Starnberg and Garmisch-Partenkirchen well. Perhaps too well. There used to be those sections where my pulse would inevitably climb towards 180. Today I ride up them - I'm amazed at myself - surprisingly calmly.

The Liv provides gentle, unagitated, almost polite support. No jerky thrust, no pulling on the handlebars. The front wheel stays firmly on the ground, even on steep ramps. One reason for this is the geometry, which can be adjusted using a flipchip. A small detail that makes a big difference in everyday life. I sit in a balanced position, not too sporty, not too comfortable - just right for long days on the trail.

The suspension really shows what it's made of on the descents. The compression and rebound damping are set at the factory for lighter riders, and this is immediately noticeable. The fork responds finely, even with low air pressure. Bumps disappear almost casually without the bike losing precision.

At the BIKE Women Camp at Lake Molveno, on the technically challenging trails of the Dolomiti Paganella bike region, my confidence grows with every descent. I let it go, play with the terrain - and at some point I realise that I'm no longer thinking about whether the bike will cooperate. It just does.

>> What's happened so far: Uphill flow on the first test laps in Massa Marittima

>> Giant Syncdrive Pro MG in laboratory and practical tests: The lightest e-bike motor in its class!

>> For ladies only: bikes, camps and cool equipment for women

When the battery is running low

So far, the Liv has been a reliable companion. But at some point the question comes up that every rider of a light e-MTB asks herself: Will the battery last for really long tours? I look for the answer on a tour from Latsch via the Highline Meran - without a lift, but with a lot of power. After almost 1200 metres in altitude, the last battery bar flashes orange.

A few turns of the cranks later, the assistance is over. So water bottle out, range extender in. So far, it has been stored inconspicuously in the rucksack and weighs just 1.2 kilos including the cable. Immediately after plugging it in, the display shows two white bars again. 200 additional watt hours. Enough to finish the tour.

When I reach my destination, I have 64 kilometres and 2073 metres of altitude in my logbook - and the honest realisation: I couldn't have done it without support. However, it doesn't feel like cheating, but rather like an invitation to keep going.

The facts about the Liv Intrigue X Adv. E+ Elite 2

• Price 5899 Euro
• Frame material Carbon
• Engine Yamaha SyncDrive Pro2 MG
• Battery EnergyPak Smart 400 Wh (non-removable)
• Weight 20.17 kilos
• Size / Reach L / 460 mm
• Front / rear suspension travel 150 mm / 140 mm
• Fork / damper Fox 36 Performance / Fox Float DPS Performance
• Brake / gearstick Shimano SLX / Shimano SLX

Mileage and costs for spare parts

Kilometres / altitude difference 1200 km / 22365 hm

Functionality 6/6 points

Durability 4/6 points

Engine power with sensitivity

The SyncDrive Pro2 MG motor sits in a magnesium housing, is lightweight - and yet anything but restrained. 85 Newton metres of torque is a statement, especially in this weight class. Six sensors ensure that the support comes exactly when I need it.

The direct engine intervention is particularly noticeable when starting off on steep terrain: no idle travel, no hesitation. Sometimes almost a little too sensitive. If you like it quieter, you can throttle the response behaviour via the app. I usually leave it as it is.

Damage assessment: Deductions for this

Not everything is perfect. The seat post lever is too stiff. I need full manual force to operate it. This is annoying, especially on technical, playful trails. A detail, yes - but one that stands out.

Shortly before the end of the endurance test, I am hit by a bitter blow. A planned autumn tour to the Hochthörle hut and further around the Zugspitze massif ends not on a sunny mountain pasture, but unspectacularly in the car park at the Eibsee lake. The front brake fails - suddenly, without warning. No pressure point, no deceleration. Pumping doesn't help, nor does readjusting. Diagnosis: A broken ceramic piston in the Shimano brake. A problem that has apparently been known for some time. Now I'm also part of this statistic.

So the season ends not in the golden light of late autumn, but in the sober workshop cellar. Concrete instead of a view, spare parts instead of a panorama. The new brakes have been ordered, the bike is at a standstill. And yet this end feels less like a farewell and more like a brief relationship crisis.

Too much lightness, too many good days on the trail are behind us. The Liv opened up spaces for me, gave me reach, built up confidence. That's why it will get another chance next season. Relationships that last can survive a break - even a ceramic one.

Liv Intrigue X Adv. E+ Elite 2: Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

• Equipment
• Geometry
• Engine power
• Chassis

Disadvantages

• Brake
• Lever for seat post
• No frame protection films

Conclusion: Liv Intrigue X Adv. E+ Elite endurance test

The Liv doesn't do the riding for me, but extends my radius - both uphill and downhill. The Yamaha motor proved to be a reliable companion and never let me down. I was disappointed by the early signs of wear on the Shimano SLX components. However, these weaknesses fade into the background when you suddenly find yourself travelling further than you thought you could. - Barbara Merz_Weigandt, editor-in-chief of MYBIKE and permanent tester at BIKE