I liked
- Uses high-end components
- Lifetime frame warranty
- Smart Assist mode to improve riding experience
- Anti-Thief Lockable System
Opportunities for Improvement
- It might be too heavy for some
- It doesn't come with rack or lights
-
Motor assistance
-
Battery range
-
Weight
-
Responsiveness & Confort
-
Quality of Components
-
Controller and Sensors
-
Added elements
The Giant Roam E+ is a commuter electric bike with hybrid capabilities, and it has been created with high-quality components.
I know Giant has many other models, like the Giant Explore E +, that can easily compete with the Roam E+; however, each model offers different things.
Important information about my review: This e-bike was loaned by Ivanhoe Cycles for testing purposes, and all the words are my own. I have not been compensated to promote the bike store or the bike’s brand.
Giant Roam E+ Real-Time Video Review
Table of Contents
Roam E+ Specs Summary
MOTOR & TOP SPEED
|
BATTERY
|
RANGE (based on brand information)
|
CONTROLLER, RIDING MODES & DISPLAY
|
FRAME
|
DRIVETRAIN SYSTEM
|
BRAKING SYSTEM
|
OVERALL WEIGHT & CARRYING CAPACITY
|
| TYRES AND SUSPENSION
Tyres
Suspension
|
SENSORS
|
FEATURES
|
PRICE & WARRANTY
|
Riding the Giant Roam E+
Ergonomics and Comfort
– While riding on uneven grass, it was surprisingly comfortable. I first noticed how little vibration was going towards my wrist and lower back.
– The handlebar design made it easy to reach the bike’s grips. I felt my back was straighter, reducing my hip tension.
– The front suspension system has little compression travel (65 mm), but it is more than enough to provide shock absorption and comfort.
– The Giant Sport saddle was also essential to the comfort experience. At first glance, it didn’t look too comfortable, but it was capable of absorbing the impacts created by the terrain.
SyncDrive Core motor efficiency
Pedal assist levels (PAS)
– When testing PAS one, I felt the Yamaha motor gently assist my pedal efforts. However, it didn’t feel too different from pedalling without assistance.
– When testing PAS 2, there was a slight difference compared to PAS 1, yet it was not too impressive.
– The difference came when using PAS3. Straightaway, I felt the difference in the motor power and torque.
– PAS 5 is definitely very powerful. Moving my legs along the motor assistance felt effortless, and riding on bumpy terrain didn’t feel too difficult.
– I was very impressed with how quiet the Yamaha/Giant SynkDrive Core was. That is definitely appealing to me.
Roam E+ Smart Assist
– The Smart Assist option offered by Giant is mind-blowing. It simply provided me with an effortless riding experience. It worked by detecting the terrain conditions (terrain sensor) the bike was on and how much my pedal effort input was (torque and cadence sensors).
– It was very easy to notice the difference in the motor power when going downhill and uphill. In this case, when riding downhill, the motor provided a little power to my effort and increased it when I was going uphill.
– This was quite convenient because it took the edge off thinking about what PAS to use on a specific terrain, improving the motor and battery efficiency.
Battery efficiency and portability
– The Giant EnergyPack 400 seems to be a good battery. According to the manufacturer, the range varies between 55 km to 150 km. As most of us know, many factors influence the range.
– A downside I could not fully understand was how much battery was used during my test ride. It seemed to me that using each LED light indicator to show 20% battery power remaining was a little inaccurate.
Each LED light equates to a 20% battery.
– In addition to the above, the technology used to create this battery was also high-level. I was happy to see battery indicators embedded in the battery shell to tell me the charge level.
– I love how the battery was built into the frame. However, I found it a little harder to remove. I guess this could also be a positive aspect, as thieves won’t have an easy way to remove it. In this case, it could be used as an e-bike locking system.
Other features experience
At first glance, the Giant controller was a little confusing to understand. Still, once the options given by the RideControl One version were clear, the LED indicator system made things straightforward.
– The walk assistance mode. There was a little button underneath the down arrow, which I needed to push for around two seconds; after this, the motor was activated to provide up to 5 km/h. I think it is pretty useful.
– Another confusing one for me was activating the Smart Assist option. However, I figured to press the down arrow for three seconds, and then the middle LED light would turn on, indicating the system was activated.
– Even though this model is rated at around 22 kg, my experience riding it without assistance was fine. I don’t think the bike’s overall weight was much of a concern. The drivetrain system and the simplicity of gears made pedalling easy.
How Convinced I Was With the Giant Roam E+?
What Giant presented here is intriguing. All the components used were high-quality, including the Yamaha motor. The battery provided up to 150 km in ideal conditions (per brand indications), which was more than I would need.
I was very content with how smoothly each PAS transitioned and how effortless it was to pedal. The best part was the Smart Assist feature, which enhanced motor performance and battery range.
Comfort was another factor I was happy about. The front suspension system made each bump smooth.
A few downsides could be the lack of front and rear lights and a rear rack, which other models like the Giant Explore E+ 1 2023 have. I think this is essential for commuting; however, it would increase the overall price.
I know the Giant Roam E+ has a relatively high price tag, but you’re paying for the long-term reliability of components and a lifetime warranty on the frame.
