Giant’s 2017 lineup is trickling out, first with the new gravel-ready TCX Advanced SX Disc. Next comes the completely revamped Liv women’s lineup that not only shows off Advanced level carbon frames across the entire range, but also new carbon manufacturing tech and suspension designs that carry over to the 2017 Trance and Anthem full suspension bikes, too.
The Maestro suspension’s floating pivot point already delivered smooth small bump performance, but now it’s moved to a trunnion-mounted Metric shock design that makes better use of the space and further improves the suspension. At the top of the shock is an all-new molded, forged carbon rocker arm that’s as strong as alloy, but half the weight and more durable. Check the details below along with an overview of the new women’s Hail, Embolden and Pique full sussers…
At the top of the lineup is the new Hail, a 160mm travel, 27.5″ wheeled trail/enduro mountain bike just for women. While the shapes may look very much like brother brand Giant, the layups on these 2017 models are specifically for women. The layup schedule and design is different, creating bikes that are a little less stiff to create a livelier ride under smaller, lighter riders. The result is also frames that sometimes end up lighter than the men’s models. The layup still gets stiff through the downtube and BB section to maintain proper power transfer. And new Boost axle spacing means stiffer wheels.
The rocker arm is made with an all-new process called Advanced Forged Composite Technology. It starts with T-800 carbon thread that’s “woven” into UD sheets at Giant’s own factory, then blended with a custom resin, chopped into various angles and lengths and packed into a 3D mold before being subjected to a high pressure and high heat molding process. Once the molds are opened, a three dimensional solid carbon fiber part comes out that’s equal in strength to the alloy part it replaces, but much lighter. These new AFCT parts will be found on the top level Advanced frames.
And fro 2017, the women get a true top level bike. The Hail Advanced 0 gets their highest level of carbon fiber frame with an 130-160mm RockShox Lyric RCT3 fork and new RockShox Deluxe RC3 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle 1×12 drivetrain and Guide Ultimate brakes, Schwalbe Magic Mary tires, and aggressively spec’d (but trimmable) 800mm wide carbon DH bars and short stem. Below that is the Hail Advanced 1, Hail 1 and Hail 2. Pricing is TBA.
Next down the travel line is the Pique, which gets a trail-ready 120mm travel front and rear. It, too, gets an Advanced level frame (with three complete bikes at that level) and the new forged carbon rocker, trunnion mount shock and Boost 27.5 wheels. Below the three Advanced bikes are three standard carbon Pique bikes.
The top level Pique Advanced 0 comes with a Rockshox RS-1 fork, Eagle 1×12 group, SRAM Rise wheels and Ultimate XC brakes. Bar width is pared down to 750mm. Not shown, there’s also a Pique SX, which gets 120-140mm adjustable travel forks to up the fun quotient a bit.
Bringing that 120mm trail/XC ride down a price point is the new Embolden. It gets an Aluxx alloy frame with Giant’s single-pivot FlexPoint rear end that relies on flex in the stays to assist the spring curve. Frame shaping is similar to the Pique with it’s bent top tube for low standover height, and it also uses 27.5″ wheels.
Spec is a bit lower, but the Embolden 1 keeps the dropper post. Below it is the Embolden 2. Pricing and availability coming soon.
