Giant Explore E+ 4 eBike Review

In-Depth Review

Frame

The Giant Explore E+ 4 uses a custom ALUXX SL aluminum design, providing the same strength and durability as many other 6011 aluminum bikes while being 20% thinner. As a result, the eBike (size M) weighs around the 49 lbs mark, which is rather light for a sturdy eBike suited for trail riding. Even better is that the frame has also been designed to hide the vast majority of wiring used to make this mid-drive motor eBike function. So, if you do occasionally crash with the Explore E+ 4 as you tackle a challenging trail, the overall damage should be minimal and ensure you can continue to enjoy the Giant eBike.

The Giant Explore E+ 4 is available in two frame styles, consisting of the E+ 4 GTS for taller riders and the E+ 4 STA for shorter riders. The GTS version of the Explore E+ 4 is available in S, M, L, and XL, while the STA is available in S, M, and L. Finding the exact frame best suited for you will depend in part on riding style, but we think that any rider between 4’10’’ and 6’6’’ will be able to find a frame style that is best suited for them. With an adjustable seat post and the support provided by the front suspension fork, you will have an even more comfortable experience while riding the Giant Explore E+ 4 electric bike.

Motor & Battery

The Giant Explore E+ 4 is a class 1 eBike with both pedal assist up to 20 MPH.

This electric bike is built with a powerful Giant SyncDrive Sport mid-drive motor. We prefer mid-drive motor eBikes over hub-drive eBikes because they typically last longer, require less maintenance, and provide a riding experience that’s closer to a traditional eBike. The motor has a 500 W / 80 Nm power peak, which makes it powerful enough to provide motor assistance even when you need to challenge a steeper hill. The one downside is that the powerful motor does have a shorter range, with a max range of 55 miles and a typical average use range between just 35 to 40 miles.

Fortunately, the Giant EnergyPak 400 is very quick to recharge. By using the Giant EnergyPak 3A charger, you can go from 0% to 100% in less than 3 hours, making this one of the fastest recharging batteries we’ve reviewed. The battery mounts onto the central tube, and can be charged in doors or while it’s on the bike. Having a removable battery is great, because it means you can charge it at your desk or table while you work or stop at your local shop or restaurant. As a word of warning though, the charging outlet while the battery is mounted is right next to the pedals, so if you aren’t careful the charging cord can get tangled with the levers as you adjust your eBike. Take a few seconds to adjust the cable away from the pedals to protect your charger against any accidental damage.

Display/Assist Modes

The Explore E+ 4 has one of the smallest display controllers we’ve seen mounted on the eBike, utilizing the RideControl One controller on the left handle. This controller has just four buttons, with the only readouts provided being the battery charge level and pedal assist level. This controller is extremely minimalistic, making it easy to read your battery and pedal assist without getting distracted by other information.

The controller is not removable, but if you do want a dynamic motor controller and other ride statistics, the eBike is compatible with the Giant E-bike app via Bluetooth. The smartphone app is easy to use, but there is no mount on the stock Explore E+ 4 frame. So, if you do decide to make use of the app, you either have to stop your eBike to check your phone or buy a separate mount to attach to your handlebars. A couple options are available from Giant Bicycles, which you can read about on our recommended accessories list at the bottom of the page.

The pedal assist eBike has three sensors (rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque) that determine the level of assistance provided by the five power drive modes. In terms of power assistance, they are:

• Walk: 40%
• Eco: 80%
• Normal: 180%
• Sport: 300%
• Power: 350%

The more power provided by the motor, the faster you’ll hit the 20 MPH motor assistance speed limit, along with the more power you’ll have supporting you as you tackle tough trails and hills. However, by going with a lower power mode setting, you will be able to maximize the range you can travel with the Explore E+ 4 electric bike, which is especially ideal if you are traveling on easy roads that don’t need as much motor power. Once you hit 20 MPH, the motor will shut itself automatically, but by relying on manual pedaling you can go even faster than 20 MPH. With its dynamic motor power options, the Explore E+ 4 electric bike is great for stop and go traffic or the occasional mountain trail alike, and switching power modes takes the press of a button.

Handling

• On Streets- While it might not have great range for an eBike, the Giant Explore E+ 4 does handle well while riding through urban environments. Not only is it steady on flat, smooth concrete surfaces, but the tires and suspension fork have been built with loose gravel in mind. If you live in an area with many uneven, cobblestone, or otherwise less than stellar streets, the Explore E4 + 4 will provide a largely smooth ride as you explore your town.
• Turn Radius- The 700 x 45 studded tires can make a sharp turn well enough, with plenty of clearance between tire and frame so you shouldn’t get caught on anything when you need to make a sharp turn. The tires are easily replaceable, so you can upgrade to something that’s even more narrow if you are sticking to city riding and need something able to better tackle back alley routes.
• Low Speed Handling- There is a low power Eco mode and walk mode on the Explore E+ 4 electric bike, both of which provide assistance while handling at lower speeds. At 49 lbs, this is an easier bike to handle compared to many other heavier eBikes at lower speeds, though if you have battery life we recommend making use of one of these motor power settings.

Gears/DriveTrain

The Giant Explore E+ 4 Electric Bike drivetrain is comprised of a 9 Speed Shimano CS-HG200 11-36 tooth cassette, with a KMC e.9 Sport eBike optimized chain and 42 tooth forged alloy crankset. Shifting is done with the Shimano SL-M2000 lever, along with the Shimano Deore rear derailleur. Shimano is one of the most popular manufacturers on the market for eBike drivetrain components, as they are lightweight, reliable, and pair well with the eBike components like the SyncDrive Sport mid-drive motor. Overall maintenance and serving required should be quite low, especially if you add some fenders or mud guards, such as those available from giant Bicycles.

Brakes

Because the eBike is designed to tackle light mountain trail riding, you will need powerful brakes capable of helping you come to a stop even when you pedal downhill. As such, the Explore E+ 4 features Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes, with 160 mm rear rotors and 180 mm front rotors. When going downhill, more pressure is put on the front brakes than the rear brakes, which is why the Explore E+ 4 is designed with larger hydraulic disc rotors on the front of the eBike. This braking system performs quite well, and it’s interconnected with the motor system to shut it off automatically, ensuring that the motor and braking system aren’t competing with one another when you need to come to a stop.

Suspension

The front RST Volant T Coil Suspension fork features 60mm of travel, along with preload adjusting and 100mm of hub spacing. The suspension fork is designed to help you absorb the drops and shock that comes with riding over light mountain trails, but is especially designed to provide support for city riders. Whether you hit cobblestone, loose gravel, the occasional pot hole, or other less than stellar terrain, the Giant Explore E+ 4 provides a more comfortable ride than other commuter eBikes with no suspension at all. The suspension itself can even help with some rougher mountain riding trails, but you’ll typically want to avoid them since the rest of the eBike isn’t designed with tough climbing in mind.

Pedals

At this price point, we would ordinarily expect to find a plastic pedal included with the Giant Explore E+ 4 eBike, so we’re happy to see that an aluminum platform has been included instead. Aluminum pedals are sturdier and less likely to snap when you suffer an accident, besides providing a larger and better feel than your typical plastic pedal. Your typical riding shoe, and many athletic shoes, will work great with the pedals included with the Explore E+ 4 eBike. Lastly, the pedals are very easy to install and remove as well, so if you already have fantastic pedals it’s super easy to install them onto the Giant Explore E+ 4 eBike.

Grips and Saddle

The ergonomic grips are made out of a textured rubber, designed so that you can ride long distances at high speeds without irritating your hands. The grips lock onto the handlebar, so replacing them once they get worn out is much easier than simple, glued on grips. As for the saddle, a Selle Royal Vivo GTS saddle is attached to an adjustable aluminum alloy seat post, providing greater height control no matter which frame size you choose. As an aside, it is the same saddle for both the GTS and STA style of eBike, so if you do go with the Explore E+ 4 STA you may want to swap out the saddle for something more accommodating of the lower riding frame.

Wheels and Tires

The tires are Giant Crosscut Gravel 2, 700 x 45 tires that fit the 28’’ wheel, with Giant eX 2 aluminum alloy 32/28 hole rims and stainless steel 15 gauge spokes. PSI inflation can be set to 50 to 70, and the tires are tubeless ready with or without Giant Reflex. These are quality tires that will work well in the city and can handle most light trail riding with ease, and are pretty easy to service when you do suffer the occasional flat. With quick release mounting, you can swap off the tire or even quickly break down the frame if you need to store the bike in your car, helping you get off the road quicker so you can hurry on to your next destination.

Accessories/Upgrades

One of the great aspects about the Giant Explore E+ 4 electric bike is that it is designed to be compatible with a large number of accessories and add-ons. Most of these upgrades aren’t what we typically expect in the base eBike model, but we are disappointed by the lack of any additional lighting or safety features. When shopping for accessories for the Giant Explore E+ 4 eBike, your first priority should be reflective gear or safety lights to increase your rider profile. Once you’ve found a few lighting/reflective gear options, you’ll want to consider some other accessory upgrades from Giant Bicycles, such as:

• Recon HL 1800/TL200 Safety Lights
• H2PRO Frame Bags (Saddle, Handlebar, Trunk, etc.)
• Giant Heart Rate Sensor
• Surelock Force 1/Protector Chain Lock
• Giant Explore eBike Mud Guards/Fenders
• Airway Lite Water Bottle Cage
• Rack-It Metro E Rack

Recommendation

The Giant Explore E+ 4 electric bike is a great hybrid bike for those who want to travel to work one day and challenge their favorite light mountain biking trail the next. The lightweight eBike averages just about 49 lbs, with a custom ALUXX SL aluminum frame and RST Volant T coil 60 mm travel front suspension fork designed for trail, gravel, and concrete riding alike. While the range isn’t the best, the 35 to 45 average is enough to get to work, and it does power a very strong 80 Nm SyncDrive Sport motor, allowing it to tackle steep hills as well as flat roads. The Shimano drivetrain requires minimal maintenance, sporting a KMC e.9 Sport chain built with the mid-drive motor in mind. The Giant Crosscut Gravel tires not only tackle most terrain with ease, but are also easy to fix when something does go wrong with quick release configuration. With a comfortable saddle and ergonomic rubber grips, you’ll have a blast riding the Giant Explore E+ 4 hybrid electric bike!