Giant Explore E+ 4 eBike Review 2024

In-Depth Review

Frame

Electric bikes are typically much heavier than traditional bicycles, due to a mixture of the heavy eBike battery and electrical wiring used throughout the frame. While not the lightest eBike out there, the Giant Explore E+ 2 is lighter than many other eBikes we’ve reviewed, averaging about 49 lbs depending on your frame size. This is made possible by the custom ALUXX SL aluminum design, which utilizes the same 6011 aluminum alloy that other eBikes rely on but is 20% thinner for a lighter, easier to handle frame. As for the wiring, the vast majority of it is tucked into the frame itself, which not only makes it look nicer but also protects the critical electrical components when you suffer a crash.

Last previous Explore eBikes, the Giant Explore E+ 2 is available in a larger GTS frame style, along with a STA frame style for shorter riders. The E+ 2 GTS is available in S, M, L, XL, and XXL, while the E+ 2 STA is available in S, M, L, and XL only. Your size and riding preference will determine which model is best for you, but for a broad overview we find that riders between 4’10’’ and 6’’ will find a eBike frame that feels great to ride on. Just make sure to adjust your seat post once you’re on the bike, and you’ll have a blast cycling with the Giant Explore E+ 2 electric bike.

Motor & Battery

The Giant Explore E+ 2 is a class 1 eBike with both pedal assist up to 20 MPH.

The Giant Explore E+ 2 relies on the new Giant SyncDrive Life motor. Unlike the previous Explore E+, which had a 80 Nm motor, the new motor has a peak of 60 Nm. This has a trade off, because while it isn’t as powerful or able to climb steep hills as well, the less powerful motor does ensure that the overall battery will last longer on a single charge. As such, you have a maximum range of about 65 miles with the new Explore E+ 2 electric bike, and an average range between 45 to 55 miles.

The battery has been upgraded as well, featuring the Giant EnergyPak Smart 500 lithium-ion battery. With an impressively powerful 6 Amp charger, you can go from 0% to 100% in 2 to 3 hours, and sometimes quicker if you charge the eBike in the right environment. The interesting change to this year’s model is that, instead of having a removable battery, the battery is now integrated directly into the central tube of the frame. Having an integrated battery does allow it to last longer while weighing less, but the main disadvantage is that you can’t just plob the battery on your desk when you want to recharge it. The battery charging port has been moved though, so unlike last year’s Giant Explore electric bike you don’t have to worry about your charging cable getting tangled up with the pedals once you plug it in.

Display/Assist Modes

Located on the left handle, the Explore E+ 2 now features the RideControl Ergo 2 controller. The controller itself is largely the same as last year’s RideControl One, but has been revamped with new logos for the buttons so you can have an easier time knowing what each button does. It is still a very simple, minimalistic controller to use though, as it will display your battery and pedal assist with five LED lights each, besides now allowing you to control your headlight with the controller.

The new name comes from the enhanced smart phone app, which allows you to configure your motor settings while providing insight with a bunch of current ride and lifetime riding metrics. The Giant eBike smart phone app is great, but it does require you to make use of your phone, so you either need to have a mount or pull over to access your device. Giant Bicycles do sell mounts that you can put your phone in, which you can learn more about by visiting our accessory recommendation list at the end of our review.

As a Class 1 eBike, the Giant Explore will provide automatic motor assistance as you pedal your eBike, based upon your selected motor settings. There are five unique power modes to choose from, which consist of:

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

Greater power settings will help you hit the 20 MPH Class 1 speed cap faster, besides providing you with additional power to surmount hills and other obstacles you may encounter. However, there is a reason for picking a lower power setting, as it requires less power from the battery and allows you to maximize your overall traveling distance. Whichever setting you choose though, the power will shut off at 20 MPH, the limit for a Class 1 eBike to ensure that you don’t need a license to operate it. If you want to go faster, you are welcome to do so by pedaling manually, with the motor kicking in automatically as you drop below 20 MPH. It’s also important to note that you can pedal the Explore E+ 2 even when your motor is turned off or your battery is dead, allowing you to ride it like any other traditional bicycle.

Handling

• On Streets- This is a true hybrid eBike, so it’s designed to ride well while navigating city streets. The front suspension fork is particularly helpful, as besides being useful for mountain biking it absorbs the shock that comes from riding over loose gravel, cobblestone, potholes, and other uneven roads. For the assistance they provide, we often prefer commuter eBikes with some form of suspension while traveling in the city, even if they are a bit slower because of it.
• Turn Radius- Overall, turning is easy enough to do with the Giant Explore E+ 2. While it needs a bit of clearance if you want to perform a sharp turn down an alley, it’s more than able to dodge other cyclists, motor vehicles, and fixtures you’ll encounter while riding. The tires are also pretty easy to swap out as well, allowing you to go with a thinner tire if you do need something that tightens up the turn radius.
• Low Speed Handling- The lighter electric bike is easy enough to handle at low speeds, but if you have the battery life there are two ways you can get motor assistance as well. You can make use of the walk mode if you prefer to be off the bike, or the Eco mode if you just want to use the motor while riding at a lower speed. As it’s a mid-drive motor, you won’t experience the jerky zip that often comes with first turning on these two power modes either.

Gears/DriveTrain

The drivetrain is mostly unchanged from last year’s Giant Explore E+ electric bike, so expect a largely similar feel when riding. For those unfamiliar with the drivetrain, it is a 9 Speed Shimano CS-HG200 11-36 tooth cassette, supporting KMC e.9 Sport eBike optimized chain that rides a 42 tooth forged alloy crankset. The shifting levers are even the same, utilizing a SL-M2000 lever, but the derailleur has been upgraded to the Shimano Alivio M3100 system. The only other major change to the drivetrain system as a whole is that front and rear stainless steel fenders are now included with the stock model of the Giant Explore E+ 2 electric bike. Fenders are great because they help your drivetrain stay clean from rocks, mud, and other debris, further reducing the chance of suffering a chain drop or drivetrain damage. With an excellent Shimano system, one of the main manufacturers of eBike drivetrain systems, you’ll hardly ever need to perform an emergency pit stop while riding the Explore E+ 2 electric bike.

Brakes

You’ll read about the upgraded suspension system in the next section, but the Giant Explore E+ has been designed to tackle even tougher mountain bike trails. So, to ensure you can come to a rapid stop wherever you’re riding, the brakes have been upgraded to 180 mm front and rear Shimano BR-MT200 hydraulic disc brakes. The larger rear rotor provides a little bit extra support you’ll need when riding down a difficult trail, and by going with Shimano brakes it also works better with the rest of the bike’s key gear components. The hydraulic disc system is designed to work in tandem with the electric motor, so pressing on the lever will automatically shut off motor assistance to your pedals. Integrated motor and braking support allows you to not only come to a quicker stop, but also extends the life of the motor and brakes alike by ensuring they don’t compete with one another.

Suspension

The last component to see a major upgrade for this model is the Explore E+ 2 relies on a SR Suntour NEX E25 DS suspension fork with 63 mm of travel. Whereas the previous suspension fork was largely to help with uneven roads in the city, the SR Suntour fork provides solid shock absorption in and out of the city alike. You’ll still feel it, but you’ll have a more comfortable time riding the Explore E+ 2 electric bike as you hit cobblestone, cracked roads, loose gravel and dirt, and other uneven mountain bike trails. Overall, it’s a great hybrid eBike setup, but you will want to consider one of Giant Bicycles dedicated e mountain bikes if you’re going to push yourself on a truly challenging mountain bike trail.

Pedals

Pedals can be hit or miss, but the Explore E+ 2 is a hit with the aluminum platform pedals included with the eBike. The pedals are very easy to install or swap out if you already have premium pedals, but since they are aluminum they’re a step up from the basic plastic pedals traditionally included with a mid-tier eBikes. These pedals are oversized as well, supporting small and large feet without any issue, and will work well with most common riding or athletic shoes.

Grips and Saddle

The grips are made out of textured rubber for a good and solid hold while riding, and are ergonomic in design so you can hold onto them for hours without irritating your hands. Instead of just gluing the grips onto the eBike, these grips are locked on for both a tighter hold and to make it easier to replace them once they’re worn out. The saddle is a new design compared to last year’s model, with the Explore E+ 2 featuring a Selle Royal Vivo Ergo Moderate saddle. It’s large enough to support heavier riders looking to ride the eBike, and features an adjustable stem post to help riders with different heights find their ideal riding position. The saddle is also the same across the GTS and STA eBikes, and if you don’t find the saddle to be ideal it’s easy to replace with your favorite saddle for an even better riding experience.

Wheels and Tires

Another major component that has stayed the same year over year are the wheels included with the Explore E+ 2 electric bike. 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 15 gauge stainless steel spokes. These tires are tubeless ready with PSI inflation that can be set to 50 to 70, and while they work well in the city they are specifically optimized to perform better on gravel and loose dirt. With the improved suspension fork, the Explore E+ 2 electric bike is great almost anywhere you ride, whether traveling to work through the city or tackling up to moderate trails. The quick release mountain also means that you can service or replace the tires quickly, which is especially helpful if you want to quickly pack your bike in the trunk of your car.

Accessories/Upgrades

The Giant Explore E+ 2 is designed to be compatible with a number of accessories and add-ons, but with the new upgrades added to the bike you don’t need many add-ons. Blueline E6 lights have been added to the front and tail of the bicycle, fenders are included with the stock model, and there’s even a rear cargo rack that you can put a medium sized bag or container on. These are all fantastic additions that also cleared up some of our major issues with last year’s bike, but given the quality of Giant’s lineup you’ll want to add even more. A few of our favorite accessories include the following:

• H2PRO Frame Bags (Saddle, Handlebar, Trunk, etc.)
• Giant Heart Rate Sensor
• Surelock Force 1/Protector Chain Lock
• Airway Lite Water Bottle Cage
• Rack-It Metro E Rack

Recommendation

The Giant Explore E+ 4 electric bike is a fantastic hybrid bike option if you want a eBike that performs well almost anywhere you take it. The custom ALUXX SL aluminum frame is available in five/four different sizes and two different styles, allowing almost everyone to find a frame that accommodates their specific height and weight. The new SR Suntour NEX E25 DS 63mm travel and Shimano BR-MT200 180mm hydraulic disc brakes allows you to tackle up to moderate mountain biking trails, especially with the fenders helping protect the Shimano drivetrain. The Giant SyncDrive Life motor provides enough power to climb even steep hills, and paired with the larger Giant EnergyPak Smart 500 battery you’ll travel even farther compared to last year’s Explore E+ model. While the other components are largely the same, the ergonomic handlebar grips, Giant Crosscut Gravel tires, and comfortable saddle will help every ride feel great. Cross country, urban riding, and mountain biking enthusiasts will all benefit from this electric bike, so if you want something you can use for everything consider the 2021 Giant Explore E+ 2 electric bike!