First Look: 2019 Liv Intrigue Advanced
The Intrigue Advanced is Liv's new trail/all-mountain bike that slots neatly between the XC-oriented Pique and the Enduro-capable Hail. Liv Global Product Marketing Lead Erin Lamb says that the bike was designed to be that one go-to bike that you won't hesitate to bring on a road trip, no matter what trails you're planning on riding.
Liv had an aluminum-framed Intrigue in their range between 2014 and 2016, but it disappeared when the Hail and the Pique were introduced. Since then, the product team determined that there was a gap in the line-up, and will again be offering the Intrigue in a 140/150mm-travel version for 2019.
The latest version has a women's specific frame,
Liv had an aluminum-framed Intrigue in their range between 2014 and 2016, but it disappeared when the Hail and the Pique were introduced. Since then, the product team determined that there was a gap in the line-up, and will again be offering the Intrigue in a 140/150mm-travel version for 2019.
The latest version has a women's specific frame,
Liv Intrigue Advanced Details
• Intended use: Trail/All-Mountain
• Wheel size: 27.5"
• Head tube angle: 66.5
• Rear-wheel travel: 140mm
• Boost 15x110mm (Front), Boost 12x148 (Rear)
• 2x compatible
• Carbon frame only
• Size: XS - L
• Price: $3,700 - $8,000 USD
• www.liv-cycling.com
• Intended use: Trail/All-Mountain
• Wheel size: 27.5"
• Head tube angle: 66.5
• Rear-wheel travel: 140mm
• Boost 15x110mm (Front), Boost 12x148 (Rear)
• 2x compatible
• Carbon frame only
• Size: XS - L
• Price: $3,700 - $8,000 USD
• www.liv-cycling.com
Frame Details
Maestro Suspension with Trunnion Mount: Four pivot points and two linkages work together to create a single floating pivot for active, efficient and independent suspension system on the trail. The Intrigue Advanced features 140mm of travel using Giant’s Maestro suspension technology. More than just setting the rebound and air pressure, Liv has optimized the internals of their shocks with optimal oil weights and air-spring volumes for women, with the goal of having a bike that maintains sensitivity on small bumps, and feels bottomless on big hits, while feeling smooth and supportive throughout the entire stroke.
Updated Advanced Forged Composite Upper Rocker Arm: The Intrigue Advanced has an updated "forged carbon fiber" upper rocker arm. It is no longer a solid piece, but instead has a cutout in the middle for maximum lightness, without sacrificing stiffness and strength.
Women’s-Specific Advanced Composite Frame: The Intrigue is fully women's-specific, meaning that it has a frame geometry, composite layup and shock tuning created for women (more about this later). The frame has internal cable routing and is 2x-compatible for a side-pull front derailleur.
3F Design Philosophy: 3F stands for Fit, Form and Function. Liv has analyzed body dimensions, muscular activity and strength patterns, including thousands of data points about women’s anatomy, sizing variations, muscle energy and outputs. As with all Liv bikes, this data was used to engineer their frames and complete bikes to build the series from the ground up for women. Prototypes of the Intrigue were fine-tuned with feedback from Liv global athletes, including pro enduro rider Rae Morrison.
Frame Options & Build Kits
The Liv Intrigue is available in three different build kit options, all with their "Advanced-Grade" composite front triangle and using an "ALUXX SL-Grade" aluminum rear triangle.
The top of the line Intrigue Advanced 0 comes with a DVO custom-tuned Diamond fork, DVO custom-tuned Topaz 2 shock, a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, Guide RSC brakes, a 780mm x 35mm TruVativ carbon handlebar, and Giant's TRX 0 carbon wheels. It sells for $8,000 USD.
The Intrigue Advanced 1 has a Fox 34 Float Performance Elite fork, Fox Float DPX2 shock, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, Guide RS brakes, a Giant Contact Switch dropper post, 780mm x 35mm Giant Contact SL handlebars, and Giant TRX 1 carbon wheels. It retails for $5,300.
The Intrigue Advanced 2 is $3,700 USD and has a Fox 34 Rythm fork, Float DPS shock, SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, Guide RS brakes, a 780mm x 35mm Giant Contact TR35 handlebars, Giant Contact Switch dropper post, and Giant's AM 27.5 aluminum wheels.
Intrigue Advanced 2
Intrigue Advanced 1
Intrigue Advanced 0
Geometry
The frame geometry on the Intrigue now has a longer top tube and a shorter stem for improved handling. The slacker head tube angle, at 66.5 degrees, enhances the bike’s descending performance compared to the previous version, and a steeper seat tube angle, at 74.5 degrees, improves its climbing finesse.
Liv's research shows them that a frame designed for, and a bike built for women plays a big role in women’s comfort on the bike.
Within Liv’s 3F design philosophy, they collected data that shows that when comparing women and men who are both 5'7" tall, women's torsos are on average 1.2% shorter, women's arms are 0.2% longer, women's inseam are 1.8% longer, and women's legs are 1.4% longer. They also found that, as heights get smaller, the average body dimension differences between men and women become more
Liv's research shows them that a frame designed for, and a bike built for women plays a big role in women’s comfort on the bike.
Within Liv’s 3F design philosophy, they collected data that shows that when comparing women and men who are both 5'7" tall, women's torsos are on average 1.2% shorter, women's arms are 0.2% longer, women's inseam are 1.8% longer, and women's legs are 1.4% longer. They also found that, as heights get smaller, the average body dimension differences between men and women become more
Suspension
Within Liv’s 3F design philosophy, they used a variety of different women’s body types and riding styles to find what they believe is the best suspension feel for women. They’ve refined the suspension's shim stacks, volume spacers, and air pressures to match the female rider based on extensive testing with their female athletes and ambassadors. Select Liv riders including Rae Morrison, and Liv Canada Brand Manager Amalie Gunn also tested multiple frame sizes alongside Liv’s design and suspension team to optimize the suspension function and ride feel for each.
Rae Morrison helped optimize the suspension on the Liv Intrigue Advanced.
Rae Morrison racing a prototype version of the Intrigue Advanced at the Sea Otter Classic.
Rae Morrison helped tune the suspension over the winter in secret in New Zealand, after getting delivery of the bike at the Giant Factory Off-Road team camp in Sedona last fall. Working closely with the team's new partner, DVO Suspension, she helped set up the fork and shock so that they have optimal oil weights and air spring volumes for female riders, right out of the box. The model that we tested at the Liv Intrigue launch was the Liv Intrigue Advanced 0, with DVO suspension.
Rae's usual race bike is the 160mm Liv Hail, but she said the Intrigue's shorter amount of travel is very capable and excels on a wide range of greens, blues, and blacks, but she can find its limits on rougher, more technical double black and downhill tracks.
 | This bike is super capable on many different types of terrain – truly nimble and fun. I was thrilled to give feedback during the tuning process and noticed a big difference in shock performance once we dialed it in. |
Liv launched the bike in Pinkbike's backyard on the trails in Squamish, BC. They hired local guides from Ride BC to find the best trails for global media to ride the new trail/all-mountain bike on. I'm coming off a recent injury, so I wasn't able to push the bike as hard as I wished, but on the test lap I was pleased with how roomy the size medium bike's 432mm top tube felt, and how comfortable the cockpit was with the 20mm-rise TruVativ carbon bar and 35mm stem.
While I didn't do any serious technical descending on the bike, my one concern with the spec is the short dropper post - only 100mm on the Medium-sized frame I rode, the same as the dropper post that comes on the Small bike. The XS comes with a 75mm dropper. The Large size gets a more useful, 125mm dropper, but it's hard to feel confident descending when you have four inches of extra post sticking out of the frame, and your saddle is pushing you forward on steep descents.
While I didn't do any serious technical descending on the bike, my one concern with the spec is the short dropper post - only 100mm on the Medium-sized frame I rode, the same as the dropper post that comes on the Small bike. The XS comes with a 75mm dropper. The Large size gets a more useful, 125mm dropper, but it's hard to feel confident descending when you have four inches of extra post sticking out of the frame, and your saddle is pushing you forward on steep descents.
Sarah Moore
Location: Squamish, BC
Age: 28
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 160lbs
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @smooresmoore
Location: Squamish, BC
Age: 28
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 160lbs
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @smooresmoore
I asked Liv's Global Product Marketing Lead Erin Lamb about it, and she said that they put what they consider the longest possible droppers on each bike per size and that they look short because the bike has such a low stand-over height.
I was impressed with the spec on the bike, and I'd have to say, this is the first Liv bike that nails it with the graphics - across all three spec levels. Giant Canada is based just down the road in North Vancouver, so I'm looking forward to spending more time on this bike in the coming months.
Photo by Reuben Krabbe
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I read it as the four extra inches is because the post won't go down any further. I have that same problem, but not with dropper posts.
As the article states, women have longer legs on average than men, so it would make sense to fit a longer dropper, or at least have the option to do so.
I know you're going to come back with the 'wc dh riders run their saddles at half mast', which is fair; on a dh bike. Dh bikes have radically different geometry, especially in regards to seat angle. It's also misleading to look solely at saddle height without considering standover and how tall the seat tube is.
Final point is that while the saddle can be dropped lower than the tire in full compression, riders are very rarely seated when bottoming out their bikes.
My wife is 5 foot tall and I’m absplutely stoked that this bike has a super low standover in the XS size.
That wouldn’t be possible with a seat tube that accommodated a 150mm dropper I bet.
Shorter seat tubes = lower standover.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16210339
@YouHadMeAtDrugs so now it’s about the stack height to seatpost height ratio? Not BB to the top of the seat at a particular angle? So seatpost length is about location of arms not how more range of movement your legs get by dropping it? Holey shit... this reminds me of a discussion with a friend about eating Tuna. He gave us shit for eating tuna. It’s unhealthy and Dolphins die in the nets he said. There are possibly 10000 tunas per 1 dolphin dying in the nets we said. If anything, we should feel more sorry for tuna than for dolphins. He said no, because dolphins are more intelligent. And so what? We discussed, many more tunas are dying. In the end he argued that Dolphins are smarter than humans.
Hey man, i agree with most of the things you said, but isn't there an assumption in your argument that essentially you are only behind your bike at full compression, which might be the case most of the time, but i feel like when I'm cornering, having the seat lower allows me to get my body in a better position to hit the corner better.
If you're cornering, dont you want the seat as low as possible so you can bend your knees more? If youre an average trail rider, how much % of time do you spend at full compression? How much time do i spend in situations(cornering,smaller bumps) where it would be nice to have my dropper as low as it can be?
When i had a 100mm drop on my reign and it was nowhere near enough as the seat would constantly hit my bum on bumps and make me feel like i couldnt as easy pre-load the bike because i cant get my body lower. I know it is an anecdote, but I do feel like it is a difference, but i cant quite put my thumb on it.
Another thing i don't quite understand is why they(giant/trek) couldn't just take the weight penalty(if any) and just use a larger seatpost profile that can both capture the main rocker pivot, yet still allow clearance for an extra inch or two of dropper post? Putting small droppers because of sizing is one thing, not being able to put it in if i want one is another. I understand that part of having the maestro/abp pivots need to be in certain places, but if you look at the ripmo/mojo, which has DW link, which is in my opinion, pretty similar, minus the top tube mounted rear shock, those have 170mm posts.
I think the reason why they haven't done it is because of the 2x issue. If you want to run di2 or a front derailleur, i guess youre stuck with the design youre stuck with. I dont want to go down that rathole, but if thats the reason why you can't have a dropper. I am sure most people would be more than willing to trade the front derailleur for some "megapixels"
the standover height of this bike compared to the trance is only 5mm less. i call your bluff.
So I think she is referring to where she needs the saddle to be when pedaling, meaning that she will have a fair amount of seat post showing when the saddle is dropped, NOT that she couldn't put the seat post into the frame any further.
Likewise, a 5'6" woman, looking at a medium Liv, will likely want a dropper longer than the 100mm max that the frame allows.
And apparently it was an issue for the reviewer as well.
Every bike that's sized XS should prioritize standover over dropper post length accommodation.
The fact that the XS trance is almost as low reinforces that Giant have their priorities figured out.
The OP is saying that they rule out frames that cant accommodate a 150mm dropper, but the average height of the average lady-biker doesn't require a 150mm dropper in the first place, so the argument (being made by a tall man) in the comments section of a ladies bike review seems out of place.
You'd have approximately 0 mountain bikers shorter than 6ft on the trail if you did that.....
How many sales would you lose because nobody fit on your bikes.....
The only way to NOT limit dropper post size is to make every frame 170mm compatible..no?
This is great because a low standover doesn't do much for you while actually riding if your seat is 4+ inches above the top tube. It's also great for short riders riding steep terrain as it lets them move around more than their short legs and longer dropper would allow.
I also discovered the norco fluid FS 26’er today. Seems like a great value for money option too!
As an engineer, these numbers make me want to kiss marketers. With my forehead.
Scottyrides5 is being generous here. Nowhere in the article is talking 2% differences. I’m expected to believe that a 0.2% difference is worth marketing!?!?
So 0.2% will discount the difference between ‘mens’ medium and small?
This is embarrassing.
Nice bikes.
Reduce the bullshit.
If you take say a 450mm TT from a Medium sized bike and reduce by (2.2% is their mean torso difference) by 2.2% you're taking just under 10mm off the TT, I would say that's a noticeable difference?
Most company run about a 15-25mm difference in their sizing so it would put it in the middle of the two "mens" sizes.
I've sold these bikes, some women love them, some don't - I've had women that fit a Reign better than a Hail - It's whatever. It means more options for finding a bike that fits the person in between sizes better, I'm all for it.
Very little to do with differences between men and women. Just differences in people sizes.
They are giving the women's market an option that mostly optimizes fit for a majority of women. Simple.
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/giant-liv-intrigue-advanced-2019
The geometry numbers also feel tragically outdated. Right, women's geometry. I forgot my arms are longer than men's by a statistically insignificant number.
Liv, you do an amazing job on the outreach side and by sponsoring incredible women like Rae, but the bikes don't feel inspiring. The competition at 4k and above is fierce.
Speaking of animal print... some people with weiners would like the black with teal animal print paint... speaking for myself. I really dig that silly paint.
Dear product managers: we just have bikes come in "vitruvian", "ape" and "t-rex", with our paint options being: choose between: "subdued" and "flamboyant" ?
For tragic outdatedness, check the STAs on Men's Reign.
Hail DVO for $4400 doesn't inspire a little? At least it's a black rainbow.
I agree it's left over carbon fiber chopped up and injection moulded.
The forging part is total BS.
When two people say they've forged a partnership, do you assume they've jumped in a sauna and attacked each other with hammers?
In laymans terms.
It's a new way of making parts from laminate sheets that has a greater strength.
It's a stronger finished product using a slightly different method of construction.
The forged part is just marketing jargon.