Liv Intrigue Review

There are two frame options within the Intrigue range. The Intrigue 2 & 3 both share the same alloy frame. This is made from the highest grade ALLUXX SL-Grade aluminium which means that it is both lightweight and strong. The Intrigue Advanced has the same rear triangle as the other two bikes but the main frame is made from carbon fibre composite. This makes the Advanced frame lightweight and strong as well as giving it a smooth seamless look. All the bikes in the range get a forged carbon rocker link to control the rear shock.

Liv are one of the very few bike brands that offer a “true” women’s specific design. Liv use data collected from a global database that records up to 289 individual measurements. Combined with input from top-level female athletes this means that all Liv bikes are designed from the ground up to offer the best fit for female cyclists.

The angles of the two frame types are virtually identical. In line with modern geometry trends, the reach is longer than on previous Intrigue models with shorter stems to match. This is combined with a moderately slack 66.4° headtube angle and a reasonably steep 74.5° seat tube. This gives you a confident riding position on the descents while still being comfortable and efficient on the climbs.

The Intrigue uses the same Maestro rear suspension system as the very popular Giant Trance. This fully active design uses four pivots with two linkages to create a virtual pivot point that works independently from braking and pedalling forces. This means that the suspension keeps on working properly all the time. Great for those bumpy climbs and rough descents. The 140mm of rear-wheel travel is ideal for technical trail riding. It’s enough for having a go at the very roughest tracks but won’t leave you feeling over-biked on mellower trails.

Up front you get 150mm of travel from the fork for a well-balanced feel when riding. The entry-level Intrigue 3 has a RockShox 35 fork. This is one of RockShox more affordable forks, but the technology used is much the same as that found on their high-end offerings of only a couple of years ago. This means that you get superb performance on rough terrain. The other two bikes both get highly regarded Fox forks. The Intrigue 2 has a Fox 34 while the Intrigue Advanced 1 gets a burlier Fox 36. Matched to a Fox DPX2 shock, this means that the Advanced model offers a more confident ride on challenging trails.

It is great to see that all three bikes get SRAM Eagle 1x12 speed drivetrains. The very wide range rear cassette gives you all the gears that you’ll ever need out on the trail while the single front ring makes gear shifting very easy. The main difference between the three drivetrains is that the shifting action gets smoother as you move up the range from 3 up to the 1. Braking duties are taken care of by Shimano on the alloy bikes with more powerful SRAM stoppers on the Advanced 1. The components on the more expensive bikes are also lighter weight which makes the bikes lighter too.

The saddles are all Liv’s own which are of course designed to offer female mountain bikers the best fit. The handlebar grips have a nice feel and are much narrower than you find on unisex mountain bikes. This makes them particularly good for those with small hands. Short stems and wide handlebars give you a confident riding position on the bike. Some might find the bars a little too wide, but it is very easy to trim them down if you need to. Each bike has a dropper post to help you make the most of each trail section without having to stop and fiddle with your seat post.

All the Intrigues roll on 27.5” wheels. These are the most popular wheel size, they’re nice and nimble and are particularly good for smaller riders. The wheels and tyres on each bike are tubeless which is a real plus point. With tubeless sealant added this system virtually eliminates punctures. Wide rims are combined with high-quality Maxxis High Roller II tyres. This is a great trail riding set up with bags of grip for those loose turns and plenty of volume to absorb the chatter on rough tracks.

The wheels on the Intrigue are all made by Liv’s parent company Giant. Making their wheels in-house reduces costs which means that you get high quality rolling for your money. The Intrigue 1 is fitted with the TRX-1 WheelSystem. With carbon rims, these wheels are tough as well as being lightweight and fast-rolling. The Intrigue 2 and 3 both have Giant AM wheels with regular alloy rims.