Eurobike 2016: Liv Unveils The 160mm Travel Hail

As the women’s specific offshoot of Giant Bicycles, the Liv Cycling brand is a great example of the dedication being paid towards female cyclists across all riding disciplines. Using frame and suspension technology derived from the Giant off-road line up, Liv have a growing range of proper mountain bikes that feature unique geometry and fit that’s tailored towards female riders.

For 2017, Liv will be adding their longest travel model yet; the 160mm travel Hail. Based upon the existing Giant Reign, the Hail comes to the market as one of the only women’s specific enduro bikes, and we got a chance to see one up close at Eurobike.

The new Liv Hail will come in both alloy and carbon options. This one here is the top-of-the-range Hail Advanced 0.

Carbon fibre construction, with the Hail drawing from Giant’s in-house manufacturing capabilities.

Sleek internal cable routing keeps the front triangle super clean. Note the curvy top tube, which is designed to maximise standover clearance.

Like the new Giant Trance and Anthem models, the Liv Hail features a one-piece co-molded carbon fibre rocker linkage.

1×12 shiftingg courtesy of the SRAM Eagle drivetrain.

Carbon wizardry for the rims also. This is Giant’s own branded wheelset, which is tubeless compatible and shod with Schwalbe rubber.

DT Swiss made straight pull hubs sit in the centre of the Giant wheelset.

A chunky 160mm travel Lyrik sits on the front of the Hail Advanced 0. Very schmick with that all-black getup.

Being a women’s model, the Hail gets a women’s specific Giant SLR saddle.

This alloy version is the Hail 2. It’s not quite as light as the Hail Advanced, but it has the same suspension design and the same geometry.

Fox Performance suspension front and rear on the Hail 2, with a big Fox 36 fork up front. Liv haven’t compromised on the suspension package one bit.

Tapered OverDrive head tube with the cartridge bearings sitting inside.

The alloy frame also uses internal cable routing and a press-fit bottom bracket shell.

That big black Fox Float X2 shock just looks menacing on the back of the Hail! It does feature a climb switch to help engage a firmer pedalling platform, which you’ll see at the top of the shock via the blue dial.