The Pique Advanced SL is engineered to deliver race results. What’s it like to just… ride, though?
- Brand: Liv
- Product: Pique Advanced SL-0
- Price: £8,999
- From: Liv Cycling
- Tested by: Heather for 2 months
Our rating
I tested the Medium frame size, rather than the Small. At 5ft 6in, I’m in between these two sizes and after a few rides on the Medium, I’m happy with the reach and don’t feel unduly stretched by the larger frame. I do also appreciate the stability of the slightly longer wheelbase. I usually lean towards more stable trail bikes and down-country bikes, so I was a bit apprehensive about trying something built for cross-country racers. Would it be too twitchy? Would I end up heading straight off course and into the nearest tree? Not at all. Well. There was one tree, but it was at slow speed and entirely down to my own poor line choices…
The Pique Advanced SL-0 is undeniably fast, but is so responsive and easy to manoeuvre that I connected with it quickly. The press launch trails were sketchy in parts – a mix of rutted sand, chunky roots, deep leaves and slippery rock gardens – yet I still felt in control and confident switching lines across the messier sections. On my home turf, it’s been PBs across the board, and I’ve finally had a chance to keep up with THAT friend who’s always miles ahead. This model truly earns its SL designation – everyone who has seen it has been surprised by just how light it is. I normally dread lifting a bike, but not this one. I can easily manoeuvre it over large gates – my upper body strength isn’t fantastic, but I’ve been able to lift this bike completely over my head to make it through tight squeezes, and carrying it up hikeabike sections can actually be the easiest option at times.
The Pique Advanced SL-0 has a modest 120mm of travel at both ends, but it was still enough for the technical terrain, and I’ve trusted it on drops I’d usually shy away from. A lot of effort has gone into boosting frame stiffness without sacrificing comfort. I didn’t feel battered around, and I’ve actually finished with less muscle fatigue than usual after back-to-back days on the bike. The frame is also beautifully finished, with a sleek integrated cockpit, and I loved the raw carbon and bronze metallic paint combo (‘steampunk’). However, the tapered shape of the bars makes it incredibly difficult to mount lights and action cameras. While Liv does provide a custom stem cap Garmin mount, you are otherwise limited in terms of options.
The bike shipped with Maxxis Aspen MaxxSpeed tyres. They’d be great for the dry and dusty conditions we had last summer, but in wet sand they struggled and I had more than one descent that turned into a barely controlled skid. For non-summer UK riding, I’ve switched them out for the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres that are better suited but still nippy. Additionally, a selling point of the Pique Advanced SL-0 small, medium and large frames is the ability to mount two water bottles. This is technically correct, but it is a squeeze and I struggled to access them while riding. Side-opening cages would be a better option to make it easier. I’m looking forward to putting the Pique Advanced SL-0 through an even wider mix of terrain, and getting in some longer days on the bike with a useful amount of long-distance comfort.
Liv Pique Advanced SL-0 specification
- Frame // Carbon, 120mm
- Shock // RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate, 210x50mm
- Fork // RockShox SID Ultimate, 120mm
- Wheels // Giant XCR Carbon
- Front Tyre // Maxxis Aspen 29×2.4in
- Rear Tyre // Maxxis Aspen 29×2.4in
- Chainset // SRAM XX SL Eagle, 170mm, 32T
- Brakes // SRAM Motive Ultimate, 180/160mm
- Drivetrain // SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission
- Stem // Giant Integrated XC Carbon 60mm
- Handlebars // Giant Integrated Carbon 780mm
- Grips // SRAM TwistLoc Ultimate
- Seat Post // Giant Contact Switch SL, 140mm
- Saddle // Liv Grit SL
- Sizes Available // XS, S, M, L
- Size Tested // M
- Weight // 10.9kg
Geometry of our size Medium
- Head angle // 66.5°/67°
- Effective seat angle // 75.5°/76°
- Seat tube length // 440mm
- Head tube length // 105mm
- Chainstay // 437mm/435mm
- Wheelbase // 1,162mm
- Effective top tube // 594mm/593mm
- BB height // 51mm/45mm BB drop
- Reach // 435mm/440mm