LIV EMBOLDEN 1
Geometry-wise, Live calls this women’s-specific
£1,999 / 27.5in / liv-cycling.com
Aline-up of mbr-recommended full-suspension trail bikes under £2,000 would be a short one, but the Liv Embolden 1 would make the cut. Sibling to the longstanding Giant Stance, albeit with smaller wheels, the Embolden is a do-it-all shredder with a spec list that outperforms expectations based on the swing tag alone.
The heart of the bike is a Liv/Giant ALUXX-grade aluminium frame, which utilises the brand’s single-pivot FlexPoint Suspension system to deliver 120mm travel at the rear with a RockShox Monarch R shock. Eschewing the more familiar twin-link Maestro design to save weight and cut costs, Liv instead builds a modicum of
