The 2023 Liv Intrigue Advanced LT Pro boasts advanced features, cutting edge technology and exceptional performance in an absolutely stunning package that’s sure to garner admirers on the trail, and make even the manliest of men take a second glance. Once again, the brand has created an outstanding, high-end and highly capable mountain bike designed for women.
Liv Intrigue LT key specs
- Key specs: Carbon frame, 3 flip chip settings, in-frame storage
- Suspension travel: 160mm front, 150mm rear
- Wheel size: mixed (MX) wheel sizes XS and small; 29er front and rear for sizes medium and large (with option to convert to MX)
- Geo: 65.1° (mid) head tube angle, 77.6° (mid) seat tube angle, 442mm reach (mid) (size medium)
- Weight: 30.9lb (size medium)
- Price: $12,500 (Advanced Pro 0 build)
In the spirit of radical honesty, I wanted to hate this bike. I tend to shy away from products that claim to be designed for women. Not because I don’t find them intriguing (pun intended); because I’ve found many products are designed by men, for women, which misses the point entirely. In my not so humble opinion, women’s products should be designed by women for women because women understand the size constraints, weight distribution and overall experience of living and riding in a woman’s body. That being said, I can honestly say the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro is by far the most versatile and capable bike I have personally tested and Liv has absolutely nailed the design with women in mind.
Liv Intrigue frame specs
I tested the 2023 Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0. This model is priced at a whopping $12,500 and is the most robust model Liv offers in their current lineup. Liv also offers the Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 1 model, which is significantly cheaper at $7,000, but comes at the cost of downgraded components.
I’m not going to lie, my mouth was agape at the price tag, especially given the amount of bikes on sale at this current point in time. If price is no object, however, this bike is perfect for passionate, progressive, performance driven mountain bikers and an absolute stunner to the Nth degree.
The moment I assembled the bike I was blown away. The sleek frame design, internally routed cables and subtle glitter color result in an exquisite visual combo and the components are as high-end and high-tech as they come.
The Intrigue is constructed using Liv’s advanced grade composite material, striking the perfect balance of lightweight agility and beast-mode durability. Without pedals, the size medium (tested) weighs 30.90lbs. Truth be told this isn’t the lightest bike on the market, but it certainly felt that way on the trail.
The lustrous frame is equipped with a Maestro 3 flip chip that allows riders to easily change the head tube and seat tube angles, rear wheel size, and bottom bracket height between three different settings. This can be accomplished by “using two different flip chips – a combination high/low chip or a dedicated mid-position chip.” Liv says “the average difference between each setting is 0.4° for the head tube and seat tube angles with an average difference of 5mm of bottom bracket drop.”
This is a nice feature for those who like to tinker, and those who are in between sizes, allowing for slight geometry adjustments and a customizable riding experience. The Maestro system has an added bonus of downtube storage which is perfect for storing small essential items such as a multi-tool, innertube, CO2 cartridge, or a snack.
The flip chip technology is available on all sizes, through XS/S frame sizes are designed for a mixed wheel (mullet) setup only, while sizes medium and large can be run with 29er wheels front and rear, or in mixed-wheel mode.
I cannot speak to the mullet configuration or feel of the XS/S. However, given the superb design, I’d venture a guess the design is performance driven and take Liv’s word for it.
Sizing and geometry
I’m 5’5” which always seems to fall directly in the middle of sizes small and medium on most size charts. Typically I opt to size up, as I prefer to be a part of the bike, rather than a top seat passenger. I can say that being on the tall end of short and selecting a size medium was the correct choice; the sizing is exactly what I want it to be.
The 447mm reach on the size medium bike is in-line with many similar-sized, long-travel bikes on the market, and it’s the maximum capacity for my wing span. It’s tough to make a perfect comparison because the Intrigue is sized with the average woman in mind, so the size ranges are slightly different.
Many long travel (medium) bikes have a slightly longer reach, typically falling between 447mm-462mm. However, I believe this geo adjustment speaks to the “designed for women” size mantra of Liv’s brand and is meant to span a little further into the shorter ranges as opposed to the taller. That being said, I found the reach to be comfortable for me personally, suitable for longer XC rides and perfect for more aggressive downhill riding. Unfortunately for the taller individuals on the size spectrum, the cockpit may feel a bit tight.
Geometry highlights
- Head tube angle: 66.5 degrees
- Seat tube angle: 78 degrees
- Seat tube length: 16.5in/ 419.1mm
- Chainstay Length: 17.3in/ 414mm
- Top tube length: 22.8in/ 579.1mm
- Head tube length: 3.9in/ 99mm
- Bottom bracket drop: 1in/ 25.4mm
- Wheelbase: 47.5in/ 1,206.5mm
- Stack: 24.5in/ 622.3mm
- Reach: 17.6in/ 447mm
The Liv Intrigue LT Advanced build
Aesthetics aside, the Liv Intrigue is outfitted with top-of-the-line components including the electronically controlled Fox 36 Factory Live Valve 160mm front fork and a custom-tuned Fox Factory Live 150mm shock.
Prior to this test I’d never used the Fox Live Valve system, which automatically adjusts the fork and shock based on the terrain, and it took a bit of getting used to. The system does not have to be turned on (though there is an on button) in order to ride the bike or for it to feel great. However you do have to turn the Live Valve on if you expect the suspension to auto-adjust or to make adjustments via smartphone and to record data. The system will automatically shut itself off if no motion is sensed for 1.5 hours. Though it’s not advised to leave it on, as this will significantly reduce battery life between charges, which ranges between 16-20 hours. That’s all fine and dandy, assuming you remember to turn it on in the first place.
After the initial button pushing habit was established, the five point smartphone integrated trail settings (commute, firm, sport, comfort and open) made on-trail suspension adjustments that much easier. I’m not sure I would choose to add one more electronic device to my personal bike, but I did enjoy the unrivaled control and stability and the mixture of a plush and responsive ride without having to make manual adjustments.
The Advanced Pro comes with Shimano XTR M9120 hydraulic brakes with a 203mm diameter rotor in the front, and a 180mm rotor in the rear. The levers are reach-adjustable, with a free-stroke adjustment screw to dial-in the feel to the rider’s preference.
Aside from the brakes, most other components on the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0 are SRAM, including the XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain, the DUB press fit bottom bracket and an XX1 crankset with 170mm-long cranks. (The XS is the only size that comes standard with shorter, 165mm cranks.) Personally I prefer 165mm cranks on all of my bikes, regardless of travel, but did not notice additional pedal strikes or loss of efficiency and feel 170mm is an adequate length in combination with the SRAM DUB bottom bracket.
The rest of the drivetrain is comprised of SRAM’s top of the line XX1 Eagle AXS cassette and XX1 Eagle AXS derailleur. Both are made from carbon fiber resulting in a lighter drivetrain overall and precise, snappy shifting performance. If you haven’t used AXS yet, let me tell you it’s seamless – assuming you remember to charge it.
While I enjoy these fancy electronic accoutrements, they do require extra thought to remain useful during your ride. The AXS Eagle Transmission has battery life of around 25 hours and an expected life of around 2 years. Shifting more frequently or riding in very cold weather (as tends to be the case in states like Colorado) may reduce battery life and life expectancy overall.
I’ve “run out of juice” only once with my own AXS derailleur and tend to charge the batteries more frequently to avoid turning my bike into an unintentional single speed on a gnarly uphill. Though I cannot be certain, I suspect, much like many electronic devices, if charged more frequently when the battery is not fully drained, this may lessen the battery life expectancy overall.
Protip: When traveling, remember to cover your AXS (and Live Valve) batteries with the protective cases and add both chargers to your undoubtedly large case of “things that need to be charged in order to go about your day-to-day life in the year 2023.”
I do find it odd that Liv did not choose to extend their electronics to the seat post. Instead of continuing the AXS theme, they instead chose to spec the Intrigue LT Advanced Pro with a TranzX travel-adjustable dropper. The TranzX dropper has a range of 120-150mm on the XS/S frame sizes and 140-170mm on the M/L. This is important because the women’s size ranges are such that some riders may need the post slammed and some may prefer to have the seat height higher depending on where their height falls.
Being at the small end of medium, I need the seat post to drop all the way into the frame. Luckily I was able to accomplish this with the TranzX, though at times I felt the seat didn’t drop far enough. This could be due to the seat post length (16.5in) or perhaps because I’m on the tall end of short. Either way, the TranzX is a happy middle ground that will accommodate most riders.
The Intrigue Advanced Pro comes with a Zipp 3ZERO Moto wheel set and hubs. Zipp has been manufacturing carbon wheels for moto and road since 1988, though only recently (2019) for Mountain Bikes. This particular set isn’t flashy; there aren’t large branded decals on the sides or anodized spokes, but the ride is smooth and the hub engagement is what you’d expect from any top-of-the-line carbon wheelset.
The Zipp 3ZERO wheels feature a single-wall carbon trail/enduro rim which is designed to offer good traction, high impact resistance, and a smooth ride overall. I found the wheels to be compliant and durable, never having an issue even when the occasional “oppsie, that was a large rock” happened. The only downside is the weight.
The Zipp 3ZERO Moto wheels weigh 4.43lbs (2,011g), which is a bit heavier than other carbon wheelsets on the market. However, the performance is tip top and anyone purchasing a long travel enduro bike for pleasure is probably more concerned with stability and durability over a few extra grams.
Speaking of extra grams, the Maxxis Minon DHF and Maxxis Dissector tires also aren’t the lightest choices, but they’re tried and true and aid in exceptional traction when combined with the ZIPP 3MOTO wheelset.
Ride Impressions
All this technical mumbo jumbo leads me to the best part: THE RIDE. As I’ve eluded to throughout this review, I F’ing love this bike. Don’t be fooled, I was “warned” by a few males in the crowd that bikes designed for women are “stupid,” the Fox Live Valve is “weird,” and the back end of the Intrigue *might be* “squirrely.” Well haters, nay say away; this bike is a steed on its own pedestal. If you intend on riding a bike designed for women, put this one on your list of considerations. Otherwise, no need to read further because this doesn’t concern you.
My test rides took place exclusively throughout Colorado and in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Unfortunately it was too hot to get to the desert this summer, but I did ride a mixture of XC, chunky technical, and enduro style trails over the span of a few months. Not only was the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0 the sexiest bike on the trail, it outperformed any long-travel bike I’ve ridden on the same trails, by far.
Climbing on the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced
Most of my test rides had no less than 1,200ft vert, usually much more. Where I’m located, I am forced to endure many miles of uphill before the opportunity to descend. Though the Intrigue isn’t designed to rocket to the top, it never felt heavy or sluggish. Quite the opposite, in fact.
The slightly steeper seat tube angle (78°) balances the front, making challenging uphill feel, well, less challenging. The 29” wheels are obviously nice for climbing, easily rolling over small obstacles, assuming there’s gas in the tank to keep them rolling at a decent cadence.
One aspect I find most useful on the climbs is the 30T front chainring. When uphill speed is decent, a 32T chainring feels just fine. However, there were many instances climbing on this bike where my anaerobic system completely tapped out and I was moving at the speed of a slug desperately trying to make its way off a hot dry sidewalk before it’s too late. In such instances, the 30T allowed me to spin slower with more efficiency giving the feel of more gearing. Also, I didn’t dry up and die.
The AXS derailleur/cassette also aided me on the climbs. If shifting telepathically becomes a thing, I’m in. Otherwise I’ll settle for snappy and smooth, and a derailleur that doesn’t fight back when shifting under tension. Truth be told, I don’t move gears much when climbing because, as I mentioned, I must go up for an inordinate amount of time before I go down. I tend to “ride like a granny” uphill. However, I did take the bike to the Copper Harbor trails in Michigan which has more undulating terrain, and the AXS in combination with superb hub engagement made shifting frequently a no brainer.
The FOX Live Valve system is also helpful for climbing. In a nutshell: my pedaling efficiency seemed enormously better with an accelerometer. I’m not one for fancy things, but it sure is nice that the Live Valve automatically opens and closes when it detects even the smallest bumps, which improved my efficiency by default. This kept my climbs as smooth as possible and resulted in minimal slip outs and pedal bob.
I kept the Maestro Flip Chip in the mid position on most rides because it’s a nice middle ground that allows for smooth climbing and descending. However, I did flip the chip to the high position for one steep hill climb. The high position tightened the geometry ever so slightly and gave me the most bang for my buck.
Just to be clear, strict hill climbs are not something I’d recommend for this bike (or myself, because WHY?!?), as it is not designed specifically for XC. However, for the sake of Singletracks readers, I put my fitness to the test just to be sure and the flip chip in the high position worked nicely for this purpose. It should also be noted that descending in the high position did not feel squirrely in the slightest.
You may have noticed that I haven’t yet commented on the saddle. It’s worth noting that I never leave the stock saddle on any bike. I would also never think to choose a Liv saddle for a bike. However, the Liv Sylvia saddle felt perfectly comfortable when seated for long periods of time, so much so that I never wore a chamois and didn’t think too much of it. Take that as a vote of confidence.
Riding downhill on the Liv Intrigue LT
The descents are where the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro really shines. The 29” wheels, excellent tire selection, and superior suspension gave me all the confidence to tackle even the most rowdy downhills. There are a fair amount of chunky, rock-laden trails in my neck of the woods, and I had absolutely no hesitation riding this bike aggressively through all of it. The Intrigue LT Advanced Pro effortlessly absorbs roots, rocks and drops while maintaining maximum traction.
I did notice the bottom bracket took a few hits in some of the larger rock gardens, but that isn’t unusual. I’ve ridden many-a-bike on the same sections and never found one that kept its composure quite like the Intrigue, despite taking repeated beatings.
The Intrigue LT Advanced Pro is designed for enduro riding. However it seems to be best suited for fast aggressive riding at high speeds. The more aggressive I rode it, the more confident I felt. Though I opted to keep the mid chip in most of the time, the bike never felt underwhelming. I felt perfectly centered and in control through the chunkiest of chunk, almost as though I were “one with the bike.” The reach didn’t leave me feeling stretched and technical descents felt smoother than usual; every bump effortlessly absorbed by the dirt gods themselves. I hit several small and large(r) drops during my test and the travel felt plush, yet supportive and overall effortless. The Intrigue really lives up to its claims of being a true enduro race machine, unrivaled in its handling performance, especially around corners.
Cornering at high speeds was so smooth that I almost felt like I had too much traction; more than I was ever anticipating. Eventually I stopped mentally preparing for a slide, but it took a few months.
Steering through tight switch backs was also a non-issue. The one downside, and possibly one of the only negatives, was the feeling that the seat post didn’t drop enough. Even though the TranzX is dropped to the maximum (170mm), I did notice the seat between my legs during moments of side-to-side bike/body separation. This acknowledgement sometimes led my mind to wander temporarily off the eminent danger ahead and to the saddle, which in what I would consider a “meditative state” is not ideal. If I could change one thing it would be to have a shorter seat tube or a longer dropper.
I realize that in shortening the seat tube, a longer seat post may not drop into the frame, so I understand Liv’s design choices here. This design change would be especially problematic if outfitted with an electronic dropper post because the battery would be more likely to hit the rear tire when tackling large bumps or drops. To be fair this issue plagues many manufacturers and I have a similar complaint with many long travel 29ers, so maybe it’s just a ”me” problem.
I also tried riding the Intrigue with the flip chip in the low position. The particular trail I rode required me to climb a grueling, long, rocky, and loose uphill in order to ride the majestically rowdy (bike only) downhill. All I can say is: WOW. The more slack, relaxed geometry opened the bike to its fullest potential; WARP SPEED! The Intrigue floated over obstacles and muted kickback from every drop and rock. In a nutshell: the bike is badass.
Pros and cons of the Liv Intrigue LT enduro bike
Pros
- Size ranges specifically for women
- Custom-tuned suspension
- High-end/high tech Components
- Carbon frame and wheelset
- Exceptional ride on all types of terrain
Cons
- High price tag
- XS/S only comes in mixed wheel set up
- Lots of electronic components to charge
- Be ready to use your smartphone
- Wish the seat tube were shorter
Bottom Line
I want this bike in my garage permanently. Its progressive design, high-tech features and overall durability result in exceptional performance wrapped seamlessly in a sexy frame. The Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro strikes a perfect balance between plush, supportive and able to take a beating. If I were to have only one bike in my garage (said every mountain biker ever) I would choose the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0. It truly does it all, and it does it all really, really well.
