It does not appear that the mid-step version has a bottle mount. Benefits of the high-step include reduced frame flex, easier to lift and mount on some car racks, and it has a bottle cage mount on the seat tube. I test rode the medium high-step frame and felt very comfortable on it.
The mid-step is more approachable for people with hip and knee sensitivity. I think it’s great that they offer two frame styles.The drivetrain, motor, and battery are all high quality and I’d expect them to last. It excels with safety because of the integrated lights, reflective tires, and smart responsive motor systems. The Explore E+ 2 is a “do anything” platform that is capable off-road on light mountain trails or gravel roads, as well as city streets.I trust that they will be around to provide support, and I appreciate the in-person dealer experience where they can help with fit and provide test rides. They’ve been around since 1972 and have over 12,000 retailers worldwide. Giant is one of the “Big Three” bicycle manufacturers including Trek and Specialized.They use the same motor, battery pack, button pad, suspension, and drivetrain. They have a women-specific brand called Liv and a model called the Amiti E+ 2 that is very very similar to the Explore E+ 2 mid-step model, except for the color and minor geometry differences. Giant is one of the worlds largest bicycle manufacturers.The only color option for the 2022 model year is satin metallic navy blue with black accents. It comes in both High-Step GTS with four frame sizes and Mid-Step STA with three frame sizes. This is the fancier more powerful version of Giant’s hybrid model which is capable of being a commuting ebike or light cross country mountain bike.I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Giant electric bike forums. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Giant products. This review was provided for free using a demo bike. Battery charger requires a dongle to charge the pack off the bike, which adds clutter and could get lost. The suspension fork does not have lockout and the preload clickers can be difficult to access. Excellent control pad design with USB-C charging port built in paired with bright color LCD display panel and smartphone app with motor tuning.Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. Very comfortable saddle and adjustable 63mm travel suspension fork, tubeless-ready tires with reflective sidewalls. Quality ergonomic grips with adjustable bar ends. Good battery placement with ability to charge on or off the frame.Premium integrated lights with good side visibility. It offers up to 70 newton meters of torque and measures wheel speed, cadence, pedal torque, acceleration, and slope for smooth and quick operation. Powerful SyncDrive Sport motor is a collaboration between Giant and Yamaha.Sold through dealers with excellent service and two-year warranty. Feature-complete with fenders, rear rack, and lights. A hardtail cross country hybrid that comes in two frame styles, four sizes, and one color: metallic navy blue.