Giant Explore E+ 2

The Giant Explore E+ 2 is the trekking pick for riders who want to use their e-bike not only for the daily office run but also for a 60 km Saturday ride through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug or the Veluwe. Giant is the world's largest bike maker and brings their trekking know-how to the Netherlands in a frame sportier than the classic city e-bikes from Gazelle or Batavus. The typical buyer has a recreational cycling background, might occasionally hit an unpaved dune path, and values a bike with a bit more character than a pure commuter.

The Giant SyncDrive Sport (built by Yamaha) is this bike's sharpest weapon. With 80 Nm of torque it is the second-strongest motor in the test, beaten only by the Bosch Performance CX on the Kalkhoff Endeavour 5.B Move+. You feel direct, almost sporty push when pulling away and the motor keeps driving all the way to 25 km/h without dragging. In Limburg or on the Posbank that power shines where the Batavus Finez E-go Power or Bosch Active Line Plus run out of breath. Range is 60 to 110 km from the 500 Wh EnergyPak — slightly less than the Kalkhoff's 625 Wh, but plenty for a day out with a lunch break. The SR Suntour NEX front fork with 63 mm travel swallows tree roots and bad tarmac better than the rigid forks on some competitors, and the Shimano Deore 10-speed gives a wide range you appreciate on both climbs and descents.

Honest weaknesses: the Explore E+ 2 does not ship with integrated mudguards, rear rack or lock. For commuting you will need to order those separately or have the dealer fit them — budget €250 to €400 extra. The Yamaha service network in the Netherlands is smaller than Bosch, and not every local bike shop has the Giant-specific diagnostic tools. For pure city use the Gazelle Chamonix T10 HMS is more complete out of the box. Pick the Giant Explore E+ 2 if you want both commuting and recreational riding, and buy the matching accessories; you then get one of the most versatile trekking packages in the test.