Liv Tempt 3 Review
- Price: $799
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: Kenda Booster 27.5″ or 29×2.2″
- Gear: 2×8
What we like about it: Great value for money and excellent companion for newbies.
What we didn’t like about it: The ability to go downhill wasn’t good enough.
Rating: (4.7/5)
With the development and progress of the times, people are more and more willing to communicate with nature and want to conquer it.
As a result, off-road sports have become very popular.
Many of my fans wanted me to do a review of women’s off-road bikes, so I found this Liv Tempt 3, which is very cost-effective and meets women’s needs for off-roading.
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications as well as other versions of this bike.
Additionally, at the end of the review, we will also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, don’t hesitate to follow us.
Riding Experience
For a hardtail trail bike, the ability to ride off-road is a crucial point.
This time, I purchased my tickets from Skyscanner and also made hotel reservations to test the Miles of Smiles route at Blue Mountain Resort.
Off-road Riding
Miles of Smiles is a narrow dirt road with many sections for only one bike.
Not only that, the road is planted with trees, and there are a lot of dead branches and debris on the road with steeper uphill and downhill, which brought a lot of hindrance to my riding.
I had to admit that the Shimano Altus M310 Rear Derailleur on the Liv Tempt 3 worked very smoothly with the microSHIFT FD-M282 Front Derailleur.
I faced multiple sections of up and down hill and was able to quickly adjust the gear ratio to find the most suitable riding speed to get over those obstacles.
There was one section of the descent where many people uploaded videos of them flipping on Youtube.
I, as an experienced rider, shifted my weight back and kept adjusting the Tektro HDC TKD 149 hydraulic disc braking effort to finish this descent relatively well.
After this, there was an uphill back leap that tested my balance.
I accelerated forward and over the hill, and in the air, the Giant Sole-O helped me hold on to the Giant Connect Trail as I shifted my weight back and quickly adjusted my position.
In the meantime, the 100mm fork helped me take a lot of pressure off when descending.
In short, in off-road, this car was enough to deal with a lot of very difficult roads, which really captivated me.
Park Rides
Even though this Liv Tempt 3 is a hardtail trail bike, it can be useful for casual outings.
Naturally, I didn’t need to say much about the ride on the flat avenues in the park.
I would like to emphasize that on the park trails, the bike performed very well, and the 68.5° head tube angle made the bike very agile in changing directions.
In addition, the dirt or gravel roads in the park are very bumpy, but I still felt relatively smooth on the Liv Sport Saddle, a saddle that made me feel very comfortable and soft, reducing the pressure on my hips.
In addition, this bike has very good Kenda Booster tires. On the gravel road in the park, I could feel its excellent traction and grip, so there was no need to worry about the gravel is too big and roll over.
I rode this bike with great grind-over performance, and this was the confidence Kenda Booster gave me.
All in all, I think this Liv Tempt 3 adapts well to different surfaces. It has a perfect ability of direction change and stability. Additionally, it also offered me a sense of freedom and spontaneity.
Specification
The Liv Tempt 3 is a very good hardtail trail bike, with very good adaptability on different surfaces.
Liv Tempt 3 has an ALUXX-Grade aluminum frame, which is very strong and light.
It also has a Tektro HDC TKD 149 hydraulic disc with very strong braking ability, which can effectively protect the rider’s safety.
With the high stand-up height, it can stop more stably when emergency braking.
In addition, the Liv Sport saddle reduces the pressure on the rider’s hips while riding, allowing the rider to ride more comfortably.
And with two sizes to choose from, the Kenda Booster allows riders to choose according to their needs.
Video
Other versions
After many tests, we know this bike much better and it is a nice hardtail trail bike.
However, many riders have their own requirements for performance or components, so we found the same type of bike for further comparison.
Liv Tempt 2
The overall frames of the two bikes are very similar with slightly different.
The kits are Shimano Altus, Liv Temp 2 with microSHIFT and Liv Temp 3 with microSHIFT Advent.
The latter has the advantage of being more suitable for beginners.
For entry-level riders, Shimano is more professional and needs lower maintenance costs.
The former uses a 1×9 drivetrain, with smoother shifts and a chain that is less likely to fall off, while the latter uses a 2×8 drivetrain.
In fact, the price difference between the two is not much.
If you prefer Shimano components, the Liv Tempt 2 is your choice; if you are a beginner, the Liv Tempt 3 will serve you well.
What do we like about it?
- Cost effective and excellent companion for newbies.
- Tempt’s focus on performance and comfortable geometry makes Liv Tempt 3 even more versatile.
- ALUXX-Grade aluminum frame is light weight and makes the bike more sturdy.
- Two sizes of wheels to choose from, giving riders more options.
What don’t we like about it?
- The ability to go downhill may be not good enough.
FAQs
- Is Liv Tempt 3 suitable for beginners?
Both beginners and experienced riders will be able to handle it very well.
- How many wheel size options does Liv Tempt 3 have?
It is available in two wheel sizes, 27.5″ and 29.
- Does Liv Tempt 3’s 100mm Travel come on both wheel sizes?
Yes, it’s all equipped.
- How to choose the right size?
The size chart for Liv Tempt 3 is as follows:
Here we provide you with a size chart, but of course you do not necessarily have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 4’11” – 5’5″ | XS |
| 5’2″ – 5’7″ | SM |
| 5’4″ – 5’9″ | MD |
Specs
Build
| Frame | ALUXX-Grade Aluminum, disc Tire Clearance: 2.4″ Colors: Snow Drift; Purple Ash |
| Fork | SR Suntour XCE, QR, steel steerer XS: 80mm travel (27.5) S: 100mm travel (27.5) / 100mm travel (29) |
| Rear Shock | N/A |
| Bottom Bracket | cartridge |
| Stem | Giant Sport, 7-degree XS: 40mm (27.5) S: 40mm (27.5) / 40mm (29) M: 50mm (27.5) / 50mm travel (29) L: 50mm (29) |
| Handlebar | Giant Connect Trail, 31.8mm XS: 670mm (27.5) S: 670mm (27.5) / 670mm (29) M: 750mm (27.5) / 750mm travel (29) L: 750mm (29) |
| Saddle | Liv Sport |
| Seatpost | Giant Sport, 30.9 XS: 300mm (27.5) S: 300mm (27.5) / 375mm (29) M: 375mm (27.5) / 375mm travel (29) L: 375mm (29) |
| Pedals | MTB caged |
| Grips | Giant Sole-O |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Altus M310 |
| Front Derailleur | microSHIFT FD-M282 |
| Crank | Shimano FC-M315, 22/36 XS: 170mm (27.5) S: 170mm (27.5) / 170mm (29) M: 170mm (27.5) / 170mm travel (29) L: 175mm (29) |
| Shifters | microSHIFT, 2×8 |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore HG200, 12×32 |
| Chain | KMC 8.3 |
| Brakes | Tektro HDC TKD 149, hydraulic, Tektro rotors [F]180mm, [R]160mm |
| Brake Levers | Tektro TKD 149 |
Wheels
| Rims | Giant GX03V 29 or 27.5, alloy, double wall, 21mm inner width |
| Spokes | stainless, 14g |
| Front Hub | alloy, sealed bearing |
| Rear Hub | alloy, sealed bearing |
| Tires | Kenda Booster 27.5″ or 29×2.2″, wire bead |
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click View | Tires | Driveline | Frame material | Components |
| Trek X-Caliber 8 | Click View | Shimano RT26 | 1×12 | Aluminum | Shimano Deore,XT |
| Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 | Click View | MTB, 27.5/29×2.25″ | 3×7 | Aluminum | Shimano Touney |
| Giant XTC SLR 29 2 | Click View | Maxxis Recon Race 29×2.25 | 1×12 | Aluminum | SRAM SX Eagle |
| Diamondback Hatch 1 | Click View | Vee Tire Co. Rubber Rail Escape, 27.5×2.25 or 29×2.25″. | 3×7 | Aluminum | Shimano Tourney |
Liv Tempt 3 vs Trek X-Caliber 8
In terms of XS size, the Trek X-Caliber 8 has 100mm of travel, which is longer than the Liv Tempt 3’s 80mm.
The longer travel provides more effective vibration relief and improves the rider’s riding experience.
In addition, the Trek X-Caliber 8 has the more common 1×12 derailleur, which effectively prevents chain drops and shifts smoothly, while the heavier 2×8 derailleur in the Liv Tempt 3 is relatively backward.
Modern trail bikes rarely have a front chainstay, which is mainly to reduce weight.
In short, if you want a more comfortable ride, go for the Trek X-Caliber 8.
But if you’re not on a budget, then the Liv Temp 3 will suit you better. After all, the Trek X-Caliber 8 is nearly $800 more expensive than the Liv Tempt 3.
Learn More: Is The Trek X-Caliber 8 Worth Buying? [Trek X-Caliber 8 Review]
Liv Tempt 3 vs Marin Bolinas Ridge 1
The overall frame of the two bikes is very similar, but the Liv Tempt 3 has a Tektro HDC TKD 149 hydraulic disc, which is more sensitive and capable of braking in time compared to the Mechanical Disc of the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1, while the latter is relatively more serviceable.
In addition, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 has 100mm front travel, providing better shock absorption and a better riding experience for the rider.
So if you want a better riding experience, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 will suit you better.
If you want a safer bike, the Liv Tempt 3 will suit you well.
Learn More: Is Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 A Perfect Selection? – [Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 Review]
Liv Tempt 3 vs Giant XTC SLR 29 2
The Liv Tempt 3 is available in two Wheel sizes, giving the rider more options; while the Giant XTC SLR 29 2 has only one.
In addition, the Liv Tempt 3’s Kenda Booster tire is a race-proven XC tire that offers high speed, light weight and excellent traction.
The Booster’s racing compound tread performs well in dry, loose sand and rough, rocky terrain. The tire is tubeless and has puncture protection for safety.
The Giant XTC SLR 29 2’s Maxxis Recon Race tire is also an XC tire, perfect for XC off-road and short track racing, with EXO sidewall protection for enhanced durability.
If you want more wheel size options, the Liv Tempt 3 is for you. Suppose you want a more durable tire, the Giant XTC SLR 29 2 is a better choice.
Liv Tempt 3 vs Diamondback Hatch 1
The Diamondback Hatch 1 has a larger Stack/Reach Ratio than the Liv Tempt 3, allowing the rider to ride more comfortably.
In addition, the Diamondback Hatch 1 has a larger head tube angle, making it more flexible for changing directions.
However, the Diamondback Hatch 1’s 3×7 drivetrain is not as silky smooth as the former’s 2×8, and there is only one wheel size to choose from.
It is also noteworthy that the Diamondback Hatch 1’s rim brakes are lighter, but not as effective and safe as the Liv Tempt 3’s Tektro HDC TKD 149 hydraulic disc.
In short, if you want to ride more comfortably and nimbly, I recommend the Diamondback Hatch 1. For those who want to ride more safely, the Liv Tempt 3 will serve them better.
Summary
These are our full reviews of the Liv Tempt 3. This is an excellent hardtail trail bike that performs very well on the trail and we give it a high score of 4.7 overall.
Of course, if you’re interested in exploring other similar bikes, we have reviewed a variety of bikes at different price points that you might find interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews as well.
Lastly, if you enjoy our content, please consider sharing it with your friends! If you find our content helpful, you can also click on the subscription button below to receive updates via email. Thank you for your support!
