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Dolan Ares 3.0 vs Liv EnviLiv Advanced
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Liv EnviLiv Advanced starts £1 cheaper (£2,499 vs £2,500 for the Dolan Ares 3.0).
- Our verdict scores the Liv EnviLiv Advanced higher overall: 78/100 vs 76/100.
Dolan Ares 3.0
Liv EnviLiv Advanced
| DolanAres 3.0 | LivEnviLiv Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Dolan | Liv |
| Build | Ares 3.0 Shimano 105 R7170 Di2 | EnviLiv Advanced 0 |
| Build notes | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. A 4iiii Precision 3+ power meter is a +£269.99 option. | Cryo Silver. EUR price from Liv Germany. Not listed on Liv's US site. |
| Price (MSRP) | £2,500£2,500£2,500 | €4,799€4,799£4,199 |
| Model year | 2026 | 2027 |
| Generation | — | Fourth-generation EnviLiv (2026) |
| Launched | — | 2026-03 |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Yes | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 76 | 78 |
| Aero | 70 | 80 |
| Frame | 66 | 79 |
| Components | 64 | 62 |
| Fit | 76 | 76 |
| Practicality | 82 | 72 |
| Price | 100 | 100 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon fibre | Carbon (Advanced-grade composite) |
| Fork material | Carbon (New Ares carbon fork) | Carbon (Advanced-grade composite, full-composite OverDrive Aero steerer) |
| Frame weight | 1,100 g2.43 lb | 885 g31.2 oz |
| Fork weight | — | 413 g14.6 oz |
| Frameset weight | — | 1,643 g3.62 lb |
| Weight measured on | Approximate frame-only weight from Dolan's FAQ (size not stated) | Liv's figures for a size M unpainted production frame and fork; the frameset total adds the seatpost and clamp, derailleur hangers, expander, top cap, cone, spacers and headset bearings |
| Max system weight | 120 kg264.6 lb | — |
| Frame sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL | XXS, XS, S, M, L |
| Colours | Pearl White (stock); custom single or multi-colour paint from Dolan's in-house range (Power Red, Sky Blue, Royal Blue, Night Black, Army Green, Cosmic Orange, Hot Pink, Ice White, Speed Yellow, Amethyst Purple and candy/chameleon finishes) | Cryo Silver (Advanced 0), Null White and Neo-Gold (Advanced 1), Midnight Pine and Desert Pearl (Advanced 2) |
| Also available as | — | EnviLiv Advanced Pro: the same frame with an Advanced SL-grade fork and a one-piece bar and stem; EnviLiv Advanced SL: Advanced SL-grade frame with an integrated seatpost |
| UCI frame approval | Dolan states the frame and fork are UCI approved | — |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc, flat mount | Hydraulic disc |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 32 mm | 32 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 threaded (68mm, external) | Press-fit |
| Front axle | 12 mm thru-axle (flush) | 12x100 thru-axle |
| Rear axle | 12 mm thru-axle (flush) | 12x142 thru-axle |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Mechanical and electronic groupsets; sold with Shimano 105/Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Rival/Force/Red AXS E1 | — |
| Mechanical shifting possible | Yes | — |
| Cable routing | Fully internal | Internal through the bar and stem and the OverDrive Aero steerer |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Bottle mounts | 2 | — |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | Cables routed internally through a standard two-piece Deda bar and Superbox stem; Alpina one-piece carbon bar optional | Two-piece aero bar and stem (Liv Contact SL Aero), internally routed |
| Standard stem and bar possible | Yes | — |
| Seatpost type | Ares carbon aero seatpost (supplied) | Giant Vector composite aero seatpost, -5/+15 mm offset |
| Saddle position range | — | -5 to +15 mm offset |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | Dolan describes the frame as aero-profiled and wind-defying but publishes no drag figures | — |
| Testing method | None published | AeroSystem Shaping tube profiles developed with CFD and wind-tunnel data |
| Tube profile | — | AeroSystem Shaping |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Derailleur hanger | — | UDH |
| Proprietary parts | — | OverDrive Aero steerer and spacers, Contact SL Aero stem, Vector aero seatpost |
| Frame warranty | Lifetime warranty on Dolan frames and forks bought after 1 January 2024 | — |
| Sold via | Direct from Dolan (online and its showroom) | Liv/Giant retailers and the brand's website |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 |
| Launched | 2022 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Drivetrain | 2x12 | 2x |
| Shifters | Shimano 105 Di2 ST-R7170 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-R8170 |
| Crankset | Shimano 105 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra R8100 |
| Chainrings | 50/34 or 52/36 | 52/36 |
| Crank length | — | 160 (XXS) / 165 (XS, S) / 170 (M, L) |
| Crank lengths available | 165-175 mm | — |
| Bottom bracket | Sugino T47 EX-IDS24 68mm | Shimano Press-fit |
| Standard | T47 threaded (68mm) | Press-fit |
| Front derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Cassette | Shimano 105 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra R8100 |
| Range | 11-36 or 11-34 | 11-34 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M6100 | KMC X12L-1 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | — | Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-R8170 |
| Brake calipers | Shimano 105 BR-R7170 | Shimano Ultegra |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Rotors | Shimano SM-RT70 | Shimano RT-CL700 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | 140 mm |
| Mount | Center Lock | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Giant SLR 2 50 WheelSystem |
| Front rim depth | — | 50 mm |
| Rear rim depth | — | 50 mm |
| Material | Aluminium | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Hubs | — | Giant alloy (front), Giant alloy with 3-pawl 30T driver (rear), Center Lock, 12 mm thru-axles |
| Spokes | — | Sapim JB Sprint |
| Notes | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | — |
| Tires | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Giant Gavia Course |
| Tire width | 25 mm | 28 mm |
| Set up tubeless | — | Yes |
| Widths available | 25, 28 or 32 mm | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | Deda Zero2 DCR | Liv Contact SL Aero |
| Type | — | Two-piece aero bar and stem |
| Integrated stem | — | No |
| Widths available | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | Hoods/drops 340/360 mm (XXS, XS), 360/380 mm (S), 370/400 mm (M), 390/420 mm (L) |
| Bar reach | — | 72 mm |
| Bar drop | — | 125 mm |
| Tops | — | Aero (flat tops) |
| Cable routing | — | Internal |
| Material | Aluminium | — |
| Notes | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | — |
| Stem | Deda Superbox | Liv Contact SL Aero |
| Stem length | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 80 (XXS, XS) / 90 (S) / 100 (M) / 110 (L) |
| Headset | Alpina 1-1/8" | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Liv Alacra SL |
| Seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Giant Vector |
| Offset / setback | — | -5/+15 mm |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Bar tape | — | Liv Stratus Lite 2.0 |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL | XXS, XS, S, M, L |
| Rider height min | 152–188 cm5′0″–6′2″ | 146–170 cm4′9″–5′7″ |
| Rider height max | 160–196 cm5′3″–6′5″ | 160–184 cm5′3″–6′0″ |
| Stack | 514–592 mm20.2–23.3″ | 494.1–566.9 mm19.5–22.3″ |
| Reach | 373–404 mm14.7–15.9″ | 365.6–392.1 mm14.4–15.4″ |
| Seat tube angle | 73–75° | 73.5–75° |
| Head tube angle | 71.5–73.5° | 70–72.5° |
| Head tube length | 105–180 mm4.1–7.1″ | 100–170 mm3.9–6.7″ |
| Effective top tube | 511–585 mm20.1–23″ | 504–560.6 mm19.8–22.1″ |
| Seat tube length | 460–540 mm18.1–21.3″ | 446.5–558 mm17.6–22″ |
| Chainstay | — | 405 mm15.9″ |
| Wheelbase | 968–1,009 mm38.1–39.7″ | 969.9–999.3 mm38.2–39.3″ |
| BB drop | — | 70–72 mm2.8–2.8″ |
| Fork offset | — | 49 mm1.9″ |
| Trail | — | 57.2–73.2 mm2.3–2.9″ |
| Standover | — | 714.8–814 mm28.1–32″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | 170–175 mm6.7–6.9″ | 160–170 mm6.3–6.7″ |
| Stem length | 80–120 mm3.1–4.7″ | 80–110 mm3.1–4.3″ |
| Handlebar width | 400–460 mm15.7–18.1″ | 360–420 mm14.2–16.5″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).