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Giant LaFree E+ 2 review

Giant LaFree E+ 2

CHOICE Expert Rating

75%
What is the CHOICE Expert Rating?
Good points

Good Points

  • Good motor responsiveness.
  • Good motor assistance climbing hills.
  • Good motor assistance at speed.
  • Good display and controls.
  • Bike is good to pedal quickly.
  • Bike has good slow speed balance.
  • Bike copes well on rough surfaces.
  • Has rear rack, metal mudguards and a rear-mount kickstand.
  • Has hydraulic disc brakes.
Bad points

Bad Points

  • built-in lights are an extra-cost option.
  • Doesn't have a suspension fork.

Type

Bike type
Commuter
Frame type
Step-through
Cargo type
Not applicable
Drive type
Chain

Recommended products

Recommended
Not recommended

Test results

CHOICE Expert Rating
75%
Pedal assistance score
75%
Braking score
78%
Turning and low speed score
77%
Comfort score
70%
Handling score
85%
Controls score
70%
On-bike battery score
N/A
Off-bike battery score
N/A
Display score
N/A
Comments
This step-through Giant looks and rides like a bike costing much more than its modest price. The SyncDrive Life motor is smooth and responsive up to 32km/h, with lots of torque available for hill climbing though the rear rack-mounted battery means the steering gets a bit light on steeper climbs. There's no controller display, just LEDs on the thumb shifter to show battery life and assistance setting. Some testers enjoyed being cut free from data, particularly when using the neat auto power mode that selects assistance to suit speed and rider effort. Others missed having the speed and distance information, though. There's no suspension fork, but the big-volume tyres absorb road chatter, and the wide but firm saddle and backswept bars were very comfortable. The Giant comes with hydraulic disc brakes, a rear rack and a full set of mud and chain guards (but you'll need to pay extra to get built-in lights fitted). Overall, the LaFree+ isn't perfect, but its a great-value urban e-bike.

Related products

Availability
Discontinued model

Specifications

Sizes available
3
Bike weight (kg)
N/A
Motor brand
Yamaha
Motor model
SyncDrive Life
Motor location
Middle
Power (W)
250
Max assist torque (Nm)
60
Max assist speed (km/h)
32
Assist settings
5
Battery size (Wh)
400
Battery location
Rear rack
Wheel size (inches)
26
Tyre width (mm)
60
Mudguards
Metal
Kickstand location
Rear mount
Rear rack
Lights
Gears
8 (trigger)
Suspension fork travel
Suspension seatpost
Brakes
Disc (hydraulic)
Frame warranty (years)
N/A
Battery and motor warranty (years)
N/A
Battery origin
N/A
Frame origin
N/A
Motor origin
N/A

Cost

Price
$2,799.00

Features

Walk mode
Thumb throttle
Quick release seatpost
N/A
Quick release wheels
N/A

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