Giant LaFree E+ 2 review
Commuter model. Middle motor. Priced at $2799.
![Image thumbnail 0](https://pdbimg.choice.com.au/giant-lafree-e-2_1_mobile.jpg)
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Bike type
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Electric bike types include tour, commuter and mountain bikes. Some are also folding bikes.
- Commuter
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Frame type
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Full frame means the bike has a cross bar you have to lift your leg over, while step through means the bike has no cross bar and it's easier to get on.
- Step-through
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Recommended
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We recommend e-bikes that score over 75% and also meet the current e-bike regulations for use on public roads.
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CHOICE Expert Rating
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The CHOICE Expert Rating, our overall score, is a combination of the comfort, ease of use and accuracy scores. The scores are weighted as follows: Pedal assistance score (15%), braking score (15%), turning and low speed score (10%), ride comfort score (10%), handling score (10%), controls score (10%), battery use (on-bike) score (10%), battery use (off-bike) score (10%) and display score (10%).
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Pedal assistance score
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How well does the motor assist when pedaling?
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Braking score
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How quickly does the e-bike respond to the cyclist's braking action.
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Turning and low speed score
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How well does the bike perform in uphill and slow riding?
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Comfort score
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How well does the bike perform on bumpy and rough surfaces?
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Handling score
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This includes ease of mounting, dismounting, off-bike handling (walking the bike), safety and comfort.
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Controls score
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How easy is the controller and display to use?
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On-bike battery score
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How well does the battery perform for access and charging when on the bike.
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Off-bike battery score
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How well does the battery perform for access and charging when removed from the bike.
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Display score
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Our tester looks at the quality of the screen and menu items.
- Comments
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Availability
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'Tested model' means the bike was tested most recently in our labs, whereas 'Discontinued model' means these models were most likely tested by Consumer NZ in 2022 with the performance information provided for interest but can't be directly compared to our latest test. Note, NZ also has different speed and power regulations for e-bike use.
- Discontinued model
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Price
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Recommended retail price as of the publication date.
- $2799
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Sizes available
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Most bikes come in a variety of sizes, so make sure you choose one suitable for your height and build.
- 3
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Bike weight (kg)
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Configurations vary considerably, so while we give the weight on some of the bikes, they'll vary based on how you order the bike with regards to size, frame option and battery size.
- N/A
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Motor brand
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Model choices include Bosch, Shimano and Bafang.
- Yamaha
- Motor model
- SyncDrive Life
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Motor location
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Usually the motor is located either where you peddle (mid) or at the rear of the bike.
- Middle
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Power (W)
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How much power (Watts) is delivered to the bike. This can be limited generally to 250 watts.
- 250
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Max assist torque (Nm)
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The higher the amount of torque generally means the more acceleration when assistance is needed.
- 60
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Max assist speed (km/h)
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This is a restricted setting to meet current Australian laws such as a continuous motor power of 200 watts (and 500 watts in NSW) with power assistance cutting out when a speed of 25km/h is reached. Any e-bike on test not meeting these restrictions can not earn a recommendation, regardless of it's performance in the test.
- 32
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Assist settings
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Assist settings or modes are the level of settings, generally from 1 (the least amount of assistance) to 6 or above.
- 5
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Battery size (Wh)
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How many Watt hours does the battery have? This directly correlates with how long it will last in a constant stream of assist. The larger the battery, the more expensive it is to replace.
- 400
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Battery location
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Batteries are usually in the seat tube, rear or down tube.
- Rear rack
- Wheel size (inches)
- 26
- Tyre width (mm)
- 60
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Mudguards
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What the mudguard is made from.
- Metal
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Kickstand location
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Where is the kickstand located on the bike?
- Rear mount
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Rear rack
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Does the bike have a rear rack?
- Yes
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Lights
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Does the bike come with lights?
- No
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Gears
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How many gears can you cycle through and how are they changed? This is usually through a trigger or twist mechanism.
- 8 (trigger)
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Suspension fork travel
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Is there much fork suspension and how much can it travel? This is useful for smoothing out bumpy roads.
- No
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Suspension seatpost
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Is there suspension built into the seat post? This is also good for bumpy roads.
- No
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Brakes
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What kind of brakes are on the bike? Hydraulic and cable both have their pros and cons, though most bike professionals prefer hydraulic.
- Disc (hydraulic)
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Frame warranty (years)
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The frame warranty is usually longer than the battery or motor.
- N/A
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Battery and motor warranty (years)
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Some companies offer more than one year but don't expect more than 2 years warranty for either battery or motor.
- N/A
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Battery origin
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The battery is sometimes made in a different country to the motor and frame.
- N/A
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Frame origin
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The frame is sometimes manufactured in a different country to the motor and battery.
- N/A
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Motor origin
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Country where the motor was made.
- N/A
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Walk mode
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Some bikes have a walk mode where if you have to push the bike for whatever reason, it will still give some assist.
- Yes
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Thumb throttle
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This is very handy to have if you're starting the bike from a hill or slope, as it allows you to trigger the assist, though it should be at a low acceleration as it's purpose is different to a throttle on a motorbike.
- No
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Quick release seatpost
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A quick release seatpost allows quick adjustment for different riders.
- N/A
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Quick release wheels
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This feature allows you to either fix a puncture or also take a wheel with you to help discourage theft.
- N/A