Momentum LaFree E+ 2022 - Anthracite

MOMENTUM LA FREE E+ 2022 - ANTHRACITE

For riders who are after a great recreational E-Bike, the 2022 Giant LaFree E+ 2 is a superb option. And in this preview and buyers guide, I’ll explain why.

WHAT AND WHO IS THE LAFREE E+ FOR?

The LaFree E+ is the most affordable E-Bike in Giant’s range. And it’s perfect for those riders who want a simple, reliable and powerful E-Bike.

It still uses a Yamaha engineered drive system (more detail later). And it’s perfect for the general fitness rider, hardcore commuter and weekend enthusiast.

The LaFree has a very low-step through the frame which makes it much easier to mount and dismount, especially when you’re constantly stopping and starting on your commute.

THE LAFREE E+ FRAME

Giant are leaders in aluminium frame engineering, that’s why they not only make their own frames but for other brands in the industry as well.

The LaFree E+ uses Giant’s ALUXX-grade aluminium which is the strongest aluminium frame that Giant use. The frame is backed by a Lifetime Warranty (and only applies to the original frame).

You’ll also notice that the motor is mounted centrally and it’s called a mid-drive system. And these deliver the best handling; because both wheels are unweighted and the motor is mounted at the lowest point of the LaFree E’s frame. The Bike feels natural in the corners, just like you would ride a normal Bike.

In an effort to Produce a clean looking Bike and integrated, all the cables are routed internally.

THE MOTOR AND ELECTRONICS

Giant uses their SyncDrive Life motor system on the LaFree E+. It’s also made by Yamaha to Giant’s specifications, so it’s reliable, quiet and powerful.

And it’s a perfect fit for the LaFree E because it’s lightweight, silent operation and quick response make it perfect for everyday use, commuting and weekend enthusiasts.

SyncDrive Life delivers a maximum torque of 60Nm (Newton-metres); it’s sufficient to power to get up 10% and steeper inclines comfortably. As soon as you apply pressure on the pedal (well in 500 milliseconds anyway), your chosen power level (or assist level) is activated.

And speaking of assist, there are 6 different modes and each has their own level of support (in %):

Auto (50%-300% support) / Eco (50%) / Eco+ (100%) / Normal (150%) / Sport (200%) / Power (300%)

On the handlebar, there’s a remote control that adjusts the assistance level. This controller is called Ride Control One. And it displays battery range and assist-level.

It’s also Bluetooth compatible. So any cycling computer that uses Bluetooth will be able to sync with it to show speed, distance and cadence.

Also, Giant has designed an app to use with their E-Bikes called RideControl. So instead of a cycling computer, you can mount your phone instead using a Quad Lock case or similar.

Not only will it display the above metric, but it also has a basic map showing where you are. And if there is an issue with your Explore E+ will show you how to perform a very basic self-diagnosis.

PEDALPLUS 6-SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

New is an additional 2 sensors (it use to be 4 sensors). The 2 additional sensors are an accelerometer and an incline sensor.

The accelerometer measures the amount of acceleration and deceleration and automatically adjusts the motor output to suit.

The inline sensor measures the gradient or steepness of the slope (up or down) and also adjusts motor output to suit. For example, you don’t want more power when you’re going downhill.

Other sensors include speed, pedal rotation, torque and motor.

THE BATTERY

Giant call all their batteries EnergyPak. The LaFree E+ uses the EnergyPak 400. It’s a 400Wh 36 Volt Lithium-Ion battery.

The LaFree’s battery is mounted on the rear rack. It can be charged on the Bike or removed from the LaFree E+ and charged inside the house. The removal process takes seconds and there is a lock on the frame too.

There’s an indicator on the battery itself that shows you battery charge, and there’s an indicator on the RideControl One handlebar-mounted controller.

At purchase, you receive 2 spare keys.

LAFREE E+ COMPONENTS

The LaFree E+ is all about simplicity.

There’s a single chainring on the front and it’s paired to 8 gears on the back. As usual, the drive train components are sourced from Shimano. The gear shifter is a trigger (instead of grip shift) and this type of shifter makes it easier to change through the gears.

Hydraulic disc brakes are important because they are safe. And on an E-Bike, hydraulic disc brakes are a must. Because they will stop you quicker, with more control and less effort. When you pull the lever, it’s light and effortless. Compared to a cable (or mechanical) system, much more effort and is required.

From a maintenance viewpoint, hydraulic disc brakes require much less maintenance than cable disc and mechanical brakes.

Balloon tyres are trendy in Europe. Not so much in Australia though. But there are studies to support that they have a significant impact on comfort and rolling resistance.

One such study was performed at the German Sports University Cologne. They compared a 60mm wide balloon tyre (like the LaFree’s) to a normal width 37mm wide tyre.

What they found was interesting because it goes against what we all assume.

They found a 25% reduction in vibrations to the lumbar spine area when with the 60mm wide tyre.

But you might be asking, aren’t wider tyres slower?

Not in this case. At the same pressure (29 Psi or 2 Bar), the balloon tyre rolled at 10 Watts lower (that’s a lot) than the 37mm wide tyre. To get the same rolling resistance the 37mm wide tyre had to be pumped to 58 Psi (or 4 Bar). Which is very hard and obviously won’t mute vibrations.

If you decide to purchase the LaFree E+, 29 Psi to 36 Psi is a great starting point.