Giant dilemna

[Denise Dale]

Can anyone advise me please! I have had FOUR lafree electric bicycles over the last 12 years. and I have loved them all. I recently purchased a Giant Comfort 2002 which stopped working (from the power switch which got wet I think) soon after I bought it from an auction site! It was, however, supremely comfortable - important as I am a 58-year-old psychotherapist without a practical bone in my body. It was like a Rolls Royce and a very comfortable sit up style.
I had intended to use this for spares/battery for my beloved and trusted Lafree Twist until I was seduced by its supreme comfort over the cobbles. It looked virtually unused but I suspected it had been in an accident.
Sadly, my locked Lafree was stolen in November so I am now left with a non-working but barely used Comfort. I cannot find a replacement on/off/eco switch anywhere and the bike has been at the repair shop for ages.

Should I throw in the towel and buy a new Giant (if so which model - I live at the top of the well-named Steep Hill in Lincoln and work at the bottom) - I like the sit up and beg shape or can another non-giant part replace the switch? It has left me with less confidence in Giant - or am I being neurotic?

Any thoughts or suggestions please?

 

[flecc]

This series of bikes were discontinued in mid 2006 so external parts support is diminishing now after well over seven years. However, have you tried a Giant e-bike dealer (select the Hybrid option) to see if Giant's Netherlands base can supply a new switch and cable assembly?

That said, I think it's unlikely that the switch alone is stopping the unit working, total failure on these is usually in the sealed in internal circuit board which is not replaceable. To check out your switch my Panasonic support website may help, the old unit applies.

Giant's current e-bike models also have the sit up and beg style that you like, as do many Dutch made models like Sparta, Koga, Gazelle, Batavus etc. These all have moderate power wheel hub motors now, so you'd have to try some to find out how they suit you. If you Google "Dutch electric bikes" you'll get plenty of UK links for these and other models. They are mostly in the £1500 region but generally very high build quality.