I leaped at the opportunity to visit the Lectric eBikes team’s offices in Phoenix, Arizona since they are continuously pushing the limit with innovative designs, features, and functionality. When I arrived, I noticed they had set up a line of the XP 2.0 before the release of the XP 3.0, so I knew it was going to be fun.
The Lectric XP 3.0 will disprove your belief that e-bikes, especially folding models, are pricey and feature-poor. The Lectric XP 3.0 comes with a strong motor, practical LCD display, and a ton of goodies for less money than you would pay for some standard folding bikes.
With this particular model, I found it simple to handle my usual commute because of how smooth the ride is generally thanks to suspension and a seat that absorbs shock. Strong hills aren’t nearly as simple as they are on the GoCycle G4, and the fold could be a little cleaner. Still, this bike offers excellent value for the money.
| Bike Weight: | 64 lbs |
| Max Payload Capacity: | 330 lbs |
| Max Load for Rear Rack: | 150 lbs |
| Unfolded Dimensions: | 66 x 25 x 47 in |
| Folded Dimensions: | 37 x 18 x 28 in |
| Range: | 45 miles (standard battery) or 65 miles (long-range battery) |
| Motor: | 1000W Peak Rear Hub Motor |
| Torque: | 55nm |
| Tires: | 20” x 3” fat tires |
| Suspension Fork: | Front oil suspension fork with 50mm |
Video review of Lectric XP 3.0
Lectric XP 3.0: Design and Build Quality
The Lectric XP 3.0 comes pre-assembled in a box. The handlebar post only needs to be secured, the saddle slid in, and the kickstand screwed on. Although the box has the necessary instruments for all of those tasks, the directions are not very clear. For aligning the handlebars, I discovered that using the web video was more beneficial.
This bike folds up, which is convenient because it allows it to travel on public transportation and fit in the trunk of a car. Generally speaking, folding is pretty simple, although there are a few sharp edges. First, when the bike is folded, the major clasp that holds the hinge together hangs out. Furthermore, there is nothing holding the bike together when it is folded, making it difficult to wheel or transport the Lectric XP 3.0 as it wants to flip open.
The Lectric XP 3.0 was much easier to tote around when it was folded, especially when getting on and off the Tube. I purchased a cheap velcro strap online and used it to hold the bike together in its folded condition. The folding pedals keep out of the way, while holding the frame together increases its stability on its rest.
Even yet, the folded bike isn’t all that stable on its rest and has a propensity to topple over. This is partially due to the bike’s considerable weight of 29kg, which makes anything other than the occasional lifting unpleasant. While lugging the Lectric XP 3.0 onto the train was all I had to do to take the bike on the Tube, dragging it up and over a railroad bridge proved to be quite the exercise.
The Lectric XP 3.0 has some rough edges when folded, but it unfolds easily and links together to become a riding device. Despite being a folder, it is a bike designed for both prolonged road trips and off-road travel. It comes with large all-terrain tires and 20-inch wheels with quirky six-axis spokes.
Make sure the tires are fitted and filled correctly. After constructing the bike, I pumped both tires, but when I went to test it on a field, the front tire came off the rim when I hit a little depression in the ground. The issue was resolved by refitting and re-inflating, and I never encountered it again.
Unlike the pricey GoCycle G4, which doesn’t include mudguards as standard, you also receive lights. The bike’s battery powers the front light, but the backlight is a battery-operated design. Lights are still a good thing to have as a norm.
If the battery should die or you want to get a better workout, the seven-speed Shimano transmission gives you the freedom to pedal as quickly as you want or even operate the bike without power. These have a typical shifter that is positioned on the handlebars, just to the right of your thumb.
Both wheels include disc brakes, an improvement over caliper brakes that I found to be responsive during my trip.
You must insert the supplied key and turn the bike to the on position in order to operate it in electric mode. Since the slot is hidden under the frame and has cables running around it, inserting the key into it can be challenging.
You don’t have to place your bike close to a charging slot because there is a second lock position that allows you to slide the battery out of the bike for charging. This is especially helpful if, like me, you live in a terrace house and don’t want to bring your bike inside or through the house to charge it.
You use the button on the LCD display to start the bike once the power is turned on. This panel displays your current speed and the total distance you have cycled. You can alter the settings to change the display’s default reading from kilometers per hour to miles per hour.
Lectric XP 3.0: Motor and Driving
You have a fair selection of settings with the standard UK modes, and you can easily change the riding style to suit the terrain.
There are two buttons under the control panel. The horn is activated by one, and the front light is turned on or off by the other.
The updated motor became apparent as we accelerated out of the parking lot, with a significantly better acceleration curve that eliminates some of the more harsh pulsing behavior that some users of the XP 2.0 encountered. The old motor would engage with great fervor and produce up to 35nm of torque, but at the expense of giving the rider a little bit of a rough ride.
The new motor on the 3.0 claims the same continuous power output of 500 watts, but with a huge 1,000 watts peak power output and almost twice the torque at 55nm. The motor on the 3.0 has undergone a total rebuild to give it a new acceleration curve, making for a far more natural riding feel and a higher top end. This means that they are not just adding more power to the equation for fun. At its standard price of $1,099, it still only includes a cadence sensor rather than a torque sensor, but that is to be anticipated given the price. Even yet, the motor provides what seems to be a larger power output while simultaneously providing a more natural and regulated sensation.
For a more in-depth evaluation, Lectric sent us an XP 3.0 Step Thru, which we excitedly tested both in the city and in our nearby hills. The front hydraulic shock on the 3.0 has an extra 10 mm of travel for a total of 50 mm, which significantly enhances riding comfort. The new shock tag pairs Lectric’s 20″ x 3″ compact yet substantial puncture-resistant tires, which Lectric first introduced with the 2.0, with the duty of ensuring rider comfort. On the 3.0, Lectric purchased its own tires, which are now known as Lectric eBike tires.
Anyone who has ridden an electric bike knows just how devastating a flat tire can be, especially when it’s on the powered back wheel. Lectric is now injecting a slime-like sealant into the tubes in addition to making them puncture-resistant.
The 3.0 features more comfortable grips in addition to broader improved handlebars that were first offered with a 2.0. In contrast to the new grips on the 3.0, which are rubbery with a lot more polished gripping experience and provide more traction for your hands, the grips of the 2.0 felt more affordable and tougher. The rider’s principal interface is the same simple to read display, which also gives them a choice of five different levels of pedal assistance.
Lectric made the wise decision to increase the disc brake rotor diameter from 160 mm to 180 mm in response to the motor’s increased output. This is a much-welcomed improvement over the smaller 160s and offers a substantially stronger, breaking feel. Although investing in safety isn’t enjoyable now, it can be the deciding factor when things really start to go south. When driving down Ventura, California’s insanely steep streets that wound through the hillsides, the larger brake rotors were very reassuring. Because they are still mechanical, the brakes screech a bit while breaking them in. This is characteristic of disc brakes, and depending on your riding style and intensity, it usually fades after the first 50 or 100 miles.
Lectric XP 3.0: Conclusions
If you purchase the GoCycle G4, you will have a smoother ride, especially uphill, and a lot more attractive folding bike in a lighter container. But the price will be much higher, and what you get with the Lectric XP 3.0 is amazing value and a really comfortable ride thanks to the shock absorbers.
That price looks like even better value when you consider that the bike includes everything you need to get on the road, such as mud guards and lights. Yes, the fold should be neater, but for me, the most unpleasant issue was solved with a straightforward velcro strap.
Teenagers can use electric bikes to experience the strength and advantages of electric cars for themselves, which is perhaps what’s most significant. If you’re reading this site, you might be hoping that your child gets an electric car as their first car. However, given how much new car prices have increased in recent years, why not choose a two-wheeled model instead, like the Lectric XP, which gives kids a taste of driving responsibility, new freedom to explore their neighborhood without getting hot, the ability to transport their friends, or even the chance to get a job delivering food with Lectric’s.
Lectric company has serious quality control issues, and customer support people who take a casual attitude to problems. A brand new xp 3.0 out of the box, with headlights that don’t work, and tail lights. Also the elite headlight that doesn’t work either. I would think customer support with a defective brand new bike, would offer free accessories, or a discount when this happens. I have filed a complaint with BBB against Lectric. Had to buy add on headlights for night driving. (Two rechargeable headlights. ). Waiting on a new bike controller for a brand new bike. They said they would send the part out as soon as they get around to it. This bike is a nightmare. If I lived in Arizona, I would have driven it to their showroom and demanded my money back, or a bike that is 100 percent working. Considering their reputation this is horrible.