Lectric eBikes is one of the fastest-growing e-bike brands in the United States. Ever since its launch in 2019, the brand has sold over 100k electric bicycles and has managed to establish itself as one of the biggest e-bike manufacturers in North America.
If you're hearing of them for the first time, you're probably wondering what all the hype is about and if Lectric even makes good e-bikes. Well, in this article, we will review all three of Lectrics' e-bikes and answer some of your most pressing questions about the brand.
Electric Bikes Manufactured by Lectric Ebikes
#1. Lectric XPremium
The Lectric XPremium is a budget-friendly electric bike that comes equipped with many high-end components. This bike comes with a mid-drive motor that can generate up to 800 Watts of power (500W nominal) at peak performance.
The Lectric XPremium operates as a Class 1, 2, and 3 electric bike. Riders can set the bike’s top speed from the bike’s LCD device just like on the other XP models.
If you thought the bike’s motor was impressive, wait until you find out that you can actually get up to 140 miles of range on a single charge of this bike’s batteries. Yes, the XPremium is equipped with two 48V 10.4Ah lithium-ion batteries.
Everything about the XPremium is just different. It comes with 160mm hydraulic brakes and is equipped with a torque sensor. The bike’s hydraulic forks give its front wheel more room to react to road irregularities (about 80mm) and it comes with fat tires.
It does, however, maintain the same water-resistance rating as the other Lectric e-bikes - IP65.
Pros
1) It Is a Long-range Electric Bicycle
As mentioned earlier, the Lectric XPremium comes with two batteries — one fitted into the bike’s down tube and the other located behind the bike’s seat post. Each pack is capable of storing up enough energy for 50-mile travels (that’s a combined average of 100+ miles) and they can both be removed from the bike’s frame for external charging.
2) It Is a More Versatile Machine Than Regular Hub-drive E-bikes
Mid-drive electric bikes are known to be more efficient and versatile than hub-driven e-bikes. In a mid-drive system, the motor leverages the bike’s drivetrain to transfer rotational motion to the bike’s rear wheel, intensifying the entire system's final output.
Things are different in hub-driven e-bikes where the motor is directly responsible for spinning the bicycle’s wheel.
3) It Is an Affordable Mid-drive E-bike
Electric bikes with mid-motors usually cost between $2500 and $15000. The Lectric XPremium trades way below this range for a discount price of $1799.
Below is a table comparing the prices of some of the most popular mid-drive electric bikes with the Lectric XPremium.
*The table below is for reference only. Prices may change in the future
E-bike Name | Motor Rating | Motor Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
500W | Mid-motor | $1799 | |
Up to 350W | Mid-motor | $2295 | |
Bakcou Mule Elite | Available in 750W and 1000W | Mid-motor | $5147 - $5846 |
Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 | 250W | Mid-motor | $1799 |
Trek Domane+ LT 9 | 250W | Mid-motor | $12549 |
4) You Can Operate the Bike Without Its Key in the Ignition
This is one of the biggest issues riders face with the XP 2.0 and the XP Lite. Once powered on, riders must leave the bike’s key in the ignition or else the bicycle won’t work.
Lectric has addressed this issue on the XPremium.
Cons
1) It Is a Heavy Electric Bike
The Lectric XPremium weighs 75 lbs (34 kg). It is heavier than the XP 2.0 (64 lbs) and almost doubles the XP Lite’s net weight (46 lbs).
Even with the fact that it folds, you’d still have to be decently strong to be able to lift this e-bike off the ground.
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#2. Lectric XP Lite
The Lectric XP lite is one of the most affordable electric bikes available on the market today. Priced at just under $900, this e-bike comes with a rear hub motor that can deliver up to 720W of power (300 Watts nominal) and a removable battery that guarantees up to 40 miles of travel on a single charge.
The bike has a top speed of 20mph and it is also capable of climbing moderately steep hills despite it not having a multi-speed drivetrain. In a real-world test carried out by Ryan from Ebike Escape, the Lectric XP Lite performed fairly well when driven up an 8.2% grade hill.
It made it to the top of the hill in throttle-only mode with an average speed of 10 miles an hour. In its highest power setting (pedal-assist level 5), the bike was able to hit a maximum speed of 13mph while traveling up the same hill.
Keep in mind that Ryan weighs around 145 pounds (66 kg) and there are other factors — like wind direction, battery voltage, terrain type, etc. — that may have affected his readings.
One of the biggest advantages of owning the XP Lite is that its frame is foldable and lightweight at the same time. The bike folds down into almost half its fully extended length and, unlike most foldable electric bikes, it weighs under 50 pounds (46 pounds to be exact).
Even with such a lightweight frame, the bike can still support up to 275 lbs of weight. So, if you’re a heavy rider, go ahead and check out this e-bike.
The bike also comes with integrated front and rear lights, a rear-mounted kickstand, a backlit LCD meter (this device displays battery life, speed, mileage, pedal assist level, etc), and 160mm rotor mechanical brakes.
Pros
1) It Is an Affordable E-bike
The Lectric XP Lite is one of the most affordable 48V electric bikes available on the market today.. Nevertheless, don’t let the bike’s affordable price point fool you though; it comes with a very powerful motor.
This bike doesn’t struggle to reach its top speed (20mph) and might even pack more torque than electric bicycles with “higher-powered” motors.
2) It Is Great for Riding in Wet Conditions
The Lectric XP Lite has a waterproof rating of IP65. This means the bike’s electronic components are protected against ingress from dust (and other small particulates) and water from pressurized nozzles.
You can ride your Lectric XP Lite under light rain as long as you avoid submerging any area that might house an electric component in water.
3) It Can Fit Into Really Small Spaces
As stated earlier, the Lectric XP Lite can be collapsed into almost half its fully extended size. When fully spread out, the bike measures up to 63 inches in length, 25 inches in width, and 41.5 inches in height.
Fold it down and those dimensions drop to 36”, 16”, and 27” respectively.
Cons
1) The Bike Doesn’t Come With Suspension
The Lectric XP Lite might not be suitable for off-road riding because it isn’t equipped with a suspension system. Nothing on the bike (not even its tires) provides any form of cushioning against terrain feedback.
2) The Bike Is Limited to Just One Gear Ratio
This might not be too much of an issue for riders who are simply looking for a motor-powered bicycle that can take them from point A to B. However, if you’re looking for an electric bike that’s a bit more versatile, the Lectric XP Lite will not be a great fit for you.
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#3. Lectric XP 2.0
If you’re looking for something with a bit more power than the XP Lite, you might want to check the Lectric XP 2.0. This electric bike comes with a geared hub motor that puts out up to 850W of peak power (the motor has a nominal rating of 500W).
The bike has a maximum motor-assisted speed of 20 miles an hour. Riders can increase this limit to about 25mph from the LCD device’s advanced menu (step-by-step instructions on how to do this has been included in the bike’s owner’s manual)
However, you will only be able to go past 20mph in pedal-assist mode. The bike is also excellent at climbing up steep hills. It was able to maintain an average speed of 10mph while traveling up a 12% grade hill with a 225-pound rider (this was in its highest speed/power setting and lowest gear).
Powering the entire unit is a 460Wh (23% more capacity than the XP Lite’s battery) lithium-ion battery that can be removed and fitted back into the bike’s frame. In its lowest, most conservative speed setting, the Lectric XP 2.0 can cover up to 45 miles on a single charge.
Crank that up to the 5th pedal-assist level and the highest you might get out of the bike is 20 miles of travel. Like the XP Lite, it comes with 160mm mechanical disc brakes.
In general, those are pretty decent brakes. However, for a bike that is designed to support up to 330 pounds of weight, a more efficient braking system would have been better.
The bike also comes with cruise control functionality.
Pros
1) It Comes With Front Suspension
The Lectric XP 2.0 is equipped with 40mm adjustable front suspension forks. These absorb terrain feedback from the front wheel and help smoothen out what would have been bumpy rides.
2) The Bike Comes With Full-length Fenders and a Rear Rack
Unlike the Lectric XP Lite, the XP Lite 2.0 comes with a pair of full-length fenders and a rear rack. It is also equipped with the other utilities that come standard on the XP Lite (such as front & rear lights and a kickstand)
The bike’s rear rack can reportedly support up to 75 lbs (34 kg) of weight. Riders can also purchase additional racks — included in a cargo package — from Lectric to mount on the bike's head tube.
3) It Is Probably the Best Value Cargo E-bike Available on the Market Currently
The Lectric XP 2.0 is not like other foldable electric bikes. This machine has a payload capacity of 330 lbs; 20 lbs shy of the RadWagon’s weight limit.
Plus, it costs considerably less than most production cargo/utility e-bikes money can buy today (check the table below)
*The table below is for reference only. Prices may change in the future
E-bike Name | Weight Vapacity | Price |
|---|---|---|
330 lbs | $999 | |
350 lbs | $1999 | |
300 lbs | $1499 | |
300 lbs | $1595 | |
400 lbs | $1999 |
And it’s also foldable, making it a more compact option than other cargo e-bikes.
Cons
1) The Bike’s Ignition Is Located Under Its Down Tube
I honestly don’t know where Lectric got such an idea from. Making riders reach all the way under the bike to power it on seems a bit impractical (users will have to reach farther down for step-through models)
Want to know what’s even worse? Riders have to leave the key in that position the whole time the bike is in use. So, essentially, you’ll have to leave the key hanging off the bike while you ride.
At least no one has complained about losing their keys while operating their bikes…yet!
2) Many Customers Have Complained That the Bike’s Standard Saddle Is Uncomfortable
This might be as a result of the saddle not being cushy enough or the seat post being too rigid. If you’re thinking of upgrading your bike’s seat, Lectric sells an aftermarket giant saddle that comes with a suspension seat post.
Installation should be easy as these seat posts are custom-designed to fit into the seat tubes of every Lectric electric bike.
3) The Bike’s Pedals Don’t Provide Much Grip
The pedals that come with the bike don't provide much grip, and users' legs tend to slip off as they ride. You may need to acquire patterned pedals, however, aftermarket foldable pedals are difficult to come by.
Main Features:
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Where Are Lectric Bikes Made
Lectric e-bikes are designed and assembled in Phoenix, Arizona, however, they are not manufactured in the US. The e-bike brand outsources all its products from manufacturers located in Asia.
This is a popular business model employed by various US-owned electric bike brands because of its cost efficiency.
How Many Miles Can a Lectric Bike Go
In general, Lectric e-bikes are capable of covering an average of 25 miles per full charge. The XPremium is the only e-bike in Lectric’s lineup that can cover 100+ miles on a single charge.
Who Owns Lectric Ebike
The company was founded by Levi Conlow and his best friend Robby Deziel in 2019 after Levi’s father, Brent Conlow, charged the two friends to put their heads together and create an electric bike that was affordable as he couldn’t find one that cost under $2000.
How Long Does It Take to Charge a Lectric Bike
In most cases, fully recharging a Lectric e-bike from empty doesn’t take more than 6 hours. The only Lectric electric bike that might take longer to charge is the XPremium.
However, since both batteries can be charged independent of the other, and Lectric includes a second 2A charger in the bike’s packaging, you should be able to get your XPremium fully juiced in under 6 hours.
What Do Lectric Bikes Weigh
Lectric bikes typically weigh between 45 lbs and 75 lbs. The XP Lite is the lightest among the pack, tipping scales at just under 50 lbs (46 lbs).
The XP 2.0 comes in second place with a total weight of 64 lbs and a payload capacity of 330 lbs. The heaviest of all three is the XPremium, weighing in at 75 lbs.
Lectric E-bike Top Speed
The Lectric XP Lite and XP 2.0 operate as Class 1&2 e-bikes. This means that both e-bikes have a top pedal- and throttle-assisted speed of 20 miles an hour (although the XP 2.0 can be tweaked to reach up to 25mph).
The XPremium, on the other hand, has a top pedal-assisted speed of 28mph.
