The Lectric XP 3.0 is the successor to the best-selling e-bike in North America. While the XP 2.0 was an award-winning bike, riders did have some feedback for the company. Luckily, Lectric has listened to its customers and made several improvements to the latest model while keeping it at the same price. Here’s our hands-on review of the Lectric XP 3.0 to help you determine if it’s right for you.
Table of Contents
What you need to know about the Lectric XP 3.0
The XP 3.0 is one of the most accessible and affordable folding e-bikes available. The bike arrives fully assembled, so all you should have to do is take it out of the box, unfold it and charge the battery to get started. My tires arrived inflated, but I did have to perform some tightening and readjusting of parts. With this latest model, Lectric has also included a number of warning labels on the bike to help inform the rider about when, where, and how maintenance might be needed.
While the XP 3.0 may not look all that different from the 2.0 at first glance, Lectric has made many small improvements that add to an impressive experience. The motor is quieter, has more torque, better brakes, longevity boosters, and a better suspension fork. Despite global concerns over inflation and rising costs, Lectric has impressively managed to implement all these design upgrades and more while keeping the cost of the e-bike at its signature $999.
I tested the Step-Thru model of the XP 3.0 for review, which provides more accessibility for those with mobility issues. However, you can also get the popular step-over model for the same price. Everything besides the positioning of the frame is the same between both models. Just be aware that if you get the white color, the splashes and specs of dirt will be more visible after your rough and rugged rides, requiring more cleaning.
What’s good?
Improved Rear Rack: An integrated rear rack now holds up to 150lbs, twice as much as the XP 2.0. That’s enough to carry heavy loads or another person. You can purchase an additional seat accessory to accommodate another rider, and a new passenger mode limits the max speed to 10 mph to add an extra layer of safety. This is perfect for you if you want to drop the kids off at school or work as a delivery driver.
Puncture-proof tires: Lectric previously offered slime as an additional accessory, but this time around, the fat tires come pre-installed with slime to prevent flats. If you happen to roll over a particularly sharp rock, the slime will ooze out to create a seal, so you aren’t left stranded.
More zip and grip: The 500W motor now has 55nm or toque instead of the 2.0’s 35nm. You can feel the force difference from the rear wheel when twisting the throttle for faster acceleration, especially when climbing hills. As for comfort, the saddle has been custom designed by Lectric for a sportier look, and the hand grips are now made with ergo rubber with a softer durometer, making them nice and squishy to hold.
What’s not so good?
Hard-to-reach keyhole: The placement of the keyhole to turn on the battery is still tricky to access. It’s on the underside of the frame housing the battery, meaning you have to bend down to get a good look at where to insert the key. This can be more difficult at night if you don’t have a good light source. I wish Lectric would have placed the keyhole on the side to make accessing it easier since I found it can be frustrating when tired after a long ride.
Maintenance: This may have just been for my bike, but during my first ride, I noticed a few things that required some maintenance. For instance, my brakes were screeching loud when I tried to stop, likely due to some “glaze” build-up on the rotors and pads. I suspect this occurred because the box the bike was shipped in had a big puncture on the side. Now, that’s not Lectric’s fault; it’s the shipping company’s handling, but it might have let some dirt and such get inside. A little rubbing alcohol on the rims and brake pads did the trick.
Also, my handlebars were not lined up straight with my front wheel, which may have been because the shippers had tossed around my package too much, but this required more extensive readjusting with my own tools. If you aren’t confident about doing these fixes yourself, take the bike to a local mechanic for assistance.
Specs
Speed: Settings to change the bike to a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike with a top speed of 28 mph.
Battery: 48V lithium-ion battery with Long-Range and Standard options to power your ride for up to 45 or 65 miles, respectively.
Motor: A new upgraded 1000W Peak Rear Hub Motor with 55nm of torque.
Brakes: Longer 180mm brake motors
- Bike weight: 64 lbs
- Max payload capacity: 330 lbs
Suspension: 50mm Front Suspension ForkShould you buy the Lectric XP 3.0?
The Lectric XP 3.0 offers a lot of quality components and feels like you’re getting a lot more than what you’ve paid for. I can’t help but think this new version is an exception to the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The 2.0 was already a great budget ride, but every improvement to the 3.0 has only made it better. Lectric has made the e-bike lighter, sturdier, and more suited for those who will ride this bike for commuting, delivery driving, or picking up passengers. The cable management at the front is a lot cleaner, and the new host of accessory add-ons lets you personalize it to your liking.
Speaking of accessories, you can take advantage of Lectric’s Black Friday sale right now to get a giant seat, suspension seat post, bike lock, and their larger, elite headlight, all for free. That’s a pretty sweet package at no additional cost. Sure, some parts aren’t the highest-end you can find and may require you to roll up your sleeves and inspect upon arrival. But all in all, if you are looking for an alternative to traffic and transit, I can’t recommend the Lectric XP 3.0 enough as an exciting, entry-level e-bike.
There’s really no reason to buy the XP 2.0 anymore, either, since they have made a better bike for the same price. In doing so, Lectric has become an exception to the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The 3.0 has leveled up the game and is hands down the best bang-for-your-buck e-bike for less than a grand. Hit the link below to buy the Lectric XP 3.0 now.