Lectric XP 3.0 Review | Feature-Packed & Fun For Only $1K

With its fully integrated battery, the Lectric XP 2.0 wasn’t the long-range king, but it did okay, considering its constraints, such as a battery fully hidden inside a folding frame. With the XP 3.0, Lectric pitches it as offering greater range. The XP 2.0 had a 460Wh battery, whereas the XP 3.0 now comes with a 499Wh battery. That’s not a huge jump, but it’s an almost 10 percent gain in capacity. But they also boast that the new programming makes a difference here too and the results seem to back that up.

In our range test, the new battery extended the XP 3.0’s range. We covered 44.25 mi. in PAS 1 and 28.61 mi. in PAS 5. The PAS 5 result was a notable tick up from the XP 2.0 (19-32 miles on that one). It’s a solid result for someone wanting to make quick work of their commute.

Now since range is a concern on many buyers minds, those results can be better. For anyone needing to cover substantial mileage between charges, Lectric still offers its 672Wh long-range battery, which it estimates will give riders up to 65 mi. of range per charge.

On our hill test up Hell Hole the Lectric XP 3.0 made the 1-mi. climb in 1:22, and with the throttle it ascended in 1:35. This was a tiny and modest improvement, respectively, from what we saw when we tested the XP 2.0 – again we see better performance for the same price.

Moving beyond comparisons of the past and present models of the XP though, is an e-bike that retails for closer to $1000 than $1500, these results are very impressive. Usually if a motor fails to get a bike up our hill on either test it’s typically a bike with a 250 – 500W nominal rating and can be bought on the entry-level side of the price spectrum. So for one of the lowest cost e-bikes to reach the top with no issues is great.

Bottom line: the XP 3.0 can climb hills with relative ease, and the expanded gear range and available motor torque make pedaling up your local steeps easier than ever.

What used to be the Achilles Heel of the XP in the past was the brake test. It’s now one of its strengths.

With the Lectric Bikes XP 3.0, Lectric spec’d hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, which increases braking power notably. The 2.0 had mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors. The difference was easy to feel at the lever and showed in our test by yielding a stopping distance of 21 ft., 8 in. for the XP 3.0. That’s a solid 5-ft. better than the 2.0’s result. We believe riders will be well-served by this change. Many of the changes from the XP 2.0 to the XP 3.0 are terrific value-adds, but the new brakes genuinely increase a rider’s control and safety.

One of the only features we saw consistently criticized on the XP 2.0 was the saddle. Not everyone liked the shape or the padding. The XP 3.0 is equipped with a new saddle and we found it to be a more comfortable alternative. And while a better saddle is nice and certainly contributes to overall comfort, Lectric Bikes has taken bigger steps to increase rider comfort on the XP 3.0. There are two other major changes.

The 40mm-travel suspension fork on the XP 2.0 has been replaced with a suspension fork with 50mm of travel. Now, 10mm may not sound like much—it’s about the width of a fingernail—but it represents a 25-percent increase in travel for the fork. What this does is make the first part of the fork’s travel more supple, making the ride feel even smoother. It’s a meaningful change.

The Lectric Bikes XP 3.0 is a very zippy-feeling e-bike. It’s nimble and is terrific at steering around kids and strollers on bike paths, not to mention dogs on retractable leashes. On the open road, it’s most comfortable between 10 and 20 mph; above 20 mph it can feel rather nervous and a bit quick-reacting. That’s fine for seasoned riders, but worth mentioning as the bike’s price tag is sure to attract plenty of people who haven’t been in the saddle for a while.

The 20 x 3 in. tires offer a smooth ride and plenty of comfort. Running them at lower pressure—40-50 psi—can calm the handling and increase comfort, not to mention making the most of the traction they offer.

You get a surpringly good quality of life purchase with the 3.0’s bevy of commuter features. The inclded fenders and lights make it more usable in different conditions, and the rack is super useful. 150 lbs of carrying capacity, and enough length mean it can carry a child’s seat or a smaller adult with no problem. Lectric has a ton of accessories that can go with it too from panniers to pizza delivering equipment so it’s got no shortage of ways to help out the rider.

Finally, the XP still folds down. While lugging around a folded 62 lbs e-bike isn’t exactly fun, you likely won’t carry it for long, and it’s nice that a sedan driver doesn’t have to worry about installing a hitch rack to take their bike with them. Explore wherever you travel to by bike by keeping the XP 3.0 tucked away (or just make at home storage easier too).

The Lectric Bikes XP 3.0 is what happens when an e-bike company makes an e-bike with massive appeal (the XP 2.0) and finds that they suddenly have more buying power with their factory. When a company’s order grows tenfold, their pricing improves significantly. Many companies would choose to take those savings and pass them on to investors as profits.

Lectric Bikes chose to move in the opposite direction and pass those savings on to the people who made them the success that they are—their fans. To our eye, Lectric Bikes accomplished something we didn’t entirely think was possible. We see very few e-bikes with a suggested retail price at or below $1000 that we are willing to recommend. Not only has Lectric produced a reliable and useful e-bike at a great price (the XP 2.0), they managed to increase how far their buyer’s dollar goes with the XP 3.0.

We appreciate any effort by an e-bike company to increase the value they deliver to their customers by spec’ing better parts. We’re not accustomed to seeing an update consist of a better motor, better battery, better drivetrain, better brakes, better rack and better comfort. We count eight notable upgrades to the XP 3.0 from the 2.0, which makes for a significant gain for the consumer.

Don’t get us wrong—this isn’t the perfect e-bike. Outside of the step-thru or high step option there isn’t a great ability to dial the rider’s fit (in particular a way to adjust the reach to the handlebar) and the ability to remove the key from the lock when riding—that such a great bike could have such a easy-to-fix flaw proves nothing is perfect.

This e-bike is fun, has way more features than you’d expect for it’s price, and can be recommended to just about anybody.

The Lectric Bikes XP 3.0 is remarkable for its broad-based appeal. Sure, it appeals to anyone looking for an e-bike that is easy to store. It’s also great for anyone needing to get around with a little person in tow. For the commuter who needs to get junior from an after-school program or sports, the XP 3.0 represents a chance to get some fresh air and save on gas. Thanks to the new higher gear on the XP 3.0, it is a more capable commuter as well, thanks to its greater ability to go 20 mph—or faster, should someone choose to ride it as a Class 3 e-bike.

This is also an easy e-bike to recommend to anyone on a tight budget. Perhaps the best thing we can say about the XP 3.0 is that it asks the question, “Why spend more if it’s not necessary?”. In fact, that’s essentially what you find with almost all of Lectric’s e-bikes, from their top-notch Lectric One, to their Expedition cargo bike, and even their electric XP trike.

‘Happy Riding, make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Lectric Bikes XP 3.0.