Lectric XP 3.0 E-Bike Review, 2023

With its fully integrated battery, the Lectric Bikes XP 2.0 wasn’t the long-range king, but it did okay, considering its constraints, such as a battery fully hidden inside the frame. With the XP 3.0, Lectric Bikes 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.

In our range test, the new battery extended the XP 3.0’s range. We covered 33 mi. in PAS 2 and 23 mi. in PAS 5. The PAS 5 result was a notable tick up from the XP 2.0. It’s a solid result for someone wanting to make quick work of their commute.

We appreciate that these numbers are modest, especially when considering some of the e-bikes spec’d with very large-capacity batteries. 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.

The purpose of our Hell Hole hill test is less a test of absolute power than it is a test of just how much torque the motor produces. With a regular bike, the analog would be a test of the drivetrain to see if the lowest gear was low enough for us to ascend the hill. A motor that produces lots of torque is like having a really low gear.

On our hill test up Hell Hole the Lectric XP 3.0 made the 1-mi. climb in 1:17, four seconds faster than the XP 2.0 and with the throttle it ascended in 1:34, a full 12 seconds faster than the XP 2.0. We attribute these results largely to the motor’s increase in torque, from 35Nm up to 55Nm.

Bearing in mind that this is an e-bike that retails for closer to $1000 than $1500, these results are very impressive.

We’ve been redoing some of our brake tests because our previous protocol was more aggressive than we think would reflect a rider’s experience in the real world. In redoing our test of the Lectric Bikes XP 2.0, our results gave a distance of roughly 27 feet to stop from a seated position. Considering the XP 2.0 is equipped with mechanical disc brakes and 160mm rotors, it’s not a terrible result, but it’s not by any means a selling point.

With the Lectric Bikes XP 3.0, Lectric is still spec’ing the same mechanical disc brake, but they have replaced the 160mm rotors with 180mm rotors, which increases braking power notably. The difference was easy to feel at the lever and showed in our test by yielding a stopping distance of 22 ft., 10 in. A 4-ft. decrease in stopping distance is a real testament to just how much rotor size matters. 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 rotors genuinely increase a rider’s control and safety.

One obvious question every potential buyer has regarding a folding bike is just how fool-proof the folding and locking mechanisms are. With the Lectric Bikes e-bikes, the spring-loaded latches snap into place. There doesn’t seem to be any opportunity to unfold the bike and have it hold its shape if the frame and handlebar mast aren’t locked into place. There’s no sitting on the saddle if it’s not ready to be ridden.

The warranty on the Lectric Bikes XP 3.0 is one year on the frame, fork, all parts and factory labor. It’s a thin warranty as they go, but Lectric Bikes is by no means alone on this.

Regarding customer service, in looking at buyer reviews of both the XP 2.0 and 3.0, we don’t see any glaring issues that buyers are consistently complaining about and when people have had an issue, they praise the customer service response, even if supply chain issues make getting a replacement part slower than they’d like.

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 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 below $1000 that we are willing to recommend. Not only has Lectric Bikes 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. We’d still prefer hydraulic disc brakes, a greater 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.

One word of caution for parents: The rear rack on the Lectric Bikes XP 3.0 has a carrying capacity of 150 lbs., but the length of the rear rack is too short to carry more than one child. So while it can carry the weight of a 40-lb. child and a 60-lb. child, there isn’t room enough to carry two kids safely. It’s a minor point and not a criticism; every good product has its limits.

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?”

‘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.