Lectric XP 2.0 Review

One of the most popular budget friendly ebikes in America is the Lectric XP, and I’ve owned one for a few months, so I thought it was time to do a proper review. As an affordable ebike, the XP ticks a lot of boxes, but I’m going to focus on the riding experience, because in the end that’s what matters the most. In this review, I compared the XP against the Buzz Centris, another budget friendly folding ebike, so you’ll see references to it too.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Can be Class 2 or Class 3 Ebike
• Great Customer Support
• Strong Frame
• Rear Rack is Strong and Compatible With Many Accessories
• Several Accessories Are Available 
• Can Upgrade to a Larger Battery for More Range
• Easy to Step Over
• Large and Loyal Customer Base

Cons:

• Pedal Assist Levels Could Be Improved For a Better Pedaling Experience
• Shorter Riders May Have a Hard Time Controlling or Feeling Comfortable on the Bike

First off, a quick look at the specs of the Lectric XP 2.0

• 500 Watt (850 watt peak) Geared Hub Motor
• 48-Volt 9.6 Ah Lithium-ion Battery (Now upgradeable to 14 Ah)
• 160 mm Mechanical Disc Brakes
• 20 x 3″ Tires
• Folding, Removable Battery
• Weight 62.10 lbs
• Weight Capacity 330 lbs; Rear rack can hold up to 75 lbs of that weight
• Integrated Lights
• Large LCD Display
• 5-Levels of Pedal Assist
• Twist Throttle
• Front Suspension Fork
• Class 2 or Class 3, Up to 28 MPH Pedal Assist; 20 MPH Throttle Only
• Range 45 Miles
• Price: Full Retail $1198 but Often On Sale For Less
• Where to Purchase: Lectric Ebikes

Shipping and Assembly

It took a little over a week to receive my bike, which shipped from Arizona to Illinois. The bike is shipped using FedEx and you can track the progress of the shipping. The bike arrived in perfect condition without a scratch. It was packaged very well!

Assembly is very easy since the bike comes almost completely assembled. It’s just a matter of screwing on the pedals, inserting the seat post, attaching the handlebars and airing up the tires.

Build Quality

I was much impressed with the build quality at first inspection. The bike is built strong, and it’s obvious it has received some refinements, based upon customer feedback of the first version. The rear rack can accommodate many third-party accessories, so you’re not stuck buying proprietary bags and baskets, though Lectric offers some very nice accessories for the XP.

Overall, it’s a good-looking bike, and it gets a lot of compliments when I’m riding the local trails.

The brakes and derailleur functioned well right out of the box. I did have to tighten some rear spokes since the bike made a clink sound in the back wheel. A simple and cheap spoke wrench resolved the issue.

Riding Experience

I’ve always known the XP was peppy from watching several reviews, but I found out just how peppy on a cool March day in Illinois. If you like speed and power, you’ll love the XP! It’s fast off the line.

I’ve been comparing it against the Buzz Centris, which is another budget friendly folding ebike in America. Compared to the Centris, the XP is faster from a dead stop, and capable of Class 3 speeds, though you’ll really have to pedal hard to get there. Like many ebikes, the gear ratio limits the performance of the bike, but the bigger issue is how power is delivered at each pedal assist level.

I would prefer that Lectric had a display that allowed riders to customize pedal assist levels, like many bikes from Ride1Up do. It makes such a big difference because you can dial the bike in to match your preferred cadence and responsiveness. My biggest complaint of the XP is that I often couldn’t ride at a comfortable cadence. Pedal assist level 1 didn’t offer enough power, and levels above that often provided too much. I’ve been spoiled riding mid-drive ebikes, like the Prodigy from Ride1Up, but Lectric now offers a mid-drive version of the XP, the XPremium.

Range of the Lectric XP with the standard battery is about 20-25 miles, in my experience. The range of the Centris is closer to 35 miles.

Riding Comfort

Even with the comfort package from Lectric, which includes a large seat and suspension seat post, the ride on the Centris is more comfortable for me. The ride on the XP isn’t uncomfortable, especially since it now includes front suspension, but the 3″ wide tires don’t provide as much shock absorption as the 4″ wide tires on the Centris. Even with its wider tires, I feel the Centris is more nimble on turns.

One thing you have to be careful of when riding the XP is making sure you switch to the lowest pedal assist level when turning. If you’re on a curve and move the pedals while in a higher pedal assist setting, the bike gets squirrelly. There is a learning curve to safely riding the Lectric XP.

Honestly, I prefer the Centris over the XP overall because it fits me better (I’m 5’1″), has a more practical pedaling experience, feels more stable, has smooth and safe take-offs, a more responsive cadence sensor and has a high capacity battery that is much easier to remove.

Where I think the XP has advantages over the Centris is throttle on demand, and a throttle in a more practical location on the handlebar. The Centris also has a throttle, but it only works after you begin pedaling and is in an awkward spot. Luckily, the responsive cadence sensor on the Centris largely makes up for this.

The XP has a better rear rack and the tires are much quieter than those on the Centris. Motor noise is about the same between the two. Braking is also about the same, since they both use mechanical disc brakes.

I do think folding the XP is easier than the Centris, and as a shorter rider, I was able to get my feet on the ground more securely while on the seat of the XP. Both bikes are quite heavy to lift, so while they are folding bikes, I use a rear carrier to haul them on my car. Removing the batteries makes them a little easier to lift.

One important advantage of the XP is its large user community. It’s a popular brand with many devoted riders that you can connect with on Facebook or elsewhere. The Lectric XP is also very popular as a recreational ebike for RV’ers. Many use large plastic tote containers to securely haul their bikes inside their RVs or on a rear hitch mounted carrier.

The Company

I’m also impressed with the track record of the Lectric, which is known for good customer service. Lectric Ebikes is located in Arizona, with a showroom you can visit. The company has also partnered with several bike shops in their service network throughout the United States.

Lectric is also a company that continues to grow and improve their product lines. They recently added a mid-drive version of the XP and an even more budget friendly and lighter folding ebike.

I like what I see from Lectric and feel comfortable ordering from them. You should be able to find replacement parts well into the future. Lectric, like Rad Power Bikes, is as close to a safe bet as you can get when ordering an ebike online.

Concluding Thoughts

I had been wanting to test out the XP for a long time, and the bike lived up to its peppy nature. The build quality impressed me, as well as how smoothly shipping and assembly was. Many people love their Lectric XP’s, and they have a devoted customer base. I can see why!

For me personally, I think the XP Lite or the mid-drive XPremium would suit me better because the XP Lite would be easier for me to handle, and the XPremium offers a better pedaling experience, and you know I am picky about the pedaling experience! If you’re more about speed and throttle, you’ll love the XP 2.0. If you’re more about safety, especially if you’re new to ebikes, I’d steer you in the direction of the easier to handle XP Lite or the more sophisticated ride of the XPremium.

I bought the Buzz Centris and Lectric XP 2.0 to compare against each other and provide an honest assessment of both. I happened to prefer the Centris, but I can see why some would prefer the XP.  

Either way, happy riding!

Check current pricing and availability of the Lectric XP 2.0, Lectric XP Lite, Lectric XPremium, or the Buzz Centris.

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