Review: Lectric XP 3.0

I rode the original Lectric XP electric bike for six months during the pandemic in 2020. It was a salve, a way to feel the breeze on my face during quarantine and go farther than usual without hopping on public transportation. I have a bit of a soft spot for it. Lectric's aim was to deliver a foldable, powerful fat-tire ebike for under $1,000, and this is still true with version 3.0 of the XP three years later.  

I've seen more Lectric ebikes here in New York City than I can count. I get it—the Lectric XP is one of the most affordable foldable ebikes, and it comes with a lot of extras. I'd still never buy it myself—I live in a walk-up and don't want to deal with such a heavy, bulky thing. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate this chunky vehicle. In the third iteration, Lectric has made some small but nice tweaks to the formula, resulting in a more refined and functional fat-tire ebike that's still fun to ride.

I tested the standard Lectric XP, but as usual there's a Step-Thru model if you want an easier time clambering onto the seat. Much of what I said in my review of the Lectric XP 1.0 is the same for the XP 3.0. This thing comes completely assembled, so all you need to do is take it out of the box and unfold it. It's still freakin' heavy (in fact, it's 1 pound heavier at 64 pounds), but I found it easier to unfold than the cheaper and lighter Lectric XP Lite—the hinge is a lot smoother. 

It's still annoying to maneuver and carry. I wish there was a way to affix the tires to each other when the Lectric is folded up, à la the Montague ME-1, which has tires that can be hooked together so that the whole ebike can roll around like a trolley. The XP 3.0 is bulky, so carrying it is a pain even with the metal handle near the seat post. There's almost always something jabbing my legs as I walk down my steps.  

Make sure you choose the Elite Bundle when you buy, as it comes with a larger seat, suspension seat post, bike lock, and Elite headlight. These are all really handy accessories. As a 6'4" man, I much prefer the giant seat over the original saddle; it's more comfortable. This is my first time trying a suspension seat post, and consider me a convert. It makes those sudden bumps on the road easier on the butt. The headlight gets fairly bright, though its position tends to move around if the roads are rough, so you may have to readjust it every so often. I appreciate the option to install storage for the included bike lock, though it was a little tricky with the narrow space on the frame. At least I don't need to bring a bag to carry the lock.

Three years on and I'm still not a fan of how you power the ebike. Lectric makes you stick a key into the bottom frame of the downtube. Twist it to turn the battery on so that you can press the power button on the handlebar and bring the XP 3.0 to life. If you plan to park it outdoors often, the key also unlocks the battery, allowing you to take it indoors for safety and recharging. I just hate constantly having to reach the underside of the frame. Do you think James Bond would be hunting for the keyhole before he hopped on a motorcycle? So uncool.

Speaking of, you can recharge the Lectric XP without taking the battery out, but the charging port is on the inside of the frame when it's folded up. It's a tight fit to plug it in, which seems like a design oversight. 

The rear rack is now integrated into the frame, which means it can carry up to 150 pounds (the ebike itself is rated to carry up to 330 pounds). This allows for more cargo options. For $149, you can add a Cargo Package to your order, which includes a large or small basket, but Lectric sent me the Passenger Package, which contains a passenger seat, handlebar, and foot pegs. I had to buy a tool to remove the nuts so I could install the foot pegs, but it was an otherwise simple process. The passenger sits too low and mostly enjoys the sight of my back, so this wouldn't be my first choice for a two-person ebike. 

The thick, fat tires help absorb potholes, delivering a smooth ride. The height-adjustable handlebars are easy to reach, and I had no trouble with the Shimano shifter (there are 7 speeds to cycle through). There's also a throttle in case you get lazy like me and want assistance when the traffic light turns green. And the disc brakes have yet to fail to bring me to a halt whenever a car swerves into the bike lane.

I usually stuck to level three of the five assistance zones available, and my speeds would hover around 13 to 14 miles per hour. I didn't see much use for level 4 or level 5 pedal assistance—the ride was just too easy. I like to put in some effort! This cadence usually netted me an average of 15 miles on a single charge, which included going over inclines on the Williamsburg Bridge. I'm a 230-pound man, so there's a really good chance you can go well more than 20 miles on a single charge, depending on the pedal assistance level. (Lectric sells a long-range battery to maximize your range.)

On the original XP, I complained that the rear hub motor had a tendency to keep running for a second or two after I stopped pedaling. That's still the case, but I've felt the XP 3.0 has a more responsive motor that feels more natural. The power it delivers doesn't feel like sudden outbursts anymore; it's more intentional on power. 

I wish the battery meter could be similarly refined. Even after multiple rides, it's still hard to gauge how much juice is left, because the battery meter fluctuates so much when I ride up and down hills. It has made me more conservative. I lowered the pedal assistance a few times when it turned out I had enough to spare, making me pedal harder than I’d needed.  

I've faced some quality control issues with some Lectric bikes, like how the Lectric XP Mini's pedal was bent too close to the frame and would scratch it every time I pedaled. For the Lectric XP 3.0, it's the front tire—it keeps losing air for me, which is a problem other customers have encountered. It's easy to fill up, but you'll definitely want to contact Lectric's customer service to sort it out (any bike shop will also do).

If your living situation involves a lot of stairs, I strongly suggest avoiding the Lectric XP 3.0 and going with a lighter bike, unless you're some kind of powerlifter. Otherwise, it's a smooth ride with a good range, and it doesn't break the bank. The refinements are nice, but Lectric could stand to redesign the battery system and the way the whole thing folds up. But if you can deal with those things and the weight, it's a solid option.