2020 Lectric eBikes Lectric XP Step-Thru Review

This review was not sponsored by Lectric eBikes, it was provided free of charge and based on my time with the original Lectric XP (video review here), studying the official hardware details online, and exploring other hands-on reviews from competing sites. My goal is to provide insights and a strong starting point for you, but I have not test ridden this particular model as I have for most of the other ebikes on this website. This is not meant to be an endorsement of Lectric eBikes products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Lectric eBikes electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Great attention to detail on the hardware and customer support for such a young (less than two years old at the time of this review) company. This is definitely value-priced, but they don’t skimp on the truly important parts as much as I was expecting (alloy folding platform pedals from Wellgo, Nice display… but no USB ports, included steel fenders and “be seen” Blaze-Lights wired into the battery pack vs. those using disposable cells.
• The bike defaults to assist level zero for safety, you get full throttle power in levels 1-5, to turn the bike on you must insert and twist the keys… then leave them hanging from the base of the downtube. This is one of my biggest complaints, especially if you plan to remove the battery for charging or to reduce the weight of the bike during transport. I do recommend storing the battery in a cool, dry location between 20% and 80% to maximize battery lifespan.

Pros:

• One of the biggest and most obvious advantages to this electric bicycle is the low price, it’s slightly more than some China-direct Amazono or Walmart products but offers way more support, better attention to detail, and will arrive sooner with warranty and quality battery cells… to me, that’s worth at least $100 price difference that you might see.
• While the original Lectric XP was approachable (as most folding ebikes with 20″ tires are), the super low step-thru frame on this new model is even easier to step over and manage at stops. Based on their official specs, this model is only 0.5 to 1lb heavier, and I observe that the frame should not suffer from frame flex too much because of the additional reinforcement tube connecting the downtube to the seat tube.
• Compared to the original mid-step frame, I love how the folding joint and buckle are much lower here because they are less likely to protrude into your knees. I have occasionally bumped my knees and thighs when pedaling on folding bikes (and so has my girlfriend!) which isn’t super fun or comfortable. It’s a big design win that is oft overlooked when considering a low step folding ebike :D
• The battery pack and controller are hidden on this frame, which gives it a nice aesthetic and probably protects the parts from physical impact and the elements… though it requires a bit more effort to remove the battery. The wires and electrical cabling is all external, but on a folding frame, that can mean they won’t get pinched as easily. The wires tend to blend in more on the black frame, but white may be safer for commuting purposes due to higher reflectivity.
• I love that the bike comes in two colors, and am a fan of their design and accent color choices, this lets you and a friend personalize a bit if you’re getting the same bike. As mentioned above, the white is my favorite because it’s more visible at night. I appreciate how Lectric eBikes paint matched the fork and fenders on both models!
• I love the sturdy Wellgo platform pedals they chose here, many other folding pedals are plastic and offer less surface area and rigidity, the plastic chain guide and steel derailleur guard also keep it running smoothly and protected when folding and unfolding, the chain shouldn’t drop off and you’ll be less likely to get a snag or bend in the derailleur cable and motor power cable.
• The battery design is compact and nicely hidden, I like that they use LG cells in the pack (higher quality) and offer a replacement pack for less than a few hundred dollars! Solid one year warranty with good customer support availability and willingness to make things right has propelled this brand to become almost an overnight success.
• The company offers two decent accessories as optional add-ons including water resistant pannier bags and a long suspension seat post for added comfort. I found their accessories and replacement parts to be well priced.
• The display is large and easy to read, it angles slightly to help you reduce glare, has a higher resolution 10-bar battery charge level indicator, and offers lots of customization in the settings… including the ability to set the top speed at ~28 MPH for speed pedelec performance, or lower it for improved range and possibly safety or peace of mind for some riders.
• The Lectric XP Step-Thru uses a high-resolution 12-magnet cadence sensor which makes starting and stopping more predictable. I love that they also included motor inhibitors on both brake levers, I always turn the bike completely off before hopping on or off and folding just to be safe, and the buttons to interact with the display are easily reachable and simple to understand (up, down, and M for “mode selection” and “power on/off”).
• The kickstand is positioned very well at the rear end of the bike, this won’t cause pedal lock and it didn’t bounce around or make a lot of noise during my test rides on the original version… even on bumpy hilly grass sections.
• Both wheels are built with thicker 12 gauge spokes for increased durability and weight capacity. The official max weight rating is 330 pounds (~149 kilograms) which is the best I’ve seen for a folding model.
• The geared hub motor is zippy and powerful, it gets a big mechanical advantage because of the smaller 20″ wheels and can produce a lot of torque (up to 60 newton meters), it freewheels efficiently and is fat-tire specific so it’s wider and offers a solid bracing angle for the spokes.
• The rear rack is wide, has a spring latch, and uses standard gauge tubing so it will work with most aftermarket clip-on pannier bags or the ones that hang over. Please note that it’s 55lb (25kg) max weight rating subtracts from the total load of the bike (so a 55lb loaded rack plus a 275lb rider combine to 330lbs).
• Even though the saddle and ergonomic grips are unbranded, they both performed very well and offered a lot of comfort, especially the saddle, which is thick, not too wide that it chaffs your legs, and has rubber bumpers for added cushion.
• The bike comes fully assembled, so you don’t need any tools or a bike stand to get going. It’s not a bad idea to take it in for a quick tuneup and possibly lube the chain or adjust the twist barrel adjusters on the shifting (if it’s not shifting just perfectly, turn one or two clicks to the left to lengthen the housing and offset settling) but in general, this is a great purchase experience for people… just be careful lifting the bike out of the big box, because it’s fairly heavy at ~63lbs.
• I thought it was kind of creative that the team put a picture of a television on the outside of the box, which they say has improved the way that shipping companies handle the package. They also added more padding inside to ensure that the product arrives in great shape. Finally, they have touch-up paint for people who need it if they get a scratch. Keep that in mind on the fork and fenders especially, since they are steel and could rust. Most auto touch up paint and even fingernail polish can work for this as well.
• I appreciate that the bike has walk mode, especially with the heavier build. This can be useful for ascending hills that are too technical to ride up, or for walking through crowded areas if the rear rack is fully loaded. Just keep in mind that this walk mode doesn’t auto-shutoff like most other ebikes, I had to tap the brakes to send the motor cutoff signal for it to stop, which surprised me a little bit.

Cons:

• The biggest thing I hear when people suggest improvements to these bikes is that they’d like suspension, but this adds weight and cost. The Lectric XP and Step-Thru model opted for high-volume fat tires instead, and they suggest lowering the PSI a bit to improve comfort. As mentioned previously, they also sell a suspension seat post.
• As with any step-thru or mid-step frame, the overall strength is reduced when there’s only one main tube and it’s made to curve down lower vs. being straight. This can introduce some frame flex and reduce overall weight capacity, but it’s not something I could observe directly here, and it has not influenced their official advertised max weight rating.
• The handlebar is a bit narrow, which can make the steering feel a bit twitchy… especially since it has smaller 20″ wheels to begin with. Fortunately, this is easy and cheap to fix with a different aftermarket handlebar but it’s something Lectric eBikes could also upgrade in the future. Consider a bar that’s got a bit more rise and backsweep like we see on the e-Joe Epik SE. Two downsides are that this type of bar could take up more space when folding, and might require more width for entryways into houses or RV’s.
• They chose a very basic Shimano Tourney derailleur and limited range freewheel for this bike, probably to help keep the price down. It offers a 14 to 28 tooth sprocket spread vs 11 to 34 tooth on some competing models. Given the adjustable speed settings, up to ~28mph, it would be nice to see an upgraded freewheel or cassette so you can pedal comfortably at a wider range of speeds. I’d also love to see a rust resistant chain and aluminum alloy rack, fenders, and sealed bearings all around… but that all costs money, and steel tends to be very sturdy and quieter than aluminum and plastic :)
• The bike is fairly heavy at ~63 pounds (28.57kg), especially for a folding ebike. Yes, you can remove the 6.6lb battery pack and even take the rack and fenders off… but that takes time and manny people will just want to load it up and go. Please consider getting help from a friend and lift with your legs, not your back. You may also find success in loading the bike into a plastic tub before placing into your storage space. There are some posts in the forums that show this here, here, and here ;)
• These aren’t complaints as much as comparisons to other slightly more expensive products: the tires don’t have reflective stripes, the lights are kind of basic, the mechanical brakes and levers are pretty entry-level, there’s no quick release on the front wheel, no options for adding a front rack, the kickstand is positioned well but not adjustable and the bike leans pretty far to the left, and the seat clamp is just lame… but how often do you need to adjust the seat angle? I believe that these are all cost savings decisions.
• I wish the locking core for the battery was somewhere more convenient than below the main tube, it requires you to bend down and insert upwards in a direction that you can’t really look at unless you get down on your knees. Turning the key wasn’t particularly easy or smooth for me… these issues are all compounded by the requirement that you insert the keys and turn the bike to “ON” each time you want to ride! Perhaps you could lay the bike on its side, just be careful with the disc brake rotors and derailleur. The guys said that they required the on/off key step for safety, so the bike can’t be tampered with. They said that it completely shuts down the battery so it won’t slowly drain and get damaged… but for me, even having to leave the keys in while riding (possibly dangling down with a keychain on them) is annoying and uncommon. The charging port is also very low on the frame (near the left crank arm), and somewhat vulnerable to snags if the pedals are bumped while it’s plugged in.
• There are no USB charging ports on the display or battery pack here, that’s something you get with most competing bikes that are just a bit more expensive, but that can also slowly drain the battery, add electronic complexity, and not everyone needs it, so I see why they left it off. You could spend the $100+ that you save on this affordable ebike on a phone battery backup charger case or something similar ;)
• The display is large and easy to read but not removable, so it could take extra weather wear and possibly get scratched at a bike rack, if the bike gets crashed, or if you’re folding it.
• The motor controller is square wave vs sine wave, so the bike produces more noise and isn’t as smooth as some of the more expensive products I’ve seen. You can see and hear this in the video review of the original version, during the ride test.
• This is more of a preference thing, but the pedal assist engaged slower than I’m used to and the lowest level was a bit stronger and more abrupt than competing products… but the bike does offer good power, which is very satisfying.
• I’m not a huge fan of the big thumb shifter design for the gears on this and other cheaper bikes because it seems like I have to stretch my right hand to reach it and the gears don’t shift as quickly or crisply, but this shifter is often chosen to make room for twist throttles (as we see here), and the larger shifter levers can actually be easier to interact with when wearing gloves.
• The 160mm mechanical disc brakes worked okay during my ride test, especially with the smaller 20″ wheels, but I definitely prefer hydraulic because the levers are easier to pull and can be reach-adjusted for small and large hands, expect the right lever (for the rear brake) to be harder to pull, for there to be some cable stretch over time, and for both levers to become more gunked up over time as dust and water get into the cable housings.
• Minor gripe here, there doesn’t appear to be any bottle cage mounting points on the frame. You might have to use a trunk bag with a bottle holster, or maybe wear a hydration pack or something. I can see why they skipped bosses because the frame is compact, has a battery mounted inside, and the folding action could bump or bend a bottle cage accessory.
• There is no folding retention mechanism (like magnets or a rubber strap), so consider buying so plastic bungee cords and putting a towel between the two portions of frame to keep the bike from rattling around and scratching itself up.