Lectric XP 3.0 Review

Even if you are new to the world of e-bikes, there is still a good chance you have heard of the Lectric brand. During the pandemic in 2020, the first iteration of the Lectric XP was a popular choice in the fold-up electric bike market. The company followed that up with the 2.0 edition and that became even more popular. So, I was excited to be having a go on the third installment. Knowing that, although only minor in places, the company has made some much-needed adjustments and tweaks to its design and performance.

I am not going to lie to you, this is one chunky beast of a bike. It’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed my time with it. However, that may not be to everyone’s taste or preference. Despite offering the portability you would expect of a folder, it may not be the best choice for mature members of the cycling and wider community or anyone with physical impairments or that lives in an apartment or property with stairs to traverse.

That little gripe aside, please take a look at the full review below before you make a decision about whether the Lectric XP 3.0 is the best e-bike for you or not.

Lectric XP 3.0 Overview

One thing many people had said to me before I tested out the Lectric XP 3.0 was if it is seen as the next step in the evolution of the model, why has it got the same price tag as the 2.0? They, reasonably, felt there couldn’t possibly be any differences.

The truth is, there are differences. Comparing them side by side and ride after ride, the better of the two is clear – the XP 3.0. There is a lot that this e-bike offers that is nothing short of impressive. It weighs 64lbs, and is foldable, but has a 500watts brushless hub motor that gives it enough power to produce around 55Nm of torque – more than enough to conquer even the steepest of hills.

It will never let you down in the brakes department, thanks to the 20-inch tires being fitted with 180mm rotors. The gear system offers high gears that allow you to pedal comfortable at the 20mph speed limit.

All that is even before we discuss the suspension seat post, the 50mm travel suspension fork and the rear rack that can hold a staggering 150lbs. If I asked you to guess before looking at the price, would you have said something like “$13k”? If you would, you’d be wrong as it is much closer to the $1k mar.

Don’t let anyone fool you that this e-bike offers good value for money – it offers seriously exceptional value for money.

The Speed

You’d be right for spotting that the same motor is used in XP 2.0 and XP 3.0. However, the big difference between the two bikes is the way the motor has been tuned for the 3.0. Rather, the way controller’s speeds are set helps to accelerate you better. Like many entries level and lower priced models, the XP 2.0 did not offer much assistance at level 1 or 2. XP 3.0, on the other hand goes fast at level 1 and then increases in speed incrementally as you switch through the subsequent pedal assistance settings.

There is a further factor to consider why this is a better bike- it has a bigger battery than the 2.0 of 499Wh rather than 460Wh.

In terms of the gears, it relies on the exact same derailleur and shifter the XP 2.0 used but has a 14-28 freewheel instead of a 11-28. This makes for a better ride in general as it offers much better lower end gearing compared to the previous model and makes the higher gears even higher. It also addresses the biggest criticism pushed at the XP 2.0 in reviews. Before, you needed to pedal like crazy to get up to 20mph in PAS 5. Now, it was a breeze because if you pedal with a decent amount of cadence, you can reach speeds higher than 20mph.

The 180mm Rotor Brakes System

Something that has stayed similar to the XP 2.0 in the XP 3.0 is the mechanical disc brake system. Now, though, they have 180mm rotors instead of 160mm, which makes a significant difference on the stopping ability and braking power. I noticed the difference straight away at the brake lever.

While it’s fair to say that a number of the changes are simply value-add-ons, the switch up in the brake rotors is a real way the safety and control of the bike is improved from the rider’s point of view.

Folding Safety

As it is a folding bike, you may be wondering, like many others, if the locking and folding mechanisms have suitable and effective protection. There is a spring-loaded latch that snaps into place. There is no actual way you can unfold the bike and maintain its riding position if the handlebar post is not locked properly into place.

The LCD Display

Like most of the e-bikes I have and will review on this site, the Lectric XP 3.0 comes with a reasonable sized LCD display that provides you with the kind of information you want when you are tracking your rides. Metrics like distance travelled, time of routes and speed are recorded. The major downside, and I have said this about many models is the insistence on displaying battery power usage in bar form, rather than percentage. The former is just not accurate enough and having a percentage gives you a more tangible figure to follow in your head, so you know exactly how long you have before the motor will stop working and you need to recharge.

Aside from that, it is clear and large enough to read and I like how easy the buttons are to use, even when riding.

Comfort

There was a lot of strong criticism, perhaps the only real and continuous criticism levelled at such a great bike, at the XP 2.0 for its saddle. There was a lot of hate towards its shade and the choice in padding. This is something that Lectric obviously took to heart and rectified on the 3.0, as it comes with a newly designed saddle that is far more comfortable.

The great thing is that it’s not just the saddle improvements that Lectric have put into place to increase the comfort of riding this bike.

Another great addition is the 40mm travel suspension fork of the 2.0 has been replaced with one that offers 50mm of travel. Now I know what you are thinking – 10mm is not that big a difference. It’s roughly the same width as the average man’s fingernail. However, what you need to remember is that it represents a noticeable 25% increase in terms of travel for the suspension fork. This gives the first part of the travel in the fork more supple and gives you a more comfortable and smoother ride in general. It is not just a gimmicky change – it is a gamechanger alteration.

The other major addition in terms of comfort is the suspension seat post. When it is correctly set up, it will only compress and absorb bumps when it hits them. Does that mean you will necessarily notice the movement? No, you will notice the absence of bumps but won’t feel the seat post moving because it only travels a short distance.

The Ride

As you may imagine, based on the specification of this bike – the ride is a truly sublime one for the price. It takes on smooth surfaces with all the agility of a sprinter but handles he steepest of hills with a similar amount of gusto and ease, particularly if you have the PAS engaged.

In terms of construction, Lectric have exceled themselves again – it feels like a robust and stable beast below you while you ride it and when you fold it up, it feels secure enough that it won’t accidentally open up when you are least expecting it, either taking it off the bus, train or out of the car.

Should You Invest in the Lectric XP 3.0 Foldable E-Bike?

It really is not up to me to decide for you as to whether you should buy the Lectric XP 3.0 as it is not my job to encourage you to buy any other model. I am simply here to highlight the things I liked and disliked about it.

When it comes to value, this bike really packs a punch. Lectric have gone out of their way to create a bike that doesn’t just meet expectations for its price range but exceeds them. There are all the included accessories and additional features you may expect and then there are the class-leading aspects of this bike that make it truly sublime.

The fact that it is extremely affordable and won’t break the bank makes it all the more enticing. In my humble opinion, if you want a powerful folder that is not much above the $1k mark, this may be the right model for you.