I rode the unique Lectric XP electric bike for six months in the course of the pandemic in 2020. It was a salve, a method to really feel the breeze on my face throughout quarantine and go farther than standard with out hopping on public transportation. I’ve a little bit of a comfortable spot for it. Lectric’s purpose was to ship a foldable, highly effective fat-tire ebike for beneath $1,000, and that is nonetheless true with model 3.0 of the XP three years later.  

I’ve seen extra Lectric ebikes right here in New York City than I can depend. I get it—the Lectric XP is without doubt one of the most affordable foldable ebikes, and it comes with quite a lot of extras. I’d nonetheless by no means purchase it myself—I dwell in a walk-up and do not wish to cope with such a heavy, cumbersome factor. That doesn’t suggest I do not admire this chunky car. In the third iteration, Lectric has made some small however good tweaks to the method, leading to a extra refined and practical fat-tire ebike that is nonetheless enjoyable to trip.

XP Gain

I examined the usual Lectric XP, however as standard there is a Step-Thru model if you would like a better time clambering onto the seat. Much of what I mentioned in my assessment of the Lectric XP 1.0 is identical for the XP 3.0. This factor comes utterly assembled, so all you could do is take it out of the field and unfold it. It’s nonetheless freakin’ heavy (the truth is, it is 1 pound heavier at 64 kilos), however I discovered it simpler to unfold than the cheaper and lighter Lectric XP Lite—the hinge is quite a bit smoother. 

It’s nonetheless annoying to maneuver and carry. I want there was a method to affix the tires to one another when the Lectric is folded up, à la the Montague ME-1, which has tires that may be hooked collectively in order that the entire ebike can roll round like a trolley. The XP 3.0 is cumbersome, so carrying it’s a ache even with the steel deal with close to the seat put up. There’s virtually at all times one thing jabbing my legs as I stroll down my steps.  

Make positive you select the Elite Bundle if you purchase, because it comes with a bigger seat, suspension seat put up, bike lock, and Elite headlight. These are all actually helpful equipment. 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.