Lectric XP Step-Thru 2.0 Review

Lectric bikes made a real splash in the e-bike market when they debuted the original XP a few years ago. Not content to rest on their laurels, they released the updated XP 2.0 in early 2021. The 2.0 models share many similarities with the original, most notably the same frame design, 20-inch wheels, folding convenience, motor system, and display/controls. The recent updates include an 80mm suspension fork, additional mounting points for racks, baskets, and a bike lock, slightly narrower 3-inch wide tires, wider handlebars, a new paint job, and the IP-65 rating for water resistance. We feel these changes have only helped to enhance this bike's overall performance; it is an excellent folding option and an impressive value.

Performance Comparison

Ride Quality

We are impressed by the ride quality of the XP Step-Thru 2.0. The 3-inch wide knobby tires help to dampen the ride and expand the bike's versatility to a wider range of surfaces. The step-thru design makes it easy to get on and off the bike, and it has a comfortable, upright seated position with loads of adjustability. It also comes loaded with user-friendly features that enhance the rider experience.

Our testers never felt uncomfortable riding this bike with its 20-inch wheels, even when brought up to its top pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph. Recent updates to the 2.0 models include a slightly wider handlebar and slightly narrower tires, changes that we feel have improved this bike's handling. The steering now feels a little more responsive, rolling into turns is a little easier than its predecessor. The 3-inch wide knobby tires have loads of air volume to help dampen the ride, plus they work well on a variety of surfaces, including pavement, dirt roads, and smooth trails. The addition of an 80mm suspension fork also does a great job taking the edge off of cracks, potholes, and bumps you may encounter on your adventures.

Like the XP, the XP 2.0 models come in both step-over and step-thru (tested) frames. Thanks to its very low standover height, you don't have to lift your leg too high to step on and off the bike. It has a maximum weight capacity of 330 lbs, 75 lbs of which can be carried on the sturdy rear cargo rack. Lectric doesn't list a recommended user height range on their website, but they told us the bikes are intended to work for riders between 5'0" and 6'4". Both the seat and the handlebar have a large adjustment range, and our long-legged six-foot-tall tester was able to adjust the seat high enough for a proper pedal stroke. The seat and ergonomic grips provide a high level of comfort, even on our long test rides.

The XP 2.0 comes packed with a number of useful features, plus Lectric gives you the option to upgrade to their comfort or cargo (or both) packages for an additional fee. We purchased the standard XP 2.0 without any of the upgrades and were impressed by the included features, especially considering the reasonable price of this bike. It comes with fenders front and rear to protect the rider from spray while riding in inclement weather or when splashing through puddles. Front and rear lights run off the bike's battery supply, and the rear light functions as a brake light when the brakes are applied. It comes with a rear rack that is rated to carry up to 75 pounds of cargo with mounting points to attach a cargo basket, as well as additional mounting points for a front rack and a bike lock on the frame. The original XP had a rigid fork, but the new 2.0 models feature an 80mm suspension fork to help take the edge off bumps in the road. The Comfort Pack adds cost to the sale price and includes a larger seat and a suspension seatpost. Upgrading to the Cargo Pack gets you a front rack, a small front basket, and a large basket for the rear rack for more dinero. Lectric also sells accessories like phone mounts, mirrors, bike locks, and panniers, so you can set up your XP 2.0 however you like.

Range

With a 460Wh (48v 9.6ah) battery, it didn't come as too much of a surprise that the XP 2.0 didn't top the charts in our distance range testing. On our standardized test course using the throttle only, we rode for 20.67 miles with 1,105 feet of elevation gain/loss with an average speed of 15.5 mph. Of course, that's a few miles shy of our top performers, but all of those bikes have significantly larger batteries. Considering the XP 2.0's diminutive stature and smaller battery capacity, we feel its range is actually pretty darn good.

We consider our test to represent the low end of each bike's range potential. Given that our test course features gradual rolling hills, we feel that you could likely ride the XP 2.0 a bit further on completely flat terrain. We are sure that you could also ride it considerably further while using the pedal assistance and putting some power of your own into the pedals, perhaps even as far as Lectric's claim of "up to 45+ miles". Lectric also provides the option to upgrade to a Long-Range Battery with a 672 Wh capacity for an additional fee. Doing so should increase your range by roughly 40%.

Power

With a 500W (800W peak) brushless rear hub motor, the XP 2.0 is a surprisingly powerful e-bike. Whether using the throttle or pedal assist, this bike is quick to get up to speed and can be configured in Class 2 or Class 3 settings to support speeds up to 28 mph. Five levels of pedal assistance provide a great range of speeds and support for your pedaling efforts, so you can choose just how powerful it feels and fast you want to go.

The 500W motor of the XP 2.0 feels quick to accelerate with the throttle and has no problem jumping to life from a complete stop. Simply twist the throttle a quarter turn, and this bike springs forward and is even prone to spinning out the rear tire in gravel or loose dirt. Throttle power is the same regardless of what pedal assist setting you are in, and it has no problem getting up to its top speed of 20 mph. Once up to speed, the motor does a commendable job of maintaining it up gradual hills, as evidenced by the 15.5 mph average speed on the rolling hills of our range test course. It couldn't quite match the higher average speeds of the competitors with larger motors, but that's to be expected given the smaller motor size. Regardless, the XP 2.0 feels plenty powerful for most situations.

The XP 2.0 ships in its Class 2 settings with a top pedal-assisted speed of 20 mph. It can also easily be configured as a Class 3 e-bike with a top-assisted speed of 28 mph by adjusting the speed limit through the bike's display. We tested it in both Class 2 and Class 3 settings and were impressed by its power output. It has five levels of support that provide a nice range of power output and top speed that increases incrementally as you shift up through them. That way, you can choose how powerful or fast you want to go based on the conditions or situation. The pedal assistance works off a cadence sensor, and when it detects pedaling, it begins to deliver power, usually about a quarter to a half rotation of the cranks. The bike accelerates quickly and feels eager to get up to speed in the higher output settings. We found it had no problem whisking us along at 28 mph on flat terrain.

Portability

As folding e-bikes increase in ride quality, power, and range, they necessitate larger batteries, increasing their heft. While the battery isn't the biggest on the Lectric, it still suffers from a heavy weight. It's not much different from other bikes of comparable weight and overall performance.

Packing up this model, it folds in the middle of the frame and the handlebars fold downward. Dropping the seat and the handlebars to their lowest positions before folding will deliver this bike's most compact size of 37 x 18 x 28 inches — middle of the pack for folded size. We weighed this model at 61 pounds and 10 ounces. Like most higher-performance folding e-bikes, it's awkward to pick up and carry but still tucks into closets, garage corners, and most vehicle trunks.

User Interface

The XP 2.0 features a quality user interface with intuitive controls and easy to read digital display. The twist throttle and control buttons have good ergonomics and are straightforward and easy to use, and the large display is easy to read and understand with all of the information pertinent to your ride in an easy-to-see location. The XP 2.0's battery is hidden inside the frame, but it can be unlocked and removed for security or charging off the bike. Sleek.

The XP 2.0 has a simple three-button control unit attached to the handlebar next to the left grip. This unit has relatively good ergonomics with intuitive buttons that are easy to reach with the thumb. After the key has been inserted into the battery and turned to the On position, the power button is used to turn on the power to the display. Once the power is on, the + and - buttons are used to shift up and down through the bike's pedal assist levels. Beyond just the basics, these buttons are also used to turn the lights on and off, engage the throttle cruise control, and access and change the display settings including speed limit (Class 2 or Class 3), distance units, and more. We recommend reading the owner's manual to familiarize yourself with the controls or to make changes to the bike's settings. On the other side of the handlebar, a quarter-twist throttle is integrated into the right grip. To engage the throttle you simply twist it back towards you and off you go. We also appreciated the throttle cruise control on this bike which allows you to cruise at a constant speed without having to keep the throttle twisted.

A large 3-inch long by 2-inch wide LCD display is centered on the handlebar in an easy-to-see location. This screen is bright with dark letters and numbers that are easy to read in bright conditions, plus it has an adjustable backlight feature that turns on with the lights making it easier to see in lower light. The screen shows you everything you need to know at a glance, including remaining battery life, speed, pedal assist setting, and distance/odometer. Across the top of the display, battery life (or "energy bar") is represented graphically with ten bars that turn off sequentially as the charge is depleted. Below that, the speedometer tells you your current speed (default), max, or average speed in large numbers. Pedal assist setting is shown just below that as a number, 0-5, with the light indicator to the right. The data field at the bottom of the screen is the odometer, or it can be switched between Trip A or B distance, Voltage, Current, or Elapsed Time.

The XP 2.0's clean lines and sleek appearance are due to the battery being integrated into the frame. The battery slots into a cavity in the front half of the folding frame, and it can be removed when the bike is in its folded/storage position. Simply undo the latch at the middle of the bike, fold it in half, unlock the battery and slide it out of the frame. You can then take the battery with you for security or charging off the bike. Of course, the battery can also be charged on the bike by simply plugging it in with the included charging cord. A small rubber cover protects the charging port from ingress of water, dust, and debris.

Ease of Assembly

When it comes to assembly, it doesn't get much easier than the XP 2.0. This bike comes fully assembled in its smallest, folded position. All you've got to do is take it out of the box, remove the protective packing materials, then unfold and lock it into position. If that sounds easy, that's because it is. The whole process took us less than 15 minutes.

Since the XP 2.0 is foldable, Lectric sends it in its folded, collapsed position in a smaller box than non-folding models. The size of the box makes it a bit easier to move around, although it's still pretty heavy as the bike itself weighs just over 61 lbs. Another set of hands can be helpful when removing the bike from the box. Lectric includes a user manual with some basic unboxing and unfolding instructions. Once out of the box, a handful of zip ties need to be cut to remove the protective foam padding from the folded bike. With all the protective materials removed, insert the uppermost part of the handlebar into the tall steerer tube, then fold the whole handlebar up and lock it in the vertical position. Next, unfold the bike's frame so the front and rear halves line up in the middle and lock it in position. Aside from making some comfort adjustments and checking the tire pressure, that's all it takes to get the XP 2.0 ready to roll. Our bike's shifting and brakes worked perfectly out of the box, and the battery was partially charged.

Should You Buy the Lectric XP Step-Thru 2.0?

We outright like this bike, and its price makes it all the more appealing. It performs as well as some of the more expensive models we tested. It's convenient, versatile, powerful, fast, and comes loaded with useful features. If you're looking for a folding e-bike or are simply operating on a budget, we highly recommend the Lectric XP 2.0.

What Other Folding Electric Bikes Should You Consider?

As an affordable and quality folding e-bike, this one is hard to beat. Another folding bike in our test at a similar price point, the Rattan Folding Electric Bike costs a bit more, but you're rewarded with a longer range distance. Still, we like the overall package of the Lectric better. If you are willing to dive head-first into a top-of-the-line folding model and don't mind the price jump, consider the Blix Vika+ Flex. It is the most complete model we have tested to date for elite folding e-bike performance.