Lectric XPedition Review

Lectric bikes have become quite popular in the e-bike market with the debut of the original XP a few years ago. The line now includes several models utilizing the same basic frame design, 20-inch wheels, powerful hub motors, and an impressive display. This cargo bike can carry 450 pounds, 300 pounds on the rear rack alone! The 750-watt hub motor can generate 1310 watts at peak performance, propelling this bike even when fully loaded. As a class 3 electric cargo bike, speeds of 28 mph are possible using pedal assist while the throttle quickly gets the bike and rider to 20 mph. The bike isn't lightweight, just over 75 pounds, but its powerful motor disguises it well. Lectric calls this bike the ultimate transportation solution, for many people, it just may be.

Performance Comparison

Ride

In general, the XPedition provides a pleasant riding experience. However, its shorter wheelbase (48.4 inches) and smaller 20" wheels make it more responsive to surface irregularities, this means your ride is a little bumpier than what you would experience on larger wheels. Despite these drawbacks, the bike is still easy to ride, maneuver, and store. Its short turning radius and ability to be transported on a rack are significant advantages. While the bumpier ride can be more noticeable at higher speeds, its less of a concern at lower speeds where this bike generally travels.

The components chosen for the XPedition are a carefully curated collection of value-oriented items. There was nothing we felt like replacing on this bike; the Zoom hydraulic disc brakes connecting to 180 mm rotors made stopping effortless, even when fully loaded. Shimano's Tourney drivetrain took care of our shifting; we're not wild about the ergonomics of the over-the-bar shifters, but it functioned without fault. Cushy three-inch wide puncture-resistant tires give the bike's smaller wheels some dampening and help to soften the ride. The tires have a smooth, inverted tread, ideal for smooth roads and paved bike lanes. These tires can handle some off-pavement exploration, but the inverted tread doesn't offer much traction on dirt and gravel.

The step-through on this bike measures just under 19 inches makes getting on and off this bike a breeze. Lectric claims riders from 4' 11" to 6' 5" will fit this bike, which feels a little optimistic. The seatpost, however, does extend in a telescoping fashion to 18 inches above its terminal depth, which would accommodate some incredibly long legs. The front end doesn't have nearly as much adjustability, so tall riders may find the proper seat height but will be bent over reaching for the handlebar. Our main tester is 5' 10 and had plenty of adjustability in both directions; we'd recommend anyone near the upper height limit to consider their flexibility. The stem on this bike is adjustable without tools; simply raising its lever opens the clamp to the handlebar and the steerer, allowing you to balance its reach and height. Ergonomic grips give the handlebar some shape, and a well-padded saddle kept us pedaling in comfort. Overall, the bike feels much nicer than its price tag would suggest.

The XPedition comes with helpful features that should save you time and money outfitting the bike. Full fenders wrap both wheels and help keep you dry and free of debris even when the roads are nasty. A center mount, dual leg kickstand is helpful during loading and unloading but less useful on soft ground as the kickstand's narrow feet disappear below ground. Wider feet on this kickstand could help keep its weight from sinking. A 570 lux headlight and tail light are integrated into the bike and powered by the bike's battery. Lectric chose quick release pedals for this bike that come on/off without tools, ostensibly so they could say "no assembly required" which is novel but we'd prefer a basic set of alloy pedals, even if it meant having to thread them in.

Range

When we test the range of these bikes, we pull them straight off the charger and put them on our test course. The course is mostly paved but has sections of gravel and dirt as it rolls through hills and valleys. We were able to ride 25.7 miles with the XPedition's 672Wh battery while climbing over 1900 feet without pedaling or assisting the bike. There is also a dual battery version of this bike for riders needing additional range. We didn't test the range of the dual battery version but riders can expect almost double the range when using a second battery. Adding a second battery is quite simple as the second battery holder is preinstalled and wired to the bike. The battery (or batteries) can be removed and charged off of the bicycle for convenience.

We don't pedal in these range tests, which doesn't feel natural but is very helpful for comparisson sake. Most riders would achieve longer range by adding a few revolutions of the cranks and we're confident this bike can go much further with more human input. Lectric claims this bike has a range of 75 miles which if possible, seems like more of a workout than we'd like to experience on this bike.

Power

Not shy on power, the XPedition jumps to a start with only one rider. The power delivery to the 750W hub motor comes on strong and can be unsettling. The motor is capable of producing 1310 watts at peak power, and it's more than enough to conquer even the steepest hills we encountered. Peak power might be important if you have the bike fully loaded to its 450 lb capacity but unladen, the bike can feel almost over-powered.

Using just the throttle on this bike, we quickly hit the maximum throttle speed of 20 mph. In our uphill test to assess power further, we cruised at 17.9 mph, slowing only to 14.9 mph in the steepest section. There is no shortage of power but the power delivery on this bike affects its comfort, users need to be gentle with the throttle.

There are five modes of pedal assistance. Lectirc programs their bikes with Pedal Assist Wattage Regulation (PWR) which aims to give the rider performance similar to a bike using a torque sensor without the cost. Using software to replace hardware works to a certain degree but falls short of the performance you'd get from a torque sensor. Torque sensors work by measuring the torque the rider is exerting and adding to it. Cadence sensors like the one used on this bike can measure how fast the cranks turn but not how much power is being put into them by the rider. The PWR system works to eliminate some of the vague "ghost pedaling" feel you can get with a cadence sensor while keeping the price of this bike in check.

Cargo Carrying

One of the benefits of smaller wheels is their strength, using 20-inch wheels with shorter spokes allows this bike to carry massive loads without much wheel flex. With a maximum weight load of 450 pounds and a rack capable of holding 300, the XPedition opens up some possibilities. We loaded this bike to its maximum weight to see how it handled and were surprised at how easy it was to ride. Parking the bike or getting it up on the little kickstand however, were more challenging. Importantly, when fully loaded and secured, the cargo weight felt centered and stable.

The built in cargo rack measures 31" long by 6.5" wide and looks absolutely overbuilt. The rack is long enough to haul two children in carriers or panniers and a passenger, or XL panniers and 4 bags of groceries; we even took our XPedition camping. Wheel guards come preinstalled that work to protect a passengers fingers and toes from contacting the moving parts of the bike. Running boards (not included) that serve as footrests for two passengers, can be installed without tools, although ours required a bit of filing to fit properly.

As with other cargo bikes, maximizing their utility requires adding some accessories. Lectric offers a huge array of accessories allowing you customize their bikes for your own expeditions. It's good practice to check the available accessories of any cargo bike you'd consider as those items can have a huge impact on the bikes utility and usefulness and they're not generally interchangeable between brands.

The short wheelbase of this bike makes it easy to transport. It measures only 48.4" from axle to axle, which allows it to fit on many bike racks. However, it is important to note that its weight of 75 lbs may exceed the capacity of some bike racks. Loading the bike onto the rack should also be taken into consideration. Some newer hitch bike racks come with loading ramps that enable you to roll the bike onto the rack with ease.

Interface

The interface on the Xpedition is among our favorites; the large screen is bright and easy to read, with intuitive data. The controller on the left side of the handlebar has three buttons, "ON/OFF," "+," and "-," which, as their names suggest, power the bike on and off and adjust the pedal assist settings. A long press of the + button activates the headlight, while a long press of the - button engages walk mode, where the bike will power itself at walking speed.

There's a twist throttle on the right side of the handlebar, and unique to Lectric, pressing the plus button on the controller while holding the throttle will activate cruise control. Cruise control seemed like a silly feature that they added because they could, but we actually used it and enjoyed it several times.

The top of the display has a 10-segment battery level indicator bar that visually displays battery life. The current speed is featured prominently on the center of the display, followed by your pedal assist setting. The display also features an odometer, a trip counter, light indicators, and many more useful data fields.

Assembly

Lectric has made a name for themselves selling bikes that arrive fully assembled. Their foldable e-bikes arrive fully built and folded in small square boxes. Since the XPedition isn't foldable, Lectric ships it in a standard-style bike box, and it requires a bit more "unpacking" than their folding bikes that ship almost ready to ride. The box is quite heavy(over 85lbs); moving it to an assembly location is probably the hardest task. Having a friend to help move the box to its assembly location is recommended. The majority of your efforts preparing this bike to ride involve removing protective packaging and reading warnings.

Once in the shape of a bicycle, we recommend checking bolts, inflating tires to the proper pressure and charging the battery. Lectric has produced an entire library of helpful videos that walk you through installation of accessories, trouble shooting and maintenance.

Should You Buy the Lectric XPedition?

If you're in the market for a cargo e-bike at any price, the XPedition should be on your list. If you're looking for a quality cargo bike at a great price, it should be at the top of your list. You can spend substantially more on a cargo bike but won't get substantially higher performance. Lectric offers an incredibly compelling, versatile, and user-friendly cargo bike that can replace a large number of car trips. Cargo bikes aren't for everyone, but if your interest is piqued, the XPedition may be a low-cost way of seeing how you can use a cargo bike in your life.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

One of our favorite things about the XPedition is how user-friendly and approachable it is. There are other bikes that gave us that impression, but they're all more expensive. The Specialized Haul ST was also very easy to use and had excellent power and range, but it costs the same as two XPeditions. You get a different bike with different capabilities for the extra dollars, but it's not objectively better. If you like the form and function of this bike but don't need its hauling capabilities, check out the Lectric XP 3.0 that is shorter and lighter but can still haul 150 lbs on its built-in rear rack. The XP is even available with a passenger seat if you want to blur the cargo bike lines.