Lectric XP Lite 2.0: Improving upon an iconic ride
Whenever I ride the XP Lite I feel like a kid in the 80s again. Lectric improved upon this BMX-style e-bike with key features and launched it at the same affordable price.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for people looking for a fun e-bike to ride around the neighborhood, campground, or even on a short commute.
Lightweight, folding design that can be taken or stored just about anywhere
Key improvements include hydraulic brakes and a color LCD
The Gates Carbon drive option provides a lower maintenance bike
Not designed for taller riders or long commutes
The Lectric XP Lite was the first Lectric model that I tested nearly two years ago and since then I have tried most Lectric e-bike models. The BMX style nostalgia that takes me back to my youth in the 80s that comes from riding the simple XP Lite continues to this day, but for the past couple of weeks I have been having even more fun with its successor. The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW arrived for testing and I’ve taken it to the office, out on the trail, and around the neighborhood with my family enjoying it too since they prefer the XP Lite over most every other bike I have.
Lectric revealed the Lectric XP Lite 2.0 as its highly anticipated successor to the fabulous XP Lite. It is also now available with two primary variations, the standard XP Lite 2.0 and XP Lite 2.0 JW with the second model sporting a Gates Carbon belt drive instead of a chain with a price $100 more than the chain drive. The carbon drive model is only available in black while the standard model is available in four colors. You can also upgrade the battery capacity for both of these models for longer range at a cost of an additional $200.
Upgrades over the original XP Lite include the move to a nearly maintenance free Gate Carbon belt instead of a chain, color display, better tires, and hydraulic disc brakes.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Lectric XP Lite 2.0 four (4) Medals of Yavin. If I had half medals, I would likely award this 4.5 because it is so much fun to ride. However, a basic bell is not included and I feel every e-bike today should integrate a brake light for awareness of those riding with you and the general public.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product and for things like electric bikes the pros and cons can depend on your riding needs.
Pros
Accessible form factor for all riders
Affordable price
Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes
Basic, easy to read LCD color display and basic controller
Gates Carbon belt drive system
Slick tires with reflective side walls
No gears to worry about, ample pedal assist power
Cons
No bell
Rear light doesn’t function as a brake light
Gates Carbon version only available in black
Experiences
The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 arrived in a rather small cardboard box and in typical folding e-bike fashion there was very little for me to do to get the bike ready to ride. It was also fantastic to see Lectric continue to use recycled packing materials as the company thinks about details like this. The seat, pedals, lights, and all parts and pieces were fully assembled, just folded up. The only thing I had to do was insert handlebars into the stem, insert the battery into the front square tube, and inflate the tires to the correct pressure in order to start riding the bike.
The Lectric XP Lite design is pretty basic, but there is elegance in that basic design and the XP Lite 2.0 continues with that same frame design. I love the placement of the carrying handle just below the seat and behind the center fold that makes carrying the bike in both folded and unfolded state a breeze.
I rarely rode the original XP Lite for my commute, minimal distance of 7 miles a day, since it was a pretty basic bike and I need to pack more gear to the office. However, with the new tires that are better for pavement commuting I actually rode it a few times during the May bike-to-work campaign and enjoyed it immensely. The XP Lite 2.0 is just so easy to handle when I mix up my bike riding with the train and I cannot get over the ride taking me back to my youth.
The handlebar stem folds down, the bike folds in half, and the pedals fold so the bike can be stored just about anywhere. This is also great for taking a couple of these bikes to other destinations to enjoy the ride. A center stand is also present to help stand the bike up in a folded state.
The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 is a Class 2 bike with assist and throttle speeds up to 20 mph. In my testing I experienced the following speeds in throttle only mode:
Level 1: 9 mph
Level 2: 13 mph
Level 3: 16-17 mph
Level 4 and 5: 20 mph
I achieved a range of 20-25 miles with throttle only mode on a fairly flat paved trail and I weigh 232 pounds. I was not able to get up my hill with PAS level 5, but it does have a 13-15% incline so that isn’t much of a surprise given the power and torque provided on the XP Lite 2.0.
I was able to achieve up to 35 miles with pedal assist so the advertised 45 miles is possible given a lighter rider and different conditions. It is also a fairly easy bike to ride if your battery dies so you don’t have to ever really worry about battery anxiety with this bike.
I’m a fan of the move to color LCDs on Lectric bikes and it is also nice to see that these are visible in sunlight while wearing sunglasses too. Lectric has a very basic UI, but all of the essentials are there along with large numbers and a colorful battery gauge up top.
The bike also stops fast thanks in part to the hydraulic disc brake system. There is no suspension on the bike, but you may be riding while standing up to show off your BMX form. The bike is designed for riders from 4’-8” to 6’-2” and at 6’-1” I did find that I had to adjust the seat post to the maximum height and still needed another inch or so to fit perfectly.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Frame: 6061 aluminum alloy available in four colors
Motor: 300W rear hub (819W Peak), 28Nm torque
Bike weight: 49 pounds
Bike capacity: 275 pounds
Rider height: 4’-8” to 6’-2”
Pedal assist: Five levels with right side twist throttle
Max speed and range: 20 mph with up to 45 miles PAS, 80 miles with long-range battery option. My testing shows a range of up to 35 miles with pedal assist for my size.
Battery: Standard-48V, 7.8 Ah, 375 Watt-hours and long range battery-48V, 14 Ah 672 Watt-hours
Brakes: 180mm hydraulic disk brakes
Tires: 20” x 2.5” slick with reflective strip and Slime installed
Display: LCD color with IP-65 dust/water resistant rating
Safety: UL 2849 (fire safety electrical systems) and 2271 (battery safety) certified
Size: Folded size of 36”L x 16”W x 27”H
Bottom Line
The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 is a worthy successor to the XP Lite and I can’t wait to hear what others think as they pick up this iconic e-bike from Lectric. If you are looking for a fun bike to get you where you need to go with a big smile on your face then you cannot beat this bike.
The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 is a wonderful bike for riding in your neighborhood, picking up that last mile or two of your commute, or taking out to a local park or perfect riding spot for a couple of hours of nostalgic riding. It is light weight, affordable, and maintains the purity of the Lectric XP Lite design.