Good review. I do own a Lectric XP 2.0 step thru and although I like the new Lectric X premium, I won't buy it for the following reasons: 1. It's s800 more than the XP 2.0 but not faster ( top speed). 2. Mid drive motors are much easier to damage the chain or the motor as they require shifting the gears, etc vs a hub motor which you can just leave in gear 7 and not shift. 3. I do like the larger frame but wish it had a hub 750 watt motor with peak of 1000 watt.
Speed is the same as all legal electric bikes, so that point is invalid. My first ebike was an XP 2.0, I just received my premium, the improvements are well worth the extra $800!!!!! But keep your XP 2.0, still a great bike.
This is a surprise, and also surprising that I had mentioned the name XPremium last week in a UA-cam video comment about Lectric. They probably had the name long ago, but it would be funny if they got it from me. Regarding the bike, it is definitely a great value considering that it has hydraulic brakes, dual batteries, torque sensors, and a mid drive. 140nm of torque is nice, but remember that it's measured at the crank, and will be significantly less at the rear wheel because of gearing. The best hill climbing power is obtained by using the lowest gear that will allow you to maintain your desired speed. This is probably the hardest part of the learning curve, and I frequently see new mid drive riders roll backwards or fall off because they were in too tall of gear!
I had the handlebars flipped on my X Premium & I love it , it is so much less of a reach for me since my arms are short…. I would highly recommend this bike !!!!
@@susiewebb7552 How tall are you, Susie? I'm considering this, but at 5' 1" I'm a bit shorter than they recommend. Good idea on flipping the handlebars as judging his reach/height it would be a stretch for me, which has always been a problem. I don't want to order it if it is going to be tall though.
Nice that Lectric now had options to choose from.Mid drive torque sensors are great for mountain biking because you don’t get that surge of power unexpectedly like a hub drive does that can throw you off if your not ready for it,but for road use I’ll stick with hub drive with cadence sensor.
Well said! I understand the need for a smooth unnoticeable power assist for mountain biking. But for street use, level bike trails, gravel and dirt, even easy mountain trails, I have found a combination of 750 W with a seven gear totally satisfactory. And I am happy that the drive train is not being stressed. What to speak of the money savings!
Please always clarify bike weight as with and without batteries installed. That information is very important for those who transport with actual bike racks. Thanks a bunch.
Nice review as usual. I guess if you want a folding bike with step thru, it is something to consider. I am totally stoked with my 52V Magicycle though. Mine can climb miles of hills like a beast. Put it in the proper gear with some pedal assist and it tackles any hill at 15-20mph. I still have not been impressed with mid drive bikes, especially with the extra wear on the drive train. I think mid drives really find their home on serious mountain biking, but for level street, gravel, dirt, and easy trails, rear motor covers all the bases for me.
Thank you for all the information on the xp premium! We have one and I love riding it better that my 2.0 step thru. The premium is such a comfortable ride. I love the mid motor drive. It changes so easy and the suspension on the forks make it a sweet ride for me. It’s my husbands bike . I will use his more I think. Thank you so much!❤️😀🖐
How tall are you, Jean? I'm trying to decide what to purchase and I'm 5' 1" and I realize that this model is listed for 5' 2". I like the hydraulic disk brakes and mid drive motor, but other commentors said it was only necessary mountain biking. I expect to take this camping and ride in my home town. We are known for mountain biking trails but they are only for class 1 bikes. It would be easier to decide if I could test ride my contenders.
@@banzaiburger I got an answer from another person here. He said hub motor may overheat for long hill ride versus mid-drive may be able to continue to climb. He suggested to down shift the gear.
As a side note to this discussion. If like the other Lectric models they’ve been using a 14-28 rear freewheel the first upgrade should be switching it out to a 11-34 freewheel so you’ll gain more climbing ability and MORE top end speed! Cost…$30-40
The bike is much bigger than I thought, I got one charger for two batteries, the lights are weak, you really need to think about what your doing and adjust your gears when slowing down stopping climbing hills.
Hi Ryan - great review of the Lectric XPremium e-bike - thanks for the information, and I am following up with Lectric on warranty and support for me as a Canadian purchaser. I am also seeking out information on whether the Control Panel works in metric. So far, Lectric has responded in a timely manner, so that's encouraging.
If you want one, don't wait cause I am sure the price will go up to over 2 grand, this should quiet down any critics of the XP 2.0 and make Lectric better than RAD.
Lol. You crack yourself up with your little jokes, don’t you ? Better than Rad ain’t saying much, but no Lectric is barely a knat on the butt of that elephant called Rad.
Lectric has been better than RAD since day 1. I was in Seattle at RAD when I found lectric and left that crap behind too fast. Now they make RAD and most companies look like a joke
Would love to see you shifting through the gears to get up that hill. By sticking in just 1 gear the whole way through you’re missing out on the main benefit of a mid drive.
@@EbikeEscape sounds great. For best performance test the top throttle speed of each gear. Start in the lowest gear that hits the bikes top speed (maybe 5th) and as soon as your climb drops a bit below the top speed of the gear under that downshift.
Going up the hill in 1 gear on a mid drive with low battery? Starting out on full throttle in the highest gear? Bad choices. There are lots of benefits with a mid drive motor during hill climbs and accelerating from a dead stop. The only draw back in my opinion from a mid drive is, in order to best utilize the benefits, you need to shift through the gears. As Matt pointed out, you are missing the benefits. You can even go up a steeper hill from a dead stop on throttle only as long as your in the lowest gear to utilize the mid drive torque. On a similar 500Wh hub motor, good luck! I own 2 hub drives and 2 mid drives. The hub drives have been collecting dust for quite some time. Anyway, I appreciate the review. I like easy access batteries.
I hope they fix the battery bug in the energy bar. Going up the hill and seeing your battery level drop drastically would be concerning. Would like for it to show the actual battery levels.
It's not a bug. It's called voltage sag and it happens to all electric vehicles. It's just how they work. Once you're aware of it, it won't bother you.
FYI, last I heard, the XPremium is shipping with only one charger and each battery must be charged independently, so the 4 to 6 hour charge time is actually 8 to 12 hours
A BIG component of why such low speed uphill is due to voltage sag on the battery. I built my own battery for ebike build at 36v and yes im limited to 15mph due to 20in wheels and 20amp controller but the battery is able to output 150+ amps continuous so i see 20 amps uphill and no voltage sag even at 50% battery capacity... so this bike would benefit from battery flat pack cells with higher continuous output. the problem is that companies want beautiful looking bikes that look great but they are crap for function. i will be buying this bike and do a battery delete and using my own battery setup at 48v for my new pack ill build. that way i will have 48v with 40amp continuous output so the controller can always take max limit from the battery.
@@danimayb well like he said in the video after he was done with his uphill accent the battery gauge returned to full from the low spot on the gauge cluster. The motor isn't the problem nor the controller. It's the battery used. Yes they run in parallel but as we see that doesn't help much. Also because of the voltage sag observed, his reduced speed is limited because there just isn't enough power from the battery to push to the motor the 140nm of torque. Very possible it was only delivering 40 or 60nm of torque making it feel like a 250w nominal motor.
Off topic. What selfie-stick mount are you using for the 3rd person side views? I see the sticks shadow and what appears to be a large mount on the fork. Thanks!
Could you share more info? I have question regarding the uphill performance; how can a 140nm mid-drive not do better than the hub drive of the 2.0? Are you a mid-drive ebike owner?
@@sedollee7496 I've done 2 conversions, 4 and 5 years ago, with Bafang BBSxx mid-drives. I still ride both and have plans for a third. I stay up to date on my research even though the hill I live on precludes street legal hub drives. I'm not sure what you'd like me to explain. The XPremium does do better on hills than the 2.0. Because you have to downshift & the motor uses the bikes gears top speed is limited but the 500 watt mid-drive will climb for miles at the same speed, climbing hills that would overheat the 2.0. I'm not sure what the torque number is on either motor but it doesn't approach 140NM. The hub is probably no higher than 80 nm and the mid-drive definitely below 120 nm.
@@michaelsprinzeles4022 Thank you for the valuable information. I think you cleared my doubt. Based on what I understand from your message, I guess even though the 2.0 may appear to have faster top speed than this new model, long hill climb would overheat the 2.0, versus this mid-drive model can still continue the ride. I think it is sufficient for me to make the decision.
@@sedollee7496 If you live in a mostly flat area and like to throttle without pedalling or changing gears a hub is easier and probably more reliable. If you live near large hills or like to pedal and don't mind shifting gears the mid-drive is better. If you intend to throttle around with a mid-drive you will do damage if you don't use the gears properly. With a mid-drive using the gears it should be possible to change the top speed by changing the gearing...a bigger chainring up front will boost top speed but lower climbing ability & a smaller gear in back will also raise top speed. Not sure what gear ratio the XPremium's freewheel is or if you can swap chain rings but if so you can make it climb better and give it a higher top speed. I think the XPremium ships as class 2 but can be unlocked for the same class 3 speeds as the 3.0 (20 mph on throttle and 28 pedaling). Good luck.
@@sedollee7496 the reason it didn't do better was simply due to the gear Ryan went up in. Higher gear, higher speed. Also, just note that the motor on the XPremium peaks at 800W
I thought it was odd he was climbing that hill in 3rd. I'd like to see what it would do in 1st or 2nd. I am thinking on either a bafang mid drive kit to ADD to my 2.0 or maybe getting this bike and giving my 2.0 to my daughter. I live in the mountains and the hills are just too steep to climb, even with a 11-34t freewheel and parallel batteries.
Just wondering if bike could be ridden on flat area without electrical assistance? I live in hilly area but need bike to ecserersise riding it 5-10 miles on flat area. Coming back is a problem, as after workout I cannot go all the way to the hill. This why I'm looking for electric bike.. Any suggestions?
It can be, but it will be a bit of a workout as it's a heavy bike. The nice thing is the mid-drive will offer a bit more of a natural experience that it seems you're looking for.
its nearly $2k, not gonna dominate anything at that price. They needed to get it out the door for $1500, the extra shark battery should have been an extra option, bet that cost $300, not everyone needs 100 miles, but want the upgraded suspension, and middrive and brakes.
@@ecoman351 what does that even mean? relative to what? the xp 2.0 is still gonna be their cash cow when you can basically buy 2 for the price of 1 premium.
Ryan, need your thought real quick. Just ordered 2 -XP3 , I put one on hold hoping for your thoughts on me getting the Premium. I'm used to driving a motorcycle so I'm thinking be a better fit. FYI I used Ebike Escape when ordering. I'll wait for hopefully your apinion.
Hard to say, certainly you will understand better than the average person how a mid drive works vs a hub drive. My deciding factors would be: brakes, battery and whether you want a torque sensing motor vs cadence. Both are plenty powerful in my opinion.
Question is just thought of. Maybe you can ask the guys at Lectric. I'm a big believer in charging to 80% to prolong battery life. On my current ebike, I can do this easily. I can see the battery voltage and and I know how much my charger inputs per hour. So I just use a timer. Now, you can use this method on the XP 2.0 since you are able to see the voltage. But on the XPremium, how will this work since there are 2 batteries that may have 2 very different voltage levels? Isn't the screen only set up to display voltage for one battery? How can I know the voltage of each individual battery to then be able to charge by timer?
I’m not sure if Lectric does this but you or they should let people know how long that tire sealant (slime) lasts in the wheel before it dries out. Here in Arizona I have to put it in my tubeless mountain bike tires every 2-4 months.
Any chance of getting a short video of a Lectric XPremium with a support seat? I'd love to know what the contact points are for someone about 6'. Thanks
Before the lite was introduced, I had predicted that they would go upmarket, kind of got disappointed to see they had actually gone downmarket, but now I see my original prediction was correct. There is now an XP for all needs. Curious to see they went step thru, appealing to older riders and delivery needs.
Too many people complain about ST versions. I have put over 8k miles on my lectrics. I travel cross country and camp....which I wouldn't be able to carry near as much if it were not ST
Yea. Torque sensors are usually presented as being better but honestly it sounds like all it does is make the rider have to work harder. I mean, the manufacturer has to set the ratio of how much power is given for how much force you pedal with. What if its set to make me work harder than I want? I didn't get an ebike to work hard. It's hard to say cuz I've never riden a torque sensor ebike.
@@turbofan450 I’ve ridden both types and there’s not a ton of difference, but I like the torque more. If I’m riding slowly up a hill behind some walkers the torque sensor makes it easy to creep up slowly, it also adds assist faster from a stop and lets me cut assist without braking almost instantly. If I want to save my legs the throttle is always there.
@@turbofan450 I have a Specialized Como and the torque sensor doesn't make me work harder than I want to. I just shift down to an easier gear. Pedal assist still works just as well even if I'm not pressing on the pedals as hard. Maybe it has a speed or cadence sensor to help decide how much to assist.
1. It comes with 25" wide handle bars 2. The XPremium will run with just the front battery 3. You can leave the keys in the batteries, but is isn't required to ride the bike.
I have a feeling there may be some problems with this bike. It will also be harder to keep tuned. Torque sensor on the derailleur may get finicky. Hydro brakes harder to service. Lets see how it does over time. Lectric has done well so far.
Friday 4/22/22: Wow, this was a surprise from Lectric. I was disappointed with the LITE as a decontented XP for slighlty less $ and thought they should have gone upmarket. After all, they were already the low priced value leader. Surprise, Lectric went upmarket too in the same month! Once again this is a value leader in its market segment. Impressive. From your review I can see max watts has been kept at international standards (modest), while in incorperating a wide gear range for the motor. That allows the bike to climb steep hills while fully loaded. Not rapidly, but like a mountain goat. Note about video. Thanx for inset photo of steep hill. Yup, sure looks different. So different that I could find no matching landmarks in you video. Same hill?
I can understand the confusion. This riding footage was started a bit further up the hill. If you watch any of our other review videos, this riding footage starts just past the big cheese factory on the right.
I think it just depends on the use case. Some people like the wider tires for more off-road capability, others like 3" or even thinner. Both provide some extra cushion. I personally would have been happy to see the same 3" tires.
So can this bike reach 28mph? If you are testing a pedelec ebike, we want to know the top speed while pedaling not the top speed with throttling. Throttling top speeds are more significant for hub motors. Anyway I bought this bike and I love this bike, and this is a great vide and a great ebike channel. Thank you.
I am wondering.. I am a wimpy 64yr old lady that weighs 200 pounds. Which of the lectric foldable e bikes would you suggest for me? I live in a first floor street level apartment for now but dont think I would be able to carry a heavy foldable in an emergency, on the other hand i would like a bike that can accomodate my weight and has the neccessary motor strength to get me to work on a daily basis. What do you suggest?
Hard to give a direct answer without knowing where you live, and how long your daily trip would be. Here is a quick collection of information that might help you narrow it down. If you live in a fairly flat city, the XP Lite is going to be the easiest to lift, as it only weighs 46lbs. And range between 15-40 miles (depending on PAS level and throttle usage). If you live in a place with hills or want a little bit more range the XP 2.0 is going to be the choice, all be it with a bit more weight (64lbs). Range is 17-45 miles. Only reason I wouldn't recommend the XPremium is strictly about weight. At 75 lbs it is the beast of the bunch. However it is going to get you the most range (50-100 miles). I hope that insight helped a bit. Let me know if that helped or if you have any more specific questions. -JT
i have a bagi which is nice. but, thinking about a second bike. i like step through and upright and thinking about liking water resistant and for using for hunting/fishing and all around use and maybe commuting and hauling some gear in a trailer. aventure vs rad rover 6 vs lectric xp premium? any thoughts?
If you are primarily going to be riding offroad were ground clearance and grip are going to be key, I think you should go with either the Aventure or Rad. The Aventure does offer the largest peak power motor, which I think will lend a nice hand to hauling a trailer. But it is hard to beat the reliability of a Rad power bike.
With the dual batteries and the torque sensor mid-drive you will surely get more range (more efficient riding). You get all the gears on the hill though you should watch our RadMini review to compare these side by side on the hill.
Not sure Rad will go that way, as mid drives are less reliable, and this one in particular is weaker than Rad's 750 watt motors. 0 to 20mph for the XPremium is 14.3 seconds, a Rad Mini step through does it in 9.8 seconds.
@@Altema22 mid drives are only less reliable of you don't operate them properly. And the motor on the XPremium peaks at 800 Watts compared to the 750W peak on Rad's motors. Not to mention, a mid drive has higher torque than a hub. Acceleration to top speed is neither here nor there. The mid drive will achieve higher top speeds and hold them while using less energy. Mark my words: Rad will develop a mid drive.
pros and cons comparing mid drive and rear drive hubs? how's this compare to the espin nesta? component wise/quality? Do you feel the upgraded seat post/seat is worth the cost compared to buying the c9 seat/post upgrade?
The stand is a very similar design that we have seen on a number of other folding bikes. With that said, we have never had an issue with snagging on anything. As long as you are aware of the stand is there, it shouldn't be an issue on traditional roadways or bike paths.
Yes it is dangerous! Check out Goneagain. His wife broke an ankle because that fixed stand got hung up and threw her off. He recommends cutting that piece off if you get a bike like this.
I was the first one to pre-order the X-Premium. I upgraded my XP 2.0 order when the pre-order for the new X-Premium was first announced! I upgraded and paid in full for the X-Premium black (with accessories). Waited since April, they said it will be delivered early June. Waited and waited, then before June, they informed me that it will be delayed till July. Mid July came and there's still no information which is frustrating. 23rd of July, the bike came but it's a wrong color!!! They sent me white! After waiting for many months, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY SENT ME THE WRONG COLOR! Now, I don't know how looong will I wait again to have it replaced with the right one!!! What's happening LECTRIC???!!!
Please give me information about the tote you use. I just got my XPremium and while I like it.... it is heavy and I need a tote to protect it when folded and transporting.
Would love to find the right sized plastic tote, but all the ones with the correct dimensions are tapered (so they can stack in stores) so much that the inner dimensions are way to small. Your tote has fairly straight sides! What and where did you get yours and where can I find one so I don't ruin my bike or car when transporting it. Thank you...
The tote is for Christmas tree storage. Not sure if they just don't sell them year round or if they just don't exist like this anymore. We will keep an eye out in the near future for one that can work, and will report back. -JT
I'm going to buy the Lectric XP Light can you recommend to me the suspension seat post that you think is the best and do you possibly know the seat post size that I'll need??? It's ok if you don't know the size when I get the bike I'm sure I can get it measured.
Here is a link to the SR Suntour NCX seat post. Also needed with this purchase is a shim for the seat post to the bike's tube. You will need a 27.2 to 31.8 shim, I also linked that below. Hope that helps. -JT -SR Suntour Seat Post: amzn.to/3Uh7a2L (affiliate link) -27.2 to 31.8 Shim: amzn.to/3FU0pjh (affiliate link)
Yes you can. -Doesn't matter which one. The bike will function on one of either battery.- It does matter which battery. The XPremium will run with just the front battery installed.
You could lean the bars a bit further back to you. Not sure how much you would gain though. The "top tube" on the XPremium is a bit longer due to the integrated battery. I believe that is why the reach feels a but longer then than the XP 2.0. -JT
So, with the dual batteries, I assume they will both need to be replaced at the same time when they've reached the end of life? I am so interested in the mid-drive motor which I am struggling to find in other ebikes, but also trying to think ahead about the expense of keeping the bike operational. I do not know what my future holds, but I am thinking ahead about the possibility of not being able to afford to replace both of them at the same time.
Thank you very much for the reviews that you do on the E bikes. I noticed that the maximum speed on the snap bike going up the hill was about 17 mph whereas the maximum speed on the electric X premium came down to about 9 mph. Any observation on this. Since the X premium cost about $300 more I would’ve thought that it would’ve had a little bit more consistent speed. I’ll be interested in your opinion.
The Snapcycle is super powerful. We'll do another hill climb on the XPremium sometime soon but just generally that bike will be happier climbing long steep hills since it's utilizing a lower gear. And since the mid-drives pull the drivetrain companies have to be careful to make sure they aren't going to rip through drivetrains. So think about the pedaling experience on each if you're comparing them unless you want the fastest bike up a hill of course.
So confused? My xpremium just got delivered and it has the comfort package already installed. It even says on the box “comfort package” in the picture of the tv. I didn’t order the comfort package just the cargo package. Hmmmm. My lite didn’t come with that. Wonder if it was a mistake. There was no promo going on when I purchased. Just ordered the premium and cargo. Emailed for my military discount and boom have a comfort package. I hope it’s good. I usually upgrade the seats on bikes. Did on my lite and my other cargo ebike.
Max torque is 140 Nm. Support Ebike Escape when purchasing from Lectric: lectricebikes.sjv.io/YgMaRm (affiliate link)
Is there a need to change the rear sprocket out so you can achieve the 28 mph without ghost pedaling like the OG?
Good review. I do own a Lectric XP 2.0 step thru and although I like the new Lectric X premium, I won't buy it for the following reasons: 1. It's s800 more than the XP 2.0 but not faster ( top speed).
2. Mid drive motors are much easier to damage the chain or the motor as they require shifting the gears, etc vs a hub motor which you can just leave in gear 7 and not shift. 3. I do like the larger frame but wish it had a hub 750 watt motor with peak of 1000 watt.
Thank you for this feedback.
I will have to agree. It's a huge jump in price for such a small mid drive motor. I do like the extra torque you get on the hills.
Speed is the same as all legal electric bikes, so that point is invalid. My first ebike was an XP 2.0, I just received my premium, the improvements are well worth the extra $800!!!!! But keep your XP 2.0, still a great bike.
Happy to hear it can be unlocked for class 3 speeds! Look forward to that review/video.
All lectrics except lite can be
This is a surprise, and also surprising that I had mentioned the name XPremium last week in a UA-cam video comment about Lectric. They probably had the name long ago, but it would be funny if they got it from me. Regarding the bike, it is definitely a great value considering that it has hydraulic brakes, dual batteries, torque sensors, and a mid drive. 140nm of torque is nice, but remember that it's measured at the crank, and will be significantly less at the rear wheel because of gearing. The best hill climbing power is obtained by using the lowest gear that will allow you to maintain your desired speed. This is probably the hardest part of the learning curve, and I frequently see new mid drive riders roll backwards or fall off because they were in too tall of gear!
I had the handlebars flipped on my X Premium & I love it , it is so much less of a reach for me since my arms are short…. I would highly recommend this bike !!!!
@@susiewebb7552 How tall are you, Susie? I'm considering this, but at 5' 1" I'm a bit shorter than they recommend. Good idea on flipping the handlebars as judging his reach/height it would be a stretch for me, which has always been a problem. I don't want to order it if it is going to be tall though.
Nice that Lectric now had options to choose from.Mid drive torque sensors are great for mountain biking because you don’t get that surge of power unexpectedly like a hub drive does that can throw you off if your not ready for it,but for road use I’ll stick with hub drive with cadence sensor.
Well said! I understand the need for a smooth unnoticeable power assist for mountain biking. But for street use, level bike trails, gravel and dirt, even easy mountain trails, I have found a combination of 750 W with a seven gear totally satisfactory. And I am happy that the drive train is not being stressed. What to speak of the money savings!
I bought the 2.0 step through and i love it getting a great workout on hills and getting the speeds up to 20 mph on straightaways
Please always clarify bike weight as with and without batteries installed. That information is very important for those who transport with actual bike racks. Thanks a bunch.
Good call - I'll cover that in our next video. 75 lbs with the batteries and I'll weigh it without. Guessing closer to 60 lbs.
Glad I canceled my Sondors LX order due to non-delivery. The Lectric X Premium is the ebike that I’ve been waiting for!
Good choice!
Nice review as usual. I guess if you want a folding bike with step thru, it is something to consider. I am totally stoked with my 52V Magicycle though. Mine can climb miles of hills like a beast. Put it in the proper gear with some pedal assist and it tackles any hill at 15-20mph. I still have not been impressed with mid drive bikes, especially with the extra wear on the drive train. I think mid drives really find their home on serious mountain biking, but for level street, gravel, dirt, and easy trails, rear motor covers all the bases for me.
Not really a fair comparison since the Magicycle is not a folding bike. And it weighs 73lbs. Almost as much as the XPremium!
Like your review. Just ordered a bike and told the co. That your review sold me.
Thank you - that certainly helps us out!
I am getting one as soon as i can, i think it's one of the best electric bikes out there 👍🏆.
Thank you for all the information on the xp premium! We have one and I love riding it better that my 2.0 step thru. The premium is such a comfortable ride. I love the mid motor drive. It changes so easy and the suspension on the forks make it a sweet ride for me. It’s my husbands bike . I will use his more I think. Thank you so much!❤️😀🖐
How tall are you, Jean? I'm trying to decide what to purchase and I'm 5' 1" and I realize that this model is listed for 5' 2". I like the hydraulic disk brakes and mid drive motor, but other commentors said it was only necessary mountain biking. I expect to take this camping and ride in my home town. We are known for mountain biking trails but they are only for class 1 bikes. It would be easier to decide if I could test ride my contenders.
Thank you for the detail review. I don’t understand how can a mid-drive not climb better than hub drive.
This is a deal breaker to me. I live on a steep street.
@@banzaiburger
I wish someone can answer. Because it seems strange if a 140nm torque mid-drive motor can’t do as well as a way less torque hub drive.
@@banzaiburger
I got an answer from another person here. He said hub motor may overheat for long hill ride versus mid-drive may be able to continue to climb. He suggested to down shift the gear.
@@sedollee7496 ahh interesting, thanks
As a side note to this discussion. If like the other Lectric models they’ve been using a 14-28 rear freewheel the first upgrade should be switching it out to a 11-34 freewheel so you’ll gain more climbing ability and MORE top end speed! Cost…$30-40
The bike is much bigger than I thought, I got one charger for two batteries, the lights are weak, you really need to think about what your doing and adjust your gears when slowing down stopping climbing hills.
I got the Lite for recreation and for taking along in my car on trips. When I downsize to one car I may get a premium to replace a car.
May I suggest when you are reviewing a mid drive e bike use the gears when doing the hill climb.
We plan to do another hill climb test.
@@EbikeEscape on full battery charge vs half
Thanks for this review. I'm hoping to order my new x premium soon. This gave lots of detail about the bike.
No problem 👍
Hi Ryan - great review of the Lectric XPremium e-bike - thanks for the information, and I am following up with Lectric on warranty and support for me as a Canadian purchaser. I am also seeking out information on whether the Control Panel works in metric. So far, Lectric has responded in a timely manner, so that's encouraging.
Glad it was helpful!
If you want one, don't wait cause I am sure the price will go up to over 2 grand, this should quiet down any critics of the XP 2.0 and make Lectric better than RAD.
Lol. You crack yourself up with your little jokes, don’t you ? Better than Rad ain’t saying much, but no Lectric is barely a knat on the butt of that elephant called Rad.
Lectric has been better than RAD since day 1. I was in Seattle at RAD when I found lectric and left that crap behind too fast. Now they make RAD and most companies look like a joke
Funny thing is, months later, the price dropped to $1599! Just bought 2 of them. Good video
Would love to see you shifting through the gears to get up that hill. By sticking in just 1 gear the whole way through you’re missing out on the main benefit of a mid drive.
yea I can't imagine starting out in 7th, when you have gears available even on the flat
I'll do another hill test - throttle only 1st gear and also go through the gears.
@@EbikeEscape sounds great. For best performance test the top throttle speed of each gear. Start in the lowest gear that hits the bikes top speed (maybe 5th) and as soon as your climb drops a bit below the top speed of the gear under that downshift.
@@EbikeEscape
Thank you. I am a little nervous now. I may actually cancel my order if this bike can’t climb.
Going up the hill in 1 gear on a mid drive with low battery? Starting out on full throttle in the highest gear? Bad choices. There are lots of benefits with a mid drive motor during hill climbs and accelerating from a dead stop. The only draw back in my opinion from a mid drive is, in order to best utilize the benefits, you need to shift through the gears. As Matt pointed out, you are missing the benefits. You can even go up a steeper hill from a dead stop on throttle only as long as your in the lowest gear to utilize the mid drive torque. On a similar 500Wh hub motor, good luck! I own 2 hub drives and 2 mid drives. The hub drives have been collecting dust for quite some time. Anyway, I appreciate the review. I like easy access batteries.
Your video is very well shot.
Thank you.
I enjoyed your detailed review. Job well done!!!
Thank You, Marcus the nerd.
Thank you for the video and honest review. Blessings to you.
Thank you.
This is the best bike ever. So powerful. I love it. Great video!
Good review, and good tease for your future vid about the top speed.
I love the mid-drive with torque sensor. This bike would be perfect if it had the same 150 lb. rack they added to the XP 3.0
I hope they fix the battery bug in the energy bar. Going up the hill and seeing your battery level drop drastically would be concerning. Would like for it to show the actual battery levels.
It's not a bug. It's called voltage sag and it happens to all electric vehicles. It's just how they work. Once you're aware of it, it won't bother you.
FYI, last I heard, the XPremium is shipping with only one charger and each battery must be charged independently, so the 4 to 6 hour charge time is actually 8 to 12 hours
You are correct
Thanks for the info, just kinda shopping around and am totally clueless about e-bikes. Kinda messed up charging system?
Really wish they offered the dual batteries with the hub motor
We just bought an extra battery for our original Lectric bikes we bought when the company first started years ago..
A BIG component of why such low speed uphill is due to voltage sag on the battery. I built my own battery for ebike build at 36v and yes im limited to 15mph due to 20in wheels and 20amp controller but the battery is able to output 150+ amps continuous so i see 20 amps uphill and no voltage sag even at 50% battery capacity... so this bike would benefit from battery flat pack cells with higher continuous output.
the problem is that companies want beautiful looking bikes that look great but they are crap for function. i will be buying this bike and do a battery delete and using my own battery setup at 48v for my new pack ill build. that way i will have 48v with 40amp continuous output so the controller can always take max limit from the battery.
@@danimayb well like he said in the video after he was done with his uphill accent the battery gauge returned to full from the low spot on the gauge cluster. The motor isn't the problem nor the controller. It's the battery used. Yes they run in parallel but as we see that doesn't help much. Also because of the voltage sag observed, his reduced speed is limited because there just isn't enough power from the battery to push to the motor the 140nm of torque. Very possible it was only delivering 40 or 60nm of torque making it feel like a 250w nominal motor.
Off topic. What selfie-stick mount are you using for the 3rd person side views? I see the sticks shadow and what appears to be a large mount on the fork. Thanks!
Nevermind. I just watched your video on how you mount cameras and saw it was the RAM mount. Great vid!
The tote is a great idea👍
Thank you. Makes transportation a whole lot easier.
Great review. thank you. Can you please add a link or let me know which brand bin you purchased to place the bike into when you folded it for the SUV?
When the speed drops on a mid-drive you need to down shift! Going down a gear while slogging up a hill may actually improve your speed.
Could you share more info? I have question regarding the uphill performance; how can a 140nm mid-drive not do better than the hub drive of the 2.0? Are you a mid-drive ebike owner?
@@sedollee7496 I've done 2 conversions, 4 and 5 years ago, with Bafang BBSxx mid-drives. I still ride both and have plans for a third. I stay up to date on my research even though the hill I live on precludes street legal hub drives. I'm not sure what you'd like me to explain. The XPremium does do better on hills than the 2.0. Because you have to downshift & the motor uses the bikes gears top speed is limited but the 500 watt mid-drive will climb for miles at the same speed, climbing hills that would overheat the 2.0. I'm not sure what the torque number is on either motor but it doesn't approach 140NM. The hub is probably no higher than 80 nm and the mid-drive definitely below 120 nm.
@@michaelsprinzeles4022
Thank you for the valuable information. I think you cleared my doubt. Based on what I understand from your message, I guess even though the 2.0 may appear to have faster top speed than this new model, long hill climb would overheat the 2.0, versus this mid-drive model can still continue the ride. I think it is sufficient for me to make the decision.
@@sedollee7496 If you live in a mostly flat area and like to throttle without pedalling or changing gears a hub is easier and probably more reliable. If you live near large hills or like to pedal and don't mind shifting gears the mid-drive is better. If you intend to throttle around with a mid-drive you will do damage if you don't use the gears properly. With a mid-drive using the gears it should be possible to change the top speed by changing the gearing...a bigger chainring up front will boost top speed but lower climbing ability & a smaller gear in back will also raise top speed. Not sure what gear ratio the XPremium's freewheel is or if you can swap chain rings but if so you can make it climb better and give it a higher top speed. I think the XPremium ships as class 2 but can be unlocked for the same class 3 speeds as the 3.0 (20 mph on throttle and 28 pedaling).
Good luck.
@@sedollee7496 the reason it didn't do better was simply due to the gear Ryan went up in. Higher gear, higher speed. Also, just note that the motor on the XPremium peaks at 800W
Just ordered the bike using your affiliated link. Thank you for the video.
Awesome, thank you!
With only 7 miles on the odometer, why is the battery level low?
Do fat people have to lock out the fork on this like the 2.0? or does the extra travel make it functional now, If so can i swap forks?
27:00 doesn't the "current" setting tell you how much power you are drawing?
I thought it was odd he was climbing that hill in 3rd. I'd like to see what it would do in 1st or 2nd. I am thinking on either a bafang mid drive kit to ADD to my 2.0 or maybe getting this bike and giving my 2.0 to my daughter. I live in the mountains and the hills are just too steep to climb, even with a 11-34t freewheel and parallel batteries.
I'll do it in 1st gear in my follow-up video. I personally don't think it will make a big difference but happy to do it.
Great video!! You speak very well.
Thank you.
Just wondering if bike could be ridden on flat area without electrical assistance? I live in hilly area but need bike to ecserersise riding it 5-10 miles on flat area. Coming back is a problem, as after workout I cannot go all the way to the hill. This why I'm looking for electric bike.. Any suggestions?
It can be, but it will be a bit of a workout as it's a heavy bike. The nice thing is the mid-drive will offer a bit more of a natural experience that it seems you're looking for.
this will dominate the market and calm prices down on other brands
its nearly $2k, not gonna dominate anything at that price. They needed to get it out the door for $1500, the extra shark battery should have been an extra option, bet that cost $300, not everyone needs 100 miles, but want the upgraded suspension, and middrive and brakes.
@@FriarPop watch the sales numbers
@@ecoman351 what does that even mean? relative to what? the xp 2.0 is still gonna be their cash cow when you can basically buy 2 for the price of 1 premium.
Ryan, need your thought real quick.
Just ordered 2 -XP3 , I put one on hold hoping for your thoughts on me getting the Premium. I'm used to driving a motorcycle so I'm thinking be a better fit. FYI I used Ebike Escape when ordering. I'll wait for hopefully your apinion.
Hard to say, certainly you will understand better than the average person how a mid drive works vs a hub drive. My deciding factors would be: brakes, battery and whether you want a torque sensing motor vs cadence. Both are plenty powerful in my opinion.
@@EbikeEscape Thank you.
Question is just thought of. Maybe you can ask the guys at Lectric. I'm a big believer in charging to 80% to prolong battery life. On my current ebike, I can do this easily. I can see the battery voltage and and I know how much my charger inputs per hour. So I just use a timer.
Now, you can use this method on the XP 2.0 since you are able to see the voltage. But on the XPremium, how will this work since there are 2 batteries that may have 2 very different voltage levels? Isn't the screen only set up to display voltage for one battery?
How can I know the voltage of each individual battery to then be able to charge by timer?
I’m not sure if Lectric does this but you or they should let people know how long that tire sealant (slime) lasts in the wheel before it dries out. Here in Arizona I have to put it in my tubeless mountain bike tires every 2-4 months.
That's a good point Rob - I'll mention that in a follow up video. Thanks!
Switch to Flat Out. It does not dry out
Any chance of getting a short video of a Lectric XPremium with a support seat? I'd love to know what the contact points are for someone about 6'. Thanks
How will this bike ride in the snow
Would love to see a comparison video with the Rad Expand5 the XPremium seems to be a better choice and after upgrades the same or better price….
Yes, we hope to do a folding ebike roundup with the Expand 5, Sinch and the Lectric ebikes.
Very good job 👍 I like the format of the test.
Before the lite was introduced, I had predicted that they would go upmarket, kind of got disappointed to see they had actually gone downmarket, but now I see my original prediction was correct. There is now an XP for all needs. Curious to see they went step thru, appealing to older riders and delivery needs.
Too many people complain about ST versions. I have put over 8k miles on my lectrics. I travel cross country and camp....which I wouldn't be able to carry near as much if it were not ST
You are doing loaded touring on your lectric ebike?
@@greggiordano3834 yes. And it's amazing and easy with 3 extra batteries. Over 9k miles at this point
Congrats. You took my double battery idea. Cruise control is a great idea. If you make a candance sensor model, I'd buy one.
Yea. Torque sensors are usually presented as being better but honestly it sounds like all it does is make the rider have to work harder. I mean, the manufacturer has to set the ratio of how much power is given for how much force you pedal with. What if its set to make me work harder than I want? I didn't get an ebike to work hard. It's hard to say cuz I've never riden a torque sensor ebike.
@@turbofan450 I’ve ridden both types and there’s not a ton of difference, but I like the torque more. If I’m riding slowly up a hill behind some walkers the torque sensor makes it easy to creep up slowly, it also adds assist faster from a stop and lets me cut assist without braking almost instantly. If I want to save my legs the throttle is always there.
@@turbofan450 I have a Specialized Como and the torque sensor doesn't make me work harder than I want to. I just shift down to an easier gear. Pedal assist still works just as well even if I'm not pressing on the pedals as hard. Maybe it has a speed or cadence sensor to help decide how much to assist.
@@turbofan450 I forgot to mention... you can also just increase the pedal assist level.
Does this Lectric X Premium come with:
1) the wide handle bars?
2) Will it run on only one battery?
3) Can you leave the key in it when driving it?
1. It comes with 25" wide handle bars
2. The XPremium will run with just the front battery
3. You can leave the keys in the batteries, but is isn't required to ride the bike.
Awesome review!! thanks so much!! what kind of phone holder you have on there?
It is a Nite Ize Wraptor. Here is a link: amzn.to/3NitGpq (affiliate link)
How does this mid drive hub compared to the Aventon 2 torque sensor. Thanks Tim
Excellent review/ Great detail, Thanks
I pre ordered the XPremium and I was just told via email from Lectric that it comes with 2 batteries and ONE charger.
Thanks for pointing this out. We clarified it in our latest video!
What is the biggest battery I can buy for this bike,under the seat
I have a feeling there may be some problems with this bike. It will also be harder to keep tuned. Torque sensor on the derailleur may get finicky. Hydro brakes harder to service. Lets see how it does over time. Lectric has done well so far.
Friday 4/22/22: Wow, this was a surprise from Lectric. I was disappointed with the LITE as a decontented XP for slighlty less $ and thought they should have gone upmarket. After all, they were already the low priced value leader. Surprise, Lectric went upmarket too in the same month! Once again this is a value leader in its market segment. Impressive. From your review I can see max watts has been kept at international standards (modest), while in incorperating a wide gear range for the motor. That allows the bike to climb steep hills while fully loaded. Not rapidly, but like a mountain goat.
Note about video. Thanx for inset photo of steep hill. Yup, sure looks different. So different that I could find no matching landmarks in you video. Same hill?
Agree - the “lite” I was like blah blah it’s an old Ejoe remake
Now with this I’m definitely WOW
I can understand the confusion. This riding footage was started a bit further up the hill. If you watch any of our other review videos, this riding footage starts just past the big cheese factory on the right.
Anybody know why they went back to the 4-in tires instead of sticking with the 3 in?
I think it just depends on the use case. Some people like the wider tires for more off-road capability, others like 3" or even thinner. Both provide some extra cushion. I personally would have been happy to see the same 3" tires.
I hope those tires are puncture resistant. They look a bit thin from the video but it is really hard to tell.
So can this bike reach 28mph? If you are testing a pedelec ebike, we want to know the top speed while pedaling not the top speed with throttling. Throttling top speeds are more significant for hub motors. Anyway I bought this bike and I love this bike, and this is a great vide and a great ebike channel. Thank you.
damn, I just got a RadExpand 5, and I LOVE it, but this woulda been awesome to get
Thanks for watching and commenting! RadExpand is a great ebike as well.
What tote did you use for the XPremium and where can I get one?
First pothole broke my folding front on my XP gen 1
X Premium vs 3.0… which one to get?
I am wondering.. I am a wimpy 64yr old lady that weighs 200 pounds. Which of the lectric foldable e bikes would you suggest for me? I live in a first floor street level apartment for now but dont think I would be able to carry a heavy foldable in an emergency, on the other hand i would like a bike that can accomodate my weight and has the neccessary motor strength to get me to work on a daily basis. What do you suggest?
Hard to give a direct answer without knowing where you live, and how long your daily trip would be. Here is a quick collection of information that might help you narrow it down.
If you live in a fairly flat city, the XP Lite is going to be the easiest to lift, as it only weighs 46lbs. And range between 15-40 miles (depending on PAS level and throttle usage). If you live in a place with hills or want a little bit more range the XP 2.0 is going to be the choice, all be it with a bit more weight (64lbs). Range is 17-45 miles.
Only reason I wouldn't recommend the XPremium is strictly about weight. At 75 lbs it is the beast of the bunch. However it is going to get you the most range (50-100 miles).
I hope that insight helped a bit. Let me know if that helped or if you have any more specific questions. -JT
i have a bagi which is nice. but, thinking about a second bike. i like step through and upright and thinking about liking water resistant and for using for hunting/fishing and all around use and maybe commuting and hauling some gear in a trailer. aventure vs rad rover 6 vs lectric xp premium? any thoughts?
If you are primarily going to be riding offroad were ground clearance and grip are going to be key, I think you should go with either the Aventure or Rad. The Aventure does offer the largest peak power motor, which I think will lend a nice hand to hauling a trailer. But it is hard to beat the reliability of a Rad power bike.
@@EbikeEscape thanks so much
Can the rear battery be replaced with a larger one, and still function in sync with the front one? ( looking for more ah)
I have a Rad Mini 4 and I'm looking for more power for hill. Maybe a little more range. How does this compare?
With the dual batteries and the torque sensor mid-drive you will surely get more range (more efficient riding). You get all the gears on the hill though you should watch our RadMini review to compare these side by side on the hill.
I'm assuming you didn't charge the bike before the test rides? The battery seemed to deplete much quicker than my XP.
Our rear battery was actually not working during this review - I missed removing some tape.
How do you order a bike none of their emails work and I can't get through on the phone
ok... now Rad Power Bikes HAS to offer mid drive bikes. I'll be in the market within a year or two. Rad better be ready.
Not sure Rad will go that way, as mid drives are less reliable, and this one in particular is weaker than Rad's 750 watt motors. 0 to 20mph for the XPremium is 14.3 seconds, a Rad Mini step through does it in 9.8 seconds.
@@Altema22 mid drives are only less reliable of you don't operate them properly. And the motor on the XPremium peaks at 800 Watts compared to the 750W peak on Rad's motors. Not to mention, a mid drive has higher torque than a hub.
Acceleration to top speed is neither here nor there. The mid drive will achieve higher top speeds and hold them while using less energy. Mark my words: Rad will develop a mid drive.
Where did you get that great hi vis jacket for riding?
It is from Shower's Pass. It is their Refuge Jacket. Here is link: bit.ly/3p5OZjn (affiliate link)
Great review
pros and cons comparing mid drive and rear drive hubs? how's this compare to the espin nesta? component wise/quality? Do you feel the upgraded seat post/seat is worth the cost compared to buying the c9 seat/post upgrade?
The unfoldable triangle mount-stand on the bottom center concerns me, it looks like a major and scary SNAG hazard. Thoughts?
The stand is a very similar design that we have seen on a number of other folding bikes. With that said, we have never had an issue with snagging on anything. As long as you are aware of the stand is there, it shouldn't be an issue on traditional roadways or bike paths.
Yes it is dangerous! Check out Goneagain. His wife broke an ankle because that fixed stand got hung up and threw her off. He recommends cutting that piece off if you get a bike like this.
Thanks for long long review appreciate wish you had got to some of the more serious things top speed battery life how far it'll go these things matter
We just launched our top speed test video and will follow up with more videos soon!
Ordered one thru your affiliate link 👍🏻
Thank you - I appreciate it!
So...would you prefer this or the 2.0? Cross country here over 8k miles on ST. Looking for next bike now
I was the first one to pre-order the X-Premium. I upgraded my XP 2.0 order when the pre-order for the new X-Premium was first announced! I upgraded and paid in full for the X-Premium black (with accessories).
Waited since April, they said it will be delivered early June. Waited and waited, then before June, they informed me that it will be delayed till July. Mid July came and there's still no information which is frustrating.
23rd of July, the bike came but it's a wrong color!!! They sent me white!
After waiting for many months,
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY SENT ME THE WRONG COLOR!
Now, I don't know how looong will I wait again to have it replaced with the right one!!!
What's happening LECTRIC???!!!
Please give me information about the tote you use. I just got my XPremium and while I like it.... it is heavy and I need a tote to protect it when folded and transporting.
I found a 55 gallon tote at Home Depot fits perfectly for the XPremium
Do both batteries charge from the single external port?
No they do not. Each battery is charged from their own ports. Lectric also includes 2 chargers, so you can charge both batteries at the same time.
Great learning mid drive video thanks much.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Is the top speed really 28 mph on pedal assist 4-5
Would love to find the right sized plastic tote, but all the ones with the correct dimensions are tapered (so they can stack in stores) so much that the inner dimensions are way to small. Your tote has fairly straight sides! What and where did you get yours and where can I find one so I don't ruin my bike or car when transporting it. Thank you...
The tote is for Christmas tree storage. Not sure if they just don't sell them year round or if they just don't exist like this anymore.
We will keep an eye out in the near future for one that can work, and will report back. -JT
How many amps is the controller?
Is there any accessories option that allow for a front child seat mount ?
Do they have an unlock code to make that one a class 3 or to go 28 mph?
I'm going to buy the Lectric XP Light can you recommend to me the suspension seat post that you think is the best and do you possibly know the seat post size that I'll need???
It's ok if you don't know the size when I get the bike I'm sure I can get it measured.
Here is a link to the SR Suntour NCX seat post. Also needed with this purchase is a shim for the seat post to the bike's tube. You will need a 27.2 to 31.8 shim, I also linked that below. Hope that helps. -JT
-SR Suntour Seat Post: amzn.to/3Uh7a2L (affiliate link)
-27.2 to 31.8 Shim: amzn.to/3FU0pjh (affiliate link)
i can't fine a bin that size anywhere. Where did you buy yours
thanks
We have had decent luck at Fleet Farms and Lowes.
I may have missed it but can it ride with only one battery in?
Yes you can. -Doesn't matter which one. The bike will function on one of either battery.-
It does matter which battery. The XPremium will run with just the front battery installed.
@@EbikeEscape This would make the bike about 10 pounds lighter but with half the range.
Do you think you could turn the handlebars to bring them in closer to the rider-like they do on the other lectric bikes?
You could lean the bars a bit further back to you. Not sure how much you would gain though. The "top tube" on the XPremium is a bit longer due to the integrated battery. I believe that is why the reach feels a but longer then than the XP 2.0. -JT
I had the handlebars flipped around on my XPremium & I love it….. The reach for me is about 5 in. Closer to me….
When are the chain guards
So, with the dual batteries, I assume they will both need to be replaced at the same time when they've reached the end of life? I am so interested in the mid-drive motor which I am struggling to find in other ebikes, but also trying to think ahead about the expense of keeping the bike operational. I do not know what my future holds, but I am thinking ahead about the possibility of not being able to afford to replace both of them at the same time.
That would be my assumption unless you opt to not use the rear battery all the time. You may also want to check out the Prodigy - we did a review.
I’m 5’ 11” with a 32” inseam… think this bike will fit me? Thanks again for all the helpful reviews!
Yes it should. Ryan has a similar inseam, and the XPremium fits him nicely.
Thank you
I wish they would do smaller tires. 3in would be more than sufficient.
With both the baskets will this fold down all the way?
Thank you very much for the reviews that you do on the E bikes. I noticed that the maximum speed on the snap bike going up the hill was about 17 mph whereas the maximum speed on the electric X premium came down to about 9 mph. Any observation on this. Since the X premium cost about $300 more I would’ve thought that it would’ve had a little bit more consistent speed. I’ll be interested in your opinion.
The Snapcycle is super powerful. We'll do another hill climb on the XPremium sometime soon but just generally that bike will be happier climbing long steep hills since it's utilizing a lower gear. And since the mid-drives pull the drivetrain companies have to be careful to make sure they aren't going to rip through drivetrains. So think about the pedaling experience on each if you're comparing them unless you want the fastest bike up a hill of course.
So confused? My xpremium just got delivered and it has the comfort package already installed. It even says on the box “comfort package” in the picture of the tv. I didn’t order the comfort package just the cargo package. Hmmmm. My lite didn’t come with that. Wonder if it was a mistake. There was no promo going on when I purchased. Just ordered the premium and cargo. Emailed for my military discount and boom have a comfort package. I hope it’s good. I usually upgrade the seats on bikes. Did on my lite and my other cargo ebike.
Guess you got lucky!