Lectric XPress Ebike Review – Torque Sensor & Class 3 Speed on a Budget
The Lectric XPress is the continuation of Lectric’s successful efforts of trying to take over the affordable electric bike market.
The XPress is a budget-friendly electric commuter bike with respectable Class 3 electronics, a torque sensor, reliable hydraulic brakes, and a few other aces up its sleeve.
With a $999 starting price, it doesn’t come as a surprise that there is also some room for improvement, such as underwhelming lights and a rough finish, but the overall package offers phenomenal value for the money—as we’ve come to expect from other Lectric electric bikes.
In our Lectric XPress review below, we’ll go into detail about the good and the bad, helping you decide if this is a good buy for your needs.
Lectric XPress Main Specs
- MSRP: $999-$1,299
- Motor: 500W (55 Nm) or 750W (85 Nm) rear hub (Torque sensor)
- Battery: 48V 10.4 Ah or 14 Ah
- Drivetrain: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
- Range: 45-60 Miles
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Tire Size: 27.5″ x 2.1″
- Weight: 57 lb
- Payload Capacity: 330 lb
Learn More on LectricEbikes.com
Lectric XPress Full Review
If you live in a city and want to commute faster and be more efficient on busy city streets, the Lectric XPress is a compelling choice. Thanks to its accessible price tag, it’s also a great choice for college students who need a fast way of getting around the campus.
The XPress has an aluminum frame that rolls on 27.5-inch wheels, providing a stable base for riding at full Class 3 speeds and going over speed bumps or curbs.
The Lectric XPress is a versatile e-commuter ideal for urban riders, offering a stable ride at Class 3 speeds, two power options, and a responsive torque sensor.
The choice of two motor and battery combinations (500W or 750W) lets you get the right power option for your needs and the area you’ll ride in. On top of that, the XPress is Lectric’s first ebike with a torque sensor, which translates to a much more intuitive riding experience.
Most commuters appreciate accessories like fenders and a rear rack, but the XPress comes with lights and a kickstand only. To get the full accessory package, you’ll need to pay another $30, which is a reasonable price.
Sturdy Frame and Fork
The Lectric XPress is built around a sturdy aluminum frame, but buyers are presented with two options. You can either choose a high-step or a step-through frame design, available in black and white colors, respectively.
The fit between the two is slightly different. The high-step has a tall 29-inch standover height and fits a 5’4″ to 6’4″ height range, whereas the step-thru has a much shorter 18.5-inch standover and fits riders 5’2″ to 6’3″ tall.
Unfortunately, each frame version is available in a single size only, but that’s the deal with budget ebikes from direct-to-consumer brands like Lectric, Aventon, Ride1UP, or Rad Power Bikes.
For a more comfortable riding experience, the XPress boasts a custom 80 mm coil fork that takes the edge out of the roughest bumps on typical urban rides.
The only thing we dislike here are the rough welds, but the geometry of the frame and the battery integration look great.
Punchy Motor and Battery
As we’ve mentioned above, if you decide to purchase the Lectric XPress, you’ll be able to choose between two rear hub motor and battery combos.
The first one costs just $999 and features a 500W/55 Nm motor combined with a 500 Wh battery that offers a 45-mile range. The second one costs $1,299 and comes with a more powerful 750W/85 Nm motor and 672 Wh battery combination that delivers 60 miles of range per charge.
According to Lectric, the 500W motor is a brand-new unit that’s 400% quieter compared to older 500W motors installed on the brand’s other models.
The assistance can be controlled with five levels of pedal-assist and an ergonomic thumb throttle, supported by a torque sensor. The torque sensor uses Lectric’s PWR+ technology that controls power output based on the rider’s pedaling effort.
Entry-Level Drivetrain and Brakes
The Lectric XPress boasts enviable braking performance thanks to a pair of hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors. Hydraulic brakes offer a lot more braking power compared to cheaper mechanical disc brakes, so we’re happy to see them.
However, when it comes to the drivetrain, there’s not much the XPress can boast about. It comes with a basic Shimano Tourney 7-speed rear derailleur, which is the cheapest you can get in Shimano’s hierarchy.
The good news is that the 11-28T cassette and 46T chainring combo give you a decent gear range to be able to reach and exceed the 28 mph top speed. This was an issue with some of Lectric’s previous ebikes with 20-inch wheels, as it was sometimes challenging to go over the 20 mph mark.
Urban-Ready Accessories
The list of accessories is very important for many riders who want an ebike that’s suited for their needs right out of the box. Unfortunately, that might not be the case with the Lectric XPress.
This streamlined electric commuter comes with front and rear lights and a kickstand, but no fenders or a rear rack. You can install these at checkout by choosing the “Starter Package” upgrade for a $99 surcharge.
Frankly, we believe Lectric should have included these as standard, considering most of its competitors have full accessories, including Aventon Pace 500, Ride1UP 700 Series, and Rad Power Bikes Radster.
Road-Oriented Wheels and Tires
Before releasing the XPress e-commuter, Lectric had a lack of full-length ebikes in its lineup. Most of its models come with compact 20-inch wheels that are great for storage, but not ideal for high-speed riding over uneven city streets littered with obstacles.
The XPress is different as it rolls on much more practical 27.5″ wheels and tires that offer fast acceleration and make it easy to maintain the top speed. Moreover, riding over curbs, speed bumps, or tram tracks will be much less noticeable compared to doing so with smaller wheels.
The wheels are paired with 2.1-inch road-ready slick tires with puncture-protection. Lectric installed puncture-resistant slime inside the tires, so you can hop on and ride without worrying about being late because of a sudden puncture.
Is There Room for Improvement?
As with any other budget-friendly bike in the $1,000 price range, there is some room for improvement. Even though the XPress offers a value for the money that’s hard to beat, there are a few things we’d change to make it a more appealing choice for commuting.
For example, the headlight is not very bright and the taillight does not double as a brake light. Having brake light functionality greatly improves safety in urban areas, so we think this is an important feature on an ebike that aims to be used for commuting.
The Lectric XPress offers excellent value, but could be even better for commuters with a brighter headlight, brake light functionality, throttle in pedal-assist zero, and smoother frame welds.
Another flaw is that the throttle doesn’t work when the bike is in pedal assist level 0. This is inconvenient if you want to ride without assistance, but you still want to get a bit of a push when pulling away from a traffic light or riding uphill.
Finally, as we’ve mentioned above, the welds are quite rough and noticeable, but smooth welds are typically reserved for pricier ebikes.
Other Lectric E-Bikes We’ve Reviewed:
Final Thoughts About the Lectric XPress
Overall, the Lectric XPress continues the brand’s history of disrupting the budget e-bike market. It’s a solid value-for-money electric commuter that checks a lot of boxes for its price.
The torque sensor, two motor options, hydraulic brakes, and respectable range make it an extremely tempting choice.
While there are some drawbacks like less-than-ideal components and a few missing features, the XPress is worth serious consideration if you need a simple and reliable way to get around town on a budget.
If speed, convenience, and a smooth ride are your priorities, the Lectric XPress is a definite contender.
Share this on:
Hang on, the now-seemingly-memory-holed Lectric XPremium had a torque sensor, so the XPress isn’t the first.
What the heck happened to the XPremium, anyway? I love mine, and I don’t understand why it’s disappeared.
Hey Leslie!
Sorry for the confusion, the XPress is Lectric’s first ebike with a rear hub motor and a torque sensor. The XPremium had a mid-drive motor and a torque sensor.
As to what happened to it—Lectric simply shifted priorities and determined they wanted to focus on other categories. Perhaps it will come back in the future—we surely hope so!