Lectric XPeak 2.0 Review

Lectric has become renowned for selling value-oriented bikes that bring many of the features of higher-end brands to the consumer at lower cost. Since they sell directly to the consumer, you don't have the benefit of test-riding them in your local bike shop but for many, the value proposition is so high that foregoing a test-ride is a luxury they're willing to skip. We've been impressed with most Lectric bikes we've tested but had a few qualms with the original XPeak. This bike mutes much of our criticism of the original bike and is an exciting product in this segment as it brings respectable performance and comfort at an unrivaled value.

Performance Comparison

Ride

The XPeak 2.0 has an imposing appearance, the bike looks ready to crush smaller bikes in an arena or explore the plains of the moon. The hydroformed aluminum frame is robust and even with the massive downtube, it doesn't look large next to the 4" wide tires. The front end is supported by a Renegade suspension fork that gives 80mm of tunable travel but can be turned off if you'd like to increase pedal efficiency. The bike rides with confidence inspiring inertia, cruising over and through terrain that would foil most bikes. A 68-degree headtube angle and 40mm stem give the bike a relaxed feel up front with slow steering that never feels twitchy or unstable. Looking over the front wheel, you feel empowered, emboldened and ready for just about any terrain.

The bike uses a 750W hub motor with Lectric's M24 Stealth technology to provide quiet, powerful assistance. Five pedal-assist levels allow you to choose how hard you want to pedal, or you can use the thumb activated throttle and not pedal at all. The pedaling dynamics benefit from the torque sensor that adds power proportional to the pressure you exert on the pedals. A 73-degree seat tube angle over 170mm crank arms allow you to add some torque, but the 230mm q-factor feels quite wide for extended pedaling efforts. Power comes from a UL-2271 compliant 48V, 15Ah battery that nestles into the downtube keeping your center of gravity low. At 180 pounds with backpack, I felt the bike had ample power for all but the steepest grades.

The wheelbase measures 1160mm, giving the bike a stable feel while riding, but it can be a handful to move around in the garage. Our test bike weighed in at 81 pounds and 3 ounces, including the fenders, rack, and suspension seatpost offered as free accessories when we bought the bike. The 720Wh battery weighs just under 9.5 pounds, removing it may help you load the bike onto a bike rack. The bike is heavy and difficult to move with or without the battery. When you're riding it, the bike's power does wonders to mask its weight, but when you need to park, lift, or transport it you're confronted with its cumbersome size and mass. It's no more difficult than any other fat tire e-bike but considerably more massive than most commuter e-bikes.

The RST suspension fork and high-volume 4" Hippo Skin tires give you the sensation of levitating. It's wildly comfortable and capable of riding on almost all surfaces but favors less extreme terrain. This is partially due to the bike's weight, but the 680mm handlebar doesn't put the rider in the most aggressive position. The width is comfortable for cruising and general riding, but navigating technical terrain is best done behind a wider handlebar. Ergonomic lock on grips let you comfortably rest your palms and the suspension seat post provides even more rider isolating vibration dampening.

XPeak 2.0 is available in two frame styles, step-over and step-through. We originally tested the step-through version and loved how easy it was to get on and off. This time we opted for the step-over style and while it's harder to mount and dismount, the bike feels more torsionally stiff. This could be due to the frame style or the new hydroformed downtube. The step-over frame has a standover height of 29" while the step-through has a standover height of 19.5". Lectric recommends the step-over model for riders between 5'4" and 6'5" and the step-through model for riders between 5'2" and 6'3". Our 5'4" tester had a hard time with the bike's 29" standover height but that has more to do with inseam measurement than overall height. The 73-degree seat tube angle means the bike's reach increases as the saddle height increases. Our 6'2" tester felt like he was at the limit of the bike's reach so riders taller than that may not find the fit ideal. While the stem can raise and lower on the steerer tube by about 15mm, there are no other sizing adjustments on the front end. I wanted the stem to be higher and handlebars wider, to achieve this, you would need to replace those components.

One thing that sets the XPeak 2.0 apart from the competition is its high quality RST Renegade fork. The fork is particularly well-suited for this bike, as it uses a 15mm thru-axle and provides 80mm of travel. The thru-axle makes a solid connection with the front wheel and eliminates flex and distortion that can happen at the junction. Unlike many other suspension forks, the Renegade has a lockout and adjustable preload so it can be set up for riders of different sizes. Although the suspension fork is in the front of the bike, it supports much of the rider's weight. When I was out of the saddle going downhill, especially on rough terrain, I noticed that the fork was active and helped keep my entire body suspended. Braking is handled by hydraulic brakes using mineral oil and is stronger than the previous model due to a larger front rotor. Two piston calipers squeeze a 180mm rotor in the rear and a 203mm rotor in the front, giving the bike excellent stopping power, even when the brakes are wet.

A Shimano Altus 8-Speed drivetrain uses an 11-32 cassette, giving the bike a slightly lower gear than the outgoing model and a much more ergonomic and user-friendly shifter. The derailleur uses a bolt-on cage to protect it from damage. These devices work great in theory, but Lectric's model is somewhat flimsy. It may protect your derailleur hanger from getting bent, but we've also found these cages to be a liability, as they can bend into your derailleur and prevent the bike from shifting. It's not a big deal; perhaps something is better than nothing; our only real gripe with the bike (and almost all Lectric bikes) is the quick release pedals. The idea is that they detach from the bike for easy transport, but they don't realistically make it any easier to transport while making the pedal interface wobbly. Pedals aren't expensive, and we'd recommend that anyone who buys this bike and rides it extensively replace the pedals with standard flat pedals.

A few add-ons make the ride of the XPeak 2.0 even better. It's unclear if all XPeak 2.0 bikes are spec'd with these additions, or if they were a promotion when we purchased them. Our bike included polypropylene fenders that are lightweight and quiet and keep you dry in wet conditions. A suspension seatpost added some comfort to the bike's rear half, and I found the upgraded headlight bright enough to navigate trails after dusk. The headlight seems larger than it needs to be but looks appropriate on a bike with tires this large. Our test bike also included a rear rack with an integrated brake light that brightens when you hit the brakes. The bike's large battery pack powers the head and the tail light. The rack can hold up to 60 pounds, and is compatible with panniers and an aftermarket basket that Lectric sells.

Range

In general, fat-tire bikes produce more resistance than bikes with narrower tires. The conformity of their tires to the road, rolling resistance, and the bike's weight all take their toll on the bike's range. The XPeak 2.0 uses a larger battery than its predecessor, and an even larger (960Wh battery) is available at purchase. Our range testing uses the same course for all of our bikes, it's a mix of surfaces over rolling hills with very few stops. To perform this test, we put the bike in its highest power setting, inflate the tires to maximum pressure, and ride while only using the throttle. Our test rider weighs in before the test and then adds weight to a backpack so that we're always using a 180 pound test rider.

We tested the bike's range with the battery charged to maximum capacity, tracking our mileage with three different apps simultaneously. We rode the XPeak in PAS 5 and held the throttle down, pushing us to the bike's maximum throttle speed of 20mph over a considerable amount of our test track. Lectic lists the range of the XPeak as “up to 60 miles” and their estimate involves a rider pedaling the bike so we didn't expect to get nearly that far. Our test rider was able to travel 24.6 miles while climbing 1541 feet of elevation before the battery was completely depleted. The combination of a sligjhtly larger battery and a tad more power put the 2.0 within throwing distance of the results we got for the XPeak 1.0 in the same test last year. Some of the Lectric models we've tested feature a range function in the display that estimates the remaining range but the XPeak 2.0 does not. The range is inferred by looking at a visual depiction of the battery at the top of the bike's display. This may create anxiety for new riders, but you understand how far you can travel on a given amount of power after a few rides.

Power

Rolling on a 750W Stealth M24 motor, the XPeak 2.0 isn't shy of power or torque. The bike accelerates quickly from a stop and handles hills easily. In our hill climbing test, we only used the bike's throttle to test its power. The XPeak sped up to 17.5 mph uphill and held a speed of 12.9 mph through the steepest part of the course, which is slightly slower than the original XPeak. We tested the bike's acceleration on flat ground, in this test, our 180-pound test rider accelerated the bike from a standstill to its top throttle-assisted speed of 20 mph. We hit 20mph in just 8.5 seconds, which is excellent for a bike of this size and weight, the XPeak 1.0 took 11 seconds to reach top speed. The thumb-activated throttle requires very little effort to push and is easy to hold for extended periods of time. As with other Lectric models, this bike has a Cruise Control feature. I first thought it was a silly feature for an e-bike, but after years of testing many Lectric bikes, I've come to appreciate it. To activate cruise control, hold the throttle at your desired speed and simultaneously push the (-) button for two seconds. To deactivate, you touch the throttle or brake lever.

We test a lot of electric bikes and have a pretty sensitive feel for how powerful they are, but it can be hard to quantify those feelings. This is why we test the power and torque using a dynamometer, which gives us exact, repeatable data for the bike's power and torque at the wheel. When we put the XPeak 2.0 on the dyno, it cranked out 1153 watts of power, which equals 1.54 hp at the wheel. It's slightly less than the 1310 watts that Lectric advertises but our measurement is taken at the wheel and includes losses from drivetrain efficiency while their figure is a motor rating. Our dyno test also showed that the XPeak generated 30.7 Nm of torque, which was no surprise as the bike has a robust feel. The numbers are incredibly close to the previous model, the 2.0 generated an additional 33 watts and a smidge less torque.

Five levels of pedal assist are accessed through the plus/minus buttons on the controller on the handlebar's left side. The larger the number, the more power the bike provides. On Lectric bikes, the throttle power changes as you switch pedal assist settings, most ebikes have a full power throttle in all settings. New for the XPeak 2.0 is a torque sensor that replaces the cadence sensor on the original bike. This upgrade is a big deal and really affects the way the bike responds to your input. Cadence sensors sense that you're pedaling and signal the motor to add power, but they don't sense how hard you're pedaling, so sometimes just leveling your cranks causes the bike to speed forward. With a torque sensor, the bike senses the torque you exert on the drivetrain and adds power proportional to your input.

Interface

Lectric uses an M5C display mounted in the center of the handlebar, making it easy to read while riding. The color LCD uses numbers and graphics to provide ride data in a user-friendly format. The display has a 9cm screen and a USB-C charging port on the bottom. If you choose to use a handlebar mounted phone for navigation, keeping it plugged in not only charges it but keeps your screen illuminated. The display has a colored bar chart at the top representing your battery's charge state with 10 bars. In the center of the display in large numbers is your current speed and below is your current pedal assist setting. On the bottom of the screen is a data field that can be switched by tapping the power button, it shows trip distance, total distance, voltage, current, and elapsed time.

Interacting with the bike's electronics is done through a three-button controller on the left side of the handlebar. A power button switches the bike on/off, and as stated above, it lets you toggle through info screens. A (+) button increases your pedal assist with a quick touch or switches the headlight on with a long push. A quick touch of the (-) button decreases the pedal assist mode, or a long touch engages the bike's walking mode. With a bike this heavy, walk mode helps move it when you're not riding it. Holding the button down powers the motor to walking speed so you can easily walk along next to the bike or use it to let the bike push itself up a ramp. A key on the right side of the downtube locks or unlocks the battery, which comes out of the bottom of the downtube.

The removable battery allows you to charge it away from where you're parking and also allows you to reduce the weight of the bike during transport. Removing the battery takes only seconds and reduces the bike's weight by almost 9.5 pounds. Another way to utilize the removable battery is pulling it out when locking the bike up. The battery is a very expensive part of the bike, and the bike without a battery is not nearly as attractive to would-be thieves. The bike carries an IP-65 water resistance rating, allowing you to ride in the rain and snow. The standard charger that is included with the bike charges the battery in 7.5 hours. If you want increased charging speed, a 5 amp charger is available that can charge the battery in 3 hours.

Assembly

Lectric sells their bikes directly to you, so assembly will be your responsibility. The build process has been streamlined, with the majority of the bike assembled upon arrival. Once you've pulled the bike from the box and removed the packaging, you'll need to install the handlebars, front wheel, front fender and pedals. None of these tasks require advanced skills and you can see in the video below that we assembled our bike in less than 21 minutes. Lectric provides tools, clear instructions, and even an assembly video if you are a visual learner. If mechanical aptitude isn't your forte, most bicycle shops would happily assemble and tune your bike for a small fee. Once assembled, you inflate the tires to the proper pressure, charge the battery, and make necessary fit adjustments, and you're ready to ride.

Should You Buy the Lectric XPeak 2.0?

The XPeak 2.0 is an incredibly capable and fun to ride ebike. If you want a bike that won't be limited by where the pavement ends, the fat tires and suspension fork allow you to explore in comfort. The bike offers above-average comfort and power but also an above-average weight. It's a good choice if you're riding from home, but transporting the bike on a bike rack is less than ideal. While you can remove the battery to decrease its weight, the bike's length and tire volume call for a fairly specialized bike rack. If a fat-tire ebike checks your boxes, this one offers a significantly better value than most on the market.

What Other Electric Commuter Bikes Should You Consider?

If you want fat-tires and a more robust bike, theAventon Aventure.2 is our editor's choice fat tire e-bike with a 400 pound weight limit and longer warranty. The bikes have similar ride qualities but Aventon does not offer different battery configurations.