CleanTechnica Tested: The Lectric eBikes XPedition Dual Battery Cargo Bike

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The Lectric eBikes XPedition Series represents a step forward for the Phoenix-based company and brings a ton of new capability, power, range, and hauling capacity into the Lectric lineup. We were impressed after our first ride of a few pre-production builds and eager to see what the final version looked like so when they sent one our way, we were eager to get out onto the streets with it.

The Build

When assembling a bike, you get to know it at a more intimate level. The quality (or lack thereof) is more evident and the amount of thought put into the design, packaging, and shipping are exposed. The Lectric XPedition Series e-bikes are the first e-bikes from Lectric without a fold in the middle of the frame so they ship in larger, full-sized e-bike boxes.

Just like on Lectric’s other e-bikes, the handlebars and upper stem still fold down, meaning you can drop the seat and fold the handlebars down to make it a vertically more compact bike. This is handy for folks with SUVs and wagons where you can just fold down the handlebars and fit it into the back of the vehicle in an upright position.

Many folding bikes to date feature folding pedals with their bulbous centers. For the XPedition Series, Lectric fixed this with a completely new design featuring a snap-in, quick release pedal system. To insert the pedals, the locking mechanism pulls back, allowing the pedal to slide into the crank. When the locking mechanism is released, the pedal locks into place. The new quick release pedals are also thinner than a standard pedal meaning less weight. It’s a really slick system and a nice solution to keeping the horizontal profile of the bike as narrow as possible while still preserving the overall riding experience.

The XPedition is a bit of a tank when it comes down to it. It was built to haul anything and everything and that shows when it’s time to hit the scale. The dual battery build we tested tips the scales at 75 pounds without any accessories. With so much power from the motor, the weight isn’t very noticeable when riding, but it is likely to impact how it’s stored, moved around, and assembled.

This is understandable given it’s carrying capacity, but when it comes to assembly it makes it a bit unwieldy. For our assembly, we simply cut the corners of the box down to the ground to avoid having to lift the bike out of the box. From there, we were able to complete the assembly.

Earlier this year, Lectric eBikes started including slime tire sealant in the tubes of all of its bikes. That is a huge step up and while sealant is not terribly expensive, it was one of the things we would add to every single review bike, given the hassle of getting a flat on an e-bike. Combined with ubiquitous puncture resistant tires, sealant is a great way to reduce tire punctures and if nothing else, it notifies you when there is a puncture and helps identify the location. We also recommend adding a tire liner to the formula for what is a nearly invincible combination for puncture resistance.

The footrests on the XPedition bolt to the frame as part of the assembly. They felt a bit flimsy out of the box, but when bolted into place, they seemed serviceable. It’s not like you’re going to be doing jumping jacks on them. They exist for rear passenger comfort, but with a 300-pound rear rack capacity, they might be a bit light on support.

The Ride

The first ride of any new bike is a tuning ride. It’s a quick trip around the neighborhood to ensure all the critical systems are working. We check everything from brakes to tire pressure, fender alignment, derailleur tuning, and seat height. We didn’t have any issues on the first ride of the XPedition and it was ready to take out on the town for its first official showing.

The geometry of the XPedition makes it possible to set up with either a more aggressive, forward-leaning posture or as more of a cruiser style bike with upright seating. The adjustable stem on the XPedition makes it easy to move the handlebars forward for more aggressive riding or back towards the rider for more casual riding with the flip of a lever. This capability also makes it a breeze to share the bike between different riders who can quickly adjust the seat and handlebar position to their preferences. A double extending seat post further extends the customization of the bike for riders ranging from 4′ 11″ / 150cm to 6′ 5″ / 195cm.

The XPedition absolutely shines on the open road. The frame is sturdy and paired with a set of oversized 22″ x 3″ street tires, makes for a ride that is comfortable and controlled. The smaller diameter tires keep the weight of the bike and any cargo in tow low to the ground for even more stability.

The star of the show on the Lectric XPedition is definitely the rear motor. It boasts an average power output of 750 watts, which keeps it within the federal guidelines for the three official classes of electric bikes. The secret sauce for the motor on the XPedition is its peak power output of 1,310 watts. At nearly double the average output of the motor, the peak output feels like a kick in the pants when you spike the throttle or kick the pedal assist to level 5 for maximum boost. It’s what makes the XPedition series so fun for individual riding and capable when hauling a full load of cargo.

For context, 1,300 watts is nearly two horsepower and while the XPedition isn’t a motorcycle, it definitely pushes the limits for what’s possible under the current electric bike guidelines in the US. At only $1,399, this amount of motor paired with the larger battery and the rock solid frame makes the XPedition series an extreme value.

For normal use around town, the XPedition series is more than up to the task. With an adult up front, it’s hard to overload the bike unless you’re really, really trying to do something that you would need a full-size SUV for. You’re not going to fit a family of four on this thing but with a bit of work and assuming you can stay under the cargo limit, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be able to handle it.

On the electric side of things, Lectric stepped up the battery capacity with the XPedition Series to 14 amp-hours for a single pack and 28 amp-hours for the dual battery build. That’s significantly larger than the 10 amp-hour batteries on the iconic Lectric XP. The larger battery enables the XPedition to go farther, do more, push harder, and to carry more weight than all of Lectric’s previous offerings by a long shot.

Accessories

Lectric eBikes offers a range of new and existing accessories that you can quickly add to the XPedition to kit it out for whatever mischievous adventures you’re planning. The company sent us a set of its XL Cargo Bags, designed to have enough structure and volume for two bags of groceries, and while it would be nice if they folded flat, they are absolutely voluminous, leveraging the full length of the rear rack for side storage. If you’re looking to haul more humans around with you, Lectric offers the Orbitor, a rear rack support for two kids and the Plus 1 Chair to make it easier to bring larger humans along for the ride.

Lectric also offers cargo platforms, insulated cargo bags, infant car seats that snap directly in to the rear rack, front racks and the like. Head over to its accessories site to see the full list.

Overall

The Lectric eBikes XPedition bikes are so capable, it’s almost stupid. It’s harder to imagine tasks they wouldn’t be able to do than it is to explain the lengthy list of configurations they can support. The quality they bring to the budget e-bike space is hands down, bar none, the best in the game. Sure, it would be nice to have a better derailleur, chain, and gear system, but you can always upgrade that later. The core bits that really matter — the frame geometry, frame material, motor, battery system, controller, and capacity — are all rock solid, begging to be put to use.

The XPedition can easily handle small tasks like running to the grocery store, picking up supplies at the hardware store, a quick sprint to Target to pick up some Hot Wheels, or a trip to the mall. Truth be told, the electric e-bikes XPedition series will have you wanting to take more trips than your local infrastructure can probably support.

It will almost immediately have you asking where can you actually lock up your e-bike when you go to the mall, Lowe’s, Dairy Queen, and the like. You’ll quickly identify the streets where it’s safe to ride your bike and where more cycling infrastructure is needed in your area. And with all of the limitations of what e-bikes could or should do blown out of the water, you’ll finally just might realize just how damn fun electric vehicles are and invariably end up slapping yourself in the face, because you didn’t buy two of them from the start.

To learn more about or to purchase the Lectric eBikes XPedition Series, head over to the official website.

Lectric eBikes XPedition Dual Battery Cargo Bike Specs

• Motor: Rear hub motor pushing out 750 watts continuous, 1,310 watts peak power w/85Nm torque
• Dual Battery: 1,345 Wh / 28Ah twin removable batteries w/NMC cells
• Range: Throttle only: 50 miles, Pedal assist level 1: 150 miles
• Frame: Long tail cargo frame built with 6000 series aluminum
• Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors
• Rear Rack Capacity: 300 pounds
• Weight Capacity: 450 pounds
• Color: Fog Grey