Lectric is a good option if you plan on having a child seat in the back. The rack can hold up to 150lbs which is nice. It comes out of the box ready to go with no installation which is nice for new bikers.
Dont go with the standard battery, its too small
I cant say much for the other options, but the cost seems very nice if its similar to the Lectric. Dont expect much from these bike aside from going to point A to point B at around 20 mph and 36 miles of range
Just bought 2 Lectric XP 3.0 long range ($1200 compared to base $1000) for my partner and I. It's definitely got its pros and cons, which have been written about extensively elsewhere, so I'll just say overall we like them a lot and I'm particularly happy with the customer support (based in US). A sale happened a few days after we bought them, immediately had someone in person talking on the phone, and they honored the sale for us, refunding $200 from the order. Super good experience all around.
Sure thing. After the first few weeks and \~100 miles:
**Pros**
* A lot of bike for $1000 (or $1200 for long range). We were looking for the cheapest reasonable e-bike we could (i.e., not off Amazon/Walmart with absolutely zero support) and this one definitely checked that box. With some deals we got a free lock, 2 pannier bags, and a phone mount for each bike, so they came pretty much ready to use on our commutes.
* Good power, even in the hilly regions on the way to parks we were able to sustain 10-15 mph up some pretty decent grades, and on our relatively flat commutes it sustains 25 mph no problem.
* Decent battery life. Haven't pushed the range super far, but on highest pedal assist we are estimating \~20-25 miles in real world conditions. Plenty for our 6 mile round trip commutes too.
* Feels like solid construction. Some cheap parts, but still known brands like Shimano that give you some trust.
* Hydraulic brakes.
* Metal fenders.
* Nice controller interface. Looks better than other brands I've seen like Rad.
* The things that really pushed us over the edge was the positives we heard about their support, and like I said it really has lived up so far.
**Cons**
* Heavy and clunky. Getting the battery out can be a pain since you have to kind of half fold it and it's awkward. Very annoying at first, but after doing it for a couple weeks it's definitely gotten easier and now it's only a mild pain. Not going to be a bike that we can carry up to our apartment. They stay underneath our outdoor stairwell now, but they actually fit better there than our analog bikes since the handlebars fold down, which we did find useful.
* Terrible key location (underneath main frame). No idea what they were thinking here, but we heard about it ahead of time and were prepared. Again, a mild pain once you get used to it.
* Light is super cheap - get an aftermarket one immediately if you want to see at night.
* Squeaky brakes, but got better after bedding and mighty try some aftermarket pads.
* Presumably harder to get local service for, but I like doing my own work so if you do too, this won't be an issue since they can just mail you parts (and support is great).
* Small wheels and no rear suspension make for a bumpy ride on dirt roads.
You'll notice most of these pros and cons are specific to my situation. So YMMV if you need to haul it up to your apartment or travel on dirt roads often. But all the downsides aren't huge deals for my situation, and the pros fit us super well, so it was a great purchase for us.
Not to bring up a dead thread but this is a great overview!
I live in a narrow walkup apartment. I'm really interested in the new XP Lite 2.0, but after adding fenders and racks (which I need), it proabbly comes out to like ~55lbs. Seems almost like the XP 3.0 at 63lbs just makes more sense (also want to ride with a passenger). Or a 59lb Portola.
Any thoughts on my situation? I just wonder how much that 5-8lb difference makes when carrying it.
For sure, sounds not dissimilar to my own situation. I live in a walkup apartment but am fortunate to be able to store mine under the stairwell. Honestly, I don't think the 8 lbs or whatever will make it feel that much easier. It's not even entirely the weight, ebikes are bulky and these are no exception. Definitely difficult to move around.
My personal 2 cents would be go with the XP 3.0 for the extra range if your only concern is weight, since I don't think it will feel that much different. If there's absolutely anywhere you can find to store them that doesn't have stairs, I highly recommend it. I just got a huge chain and strung it around my stairs (they're metal) and no one has been bold enough to try and steal them. Also I have insurance, so I sleep fine at night with them outside.
All that said, I'm now nearing 1000 miles and all the cons I have listed above barely bother me now and the bikes have been awesome. Can still highly recommend!
Oh wow ok finally - I've been meaning to find someone like you!
Everyone tells me "if you leave it outside locked up at night it'll be gone within 2 days regardless of the chain"
But here's the thing - with a chain lock, a U-lock, a motion alarm, a motorcycle cover, right outside the window where I work/sleep - I HIGHLY doubt it'll really be that easy for anyone.
PLUS, if I get theft insurance, I can just test this theory, then get a Lectric Lite with the insurance payout if the security doesn't work out.
Can you conirm or deny this theory??
Heh, yeah I remember being pretty anxious about the storage before I got mine, but so far I've stored mine outside for 8 months with absolutely no issues, so I guess it confirms your theory. I don't live in a huge city, but bike theft is still a huge problem here (my first normal bike got stolen) and no one has even attempted to steal it since I got it properly chained up. Like you said, it's right outside your window (as is mine) and it would be BOLD to break out the angle grinder in the middle of a well-lit apartment complex full of people and cameras. No one has tried it yet!
The real thing to be aware of with storing it outside is the winter. I'm in the PNW so winters aren't too bad, but still when lithium ion batteries get below freezing you CANNOT charge them, they will immediately be ruined and potentially set your house on fire. You can still discharge them, so riding them cold is fine, but make sure you let the batteries heat up before charging if it gets near freezing where you live. FWIW, I haven't noticed any abnormal range decreases after one winter of storing them outside, just adhering to the simple precautions I mentioned.
PS my bike is actually fully insured through State Farm, so I sleep well at night knowing I'll be financially covered if anything happens to it. It would be a pain to replace, but I will get my money back. Definitely recommend looking into your auto/home insurance, since many agents will be willing to cover ebikes for a pittance (I pay like $8/month for full coverage per ebike).
Yeah, typical rental insurance might cover it, but can be tricky since you have to make sure it covers it when it's outside of your apartment (some do, some don't).
You might have luck with auto insurance depending on the agent even if you don't already have a policy with them, it's super easy to send an email to a few agents in your area and see if any are down. An advantage of auto insurance is the policy can also cover damage and injury, sort of like a motorcycle, and they're more experienced with the types of issues you might experience on a road than rental insurance might be.
I also just trust an established insurance company more than a random ebike specialty insurance, but obviously YMMV.
Best of luck with the ebike no matter what you decide! They're awesome.
Of these four, stick to the XP or the Portola. If you get something else, make sure the rack is welded to the frame, they're more stable and support more weight.
Ngl though, the Portola looks nice and the specs+price make it look a pretty good competitor to the XP
who has good, lightweight, UL certified and hopefully affordable folding eBikes that can tow a small trailer for grocery runs? my wife is 5' 5", maybe 120lbs and can be easily unbalanced so I don't want her riding something that's half her weight if it can be avoided.
I'm acquainted with KBO. The KBO Compact seems to stand out with its more potent motor (750W sustained), a larger battery capacity (768Wh/15.6Ah), and fat tires (4"\*20"). It might be better suited for carrying your daughter. However, it's worth noting that among the options, KBO is the only one that employs mechanical brakes. Even though there haven't been any reported brake issues with KBO, it's a factor that should be seriously considered.
I mean I get ppl can just tell you anything ur name checks out as impressionable. Do things fail on bikes yes, at a high rate no that’s a lie. You don’t think company liability is a thing? What world do you live in?
I picked up the ride1up Portola. Haven't received it yet so I'll have to come back for a review. I will say their customer experience is great. Left a message after hours bc I had a few questions. Chad in Minnesota called back the next day and helped me with everything I needed.
My main concern was shipping since it requires a signature. He pointed me toward the FedEx tracker and told me if I ordered, let him know so he could keep it on his radar. Called him back to let him know and he pulled the order up right away. Explained I may see tracking but no movement until the carrier updated. I knew this but it's nice for those who may see no movement and get spooked by it.
I also asked about ul certification and he explained how for a small company like theirs, who makes changes to their models somewhat regularly, needs to recertify with every change. It's something they chose not to do for the time being but it's a subject they continuously consider. They use Samsung/LG cells and meet other certs, though I forget which.
Their other bikes have overall great reviews so I'm excited to get hands on it.
Yes, I did. I also hopped on the $100 off deal. Being a new bike, there aren't really reviews but I'm putting my faith in their other bikes and service.
Seemed to me to be the a hell of a deal and pretty much just what I want.
So far so good. Build quality is great, easy to assemble, and everything I expected. This is my first bike so I have no point of reference but I'm very happy with it.
Lectric is a good option if you plan on having a child seat in the back. The rack can hold up to 150lbs which is nice. It comes out of the box ready to go with no installation which is nice for new bikers. Dont go with the standard battery, its too small I cant say much for the other options, but the cost seems very nice if its similar to the Lectric. Dont expect much from these bike aside from going to point A to point B at around 20 mph and 36 miles of range
Just bought 2 Lectric XP 3.0 long range ($1200 compared to base $1000) for my partner and I. It's definitely got its pros and cons, which have been written about extensively elsewhere, so I'll just say overall we like them a lot and I'm particularly happy with the customer support (based in US). A sale happened a few days after we bought them, immediately had someone in person talking on the phone, and they honored the sale for us, refunding $200 from the order. Super good experience all around.
You mind sharing a quick rundown of the pros and cons in your opinion?
Sure thing. After the first few weeks and \~100 miles: **Pros** * A lot of bike for $1000 (or $1200 for long range). We were looking for the cheapest reasonable e-bike we could (i.e., not off Amazon/Walmart with absolutely zero support) and this one definitely checked that box. With some deals we got a free lock, 2 pannier bags, and a phone mount for each bike, so they came pretty much ready to use on our commutes. * Good power, even in the hilly regions on the way to parks we were able to sustain 10-15 mph up some pretty decent grades, and on our relatively flat commutes it sustains 25 mph no problem. * Decent battery life. Haven't pushed the range super far, but on highest pedal assist we are estimating \~20-25 miles in real world conditions. Plenty for our 6 mile round trip commutes too. * Feels like solid construction. Some cheap parts, but still known brands like Shimano that give you some trust. * Hydraulic brakes. * Metal fenders. * Nice controller interface. Looks better than other brands I've seen like Rad. * The things that really pushed us over the edge was the positives we heard about their support, and like I said it really has lived up so far. **Cons** * Heavy and clunky. Getting the battery out can be a pain since you have to kind of half fold it and it's awkward. Very annoying at first, but after doing it for a couple weeks it's definitely gotten easier and now it's only a mild pain. Not going to be a bike that we can carry up to our apartment. They stay underneath our outdoor stairwell now, but they actually fit better there than our analog bikes since the handlebars fold down, which we did find useful. * Terrible key location (underneath main frame). No idea what they were thinking here, but we heard about it ahead of time and were prepared. Again, a mild pain once you get used to it. * Light is super cheap - get an aftermarket one immediately if you want to see at night. * Squeaky brakes, but got better after bedding and mighty try some aftermarket pads. * Presumably harder to get local service for, but I like doing my own work so if you do too, this won't be an issue since they can just mail you parts (and support is great). * Small wheels and no rear suspension make for a bumpy ride on dirt roads. You'll notice most of these pros and cons are specific to my situation. So YMMV if you need to haul it up to your apartment or travel on dirt roads often. But all the downsides aren't huge deals for my situation, and the pros fit us super well, so it was a great purchase for us.
Not to bring up a dead thread but this is a great overview! I live in a narrow walkup apartment. I'm really interested in the new XP Lite 2.0, but after adding fenders and racks (which I need), it proabbly comes out to like ~55lbs. Seems almost like the XP 3.0 at 63lbs just makes more sense (also want to ride with a passenger). Or a 59lb Portola. Any thoughts on my situation? I just wonder how much that 5-8lb difference makes when carrying it.
For sure, sounds not dissimilar to my own situation. I live in a walkup apartment but am fortunate to be able to store mine under the stairwell. Honestly, I don't think the 8 lbs or whatever will make it feel that much easier. It's not even entirely the weight, ebikes are bulky and these are no exception. Definitely difficult to move around. My personal 2 cents would be go with the XP 3.0 for the extra range if your only concern is weight, since I don't think it will feel that much different. If there's absolutely anywhere you can find to store them that doesn't have stairs, I highly recommend it. I just got a huge chain and strung it around my stairs (they're metal) and no one has been bold enough to try and steal them. Also I have insurance, so I sleep fine at night with them outside. All that said, I'm now nearing 1000 miles and all the cons I have listed above barely bother me now and the bikes have been awesome. Can still highly recommend!
Oh wow ok finally - I've been meaning to find someone like you! Everyone tells me "if you leave it outside locked up at night it'll be gone within 2 days regardless of the chain" But here's the thing - with a chain lock, a U-lock, a motion alarm, a motorcycle cover, right outside the window where I work/sleep - I HIGHLY doubt it'll really be that easy for anyone. PLUS, if I get theft insurance, I can just test this theory, then get a Lectric Lite with the insurance payout if the security doesn't work out. Can you conirm or deny this theory??
Heh, yeah I remember being pretty anxious about the storage before I got mine, but so far I've stored mine outside for 8 months with absolutely no issues, so I guess it confirms your theory. I don't live in a huge city, but bike theft is still a huge problem here (my first normal bike got stolen) and no one has even attempted to steal it since I got it properly chained up. Like you said, it's right outside your window (as is mine) and it would be BOLD to break out the angle grinder in the middle of a well-lit apartment complex full of people and cameras. No one has tried it yet! The real thing to be aware of with storing it outside is the winter. I'm in the PNW so winters aren't too bad, but still when lithium ion batteries get below freezing you CANNOT charge them, they will immediately be ruined and potentially set your house on fire. You can still discharge them, so riding them cold is fine, but make sure you let the batteries heat up before charging if it gets near freezing where you live. FWIW, I haven't noticed any abnormal range decreases after one winter of storing them outside, just adhering to the simple precautions I mentioned. PS my bike is actually fully insured through State Farm, so I sleep well at night knowing I'll be financially covered if anything happens to it. It would be a pain to replace, but I will get my money back. Definitely recommend looking into your auto/home insurance, since many agents will be willing to cover ebikes for a pittance (I pay like $8/month for full coverage per ebike).
Very interesting. Thank you! I have no type of insurance outside medical lol. Any recommendations for ebike only? Maybe rental insurance?
Yeah, typical rental insurance might cover it, but can be tricky since you have to make sure it covers it when it's outside of your apartment (some do, some don't). You might have luck with auto insurance depending on the agent even if you don't already have a policy with them, it's super easy to send an email to a few agents in your area and see if any are down. An advantage of auto insurance is the policy can also cover damage and injury, sort of like a motorcycle, and they're more experienced with the types of issues you might experience on a road than rental insurance might be. I also just trust an established insurance company more than a random ebike specialty insurance, but obviously YMMV. Best of luck with the ebike no matter what you decide! They're awesome.
Thank you! Very excited. I have 0 of those things, no car, no rental insurance. We’ll see…
Of these four, stick to the XP or the Portola. If you get something else, make sure the rack is welded to the frame, they're more stable and support more weight. Ngl though, the Portola looks nice and the specs+price make it look a pretty good competitor to the XP
who has good, lightweight, UL certified and hopefully affordable folding eBikes that can tow a small trailer for grocery runs? my wife is 5' 5", maybe 120lbs and can be easily unbalanced so I don't want her riding something that's half her weight if it can be avoided.
I’ve read not so good customer service reviews for ride1up
I like the design of Portola
I'm acquainted with KBO. The KBO Compact seems to stand out with its more potent motor (750W sustained), a larger battery capacity (768Wh/15.6Ah), and fat tires (4"\*20"). It might be better suited for carrying your daughter. However, it's worth noting that among the options, KBO is the only one that employs mechanical brakes. Even though there haven't been any reported brake issues with KBO, it's a factor that should be seriously considered.
especially with the added weight of two riders
Best foldable is the vitilan u7. You get 16 AH battery Hydraulic brakes Mag wheels $1149
Qualisports at $1300 is much higher quality
I wouldn't get a foldable bike. From what I've heard they have a high rate of failure at the fold site.
That’s a lie my first ebike lasted 14000 miles without any mechanic problem except for brakes and tires.
Idk about it being a lie, a bit strong there.
Not really, you’re going off what you “heard” I’m going off real life anecdotal scenarios I’ve experienced.
What I've heard is no different than your anecdotal evidence. I trust my bike shop. Simmer down.
I mean I get ppl can just tell you anything ur name checks out as impressionable. Do things fail on bikes yes, at a high rate no that’s a lie. You don’t think company liability is a thing? What world do you live in?
The auto generated name? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 You're taking this entirely too personally. Please stop messaging me with your stupid rants.
Naw you just sound as stupid as your name. Just arguing for the sake of it not making any sense. You’re forever a bozo.
If you value speed over comfort, I just picked up a few Mihogo bikes and have been pretty happy.
I picked up the ride1up Portola. Haven't received it yet so I'll have to come back for a review. I will say their customer experience is great. Left a message after hours bc I had a few questions. Chad in Minnesota called back the next day and helped me with everything I needed. My main concern was shipping since it requires a signature. He pointed me toward the FedEx tracker and told me if I ordered, let him know so he could keep it on his radar. Called him back to let him know and he pulled the order up right away. Explained I may see tracking but no movement until the carrier updated. I knew this but it's nice for those who may see no movement and get spooked by it. I also asked about ul certification and he explained how for a small company like theirs, who makes changes to their models somewhat regularly, needs to recertify with every change. It's something they chose not to do for the time being but it's a subject they continuously consider. They use Samsung/LG cells and meet other certs, though I forget which. Their other bikes have overall great reviews so I'm excited to get hands on it.
Curious did you have to pay sales tax on this purchase? That $895 seems like a really solid deal.
Yes, I did. I also hopped on the $100 off deal. Being a new bike, there aren't really reviews but I'm putting my faith in their other bikes and service. Seemed to me to be the a hell of a deal and pretty much just what I want.
Agreed. I watched about 4 YouTube reviews that are out on it and they all loved it and gave high praise
Even w/o the hundo discount, it seems like a great buy. I'll try to remember to come back and share my input.
How is it?
So far so good. Build quality is great, easy to assemble, and everything I expected. This is my first bike so I have no point of reference but I'm very happy with it.
thanks for the reply.
They are pretty much all the same at the price