Lectric Ebikes has lengthy set the usual for different firms to observe within the price range electrical bicycle area, repeatedly rolling out new fashions that supply never-before-seen worth. A brand new cargo e-bike with extra options? They did it. A brand new off-roader with higher parts? They did that, too. However what concerning the firm’s best-selling mannequin, the Lectric XP 3.0 folding fats tire e-bike? It’s due for an replace, and right here’s what you may anticipate.
Consider it or not, it’s been over two years because the Lectric XP 3.0 was launched in early November 2022. That mannequin has since dominated the trade, giving riders with an below $1,000 price range higher bang-for-their-buck than ever earlier than because it rose to the highest of the US bestselling e-bikes listing.
With 28 mph (45 km/h) speeds, hydraulic disc brakes, suspension, built-in rear rack, heavy-duty cargo/passenger capabilities, and a number of battery sizes, it’s grow to be the go-to $999 electrical bike for 1000’s of latest riders each month. It’s even a private favourite of mine. I’ve put my members of the family on XP 3.0s, I’ve purchased a number of XP 3.0s to donate to the underprivileged, and it’s the mannequin I selected when I went undercover as a meals supply employee to see the world via e-bike couriers’ eyes.
However nothing lasts endlessly, and two years is a very long time within the electrical bicycle trade. We don’t but know fairly when a Lectric XP 4.0 will come to exchange the US’ present best-selling electrical bike mannequin, however you’d higher consider that Lectric’s designers in Phoenix have been whiteboarding concepts for some time now. And I’d wager {dollars} to donuts that these are a few of these concepts.
Upgrades in part high quality
With each new launch this 12 months, we’ve watched Lectric eBikes flex its buying energy by bringing us greater high quality parts than we deserve at these value ranges. The XPeak routinely will get oddly high-tier forks. The Lectric One acquired a transmission that most likely prices as a lot as the entire bike for those who had been to attempt to purchase it retail. And the Lectric XP Lite 2.0 affords a Gates belt drive for below $900. That is all absurd, or no less than it was once till Lectric began waving its pockets round on the places of work of higher-end part makers that aren’t used to seeing clients on this reasonably priced value vary.
Which means the Lectric XP 4.0 is more likely to profit from that very same buying energy. I can foresee main upgrades together with a higher-end suspension fork, higher hydraulic disc brakes, and sure even a torque sensor for improved pedal help. I don’t think about the derailleur will make an enormous soar in high quality (perhaps simply an 8-speed Shimano Tourney?), however a coloration display screen is probably going within the playing cards, as are nicer bolt-on grips and different consolation enhancements. We could even see higher suspension seat posts and nicer tires.
However for the love of all issues holy on this world, if these do-gooders on Utopia Rd even take into consideration touching that proper aspect half-twist throttle, then by the beard of Zeus we’re going to have phrases…
Extra energy?
There’s an actual likelihood that the XP 4.0 could possibly be extra highly effective, particularly since Lectric has grow to be fairly keen on its M24 electrical motor, which has graced fashions just like the XPeak 2.0 and XPedition 2.0. That 750W motor places out simply over 1,300W of precise electrical energy, due in no small half to Lectric’s help on utilizing greater present digital pace controllers than most of its opponents.
Actually, the Lectric XP 3.0 might be essentially the most highly effective “500W” e-bike round proper now, however that doesn’t imply it would at all times stay within the 5 hundred membership.
An influence improve isn’t a given, and Lectric should still reserve that higher-power motor for its extra premium fashions. In spite of everything, they’ll’t simply give us all the great things at such a low value. Or can they?
No value change
Talking of value change, I discover it extremely arduous to consider that the XP 4.0 would launch at something aside from US $999. Lectric has solely ever modified the worth of this mannequin as soon as, growing it from the unique $899 of the XP 1.0 to the $999 of the XP 2.0. Ever since, they’ve steered away from value will increase on the XP line.
Lectric’s Co-founder and CEO Levi Conlow just lately defined on the Micromobility America 2024 convention that each time the corporate’s growing effectivity causes the margins to creep “too excessive” (a overseas idea to most manufacturers), they both decrease the worth or launch a brand new model of the bike with extra options. And in order that’s seemingly precisely what the 4.0 will show to be – one other $999 e-bike, however this time with much more options.
Design and construct
I don’t anticipate we’ll see any big design modifications to the construction of the bike. Certain, there might be a brand new body. However I anticipate the corporate to retain the identical boxy tube construction they’ve used ever because the model’s first XP bike rolled out in late 2019. They even apply it to their XPedition cargo bike regardless of there being no actual purpose for it (the batteries aren’t housed contained in the body) aside from design continuity with the Lite, XP, and XP Trike strains.
What we are more likely to see within the design division are minor updates for improved power and ruggedness. Lectric has been investing extra closely in third-party certifications, together with each structural body testing and digital certifications like UL compliance. That’s more likely to proceed with the XP 4.0, which means we might see improved certification indicating much more confidence within the bike’s capacity to haul cargo and passengers.
The colour scheme is unlikely to alter closely. Black and white have been the XP’s MO for years now, and even that’s an enchancment from after they had been solely accessible in white. We’ve in fact seen splashes of Lectric’s blue accent coloration on a lot of the model’s fashions, and the XP 4.0 is unlikely to be totally different in that regard. However anticipate it to be extra alongside the strains of the brand new XPedition 2.0’s coloration swatch design, not a radical coloration departure.
Fancy options?
This one is a little bit of a wild card, and I don’t anticipate Lectric to go overly nuts with fancy options. I don’t suppose we’re going to be getting any loopy telephone apps or wi-fi charging via the kickstand anytime quickly. However we simply would possibly see the inclusion of value-added options like monitoring for anti-theft.
This could possibly be accomplished pretty simply via using present know-how just like the Apple FindMy community – one thing that Lectric’s competitor Velotric has leveraged fantastically. Such a characteristic would seemingly add little value however could possibly be of main worth. Actually, I just lately tried to plant that actual bug in Lectric Co-founder Robby Deziel’s ear. Robby has been wrist-deep within the design of those e-bikes since as early as 2019, when he personally helped me with the wiring on one of many first Lectric XPs ever. So let’s see if he listens on the built-in tracker concept.
When is the Lectric XP 4.0 coming?
I pleasure myself in having a little bit of a crystal ball for the electrical bike trade, however even I do not know when Lectric is planning on releasing the XP 4.0. From all the pieces I can collect, it’s not imminent.
I’ll have teased you with all of the cool issues Lectric might do on XP 4.0, however I don’t suppose we’ll be seeing any of these updates anytime quickly.
Suffice it to say that for those who’ve been wanting to affix in on the XP enjoyable and in some way you’re one of many few Individuals who doesn’t but have an XP 3.0, that’s nonetheless a killer e-bike for a tremendous $999 value. Someday the XP 4.0 will seemingly make us all “ooh” and “ahh” once more, however it doesn’t look like within the playing cards but.
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