Lectric XPress2 Buyer Takeaways: $1,399 Commuter

BikeRumor's weeks-long Lectric XPress2 test found a quieter, smoother $1,399 commuter. What switchable sensors, class settings, and weight mean for buyers.

Most e-bikes under $1,500 make the sensor decision for you, and it is usually the cheap one. The Lectric XPress2 puts that choice in a menu: pick torque sensing for a natural, effort-matched ride, or cadence sensing if you would rather soft pedal and let the motor work. It does the same with its legal identity, letting you set the bike to Class 1, 2, or 3 from the display.

That flexibility is the headline of BikeRumor’s new review of the XPress2 Commuter, published July 17, 2026. Reviewer Jeremy Benson spent several weeks running errands, hauling groceries, and skipping car trips on the bike, and his verdict is blunt: at $1,399, the XPress2 may be the best value commuter/cruiser on the market.

A strong verdict from a tester who has ridden four generations of Lectric bikes deserves a closer look, not a victory lap. Here is what Benson’s testing actually found, where his numbers disagree with Lectric’s marketing, and what all of it means if this bike is on your shortlist.

What BikeRumor Tested and What It Found

The XPress2 is the second generation of Lectric’s big-wheeled commuter/cruiser, and it comes in two frame styles with identical specs: a High-Step Commuter with a fixed stem and a city-style cockpit, and a Step-Thru Cruiser with an adjustable stem and swept-back bars. Benson tested the High-Step Commuter, a deliberate choice after finding the original XPress Step-Thru more relaxed than he liked.

Per BikeRumor, the update brings a new Stealth M24 750W rear hub motor rated at 85 Nm of torque and 1,310W peak power, a removable 672 Wh battery certified to UL 2271, UL 2849 certification for the full electrical system, an 80 mm SR Suntour XCM 32 suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors, and an 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain with trigger shifters. Price went up $100 over the original XPress, from $1,299 to $1,399.

Benson’s ride impressions were consistently positive. He reports the motor reaches its 28 mph Class 3 assist ceiling on flat ground in Turbo, pulls willingly at 20 mph on throttle, and has shed the whiny, tinny character of cheap hub motors. Lectric claims the new motor is “99% quieter” than the old one; Benson calls that a stretch while confirming the real-world improvement is obvious. He also praises the 3.5 inch color display as readable in direct midday sun, and the 2.1 inch tires plus suspension fork as smooth over cracks and rough pavement.

Lectric XPress2: claims versus BikeRumor's testing

data

Item	What is reported	Source
Price	$1,399, up $100 from the original XPress	BikeRumor / Lectric
Motor	Stealth M24 750W rear hub, 85 Nm torque, 1,310W peak	Lectric, via BikeRumor
Battery	672 Wh (48V, 14Ah), removable, UL 2271 certified; bike certified to UL 2849	Lectric, via BikeRumor
Sensors	Torque and cadence, rider-switchable in the menu	BikeRumor, confirmed in testing
Class setting	Menu-selectable Class 1, 2, or 3; throttle capped at 20 mph even in Class 3	BikeRumor
Claimed weight	About 60 lb with the battery removed	Lectric claim
Measured weight	63 lb without battery, 71 lb with battery	BikeRumor measurement
Claimed range	Up to 60 miles; Benson estimates 30 to 40 miles is realistic but did not run the pack down	Lectric claim / BikeRumor estimate
Included equipment	Rear rack, fenders, 850 lux headlight, rear light with brake light and turn signals	BikeRumor
Rack capacity	Website says 30 lb; the rack itself is printed with a 60 lb limit	Conflict reported by BikeRumor
Payload	330 lb total weight capacity	Lectric, via BikeRumor

Switchable Sensors Are the Feature That Matters

The original XPress used only a cadence sensor, which is the budget-bike norm: the motor switches on when the cranks spin, regardless of how hard you pedal. The XPress2 adds a torque sensor and lets the rider toggle between the two from the menu. Benson strongly prefers the torque sensor’s smooth, proportional power delivery, but he makes the point that matters for buyers: plenty of riders want the opposite, an effortless soft-pedal cruise, and this bike does not force either camp to compromise.

That is genuinely rare at this price. Torque sensing used to be the dividing line between budget bikes and the next tier up, and a switchable system means a couple sharing one bike, or a rider whose knees have good days and bad days, gets both behaviors from one purchase. If the sensor distinction is new to you, the practical difference is bigger than any spec-sheet line: torque sensing feels like your legs got stronger, cadence sensing feels like a throttle you trigger by pedaling.

The same menu holds the class setting. Set to Class 2, the XPress2 tops out at 20 mph on throttle or pedal assist. Set to Class 3, pedal assist climbs to 28 mph while the throttle stays capped at 20 mph. Benson reports he bumped his test bike to Class 3 immediately and the change took seconds.

The Weight Gap and the Rack Contradiction

Two of Benson’s most useful findings are places where Lectric’s numbers and his observations part ways. Neither is a scandal. Both are exactly why independent testing exists.

First, weight. Lectric claims both XPress2 versions weigh about 60 lb with the battery removed. Benson put his test bike on a scale and got 63 lb without the battery and 71 lb with it. Heavy is one of only two cons in his review, and 71 lb is the number that matters if you carry a bike up apartment stairs, lift it onto a car rack, or wrestle it through a doorway. Check your car rack’s weight limit before assuming it can take this bike, and note that many tray racks max out below 71 lb.

Second, the cargo rack. Lectric’s website lists the rear rack at 30 lb capacity, but Benson noticed the rack itself is printed with a 60 lb limit. BikeRumor flagged the contradiction without resolving it, and neither will we. The safe move is to treat the lower published number as the limit until Lectric clarifies, because a rack loaded to double its rated capacity is a warranty argument waiting to happen. If you were planning on panniers full of groceries or a child seat, that discrepancy is worth an email to Lectric support before you buy, not after.

The rest of the included equipment drew praise. Fenders, a rear light that doubles as a brake light and turn signals, and an 850 lux headlight are all standard, and Benson notes the package adds real commuting utility. His one nitpick: the large headlight vibrates slightly while riding. If you are speccing the bike for daily transport duty, our commuter setup checklist covers what else belongs on the bike from day one.

About That Tool-Free Assembly Claim

Lectric advertises the XPress2 as tool-free assembly, and Benson calls that wording a little misleading. The pedals quick-connect and the front wheel uses a quick-release thru-axle, but attaching the handlebar, front fender, and headlight requires the included hex key set. His actual experience undercuts any drama, though: about 30 minutes from box to rideable bike, with printed instructions and a video to follow.

The takeaway for buyers is calibration, not alarm. This is direct-to-consumer assembly on the easy end of the spectrum, but it is not literally unfold-and-ride like Lectric’s XP folding bikes. If you are not confident with a hex key, a local shop can finish the job cheaply, and having a shop look over a mail-order bike before its first ride is never wasted money.

The Range Numbers Nobody Verified

Read this part carefully, because it is where the review’s evidence is thinnest and Benson is upfront about it. Lectric claims up to 60 miles of range. Benson never came close to draining the battery, because his test rides ran 3 to 5 miles per trip. His judgment: the 60 mile claim is probably not realistic, but he would bet on 30 to 40 miles between charges depending on how you ride.

That is an informed estimate from an experienced tester, not a measured result. No one has published a full controlled range test of the XPress2 yet, so if your commute genuinely needs 25 miles of round-trip range at Class 3 speeds, wait for harder data or build in margin. Manufacturer range figures are produced at low assist in friendly conditions, and speed is the great battery killer: riding at 28 mph consumes far more energy per mile than 15 mph. The 672 Wh pack is a healthy size for the price, and our guide to how long e-bike batteries actually last explains how to translate watt-hours into realistic miles for your own riding.

Where the XPress2 Fits for Buyers

Benson’s bottom line is that Lectric keeps improving its bikes while holding its low-price, high-value position, and the XPress2’s upgrades justify the modest $100 price bump. Coming from a reviewer who has tested four Lectric models and the original XPress specifically, the endorsement carries weight. The switchable sensors, UL-certified electrical system, hydraulic brakes, and full commuter equipment list are hard to match at $1,399 from established competitors.

It is still one review, of the High-Step Commuter only, with range untested and long-term durability unknowable in a few weeks. The honest read is that the XPress2 looks like a front-runner in the budget commuter class, pending more data. If you are cross-shopping, our best commuter e-bikes under $1,500 guide puts this segment in context, and our Lectric XP4 versus RadRunner 3 Plus versus Aventon Level 3 comparison shows how Lectric’s other bikes stack up against direct rivals.

We will update this story if Lectric resolves the rack capacity contradiction or if controlled range testing of the XPress2 appears.

FAQ

+How much does the Lectric XPress2 cost?

The XPress2 sells for $1,399 in both frame styles, the High-Step Commuter and the Step-Thru Cruiser, which is $100 more than the original XPress launched at. Lectric's site lists the price against a higher figure that bundles promotional accessories, so read the offer carefully at checkout. BikeRumor's reviewer judged the price increase fair given the new motor, torque sensor, upgraded display, and better fork.

+Does the Lectric XPress2 have a torque sensor?

Yes, and a cadence sensor too. The XPress2 ships with both sensor types and lets the rider switch between them through the display menu, which is unusual at this price. BikeRumor's Jeremy Benson preferred the torque sensor's smooth, effort-matched power delivery in his testing, but the cadence option remains for riders who want the motor to do nearly all the work with light pedaling.

+How fast does the Lectric XPress2 go?

It depends on which class you select in the menu. In Class 2 the bike tops out at 20 mph on both throttle and pedal assist. In Class 3 pedal assist rises to 28 mph while the throttle stays capped at 20 mph, and BikeRumor reports the bike reaches that 28 mph ceiling on flat ground in its highest assist mode. Remember that Class 3 operation is restricted on many paths and trails, so match the setting to your local rules rather than defaulting to the fastest one.

+How much does the Lectric XPress2 weigh?

More than the marketing says. Lectric claims roughly 60 lb with the battery removed, but BikeRumor weighed its test bike at 63 lb without the battery and 71 lb with it installed. That gap matters if you plan to carry the bike upstairs or transport it on a car rack, since some racks are not rated for a 71 lb bike. Treat the measured numbers as the real ones.

+What is the real-world range of the Lectric XPress2?

Nobody has published a measured answer yet. Lectric claims up to 60 miles, and BikeRumor's reviewer doubts that figure, estimating 30 to 40 miles is achievable depending on riding style. But he acknowledges his short test trips never came close to draining the 672 Wh battery, so that estimate is informed judgment rather than a test result. If your routine demands long range, wait for controlled testing or plan conservatively around the watt-hour capacity.

+Is the Lectric XPress2 easy to assemble?

BikeRumor found assembly took about 30 minutes and rated it very easy, though the reviewer called Lectric's tool-free assembly wording a little misleading. The pedals and front wheel attach without tools, but the handlebar, front fender, and headlight require the included hex key set, which doubles as a torque wrench. Printed instructions and an assembly video are provided, and a local bike shop can finish the job if you would rather not.

+Does the Lectric XPress2 come with a rack, fenders, and lights?

Yes. BikeRumor's review confirms the bike ships with a rear cargo rack, plastic fenders, an 850 lux headlight, and a rear light that functions as a brake light and turn signals. One caution on the rack: Lectric's website lists a 30 lb capacity while the rack itself is printed with a 60 lb limit, a contradiction BikeRumor flagged. Until Lectric clarifies, load it to the lower published number.

Lectric XPress2 Buyer Takeaways: What BikeRumor's Weeks of Testing Say About the $1,399 Commuter