Lectric eBikes XP 3.0 & Pet Trailer Review 2024: An Expert’s Breakdown
Our Final Verdict
We give Lectric eBikes brand an overall rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Durability: 4.9/5
User Friendliness: 4.6/5
Assembly: 4.8/5
Value: 4.8/5
If you’re looking for an affordable way to take your dog farther without having to jump in a car, let me introduce you to Lectric eBikes. This electric bike company has been making versatile and affordable eBikes since 2019. And they’ve been doing it with the support of their shop dog, Soldier.
Soldier’s influence might be one of the reasons that this company offers an easy-to-use and affordable pet trailer for their bikes. This durable trailer features three zip windows, including a sunroof, a quick-connect bike attachment, and a durable frame for lasting adventures.
I had the opportunity to try Lectric eBikes’ most popular bike, their XP Step-Thru 3.0, along with their Lectric Pet Trailer and a few must-have accessories. My Dalmatian mix, especially, is thrilled with her new wheels. Keep reading to find out how this eBike and trailer combo has worked for me and my pets, whether it’s worth the buy, and more in my full Lectric eBikes brand review, below.
At a Glance: What We Received
About Lectric eBikes
Lectric eBikes was started in 2019 by best friends Levi Conlow and Robby Deziel after Conlow’s father complained about a lack of affordable eBikes. The two friends, along with their Shepherd mix, Soldier, set out to fix this gap in the market. Today, the XP model by Lectric eBikes is the third most popular electric bike in America.
Where Are Lectric eBike Products Produced?
The headquarters of Lectric eBikes is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Their products are manufactured in China, as are most other American eBike brands.
Which Types of Dogs Is the Lectric Pet Trailer Best Suited For?
The Electric Pet Trailer from this company has an upper weight limit of 50 pounds, restricting its use to small and medium-sized dogs.
It is a wonderful product for owners looking to bring their pets with them on bike rides or for those interested in a greener way to get to the dog park or local hiking trails. The trailer can be used with the zip windows open or closed, making this trailer suitable for calm, well-behaved dogs as well as pups who require a bit more confinement.
I have used this trailer for my Chihuahua and my Dalmatian mix. But the pet in my family who most enjoys it is actually my adventurous cat.
Key Features
There are a number of things that separate Lectric eBike products from other options on the market. Here, we’ll look at a few of those, including their easy assembly, storability, versatility, and price.
Assembly
One of the things Lectric eBikes is always being celebrated for is their ease of assembly.
Their bikes come more or less assembled and ready to ride. Putting together my XP 3.0 only required me to unfold the bike, adjust the handlebars and seat, and unfold the pedals. The hardest part by far, was wrestling the thing out of the box (Pro Tip: get a second person to help you).
The Pet Trailer took a bit more to put together, as the wheels, tow bar, and reflectors all came unassembled. But even this only took me only about 20 minutes to complete.
If you have an impatient pup who just can’t wait for their next adventure, they’re going to appreciate how little effort it takes to assemble these products.
Storability
One of the unique features of the XP bikes is that they are foldable. Each has a large hinge on the main frame that can be popped open to fold the bike in half. This hinge also gives you full access to remove the battery for secure and easy charging.
The handlebar post also has a hinge that allows you to fold the handlebars down. This combined with the fully stowable seat and foldable pedals means storing this eBike is a cinch, even if you don’t have a ton of space.
It’s worth noting that while this bike folds up into a compact bundle, it is still quite hefty and not the easiest bike to carry around. This feature is very much about easy storage and speaks less to this bike’s portability.
The Pet Trailer is also easy to fold up and stow away. The housing frame comes apart and folds flat and the tow bar can be flipped around to sit under the frame. This product is quite a bit lighter than the bike and easy to carry around as well as store.
Versatility
Lectric eBike products have a number of features that make them highly versatile.
Both the XP 3.0 and Pet Trailer have fairly hefty tires. This means you can easily and comfortably ride on a variety of surfaces, from concrete paths to dirt trails. Whether the path you’ve chosen is smooth or bumpy, these oversized tires will help ensure you and your dog have a comfortable ride.
The many settings on the XP 3.0 add to this bike’s versatility. It has 5 power assist settings to give you as much or as little help peddling as you need. These extra settings especially come in handy when pulling the Pet Trailer up hills.
The bike also has a throttle on the handle grip that allows you to take advantage of that power even when you can’t get the pedals moving. I have found this setting super useful when starting up big hills with my big dog in the trailer.
Price
From day one, Lectric eBikes’ goal has been to provide affordable electric bikes to the world. And they are still delivering on that promise today.
The XP Step-Thru 3.0 comes in at a list price right around $1,000. This is a few hundred dollars more than some of the newer bargain brands on the market. But it’s also five or six hundred dollars less than the cheapest comparable models.
This is a durable bike with a decent range, plenty of power, and a lot of extra features that those bargain bikes just can’t touch.
The Lectric Pet Trailer is also fairly affordable compared to the competition. And, like the bike, it has a lot of neat features cheaper products don’t have, including multiple zip windows, a waterproof exterior, wheel guards, and a handy safety flag.
Our Reviews of the Lectric eBike Product We Received
1. XP Step-Thru 3.0 eBike
Lectric eBikes has recently upgraded their famous XP electric bike to bring us the XP 3.0. This bike is available in a traditional frame as well as the step-thru version, which is the one I have.
This bike features the same ingenious foldable design as previous versions. Not only does the frame fold in half but so do the handlebars and pedals, making this super easy to store.
Upgrades over the previous model include a quieter motor, hydraulic disc brakes, increased torque, longevity boosters, and added suspension.
The XP 3.0 also has a removable battery for security and to make charging that much easier. On one charge, this bike can cruise for an average of 45 miles. If you plan to travel greater distances, you can always upgrade to the long-range battery.
It has 5 power assist modes, allowing you to reach a max speed of 28 miles per hour. I prefer to do a little more work when I ride and have yet to set this thing above the third power assist setting.
The fat tires and smooth power-up make for a comfortable ride on just about any terrain. The power assist does tend to stay on for a second or so after you stop pedaling, which takes some getting used to. And the pedals are set back a touch farther than a typical bike setup.
At 64 pounds, this is a hefty bike and not the easiest thing to drag around. But that weight also speaks to its durability and the quality of the build. This electric steed is built with heavy-duty parts that are certain to last.
The XP Step-Thru 3.0 is available in black or white.
Pros
- Foldable for easy storage
- Durable and well-made
- 5 power assist settings
- Decent range
- Easy to use
Cons
- Heavy
- Odd pedal position
- Less responsive power assist
2. Lectric Pet Trailer
The Lectric Pet Trailer makes taking your dog with you on your biking outings super simple.
This trailer is easy to assemble and folds flat for storage. It works with Lectric eBikes’ universal hitch for quick connecting and disconnecting.
It has a weight capacity of 50 pounds and comfortably fits dogs up to 18 inches tall and 26 inches long.
The three zippered windows make it easy to control how much freedom your dog has during your ride. For those pups who love sticking their head out the window, unzip the top and let them feel the breeze in their jowls. The back and front flaps also unzip to increase airflow and to make loading as easy as possible.
The front window features a mesh flap as well as an overlapping plastic flap to help keep your dog dry if the trail is wet. In addition to these three flaps, there are also two large mesh side windows.
Inside, the trailer features a single tether that can be attached to either side of the trailer to secure your dog. The bottom mat is made of rubber and has ridges to help keep your dog stable as you ride.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Multiple zip flaps
- Secure tether
- Folds flat for storage
- Durable and well-made
Cons
- Only one tether inside
- Bottom surface is hard
3. Must-Have Add-Ons
Right now, if you buy an XP Step-Thru 3.0 eBike, you’ll receive a free Comfort Package upgrade.
This package includes a much larger, cushier seat than what comes standard on the bike. Not only is this seat 2 inches wider, but it’s also thicker and features a coil-spring suspension.
I planned to try both this upgraded seat and the original, but after sitting on the original for exactly two seconds, I immediately switched it on for the comfort version. This thicker seat is like riding on a cloud.
Another add-on I got was the accordion bike lock. This compact lock folds up small enough to fit in your hand but is thick and durable enough to keep your bike secure. The lock holder attaches easily to the back of the seat tube so it stays with you while also being out of sight.
Lastly, I opted to get the phone holder. This simple device is great for those long rides, especially when you need to keep your eye on a map as you travel.
This versatile holder connects to the handlebars or handlebar tube and tilts 360 degrees. It can fit phones 4.7 inches to 6.8 inches tall.
Lectric eBikes has a long list of additional accessories and packages that are definitely worth looking at. I know I’ll be purchasing one of their many backseat options so my daughter can join me and the dogs on our bike trips. There are also many cargo options, add-ons, and upgraded components available.
Our Experience With Lectric eBikes
My dogs once knew the joy of riding in a bike trailer, but that was back at our old house, which was in a flat neighborhood in a town with very few hills. In our new house, you can’t walk out our front door without immediately going up or down a hill.
I knew if I was going to invest in a new bike trailer for my dogs, I would also need to invest in an e-bike. Or else we wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Lectric eBikes not only had a pet trailer that looked perfect, but they also had many affordable electric bike options that would be good for an e-bike newbie like me.
Once our packages arrived, I dragged them into the house and got to work assembling them (which took almost no time at all) so we could hit the trails.
As someone who has never ridden an electric bike, I thought it would be prudent to take the bike out alone before attaching my dogs to it.
I found the XP 3.0 easy enough to ride, although it is pretty hefty. I figured out the controls very quickly and found the info screen intuitive and easy to read.
In addition to the 5 power settings, it also has a full set of gears just like a normal bike. Of course, with the simple-to-use power assist buttons and fast-action throttle, there really isn’t any reason to mess with the gears unless you’re going full manual.
This thing has a ton of get-up-and-go, even in the lower power assist settings. Because I like to get a bit of a workout when I ride, I never set it above the second power assist mode when I’m alone. Even with the Pet Trailer and my 30-pound dog, Ragz, inside, I never have to go above three, even up hills.
I love how much range the 48V Lithium-Ion battery has. When I’m riding alone, I can easily hit that 45-mile mark per charge. And with the Pet Trailer attached, we still record 35-plus miles on most outings.
Speaking of charging, I love that the battery can be charged while inside the bike or by taking it out and bringing it into the house.
As far as the trailer goes, my dog Ragz is a huge fan, as is my cat, Makoa. Ragz always rides with her head sticking out of the top while Makoa requires all the windows to be securely closed. I love that I have so many options when it comes to the flap setup.
My Chihuahua, Papyrus, is a bit less certain of anything that moves so fast. But adding a cushy crate bed to the trailer has helped him adjust to the idea.
One of the biggest complaints you’ll see about this bike is also top of my list, and that’s that it’s heavy.
I think the fact that it can fold in half is a great feature, but doing so certainly makes it harder to move around, especially for someone my size. Luckily, I have a garage I can store it in without having to fold it. But if you need to haul this thing up and down stairs or store it up high, you may want to look for a lighter model.
Another thing I found a bit off about this bike is the position of the pedals. They are nearly directly below the seat, unlike a typical bike where the pedals are slightly in front of the seat.
I’ve gotten used to this, largely because I never have to pedal the bike that hard thanks to the powerful battery. But if you plan to use the bike in manual mode sometimes, this position might be hard on the knees.
As far as the trailer goes, I have been pretty happy with it. My only suggestion would be to have a cushion on the bottom rather than just the hard rubber.
Having a second tether that could be used to keep the dog centered in the trailer would also be nice. I can definitely feel when Ragz is moving around back there or sitting too far to one side or the other.
But overall, I have been very pleased with my XP 3.0 and Lectric Pet Trailer setup. This bike is so easy to ride and get around on that I already prefer it to getting in the car. And I know Ragz and Makoa, at least, are big fans of cruising around in the Lectric Pet Trailer.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a new e-bike or a pet trailer for your bike, I recommend looking at what Lectric eBikes has to offer.
The XP Step-Thru 3.0 eBike has been a game changer for me thanks to its easy-to-use design, powerful battery, and multiple power assist settings. And when I combine it with the feature-packed Lectric Pet Trailer, my dogs, and cat all get to enjoy the freedom our local bike trails have to offer along with me.
