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Lectric XPress2 Review (2026): A Heavy-Duty but Nimble Ebike
One recent morning, as I rode to my class at the college campus that dominates our town, I found myself wondering why the bike I was testing was called a “cruiser.” Because “cruiser” implies a sort of laid-back, leisurely ride. But, as I weaved through the foot traffic on campus, toggling through each of the Lectric XPress2’s five power modes and cranking the thumb throttle all the way open, I realized how much fun I was having on this bike. It was fast, quick, nimble, easy to pilot, and ultra-responsive—despite its upright riding position and swept-back handlebars. It moved as I wanted with no lag and, despite its name, was able to squeeze through a number of the little gaps between cars and buses, under-caffeinated undergrads, and any number of dog walkers wandering through campus.
As one of America’s most popular ebike brands, Lectric has built a reputation for making sturdy, well-built bikes sold at entirely reasonable prices. The new XPress2, an update to the Lectric XPress, is no different. And while Lectric trades in a wide variety of niche models—from cargo bikes to folding bikes and even tricycles—the XPress2 is a versatile offering that can serve as most people’s only ebike.
The XPress2 retails for $1,784 direct from Lectric and is available in one of two frame styles: Commuter, which features a standard double-triangle design, and Cruiser, which adopts a Dutch step-through style design. Having tested plenty of stiff and speedy commuters lately, I opted for the Cruiser. I spent the better part of my first week with the bike putting it through its paces, trying my best to drain its battery as fast as I could, push it to move as fast as possible, and see how quickly it could stop.
While the original XPress gave buyers the option to choose between 500 watts or 750 watts, the XPress2 rejects any notion of mildness and comes standard with the more powerful 750-watt motor, regardless of frame style. The 46-tooth front chainring sits right at the sweet spot of standard chainrings, lending itself to riding ease on varied surfaces. Meanwhile, in the back, a wide-ranging 11-32 cassette covers eight speeds and is operated by a seamless Shimano Altus derailleur (the name of the gadget that’s responsible for shifting the chain into different gears). All components of the ebike’s anatomy marry into a fine machine that can easily get most any rider over most any hill they’d encounter.
The XPress2’s five riding modes and a thumb-drive throttle aren’t its only features for customizing rider assistance. For instance, its programmable pedal-assist sensor lets you toggle between torque and cadence responsiveness. Each option reflects a way for the bike’s motor to deliver power: either by how hard your legs push the pedals (torque) or by the speed the pedals turn (cadence).
The XPress2 also comes with the option to toggle between any of the three standardized ebike settings: Class 1, which denotes pedal-assist-only bikes; Class 2, which have pedal assist, plus an independent throttle; and Class 3, which exceed the 20-mile-per-hour maximums of Class 1 and 2 bikes, can reach speeds up to 28 mph, and have restrictions about where you can ride them. Just be sure to check with your local laws before setting your bike’s class.
All of those settings are adjustable to the rider through the bike’s bright, colorful, 3.5-inch handlebar-mounted LCD display, which shows power, battery, and trip information.
The Lectric XPress2’s motor can produce up to 1,310 watts, which is a lot. Not only is it enough to handle the bike’s claimed 330-pound payload capacity, but it’s more than enough for most people, especially those living in flatter areas. I weigh 250 pounds, and being tasked with traversing hills can spell a bit of extra doom for me. This worried me a bit, given the endless rolling rises of my local Chapel Hill, North Carolina. However, despite the more than 300 pounds I was moving (my own weight plus the ebike’s 60-plus (66.4 pounds with t