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Best Budget E-bike

by Nathan Schaumann

The Lectric XP 3.0 is the best-selling ebike in the USA. Does it have any legitimate competitors in the budget ebike space? Let’s find out by comparing it directly to the Ride1Up Turris and Velotric Discover 1 in this review. Here is a spec comparison:

E-bike
Lectric XP 3.0
Ride1Up Turris
Velotric Discover 1
Price
$999
$1,195
$1,299
Speed
28 mph
28 mph
25 mph
Range
45 miles
45 miles
65 miles
Weight
64 lbs
55 lbs
65 lbs
Max Payload
330 lbs
300 lbs
440 lbs
Motor
500W
750W
500W
Torque
55 Nm
60 Nm
65 Nm
Tires
20" x 3"
27.5" x 2.4"
26" x 2.4"
Suspension
Adjustable dual fork, 50mm (front)
100mm travel (front)
80mm travel
Battery
48V 10.4Ah (500Wh)
48V 12.8Ah (614Wh)
48V 14.4Ah (691Wh) - UL Certified
Water rating
IP65
IP65
IPX6
Brakes
Hydraulic 180mm
Hydraulic 180mm
Hydraulic 180mm

Lectric XP 3.0

lectric xp 3 0 hydraulic review 14

Things We Love

This bike is marketed as “The first eBike under $1,000 with hydraulic brakes!” Pretty impressive stuff.

The XP 3.0 features a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, but it is a good cadence sensor. We have tested a lot of ebikes with cadence sensors, and most have a huge pedal assist delay which can give the ebike an unnatural, surging ride feel. The Lectric XP doesn’t have this same delay.

The Lectric website lists accurate range testing figures from real-world tests, ranging from 17 miles in pedal assist mode 5, up to 45 miles in pedal assist mode 1 (or 20 miles with throttle-only). This is something we’d like to see from all PEV manufacturers, instead of the standard “60 miles in eco mode under ideal conditions” nonsense.

This bike has impressive acceleration – we have ridden E-bikes with 1000-watt motors that have a slower acceleration curve than the 500-watt motor on the LECTRIC XP 3.0. Be careful when making selections based on motor watt ratings because they can be deceiving.

It arrives fully assembled

Comes with a 1-year warranty

Built-in rear rack with large capacity, and ability to add a passenger seat up to 150lbs

Tires come pre-slimed, preventing flats down the road

Delay-free pedal assist

US based after sales servicing (Phoenix, AZ)

Metal fenders

Foldable and portable

50mm adjustable suspension doesn’t bottom out easily

Room For Improvement

Front light needs an upgrade. However, the comparable Aventon Sinch costs almost twice as much and it doesn’t come with any light, so we’re happy to see a light included in this budget E-bike.

The battery is on the small side.

Display is black and white.

See our full review here: https://freshlycharged.com/lectric-xp-3-0-electric-bike-review-big-upgrades-same-low-price/

Ride1Up Turris

ride1up turris header image

Things We Love

The Ride1Up Turris Ebike is equipped with a 750-watt motor (its two competitors both have 500W motors) that provides an impressive amount of power for riding uphill and off-road. Additionally, the 100mm coil suspension (compared to 50mm and 80mm for the other two bikes) ensures a smooth ride on bumpy terrains, providing comfort and stability.

The 27.5-inch by 2.4-inch balloon tires are wider and larger than most standard ebike tires, providing better traction and stability on different terrains. These tires make it easier for the rider to maneuver the bike on dirt trails, gravel paths, and other uneven surfaces. The tires also have brown walls which add a nice accent to the bike.

The metal fenders on the Turris ebike not only add to its overall aesthetic appeal but also protect the rider from mud and water splashes while riding in wet conditions. These metal fenders are durable and long-lasting, and we like that you can adjust the arms on the fenders if they ever get bent.

In addition to the features mentioned above, the Turris is equipped with numerous other higher-level components, including a 7-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, Shimano thumb shifter and an LG battery.

We also like:

1-year warranty

2.2” Dual-tone LCD display (wish it were color instead of grayscale)

US-based company

Rides like a traditional bike

The throttle works in PAS 0

Lightweight for an ebike (55 lbs)

Great cable management

High-quality paint job

Comfy seat

Room For Improvement

We do wish that Ride1Up would start using color displays, but many budget ebikes use grayscale displays so it’s not a deal breaker. It would also be nice to have a brighter headlight and a tail light, but a combo light can be purchased cheaply on Amazon.

Turris requires more assembly than most E-bikes

Front cables have a little too much slack

See our full review here: https://freshlycharged.com/brand-new-ride1up-turris-electric-bicycle-review/

Velotric Discover 1

image

Things We Love

The impressively plush hydraulic suspension on the Discover 1 works much better than bikes in the same class which cost 50% more.

We love the integrated brake light – a lot of E-bikes have rear tail lights, but few of them also act as brake lights. It looks really sleek being built into the rear fender. The Aventon Level 2 is the only other E-bike we have reviewed that has a tail light built into the fender.

UL certified battery

7 color choices

Integrated battery that matches the frame color

Comfy seat

Aesthetically pleasing

Display works in direct sunlight

Crosshair design on handlebar and stem

Tail light and brake light built into the rear fender

IPX6 water resistance rating

Room For Improvement

Velotric’s website says their customer service team is in the US, but when we called we got a hold of a Filipino representative. Velotric ships bikes from a US warehouse that carries some parts, but if you have a controller issue they need to send it in from China which will take a while. We’ve also seen some people in Facebook forums complain they had issues with their Velotric bike warranties, and they are still waiting for them to be repaired. 

We found multiple items on the website that need to be corrected. The website states the Discover 1 comes with hydraulic disc brakes, but many people receive them with mechanical disc brakes. Velotric also previously stated incorrectly that the packaging on the Discover 1 was 100% recyclable.

Plastic Fenders

Shimano Tourney derailleur (low quality)

Throttle is controlled by PAS level

More assembly required compared to other ebikes

See our full review here: https://freshlycharged.com/velotric-discover-1-electric-bike-review-great-choice-for-those-on-a-budget-2/

The Winner: Lectric XP 3.0

Lectric XP 3 8

Although it might not seem like it based on the specs alone, the Lectric XP 3.0 is the most impressive E-bike among these three compared, especially given its sub-$1000 price. This bike squeezes more accelerating power out of its 500W motor than others do with 750W, and the reduced suspension travel didn’t bother us a bit when test-riding the bike. This is a great choice for riders on a budget, and we’d happily recommend this bike to anyone.

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We are Andrew and Jimmy, two guys who love personal electric vehicles, and we hope to share our experiences and reviews to help you find the best next PEV for your needs.

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