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The electric trike market is heating up with the announcement that Lectric eBikes is introducing a trike of their own, the XP Trike. We don’t have a lot of details just yet, but we do have enough details for a first look review of the Lectric XP Trike that will no doubt alter the electric trike market, forcing other companies to become more competitive.
Here’s what we know so far:
- It will retail for $1499
- A brushless, geared hub motor will drive it
- It will feature a differential, so that the motor drives both wheels, not just one
- The battery will be 14A
- It will spec hydraulic disc brakes
- Like other Lectric e-bikes, it will be foldable to make it easier to transport and store
On the surface an adult trike seems simple enough: It’s a bike with an extra wheel, right? If only it were that simple. Trikes come with a complication in that when they make a turn the rear wheels turn at different rates and need a differential axle (just like a car has) in order to keep from sliding one tire.
Electric trikes have either left that out and driven only one wheel in order to keep them as affordable as possible, or included it and been notably more expensive as a result. That Lectric Bikes has found a way to include a differential and price the XP Trike at $1499 is perhaps not all that surprising.
We’re very pleased to see that Lectric has chosen to spec a hydraulic disc brake on the XP Trike. Trikes tend to be heavy (north of 75 lbs.) due to the extra wheel, more elaborate frame with lots more tubing, not to mention the differential. It deserves to have powerful brakes to afford the rider plenty of confidence that they can control the trike. From what we can see there is a single brake mounted at the front wheel with a 203mm rotor.
We believe that the battery will be a 48V, 672Wh unit, the same as found in some of the extended range Lectric e-bikes we’ve reviewed. Without knowing more about the motor or the weight of the trike it is premature to try to estimate what sort of range it will offer.
It comes with mounts for both front and rear baskets, though they haven’t announced just what will be included with the trike beyond lights and fenders.
In the one photo released so far, we can see a battery mounted behind the seat tube, which leads us to wonder if there will be the opportunity to buy a range-extending second battery.
Like other Lectric models, the XP Trike features fat tires; they appear to be the same 3-in. wide tires found on the XP 3.0. Unfortunately, a suspension fork does not appear to be part of the parts package; that may be because with so much weight concentrated in the rear, a suspension fork wouldn’t do much to improve a rider’s comfort or control.
Lectric Bikes will reveal more information about the XP Trike on Friday, 1/13.
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