A budget offering with a torque sensor (good!) and a whole lot of issues (not good).
This bike sounds a lot like my Lectric Xpedition, down to using some of the exact same parts (which I can tell from the pictures). The differences are some obvious notable feature improvements like the suspension fork and torque sensor, but somewhat less careful design.
Some random thoughts:
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My bike has a slight “pedal strike in turns” issue too, but it’s not that big a deal. If the cranks on this bike are any lower/longer than the Xpedition’s that would be bad, though.
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To answer the author’s confusion about the folding handlebars, that’s mostly just so they can fit it in a smaller box for shipping without requiring the owner to “assemble” it (which scares buyers off even if it’s trivial).
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My Xpedition’s seatpost has two telescopic sections and extends way up. I’m surprised this bike apparently doesn’t do the same.
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Another example of Lectric’s more careful design is how the author complains about how the bolts for the footrests on the review bike interfere with the chain a little. In contrast, on my bike they not only don’t interfere but are also toolless to remove (which is good in case you need to get to the axle nuts to fix a flat or other mid-ride problem).
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I am very glad that I got the dual-battery version of my bike, not because I need 60 miles of range (or whatever it claims), but because those range estimates are always on flat ground with no cargo at assist level 1, and hauling 100+ lbs worth of kids up and down hills at assist level 5 is a very different thing.
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They probably ought to sell the thing as Class 2 by default, with a setting the owner can change to make it Class 3 if they want.
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It’s not mentioned in the article, but looking at the pictures, even though it comes with a rear hub motor it looks like the frame is compatible with a mid-drive. If it’s possible for the owner to upgrade it that way later, that’s a big deal!
Personally, if I needed to get a cargo e-bike right now, I would choose this one over the one I have. That said, I fully expect that Lectric will come out with an “Xpedition 2.0” within a year or so that would match the features of this at a similar price and with probably fewer problems, and in that tossup I’d lean Lectric because I’ve been impressed with their customer support.
