LECTRIC XPRESS 750 eBike
About 4 years ago, I spent 87 days in hospitals from a lung infection, which included 7 fun-filled days on a ventilator. The problem started back in 2002-2003 when I lived in a beach community near a coal-fired electrical power plant that discharged fly ash from their stacks. The exposure to the fly ash is believed to have triggered an autoimmune disorder that required that my lungs be washed out at the University of Maryland's Pulmonary department in the spring of 2003. For 18 years it was in remission, but in the fall of 2021 the Empire struck back, thanks to what was believed to be Covid Delta Variant. In addition to the long hospital stay, the illness left me with something called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). I've recovered many of my capabilities, but unfortunately, bike riding hasn't been one of them. Downhill and level surfaces are doable, but riding up hills or into a stiff wind is impossible.The rolling resistance caused by the aggressive knobby tires on my Fisher Big Sur Mountain bike didn't help, but still my riding days were over, or so I thought. I’m writing this so that others who may have some handicap that prevents them from riding can take heart.
I researched eBikes to the point that I almost drove my family and friends nuts, and I even looked at Amazon. But I decided to shop locally instead. That led me to the bike shown here - the Lectric Xpress 750 - and Best Buy in Annapolis. I was looking for a traditional diamond frame bike rather than a step-through. Best Buy had four or five display models in their showroom. The bike I bought allows me to ride anywhere. I can even ride long distances on level paved bike paths with the motor turned off because the bike itself is very good quality. If you buy a $400 eBike, you will get a $99 department store bike with electronics on it. If you run out of battery, or something breaks, you get to pedal that cheap bike home. The Xpress 750 is the complete opposite. It retails for $1299, but I got it at BB on sale. I targeted eBikes with a hub motor, and standard 2-2.5 inch tires for the following reasons:
1. Although a mid-engine chain drive bike was appealing, with my PAH I couldn't risk getting stuck somewhere with a broken chain.
2. I didn't like the big 4-inch wide tires that a lot of eBikes have.
3. There are a LOT of choices in the 2.0-2.5 inch width tire field. I'm not so sure about the big wide ones.
4. A lot of people are "put-off" by the big wide tire eBikes for a variety of reasons.
5. I can pedal the bike without the motor if I have to on level paved surfaces. I can ride paved bike paths with a modest uphill
grade using PAS 1.
Here's what reviewers say about it.
"The Lectric XPress 750 eBike is a well-regarded urban commuter, praised for its powerful motor, responsive torque sensor, and comfortable ride. Reviewers highlight its ability to tackle hills with ease, thanks to the 750W motor, and its smooth, natural-feeling power assistance provided by the torque sensor."
I can attest to that! It's a seamless riding experience. The torque sensor plays a major role in that. I don't have stock in either Best Buy or Lectric, BTW. I swapped the commuter tires for Continental Ruban Side Shield 27.5 x 2.3 inch tires which turned it into a good trail and single track bike. Here's one serious review, and pictures of my new toy - I mean, my new Physical Therapist.
https://electricbikereport.com/lectric-xpress-750-review/
BY THE WAY, LECTRIC HAS ANSWERED EVERY ONE OF MY EMAILS WITHIN 48 HOURS. THAT'S ENCOURAGING.
I researched eBikes to the point that I almost drove my family and friends nuts, and I even looked at Amazon. But I decided to shop locally instead. That led me to the bike shown here - the Lectric Xpress 750 - and Best Buy in Annapolis. I was looking for a traditional diamond frame bike rather than a step-through. Best Buy had four or five display models in their showroom. The bike I bought allows me to ride anywhere. I can even ride long distances on level paved bike paths with the motor turned off because the bike itself is very good quality. If you buy a $400 eBike, you will get a $99 department store bike with electronics on it. If you run out of battery, or something breaks, you get to pedal that cheap bike home. The Xpress 750 is the complete opposite. It retails for $1299, but I got it at BB on sale. I targeted eBikes with a hub motor, and standard 2-2.5 inch tires for the following reasons:
1. Although a mid-engine chain drive bike was appealing, with my PAH I couldn't risk getting stuck somewhere with a broken chain.
2. I didn't like the big 4-inch wide tires that a lot of eBikes have.
3. There are a LOT of choices in the 2.0-2.5 inch width tire field. I'm not so sure about the big wide ones.
4. A lot of people are "put-off" by the big wide tire eBikes for a variety of reasons.
5. I can pedal the bike without the motor if I have to on level paved surfaces. I can ride paved bike paths with a modest uphill
grade using PAS 1.
Here's what reviewers say about it.
"The Lectric XPress 750 eBike is a well-regarded urban commuter, praised for its powerful motor, responsive torque sensor, and comfortable ride. Reviewers highlight its ability to tackle hills with ease, thanks to the 750W motor, and its smooth, natural-feeling power assistance provided by the torque sensor."
I can attest to that! It's a seamless riding experience. The torque sensor plays a major role in that. I don't have stock in either Best Buy or Lectric, BTW. I swapped the commuter tires for Continental Ruban Side Shield 27.5 x 2.3 inch tires which turned it into a good trail and single track bike. Here's one serious review, and pictures of my new toy - I mean, my new Physical Therapist.
https://electricbikereport.com/lectric-xpress-750-review/
BY THE WAY, LECTRIC HAS ANSWERED EVERY ONE OF MY EMAILS WITHIN 48 HOURS. THAT'S ENCOURAGING.
BEFORE I CHANGED THE STOCK COMMUTER TIRES.
These pictures are somewhat self-explanatory. Even with the stock commuter tires, the bike made a good showing on farms and some gnarly hill climbs. The grade inclination of the root-infested path is steeper than it looks. The first picture was the Best Buy showroom where I was allowed to sit on the bikes to at least see if they were a good fit. The headlight and tail lights are nice and bright, but the tail light does not come on when you use the brakes. The control panel is especially useful. It allows the rider to tailor the motor's contribution in watts to the pedal effort, which is really important in my case. I can adjust the speeds and PAS settings so that the motor approximately matches my pedal input. The 27.5 inch wheels make the bike about 5% too large for me. I was looking for 26-inch wheels but they weren't available on the bikes I liked, and the larger size wheel rides over curbs & obstacles with greater ease.
AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE
I purchased a set of Continental Ruban 27.5" x 2.3" tires with Side-Shield technology, which turned the bike into my very own battle axe. Now it powers through sand, gravel, mud, over tree roots, and it hangs tight on side slopes (depending on conditions). Again, the pictures tell the story. Hill climbing is truly awesome. Amazingly, the Ruban tires haven't reduced my battery life significantly. A local bike shop called Pedal Pushers mounted the tires for me. It's literally the first time I ever had someone else mount my tires but they do great work at more than reasonable prices, and they didn't put a single mark on it.
