Lectric ONE E-Bike Review: Pinion Smart Shifting and Belt Drive for Less than $2,000
Dušan Ranđelović
2024-09-20Have you always dreamt about riding an e-bike with a fancy Pinion gearbox and a maintenance-free Gates Carbon Belt drive but you thought these were reserved for pricey e-bikes? Well, think again!
The Lectric ONE is a huge surprise for 2024 and it smashes expectations of what you can get on a $2,000 electric bike.
It brings high-end features to the budget-friendly e-bike category, such as smart electronic Pinion shifting and a whisper-quiet belt drive.
The Lectric ONE seems to be more than just an electric commuter, it’s a game-changing product that puts all other competitors to a serious test.
If you’re craving a smooth, quiet, and maintenance free ride that feels expensive but actually comes at a budget, you’ll be interested in learning what Lectric ONE is all about.
Lectric ONE Main Specs:
- MSRP: $1,999 – $2,199
- Motor: 750W hub, 85 Nm (28 mph top speed)
- Battery: 48V, 10 Ah or 14 Ah (500 Wh or 672 Wh)
- Drivetrain: Pinion C1.6i smart electronic gearbox
- Range: 45 or 60 miles
- Tires: 20″ x 2.5″
- Brakes: Hydraulic dual-piston disc brakes
- Weight: 55 lb
- Payload Capacity: 330 lb
- Sizing: 5’2” – 6’4”
Learn More on LectricEbikes.com
Lectric ONE Full Review
The demand for belt-drive electric bikes is growing, as more and more people are looking for a maintenance-free ride. At the moment, there’s no shortage of e-bikes with a belt drive in the $2,000 price range.
However, Lectric ONE goes a huge step forward by introducing smart electronic shifting designed by Pinion, a company that is leading the way when it comes to premium bike gearboxes.
The Lectric ONE smashes expectations with high-end features like a Pinion electronic gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt drive at an affordable price.
Not only that, but the belt-drive utilizes a premium Gates Carbon Belt, which is not common on similarly priced e-bikes in this category.
The Lectric ONE is truly a value-packed electric commuter that comes ready-to-ride out of the box no matter the weather conditions or the time of the day.
Is it perfect? Not really. There are some aspects of it that we’d like Lectric to improve, so keep reading below if you’re interested in a full value breakdown.
Pinion Electric Smart Gearbox
The Pinion C1.6i is a state-of-the-art electric smart gearbox with completely concealed internals, which means it requires no maintenance.
You can shift through its six gears manually, but the incredible thing about this gearbox is that it can also shift gears automatically.
Using the Smart.Shift app, you can set your ideal cadence and the gearbox will automatically upshift or downshift as your cadence lowers or increases when you hit a descent or a climb.
In addition to that, you can also set your starting gear, so the Pinion gearbox will automatically shift to that gear when you come to a stop. You can then easily start pedaling without having to worry what gear you’re in.
It’s really surprising to get this technology on a $2,000 e-bike from a budget-value brand. The Lectric ONE also features a Gates Carbon Belt drive, so the drivetrain is chainless and requires zero cleaning or lubrication.
In the morning, you can just hop on and start riding; and in the evening, you can park your bike and forget about it until the next ride.
750W Motor and Multiple Batteries
The Lectric ONE’s rear hub motor has 750W of sustained power and develops up to 85 Nm of torque, which is pretty decent and expected from this type of bike.
Considering the relatively low 55 lb weight, the ONE won’t struggle to climb steeper gradients with this much power.
The power delivery is executed using cadence sensors with 96 magnets, so the pedal assistance should feel very smooth and without delays. A torque sensor would be much better, but you can’t get everything at such a low price, unfortunately.
The Lectric ONE’s 750W motor paired with a 96-magnet cadence sensor offers powerful hill-climbing and a smooth, responsive ride.
When purchasing the bike, you can choose one of two available batteries, a standard 48V 10.4 Ah or a long-range 14 Ah version. The smaller one returns 45 miles per charge, whereas the long-range version will give you a 60-mile maximum range.
While this is pretty decent, it’s not ideal and you’ll have to pay $200 extra for the long-range version. There are talks of a 19 Ah battery being offered as well in the future, but we’re not sure if and when this will happen.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes and City Tires
We love riding e-bikes because they let us cover more distance at higher speeds with less effort. This way, we can enjoy the journey more and reach our destination faster.
This is exactly what the ONE is designed for, featuring compact and sleek 20″ x 2.5″ wheels and tires and powerful hydraulic disc brakes.
The tires have a reflective side strip to make you more visible when riding at night and come with slime preinstalled at no additional cost to prevent flat tires.
The sidewalls are also reinforced which will prevent pinch flats, while the 3mm Hippo Skin will prevent punctures.
Hydraulic disc brakes are paired with 180mm rotors meaning they will offer the ultimate stopping power in all weather conditions.
Equipped for Commuting
We assume the main way in which most people with use the Lectric ONE e-bike is to commute in urban areas, ride for leisure or travel on paved streets and bike paths.
Therefore, it’s good news that it comes will all the e-bike accessories you can imagine, including full-length fenders, a sturdy rear rack, bright front and rear lights, and even a kickstand.
The taillight doubles as a brake light, but doesn’t have turn signals, which is something you get with most Aventon bikes and the new Rad Power Bikes Radster e-bike.
The Lectric ONE’s included fenders, lights, and powerful hydraulic disc brakes for ultimate stopping power mean you can ride confidently no matter the conditions.
When purchasing the bike, you can include more accessories to personalize the bike for your needs, such as brighter lights, comfort package, mirrors, a bell, phone mount, and a lot more.
The Lectric ONE also has an upgraded LCD screen that’s large, bright, and easy to use. It comes with a USB charging port, so you can charge your phone or other devices while riding.
Geometry and Sizing
Last but not least, let’s talk about how the Lectric ONE feels while riding and who can fit on it.
Its geometry is pretty relaxed and upright, though this can be tweaked by adjusting the handlebar position. Depending on how tall you are, you can lift or lower the handlebar to find the ideal riding position.
The ONE is available in one frame size only that fits riders 5’2″ to 6’4″ tall, which includes almost everyone. But if you’re particularly short or tall, you might need to choose a different Lectric model.
Is There Room for Improvement?
Even though the Lectric ONE is a superb e-bike that offers unprecedented value for the money, there’s still room for improvement.
The main issue we see is the lack of a torque sensor, which could have really taken the ONE to the next level. Instead, you get a cadence sensor with 96 magnets. According to Lectric’s engineers, the high number of magnets means that the sensor is responsive, smooth, and that there’s no lag in power delivery.
Another feature that leaves room for improvement is the battery capacity. The long-range 672 Wh battery is decent, but not ideal, considering the 60-mile maximum range. There is talk of Lectric releasing a 19 Ah battery sometime in the future which would solve this issue.
Other than that, there’s not much we can criticize regarding the Lectric ONE, especially considering its budget-friendly price and unexpected high-end features.
Other Lectric E-Bikes We Have Reviewed:
- Lectric XPedition Review
- Lectric XP 3.0 Review
- Lectric XPeak E-Bike Review
- Lectric XP Lite Review
- Lectric XP Trike Review
- Lectric XPress Ebike Review
What’s Our Verdict on the Lectric ONE?
After considering all the features and aspects of the Lectric ONE, the only thing we can conclude is that Lectric outdid themselves with this setup.
Overall, you get incredible value for your money as the Pinion C1.6i gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt drive alone costs almost $2,000. The only way Lectric managed to include these parts on an e-bike with a $2K price tag is through their sheer size and the volume of bikes they build and sell.
The Lectric ONE redefines maintenance-free riding, thanks to its Pinion gearbox and belt drive, leaving you to focus on the journey.
The ONE is not perfect, there are a few things we’d like to see improved, but to be honest, this is just nitpicking.
The reality is that the Lectric ONE has no competition at the moment. No other brand offers the same level of technology and premium features for so little money.
If you feel it meets your e-biking needs, don’t hesitate to buy it.
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