Searching for a budget e-bike now turns up a different list than it did a year ago. Lectric no longer sells the XP 3.0 and lists the XP4 in its place, and several other budget models are discontinued, sold out or priced above the cap. This page compares six bikes that were listed at the budget cap or below on their makers’ own sites on October 6, 2026.
How to read this page. Every figure below is what the maker publishes, attributed to the maker. Prices and stock were checked on the makers’ sites on the date above and can change at any time. Where a maker does not publish a spec, the table says “not published” instead of guessing.
How this review was produced: we do not buy or test the products we cover. This is a desk analysis of manufacturer specifications, manuals and documentation, safety and certification listings, and publicly available owner reports and third-party reviews. Figures are manufacturer claims or reported owner results.
What to Look For in a Budget E-Bike
Four differences in these spec sheets matter more than headline motor wattage.
- Brake type. Lectric lists hydraulic disc brakes on both the XP4 and the XP Lite2, Ride1Up lists dual-piston hydraulic discs on the Portola 02, and Heybike lists hydraulic discs on the Ranger S 2.0 and Mars 2.5. The Heybike Cityscape 2.0 page says only “dual disc brakes” and does not say whether they are mechanical or hydraulic.
- Sensor type. A torque sensor measures pedal effort, while a cadence sensor reacts to pedal rotation. Lectric lists a torque sensor on the XP4 and a cadence sensor on the XP Lite2. Ride1Up lists a rider-selectable torque and cadence setup on the Portola 02. Heybike does not publish the sensor type for any of its three bikes.
- Battery capacity in Wh. The listed batteries range from 375Wh to 692Wh. Ride1Up lists the Portola’s battery as 10Ah but does not state voltage or watt-hours, so its capacity cannot be compared directly.
- Weight. The makers’ weights run from 41 lbs (XP Lite2, battery removed) to 75 lbs (Mars 2.5).
The Six Bikes, From the Makers’ Own Pages
Lectric XP4: torque sensor with selectable classes
Best for: riders who want a maker-listed torque sensor, hydraulic brakes and a selectable Class 1, 2 or 3 setup (where state law allows). Lectric lists the XP4 with an “almost gone” stock banner when checked.
Lectric lists a 500W rear hub motor with 1092W peak and 55 Nm of torque, a top speed of 28 mph, and a thumb throttle. The battery is 48V, 10.4Ah, 500Wh, removable. Lectric rates range at up to 50 miles without stating test conditions. Brakes are 602 hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors, and gearing is an 8-speed Shimano Altus.
Trade-offs: Lectric lists 62 lbs without the battery and a 7 lb battery, which is about 69 lbs in total. It folds, and the warranty is one year. Payload is 330 lbs.
Lectric XP Lite2: lightest listed, lowest listed price
Best for: riders who put weight and price first. Lectric lists 41 lbs with the 7 lb battery removed (some older bundle pages say 49 lbs with the battery installed), which is the lowest weight on this page on either basis. A Long-Range battery option is also available.
The listing shows a 300W rear hub with 819W peak and 28 Nm, a 20 mph top speed (Class 1 or 2), a twist-grip throttle, and a single-speed drivetrain. The standard battery is 48V, 7.8Ah, 375Wh, the smallest on this page. The Long-Range option is listed at 14Ah and 672Wh, for a maker-quoted range of up to 80 miles against up to 45 miles on the standard pack.
Trade-offs: Lectric’s page states that a torque sensor is not used, so assist is cadence-based. There is a rigid steel fork instead of suspension, one year of warranty, and a 275 lb payload. Tires are 20 by 2.5 inch slicks.
Ride1Up Portola 02 (10Ah): highest listed torque
Best for: riders who want the highest torque figure and a sensor they can choose. Ride1Up lists 90 Nm from a 750W angle-geared hub, the highest torque figure on this page, with an Intui-Drive setup that combines torque and cadence sensing and lets the rider select between them. The 10Ah version shows as in stock. The 15Ah version is over this page’s price cap.
Ride1Up lists Class 1 to 3 selectable and 28 mph on pedal assist. Brakes are dual-piston hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors, gearing is a Shimano Altus 8-speed, and the fork is a 100mm suspension fork. It also lists fenders, integrated lights and a rack rated for 150 lbs. Ride1Up quotes 25 to 45 miles of range on the 10Ah pack.
Trade-offs and caveats: the product page does not state battery voltage or watt-hours, so the Wh figure is unverified and left out here. Peak motor power is not published either. The weight in the size chart is 61 lbs for this version, but the column mapping is inferred from the header order. Ride1Up lists a 1-year warranty.
Heybike Ranger S 2.0: largest listed battery
Best for: riders who want the largest listed battery and the highest listed payload. Heybike lists a 48V, 14.4Ah, 692Wh removable battery, and a 400 lb maximum load.
Heybike lists a 750W rated, 1400W peak rear hub with 80 Nm, Class 3 with a 28 mph top speed. Brakes are hydraulic discs, tires are 20 by 4 inch fat tires, and the frame is a folding step-through with front suspension. Heybike quotes up to 55 miles of range under optimal conditions.
Trade-offs: Heybike lists 72 lbs, so it is among the heavier bikes here. Throttle type, sensor type, gearing and rider height range are not published on the pages checked. Warranty is 2 years.
Heybike Mars 2.5: the only range figure with stated test conditions
Best for: shoppers who want to know how a range claim was set. Heybike’s manual states that the up-to-45-mile figure assumes a roughly 155 lb rider, no extra cargo, minimal wind, about 86F, mostly flat ground, tires at 20 PSI, pedal assist level 1 and no throttle. No other bike on this page comes with conditions like that. Heybike’s site lists the Mars 2.5 under its clearance section.
Heybike lists a 750W nominal, 1000W peak hub with 85 Nm, a 28 mph top speed, and a 48V, 600Wh removable battery that takes 5 to 6 hours to charge. Brakes are hydraulic discs, gearing is a Shimano 7-speed, and tires are 20 by 4 inch fat tires with front suspension. The warranty is 2 years.
Trade-offs: at 75 lbs it is the heaviest bike listed here, and the max load is 330 lbs. Class, throttle type and sensor type are not published.
Heybike Cityscape 2.0: only 26-inch wheels, lowest price tied
Best for: riders who want a step-through commuter with larger wheels rather than a folding bike with 20 inch tires. It is the only bike here with 26 by 1.95 inch tires, and no folding feature is listed.
Heybike lists a 500W brushless hub with a 1200W peak (the same page’s headline says 1000W peak, so the page is internally inconsistent), with throttle and pedal assist, 7 speeds and a front suspension fork. The battery is 36V, 13Ah, 468Wh, removable and IPX6. Heybike quotes up to 50 miles, depending on mode, terrain and rider weight.
Trade-offs: torque, weight and sensor type are not published. A 2024 manual lists a 24 mph top speed and a 264 lb load limit, but may be out of date. Brake type is not stated.
Specs Side by Side
All figures are maker-listed. “Not published” means the pages and manuals checked did not state it.
| Bike | Motor (rated / peak) | Torque | Battery | Sensor | Brakes | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectric XP4 | 500W / 1092W | 55 Nm | 48V, 10.4Ah, 500Wh | Torque | Hydraulic disc | 62 lbs without battery; battery 7 lbs |
| Lectric XP Lite2 | 300W / 819W | 28 Nm | 48V, 7.8Ah, 375Wh | Cadence | Hydraulic disc | 41 lbs without battery |
| Ride1Up Portola 02 (10Ah) | 750W / not published | 90 Nm | 10Ah; voltage and Wh not published | Torque and cadence, selectable | Hydraulic disc | 61 lbs (size chart) |
| Heybike Ranger S 2.0 | 750W / 1400W | 80 Nm | 48V, 14.4Ah, 692Wh | Not published | Hydraulic disc | 72 lbs |
| Heybike Mars 2.5 | 750W / 1000W | 85 Nm | 48V, 600Wh | Not published | Hydraulic disc | 75 lbs |
| Heybike Cityscape 2.0 | 500W / 1200W (page also says 1000W) | Not published | 36V, 13Ah, 468Wh | Not published | Dual disc, type not stated | Not published |
How to Choose
- Torque sensor wanted: the XP4 and Portola 02 are the two with a torque sensor listed.
- Lowest weight: the XP Lite2, though it also has the smallest battery here, 375Wh. Its Long-Range option is 672Wh and costs more.
- Longer warranty: Heybike lists 2 years on all three of its bikes, while Lectric and Ride1Up list 1 year.
- Hydraulic brakes confirmed: every bike here except the Cityscape 2.0, whose listing does not say.
Earlier budget picks have moved on. Beyond the XP 3.0, the Aventon Level 2 Step-Through shows as discontinued, Rad Power Bikes’ cheapest bike is the RadRunner, and Velotric’s cheapest is the Fold 1 Lite, listed as sold out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lectric XP 3.0 still sold?
Lectric’s current catalog does not list an XP 3.0 bike, only XP 3.0 accessories. The maker’s lineup now includes the XP4 and the XP Lite2, both covered above.
Is a torque sensor better than a cadence sensor?
A torque sensor scales assist to how hard you pedal, while a cadence sensor switches assist on when the pedals turn. In this group, Lectric lists a torque sensor on the XP4 and a cadence sensor on the XP Lite2, and Ride1Up lists a selectable torque and cadence sensor on the Portola 02.
Why do the range claims differ so much?
Each maker sets its own conditions, and most do not publish them. Heybike states the test conditions for the Mars 2.5 (about 155 lb rider, mostly flat, pedal assist level 1, no throttle). Other pages say only that range varies with load, terrain and weather, so treat the figures as maker claims, not comparable numbers.
Do prices change?
Yes. Prices and stock on this page were checked on the makers’ own sites on October 6, 2026. Confirm the current price before buying.
Bottom Line
On paper, the XP4 and Portola 02 suit buyers who want a torque sensor, the XP Lite2 suits those who put weight and price first, the Ranger S 2.0 offers the biggest listed battery, the Mars 2.5 offers the most transparent range claim, and the Cityscape 2.0 is the choice for larger wheels at the lowest price tied. Because prices and stock move, confirm the current listing on the maker’s site before you decide.
