Video Review
General
Frame and Contact Points
Electronics
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Written Review
Power — Bafang geared hub, 500 nominal watts, 800 peak watts
Speed — 20 mph, 32 kph
Battery and Range — 48 volt 14 ah, 50 miles (17 ah and 20 ah upgrades available for $120 USD and 240 USD respectively)
Pedal assist sensor — Cadence sensor
Display — LCD (They are getting a new one) which will have a walk feature)
Frame and weight — 275 lbs rider capacity and a 55 pound load capacity for the rear rack
Suspension — Spring, 60 mm travel
Gearing — Shimano Altus, 8 speed
Brakes — Tektro, hydraulic disc, 180 mm rotors
Warranty — 12 month
Price — Starting at $1,786 USD, $2,249 CAD
What is going on, awesome peeps and welcome back to another episode of Electrified Reviews! I hope you’re having an absolutely amazing day and are enjoying some much needed cooler weather.
Today we’re reviewing the vBike LEXO 20s. This is a nimble Class 2 folder that folds up into a seriously compact package that can be stored just about anywhere. This fat tire folder has a starting price of $1,786 USD, or $2,249 CAD, comes in black, and has some serious battery upgrade options, which we’ll talk about in just a few minutes.
Assembly of the vBike LEXO 20s is, well, practically non-existent. They come nearly 100% assembled and ready to ride straight out of the box. Just turn it on, power it up and off ya go.
vBike also offers a 12 month warranty on their electric bikes, which is pretty good for this price point.
Alright, let’s dive into the specs!
The vBike LEXO 20s has a Bafang 500 watt geared hub motor with a top speed of 20 mph, or 32 kph, with the throttle or pedal assist, making this a Class 2 electric bike. And the smaller 20 inch by 4 inch Innova fat tires give the LEXO 20s a good mechanical advantage when climbing hills and accelerating from a stop.
The vBike LEXO 20s is equipped with a cadence sensor, and like we’ve mentioned probably 100 times before, it does have some latency when it comes to motor activation and deactivation. Thankfully, the LEXO 20s’ throttle is live from 0 mph and the brakes have motor inhibitor’s built in, so you can kind of manually, and more immediately, control the motor activation and deactivation that way as well.
The battery on the VBike LEXO 20s is a 48 volt 14 amp hour with a max estimated range of about around 50 miles. And for those of you who want even more juice there’s also a 17 amp hour and a 20 amp hour battery upgrade for an extra $120 and $240 respectively.
The battery is a silver fish style is located just behind the seat post. This does make the LEXO 20s a bit back heavy, but it’s still pretty easy to carry around, especially with the included handle on the frame.
The battery is locking and removable and requires that you actually leave the key “in the ignition” so to speak whenever you’re using the LEXO 20s. Be careful of heel strikes with the keys when pedaling.
In order to remove the battery, you first have to remove the saddle, which just takes an extra second or two since it’s a quick release latch. Once you’ve got the saddle out, then you can slide out the battery
In the back we’ve got a Shimano Altus 8-speed derailleur with some trigger shifters up front. I really appreciate that vBike went with these upgrades, especially the trigger shifters, because I just feel like they’re so much more comfortable to use compared to the entry-level SIS Index thumb shifter. I also like that vBike put a steel derailleur cage on here to protect the derailleur from strikes, and they also went with a double-sided bash guard on the front chain ring to help keep that chain locked in place. 10 points.
The frame on the vBike V 20s is made from 6061 aluminum alloy and has a 275 pound carry capacity for the rider and a 55 pound carry capacity for the rear rack, which puts the overall carry capacity of the V 20s at about 30 pounds more than comparable folding ebikes.
This style of frame with the double gussets is great for added frame strength and durability, but the top one serves as a pretty good handle to easily move the LEXO 20s around.
The handlebars on the vBike LEXO 20s are adjustable, and much narrower than normal, making this ride extremely nimble at low speeds, but a bit squirrelly at top speed. The narrower handlebars also means that when folded up, this e-bike is super compact.
And folding it is pretty easy. There’s a locking mechanism on the frame, and one on the handlebars. Just release those and everything collapses nicely.
Now, while the LEXO 20s does have front suspension and 4” by 20” fat tires, like most folders, it’s really not geared for extreme off-road use. The locking mechanisms just aren’t built for that level of stress.
To bring the vBike LEXO 20s to a stop we’ve got Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels. This is another really nice upgrade point on the LEXO 20s. Hydraulic disc brakes always just feel so much smoother than mechanical disc brakes, and the increased stopping power is a nice bonus as well.
The front headlight is fairly bright, and since the LEXO 20s is a Class 2 electric bike, it might be bright enough to illuminate your path.
Wire management is also good on the LEXO 20s and I love how everything is neatly bundled together and wrapped up all nice and tight.
vBike is upgrading their display, which will also include a walk mode feature, but even the older version that we tested was quite easy to read in direct sunlight. On the left side of the handlebars we have the throttle, which oddly twists away from the rider instead of towards, and the trigger shifters on the right.
Since the vBike LEXO 20s is a Class 2, it’s a great choice for anyone who lives in an area with e-bike restrictions. The fat tires, narrow handlebars and upgraded brakes, derailleur and bash guard are great for urban riding, and when folded up, this e-bike can fit just about anywhere.
See more of the LEXO 20s: https://www.vbike.ca/product/lexo-20s/
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