Lectric ONE Review: Pinion Gearbox-Equipped

Written by: Chris Van Leuven | July 20, 2026 | Time to read: 6-7 min

A typical commuter has a derailleur, chain, and cassette exposed to rain, road grit, curbs, and crowded bike racks. The ONE moves its six gears into a sealed Pinion gearbox near the crank and uses a Gates Carbon Belt to drive the rear wheel. A sealed gearbox changes the bike more than another 100 watts ever would.

The gears stay protected, the belt remains cleaner than a chain, and there’s no derailleur waiting to bend if the bike tips over. The Pinion C1.6i gearbox also lets you shift while stopped or coasting, while Smart Shift can return the bike to a selected starting gear before you pull away again. Anyone who has reached a red light in the wrong gear knows why that matters.

The Pinion gearbox handles your pedaling gears, but the motor remains in the rear hub. This isn’t a Pinion motor system or a mid-drive e-Bike. The gearbox controls the six mechanical gears, while the rear hub motor provides electric assistance.

Lectric pairs the drivetrain with a 750W Stealth M24 rear hub motor, delivering up to 1,350W of peak output and 85 Nm of torque. The bike also includes a thumb throttle, hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, integrated lights, a full-color LCD display, and 20 x 2.5-inch city tires with reflective sidewalls and puncture protection.

The Gates belt still needs correct tension and alignment, and the Pinion gearbox has its own service schedule. I wouldn’t call the system maintenance-free. Low-maintenance is more accurate. The first thing I’d probably notice after a week isn’t the shifting. It’s how quiet the bike stays compared with a traditional chain drivetrain. If you ride every day instead of every Saturday, those small differences begin to matter.

The ONE makes more sense in traffic than on a showroom floor. Its 20-inch wheels keep the bike compact and make it easier to maneuver through city lanes, crowded bike racks, apartment storage rooms, and narrow garages. It resembles some of Lectric’s folding models, but the ONE doesn’t fold. You’re buying it because the shorter footprint makes commuting easier, not because it disappears into a trunk.

The rear hub motor has plenty of power. In Class 3 mode, the bike can provide pedal assist up to 28 mph where local laws allow. The thumb throttle also helps when pulling away from an intersection or moving through a short section where pedaling feels awkward.

The ONE uses a cadence sensor rather than a torque sensor. It knows the cranks are moving, but it doesn’t measure how hard you’re pressing. That means the assistance can feel more like a preset push than a direct extension of your legs. It’s the one part of the bike that still reminds you this isn’t a $5,000 commuter.

That won’t bother everyone. Some riders prefer strong, consistent motor assistance and don’t care whether it duplicates every change in pedal pressure. Others may find it less natural than a torque-sensor commuter e-Bike.

The rigid fork is another tradeoff. The 2.5-inch tires soften the impact of ordinary pavement, but they won’t erase potholes or broken pavement. Twenty-inch wheels make the ONE easier to store, but they also make rough streets harder to ignore. On decent pavement, protected bike lanes, and paved paths, the bike will feel quick. But riders dealing with badly damaged roads may prefer larger wheels or front suspension.

The hydraulic disc brakes suit the bike’s speed, and the brake-activated rear light helps in traffic. Compatible fenders and a rear rack make the ONE more practical, but I’d confirm exactly what’s included with any listing.

The ONE is a specific kind of low-maintenance e-Bike. It makes sense for someone who rides to work regularly, parks outside during the day, deals with rain or winter road salt, and doesn’t want to spend weekends cleaning a chain or adjusting a derailleur.

I could see it working well in places like Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Madison, Boulder, Boston, or Washington, D.C., and cities where riders put real commuting miles on a bike instead of saving it for weekends.

It also suits riders who wear ordinary clothes and don’t want an oily chain rubbing against pants or bags. The Gates Carbon Belt removes one of the small annoyances that can make daily ownership feel like a chore.

The automatic shifting earns its place because it solves a real commuter problem rather than adding another feature to the display. Smart Shift can choose a starting gear before you move again, and the electronic controls allow shifting while stopped or coasting. But the compact design has limits.

Taller riders or anyone who prefers a stretched, full-size position should pay close attention to fit. Riders covering rough suburban roads may prefer larger wheels and suspension. The ONE also isn’t the obvious choice for passengers, heavy cargo, trail riding, or anyone who needs a folding bike for RV travel. Lectric already makes better models for those jobs.

The ONE is at its best when the job is simple: get across town quickly, stay clean, shift easily, and spend less time maintaining exposed drivetrain parts.

A used ONE needs a different inspection from a basic derailleur commuter. There’s no chain or cassette to evaluate, but the gearbox, electronic shifting, Gates belt, battery, and controls all need to work together.

Check the battery before buying. Lectric has sold the ONE with different battery configurations, and replacement cost matters. I’d also check that the correct charger, fenders, rear rack, and accessories are included. A seller calling it the “long-range model” isn’t enough.

The Pinion gearbox and Gates belt are durable, but some neighborhood bike shops are less familiar with them than with a Shimano derailleur. Before buying privately, I’d find out whether a nearby shop is comfortable servicing both systems.

A certified pre-owned Lectric ONE on Upway removes that uncertainty. You can compare mileage, battery condition, included equipment, and overall wear before buying, while Upway’s 50-point inspection covers the bike’s major mechanical and electrical systems. I’d take a slightly older ONE with clean belt tracking, dependable Smart Shift, a healthy battery, and the correct charger over a newer bike with an uncertain history.