Magnum Payload

1 review for Magnum Payload

1. 

   CC E-Cycles – April 24, 2023

   Video Review

   ---

   Written Review

   To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Magnum Bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Magnum products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Magnum electric bike forums.

   Pros:

   • A long-tail speed pedelec cargo ebike from Magnum that is also feature rich with fenders, rear rack, suspension seat post, tool-free adjustable stem, also has a powerful, capable, and reliable electric system with a 25mph top speed and a high capacity 48v battery system
   • The price point is a big win for the bike, most cargo bikes don’t offer many features like hydraulic brakes as well as a powerful 500 watt hub motor with throttle, the bike comes in at just $2,499 and is supported by a dealer network, has a 1 year warranty, plus Magnum has been around the ebike world for years and has tons of experience supporting their bikes
   • This is a larger and heavier bike, it comes in just one frame size and it weighs 80lbs, that may sound like a large drawback, but having the heavier weight really helps give the bike balance and stability at high speeds, with this capable of 25mph, that is definitely a good thing and increases rider confidence
   • Comes standard with a head tube mounted basket, this thing has a great bamboo deck that is perfect for holding for cargo, groceries, or whatever you might add, I couldn’t pin down a maximum weight limit (the bike is still a prototype, so some things could change), but it should be good for at least 55lbs as that is the standard
   • I love that the front basket stays straight when you steer, this is a feature to keep the load stable and steady when making turns or even carting the bike around by hand so that items and cargo don’t tip or spill
   • In the rear, you will notice this long-tail cargo deck, and two lower decks, these also are matched with bamboo decking, this setup is awesome for loading things as well as carrying passengers with a deck pad, you could also get a side clamping Yepp seat too if you wanted to carry children
   • Altogether, the bike is rated for a 300lb total weight limit, so you could carry a lot of things as well as yourself, also a good weight rating for adding passengers as well, not bad for the lower price point
   • There are some nice aluminum alloy fenders included here that are wide, not only do these keep you clean, but it the wider measurement is going to give you even more coverage so you dry and block more debris, these also won’t rust like steel fenders could
   • The double legged kickstand is a must on cargo bikes, this is oversized and sturdy, just what you want for solid loading, I also love that although it is mounted centrally, they managed to keep it just barley out of the way of the crank arm so you don’t get pedal lock when reversing, big thumbs up for this feature as that could be potentially annoying to get pedal lock on a cargo bike
   • Features a set of CST PRO tires that measure 26” x 2.4”, so it is a little wider, is rated for 35-65psi for comfort and float, uses this more efficient road tread, and has built in puncture protection, this is great as it will help minimize flat tires and keep you and the cargo going for the long haul
   • I like the wheel setup here, if you have a large wheel, loading and mounting could be a big pain, so a lot of cargo bikes will go with smaller wheels or a staggered setup, this is also a bit of a pain because you need two different tire sizes to carry around for spare tubes, smaller wheels also feel more bumps in the road because of the higher attack angle, I feel this is a good setup because this is large enough that you have a more comfortable attack angle, but small enough that it is not difficult to load
   • Probably my most favorite point of contact by far is the 40mm of travel suspension seat post with preload adjust, this is an accessory I always recommend people purchase for their bike because it makes a world of difference, it is rare that I ever see these included, so it is really a nice touch to the bike and you don’t have to go out and spend extra money!
   • Powering the bike is a high capacity 48v 13ah lithium ion battery, this is secured via lock and key and also has a battery charge level LED indicator readout that is shown at the press of a button, my favorite part of the battery is the USB charging port on the side, this lets you run accessories off the main battery power, or you can even bring the battery around with you camping or on a picnic to use it as a portable power bank, I am told Magnum also offers a battery upgrade, you can get a absolutely massive 48v 19ah if you wanted to bump up the range capabilities
   • Charging is done with a 1.5lb 2amp charger so that slower charge will help the battery life, to really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells, try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry
   • Other features of the bike include an integrated bell, tool-free adjustable stem for adjustability, and these nice ergonomic padded grips for comfort
   • Driven by a powerful Das-Kit rear hub-drive motor that is rated at a 500 watt nominal, this has about 90nm of torque and can be engaged either by the cadence sensor for 6 levels of cadence based pedal assist or slim trigger throttle, is capable of speeds up to 25mph for the pedal assist and 20mph throttle only
   • The extra powerful motor here is fat tire specific and is made to handle a cargo bike as large as this with ease, this is a big step up in power for Magnum, and I found it handles the extra weight of the bike perfectly
   • With that 25mph rating on the pedal assist, this makes the bike a speed pedelec which is great for zipping round town and getting to your destination faster than others, you can even adjust the top speed in the display menus and bring it down for those that are new to ebikes or perhaps a bit intimidated, you can also remove the throttle, this is also great for those that want to change it from a Class 2 ebike to a Class 1 ebike to go on more trails
   • The 12 magnet cadence sensor on the bike is sealed, older ebikes (and even some current ones!) would have the magnets out in the open allowing them to get gunked up with debris and grime which would hinder the operation, I am glad more companies are doing this, even Magnum here and it is a nice to see they didn’t skimp on a value priced ebike
   • Mechanically, the bike is operated by a 8 speed Shimano Acera derailleur, 11-32 tooth cassette in the rear, the grip shift on the handlebars is intuitive and easy to use, especially friendly for newer riders or those intimidated by trigger shifters
   • A big win here are the hydraulic disc brakes, this features a 180mm disc brake rotor in the front as well as in the rear, this is defiantly the preferred setup to go with since you need a lot of stopping power for carrying a load or passengers, in addition, this bike includes motor inhibitors, a motor cut off switch built into the brakes making stopping easier
   • The Das-Kit centrally mounted display is nice and large, very easy to read, and is backlit as well, I love that you can adjust the top speeds with this thing as mentioned earlier, but it also has a walk mode, great for if you have a flat tire or need to lug the bike up a hill or have a heavy load to escort

   Cons:

   • Other than the suspension seat post, there is no suspension in the front or rear, this is actually standard on cargo bikes, so I don’t want to knock it too hard for missing them, but do be aware cargo bikes typically are a little more stiff than suspension bikes, the seat post does help here, and you could even upgrade to a fancier one if you wanted more comfort
   • Tool-free adjustable stems are great for switching riders or changing your geometry on the fly, but they are less sturdy and do get loose over time, I suggest trying to keep an eye on the tightening bolt periodically and tightening it as necessary as it adjusts over time, this is something to consider, especially given the longer reach of the bike
   • Charging the battery is done via the included 2amp charger, not the fastest especially given that 48v 13ah rating, it could take you a while to charge it from dead to full, but I am told charging it at lower amps can reduce wear on the charging cycles over time
   • A lot of urban tires on modern ebikes these days have included a reflective sidewall stripe, is great for safety and visibility and I really appreciate them, however, this bike does not have them and is kind of a missed opportunity
   • Another considerations for this bike and other cargo bikes is rear wheel maintenance, there is no quick release in the rear and the rear wheel is housed by the rear deck, in addition, this is also where the rear motor is, certain points of maintenance can be a pain or take longer because of this, luckily the derailleur setup here is a bit higher-end and reliable, the tires also have puncture protection so these combined should keep you from having to fiddle around too much back there
   • At 80lbs, the Payload is a heavy bikes, a heavy bike like this could be cumbersome to maneuver in tight spaces like storage or a garage, it can also be a paint to lift or carry, I recommend removing the battery or bamboo to at least save a little bit of weight where you can
   • Here at Electric Bike Review, we are big fans of bottle cage bosses, unfortunately, they are not present on this bike, they normally make a great addition for a lot of reasons, you can fit a number of accessories on them, not just water bottles, there are aftermarket add-ons like a GPS tracker, a folding lock, mounting points for racks, and many others that can get your bike setup just the way you want, so it is a shame none are here
   • The display is nice and large and easy to ready, however, it is not color, nor does it have a more accurate battery percentage readout, newer bikes are ditching the battery infographic that only shows how much battery you have in chunks to go with a percentage readout so you know exactly how much you have left
   • The display cannot be removed, this is a shame in certain situations, such as parking at a bike rack, not only will it advertise to would-be thieves that it is an electric bike by having a display on it, but it is also now subject to outside elements like rain or snow, I have seen many people park their bike with a similar display and they will sometimes put their helmet over it when leaving to alleviate both of these considerations
   • There are no battery integrated lights here, kind of a bummer for a cargo bike, it is a neat feature on ebikes that you are seeing more and more of each day, great for safety and visibility and when they are wired into the battery already, you don’t have to worry about them dying out on you
   • Charging the battery on or off the bike is a great feature, however, when charging on the bike, you have to remember the charging port is near the crank arm, this means that if you had it plugged in and parked in the garage, moving the bike or rotating that crank arm could come down on the charging cord, causing it to snag