Magnum Ranger

1 review for Magnum Ranger

1. 

   CC E-Cycles – May 5, 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:

   • An all new motorcycle-esque fat-tire cruiser ebike from Magnum that is also feature rich with fenders, rear rack, lights in the front and rear, front suspension fork, 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 bikes don’t offer many features like hydraulic brakes as well as a powerful 750-1000 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
   • Adding to the motorcycle/cruiser look is the actual feel of high rise handle bars, with this configuration, your arms sit up ever so slightly higher than they would on a normal bicycle, it kind of give you a chopper feel and really sets the bike and rider apart from others when going down trails, I got a lot of waves and thumbs up!
   • This is a larger and heavier bike, it comes in just one 19.75” frame size and it weighs 74.2lbs, 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
   • Along the front chain ring, you will notice an alloy guard as well as a sort of plastic chain cover along side that, this helps the chain a bit from derailing to one side as well as the other, but the bigger benefit here is that your clothing such as pants or a dress are not going to get caught up in the chain and easily snag or rip
   • A comfort cruiser style saddle is included, it is extra wide with a lot of cushioning and even has these rubber bumpers underneath that act a bit as suspension as you go over bumps and such, there is a reason all the best cruiser bikes use a similar setup to this
   • There are some nice steel fenders included here that are 110mm 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
   • Included is a front suspension fork, this is nice for soaking up bumps and cracks in the road, this is a RST Guide spring fork with both lockout and preload adjust, I think it is nice to have here and fits the bikes purpose well
   • Check out these fat-tires, these are super stylish with this large white wall side, definitley makes the aesthetics cool, it also has punched out rims to save weight, has a super low 20psi rating for comfort and float, and this more efficient road tread
   • This bike has a 30.9mm seat post, so if you were looking to add more comfort to the ride setup, you have the option to get an aftermarket suspension seat post like a Kinekt or SR SunTour NCX seat post to give the ride more cushion for longer more sustained rides
   • Ramping up the utility aspect is this integrated rear rack, features a bungie notch, something I think is really cool about this rack is that it is rated for 27kg (which is about 59.5lbs), this goes above and beyond since standard rear racks are rated for 55lbs, which is a little bit less, so it’s nice to see something more sturdy
   • I love the included independent disposable battery operated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear, safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes
   • 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
   • The bike has a nice slap guard on the chain stay, this keeps the frame as well as the paint in great shape since chains can sometimes bounce on the frame an knick the paint, it can be down hill from there since the chips look bad and can rust, but thankfully, this slap guard prevents that from happening
   • 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 750 watt nominal and 1000 watt peak rating, this has about 90nm of torque and can be engaged either by the cadence sensor for cadence based pedal assist or 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 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 3 ebike to a Class 2 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, 48 tooth chain ring in the front, the grip shift on the handlebars is intuitive and easy to use, especially friendly for newer riders
   • Way down by the derailleur, you will notice a metal derailleur guard, this is an accessory that not all bikes have, but it is here and important to highlight, this keeps the derailleur from getting bashed around if the bike is ever shipped, but more importantly, this will protect that derailleur should the bike ever take a spill and fall down, defiantly a great addition
   • A big win here are the Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes, this features a 180mm disc brake rotor in the front and a 160mm rotor in the rear, having the larger rotor in the front is great since the front wheel will take the brunt of the stopping force, 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:

   • As a fan of safety, it is hard to knock on items like included lights in the front and rear, however, many manufacturers are having them integrated into the main battery power while letting you turn them on and off at the display controls, for this bike, they have independent buttons and are powered by disposable AA or AAA batteries, this means you could forget to turn them off a lot easier, as well as drain those batteries making it so you have to buy them more frequently
   • 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
   • The included fenders here are a welcome addition, but since they are made of steel, they are slightly more vulnerable to rusting, if the paint were to get scratched, or knicked, and the bike was left outside in the rain or got wet, those spots could rust, I have been told that applying touch up paint to the chip can prevent rust if it were to rain
   • I love the PSI rating on these larger tires, and lowering that PSI will give you more command over soft and loamy terrain such as sand or snow, however, one thing you have to be aware of is picnh-flats, AKA “snake bites”, these are flat tire punctures that occur when the rubber rubs against itself in a low pressure setting, so do be aware of that
   • At 74.2lbs, the Ranger is a heavy bikes, I noticed when weighing it that the weight distribution is pretty far forward, 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 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
   • Kind of a small gripe here, but the way the handlebars are setup with the higher location, back sweep, and the display mounted in the center leaves almost zero room for added accessories, something to consider if you are looking at this bike since there are also no bottle cage bosses to add stuff
   • Another small gripe here, but reflective sidewalls are being added to ebikes all the time for safety in visibility, when I first saw this bike I got a tad excited, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a reflective sidewall stripe I was looking at, just a cool whitewall pattern for aesthetes containing no function