Magnum Mi6 Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Magnum. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Magnum products.

Magnum has been around for years now, and it is nice to see them update their Ui5 and Mi5 line to the new Ui6 and Mi6 variants. The Mi6 here is similar to the old Mi5 model, with a few upgrades. If you read the review on the Mi5, you may find a lot of parallel information here, however, I will try to call out the upgrades where possible. So, the Mi6 is a mountain model with a semi-integrated battery offering updated technology… to call it a true mountain bike is a bit of a stretch in my mind because some of the components are entry level (Tektro mechanical disc brake and Suntour XCT fork). It works great for light trails and zipping around town… thanks to the seat stay bosses you could easily add a carry rack or even fenders and commute with this thing. The suspension fork has about 80mm of travel and adds some utility with its preload adjust. However, since this is a bit of a basic fork, there is no compression lockout. It also only comes in one frame size and one black color. Still the bike has decent adjustability, is pretty light weight at just 56lbs, and stands apart from the competition with a competitive $1,699 price point. Other features include a derailleur guard, locking ergonomic grips, and bottle cage bosses.

The motor powering the Magnum Mi6 is an upgraded 500 watt Das-Kit internally geared hub mounted in the rear wheel. I like that for the Mi6 they chose a black version to match the rims, crankset and battery. The motor whirs a bit depending on the level of power you’re applying but it’s not super loud, nor is it very heavy. I like that this e-bike has a quick release on the front wheel but you’ll need tools to access the rear. There’s a 7 speed cassette there with step up from entry level Shimano Altus derailleur and a quick-disconnect in the power cable so you can completely remove the wheel and motor together without any loose wires getting in the way. With 21 speeds total this bike is very capable around town and even going off road where climbing may become more rigorous. If you keep the chain lubed and drop in for an occasional tuneup at the local bike shop everything should last. Because the motor is a hub drive and the wheels are 27.5″ vs. 26″ or smaller you’re just not getting the same kind of torque and low end power so I’d recommend pedaling into hills and shifting down so you can help out. Mid-drives are better for this kind of thing but they aren’t as immediately satisfying or smooth as internally geared hubs and they tend to wear chains, sprockets and derailleurs more quickly. Still, the newer, powerful motor is rated for 25mph which is in the top range of a lot of ebikes offered in the US. I love the new slimmer throttle too, it stays out of the way and offers more space free on the handlebars for accessories. Stopping the bike is a set of mechanical disc brakes with 180mm in the front and 160mm in the rear.

Powering the Magnum Mi6 electric bike is a beautiful semi-integrated Lithium-ion battery pack. The downtube is cut away in order to sink the pack “inside” part way which provides more security and strength while simultaneously lowering the center of mass. It’s not quite as clean as the packs fully integrated battery packs on the expensive brands, but for a “value” offering it’s one of the best I’ve seen to date. Inside the pack are 18650 sized cells manufactured by Samsung, Panasonic, or LG. They are known for being long lasting, light weight and efficient in transferring power and I usually see them on mid to high-end models. Not only are you getting quality cells here, you also get more of them… I usually see 36v10ah ebikes at this price level but this one offers a new upgraded massive 48v 13ah for increased power and range. A few other “extras” with this battery design include an integrated LED power level indicator (that isn’t especially useful when mounted to the frame because it’s not very bright and is blocked by the downtube) and a USB charging port. 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.

Turning on the display itself is pretty simple and requires a long press of the M on the independent button pad. Once the display turns on, the Mi6 is ready to ride. When the bike is on, the throttle is live. Just a reminder to please be careful with this as I have accidentally activated throttles like this in the past and had the bike run away from me, and once driven a bike into the side of my car (it was at low speeds so no damage). I like this display because it angles a bit, is backlit, has a USB Type A port and provides most of the pertinent information I want to see in a cohesive, easy to understand way. Once the display is activated, I can navigate through the pedal assist modes (1-5) with the up and down arrows and toggle through different display options by tapping the M button and holding the up button. To enter settings, I hold the up and down arrow. Pretty straightforward and I also like that the buttons are tactile and provide a good grip, and that they have tactile feedback when they are depressed so I can feel what is happening without having to look.

I love the matching paint, upgraded drivetrain, motor, and battery here. If you are looking for a hard-tail light use mountain bike or commuter, it should work find for you. Personally, I much prefer the urban Ui6 from Magnum because it includes lights and isn’t trying to be an off-road machine like this. In truth, it’s probably just a style play (and I do like this style) but the Mi6 will be best suited to urban rides with some packed dirt trails here and there. As mentioned before, the frame is only available in one size at 19” but I like the sloped top tube and unique tube designs. The suspension fork adds a lot of comfort but isn’t especially adjustable, a lockout for city riding would be nice here. At 56lbs, the Mi6 is about average in terms of weight and the removable battery and front wheel help if you’re taking it to a trail or using it to commute with busses or trains. A lot of the gripes are pretty much nit-picking, I think at the $1,699 price it is a great offering considering you get a speedy 25mph bike with suspension fork and Shimano and Tektro components, really a big win. Double that with the fact that Magnum has been in business for years now and even offer warranties on their bikes and you have a great option for a fraction of the price as some of the fancy bikes out there. I want to thank Magnum for letting me checkout the upgraded Mi6, it was a lot of fun!

As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Magnum ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)

Pros:

• Features a lot of upgrades from the older Mi5, like drive-train, battery, and motor power, but maintains the very competitive price of $1,699
• Motor has been upgraded to a 500 watt Das-Kit hub drive, this means you also get a top speed of 25mph which puts this in speed pedelec territory, a big win in my opinion
• The drive train is now using Shimano Altus, so it should perform and hold up better than the older Shimano Tourney setup
• What was once a 36v battery system is now a powerful 48v 13ah battery, this means more power to match that motor and speed, while maintaining respectable range
• The battery secures to the frame well, looks good and is easy to take on and off, secure and protected by the frame in case of tips
• Oversized tapered head tube adds strength, it looks beautiful with the semi-internally routed cables and color matched fork
• Very affordable for a purpose built electric bike with a one year warranty, upgraded battery size and brand name battery cells
• Optional carry rack and fender set are sturdy and very well priced, the rack mounts to the top of the seat stays to keep the rear dropout area clean
• Basic suspension fork adds comfort and the rebound adjust could be handy but requires extra effort to setup correctly (two dials should be adjusted similarly for even response)
• Nice color, even the suspension fork and grips match, this is not always the case with lower priced electric bikes
• The motor and battery offer great power for a US electric bike but the battery is actually slightly larger than standard with 13 amp hours vs. just 10 on most models

Cons:

• Mechanical brakes get the job done, but I prefer hydraulic disc brakes for mountain bikes as well as speedy bikes, since this bike is looking to attract both buyers, it would be welcome upgrade, however, I do really like the $1,699 price point, and expensive brakes would hike that up quite a bit, so I see why they chose this setup
• The throttle can be difficult to reach while riding due to the shifter placement, it pushes the throttle ring out but Magnum is working to improve this design
• Only available in one standard size with one color option, it fit me alright and I’m 5’9″, and there is some adjustability
• No battery integrated lights here, if that is something that interests you, you may want to take a look at their more commuter friendly bike, the Ui6
• Because there are two sets of trigger shifters (for a total of 21 speeds) the cockpit gets a bit more crowded, luckily, the new slim trigger throttle helps alleviate some of this
• The battery pack has to be switched on before the bike is turned on, this takes extra time and makes it easy to forget to tun off the battery which can slowly drain the battery due to an LED indicator built in, this LED indicator isn’t visible when riding due to a dark filter cover
• Only the left brake lever features an integrated motor inhibitor, if you squeeze the right lever to stop it will still activate the rear disc brake but the motor may continue because pedal assist is a bit delayed

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.magnumbikes.com