Magnum Premium II 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.

Observations:

• As its name suggests, this is the “premium” folding electric bike in the Magnum lineup. For a bit more money than the Magnum Classic, you get a higher capacity battery pack, hydraulic disc brakes, cast alloy rims, an upgraded suspension fork, and a nicer drivetrain with upgraded 8-speed cassette and Shimano Acera derailleur
• The Magnum Premium 2 or “II” was originally called the Magnum Premium X. I’ve noticed that Magnum maintains their designs and opts for subtle upgrades and improvements year over year vs. complete redesigns, and this allows their batteries to be backwards compatible and for dealers to stock parts that work across many bikes… it’s part of what makes them reliable and supports their customer service channels

Pros:

• I love that this bike comes in two frame styles and two colors, the standard mid-step with a straight bar as well as a deep wave step-thru that could be easier to approach and mount for people with knee and hip sensitivity
• Powerful hydraulic disc brakes allow this bike to stop faster and with less hand effort. Both levers have motor inhibitors built-in so you get extra control. Given the smaller 20″ wheel size of this ebike, the 160mm rotor size is a good choice because they’re less likely to get bent than 180mm rotors when the bike is folded and transported
• Awesome cast rims are much more durable than traditional spoked wheels, meaning they won’t bend or go out of true for heavier riders… this is a nice little upgrade, but it does increase the overall weight of the bike and take off some of the cushion that spokes offer as they bend slightly
• Excellent drivetrain on this ebike, the alloy chain guide prevents drops when riding or folding, the eight speed drivetrain with Shimano Acera derailleur shifts easily and is more durable than Tourney (as seen on the Magnum Clasic), and the addition of a derailleur guard at the back will protect this derailleur if the bike tips or is laid on its side during folding and transport!
• Really nice display for a folding ebike, many times the display and button pad will be combined and won’t swivel or be as large and easy to read as we see here… Magnum uses a lot of parts from Das-Kit, which I have found to be high quality and well designed. Even though the display is not removable, it does swivel easily to reduce damage and has a hard durable screen (replacements are like $110 if yours does break or get scratched up)
• The slim trigger throttle design is exclusive to Das-Kit and fits neatly on the right side of the handlebar (where most people seem to prefer it), without crowding the twist shifter. I’ve seen many other companies using the Bafang trigger throttle that has to be moved to the left side of the handlebar due to shifter and brake mount clutter
• Lots of comfort upgrades here! Check out the extra large gel saddle, padded grips, suspension fork with lockout, wide 2.4″ Schwalbe tires, and basic suspension seat post with compression adjust and flip-up saddle mount… these are welcome upgrades on any folding ebike because they tend to have smaller wheels with a higher attack angle that “collides” with bumps and obstacles vs. smoothly overcoming them
• I grouped this ebike in with the Class 3 speed pedelec category, even though it only reaches ~25mph vs 28mph, which is quite thrilling on the smaller frame. Given the broader range of speeds, it’s wonderful to have an 11-32 tooth cassette vs. the 14-28 tooth I see on most competing products (and the Magnum Classic)
• Excellent tires! Name brand Schwalbe Super Moto-X with reflective sidewall stripes for safety and Performance Line GreenGuard for puncture protection, very handy if you’re traveling with the bikes and not familiar with local terrain and thorny plant life. Also, the wider tire size provides more air volume for comfort and a bit of added stability (which is nice for smaller 20″ wheels)
• The rear rack is pretty sweet, it provides a great platform on top for a trunk bag, uses standard gauge tubing for panniers on the sides, has a bungee slot at the base of both sides, and protrudes beyond the rear light so it won’t get busted as easily when the bike is folded and transported roughly
• Given the higher capacity battery pack here, I like that they opted for a USB Type A charging port (located on the right side), that you can use to power accessories or as backup power when camping or adventuring!
• Since the battery pack is not built into the frame of this ebike, the folding joint is narrower (less likely to bump your knees), and the external cables aren’t as likely to get pinched
• Longer 400mm seat post and telescoping stem allow this folding electric bicycle to fit more riders, given the slightly shorter 165mm crank arms and fixed reach… it’s still not ideal for the tallest riders, but it’s a slight upgrade
• Magnum sources their battery cells from Panasonic, LG, or Samsung to ensure that they’re high quality and will last for more cycles. To really care for a Lithium-ion battery pack, I’ve learned that you should avoid letting it fully discharge and try to store it in a cool, dry location, avoiding extreme heat and extreme cold
• As soon as you turn that key and power up the display, the throttle is hot! You get full power at all levels of assist, which is nice for advanced riders… just be careful not to bump it, or the bike will take off. For people who are uncomfortable with this setup, the throttle can be disconnected
• I like that the display loops from the very top to the bottom of assist levels, and in reverse! This saves you clicks on the button pad
• The display has a password, but you can ask the shop or Magnum to help you get into the settings (hold + and -) so you could lower the top speed if you wanted (to maximize the battery range or provide a sense of safety)
• Great network of dealers that assemble and support Magnum products, this adds a bit to the cost but makes the bike easier to own long term. I also want to call out the nicer 12-magnet sealed cadence sensor used here vs. external or less sensitive 6-magnet designs

Cons:

• Minor complaint here, the brakes are great but the left lever doesn’t have an integrated bell like the mechanical levers used for the Magnum Classic folding ebike… instead, Magnum chose a basic flick bell that isn’t as sturdy or satisfying to ring
• Both the headlight and tail light run off of independent AA batteries, which means they require independent activation and produce more waste over time… I’ve asked about this and found that some companies choose these to keep the cost down and reduce the potential for broken or pulled out wires (more common on folding ebikes), consider getting some rechargeable AA batteries
• The silverfish style battery pack that Magnum has chosen for these ebikes is tried and true, it’s easier and cheaper to repair and repack, but requires the key to be inserted and turned to “on” in order to activate the bike electric systems. I find that this extra step can become tedious, the keys can jingle, and can even get snagged or bent more easily, but it does prevent tampering once you park the bike at the rack and remove the keys
• Because the bike is feature-complete with sturdy aluminum alloy fenders, a metal rack, spring suspension fork, front and rear lights, and a higher capacity 624 watt hour battery pack, it does weigh more than most competing standard sized folding electric bikes. It weighs in at roughly 61.3lbs, but the 9.3lb battery pack is fairly easy to remove (and I’d recommend doing so before lifting)
• Neither wheel offers quick release. This is a minor complaint, but it does make changing flat tires more time consuming, and requires that you bring some tools
• Minor complaint here, the folding plastic pedals just don’t offer the stiffness and traction that folding alloy pedals (or non-folding pedals) will provide. Consider swapping them out or upgrading to something like this if you have larger feet
• This folding ebike is a bit rear-heavy because of the motor and battery position, it’s also a bit less stealthy than some of the competing products out there now… but you get a more powerful motor and higher capacity battery as a result
• There’s no magnetic clasp or rubber strap system to keep the bike folded, but there is a spring housed inside the main tube and several locking designs to make sure it doesn’t come unfolded when riding… if you’re folding and transporting, considering putting a towel between the frame and using some adjustable bungees like these to keep it from rattling around and getting scratched
• As nice as the display panel is, it only shows 5 bars on the battery readout vs. 10 or even a percentage for more precision. Also, the looping feature on pedal assist levels can be annoying if you are used to clicking all the way up without looking down… because now you’ll have to look to make sure you don’t pass the highest assist level and loop back around
• The kickstand is mounted near the center of the frame and just barely blocks the crank arm, which can cause pedal lock if you’re backing the bike up… also, there aren’t any bottle cage bosses on this frame. Considering using a trunk bag with a bottle holster like one of these instead
• When riding across the really bumpy grass and dirt sections around 14:37 in the video review above, I could definitely hear the fenders, battery, and keys jingling around
• I love how the stem telescopes up for taller riders but don’t stretch it too far or the brake lines, shifter cables and electronic wiring can get damaged as you steer

Useful Resources:

• Official Magnum Bikes website
• Magnum Bikes Amazon web store
• Best folding electric bikes