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.
The Magnum Ui6 is an upgraded step-through version of the older Ui5 and a bit more basic than the fancier Ui6+. However, it shares a lot in common with these bikes so if you read my previous reviews on them you may see some parallel information. However, I will call out the new changes as we go along. For example, the frame gets bumped down a size from the Ui6+. This is a 18” frame instead of an 19” frame. This changes the wheels to a 26” versus a 28” wheel on the Ui6+. It makes for a much more approachable frame and even has a little bit more comfort with these wider tires having more air volume (the Ui6+ has taller, more narrow tires). The tires here are a set of Schwalbe Big Ben at 26” x 1.5” with both reflective sidewall striping and puncture protection. This makes the frame just slightly heavier than the plus version, the regular Ui6 here weighs 60.1lbs total. Overall the Ui6 is an “urban” model with a semi-integrated battery and other commuting features… It’s one of my favorite ebikes from their line because it looks great, is well suited to city riding or commuting with a good sized motor and battery and has a relatively clean cockpit that’s easy to use. There are a few issues with the bike including limited access to the charging port and USB outlet (when the battery mounted), only one brake lever with a motor cutoff switch, an independent rear light that requires AA batteries vs. being wired in and limited throttle control (you can only get as much power as the level of assist you’re in so it’s not really an override). Still, given the very reasonable $1,699 price point, purpose built frame, balanced weight distribution, clean wire integration, disc brakes, suspension fork, included fenders, rack, and the solid one year warranty this is definitely a winner in my book. Other features include bottle cage bosses, a sticker slap guard, and adjustable length kickstand.
The motor is upgraded to a 500-750 watt internally geared hub mounted in the rear wheel. It’s very powerful and gets the bike moving much better than the 350 watt version thanks to the 90nm of torque. I like that for the Ui6 they chose a black version to match the spokes, rims 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. The motor is engaged via either the slim trigger throttle or through cadence based pedal assist with the help of the 12 magnet sealed cadence sensor. There’s a 7 speed cassette with a Shimano Altus derailleur there with a derailleur guard and I love that it makes use of trigger shifters. 7 speeds is decent for neighborhood or city riding and if you keep the chain lubed and drop in for an occasional tuneup everything should last. I especially like the aluminum alloy bash guard on the front chainring because it protects your pants or dress from getting greasy or snagged. Stopping the bike is set of mechanical disc brakes with 180mm in the front and 160mm in the rear. I do like matching sets, but the front wheel needs the majority of the stopping power, so it makes sense here.
Powering the Magnum Ui6 electric bike is a beautifully semi-integrated Lithium-ion battery pack. The downtube is partially cut away in order to sink the pack “inside” which provides more security and strength while simultaneously lowering the center of mass. It’s not quite as clean as the pack on Easy Motion or Stromer models but for a “value” offering it’s one of the best I’ve seen to date. The battery is an upgraded 48v 13ah pack as opposed to the old Ui5 that just has a 36v pack. A few other “extras” on the battery 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. I know I’ve stressed this earlier and in the video review above but it would be nice if the outlet was placed at the top of the pack instead of the bottom so it could be reached and used more safely while riding. As it stands, the port is precariously close to the chainring and crank arms.
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 Ui6 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.
To sum everything up… the price really makes this bike shine but even if it weren’t so affordable the matching paint, integrated wires, upgraded batteries and other extras like the lights really set it apart. Sure, you have to manually activate those lights but they are actually fairly high quality coming from Spanninga. The suspension fork adds a lot of comfort and offers preload adjust under these plastic caps. A big win too is the suspension seat post as well with compression adjust and 40mm of travel. I love the color and the adjustable stem, this ebike will fit a wider range of riders and for those who want to commute or run errands the rack was very impressive as well. I do like the disc brakes on the Ui6 but was a little surprised that they only include one lever with a motor inhibitor. I’m not sure how much money that saves, it probably decreases clutter up front but I’d opt for two and then maybe get a set of matching brake rotors if I could change anything here. Overall it’s an impressive product and clearly refined so I would like to thank Magnum for giving me the opportunity to check it out.
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:
- The battery secures to the frame well, looks good and is easy to take on and off even though it’s fairly snug beneath the top tube (since it slides out to the side), seems well protected by the frame in case of tips
- 7 speed Shimano Altus works great, the bike really has a capable system both mechanically and electrically, great to see on such a value priced bike
- Very affordable for a purpose built electric bike with a one year warranty, upgraded battery 48v 13ah size and 500 watt motor
- Offers throttle and pedal assist, the controls are fairly compact and reachable in the cockpit, display is simple to use and easy to read
- Carry rack and fender set are sturdy and make a great addition, the feature of LED lights here adds great utility for commuting
- Comfortable and soft ride given the larger and wider 26” x 1.5” tires, SunTour suspension fork and Selle Royale saddle
- Nice colors, 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:
- The charging port for the battery is located near the crank arm when the battery is charging while mounted to the bike, the pedals here could get snagged so do be mindful of that.
- The LED lights are great but it would be nice if both were integrated (the rear light requires two AA batteries), each one also has to be manually turned on vs. using the display to do it
- The center mounted kickstand can produce ‘pedal lock’, an annoying occurrence that happens when you reverse a bike with the kickstand down and the crank rotates back and strikes the kickstand, causing the bike to lock up until you push it forward a bit and stow the kickstand back up
- 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: https://www.magnumbikes.com/
Carl says
I’m seeing $1,949 at a local dealership and on the magnum site (vs $1,699 in review) is there a small battery option or something I’m missing?
Court says
Hey Carl! Great question, I called the leadership team at Magnum just now to confirm, and it sounds like they are dropping the price for their updated model to $1,699 and just haven’t made that change on their website yet. I hope that happens soon, feel free to refer back to this review if you’re ordering one and to say that Jesse confirmed the price. Hope this helps :D
Kim says
I’m looking for an Ebike with a throttle, so I test rode the Magnum Metro and the Ui6. They are pretty nice, but I was wondering if you could recommend any other brands that I could also check out before I make my final decision. It’s seems difficult to find ones with throttles. So 2 questions…
Court says
Hi Kim! Great questions, I think that much of the bike will remain the same for 2020 because the unit I reviewed here was identified as a 2019/2020 product. A company like Magnum tends to innovate and enhance their offering throughout the year, so little things could change, but I actually think it’s pretty solid.
Several other companies sell similarly priced products with throttles, that even look similar or use the same motor/frame/battery design. Brands that come to mind are NCM, Amego, Surface 604, and you could even consider Rad Power Bikes… but honestly, Magnum has the largest number of dealers and offers great customer support. Unless you’re in Los Angeles USA or Toronto Canada (where Amego sells), I think NCM and Rad are mostly online. Surface 604 has a handful of dealers too. Anyway, there’s a great advanced search tool at the top right corner of the page on my site here, so you can filter to all ebikes that have throttles (twist or trigger) and that will provide an even better list to explore :)
Ronald Madison says
I have had my ui6 for 6 months put about 1200 miles on it, and I like it very much. I am looking for a way to extend my trip milage 40 miles is about my limit what type of extra battery can I get without paying $650 for it?
Mark B says
I love electric bikes. I’ve done a ton of research, test rode several models and have owned three ebikes from different manufacturers. I bought a UI6 for my wife, and she and I both love it. What I specifically love about it are the overall great quality for the price (it feels very solid), the comfortable upright position, the tool-less adjustability of the handlebars and the terrific motor torque. Ninety NM! It goes up hills like nothing. It looks nice, too (we got the matte black).
The only thing I’m not thrilled about are the mechanical brakes. My wife commented that once when she was going at a pretty good clip downhill and had to stop for a traffic light she had to squeeze the brakes fairly hard, and I have to say that compared to the good quality hydraulic brakes on my bike the effort required to brake from higher speeds is noticeable. I want to emphasize, though, that the mechanical brakes work–we never felt like they were sketchy or that they wouldn’t stop us, they just require a bit more effort. I’ll likely end up replacing them with good quality hydraulic brakes, if I can do that without sacrificing the motor cutoff capability.
Court says
Awesome! I always love to hear from owners who have enjoyed their bikes and can share some real world experience. Yeah, Magnum is pretty great… I agree with you that hydraulic disc brakes would be a nice upgrade. Good luck with an upgrade, there are some brands that have ebike specific brake levers with the motor inhibitor switch, look for Tektro. You may also consider selling the bike and buying one that is already setup with hydraulic (depending on the levers you are able to find and whether a shop can help or you’re doing it on your own). Either way, good luck!! I’d love to hear back about it, and perhaps you could ask others in the Magnum ebike forums for help finding ebike brake levers with the switch that are hydraulic.
sharon illenye says
I bought my Ui6 last spring and I’m embarrassed a bit to say it was the only bike I tried. I’m short at 5 feet, so that put a lot of limits, so the step thru frame and price point was my thing. I love the bike and use it to commute to work 14 miles round trip daily during spring thru fall in hilly and some stretch of gravel roads in vermont. Only a couple of complaints really, one thing that I find is that when I stop at a light I turn the pedal assist down to zero, no exceptions. I have had too many times where I accidentally moved the pedal and the motor starts up and I’m basically grabbing the brakes to stop a bucking bronco. so basically the cadence is too sensitive it seems. Another critique is the location of the throttle and the brake lever. my throttle lever screw came a little loose and twisted in such a way that one time I was braking but the brake lever was pressing and activating the throttle. that was really dangerous and I didn’t know what was going on at the time and had to actually turn the battery off to stop it while holding onto the bike with one hand ( the wrong side apparently) which was the brake / throttle side. Then I realized what was going on and so now that will never happen again because I check it to make sure it doesn’t twist under there. But all in all I love the bike, I put 1700 miles on it in one season and hope to beat that next year.
Court says
Hi Sharon! Great notes about using this bike. I’ve also experienced a loose throttle and am SUPER happy for the motor inhibitors. Good call about clicking down to assist level zero at lights (or getting on/off the bike). Having it start out unexpectedly can be surprising and a bit uncomfortable… so that’s a good tip. Thank you very much and congrats on all the fun miles! Good luck this season to beat your high score :D
James Lange says
I have been researching ebikes for about a month. I like what I see with the Magnum company and several of their models appear to fit our objectives. The Ui6 S/T, Magnum Metro S/T and the Magnum Lowrider Cruiser are all models with specs and features that seem to fit our needs.
A key issue in making our decision is geometry/sizing. The Magnum site does not include this info on their models (or I have not found it).
We are both 70, with some physical limitations which make step-thru frames a better fit for us. I am 6’2″ with a 34.5″ inseam and my wife is 5’4″ with a 29″ inseam. Of the Metro ebikes, which of their models would be most appropriate size-wise to fit us? Any input from experts and/or owners is appreciated.
Court says
Hi James! I think that most of the Magnum ebikes only come in one size, but they may be slightly different if you get the step-thru vs. the high-step. In my experience, the step-thru frames are usually a bit smaller. I’d definitely lean that direction, so the bikes will be easier to mount and stabilize when you stop. It sounds like you and your wife are going to have a great time out there! Good luck :)
Jason says
What shape is the seat tube? Asking because is it able to take the frame mount of the Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi Bike Seat? We have one already for our other bike and we just want to order another frame mount instead of ordering a whole new seat for rack mounting.
Thank you!
Court says
Hi jason! I believe that the seat tube is not round but kind of oval or wing shaped. Many companies add additional metal to the back of their ebike seat tubes in order to add strength and hide wires. While I cannot say with 100% certainty, I do think that this ebike would be compatible with the side-clamping rack mount Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi, and I love that the rear rack is rated so high here (nearly 60lbs vs. just 50lbs on most). I looked closely at the pictures and see that the strap that loops around the seat tube or post seems to be flexible, so it should work here… and you probably can go around the post (which is round) vs. the tube portion (which is oval). I hope this helps, you could also check with Magnum to be extra sure because it looks like the rack here is pretty close to the saddle. It might be more about space for the child to sit far enough back… but I still feel like it should work if I had to guess :)
Sylvie Lemire says
I have two Magnum 26″ ebikes and during a tune-up, my repairer noticed significant wear on the front and rear cones for steel Hub or cone hub or hub cone located on the wheels. I would like to order, for my two bikes, cones Hub for the front and the rear wheels (for two bicycles). I don’t know how many cones I need for the front wheels and for the rear wheels but it’s for two bikes.
If you are unable to send me these parts, is it possible to know the dimensions of each part (front wheel and rear wheel). Thank you very much!
Court says
Hi Sylvie! I only provide reviews here on EBR, we don’t sell any parts or provide service for electric bikes. However, you could probably ask for help from the official Magnum dealers. They have a phone number (385) 722-4033 and a website at magnumbikes.com I hope this helps you!! Good job taking care of your bikes ;)