Monarch Marker First Ride Review | Built to Punch Above Its Price

The Monarc Marker offers a fairly wide range of settings, power levels, and personalization options that allow riders to tweak its feel. By default, it is a Class 1 and 2 e-bike offering throttle and pedal assist to 20 mph, though it can be unlocked to faster Class 3 pedal assisted speeds via the display.

The bike also has both torque- and cadence-sensing pedal assist modes to choose from. The former allows motor output to respond in proportion to rider effort, while the latter provides a steady, constant push as long as the motor is engaged. Torque mode is naturally the more active option, though I found that—especially in the highest assist level—only minimal effort was required to reach relatively high speeds.

Monarc also offers custom motor tuning through the Marker’s advanced settings menu, allowing users to tweak the power output of the bike’s five assist levels (Cruise, Breeze, Explore, Sport, and Boost). This feature includes three relatively common adjustable parameters: torque, assistance, and pedal response.

In terms of pedal assistance, there are a useful range of options I found the bike’s lowest setting, Cruise, to feel a bit too close to riding without power for my preferences, though this is why custom tuning is beneficial. In contrast, the higher settings all felt manageable, with power levels ranging from modest to plentiful.

There are also two throttle modes: a default setting and a high-power mode with faster acceleration.

We’ve seen more and more e-bikes offering similar features and levels of customization in recent years, which we consider a great thing. Previously, each e-bike’s unique personality was baked-in, so the only way to address ones that were too sluggish or uncomfortably punchy was to buy a completely different model.

The Marker’s level of customization, however, allows the bike to be broadly appealing to riders of many styles, age groups, and experience levels.

For example, those who are new to e-bikes may opt for the standard throttle acceleration setting with Class 2 speeds in cadence mode. Experienced cyclists will likely enjoy the lower-powered assist levels in torque mode, while thrill-seekers may prefer the punchier throttle setting and the high-assist levels in torque mode with Class 3 speeds.

The Marker feels similar to many other e-bikes of its style, though it has a few unique characteristics, too.

First and foremost among these is its robust, heavy frame. While Monarc sent us both the high-step (HS) and step-thru (ST) frame styles, I spent most of my time on the latter. To make up for the absence of a top tube, the V-shaped frame has extra horizontal braces connecting the seat tube and down tube. In my experience, this additional material gave the bike a stiff and confident feel without any noticeable frame flex.

Like other fat tire e-bikes, the Marker’s weight is somewhat noticeable, and offers both upsides and downsides to its handling. Tipping the scales at over 80 lbs, the bike’s weight makes it feel sturdy and stuck to the ground, though its maneuvering is held back accordingly. Still, steering felt predictable and cornering felt crisp and stable, largely thanks to a combination of the bike’s wide handlebars and tires.

Overall, I found the Marker comfortable, though the limitations of its single frame size were apparent. The HS model is designed for riders from 5’4” to 6’5”, while the top end of the ST’s height range stops at 6’4”. At 5’11”, and with fairly broad shoulders, I appreciated the long seatpost and wide handlebars.

The bike’s reach felt somewhere in the short-to-medium range, but between the saddle rails and small amount of adjustment that can be made by rotating the bike’s handlebars, the fit should be adjustable for most riders. Still, riders on the short or exceptionally tall side may need to consider other options with multiple frame sizes and/or more adjustability.

Another of the Marker’s standout areas, however, was its user interface. In our experience, it is relatively uncommon to see touchscreen displays on e-bikes in its price range—especially where the screen is mounted on the handlebars instead of integrated into the frame.

There’s no doubt that the bike presents a moderate learning curve for those who want to dig into all of the options in its settings menus, but those who do are rewarded with a robust and high-tech experience. I liked that the bike’s control panel could also navigate through these menus, but the touchscreen gave the Marker a cool, refined feel.

Based on my test rides, the Marker’s overall ride quality is great. It’s powerful, generally comfortable, sturdy, well-equipped, and high-tech—and that’s before we get into the bike’s optional extras.

I mentioned above that our pre-production test bikes differed from the final models in a few ways. One of the most noticeable areas is in the ST’s handlebars; our test bike shared the HS model’s (mostly) flat bars, but consumers who choose the step-thru frame should expect taller and more swept-back cruiser-influenced handlebars.

Additionally, buyers will have access to Monarc’s mobile app via the display’s Bluetooth integration. The app was unavailable at the time of this review, but one of our contacts at Monarc explained its planned features.

In addition to motor tuning (also available through the display), the app will offer turn-by-turn navigation. Monarc also hopes to release an integrated Strava-like feature, though users will be able to track and record ride data, regardless.

Additionally, the app will pair to an optional smart helmet and tire pressure sensors. The former, which is included with preorders of the bike, syncs with the app’s navigation feature to guide riders. It can also play music, take calls, and features integrated lights and turn signals. The tire pressure sensor lets users know if air pressure drops below their selected range.

We don’t have many details on other optional add-ons, but we learned that the bike can be equipped with a smart camera and a radar system to monitor the proximity of nearby vehicles. Other accessories that will be available at launch include a suspension seatpost and mounting accessories for the second battery.

As I’ve touched on, many of the Marker’s specs and components put it ahead of many other models in its category and price range. Its included second battery and uncommonly powerful motor are standouts, effectively doubling its range and allowing it to handle steep climbs with ease.

I’m not kidding about its climbing power—the bike’s 1440W of peak power puts it on par with only a few similar fat tire e-bikes we’ve reviewed. In its highest assist level, the bike didn’t seem to break a sweat when cruising uphill; my pedal effort increased from nearly nothing to needing to apply only slight pressure.

The bike’s 80mm of suspension fork travel is sufficient for on-road travel and light off-roading. Riders who want to spend more time in rougher environments may want to upgrade, as similar models with more of an off-road/all-terrain focus are often equipped with adjustable air forks with another 20-40mm of squish.

For its roughly $2,000 price, the Marker compares well to similar models from other brands. Some comparable bikes trade customization options for advanced security features, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more built-in security on the next version of the Marker, but I think the bike carves out its own niche well with its integrated tech and optional accessories.

As a branch of the larger Lectric-owned family that also includes Juiced Bikes, it makes sense that Monarc is able to leverage its parent company’s purchasing power and deliver such a strong contender for the $2k throne. Clearly, Monarc is aiming for riders who are willing to pay an above-entry-level price for a highly competitive e-bike with an equal focus on performance and value.

Our time with the pre-production Monarc Marker allowed us to get a sense of the bike’s capabilities, but unfortunately, it also left a lot out. While we did perform a promising high-power range test with the Monarc Marker, it will be extremely interesting to see where the rest of its performance numbers end up; we look forward to spending more time with the production model and running it through our full series of standardized tests.

Another area that we look forward to digging deeper into is the Monarc app. Whether we’ll have the opportunity to try out some of the brand’s optional accessories is another question, but being able to try out the navigation feature—and, with any luck, Monarc’s Strava-like platform—will give a more rounded idea of the bike’s full potential.

When explaining some of the Marker’s details, one of our contacts at Monarc explained that the company’s goal was to make it possible and more enjoyable for riders to substitute car trips with bike rides. So far, it shows serious potential to reach this goal, especially when the brand is able to offer so much value at a hotly contested price point.

It’s worth noting that, even with a string of relatively recent brand closures, Monarc faces strong competition in a crowded market. Our last question is whether consumers will take to the brand’s relatively unique approach. We’d bet that plenty of folks will be drawn in by everything the Marker brings to the table, but only time will tell if that prediction proves true.

Happy Riding! In the comments section below, make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Monarc Marker.