Magnum Pilot Review, 2024

In our low power, long range minimum assist test, riding in ECO mode the whole time, the Pilot took Josh, our test rider, a whopping 83 miles, in a time of 8:09, and average speed of 12.2 mph. Mid-drive motors usually perform better than hub motors in our range test, so we expected the Pilot to do well. But this bike weighs at least 10 lbs more than most of the other mid-drive e-bikes we tested that traveled over 80 miles – and that dazzled us. We like to see over-acheivers on the range test, but just remember you might have different results depending on favtors like weight and hillier terrain.

In the maximum pedal assist test, riding the whole time in Boost mode, test rider Brenden wheeled the Pilot 28.8 miles, in a time of 1:28 and average speed of 18.4 mph. This was the second-fastest time for a 500W mid-drive motor out of all the others we’ve tested on this part of the Range Test – again, impressive! This bike comes with a charger that will fully charge the battery in about 7.5 hours.

In the first part of the test we use the throttle only and no pedaling. This tells us what kind of raw power the motor can deliver when you need to climb a hill without pedaling. E-bikes with a mid-drive motor often don’t have a throttle because they rely on pedaling much more than hub motors. So we were chomping at the bit to see how this bike would do. Fortunately, the Pilot really showed up here, reaching the top in 1:52, and an average speed of 9.7 mph. It’s not a blazing time overall, but it’s capable of the job and nice to see a throttle on a mid-drive.

Feeling good about the motor’s raw power, we moved to the next part of the test – using the BOOST mode (PAS 5) for maximum motor output, while providing only basic pedaling. The Pilot again impressed us, reaching the top of Hell Hole in 1:23, and an average speed of 13.1 mph.

Both of those are good results given the 500W mid-drive motor. You have options for tackling a hill yourself, or letting the bike do the work.

Rider safety is our top priority here at EBR, which is why we also do a brake test on the bikes we review. This is where our test rider, Griffin, uses pedal assist to get the bike up to 20 mph before quickly stopping the bike for us to measure the stopping distance. We do this several times to calculate an average stopping distance.

The Pilot’s average stopping distance was 23’8”, not bad but not great either. Armed with the Tektro HD E-350 hydraulic brake system, and 180mm rotors, the Pilot’s result may have more to do with the bike’s weight than its brake system. Almost all of the bikes that earned better results on the brake test also weighed less than the Pilot, with many being at least 10 lbs lighter. And lighter bikes usually stop quicker.

We have found this Tektro system to work well on other e-bikes, but also they’re usually on lighter bikes. Considering the Pilot is in the $2500-$3000 e-bike range, we would like to see Magnum fit this bike with a brake set that will stop it more quickly. In the meantime, it’s still perfectly safe, just a bit on the slow side to stop.

There was a lot to appreciate with the ride quality on this bike. Suspension features include the Suntour forks did a great job absorbing bumps and smoothing my rides. The coil spring forks are hydraulic and feature a wheel travel of 120mm. The Promax suspension seat post is also a great feature for riding comfort. Providing 30mm of travel when hitting bumps, I really liked the way they compressed and rebounded when riding across intersections riddled with dips and potholes.

We were impressed to see this sub-$3000 bike feature a lot of components that are a step up from entry level. One example is the greater gear variety with the microShift AdventX 10-speed. Using a 11-46T cassette and 48T chainring, they help you get the most out of your pedaling. You get a good top gear for reducing incidences of ghost pedaling, and a good bottom gear for difficult uphill pedaling.

Giving you an upright riding posture, this bike comes in one size – medium-large – and in three eye-catching color schemes to choose from, including blue base with white trim, red base with black trim, and black with white trim.

To help you find the reach that works best for you, you can adjust the handlebar reach with the adjustable stem. The adjustment can be quick and requires no tools. But we recommend you be careful and make sure it’s tightened properly.

Due to my size and riding style, I needed to adjust the stem for better steering and handling. When I rode this bike with the handlebar extended forward, I found the steering to be heavy and uncomfortable. That’s because this setup put more of my weight on the front end. The Wanda Compass tires have great street tread for optimal control, but they are meant for cruiser bikes where the rider is sitting up straight, not leaning over. After I adjusted the stem vertically, and gave myself a completely upright riding position, the bike handled a lot better and in a way that made me comfortable and confident.

And one more component worth noting is the clutch on the microShift AdventX derailleur, which helps prevent chain slap when riding over speed bumps, potholes and curb steps. Normally, you don’t see these on commuter e-bikes. But their inclusion on this bike is one example of how this bike gives you some room for customizing, in case you want to pop on some knobby tires and hit the dirt.

For the most part, the Electric Bike Report team had a good experience test riding the Magnum Pilot. This bike gave us a good mix of surprises and assurances. We always like happy surprises when it comes to results on the Range Test and Hill Test – which the Pilot performed very well in each.

We appreciate Magnum’s efforts in offering an e-bike that’s part commuter and part cruiser. Afterall, those are two of the most popular e-bike categories. Another cool thing about this bike is how it gives you room to make changes – big and small – so you can have an e-bike that’s setup just how you want it.

We look forward to seeing how much riders embrace this bike, as well as what kind of modifications they make. We also look forward to seeing more examples of the Magnum team thinking outside the box. The Pilot is available in three color schemes, black or blue with white accents, and red with black accents.

Magnum sells most of their e-bikes direct-to-consumer, but the Pilot is an in-store only option. You can check current pricing from the button above.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Magnum Pilot.