Magicycle Ocelot Professional 2.0 Torque Sensor E-Bike – CleanTechnica Examined

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Once I bought the prospect to check out the newest providing from Magicycle, I used to be excited to have the ability to take a look at an e-bike with a torque sensor! 5 months in the past, I bought to attempt a Himiway Rambler with a torque sensor on the CES flooring and knew that I want to spend extra time exploring this function sooner or later.

The Magicycle Ocelot Professional 2.0 goals to raise your e-bike expertise with its superior torque sensor. This sensor guarantees a extra pure and intuitive trip by exactly matching motor help to your pedaling effort. However does it reside as much as the hype? Let’s take a deep dive into the Ocelot Professional 2.0 torque sensor, exploring its options, efficiency, and the way the corporate helps its merchandise.

My 2-Wheeled Background

Rising up in a small city in Iowa, I used numerous bikes as transportation till I used to be 14. I joined my sister on some longer rides, together with a 7-day trip throughout Iowa (referred to as RAGBRAI). In regards to the time I turned 14, mopeds turned fashionable and I ended up getting two totally different fashions— a 1978 two-speed 50cc Kriedler moped with nugatory pedals (about 110 kilos) and a 50cc Yamaha Yamahopper with out pedals however with a shaft drive (couldn’t discover the burden, however it was lighter, extra dependable, and didn’t have to combine oil and gasoline or mess with a series). Then I had a 125cc Honda avenue bike (underpowered) after which a Yamaha 1-cylinder avenue bike that was very excessive torque and quick from zero to 30 mph. That is is the place my love of torque began earlier than I bought hooked on electrical vehicles. Extra just lately, I’ve been utilizing bikes and e-bikes as a method to get extra train, benefit from the outside, get monetary savings, and decrease my carbon influence.

Magicycle Firm Background

Magicycle is a comparatively new firm within the electrical bike trade, based in 2020 by Wade Wei. The corporate is predicated in Chongqing, China, and entered the US market in 2021. Magicycle focuses on producing high-quality electrical bikes which can be designed to be each reasonably priced and environment friendly.

Magicycle wants to supply one thing totally different to set itself other than the competitors. I discovered it does that a lot of methods. 

• 120-mile vary is an enormous quantity! How did they do this with a single battery? First, it’s a massive battery of 52V 20AH (1040 Wh) capability. However the different a part of vary is effectivity of the motors, and the torque sensor applies the ability extra easily, because it provides energy as a rider applies extra stress to the pedals. Doing some research, the longest vary e-bike I might discover is that this 300-mile Everest mannequin with an enormous 3260Wh twin battery. Earlier than you get too excited, the value begins at $18,900, or the value of a pleasant used electrical automobile! Most mainstream bikes on this value vary contemplate 70 miles lengthy vary, so this actually units them aside!
• The massive battery additionally helps the 750W/1500W(peak) brushless gear motor. I favor a hub motor, since a robust mid-drive can require extra upkeep and often is extra expensive. This energy permits the bike to assist a payload of 450 kilos and makes it a terrific selection for hilly terrain, on- or off-road. The corporate provides a spread of electrical bikes, together with the favored Magicycle Cruiser, which contains a highly effective 750W motor and a high-capacity 52V 20AH battery. The corporate goals to make electrical bikes accessible to a wider viewers and has obtained optimistic opinions for its merchandise and buyer assist. 
• 2-year guarantee. The two-year guarantee consists of free substitute elements and help from the assist division. If the bike has been used greater than a month and also you want them to restore, it, there’s a $200 delivery payment to ship it to their service heart. You could possibly additionally selected to have it mounted at a neighborhood seller, however as soon as once more, they’ll present elements freed from cost, however not cowl the labor. For comparability, some established manufacturers like Blix have an ordinary 1-year guarantee, however among the manufacturers like Heybike and Himiway are increasing to supply an ordinary 2-year time period.

Unboxing

The e-bike got here 90% assembled. We solely needed to placed on the handlebars, then placed on the entrance wheel, fender, and headlight. It was a little bit awkward putting in the headlight, however nothing too dangerous. It may be put collectively by one individual in quarter-hour in case you are helpful, or half-hour should you aren’t.

Magicycle Ocelot Professional 2.0 Specs

You will discover the whole specs on Magicycle’s web site right here, however I’ve summarized them under with some feedback.

I examined the e-bike within the very hilly surroundings in Seattle (which is analogous to San Francisco in some ways) with my son. The very first thing we seen was it had loads of energy to climb the steepest hills, versus another merchandise now we have tried. Equally essential is to having the ability to cease, and we discovered the hydraulic disk brakes each clean and highly effective.

In using it round downtown Seattle, we discovered the battery stage would after all drain extra rapidly after we used throttle solely and traversed the very hilly surroundings.  After 25 miles, the battery was right down to 40%, which was sudden, however after giving the bike a 5-minute break, it was again to 60%. So worst case was about 40 miles, however vary rapidly improved as we used the pedals both utilizing the cadence or torque sensors. I’m assured we might get 80 miles on this surroundings so long as we used a low stage of help. As a way to get the 120 miles of vary, we must use a really low help stage, not one thing I’d wish to do climbing a steep hill. Positive, I can put it in first gear and pedal at 3 miles per hour, however that isn’t why I purchase an e-bike. If I used to be utilizing the bike in flat terrain, I’d be snug utilizing the very low help ranges to maximise vary, however not in Seattle. Fortunately, 80 miles remains to be loads of vary for most individuals, and having the ability to each climb steep hills and energy by way of tough terrain is loads of enjoyable!

I really like how simple it’s with only one button click on to change from utilizing the torque sensor to utilizing the cadence sensor. Most e-bikes solely have one or the opposite, or in the event that they do have each, you must go deep into their setup menus to vary them. I favor the pure really feel of using utilizing the torque sensor for many using as a result of it mimics the expertise of using an everyday bike, however higher. It makes it very simple to regulate your velocity together with your stage of effort as an alternative of adjusting the help stage always. However I recognize having the cadence sensor for when you find yourself drained or your knees are beginning to harm — you may nonetheless pedal, however you don’t should put a lot effort into it. After all, you may cease pedaling utterly and simply use the twist throttle once you actually really feel lazy. Having all 3 modes in the identical bike actually makes it extra versatile.

Conclusion

Disclaimer: Magicycle supplied the Ocelot Professional 2.0 to the writer freed from cost for the needs of this evaluation, however this evaluation was not sponsored by the corporate — should you’d prefer to buy a Magicycle, use this hyperlink to go to their web site.