Magicycle Ocelot Pro 2.0 Electric Bike with Torque Sensor – Tested by CleanTechnica

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When I had the opportunity to test out Magicycle’s latest offering, I was excited to be able to test out an e-bike with a torque sensor! I’d tested other bikes with torque sensors at CES and knew I wanted to spend more time exploring this feature in the future.

The Magicycle Ocelot Pro 2.0 aims to elevate the e-bike riding experience with its advanced torque sensor. This sensor promises a more natural and intuitive ride by precisely matching motor assist to pedal effort. But does it live up to expectations? Let’s take a deeper look at the Ocelot Pro 2.0 torque sensor, explore its features, performance, and how the company stands behind its products.

My background in two-wheeled cycling

Growing up in a small town in Iowa, I used various motorcycles for transportation until I was 14. I joined my sister on some long trips, including a seven-day trip across Iowa (called RAGBRAI). By the time I was 14, motorcycles were becoming popular and I ended up buying two different models—a 1978 Kriedler 50cc two-speed with useless pedals (about 110 pounds) and a 50cc Yamaha Yamahopper with no pedals but a shaft drive (I couldn’t find the weight, but it was lighter and more reliable and I didn’t have to mix oil and gas or fiddle with the chain). Then I had a 125cc Honda (underpowered) and then a Yamaha 1-cylinder with very high torque and zero-to-30 mph speed. That’s where my love of torque began before I became addicted to electric cars. Lately, I’ve been using bikes and e-bikes as a way to get more exercise, enjoy the outdoors, save money, and reduce my carbon impact.

Magical Company Background

Magicycle is a relatively new company in the electric bike industry, founded by Wade Wei in 2020. Magicycle focuses on producing high-quality electric bikes that are designed to be affordable and efficient.

Magicycle needs to offer something different to set itself apart from the competition. I’ve found that it does this in a number of ways.

120 miles of range is a big number! How did they do that with one battery? First, it’s a big 52V 20Ah (1040Wh) battery. But the other part of the range is the efficiency of the motors, and the torque sensor applies power more smoothly, because it adds power the more the rider pedals. Doing a little research, the longest range e-bike I could find was the Everest model with a 300-mile range and a massive 3260Wh dual battery. Before you get too excited, the price starts at $18,900, or the price of a good used electric car! Most mainstream bikes in this price range are rated at 70 miles of range, so that really sets them apart!
The large battery also powers a 750W/1500W (peak) brushless gear motor. I prefer a hub motor, as a powerful mid-drive motor can require more maintenance and is usually more expensive. This power allows the bike to carry a load of 450 pounds and makes it a great choice for mountainous terrain, on- or off-road. The company offers a range of electric bikes, including the popular Magicycle Cruiser, which features a powerful 750W motor and a high-capacity 52V 20Ah battery. The company aims to make electric bikes accessible to a wider audience and has received positive reviews for its products and customer support.

2-year warranty. The 2-year warranty includes free parts and support assistance. If the bike has been used for more than a month and needs to be repaired, there is a $200 shipping fee to send it to their service center. You can also opt to have it repaired at a local dealer, but again, they will provide parts for free, but they do not cover labor. For comparison, some established brands like Blix have a standard 1-year warranty, but some brands like Heybike and Himiway are extending it to offer a standard 2-year warranty.

unboxing

The e-bike came 90% assembled. All we had to do was mount the handlebars, then mount the front wheel, fender, and headlight. Mounting the headlight was a bit awkward, but that’s okay. The bike can be assembled by one person in 15 minutes if you’re skilled, or 30 minutes if you’re not.

Magicycle Ocelot Pro 2.0 Specifications

You can find the full specs on the Magicycle website here, but I’ve summarized them below with some comments.

I tested the e-bike in a steep, hilly environment in Seattle (which is similar in many ways to San Francisco) with my son. The first thing we noticed was that it had enough power to climb steeper hills, unlike some of the other products we’ve tried. Equally important was stopping power, and we found the hydraulic disc brakes to be smooth and powerful.

Riding around downtown Seattle, we found that the battery would naturally drain faster when we were pedaling only and going through hilly terrain. After 25 miles, the battery dropped to 40%, which was unexpected, but after giving the bike a 5-minute break, it was back to 60%. So the worst case was around 40 miles, but the range improved quickly as we pedaled either using the cadence or torque sensors. I’m confident we could do 80 miles in this environment as long as we used a low level of assist. In order to get 120 miles of range, we’d have to use a very low level of assist, which is not something I want to do climbing a very steep hill. Sure, I could put it in first gear and pedal at 3 mph, but that’s not why I bought an e-bike. If I was using the bike on flat terrain, I’d be comfortable using very low assist levels to maximize range, but not in Seattle. Fortunately, 80 miles is still enough range for most people, and having the power to climb steep hills and navigate rough terrain is a lot of fun!

I love how easy it is to switch from using the torque sensor to using the cadence sensor with the touch of a button. Most e-bikes have just one or the other, or if they have both, you have to dig deep into their setup menus to change them. I prefer the natural feel of riding with the torque sensor for most of my riding because it mimics the experience of riding a regular bike, but better. It makes it much easier to control your speed with your effort level rather than constantly adjusting the assist level. But I do appreciate having the cadence sensor when you’re tired or your knees start to hurt—you can still pedal, but you don’t have to put as much effort into it. Of course, you can stop pedaling entirely and use the throttle when you’re feeling really lazy. Having all three modes on the same bike really makes it more versatile.

Conclusion

Disclaimer: Magicycle provided the Ocelot Pro 2.0 to the author for free for the purposes of this review, but this review was not sponsored by the company – if you would like to purchase Magicycle, use this link to visit their website.