Macwheel electric bike LNE-16 review
Say hello to this compact portable e-bike - the Macwheel LNE-16. It’s an urban commuter and electric bike for kids, teens, and adults. It’s designed as a portable, urban electric vehicle for the modern commuter.
Let’s start with the brand.
Macwheel is a company based out of China that provides self-professed “urban green and smart transportation”. So far so good.
Macwheel sells both electric scooters and electric bikes of all types and sizes to suit kids, teens, and adults. Also check out our review on the Macwheel MX1 Electric Scooter.
The Macwheel LNE-16 electric bike is Macwheel’s portable e-bike that folds down to fit in your trunk. It’s also sleek and stylish. And due to its hidden battery, it looks like a regular push-bike.
With a retail price of $500 USD (£365 / 412€), it's a very affordable e-bike. This makes it ideal for someone looking to get their first e-bike who doesn’t want to spend too much money.
Introducing the Macwheel LNE-16 e-bike
- Motor
250 W - Battery
36V 7.5Ah Lithium-ion - Distance
30 km (18.6 miles) motor only
48.3 km (30 miles) pedal-assist - Recharge Time
4-6 hours - Speed
25 kph (15 mph) - Load Capacity
120 kg (264 lb) - Recommended height
155 cm - 185 cm (5 ft 2"- 6 ft) - Weight
18 kg (40 lb) - Tyres
41 cm x 4.8 cm (16” x 1.9”) - Pedal assist settings
5 -
Extras
- LCD display
- Integrated headlight and rear reflector
- Bell
- Pros
- Cheap electric bike
- Sleek design - hidden motor/battery
- Portable (foldable handlebar stem)
- Cons
- Non-removable battery
- No speedometer
- Adjustable seat, but not handlebars
Design and portability
The Macwheel LNE-16 is sleek, smart, and sophisticated. The bike’s frame is aluminium alloy so it’s strong and the bike’s components are very decent for such an affordable e-bike.
Its greatest strength is how compact it is. The seat can be completely lowered and the handlebars fold down. This makes it both easy to carry and small enough to fit in the car trunk.
But keep in mind that the bike weighs 18 kg (40 lb), which isn’t super heavy. But you wouldn’t want to be carrying it very far.
The only thing we don’t like about the bike’s aesthetic design is the wires that hang down from the handlebars to connect to the power supply. It would have been nice to have these hidden away like the battery is. But this may be unrealistic given that the handlebar stem folds down.
Speed, Distance, and Battery
The Macwheel LNE-16 isn’t made for speed. It’s the electric folding bike for commuting. It’s top-speed is 25 kph (15.5 mph), which is more than enough for riding around a city or neighbourhood. So it definitely serves its purpose.
It’s also a really good electric bike for kids and teens because of its limited speed and size.
The 36V Lithium-Ion battery gives the Macwheel LNE-16 a range of 30 km (18.6 miles) on only throttle power - i.e. without pedaling. Once dead, the battery takes around 4-6 hours to fully charge.
Of course if you’re pedaling, the e-bike can take you even further. Macwheel says it can go as far as 48.3 km (30 miles) on pedal-assist. And if you’re still not done, turn pedal-assist to 0 and you can go as far as your legs can take you.
Keep in mind that the battery is not removable. This means you’ll have to bring the bike inside in order to charge it or have access to an outdoor power outlet.
The Brake System
The mechanical disc brakes on the Macwheel LNE-16 work well. We’re happy Macwheel opted for disc brakes instead of the traditional bike brake pads. Disc brakes work better and last longer.
Disk brakes are installed on the front and rear wheels and are activated from the handlebars - as expected. They’re also easily replaceable if they become worn.
Certification and Safety
This Macwheel e-bike comes with a front headlight. It’s also available without the headlight, but we think it’s worth the extra cash for the integrated light. If you opt for the LNE-16 without the headlight, it comes with a front-facing reflector.
We would like to see a brake light or at least a rear light of some kind. Instead, Macwheel has gone with the rear reflector. Additional reflectors can be found on each pedal and wheel to improve the bike’s visibility.
There’s also a bell on the handlebars to let pedestrians know you’re coming.
With all electric rideables we recommend riders wear helmets and take other appropriate safety precautions, including using lights and/or reflectors.
Riding Experience
The LNE-16’s three riding modes are pedal-assist (5 settings), throttle, and traditional:
- Pedal assist - the bike’s motor gives your legs some support. 5 different levels of support - 1 being a little, 5 being a lot.
- Throttle - use the twist throttle and brakes to control the speed. There’s no need to pedal.
- Traditional - putting the pedal-assist on level 0 makes this e-bike a regular bicycle.
This Macwheel electric bike is very comfortable to ride on roads and other smooth surfaces. This is what it is designed for.
On bumpy surfaces and off-road, the lack of added suspension is noticeable.
The e-bike will ride fine, but you’ll feel the bumps. Riding on grass and gravel is ok. The LNE-16 was made as a road e-bike, so don’t expect to be cruising up mountain trails.
The twist throttle is located on the right side of the handlebars, along with the bell.
On the left handlebar you have the LCD display. It’s simple and to the point. It has up/down buttons to control pedal-assist, as well as a power button.
The display shows the bike’s pedal-assist setting as well as the battery status and headlight indicator.
Final Thoughts
We like the Macwheel LNE-16. And what’s not to like? It’s from a reliable brand, it’s an electric bike for both adults and kids, it has a decent top speed and range, and it folds down.
If you’re looking for a simple and stylish electric bike on a budget, we would argue that this is one of the best on the market.
Remember that the Macwheel LNE-16 is designed for urban commuting. If you’re looking for offroad riding at high speeds, this e-bike isn’t for you.
We give it an - a fraction more than its cousin the Swagtron EB-5 Pro because of its superior distance, speed, and wheel diameter.
The Macwheel LNE-16 is definitely worth considering as your next commuter e-bike.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, check out other electric bike reviews we have. If you’d prefer something cheaper, take a look at our electric scooters, hoverboards and skateboards.
