The Magnum - How Good is it? By seniorcit (Read 1,083 times)

[seniorcit]

While I am now riding a Sym 200 at 89 I am feeling the need for a three wheel bike.  My balance is not what it used to be!  I have been reading of the problems of the Magnum - none seem to be all that serious.  But just how good is the Ice Bear Magnum now?  I would hate to have a breakdown somewhere in the mountains of E Tn.

For owners:  How long have you had your Magnum?  How many miles on it?  What is your general impression?  Would you buy it again?

For dealers: (and I hope you will be kind enough to respond) What is your experience with the current Magnum?  Could you honestly recommend it?

Thank you for your reply and your evaluations.

[rapidjim]

I have been with Ice Bear since before the first generation Magnums were built in 2010, so I have seen all the mods that have been done by the factory, and there are quite a few.. A lot of the legitimate "complaints" that are still floating around the Internet are old issues that have been corrected. In my opinion, The new Magnums are a great machine, when they are set up and PDIed correctly from day one. Ice Bear will do the assembly and PDI before they ship the machine for an additional charge.

As with anything else, there are "dealers" out there, esp " Internet only dealers " that do not have a shop or store front, that will fill you with "blue Sky" and after you get the machine they either ignore your calls or have no knowledge of what needs to be done when and if trouble arises. God help you if you have a warranty claim. My advise, before you commit to buy, is to research the company you are thinking about buying from, by reading the posts on forums, checking their score and complaints with the BBB, and call them before you buy, you can tell a lot just by talking to someone.

I would be more than happy to answer any of your questions or concerns.

[seniorcit]

Thank you, Jim, for your comments. I believe you are exactly right.

[ellpee]

I bought mine a couple years ago from one of those nightmare internet dealers Jim mentions, but setting that aside ...

I now have about 1500 miles on it, and offer the following:
-- PDI, bought and paid for or DYI, is essential. I had various loose nuts and bolts, one front wheel vibration damper not connected at all.
-- Removal of plastics is difficult -- material is rather brittle and has to be "bent" a bit for removal. Have had to do some fiberglass repairs a couple times.
-- Bracket holding the air filter box in place broke early on, had to get creative and jerry-rig a replacement that so far is working out okay.
-- My #1 bugaboo has been carburetion at high altitude, as I operate the Magnum in the New Mexico mountains at an average altitude of probably 6500'. Had to re-jet the original carburetor for high altitude, and recently had to replace it altogether as it became very hard to start on cool mornings and the problem could not be adjusted away. Since you mention the mountains of Tennessee, this might or might not be relevant; don't think you're quite as high up as I am. Do be aware, though, that even if you get the carb set right, at high altitude you're going to lose some of that advertised 18 hp, with a corresponding performance drop. On reasonably flat highways I can hold about 55 mph, but it has to work hard on the steeper hills. Mileage has also not been what I hoped, maybe 45-50, but I can live with that.
-- This would probably be true of any Chinese scooter, but we live in an area with a lot of bumpy gravel roads, so I have to be very conscientious about checking the nuts'n'bolts every so often. Loctite helps, but it still pays to check everything you can reach on a regular basis. (BTW, I actually lost the "trunk" in the middle of the highway 2-3 times because the nuts and bolts vibrated loose! I removed it altogether, as the under-seat storage meets my needs.)
-- Besides the carburetor, I had to install new rear brake pads when the ?asbestos? material on one came completely off after a couple hundred miles. Might not be a common problem, but could have been a real metal-on-metal disaster had I not caught it right away. Also had to replace the enricher, as the little needle part broke right off, something our local shop says they have hardly ever seen. Cheap part, easy to install, but one more thing on the negative side.

After all that, though, the Magnum has been fun to ride, and serves as the topic for a lot of parking lot conversations. For the money not a bad deal, but don't expect it to be trouble- or maintenance-free. If you're so inclined, buying and installing an after-market tachometer and voltage meter would be a worthwhile investment, as the factory dashboard includes neither.

[seniorcit]

Thank you, Ellpee, I really appreciated the detail info. I really do not expect any mechanical piece of equipment to be trouble free. General maintenance I expect - repeated breakdowns - I would like to avoid.

I take it that you have been generally pleased with your purchase and have enjoyed your rides. With your experience, would you buy it again?

[ellpee]

Yes, I would buy it again, though maybe from another vendor. It's not a bad scoot overall, but PDI is a VERY big deal. Also important is a front-end contract that says they'll make any problems right for a reasonable period of time. I'm told IceBear is a reasonably upright vendor, bur that's only hearsay.

[crwford]

Ice Bear has treated me well I got a 2015 Zodiac every question or small problem was taken care of with in a week or less. The quality of trike first rate remember it's not a harley for 35,000. So don't compare a 35,000 to a 4,000.00. I just ordered my second one my wife took it for a couple rides and came home and said quote when are you getting one LOL. Right after that I ordered a white so lesson learned don't let spouse ride it IT LOL. By the way if I had any Idea it wouldn't hold up I wouldn't have ordered another one.

[seniorcit]

crwford -the fact that you ordered a Zodiac for your wife says a whole lot! Unfortunately - after 76 years - I am a widower and would love to have my wife with me. However, she would probably not ride - she never did with me. I would like to have a Zodiac but I do not have room in my garage - unless I leave a car out. I do have room for the Magnum. These trikes are not small.

Thank you for your comments - they are really helpful.

[crwford]

Correction my wife took the first Zodiac then said to me when are you getting yours LOL keep telling everyone it's in the mail

[ellpee]

Jul 25, 2015 12:47:27 GMT -6 seniorcit said:

I would like to have a Zodiac but I do not have room in my garage - unless I leave a car out. I do have room for the Magnum. These trikes are not small.

Didn't think the dimensions of Zodiac versus Magnum were all that different. Looking it up, though, I see the Zodiac is 10" longer and 10" wider. And I thought my Magnum was big!

[seniorcit]

Yet with all the extra dimensions - the Zodiac is only 10 lbs heavier. Interesting.

[crwford]

They really aren't remember rear rims and tires are 14 inch compared to what I believer were 10 and went to 12 inch other then that, much the same. My new white Zodiac shipped should be in Knoxville TN Friday I hope at my house soon after. I'm like a kid waiting to open Christmas package and got a couple days to wait. LOL My family will be a triking family soon.

[seniorcit]

Crwford - I live in Maryville. Would it be possible for me to come by for a visit? I would really like to see the white Zodiac up close. I do not wish to intrude so just let me know - if it would be possible for a visit - my phone: [phone]three three.

Thanks, John

[crwford]

My wife and I always welcome friends no problem just in-case you can't fine us use my number is 865-397-7864 & happy riding.

[seniorcit]

Great talking with you. I look forward to our visit and I will let you know before I come. Thanks, again -

John