REVIEW OF THE MANKEEL MZ-4 ELECTRIC BIKE
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
Introduction
The Chinese company Mankeel has been selling personal transporters since 2013. Its focus has mostly been on electric scooters - and producing products designed by other companies - but has more recently been designing their own, including their first e-bike, the MZ-4. Although Scootered (the clue is in the name) has focused on electric scooters, the MZ-4 appealed to me because (as a mini e-bike) it felt like a mix of scooter and e-bike, and looked pretty cool. People still say "cool" right? For the price, the specs also look very decent.
In this review I take a detailed look at Mankeel MZ-4, with the caveat that my natural point of reference is e-scooters. Of course, as of 2024, e-scooters are yet to be legalised on British roads so the MZ-4 has an immediate advantage over them.
The Basics
The Mankeel MZ-4 is a part-foldable electric bike. This means the handlebar stem folds down (like an e-scooter) and the seat can be lowered, but it does not fold up like the Riley RB1. It is reminiscent of the Xiaomi QiCycle range but the extra suspension and pastel colours helps differentiate it. The MZ-4 has 14 inch wheels (making it a mini e-bike), is made from an aluminium alloy, has a 25 km/h (16 mph) top speed, roughly 40 km range (you will see different claims regarding the range), and 20 kg weight. The 48 volt battery is stored in the frame tube, while the LCD dashboard displays the speedometer, battery level and gear.
The Design
The reason we are selling the MZ-4 is actually because I really like how it looks (I'm a sucker for pastels) as well its pricing, but I will keep this fairly dispassionate. An aluminium alloy frame is pretty standard (a magnesium alloy would be lighter and greener but would only be found on costlier scooters and e-bikes). Still, weighing in at 20 kg, the Mankeel MZ-4 is relatively light for an e-bike, and comparable to a Xiaomi Pro e-scooter. It claims to be a folding bike but the battery is stored in the (only) frame tube, meaning it is cannot be folded around its centre like a Bromption bicycle or the much more expensive Riley RB1 e-bike. Although it is generally smaller than the RB1, if folding up your bike for train journeys is important to you then the MZ-4 may not be for you.
Though you could argue it is a foldable bike to a train company.
Falling under the "mini e-bike" category (and why it feels like a good fit for Scootered), the wheels are smallish at 14 inches: although larger than the vast majority of e-scooter wheels, there is no doubt that 14 inches is small for an e-bike . By comparison, the Swifty scooters and the RB1 both have 16 in wheels, and most e-bikes would be 20-26 inches. To compensate for the smaller wheels, and improve suspension, the MZ-4 has both front and back shock absorbers (as highlighted in the image below).
The power button is at the top of the handlebar stem, while the gear is a selected by rotating part of the right-hand handlebar. You can see this section between the handlebar grip and brake bracket on the image below. There are three gears (the selection is displayed on the LCD screen): low speed, comfort mode, and sports mode. These are, of course, fairly arbitrary terms and could just as easily be called gears 1, 2 and 3. There are mechanical brakes on the handlebars, as with any other bicycle. The screen shows the gear, speed, battery level, lights (on/off), bluetooth (linked to app), journey distance, cruise control (on/off), and any faults.
The MZ-4 has a headlight and rear light. Strangely, the input for the charger be situated either below the rear light or in the centre of the light itself, depending on the iteration of the model. Charge time is 4-6 hours either way.
Riding The MZ-4
Although pneumatic, at only 14 inches the tyres need the help of shock absorbers to provide a smooth ride (there is a difference between the smoothness needed in an e-scooter - where the rider is standing - and an e-bike). The springs seem to provide a comparable level of shock absorption as more expensive models but there is still a noticeable difference when tackling potholes on smaller wheels.
The three gears, meanwhile, determine whether you need to pedal or not, depednent on the speed you wish to go. Mankeel claims to incorporate an "intelligent dual mode", which I assume means it compensates for the level of power input by the rider. Your speed is of course displayed on the screen. It seems pretty accurate and everything seems to work as intended. The powered speed is limited to 25km/h as per the the UK laws on e-bikes, but Mankeel openly advertise the ability to "crack" this. Personally, I suggest sticking to 25km/h. Not only is it the law (and the more people that break it, the more the government will need to look into clamping down on e-bikes generally) but who really needs to travel faster on a bike? There is also a cruise control function.
The MZ-4 has a water resistance rating of IP54. Essentially, it should be OK in the rain but cleaning it with a jet wash would be unwise. However, the manual does suggest you avoid rain and snow, and warns that braking distances will be longer in such conditions in case you thought otherwise. The IP54/IPX4 rating is the norm for most e-scooters, such as the Xiaomis. After five years of selling e-scooters, I am yet to hear of anyone having suffered any detrimental effects from water damage (though that is not to say that this cannot happen).
Battery & Motor
The 48 V (7.8 Ah) battery provides the Mankeel MZ-4 with 374 Wh. By comparison, the Ducati Pro II e-scooter provided about the same (but in a different ratio) and was £300 more expensive (though there was a slight premium for the Ducati name). Regardless, the 25 mile range provided by the battery (you can of course pedal further) is good for the price - and it is the battery that tends to define the price. Similarly, the 350 Watt motor output matches the Ducati Pro II and seems pretty good at this price level, though the power output is perhaps less important on an e-bike due to the extra power available from the rider. Like most mobility manufacturers, Mankeel provide a snazzy picture highlighting how brushless their motor is:
The App
The app provides much of the same information as the LCD screen, plus a little extra. Perhaps it's most useful function is its abillity to lock your bike. This would prevent anyone from riding it away but not from simply carrying it away, so you would of course want to lock it up were you to leave it anywhere (and be able to chase down someone carrying it if they steal it from you before you lock it up).
Summary
As mentioned, the battery specs are hard to beat at this price and everything works as it is meant to, so it perhaps comes down to aesthetics and whether you are in the market for a mini e-bike and/or have a fairly tight budget in the first place. Again, it is important to remember that an e-bike has the backup option of pedals should the battery run down. So even if you plan to make fairly long journeys (or would struggle to charge your battery between journeys) then that would not necessarily rule out the MZ-4. The upside of a mini e-bike is of course its portability and relatively small size (though this does not fold like some e-bikes). There is very little to dislike about the Mankeel MZ-4. There are higher spec e-bikes out there but not at this price.
Rating
Specification Table
Size (Unfolded) | 120 x 46 x 104 cm |
Wheels | 14 inches (36 cm) |
Frame | Aluminium Alloy |
Weight | 20 kg |
Output | 350 watts |
Battery | 48 V (7.8 Ah) battery |
Top Speed | 25 km/h (15 mph) |
Range | 40 km (25 miles) |
Climbing Angle | 20° (max) |
Charge Time | 4-6 hours |
Tyres | Inflated |
Shock Absorbers | Yes |
Brakes | Mechanical |
Waterproof | IP54 |
Lights | Front & Rear |
Gears | 3 |
LC Display | Battery/Mode/Speed/Other |