The Tenways CGO600 is designed in the Netherlands and has European vibes and clean lines, unlike many other direct-to-consumer Asian e-bikes in this category. It’s proven to be a sleek and light city/commuter ebike that’s simple and intuitive to ride.
For this review, I rode the Tenways CGO600 Pro for 4 months in rural areas around Richmond, Vt., and the urban landscape in Burlington, Vt. I commuted for work and rode for fun in both areas.
The design is simple: single-speed with a belt drive. There is no gearing to fiddle with, no derailleurs to accidentally bend out of alignment, and no grease to rub off your chain onto your pant leg. The mechanical simplicity keeps the Tenways CGO 600 Pro light for an e-bike, contributing to its excellent range.
But the simplicity also presented drawbacks. The lack of gearing limited the terrain the bike could tackle comfortably.
In short: The Class 1 CGO600 Pro is light, simple, aesthetically pleasing, and a joy to ride. The bike possesses many rider-friendly features and, at an MSRP of $1,899, represents a great value. But the lack of gearing made some steep hills unrideable.
- Frame material: 6061 aluminum
- Fork material: 6061 aluminum
- Drivetrain: Single-speed Gates CDN carbon belt drive, Mivice 350W rear hub motor, Mivice S200 torque sensor
- Wheels: 700c aluminum rims
- Brakes: TEKTRO hydraulic disc
Pros
- Lightweight and sleek design
- Belt drive is grease and maintenance-free
- Single-speed drivetrain is adjustment-free
Cons
- Doesn't do steep hills
- Requires app for full range and other functions
First Impressions
The Tenways CGO600 Pro is one of the nicest-looking e-commuter/city bikes I’ve had the pleasure of riding. It’s also one of the lightest, at 37 pounds bare with battery and 41 pounds fully accessorized. It also has an impressive 53-mile maximum range to boot.
The aluminum-framed Class 1 (max speed 20 mph) bike simplified the commuting experience. It is a single-speed, so there are no gears or shifting to worry about and no greasy chain to soil my pants on the way to work.
A Mivice 350W rear hub motor provides power, and a Mivice S200 torque Sensor controls the 45 Nm of output. A Gates carbon belt drive transfers rider work to the rear wheel, and a removable 36Vm 360Wh lithium-ion battery is integrated into the bike’s downtube.
The frame geometry looks sporty, with a medium-narrow handlebar, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and a minimalist display with four buttons. The buttons are on/off, with more power, less power, and a button that toggles between speed/remaining power/total mileage on the display. A window shows the average speed, maximum speed, and trip mileage. Another window shows the range and remaining power.
Commuter-First Features
Many electric bikes feel clunky and heavy and lack the cyclist-first attributes of analog bikes. This one was different. The Tenways team focused maximum attention on keeping the bike light, nimble, and commuter-friendly.
The ergonomics were great. Little details, like comfortable grips, a comfortable and reasonably sized saddle, an adjustable-angle stem, and graduations on the back of the seat post (to make the bike easier to share), are examples of rider-oriented design.
A 35-lux headlight is seamlessly integrated into the head tube, while a battery-operated taillight is included for the seat tube. The pedals are a step up from what’s found on many commuter/city bikes. The flat pedals have a broader-than-most surface area that supported my foot better than most, and cutouts keep weight in check.
The Tenways CG600 Pro has a simple bell that was handy to alert walkers and other riders that I was approaching. Finally, the front and rear fenders kept me drier riding in the rain.
While there isn’t a powered walk mode, the bike was light enough to pick up and carry up a few steps up in an office building, and loading it on a car rack was a non-event.
The Tenways CG600 Pro Ride
I threw a leg over the CGO600 Pro, and the ride was immediately stable and fun. Ripping down the dirt road I live on and turning onto the pavement to cruise into town, I went up to 33 mph without wobble or any instability. The bike handled well, cornered well, and stopped well.
I used full power to climb hills; I could have also used the bike at low or medium power on more casual terrain or turned the power off. Depending on the objective, all modes delivered a great ride. I never felt like I was wrestling a giant hunk of metal underneath me. This e-bike was fun to ride because it felt like a normal bike, which hasn’t been my experience with many e-bikes.
The power engagement was smooth and quiet. Thanks to the high-quality torque sensor, the bike wasn’t jerky when I started from a stop with the power on. The bike pedaled smoothly from a standstill even when it was set at the highest level of power.
Tenways’ torque sensor is different from the ones found on many other e-bikes. It uses “specialist magnetic torque-sensing technology” that’s claimed to be more durable. It doesn’t use a magnetic coating that can wear over time; the magnetic element is a permanent design.
The bike has a companion app that offers additional features, like navigation, an alarm, and bike tracking. So, if you forget where you locked it up, loaned it to a friend, or the bike gets stolen, you can see where it is with the tracking feature. And, if your bike has fallen into the wrong hands, you can remotely trigger an alarm that will encourage the perps to leave it behind.
Room for Improvement
Where the Tenways CGO600 Pro didn’t excel was on steep hills. We loved riding this bike when it was relatively flat. But the bike has no gears. It’s a single-speed with an electric boost. And even with this electric assist, it couldn’t handle steep hills.
On the steep dirt road I live on, I didn’t make it to the top, even standing and mashing on the pedals. I ended up pushing the bike up the hill. So, if you live in the flats, this is a great commuter bike for you. But if you live in places like San Francisco or even my home area around Burlington, this isn’t your rig.
There were some minor durability issues over the 4-month test period. After several months of riding, the power button came out when I turned the bike on. I contacted Tenways and am awaiting a solution. The bike came with a scuff protector on the front of the seat tube, but it’s peeling off and doesn’t seem necessary.
My only other nitpick is that it doesn’t come in a small for more petite riders. Tenway offers only medium, large, and extra-large sizes.
Bottom Line on the Tenways CGO600 Pro
There are a lot of reasons that a lightweight bike is more fun to ride. In contrast to many heavy e-bikes on the market, the CGO600 Pro’s low weight delivered easier handling and more enjoyable riding. The lighter weight also means less battery drain, which extended the range. Plus, riding without the power assist felt very much like riding a regular, non-electric bike.
And the price is right. It’s rare to find an e-bike that rides this nicely and is designed so well for under $2,000. And if you subscribe to the Tenways newsletter, the brand will throw in a fender and kickstand for free.
