Tenways CGO600 Pro-C: One significant change lets me tackle the steepest hills
Tenways continues to excel at making high quality, light weight, commuter bikes and this new variant solves my one issue with last year's model.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for commuters and city dwellers
Light weight, 8-speed chain transmission, three levels of assist, lovely colors, integrated front light, elegant battery solution
Smartphone app to use for tracking rides and managing settings
Several steps to assemble the bike
Since I mix in a commuter train ride with my bike commute, light weight slim bikes are much easier to lift and store on the Sounder train. Last year I tested out a Tenways CGO600 Pro and loved it, but the final leg of my commute and other trips in downtown Seattle were tough because the low-maintenance Gates carbon belt didn’t provide enough help to get me up steep hills. The new variant replaces the belt drive with an 8-speed chain system.
The Tenways CGO600 Pro-C, pronounced see-go-six hundred pro, arrived in the Avocado Green color and looks lovely with a seamless integrated front head light and battery that fits nicely into the front frame piece.
The bike weighs in at just under 40 pounds so it is easy to lift with one arm. While I love these light weight ebikes for commuting, I also like to turn off the pedal assist and ride them for exercise on our local trail system. It doesn’t even look like an electric bike with its sleek form factor and minimalist design elements.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Tenways CGO600 Pro-C four (4) Medals of Yavin. It is an elegant and minimalist ebike that serves well in the role it was designed for. In addition to the chain integration, Tenways added a taillight to the rear fender for additional safety. The bike is perfect for many commuters and reasonably priced too.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product and for things like electric bikes the pros and cons can depend on your riding needs.
Pros
Light weight design
Beautiful colors and elegant design elements
Minimal visible cables
8-speed chain system for tackling the steepest hills
Effective three level pedal assist power
Bright integrated head light and rear fender tail light
Smartphone application
Affordable price with fenders and kickstand included
Cons
No throttle or boost option to help you start from a stopped position
Experiences
In typical fashion, the bike arrived in a brown cardboard box. Tenways provides very clear and distinct instructions to help assemble the bike and it didn’t take me long to get it together. I primarily struggle with getting the aluminum fenders properly aligned so they do not rub on the tires, but if that is the biggest challenge then that’s a good thing. It helped considerably that the bike is light so I was able to put it together in less than 30 minutes by myself.
The battery fits perfectly into the main frame piece, matching the color of the bike and also requiring a key to remove the battery so it is quite secure. A small OLED display and controller are positioned on the left side with a passcode required to use the electric options of the bike. The default passcode is 0000, but you can easily update the PIN with the connected smartphone application.
The most significant change compared to the belt drive model is the implementation of an 8-speed chain system. While I could get up steep hills with some effort while still not having to walk the bike, it took considerable effort on my part. The chain model is optimized for tackling hills and it was a lot easier to shift down and keep the assist at level 3.
While a carbon belt is nearly zero maintenance, the chain model is still a minimal maintenance bike with a single front sprocket and 8 speeds handled by the rear wheel system. It is a minimalist bike with just a few wires, hydraulic disc brakes, no throttle, and small simple display so it is easy to maintain for daily riding.
Unfortunately, Puyallup doesn’t have bike paths or trails to ride on for most of my commute so I pedal right alongside traffic in a 35 mph zone. Thankfully, the tires are nice and big so I can safely ride on the side of the road. They are also puncture resistant and after one year with the belt model I have yet to experience a flat tire. The rear taillight is a nice safety feature this year, but I also mount a Garmin Varia radar to raise my awareness of vehicles and provide for a safer riding experience.
The torque sensing drivetrain is great and provides for a smooth experience. I love how power is provided when I need it with no additional surge after I stop pedaling or quick take off when I start. The Tenways CGO600 Pro-C provides three levels of pedal assist and I spent most of the time in level 1 and 2. Level 3 was only used to go up the steepest hills or when I wanted to move as fast as possible with traffic.
I am going to have to buy the rear rack since I prefer to use a pannier for commuting to and from work rather than carrying a backpack. Tenways sells the rear rack for $69 and it mounts with four bolts. It is rated to support 33 pounds.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Frame: 6061 aluminum alloy available in four colors
Motor: 350W rear hub, 45Nm torque
Bike weight: 37 pounds
Bike capacity: 264 pounds
Pedal assist: Three levels with 8-speed Shimano transmission
Lights: Front integrated head light and rear tail light on the fender
Max speed and range: 20 mph with up to 53 miles
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disk brakes
Tires: 700C puncture-proof
Bottom Line
As spring approaches and more people get out to ride bikes, the Tenways CGO600 Pro-C is a great option for exercise and seamless pedal assist. I am a big fan of Gates Carbon drive systems, but find it much easier to get up steep hills with this chain model. It is still a low maintenance bike with a minimalist design so it looks great and performs amazingly well.
One thing I notice immediately when I switch to a 60+ pound e-bike to the Tenways CGO600 Pro is the feeling of agility and safety. The bike is lightweight and extremely maneuverable so it really make riding it an absolute joy. It is also built for commutes like mine that range from 5-10 miles where you can easily go roundtrip for a couple of days between charging.
The smartphone app offers some nice features and is great for automatically tracking your rides. The $1,499 price, $100 less than last year, is reasonable for a light weight modern bike with amazing design elements. If you have an ID.me account and are a medical providers, active duty military member or veteran, first responders, or teachers in the U.S. then you can receive a $150 discount on your order. After a full year with the carbon drive model, Tenways is clearly my preferred brand for lightweight city commuting.