Tenways CGO600 Pro ebike: Beautiful, fun, and efficient commuting
Light weight ebikes help make my commute enjoyable and can also be ridden as a standard bike with assist disabled.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for commuters and city dwellers
Light weight, Gates Carbon belt drive, 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
While I have ridden a bike all of the way into the office, my typical commute mixes ebike riding with a heavy rail commuter train. With this commute I need to carry my bike up and down at least three flights of stairs and on/off the train so I’ve moved from the heavy 50-70 pound bikes to those in the sub-40 pound weight class.
For the past month I’ve been riding the Tenways CGO600 Pro and it competes well with the Urtopia Carbon 1 and Velotric T1 I tested previously. The Tenways CGO600 Pro, pronounced see-go-six hundred pro, arrived in the Sky Blue 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 35.2 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 four (4) Medals of Yavin. It is an elegant and minimalist ebike that serves well in the role it was designed for. There is no rear tail light and a simple physical bell is available for warning people of your presence so safety features are not really provided.
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
Gates Carbon drive belt
Effective three level pedal assist power
Bright integrated head light
Smartphone application
Affordable price with fenders and kickstand offer
Cons
No rear light
Requires several steps for assembly
Experiences
Some electric bikes require some experience putting together bikes and this one took a few more steps than many other bikes I’ve tested in the past. I’m experienced with bikes and mechanical systems while Tenways provided very clear and distinct instructions to help assemble the bike. 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. A small OLED display and controller are positioned on the left side with a passcode required to use the bike. You can ride it as a standard bike without the battery as well, which is what I do sometimes for exercise.
After I assembled it and went to test out things, the front wheel did not spin well. I discovered that the fender attachment points are fully adjustable so I used the Allen wrench to loosen them up and adjust the fenders to fit perfectly. The aluminum fenders are well designed and should provide years of support and protection from the road.
I rode the bike all around my neighborhood with major hills and was surprised that I was actually able to use pedal assist 3 and make it up a hill with more than 15 degrees of slope without having to walk the bike. Other bikes I have tested required me to walk to the top of the hill.
It also performed perfectly for commuting with its sleek form factor easy to park and secure on the train. The tires are a bit wider than some other light bikes I have tested, which is great for me with rides in the rain and on roads that aren’t always in the best condition.
The torque sensing drivetrain is great and provides for a smooth experience. I’m a huge fan of the Gates Carbon belt drive system due to its simplicity and maintenance free design. It doesn’t support gears though so if you require gears then this bike is not for you.
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: 35.2 pounds
Bike capacity: 264.5 pounds
Pedal assist: Three levels with single gear Gates Carbon drive belt
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 is a great option for exercise and solid assist. I am still impressed that I was able to get up a 15 degree hill without walking the bike and look forward to daily commutes with the CGO600 Pro.
The bike has a minimalist look and feel, but that also means there are very few wires visible and the battery is well integrated. The smartphone app offers some nice features, but is not essential to using the bike. It holds up well in daily use and helps propel me for a week at a time and that is perfect for my needs. The $1,599 price is reasonable for a light weight modern bike with amazing design elements.