With its elegantly minimalist look and low-maintenance style, the Tenways CGO600 Pro is an electric bike you might fall in love with. It’s a city bike; the kind of bike you to use– to go to the store or to work at a non-profit organization – this is not the kind of bike that becomes your lifestyle. It’s not for off-road adventure, but if you need to get from point A to point B and want to do it on a sleek, smooth-riding e-bike with as little maintenance as possible , the CGO600 Pro hits the mark. . This thing is so practical it’s downright sexy.

A quick overview of the Tenways CGO600 Pro

Benefits

Disadvantages

Specifications

• Classification: Class 1

• Price: $1,899

• Colors: avocado green, sky blue, midnight black, pebble gray.

• Weight: 37 pounds. without battery

• Rider Size: Three frame sizes fit riders between 5’0 and 6’2″

• Motor: 350 watt rear hub motor with 45 Nm torque

• Battery life: up to 53 miles

• Pedaling assistance: 3 levels, torque sensor

• Maximum assist speed: 20 mph

• Frame: 6061 aluminum frame

• Tires: CST 700x45C urban tires

• Brakes: Tektro dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes

• Drive: Gates carbon belt drive

Electric bike, northern European style

Credit: Stephen Johnson

From the look to the ride to the on-board computer, the CGO600 is synonymous with simplicity and functionality. A crowdfunded Dutch product, the CGO600 embodies the understated style of Dutch urban bikes. This isn’t one of those electric bikes that looks or rides like a motorcycle. It really is a bike both in looks and power. It’s a Class 1 electric bike, so there’s no throttle and the assist speed reaches 20 mph. The motor is very quiet and the removable battery is discreetly stored in the downtube, making it easily pass for a non-electric bike; you won’t feel out of place on a gentle, mixed-use cycle path. Subjectively, it’s a pretty machine, in an understated way: it has a classic bike look, with an aluminum frame available in four matte-finish colors and a dual LED headlight integrated into the top tube to give it a bit of panache.

Driving the CGO600 Pro

Credit: Stephen Johnson

The CGO may be a simple bike, but Tenways has clearly paid attention to the little details that matter: the grips are comfortable, the pedals are wide, the seat post and handlebars are easily adjustable so you can tune it yourself. same and/or lend it to someone else. There’s even a little bell attached to the handlebars. It’s a single speed bike, so there are no gears to adjust and/or adjust. There’s not even a chain: the CGO600 has a Gates Carbon belt drive, so it’s grease-free and won’t ruin your pants. Most importantly, Tenways claims the belt is “maintenance free for up to 18,600 miles.” I haven’t gotten that far, so I’ll take their word for it.

The CGO600 is maneuverable and responsive. There’s no suspension, but even with irregular payments, the aluminum frame provides enough flexibility so your teeth won’t chatter.

It’s light too. At just 41 pounds, with battery, it’s light enough that riding unassisted is a reasonable option; It’s not an option I choose very often to be honest, because the support is perfect.

What’s under the hood of a CGO600 Pro?

Credit: Stephen Johnson

The CGO 600’s torque-sensing drive system transfers power from the rear hub drive smoothly and quietly, but the 350W motor is surprisingly peppy for being so discreet. Pedaling up to 20 mph on flat terrain is effortless and feels natural; there’s no sudden surge of torque like there is with less refined e-bikes, instead of feeling like a motor is pushing your bike, it feels like you have legs very strong. There are only three levels of assistance, compared to the usual five offered by e-bikes, but I never felt like any level of power was missing.

The stated range per full battery is “up to 53 miles”, but this depends on the amount of pedals you use, the level of assistance, the slopes, your weight and many other factors; it is impossible to really estimate. That said, the lightweight and torque-sensing setup mean a battery charge lasts a long time, and while it never went 53 miles in my testing, battery life is good.

The assist gets you to 20 mph, but I hit about 35 mph on this bike, and at no point did the CGO600 feel wobbly or out of control. That 35 mph was downhill, of course; pedal up hills require some effort. Small urban hills are no problem, but larger hills will present you with the single-gear problem: bikes have gears for a reason, and a big hill will make you wish you had grandma’s gear on which to pass. .

In keeping with its minimalist aesthetic, the CGO600’s built-in OLED display is tiny. It shows how much battery power remains, your speed, and which of three assist levels you’re using in a bright, black-and-white rectangle that’s not much larger than a watch face. If you want to learn more about the technology, there is a companion app that tracks your journeys. It also tracks the location of your bike, so if someone runs off with it, you can get it back.

Credit: Stephen Johnson

Bottom line: The CGO600 Pro is a solid, integrated bike

Tenway’s CGO600 is refreshing and free of gimmicks. This is built-in simplicity that works perfectly. With its minimalist design, light weight and quiet motor, the CGO600 Pro offers a smooth, enjoyable ride for short trips (and trips to your friend Dave’s house), and the belt drive and components of quality means you’ll spend less time repairing and more time riding.