Today, I’m here to share my thoughts on the Tenways CGO800S. This new top-tier urban electric bike boasts compelling technical features and could potentially rival certain German brands at a budget-friendly price point! But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s find out in my two-month review.
My Thoughts on the Tenways CGO800S After 2 Months of Testing
New generation all-road electric bike with a very good quality-price ratio. 250W hub motor. Front suspension. Hydraulic disc brakes. Removable battery.
Budget : $ | Speed : 15.5 mph | Range : 62 miles
IN SHORT, WHAT’S THE TENWAYS CGO800S WORTH?
✅ The pros
- Remarkably quiet, smooth-running motor
- Range of up to 62 miles
- Rapid 3-hour charging
- Sleek, minimalist design
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Front and rear lights with indicators
- Puncture-resistant tires
- Lightweight (42 lbs) and maneuverable
❌ The cons
- Single-speed; no need to change gears
- Effortless start, even when loaded
The Tenways CGO800S checks all the boxes for what I seek in an electric city bike: elegant, minimalist design and exceptional riding comfort. Upon first use, it’s clear that this bike is robust with meticulous attention to detail. However, THE standout feature for me is its weight! The CGO800S is incredibly lightweight, almost making you forget it’s electric. Handling is a sheer pleasure.
From a technical standpoint, the 250W motor is robust.
The bike features a single speed and 5 levels of pedal assistance. An intelligent torque sensor measures speed, pedaling frequency, and torque concurrently. Tenways did not deem multiple gears necessary, as the assistance system automatically adjusts to each pedal stroke. Since it has only one gear, they opted for a carbon drive belt, making the bike lighter, quieter, and easier to maintain.
The battery performs admirably, covering up to 46 miles on a single charge (at assistance level 3)! In summary, the experience is exceptional, and this electric bike is poised to compete with major German brands.
Why Choose the Tenways CGO800S?
The Motor
Tenways has partnered with the German brand Mivice to equip the CGO800S electric bike with a 250W M070 brushless rear hub motor, an S200B torque sensor, and a C201 controller. The motor components are incredibly compact and discreet, almost invisible from a distance. It’s hard to believe this is an electric bike!
Like many new-generation electric bikes, the Tenways CGO800S is equipped with an intelligent motor: the harder you press on the pedals, the greater the motor assistance. I find the motor offers a smooth, very natural ride, with no jerks. During my tests mainly in urban areas with some short climbs, I can confidently say that it performs admirably: powerful assistance when needed, even on hills (it can handle gradients of up to 15°). I also appreciate how quiet the Tenways CGO800S motor remains, even at assistance level 5 (the highest setting).
The carbon fiber belt is from Carbon Gates. Unlike a conventional chain, I find it delivers a smoother ride and contributes significantly to the bike’s quiet operation. The brand claims it can endure 18,700 miles of maintenance-free use. (PS: I’ll return to update this review with more details 😉).
On start-up, a single pedal stroke activates the motor. Even from a standstill, the bike accelerates promptly, thanks to the immediate response of the motor. Reaching the standard 15 mph limit is effortless. The bike excels in rolling and starting, aided by its magnetic torque sensor that delivers smooth and intuitive electric assistance.
The Battery
The Tenways CGO800S is equipped with a 374 Wh, 36 V, 10.4 amp-hour lithium-ion battery (considered the best type available today). This battery provides an estimated range of around 62 miles. In my testing, I achieved a consistent 46.6 miles on mode 3.
The battery’s design is discreet, seamlessly integrated into the bike’s frame without disrupting the aesthetics. Its front placement contributes to the bike’s stability by positioning it at the center of gravity. This arrangement prevents the sensation of dragging weight, which can occur with batteries mounted behind the saddle on certain bikes.
The Tenways CGO800S battery is fully removable using a small key, facilitating transport and deterring theft.
The battery charges fully in approximately 4.5 hours with the provided charger.
Comfort
As I said above, when riding this bike, I often forget that it’s electric. Weighing in at 42 lbs, it falls into the lightweight electric bike category, making it exceptionally maneuverable. At home, I need to navigate two steps to transition between my house and the street, so the bike’s weight is a genuine concern for me.
Riding my Tenways CGO800S allows me to maintain a posture that keeps my back straight, ensuring even long rides are enjoyable. The ergonomic design (including the height-adjustable seat) contributes to this comfort. During my longest ride of 23 miles, I didn’t experience any discomfort in my buttocks or back.
The bike features a soft front suspension, which I find particularly useful when navigating curbs or rough roads. Despite being designed for asphalt, it can handle hard, slightly stony surfaces with ease.
The open Dutch-style frame makes the CGO800S an excellent choice for women, offering easy mount and dismount capabilities. For reference, I’m 5’10” tall, and the bike accommodates riders ranging from 5’1” to 6’3”.
Tenways Design and Quality
I opted for the gray CGO800S, although it’s also available in black or sky blue. Its design is undeniably premium, tailored to urban enthusiasts who appreciate sophisticated, high-tech products.
I appreciate its minimalistic approach: the aluminum frame, seamless part integration, welds, and cable routing—all meticulously executed, leaving no room for chance or protrusions!
Undoubtedly, this is a bike that would appeal to Apple fans 😆 !
The icing on the cake, Tenways is a European manufacturer! True to the impeccable design and build quality synonymous with Belgian and Dutch manufacturers… the bike is entirely made in Europe (specifically in Lithuania and the Netherlands). The brand can offer competitive prices due to the high volume of bikes produced! Over 25,000 units from March to December 2022, with pre-orders for 2023 surpassing 50,000 bikes.
Tenways received the award for the best-selling urban bicycle in the Netherlands in 2022, a significant achievement considering the size of the Dutch bicycle market!
Safety
Brakes are THE critical safety consideration on electric bikes. The Tenways CGO800S is equipped with Tektro front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. It’s the gold standard in braking systems for bikes today! The braking performance is exceptional. During my second ride to work (yes, I’m team commuter bikes!) in rainy and foggy conditions, a moving van passed me and braked suddenly just ahead. This presented an opportunity to test my reflexes, as well as the effectiveness of the bike’s brakes and front suspension. I had to brake hard (quick and dirty) and swerve to avoid collision, successfully navigating around the curb and avoiding an encounter with the back of a moving van!
The bike comes with traditional front and rear lights, but its standout feature is the inclusion of rear turn signals, which can be conveniently activated via a button on the handlebars.
Wheels
The Tenways CGO800S electric bike is equipped with 48-inch CST puncture-resistant tires. The wheels feature reflective dots, replacing traditional retro-reflectors (a feature sure to resonate with minimalists 🙂 !).
Handlebars and Display
The handlebars feature an intelligent LCD display that can be unlocked with a personalized secret code. It shows vital information like speed, total kilometers traveled, and remaining battery life. This screen is compatible with the Tenways application, enabling real-time GPS tracking.
Bike Limitations
The CGO800S is a “single-speed” bike without a derailleur, meaning you cannot change gears. Therefore, it requires a bit of effort to get moving when loaded up. However, it’s worth noting that even a slight pedal turn activates the electric motor’s assistance.
Interestingly, the absence of a derailleur system makes the bike mechanically simpler to maintain and, most importantly, lighter. This is a deliberate choice by Tenways, echoed by other brands producing electric city bikes.
Summary: My Opinion of the Tenways CGO800S
New generation all-road electric bike with a very good quality-price ratio. 250W hub motor. Front suspension. Hydraulic disc brakes. Removable battery.
Budget : $ | Speed : 15.5 mph | Range : 62 miles
Note: The Tenways CGO800S is available in stores. Visit the Tenways website for a list of resellers.
The CGO800S electric bike is a fantastic choice, boasting the latest in electric bike technology (hydraulic disc brakes, discreet “German motor”, GPS display). It’s perfect for urban commuting—lightweight (42 lbs), maneuverable, discreet, and high-performing. Daily rides are not only enjoyable and smooth but also safe and comfortable.
Is the CGO800S one of the best electric bikes? Discover more in our ranking of the top electric bikes of 2024.