Tenways Review: Are Their Belt-Drive E-Bikes Worth It?

Most e-bikes still look like e-bikes — chunky, boxy, apologising for the battery. Tenways built their entire identity around not doing that. Their bikes are light (many under 20kg), belt-driven instead of chain-driven, and drawn with the kind of restraint you'd expect from a bike shop, not a gadget company. That's the whole pitch, and mostly, it holds up.

I've been recommending Tenways to Velorution readers for a while now, and it's consistently one of the brands people actually go on to buy. Here's the honest version of why.

What Tenways gets right

The belt drive. A carbon belt instead of a chain means no oil, no rust, no chain-suck on your trousers, and years between replacements. It's the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade you can put on a commuter bike, electric or not.

The weight. Most city e-bikes are 25kg+. The CGO600 is around 19kg — light enough to actually carry up a step or lift onto a train, which matters more than most spec sheets admit.

The looks. Cables are routed internally, the battery hides in the downtube, and from ten feet away several models could pass for an ordinary bike. If you've ever felt self-conscious rolling up on something that looks like a moped, this is the antidote.

Where it's more mixed

Range and power sit mid-pack rather than class-leading — Tenways optimised for weight and looks, not for topping out the spec sheet, so if you want to out-climb everyone or ride 100km on a charge, look elsewhere. Their after-sales network in the UK is also younger than Decathlon's or Trek's, so if something goes wrong, support currently runs through the brand directly rather than a shop on your high street.

That's worth weighing up before you buy, not after. Going with a younger, direct-to-you brand means no walk-in shop to lean on if a cable frays or a brake needs bleeding — you're dealing with online support and posted spares rather than a mechanic round the corner. In practice that's usually fine, since belt-drive bikes need very little ongoing maintenance. But it's a different way of owning a bike, and if you like popping into a shop for a five-minute fettle, it's worth factoring in.

See it in action

Words only get you so far with a bike — here's a proper hands-on review from Antonio Sanson that goes deep on the ride, the assist, and the build quality.

Video: Antonio Sanson on YouTube. Not affiliated with Velorution — just a good, honest review.

The range, model by model

CGO600 — the one that made their name

Their original and still their best-value bike. Belt drive, sub-19kg, torque-sensing assist. If you just want "a Tenways" without overthinking it, this is the one. See it on Velorution or Shop →

CGO600 Pro — the refined version

Same bones, better finish and smoother assist. Widely considered one of the best-reviewed commuter e-bikes in Europe right now, and it's easy to see why once you've ridden one. See it on Velorution or Shop →

CGO800S — the comfortable one

Step-through frame, upright riding position, front suspension. The one to pick if you want to get on in a coat and heels and not think about it. See it on Velorution or Shop →

CGO009 — the design statement

Ruler-straight lines, everything integrated. The bike for people who choose things the way they'd choose furniture. See it on Velorution or Shop →

CGO Compact — for small flats and mixed commutes

A genuinely compact e-bike rather than a full-size bike that folds badly. Good for train-and-ride commutes or homes with nowhere to keep a full bike. See it on Velorution or Shop →

AGO X, AGO T, AGO Air — the mid-drive family

A step up in ambition: mid-drive motors, wider tyres, mounting points for racks and guards. AGO X is the all-rounder, AGO T is the fully-equipped trekking flagship, AGO Air trims weight while keeping the punch. If your commute has real hills or occasional gravel, start here rather than the CGO range. AGO X · AGO T · AGO Air · Shop the range →

Longtail — the family hauler

Tenways' answer to the cargo-bike-as-car-replacement conversation. Kids, shopping, or both. See it on Velorution or Shop →

Which Tenways is right for you?

For a good-looking, low-maintenance bike to get to work and back without fuss, start with the CGO600 or CGO600 Pro — the Pro if you can stretch to it, since the finish and assist are a step up. Want something easier to get on and off in normal clothes? The CGO800S's step-through frame sorts that out. If looks matter as much as the ride, go and see the CGO009 — a design object first, a bike second.

Tight on space or riding to a train? The CGO Compact is built for exactly that. Real hills or loose gravel on your route, or you just want more headroom from the motor? Skip the CGO range and look at the AGO family instead. And if the school run or the big shop is the actual problem, the Longtail is the honest answer.

The verdict

If you want a city e-bike that doesn't announce itself as one, Tenways is the brand to start with. The CGO600 Pro is the one most people should look at first; step up to the AGO family if hills or gravel are part of your ride. You can see the current line-up and prices at the Velorution Tenways collection.

Shop the full Tenways range

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