Tenways’ Folding E-Bike: Compact, Flat, and Portable
▼ Summary
– Tenways has launched the CGO Compact, a new electric bike in Europe specifically designed to fit into tight spaces like car trunks and apartments.
– The bike achieves its compact size through features like 20-inch wheels, folding pedals, and a twistable handlebar stem for a slim profile.
– Priced at €1,999, the CGO Compact is below the European e-bike average, reflecting Tenways’s strategy of aggressive pricing and sleek design.
– It is equipped with a 250W motor, a belt drive, and a removable battery offering up to 100km of range, but its single-speed drivetrain makes it best for flat urban areas.
– Despite its compact design, the bike is relatively heavy at nearly 44 pounds, making it heavier than many full-sized e-bikes and less versatile than some premium folding alternatives.
Finding a truly portable electric bike that balances urban practicality with clever design can be a challenge. The new Tenways CGO Compact e-bike aims to solve this with a unique folding system tailored for European city dwellers. Its core innovation is a handlebar stem that twists to reduce the bike’s width by nearly half, creating a slim profile perfect for squeezing into tight spots like apartment hallways, train compartments, or car trunks. This is complemented by small 20-inch wheels and folding pedals, making storage a breeze.
While the CGO Compact excels in space-saving, it’s not a lightweight champion. The stripped-down frame weighs 19.8 kilograms, or roughly 44 pounds. Adding essential accessories for wet weather pushes that to about 22.1 kilograms (49 pounds). This makes it heavier than many standard-sized e-bikes, including some from Tenways’ own lineup. For comparison, the renowned 20-inch Brompton G foldable is lighter and more compact when folded, but it also carries a price tag more than double that of the CGO Compact.
The bike is built for sharing within a household, thanks to an adjustable steering column and a low-step-through frame that accommodates a wide range of rider heights. Practicality is further enhanced by a robust MIK HD rear carrier system, capable of hauling up to 27 kilograms (almost 60 pounds) of cargo. This system includes mounting points for adding accessories like a storage crate or a child seat, enhancing its utility for daily errands and family use.
Powering the CGO Compact is a 250W rear-hub motor paired with a maintenance-free Gates Carbon belt drive. The removable 500Wh battery promises a range of up to 100 kilometers on a single charge. It’s important to note the single-speed drivetrain delivers 45Nm of torque, making this e-bike best suited for relatively flat urban terrain rather than steep hills. For comfort on uneven surfaces, a suspension seat post helps absorb bumps, and a built-in torque sensor ensures smooth, natural-feeling pedal assistance. Safety is managed by Tektro hydraulic disc brakes for reliable stopping power.
Tenways, a Chinese company with its headquarters in the Netherlands, has built a strong presence in Europe through competitive pricing and sleek designs, supported by a network of over 1,500 shops and service centers. The CGO Compact is priced at €1,999 (approximately $2,365), which positions it well below the European e-bike average of €2,681. While Tenways does sell models in the United States, the CGO Compact is currently available for sale only in Europe.
(Source: The Verge)
