Engwe L20: One-minute review

The Engwe L20 is a step-through bike that is perfectly designed for people looking for a more accessible mounting experience. This makes it very similar to the M20 minus the top tube. The lack of that part of the frame does make it more difficult to mount a second battery should you wish to.

At 34kg (75 lb), there's no getting away from how heavy this e-bike is. The only saving grace is that locating the battery underneath the seat provides a good level of balance to the bike. The quality of the build is high with no concerns about it falling apart or not being able to stand up to wear and tear.

The advertised range of 140km (87 miles) is unlikely to ever be achieved because who rides e-bikes under normal conditions? For a start, there's always some wind resistance and different road surfaces result in great friction levels that will reduce the range of even the best e-bikes. Secondly, you'll want to ride this e-bike with the highest level of pedal assist most of the time and that will put a serious dent in your battery performance.

The front basket and rear rack converts the L20 from a fun cruiser into something substantially more functional. Buying one of Engwe's basket or rack bags will ensure a perfect fit but in reality you can strap anything you want onto this e-bike. It'll handle anything under the maximum weight levels with ease.

The L20 is a fun bike that is perfect for getting jobs done and traveling from A to B. It will also work for a short daily commute, especially if you have things that need carrying into the office. At under £1,000 / $1,200 it's amazing what you get for the price.

Engwe L20 review: specs

Engwe L20 review: Price and availability

• $1,200 / £999
• Only available in the US and EU
• Available from the manufacturer directly

The Engwe L20 is a budget-friendly e-bike available at the bargain price of US $1,200 / £999. For the price, you'll get the cruiser-style bike, a 48V, 13Ah lithium-ion battery, and a charger. On top of this, there are a range of accessories included in the package, such as mud guards, a front basket, and a rear rack. You can pick from four different colours including Avocado Green, Snow White, Onyx Black, or Flamingo Pink, which is the paint trim that I had.

If you'd like to go the whole hog, then you can also purchase items including a rack bag, a phone mount, or a bicycle pump. These are available to purchase at the time of buying or separately afterwards.

Alongside these accessories, Engwe also sells batteries, which are perfect for replacing old and depleted ones or just having a spare in case you run low and don't have time to charge the others. I personally think that's a huge luxury but if you've got the money, then why not?

Engwe L20 review: Design

• Heavyweight aluminum frame
• Battery located behind seat tube
• Unbranded parts

At he heart of the Engwe L20's design is a step-through aluminum frame. The removal of the top tube makes it possible for almost anyone to get on this bike. This bike frame is therefore perfect for people who are on the shorter side or are unable to lift their leg over a standard-framed bike. As someone who isn't affected by either of those things, I just enjoyed the fact that it was incredibly easy to get on and off!

One of Engwe's more recent bikes, the P275 Pro, has much thinner tires but you won't find anything like that on the L20. These tires are classic Engwe; they are absolutely massive. At 20 x 4 inches, you'll have all the weight and grip you need to confidently navigate various types of terrain. 

In terms of electronics, there are quite a lot of cables, which is detrimental to the overall aesthetic. Even though the cables from front to back travel inside the down tube, there are still a lot of them that are visible, especially at the front. Cables running from the brakes, gears, display, and front light are coiled together, but this almost adds to their bulk.

The 48V, 13Ah battery is tucked neatly behind the seat post and can be removed by lifting the seat lever and rotating the seat 90 degrees. This has been engineered really well and works efficiently, even if it is a little annoying to have to adjust the seat every time the battery needs to be removed.

The L20 is an absolute beast. At 34kg, this e-bike is not for the faint-hearted. Lugging it around requires some muscles, which might make it counterproductive for the market that Engwe is targeting with the step-through design. Some of this additional bulk is a result of the weighty front basket and rear rack, as well as the solid metal mud guards.

Both of the lights are powered by the on-board battery and the rear one even acts as a brake light, which is ideal in terms of safety. There is also suspension located on the front fork, as well as springs under the seat to help with navigating uneven terrain.

• Design Score: 4/5

Engwe L20 review: Performance

• 250W brushless motor
• Shimano 7-speed
• 160mm front & rear disc mechanical brake

The 250W brushless motor is capped at the European limit of 25km / 15.5 miles per hour. Because of the chunky tires and extra weight, it actually takes quite a while to get up to this top speed. Once you're there though, it feels pretty quick and nippy. The low centre of gravity really helps to root you to the experience of riding the bike.

The pedal sensor could do with being upgraded to a magnetic alternative because it is slower to respond than I would have liked. It can feel a bit stop start and when pulling away at traffic lights I needed the motor to kick in much quicker than it actually did.

The Shimano gears were smooth and reliable and having seven of them was just about enough for most gradual inclines. You wouldn't want to be climbing mountains with it but you should look at other e-bikes if you are. When traveling downhill or moving through traffic, the 160mm mechanical brakes deliver enough performance to stop quickly. They took a little fine-tuning during the bike-build stage but that's to be expected.

Thanks to the front suspension and under seat springs, most of the surfaces I came across were dampened, which was a relief to my body. The fat tires further helped to soften any impact from potholes to uneven roads.

If you're after a quiet ride then the L20 is far from it. The motor combined with thick tires resulted in relentless whirring noises throughout the ride. Personally, I don't mind that though, as there's something about the noise, especially from the tires, that grounds you in what you're doing.

• Performance score: 4/5

Engwe L20 review: Battery life

• 48V, 13Ah lithium-ion battery
• 140km / 87 miles maximum range
• Removable battery

The 48V, 13Ah lithium-ion battery is heavy but easily removed after tilting the seat into a vertical position. It provides an advertised range of 140km, which is rather generous compared to the reality of most riding conditions.

I found that any assist mode lower than the maximum was not enough to make for an enjoyable ride. This naturally affected the battery range. With the highest level of pedal assist and regular wind resistance, I found the bike was able to provide closer to 70km. Considering I was only traveling relatively short distances at a time, this was absolutely fine for making sure I was home in between rides to recharge.

The L20 ships with less-than-fully inflated tires so to help with maximizing the range, make sure you inflate them properly. This will limit the level of friction and drag and therefore boost the overall achievable range.

The provided battery charger provides a full charge in around four to five hours and can be done by either removing the battery from the bike or by keeping it in location. 

• Battery life score: 4/5

Engwe L20 review: Should I buy it?

Buy it if...

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How I tested the Engwe L20

The Engwe L20 is perfect for cruising around so that's exactly what I did. I took it around my local neighbourhood and out onto country roads, thoroughly testing all of its features. In traffic and with the open road out in front of me, I was impressed at how the L20 handled. I tried all the assistance levels and tested the brakes in normal and emergency situations.

First reviewed: May 2024

Tenways CGO600 Pro: One-minute review

The Tenways CGO600 Pro is one of the best e-bikes I've had the pleasure of riding. Almost every part of the bike looks great and performs well. The battery is tucked away inside the down tube and cables from front to back are hidden in the frame. All of this makes it very difficult to tell that you're actually riding an e-bike at all.

The magnetic torque sensor is the star of the show, providing a seamless provision of assistance whenever it is required. There is absolutely no lag between pedalling and the motor kicking in, making the whole experience very enjoyable. I've had e-bikes before that have motors that kick in very slowly and unreliably and they're a nightmare to ride.

The carbon belt drive is long-lasting and low-maintenance. An advertised life of 19,000 miles for the belt means it'll take a long time to require replacement. Not having any grease to deal with not only makes maintenance a breeze but also removes the risk of getting it on your clothes.

The 36V, 10Ah Lithium-ion battery with LG Cells has a maximum range of 100 km / 62 miles. This is far from the longest the best electric bikes have to offer but it is more than adequate for any commute. A four-hour recharge can be easily achieved while either at work or overnight before riding it again in the morning.

The CGO600 Pro is perfectly positioned as a city commuter. The medium-to-thin tires eat up the miles and handling around traffic is light and easy. The price is comparable with most of its competitors for this e-bike type and, given its fantastic performance, it's one of the best commuter bikes on the market at the moment.

Tenways CGO600 Pro review: Specs

Tenways CGO600 Pro review: Price and availability

• $1,599 / £1,569
• Only available in the US and EU
• Available from the manufacturer directly

The CGO600 Pro, with its 250W motor and 25km / 15.5 miles per hour speed limit, is perfectly tailored for the European market. At $1,599 / £1,569, it sits squarely in the middle of the city commuter bracket of e-bikes. Considering the features and performance, I would have expected to pay a little more for it.

There's no shortage of color options with Midnight Black, Avocado Green, Pebble Grey and Sky Blue to choose from. You can also specify the frame size you request, with medium, large, and extra large as options.

If you'd like the mudguards and kickstand as well, then you'll need to pay an additional £78. That is, unless you're prepared to subscribe to the Tenways newsletter. If you do, remarkably, you'll get those accessories for free. Don't get over excited about the kickstand, though; it's far too short for the size of the bike and is absolutely useless unless you're propping your bike up on a significant incline.

Tenways CGO600 Pro review: Design

• Beautiful and slim design
• Battery is tucked away in the down tube
• Noticeably lightweight

If you're looking for an e-bike that doesn't look like an e-bike, then the CGO600 Pro is going to be right up your street. This is thanks to the battery being neatly tucked into the down tube, the cables being hidden in the frame, and the frame being a more traditional shape. Unless you look closely, there is very little to give the game away that this is in fact an e-bike.

It is available in four different colors. I had the Pebble Grey option but I think the Avocado Green and Sky Blue paint colors are much nicer. The frame is made of aluminum and is perfectly balanced in terms of tube thicknesses and wheel sizes. I particularly like the way the top tube tapers out as it travels from the seat tube to the headset.

One of the standout design features is the carbon belt drive, which is superior in many ways to a more traditional chain. We'll cover more about its benefits in the performance section of this review but it's worth saying here that it certainly looks the part and there's a removable section in the chain stay if it does need to be replaced.

The 700c aluminum rims with 40mm road tires are perfectly proportioned for the the frame. Their size and thickness also make them perfect for eating up the miles on flat, even terrain while being thick enough to provide the necessary grip around corners. They are advertised as puncture-proof but I refrained from cycling over any shards of glass to test the validity of this claim.

The OLED display is positioned on the left-hand side of the handlebar and is, unfortunately, rather on the small side. I didn't have too much difficulty reading the display but I have read reports of people who struggle with it. The controls are easy to use and straight-forward, making it a pleasure to operate.

• Design Score: 4.5/5

Tenways CGO600 Pro review: Performance

• Magnetic torque sensor
• Mivice M070 250W Rear Hub Motor (40 Nm Torque)
• Hydraulic disc brakes

The CGO600 Pro, with magnetic torque sensor, provides one of the most seamless riding experiences I've ever had. The magnetic, rather than cadence-based, technology, almost eliminates any sense of lag between pedaling and the motor kicking in. I've experienced e-bike motors that take several seconds to kick in, which is far from ideal when you're needing to pull away quickly from a stationary position. Thankfully, Tenways has absolutely nailed this implementation.

The single-speed drivetrain makes it super easy to get moving and stay moving, a reality that contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the ride. Tenways has managed to engineer a gear ratio that is absolutely spot on for flat roads and is easy enough to keep things moving when going up hills. The addition of the powered motor makes this a powerful combination.

The bike, as a whole, is wonderfully quiet. This is to be expected with carbon belts and it's certainly the case with the CGO600 Pro. There is limited noise coming from the motor so you can still properly enjoy nature's surroundings as you're pedalling along.

The hydraulic disk brakes also perform very well. They're made by TEKTRO, rather than a more premium brand such as Shimano but they seem to deliver what's required. They are quick to respond and firm enough to apply the necessary braking pressure to the wheels. 

The entire performance of the e-bike is very positive, with nothing that got in the way of me thoroughly enjoying every ride I had on it.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Tenways CGO600 Pro review: Battery life

• 100km / 62 miles maximum range
• 36V, 10Ah Lithium-ion battery with LG Cells
• Removable battery

The advertised range of the 36V, 10Ah Lithium-ion battery with LG Cells is 100km / 62 miles. This does pale into insignificance compared to the 250km range of the Engwe P275 Pro but it's still fairly respectable. As someone who commutes around fifteen miles each day, this is more than enough for a few days of journeys between charges. I personally always opt for the highest level of assistance, and in this mode, I found the maximum range drops to around 30 miles.

The battery level is reported on the OLED display as a percentage, which I prefer over a simple three or four bar readout. Having a specific percentage really helps to keep track of that precious juice and make sure you don't run out mid-ride.

The battery is perfectly contained inside the down tube of the frame, providing a seamless design. With the provided key, it is possible to 'pop' the battery out of the tube, making it ideal for charging at home or in the office. A full recharge takes in the region of four hours, which is comparable to most e-bikes of this type.

• Battery life score: 4/5

Should I buy the Tenways CGO600 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Tenways CGO600 Pro

Even though the CGO600 Pro is advertised as suitable for flat roads, I was keen to test its ability on a broader range of terrains and inclines. My commute to the office made for a perfect collection of mild and steep hills, as well as tarmac and dirt tracks. Using the e-bike in these locations helped me build up a picture of not only how good it is under ideal conditions but also when you're forced out of those.

I thoroughly enjoyed using the e-bike every time I took it out. The single-speed setup and magnetic torque sensor provided an ideal combination for effortless riding.

First reviewed: June 2024