In my mind, Tenways was a brand that was built on being the ‘sleek/silent’ type with e-bikes that leaned into lighter weights, sleeker looks and smaller wattage silent motors, belt drives, and a deviation from the more common heavier ‘comfort’ e-bikes if you will that dominate the more European e-bike scene.
But, then the Wayfarer showed up and well, it’s not what I expected from Tenways.
Think of the Wayfarer as Tenways loosening the tie and putting its shoes up on the desk for a change. Ditching the belt drive for an 8-speed chain drive and adding some heft in the form of a larger frame for a bigger battery, wider tires, and a front suspension fork. It seems the folks at Tenways thought that maybe the American market wants more comfort and more power.
The 66-pound Wayfarer ditches the minimalist approach of the past and tossed their hat into the more popular ‘everyday workhorse’ style e-bike many folks are looking for. While it’s not a new concept in e-bikes, comfy fat tire cruisers like the Velotric Breeze1 and Aventon Pace 4 which have been very popular for years now.
Now, it’s just a question of if they got it right. So, lets do a deep dive into the specs, features and what its like to ride in this Tenways Wayfarer review.
My Experience Riding The Tenways Wayfarer E-Bike
Walking up to the Wayfarer for the first time it definitely has some curb appeal. It fits right in with the current crop of comfort cruisers with its substantial frame that houses the battery, a wide cushy saddle, and those beefy 2.6-inch tires. I tested the Sapphire Blue version but if you want something a little more understated there is also a Silver option available.
The bike comes in a single frame size that Tenways claims fits riders from 5’4″ to 6’3″. I stand at 5’11” and found the fit to be pretty spot on. The adjustable stem is a huge help here as you can dial in the reach and height based on your torso length and arm preference. Combined with the suspension seatpost you have plenty of room to find a pedal extension that works for you. As designed it puts you in a very upright and relaxed riding position with zero excess pressure on your shoulders or neck. You could technically slam the stem down for a more aggressive posture if you wanted to but honestly it would look and feel pretty silly on a bike clearly built for cruising comfort.
Once you actually hit the bike path two things immediately jump out at you. First is the sheer comfort. That front air fork teams up with the wide saddle, suspension seatpost, and high-volume tires to create a ride that just floats over imperfections. The second thing you notice is that massive Bafang display. At 4.3 inches it is one of the larger color screens I have seen but the real win is the font size and interface. It is not cluttered with useless data and the speed and assist numbers are nice and big. We often hear from older riders who struggle with tiny displays and squinting at small fonts so if readability is a concern for you this screen alone makes the bike worth a look. The built-in USB port for charging my phone was just the cherry on top.
Power delivery was another pleasant surprise. The rear hub motor is rated at 500W nominal but peaks at 750W with 65Nm of torque. I was not expecting a rocket ship but the programming here feels dialed. The bike feels peppy and powerful when you need it to be and I rarely felt like I was asking for more juice than it could give. I really only wished for a tiny bit more on the steepest hills but for everything else it was more than enough.
You have access to a few different class modes including Class 1, 2, 3, and Unlimited. In Class 2 you get throttle support up to 20mph. If you unlock Unlimited mode you get throttle and pedal assist up to 28mph, though I clocked my max speed at roughly 27.2mph. Acceleration off the line is a bit relaxed which is probably good for new riders but it ramps up quickly once you start pedaling in higher assist levels.
The 8-speed Shimano drivetrain gave me a perfectly usable range of gears for my rides. The trigger shifters were crisp and quick and the optical gear window makes it easy to see exactly what gear you are in with just a quick glance.
I was admittedly a little cautious about the braking at first. Stopping a 66-pound bike plus a rider usually requires some serious hardware. I was happy to find that the Star Union hydraulic disc brakes and those massive 203mm rotors were up to the task. The levers had surprisingly good modulation allowing me to feather the brakes for controlled speed checks or bring the bike to a quick and confident stop from 23mph without any drama.
When the dust settles and you sit back to look at the big picture the Wayfarer does an excellent job of delivering exactly what it promised. It is a well-put-together e-bike for just under $2,000 that offers genuine value and a great ride experience. Some riders might wish for more color options or precise frame sizes but for a commute, a weekend escapade, or just getting some fresh air, the Tenways Wayfarer delivers in a way that makes it feel a bit more premium than the price tag suggests.
Range
Real World Range Test Results:
Real World Range Test Results:
- MIN Range Test (Eco Mode): 54 miles
- MAX Range Test (PAS 5): 36 miles
The website splashes “up to 85 miles” across the banner which feels like a pretty tall order for a 66-pound bike. However, if you dig into the user manual Tenways actually clarifies that the expected range is between 50 and 85 miles depending on conditions. That lower number is a much more grounded target for a bike with a 720Wh battery.
To see where it actually lands we put it through our real-world range test. Our test riders weighed in between 180 and 200 pounds and while the route was on a paved city path it still included over 1,000 feet of elevation gain, slowing and sometimes stopping for other walkers or joggers on the path, so the motor definitely had to do some work.
In the highest assist setting or PAS 5 we drained the battery in 36 miles. In Eco mode doing a lot more of the work ourselves we managed to stretch that out to 54 miles.
Getting between 35 and 55 miles on a charge is a solid result that is more than enough for almost any daily commute or weekend cruise. If you are buying this bike strictly because of that “up to 85 miles” headline you might want to temper your expectations but for real-world riding it still offers plenty of juice to get you there and back without range anxiety setting in. Just don’t expect to hit that factory maximum unless you are lighter than our riders and pedaling downhill both ways.
Power (Motor & Battery)
When it comes to power delivery in the Tenways Wayfarer, don’t come prepared to see the typical 250W motor most other Tenways models are equipped with.
The Wayfarer comes shipped with a 500W rear hub motor that peaks at 750W and pushes 65Nm of torque. The motor and controller are made by Bafang and the system uses a torque sensor to manage that output.
This setup accomplishes a few key things for a bike that is larger than what Tenways typically deals in. First, you get extra power to move extra weight. With a bike that weighs more you need more watts and torque to push it and that is exactly what you get here. Next is the torque sensor which senses your effort and speed of pedaling then adapts the power output to match what you are asking for. Dialing it back and trying to go slower? It feels it and adjusts the pedal assistance down. Want to crank it up and pedal for a quick start? It listens again and adapts to your goal.
This extra power does more than just account for weight though as it allows the Wayfarer and its 264lb payload to get up to speed and tackle hills along your route without whimpering. That speed is actually quite customizable too as the bike features four distinct ride modes. Class 1 keeps things strict with pedal assist only up to 20 mph. Class 2 introduces the throttle but caps both throttle and pedal assist at 20 mph. If you need to cover ground faster, Class 3 takes you up to 28 mph on pedal assist alone. And for those times when you want maximum speed with minimum effort the Unlimited mode unlocks everything letting you hit 28 mph on both the throttle and pedal assist.
The battery powering that motor is a 48V, 720Wh Lithium-ion battery that has its Samsung cells UL 2850 certified. Stored in the downtube of the Wayfarer, the battery pack comes with a set of keys that can be used to remove the battery when you want and ensure no one takes it when you are not around. To charge the Wayfarer battery, it ships with a 3A charger, allowing you to fully charge the battery from nothing to 100% in roughly 4–5 hours, which isn’t bad at all. While Tenways advertises the Wayfarer as having ‘up to 85 miles range’ from a single charge, our real world testing showed slightly different results.
Components
In the sub-$2,000 e-bike world, spec sheets can sometimes feel like a balancing act where the bicycle components take a backseat to the motor and battery. The Wayfarer manages to balance the equation pretty well by offering a build kit that feels appropriate and in some places surprisingly nice for the money.
While it’s not earth-shattering new tech, I love how Tenways went with an air fork versus the more commonly seen coil forks in the price range. While coil forks are standard in this category and do the job fine, seeing an air fork is a definite upgrade. It allows you to tune the pressure to your weight via a Schrader valve which gives you a suspension feel that adapts to you rather than just reacting to bumps. It is paired with a thru-axle up front which is a feature that is becoming more common but is still appreciated for the added stability and consistent wheel alignment it provides compared to standard quick-release skewers.
Comfort is further aided by a suspension seatpost with about 50mm of travel. It is not a complex linkage system but it effectively takes the edge off square-edged hits like potholes and driveway lips.
For braking, Tenways went with Star Union hydraulic disc brakes clamping down on massive 203mm rotors. You might not recognize the brand name immediately but the performance is solid. The huge rotors provide plenty of leverage which is exactly what you want when piloting a 66-pound machine in traffic.
Shifting is handled by a Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain with a 48t chainring and 11-32t cassette. It is a proven and reliable setup that gives you enough range to pedal comfortably at speed without overcomplicating things.
The cockpit features a 27.5-inch alloy handlebar with a nice rise that puts you in a relaxed and upright position. The saddle is wide and heavily cushioned which is great for cruising comfort, though if you have a narrower pedaling stance you might find it a bit bulky as I found it rubbed my thighs a bit. Overall it is a sensible and robust package that feels exactly as good as a bike at this price point should.
Screen / User Interface / App
Front and center in the cockpit is a massive color display made by Bafang. It is honestly one of the better screens I have seen in this category simply because the data is huge. If you are someone who usually has to squint to read your speed or battery percentage you will appreciate how legible the large font is here.
It is not just big for the sake of being big though. It has a USB Type-C port tucked away for charging your phone which is always a welcome feature. Navigating the settings is surprisingly intuitive too. By holding the + and – buttons on the control pad for 3 seconds you get into the advanced menus. Unlike a lot of other displays that require you to have the manual open to decipher cryptic error codes or settings numbers, the menus here are clean and easy to navigate with plain text options. You can actually make tweaks on the side of the bike path without needing to Google what “P04” means.
As for the daily controls, they are simple enough once you know the shortcuts. Turning the headlight on or off is just a long press of the + button. Walk mode is a little more specific as you have to double tap the – button and then hold it once the foot icon appears, but it engages smoothly once you get the timing down.
On the software side the bike pairs with the Tenways app which handles automatic ride tracking and stores analytics for every trip so you can geek out on your stats later. One actually useful feature is the direct line to support where you can chat and even upload photos or videos if something goes wrong, which beats trying to describe a weird noise over email.
The headline feature though is the Apple Find My integration. Just a heads-up that this isn’t some hardwired GPS system buried in the frame. It is actually a standalone tag hiding inside the bell housing powered by a standard CR2032 coin cell battery. That means it works great for tracking but you will want to keep an eye on that little battery because if it dies your tracking dies with it.
Tenways Wayfarer Model Options
Tenways keeps the decision fatigue to a minimum here. You have exactly one frame size and one frame style to choose from which is a low-step design meant to fit a wide range of riders. Your only real choice is between Sapphire Blue or Meteor Gray.
The unboxing experience is actually pretty complete. Instead of making you pay extra for the stuff you actually need to commute, Tenways includes the fenders, the kickstand, and that MIK-compatible rear rack right in the box. At the time of this review they are also throwing in a large waterproof pannier bag which is a nice touch. You also get a 3A charger which is a bit faster than the standard 2A bricks we usually see.
If you do want to accessorize further there are a few factory options worth looking at. They offer a couple of different front racks if you need more cargo space and a 180Wh frame-mounted power bank if you really need to push that range. There is also the EH20 Smart Helmet which pairs with the app to display custom illumination patterns for better visibility.
Is The Tenways Wayfarer Worth Buying?
When the dust settles, what’s the overall takeaway with the Tenways Wayfarer?
From safety-first features like UL certification and IPX6 water resistance ratings to personalization with Class1, 2, 3 and Unlimited modes to ride how you want based on where you live.
Some won’t love the lack of color and sizing options and no bottle cage mounts seems like an easy missed opportunity for the brand, but, aside from those small gripes? The Tenways Wayfarer was pretty great getting to know.
To me, it’s a statement from Tenways that says you can get a comfort-focused workhorse of a daily ride that doesn’t skimp on features while still keeping costs in that $1 to $2k sweetspot.
Pros
- Comfort comes first with the air suspension fork, suspension seat post and wide 2.6” tires.
- A big 4.3” color display gives ride data in a bigger font than we typically see, great for those who get concerned about small display data.
- Lots of freebie accessories like the MIK Rear Rack system, front to back fenders and LED lighting and a waterproof pannier bag.
- Safety first approach with UL certification, IPX6 and Apple Find My Integration for better peace of mind.
- Customizable motor tuning with Class 1, 2, 3 and Unlimited mode for dialing-in a motor feel that gives each rider their own custom feel.
Cons
- Only two colors and one size leaves some folks out either by size or style.
- No mounting points for a water bottle cage seems like an easy miss.
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