Denago despatched us a overview copy of the step-through mannequin of its $1,799 Commute bike, and we’ll take you thru what we considered this massive, well-equipped, and comfort-focused bike.

The Denago Commute is a motorbike that places a premium on rider consolation and has fairly a couple of built-in options that received’t go away you wanting for a lot. At $1,799, it’s not fairly a finances bike, but it surely’s nonetheless moderately priced in comparison with the sector given all of its extras, although there are nonetheless a couple of totally different choices we want they might have made.

Denago Commute Step-Through tech specs

• Motor: 500 W rear geared hub motor with 50 Nm torque
• Prime velocity: 20 mph (32 km/h) throttle, 28 mph (45 km/h) pedal help (Class III)
• Vary: 45 mi (72 km) est.
• Battery: 48V/13.6Ah (652.8 Wh), frame-integrated, detachable, included 3 amp charger
• Drivetrain: Microshift 8-speed, chain
• Max load: 280 lb. (127 kg) max rider weight, 55 lb. (25 kg) load restrict on rear rack.
• Body & Fork: 6061 aluminum
• Weight: 66 lb. (30 kg)
• Suspension: Fork & seatpost suspension
• Brakes: Zoom Hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm rotors
• Extras: Monochrome LCD show with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS stage indicator, odometer/tripmeter and PIN code lock; left-side thumb throttle; cadence sensor; metallic entrance and rear fenders; rear rack; kickstand; built-in headlight; rear reflector with battery operated tail mild (2x AAA)

I discussed above that the bike is massive, and I don’t say that evenly. Denago’s measurement chart suggests S/M measurement for riders 5’0″-5’9″ and L/XL for five’9″-6’4″. However I’m 6′ and nonetheless wished the saddle may go decrease than its lowest place (38″ from the bottom) on the L/XL bike. I wasn’t in a position to take a look at whether or not the S/M measurement would really feel higher for me on the entire, however undoubtedly think about test-riding in the event you’re on the borderline of Denago’s sizing chart. And in the event you’re too massive for many bikes, this could be simply what you’re on the lookout for.

This measurement does make for a clean and cozy journey, together with the bike’s massive 27″ x 2.6″ tires, suspension in each the seatpost and fork and its large padded saddle. The bike does have a “strolling mode” activated by holding a handlebar button, which helps if attempting to push the massive bike up an incline, and many others.

Denago says that regardless of the bike’s identify and goal market (commuters), it has truly been surprisingly well-liked amongst older prospects resulting from its consolation, massive measurement, and upright seating place from the swept-back handlebar and adjustable stem. I can definitely see how this could possibly be the case. It’s fairly a comfortable journey. And the step-through design makes the bike simpler to mount, even whether it is fairly massive.

The bike comes well-equipped with numerous good options, like metallic entrance and rear fenders, monochrome digital show, adjustable stem, hydraulic disc brakes, rear rack, headlight, and a sturdy kickstand (rear-mounted, so don’t neglect to kick it up like I at all times do).

Two extras we’d prefer to see are some form of water bottle/drink holder (you’ll have to seek out your individual manner round this, there aren’t any built-in mounts on the body) and a taillight built-in into the bike’s battery. It does include a taillight, but it surely requires 2x AAA batteries to function, and must be turned on manually separate from the bike/headlight.

The bike’s cadence sensor and pedal help can result in some quirky motion. Neither throttle nor pedal help can be utilized from a whole lifeless cease, each require you to get transferring first. So in the event you occur to be on a hill or any form of unusual terrain, it takes effort to get this massive 66 lb. bike transferring earlier than the electro-motion kicks in (although the aforementioned “strolling mode” can be utilized in these circumstances).

And cadence sensors are powerful for group rides too, as a result of it’s arduous to precisely tempo whoever you’re using with (except everyone seems to be on the identical bike mannequin). Throttle could possibly be utilized in these circumstances, however the thumb throttle doesn’t actually enable for exact velocity management both.

However then, it is a matter of style. Some want cadence sensors as a result of they’ll “ghost pedal,” with out having to place even a small quantity of drive into pedaling, which will help for these with accidents or unhealthy joints (see: the aforementioned aged). However the throttle already permits for that, so I discover cadence sensors considerably redundant. I’d want throttle for no pedaling, torque sensor for pedaling, and totally different pedal-assist ranges for various speeds.

If I’m already spending $1,799 on a motorbike, I really feel like I’d slightly have a torque sensor for ~$100 extra, since in my view a torque sensor simply provides a significantly better expertise. Denago’s fats tire bike has a torque sensor on a $1,799 bike (with larger battery, motor and tires, however not as many extras), so it might definitely be achieved.

The identical goes for a belt drive, which might price extra so as to add than a torque sensor, however which I additionally want. Particularly for a commuting bike, the place commuters may put further emphasis towards avoiding the danger of chain grease on their enterprise garments.

A part of it’s because I notably disliked the MicroShift 8-speed shifter. It felt like I may by no means get into and keep within the gear I needed to be in, and the configuration of the shift levers is solely not intuitive. Maybe I’ve simply been spoiled by belt drives.

For a motorbike that’s in any other case so nicely outfitted, these are two fairly massive headline options that I believe can be good to have. $1,799 isn’t within the “costly bikes” class but, but it surely’s undoubtedly not the least expensive bike on the market, so so long as I’m spending a bit extra on a motorbike with numerous extras, I’d like these to be a few these extras, even when it knocked the worth up one other couple hundred {dollars}.

To regulate issues, the bike has a considerably plain monochrome show with all the essential data you’d count on – velocity, battery, odometer, and so forth – and in addition features a PIN code lock. The show is serviceable, however in the event you put on polarized sun shades like I do, it turns into a lot much less readable:

You may’t activate the display whereas the bike is plugged in, so if you wish to test charging mid-charge, you’ll should depend on the purple/inexperienced/blue LEDs on the battery itself, or LEDs on the slightly massive exterior 3 amp cost brick (which will get you a full cost in ~4.5 hours).

The battery on the Denago Commute impressed me with its vary and sturdiness. Whereas e-bike vary is a troublesome subject as a result of using conditions fluctuate so extensively – terrain, velocity, rider weight, and the way a lot pedaling they love to do (I’m a 155 lb. light-weight and a compulsive pedaler, which each lengthen my vary) – it felt like this bike has greater than sufficient vary for its commuting viewers. Denago says this bike has 45+ miles of vary, although with my common using patterns I’d get round 60. However once more, I can’t cease myself from pedaling, so in the event you identical to to sit down again and use the throttle, you’re going to get loads much less distance than me.

The battery is detachable, so may be charged at house or whereas hooked up to the bike. The battery weighs just below 8 lb. (3.6kg) and is fairly simple to hold in a single hand.

However I discussed sturdiness – proper after I bought this overview bike, I sustained an damage that made me unable to journey for a number of months. So I additionally occur to know that this bike will keep a cost for a number of months with little to no vampire drain. Not unhealthy! Not a typical level that we get to overview, however right here we’re.

At $1,799, the Denago Commute is a fairly well-priced bike in comparison with the competitors. There are a couple of different options we’d prefer to see on it, however these would add to the worth and maybe take it out of the sub-$2,000 tier, or must exchange a number of the different lengthy record of options already included on the bike. As is, the bike does embody a laundry record of a lot of the options you’d need on a motorbike this worth, which makes it a great purchase for somebody on the lookout for a giant, exceptionally comfy bike with a giant battery.