In the ultra-competitive cargo bike sector, we'll now have to reckon with a new player. Known for its connected bikes with excellent value for money, Tenways is launching a longtail model capable of carrying up to two children. Its special feature? A bargain price of €3,490, which places it among the direct competitors of Decathlon's R500. But for €500 more, the Tenways boasts much more comprehensive equipment, including, among other things, a telescopic seatpost, a suspension fork, a storage bag, and a luggage rack. With such a range and a Bafang mid-drive motor, the Tenways Longtail Duo has what it takes to make Decathlon tremble, at least on paper. And in reality? Here is our opinion after a complete test.
A design more like a city bike than a cargo bike
This is the first good point of this Tenways cargo bike. Its design is very pleasant and distances it from the traditional, somewhat clumsy family bike. Yet, the Dutch brand's recipe couldn't be simpler: take a Tenways AGO T, lengthen it, and add something to carry two children, and... voila, you have the first longtail from Tenways. We're exaggerating a bit, of course. Adding these elements also required a lot of work on the frame structure so that it could withstand higher stresses and weight, but in spirit, the Longtail Duo is above all an urban bike, at least in appearance.
The Dutch brand takes this choice to heart with a particularly long cargo bike. 2.05 m, or 20 cm more than the Moustache Lundi 20, our reference longtail. The advantage of such a decision is obvious: a substantial amount of space on board, especially for passengers in the rear. On the other hand, this option is not without consequences on the weight and handling of the Duo, as we will see later.
Build quality and equipment: simply astonishing
As for the manufacturing, it is simply impeccable. Beautiful welds, well-integrated cables and above all a little bonus that we don't usually find on most cargo bikes: a storage space! Indeed, Tenways had the very good idea of inserting a very practical pocket into the gap left by the frame that allows you to store a few things, or even the e-bike charger or a large lock. It's a great find and an idea that other e-bike manufacturers would be wrong not to imitate. The battery itself is housed in the large down tube, but accessing it from below is not the most practical, especially since with a capacity of 720 Wh it is relatively heavy and bulky.
In terms of equipment, the Tenways longtail Duo surprises again with quality accessories and a very complete "basic package" considering its price. Indeed, while many of its competitors take advantage of this to inflate the prices of accessories that are nevertheless essential to cargo life, Tenways displays a very serious level of equipment from the entry ticket. For 3499 euros, the new owner of the Duo is entitled to a very complete bike with the child protection barrier, the front luggage rack, two cushions at the rear and even the famous EVA bag which is included.
As for the standard equipment, it is also top-notch when compared to the competition at this price level. Telescopic seatpost, handlebars adjustable in height and reach, Gates belt and even an automatic transmission signed Enviolo for a simple gear change as a flick of the wrist.
It's simple, the equipment and the level of finishes of the Tenways Longtail Duo are not those of an entry-level cargo bike, they tend more towards the side of premium and are generally found on e-bikes 1000 or 2000 euros more expensive.
Among the slight disappointments, we would still include the front light, whose integration under the luggage rack is relatively lacking. Of course, a minimally resourceful user will be happy to find a better location for it, but it is still regrettable that Tenways was not more ambitious on this point. The same goes for the kickstand, which is barely passable and struggles to contain the rather significant weight of the longtail (more than 40 kg with its accessories). There are models of stands on the market that are more solid, but above all, easier to handle.
Simple to use, easy to master
The first of its qualities is obvious: a very low step-through that allows each user to straddle it easily. From then on, all that's left to do is find the right setting for the dropper post and you're done. Still with comfort and ease of use in mind, Tenways has opted for an automatic transmission from Enviolo. No need to worry about shifting gears; a simple flick of the wrist allows you to adjust the ratio to match the difficulty encountered or your target cadence. This choice of equipment is quite surprising for a cargo bike at this price point, 3500 euros, it must be remembered.
Moreover, generally speaking, the Longtail Duo doesn't skimp on equipment. Everything is there, or almost everything, as standard, please. Quality optics, an Abus frame lock, ideal for quick stops, a front suspension fork, the front luggage rack, the adjustable stem, the RoyalGel saddle and of course the rear part with the protection bar and the two cushions. These have also aroused the approval of our two young passengers (10 and 4 years old), but also envy... In fact, we had the unpleasant surprise of no longer finding the cushions when returning from a ride. In this respect, the MIK HD system is undoubtedly very practical for the integration of numerous devices, but it leaves the owner with the worry of having to protect them.
Finally, we cannot talk about the Longtail Duo without mentioning its screen, a simple LCD display (TFT), but in color please and particularly large and readable. Above all, used in conjunction with the application, it can serve as a GPS, indicating the correct route to take, in addition to the basic functions offered by this type of accessory (speed, assistance level, remaining autonomy, etc.)
Our only quibble with the equipment concerns the kickstand. It's not just too basic compared to the rest of the accessories, it also seems downright undersized for the Duo's substantial size. Even when parked, the bike lacks some lateral support. This is all the more unfortunate since there are other models of kickstand on the market that are much more effective.
How does the Tenways Longtail Duo perform on the road?
While the Tenways Longtail Duo is a success in terms of design and equipment, what about its handling on the road? Of its purely dynamic qualities and the sensations it provides, whether you're a rider or a passenger?
So much equipment and such a size to accommodate it don't come without a significant weight. In fact, as successful as it is, the Longtail Duo is a heavy bike, between 32 kg empty and more than 40 kg once equipped with all its accessories (to which, of course, it is possible to add others by going through the brand's online store). Quite logically, this weighs when it comes to evaluating its performance. The Tenways cargo suffers somewhat in this aspect and seems to constantly carry its weight. Certainly, its design brings it as close as possible to a classic city bike, but the sensations are not lacking. Be careful, this does not mean that it is difficult to ride, it is quite the opposite, but where other cargo bikes, often more expensive, such as the Lundi de Moustache manage to create an illusion with appreciable dynamism, the behavior of the Duo is that of a somewhat clumsy cargo bike. Of course, this is anything but prohibitive, especially if its use is limited to short urban journeys on which performance as such is secondary.
In terms of braking, the Tektro Auriga seem a little weak given the size of the bike. These four-piston hydraulic disc brakes don't necessarily lack bite, but it's more the precision and progressiveness of braking that they lack. In practice, it takes a little time to get the measure of it and avoid braking that elicits comments from small passengers in the back.
A powerful motor limited by the weight of the cargo bike
The central motor, a Bafang M410, is not what you might call a "new kid" in the field. On the contrary, it already has a solid reputation and occupies a few other models, mainly urban, from Tenways and elsewhere. The latter develops 80 Nm of torque, which ranks it among the most powerful on the market. A propulsion capacity is ideal in the start phases, or at the beginning of the climbs on which the Longtail Duo is comfortable. It remains just as easy on flat surfaces up to 25 km/h of assistance, which it reaches without forcing. On the other hand, it is on long false flats or when the slope gets steeper that the Tenways cargo bike struggles the most. On this point, you have to know how to rely on your legs, the engine taking the brunt of the bike's 41 kg (without passengers).
With the exception of these specific cases (we wouldn't recommend it if you live in the mountains), the Tenways' Bafang M410 allows it to go almost anywhere. On the other hand, at this price point, you shouldn't expect a quiet engine or particularly natural assistance. A simple press of the pedal and the engine revs up. Not enough to change the opinion expressed during this test.
The Longtail Duo seen from the rear seats
It's not just the rider's opinion that counts for a cargo bike, there's also that of his passengers. To test ours, we gave the floor to two favorite testers, 3 (almost 4) and 9 years old. They are used to longtail rides, mainly aboard a first-generation Moustache Lundi 20, but also to regularly changing cargo bikes, according to their tester father's tests.
In the joint opinion of our two users, it was the substantial space at the rear that was most appreciated, with the possibility of storing a few trinkets in the bag integrated into the frame. Our testers also approved Tenways' choice to cover the metal protection bar with a little foam for a more pleasant feel. On the other hand, the absence of a double protection bar to protect little hands from certain frictions is regrettable.
Finally, the height-adjustable and retractable footrest was appreciated, but its length seems too short when two passengers are on board. However, the ability to adjust its height and length is a great idea.
The very positive review of the rear seats, however, cannot hide what is undoubtedly the Longtail Duo's biggest flaw: its load capacity. Indeed, the rear tray can only support 50 kg, one of the lowest values on the market, the average being between 60 and 70 kg. This is a notable weakness that unfortunately limits the use of the Tenways cargo bike to either a single passenger or two young children.
Autonomy: a large battery to see what's coming
While it is difficult to announce a range value for an electric bike, the exercise is even more delicate for a cargo bike. Indeed, even more than with urban e-bikes, the conditions of use vary depending on whether you are loaded or not. However, with an extra 50 kg on the scale, performance decreases considerably. Also, the data we collected has no scientific value and could be different with another user and a different way of riding.
Nevertheless, Tenways has ensured with a 720 Wh battery a capacity of a significant radiation, approximately 60 km in our test which consisted to ride mainly loaded, oscillating between assistance levels 2 and 3. This is more than sufficient for the majority of uses and above average.
As for charging, it is made easier by the removable battery, although it should be noted that the process of removing it (from under the down tube) can be a pain.
0 Comments