With the new AGO Air , Tenways is launching a step-through model with a powerful mid-drive motor under its own name for the first time — and aims to combine riding fun, comfort and suitability for everyday use at a fair price. But how good is the new model really? We tested the AGO Air and show what it can do.
Design
At first glance, the design of the AGO Air is typical Tenways: clean, straightforward and modern. Despite the integrated battery, the down tube of the step-through frame remains pleasantly slim, giving the bike a sporty and elegant silhouette. And thanks to its compact dimensions, the new mid-drive motor also blends harmoniously into the overall picture. Nice details include the inconspicuously integrated bell and the rear light, which is elegantly concealed in the pannier rack.
The cleanly polished weld seams in the upper section of the frame have a high-quality appearance, while the lower section has been left raw. An additional frame brace runs parallel to the rear triangle and not only looks sporty and dynamic, but also provides stability and serves as a practical carrying aid or as a fastening option for a bike lock.
All add-on parts — from the mudguards to the suspension fork — are full black, which ensures a uniform and tidy overall appearance. The matt finish of the frame in the colour Midnight Black on the test bike looks classy, but is susceptible to fingerprints. If you prefer a more easy-care surface, you can opt for the glossy Velvet Red or Arctic Grey version.
Equipment
The AGO Air is the first bike from the brand to be equipped with Tenways’ own mid-drive motor. This delivers a powerful 80 Nm of torque, putting it in the top league of current mid-mounted motors, while remaining pleasantly compact in size. The electric drive is controlled via a compact button on the handlebars, supplemented by a high-quality colour display in the centre of the cockpit. A new screen design from Tenways is used there, which offers easy-to-read information and an easy-to-recognise display of the support modes in different colours. The system is completed by the removable battery in the down tube, which offers a decent capacity of 560 Wh.
The 9-speed derailleur comes from Shimano’s current CUES series and relies on Linkglide technology, which is designed to offer durability and reliable gear changes even under heavy loads. Comfort is ensured by 50 mm wide tyres, a suspension fork with adjustable preload and lockout and a comfortable Selle Royal saddle. Particularly pleasant: the height-adjustable stem allows a customised riding position — sporty or more upright, depending on your preference and height. This is a good thing, because the bike is only available in one frame size, which should suit riders between 165 cm and 195 cm. In the photos, the bike is set for 185 cm, where it fits very well, as expected.
The everyday equipment also includes sturdy metal mudguards, StVZO-compliant lighting with a compact front light under the handlebars, which, however, only offers a mediocre light output. At the rear, the aforementioned rear light is integrated into the pannier rack, which is equipped with a practical click mechanism for bags and baskets thanks to the MIK system. The AGO Air also offers connectivity to the Tenways app, which can be used to call up ride data and plan navigation routes.
Operation
The electric drive is operated via a 3-button controller on the handlebars and is largely self-explanatory: the mode change is simply done via the plus and minus buttons, with a long press on these you can activate the lighting or the pushing aid. There are separate buttons for changing the screen on the display.
As is usual with Tenways, the motor can also be secured using a software code — a four-digit number combination must then be entered to activate the drive. The Tenways app can also be used to activate an automatic unlocking function as soon as the bike is connected to the smartphone. Just as practical: navigation can be started via the app, but the smartphone can then remain in your pocket — the display with direction arrows is transferred directly to the bike’s display.
Compared to other Tenways models, removing the battery is slightly more complicated, as the battery compartment cover on the AGO Air has to be removed first. The battery itself can then be removed, which clicks back into place precisely. The really small charging plug requires a little more attention: when connecting the charging cable, you have to pay close attention to the correct orientation. However, once you have done this a few times, the whole thing works without any problems.
Finally, the side stand on the rear triangle is also worth a positive mention. When it is in use, it does not get in the way of the crank arm when manoeuvring — an advantage over many stands that are mounted centrally on the bike’s bottom bracket..
Riding impressions
Perhaps the most exciting point: How does the AGO Air ride with the new Tenways motor? The answer is clear: really good. The power delivery is smooth and controlled in all five modes — noticeable when starting off, but never jerky. At the same time, the motor offers enough power to master even demanding climbs with confidence. The quiet basic noise of the drive also leaves a good impression. The motor only gets a little louder when more power is applied, but even then it is not annoying. One small point of criticism is the slightly long overrun of the motor in rare situations — the tuning could be slightly improved here. Otherwise, however, the driving characteristics are very balanced and pleasant.
The motor and gears also harmonise perfectly with each other: the combination of the powerful mid-drive motor and the precise 9-speed derailleur ensures that the AGO Air is pleasantly sporty to ride — both on flat roads and uphill terrain. Shifting is direct and reliable even under load, even if it is sometimes quite loud. And although we weighed the test bike at exactly 27 kg, it is much lighter and more agile to ride than a glance at the numbers would suggest — this is also thanks to the good interaction between the motor and gears.
The riding position is a balanced mix of upright comfort and a slightly sporty stretch, to which the rather straight handlebars also contribute. Thanks to the wide tyres and the suspension fork, the ride is comfortable, which means that even tours on gravel or forest roads are no problem for the bike. Although the fork could react a little more sensitively to fine bumps, it is perfectly fine for this price range. Incidentally, nothing on the bike wobbles or rattles on such bumpy trails, which also speaks in favour of the bike’s good build quality.
Conclusion
With the AGO Air, Tenways delivers a convincing e-bike with a powerful drive system, a well-chosen 9-speed gearset and a set of equipment that is perfect for everyday use. All in all, it is a thoroughly practical all-rounder that also scores points with an attractive design and good quality — and at 2,199 euros is also a compelling offer in terms of price.
The model is also a great addition to the Tenways line-up: sportier than the AGO T (reviewed here) and more powerful than the lightweight CGO models. Anyone looking for a versatile e-bike for everyday use and leisure will find what they are looking for here — and can order the AGO Air directly on the Tenways website.
