New companies enter the e-bike market like Netflix dropping a new series. It’s hard to keep up with all of them. And just like a TV series, some of these new brands are good, some are awful and some are surprisingly good. We put Denago in this last category. Despite their short track record as a brand, the company was launched by people who have real experience in the e-bike market, which is how they avoided some of the rookie mistakes we’ve seen some brands make.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this review, the $1500-$2000 price point is an especially competitive one in general and even more so when looking at commuter e-bikes. If we took all the best features we find on the various commuter e-bikes that retail for less than $2000, we would have a commuter with a 750W motor, a 650-750Wh battery, an 8-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, a suspension fork and seatpost, plus lights, fenders and a rear rack.
The Denago Commute Model 1 isn’t a perfect e-bike; at this price point none of them are. What Denago created is a bike that makes for a very intelligent buy. Yes, the brakes could be better and we think the display is rather antiquated, but again, at this price point, we can’t expect every single feature on this e-bike to be top of its class.
When we consider the features that people tell us matter most to them—speed, plenty of gears and power to get over hills, a rack, fenders and lights, the Denago Commute Model 1 hits those notes pitch-perfectly.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that Denago makes the Commute Model 1 in two different frame styles and two sizes each for the traditional frame and the step-thru frame. Considering they also include an adjustable stem—and let’s not forget the suspension fork and seatpost—and the Denago Commute Model 1 deserves some sort of award for making rider comfort such a high priority. Our tallest testers (myself included) were especially grateful that the large step-thru frame was as large as it is; we aren’t always all that comfortable on the one-size-fits-all bikes.
Considering that a commuter is generally purchased to be ridden on a daily basis, comfort doesn’t just matter on any one ride. An e-bike that is too big or too small may not be all that uncomfortable on one short ride, but a year’s-worth of riding on the wrong bike can ring up quite the tab with the chiropractor.
Denago has created an instant go-to for the commuter category. Perhaps the best thing we can say about the Denago Commute Model 1 is that it can make going to work more fun.
‘Happy Riding, make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Denago Commute 1.
