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We added two new brands in 2022, with Denago being one of them.
Why Denago? Seemingly overnight, there are hundreds of new E-bike brands in the world, and many of them build bikes but do not actually set up warranty and service operations to support the bikes. Denago has definitely hired some great staff with a lot of experience in the industry. They've got first rate support and get back to us quickly on questions and issues.
When we write actual reviews (not just a first look), we need to have actually ridden the bikes a few hundred miles, and gotten a lot of input from customers, before we post the review. We purchased the bikes from Denago, to use as Demo bikes for customers to ride and us to try. We've taken these bikes on a lot of rides for nearly 5 months now, plenty of time to evaluate the bikes.
We've already sold a few dozen of this model.
THE BIKE
So with that, let's look at this bike. When we wrote this review, we'd only ridden the City Model 1, though the City Model 2 had just come out the same week. We'll include some information about it as well, as it's the same bike with a few changes. We're not going to list every spec here - you can read all the specs when you look at the bike on our website.
The City Model is a Class 3 (pedal assist up to 28 MPH) and with a throttle up to 20 MPH. It's made for paved trail use. The 2.3" to 2.6" wide tires will allow you to ride on some gravel too, but that's not really the prime use. The weight is around 53 lbs, plus or minus a little depending on the size.
Overall, we'd say this bike is built as a good quality, affordable paved trail/commuter bike. They didn't add bells and whistles like fenders, racks, lights, etc, to keep it affordable. Coming in at $1,299 for the Model 1 and $1,399 for the Model 2, both Class 3 Bikes, is definitely the best price we've seen for a good quality bike like this. There are other bikes on the market with inferior components at a higher price.
KEY FEATURES
Sizing
City Model 1 - Comes in both a Step Through and Step Over Design. Both bikes are One Size Fits Most, with the Step Through indicating a height range of 5'2" to 5'11" and the Step Over 5'3" - 5'10". They do have an adjustable stem to accommodate riders of different heights. Anyone at the ends of these ranges, we'd definitely recommend going for the Model 2, for a better fit.
City Model 2 - Also comes in both a Step Through and Step Over Design. 2 Sizes per model, to fit a wider range of riders. Step Through design fits riders 4'11" to 6'5". Step Over 5'0" to 6'4".
Key Components / Features
- All have an adjustable stem, 2.3" wide tires on the City Model 1 and 2.6" wide tires on the City Model 2, for more comfort, comfortable seat with handle on the back for easier transport.
- Pedal Assist Adjustments. This is a cool feature many E-bikes don't have - At Pedal Assist 1, the max speed is 15 MPH and goes progressively up to 28 MPH on Pedal Assist 5. Many pedal assist settings on bikes don't restrict the speed. Also, on each setting, you can adjust how much power it gives you, which really gives a lot more than 5 settings. This is a really cool feature as say on Pedal Assist 1, you can have it where the bike really takes off, or is very tame. Or anywhere between.
- All have a 48V, 500W Motor and Batteries built with LG cells. Many E-bikes in this class have generic batteries.
- Both a Speed and a Cadence (how fast the pedals are spinning) on these. There are a lot of more expensive bikes on the market with only one sensor.
- The bike comes in around 53 lbs, plus or minus a little based on the size.
Differences / Upgrades on City Model 2
WARRANTY
All Denago's have a lifetime warranty on the frame and 1 year on all the mechanical and electronic components.
PRO'S AND CON'S
We've been getting 40 - 45 miles per charge out of the bikes, which is the same as Denago rates them. The bikes ride great. We love the adjustable setting on the pedal assist. All of us ride bikes quite a bit and we definitely prefer the bike when we've powered down the pedal assist. The higher settings really cause it to take off a bit faster than we'd prefer. In the higher settings it also takes some time for it to quit giving you assist even after you quit pedaling, so this customization setting really helps. The two sensors give the bikes a realistic feel, and the ability to really customize how the pedal assist works really sets this bike apart from higher priced competitors. Don't discount that handle on the back of the seat - that makes it much easier to lift off and on your bike rack.
One drawback is the lack of water bottle attachments on the frames, though there's a reason thy didn't do it. With a step through model, if you put a water bottle there, In some cases, the battery doesn't allow it. So far, we've been adding water bottle holders to the handlebars. Still on the Top Tube models, we'd prefer they'd have added water bottle mounts.
If you're needing a bike to get you more than 40 - 45 miles down the road, we've got others. However, the bike is light enough that you can ride with the pedal assist off. Many riders do this with their Electric Bikes - riding them on the level ground with the pedal assist completely off and using it only on the hills. This way you can double (or more) the miles you'll get per charge.
Overall, for someone looking for a great quality bike, with name brand components at an affordable price, this is our #1 choice in this category!
CITY MODEL 1 STEP OVER
CITY MODEL 2 STEP OVER
FREE LIFETIME TUNE-UPS: As with all Lewis & Clark bikes, these models come with professional assembly and our Free Lifetime Tune-Up plan. Any time your bike isn’t shifting gears or stopping like it should, just bring it in, and we’ll take care of it. This includes our Standard Tune-up and adjustments. If you bring an E-bike for us to build that came from elsewhere, we charge $150. So the difference between buying a direct to consumer bike and one from us, is about $150 cost to build, then another $100 to $150 you’ll save in tune ups each year.
30 DAY TEST RIDE: It’s hard to know which bike you like until you’ve ridden it. Lewis & Clark has a 30-day test ride program with every bike you purchase. That means you have 30 days to see if it’s the right bike for you. If not, you can bring it back to trade for any other bike we have. Plus, if you’re a rebate member, you’ll get 5% back on E-bikes in store credit (10% on everything else).
Get 0% interest for 24 months when you sign up with our partner, Unify Federal Credit Union, or get 0% Interest for up to 12 months through Synchrony Financial.
