Tenways Wayfarer Review | The Fairest Cruiser of Them All?

The Wayfarer carries a respectably-sized 48V, 720 Wh battery; Tenways advertises that this pack can power the bike for up to 85 miles of maximum range. Using the method explained above, we determined its real-world minimum and maximum range to be 34.1 and 71.5 miles—though your results will vary depending on riding style and conditions.

We test all e-bikes using the same approach, which allows us to compare results among similar models. A group of other popular cruiser and commuter-style e-bikes averaged 33.3 and 64.3 miles in their testing, placing the Wayfarer ahead of the pack by a small margin in both tests.

The reason for the Wayfarer’s success seems to be its larger-than-average battery. While the comparison group had power packs averaging 656 Wh in capacity, the Wayfarer had the advantage of an additional 64 Wh.

Diving deeper, we can divide each bike’s battery capacity by its mileage in both tests to find the amount of energy it used per mile. The Wayfarer used 10.1 and 21.1 watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi) in its low- and high-power tests, respectively, while its competitors averaged 10.5 and 20.2 Wh/mi.

These results line up well with the Wayfarer’s results; its more efficient power usage in its Eco mode test reflects the larger gap in the min-assist mileage. While it used more energy in its Boost test than its competitors, its large battery was able to offset that.

With range test scores so close to the category averages, our results show that the bike is appropriately specced and able to match the performance of its peers. Even when riding using maximum power output, riders should be able to cover at least a single round trip commute or a handful of shorter leisure rides, while those using low power levels should expect multiple trips from a charge.

While recharging your bike’s battery regularly even after only partial depletion is a great way to extend its lifespan, those who recharge it from empty should expect a recharge time of roughly five hours with the included 3A charger.

The Wayfarer’s climbing ability proved to be relatively average for its style when we tested it using the method explained in the graphic above. Our test rider, Justin, completed the Hill Test on throttle in 2:09 at an average of 14.3 mph. He finished his second run, using Boost, in 1:55 at a faster average of 15.8 mph.

These results straddle the average among similar cruiser and commuter-style e-bikes, which sits at 2:06 for both the throttle and max-pedal-assist portions of the test. These results are interesting—particularly because the Wayfarer’s on-paper specs make it appear less capable than its peers, at least in theory.

Case in point: it is both heavier and less powerful than average when compared to its peers. While our comparison group averaged 63 pounds with motors that produced 78 Nm of torque and up to 1010W of peak power, the Wayfarer weighed 67 lbs, kicked out 65 Nm of torque, and topped off at just 750W peak.

In practice, we would expect these factors to make the Wayfarer more difficult than average to move uphill. Considering the small difference in throttle results, which falls well within our margin of error, its capabilities are impressive. Surprisingly, it proved even more able with its highest level of pedal assist, exceeding the average by over 10 seconds.

The reason for this difference is not apparent when looking at the main factors that influence this test, but it may be due to custom motor tuning done in partnership with Bafang. To be clear, this is just speculation.

In either case, the bike’s test score matched well with its feel and performance at our secondary test location, Pilot Hill. There, I tested the bike in the same fashion as Justin. On throttle power alone, the bike felt relatively slow, but steady. Pedaling in Boost felt livelier and significantly faster, making for an active but enjoyable climbing experience.

The bottom line is that the Tenways Wayfarer has the power to help riders summit steep and intimidating hills. Many riders will be able to rely solely on the throttle, though those wanting the fastest uphill travel should expect to add some light-to-moderate pedaling.

I can comfortably start this section by stating that the Tenways Wayfarer’s brakes are excellent, but let’s dig into the details to find out why. Using the method above, we determined its average stopping distance to be just 19’3”, while similar commuter and cruiser-style e-bikes averaged 22’5” in their testing.

There are a few factors to consider when comparing these scores, including the bikes’ weight, tires, and brake specifications.

Working backwards, the Tenways Wayfarer uses a 2-piston Star Union hydraulic brake system paired with 203mm rotors. Similar models typically use 2-piston hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors. The Wayfarer’s larger rotors are better able to dissipate heat when braking, and is the most obvious contributing factor to its success.

Additionally, the bike uses 27.5×2.6” tires, which are on the wider side when comparing similar e-bikes that often run 2” to 2.4” tires. While the Wayfarer’s tires have knobby tread that is not likely to be as grippy on pavement as smoother street tires (we perform this test in a parking lot), their additional width may help to counteract that.

Finally, at roughly 67 lbs, including its battery, the Wayfarer is a few pounds heavier than its competition—similar models were roughly 63 lbs on average. Despite being slightly more difficult to slow down for this reason, the factors above seemed to be more than capable of counteracting the additional weight.

In my experience, braking felt strong and relatively aggressive, though this made it confidence-inspiring instead of scary. Tenways clearly chose an appropriate system for the Wayfarer’s size, weight, and speed capabilities, giving it a safe, trustworthy feel.

Ride quality is another area where the Wayfarer generally excelled, though it also showed a few relatively minor areas with room for improvement. This section involves an analysis of many factors that affect how the bike feels to ride, including its sizing, comfort, handling, responsiveness, user interface, etc.

Tenways makes the Wayfarer in a single frame size advertised to fit riders from 5’4” to 6’3”. As a 5’11” rider, I found the bike comfortable, largely thanks to its wide range of adjustability. Its riding position is somewhat forward-leaning, feeling balanced between relaxed and sporty.

A suspension seatpost with 6” of saddle height and a stem with an adjustable 80-degree angle ensures that most riders should have comfortable leg extension and an appropriate handlebar height. Still, the bike excludes riders on the more extreme ends of the spectrum; we encourage Tenways to release at least one additional frame size to accommodate shorter and taller riders.

The Wayfarer is equipped with a wide and supportive cruiser-style saddle that complemented its feel and style well. It also has faux leather lock-on grips on its Dutch-style handlebars, which could be slippery when wearing gloves—I’d personally prefer ergonomic rubber grips for better support and confidence while steering, though the wide handlebars felt both comfortable and sturdy.

I found the bike’s overall ride to be extremely cushy and smooth, thanks to the 100mm suspension fork and suspension seatpost. I was also pleased to note that, instead of a coil suspension, Tenways equipped the wayfarer with an air fork—this allows riders to adjust the compression and rebound to suit their weight and comfort preferences.

In terms of handling, the Wayfarer felt great. It steered predictably and comfortably while feeling sturdy and planted. It’s not uncommon for e-bikes with step-thru frames to flex somewhat while cornering, but the Wayfarer was uncommonly more stiff and crisp.

Tenways advertises that the bike automatically switches between torque and cadence sensors while riding. I didn’t notice any obvious changes in the bike’s feel, which seemed extremely torque-based, during my testing, but it’s possible that the combination of sensors helps to keep the ride smooth instead of overly-responsive or jerky.

Overall, pedaling the Wayfarer was wonderful; the motor delivered power in response to my effort quickly and responsively. Based on my previous experiences reviewing Tenways’ e-bikes, I expected this to be the case, and I was not disappointed. The motor was also lively and helpful without feeling overpowered, so riding felt easy but also natural.

The Wayfarer’s user interface is another highlight. The 4.3” color display is uncommonly large and easy to read. The screen presents ride data intuitively using color-coded assist levels, a percentage-based charge readout, and a useful estimated range. Users can adjust the bike’s speeds and other settings through the display menu by holding the + and – buttons.

I think many riders will appreciate the turn-by-turn navigation feature in the Tenways app, but I ran into some troubles with it during my testing. Pairing our test bike with the app proved somewhat difficult, and once I successfully connected to it, I was unable to use the app’s ride tracking features. Pairing the included air tag to the Find My app on my iPhone was also unsuccessful, so I encourage the brand to smooth these hiccups in the future.

Otherwise, I found the Wayfarer generally well-specced and well equipped for daily use. I appreciated the included LED lights, turn signals, fenders, and MIK cargo rack. This last feature allows riders to add locking accessories for carrying cargo, making the bike suitable for errand-running and commuting.

In summary, the bike’s ride quality felt generally refined, and we hope that Tenways will address our few points of critique down the road.

As the first step in a new direction for Tenways, the Wayfarer commuter/cruiser hybrid successfully blends the brand’s consistent qualities. It features responsive pedal assist, an active but enjoyable experience, an extremely comfortable ride, and a clean, appealing design. It also offers the ease of a throttle and higher speeds for faster pedaling.

We were impressed with the bike’s overall feel and performance across our formal and informal testing; it meets the high bar set by other Tenways models and raises it in a few key areas.

The Wayfarer’s pedal assist system is intuitively programmed, while its range is impressive and practical. The bike’s power is controlled, yet meaningful for climbing, reducing strain, and traveling at high speeds. Its braking performance is also among the best we’ve seen for its category, making it well-rounded for a variety of purposes.

Based on our testing, we called out only a few areas with room for improvement, including the Wayfarer’s sizing, its ability to connect to the app and air tag, and the app’s ability to track ride data. However, the bike’s single frame size should work for most riders, and the bike functioned well as a standalone mobility device without its more techy features.

Those seeking comfort, responsiveness, and dependable functionality will likely appreciate what the Tenways Wayfarer has to offer. To those interested in its great design and enjoyable ride, we recommend the bike as an exercise and leisure bike, a light adventure bike, and/or a means of getting to work or school on the regular.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Tenways Wayfarer down in our comments section.