Denago Commute Model 1 E-Bike Review 2024

In our range test the Denago Commute Model 1 performed well at max power, but came up a little bit short in our lower PAS test. Now as you saw from the circuit results there isn’t much constant assistance in PAS 1 or 2 which is why we performed the low PAS test in PAS 3. The motor wouldn’t do much for you on flats in PAS 1 or 2 as the bike rolls well on its own so the lower levels really only kick on from dead stops and on hills. That will be ideal for some folks who want the exercise of pedaling but want to take out the sting of climbing hills.

But for the sake of our testing purposes we look to see what the battery distance is like with a constant feel of the motor engaged. With a total distance of 37.6 mi. on PAS 3, that’s shy of Denago’s projected 45 mi. range, but not a bad result within the context of our test.

Despite coming up a little short in the , any e-bike with a range of at least 35 mi. will provide most riders with days of commuting before needing another charge.

In PAS 5, we were far more impressed with the Denago Commute Model 1. It covered 26.9 mi. Normally, we see a much greater loss in range, especially with a Class 3 e-bike where the motor draws serious power to achieve higher speeds. Riders would need an exceptionally long commute to have trouble making the round trip in PAS 5.

The Denago Commute 1 is equipped with a 500W brushless, geared Shengyi hub motor that produces a very capable 50Nm of torque. In our experience 500W hub motors run the gamut from disappointingly weak to so powerful we double-check to make sure it’s really a 500W motor. Very often, the detail that determines just how well a motor performs is how much torque it produces.

In our test up Hell Hole, a ⅓ mi., 12 percent grade, the The Denago Commute 1 performed at the upper end of what we see for 500W hub motors. In PAS 5, it climbed the hill in 1:09 for an average speed of 15.7 mph.

We see a great many bikes that make it to the top of Hell Hole in PAS 5, but they can’t make the full trip on throttle alone, and there again, the Denago Commute 1 impressed. On throttle only, it climbed Hell Hole in 1:37, for an average mph of 11.2.

The charts above speak volumes. Compared to it’s peers with similar motors and bike styling, the Commute Model 1 is a hill climbing champion. If assistance with hills is a driving factor for your next e-bike then put the Commute Model 1 on your short list.

The Denago Commute Model 1 is equipped with Zoom hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors. It’s a solid setup and on par with most of the e-bikes we see in this price range.

In our three-pass brake test, the Denago Commute Model 1 performed reasonably well, with an average stopping distance of 24 ft. This is a bit of a so-so performance, but it’s a distance that sits firmly in what we consider to be acceptable. It’s not often that a rider will need to go from 20 mph down to dead stop post-haste.

Much of what we look for is enough power to control speed for ordinary riding conditions. We don’t want so much power that a hard pull on the brakes will result in locking up the rear wheel. We also appreciated that the brake levers included a motor cutoff switch, so should someone continue pedaling even as they brake, they won’t be fighting the motor to stop.

It’s also nice that these are hydraulics and not mechanical. Not much force is required when pulling on the levers to stop, and they just provide more confidence than mechanical brakes.

The three easiest ways to ensure a rider’s comfort on an e-bike are to spec: 1) tires at least 2-in. wide, the wider the better; 2) a suspension fork and 3) a suspension seatpost. Denago employed all three of these tactics when they designed the Commute Model 1. The 27.5 x 2.6-in. tires aren’t the widest we see on e-bikes, but they are wide enough to be plenty comfortable so long as they aren’t pumped up too hard.

The suspension fork does a nice job of making any road feel smoother and can be adjusted depending on the rider. A good suspension fork will make even rough roads easy to ride and will make the bike easier to handle.

The suspension seatpost takes the sting out of bumps without seeming like a pogo stick, bouncing the rider. It compresses a small amount upon hitting a bump, but doesn’t spring back noticeably.

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.