The Tezeus C8 is one of those e-bikes that hides several interesting, higher-end features/components behind an unassuming design, giving you more than you bargained for without attracting too much unwanted attention. And while it’s a pricier model than the usual budget suspects, the added features may be enough to warrant a deeper look.
Tezeus’ carbon bikes are popular in Europe, though are also available in the US (where they thankfully get a 20 mph speed limit instead of the more limiting 15 mph or 25 km/h Euro speed limit). I previously tested the Tezeus Swift, a smaller folding carbon fiber e-bike, but this time we’re looking at a larger model.
For the Tezeus C8, I enlisted the help of a trusted colleague in Europe who spent time testing the bike and sharing his detailed ride impressions. The result is a chance to take a closer look at a lightweight urban commuter that combines premium and lightweight Euro-styling with some clever technology, though not without a few compromises.
As a direct-to-consumer e-bike, the C8 arrives in a big bike box and you can either put it together yourself or pay a local bike shop to do it for you.
The assembly process is actually fairly easy, so if you’re reasonably handy with a 5mm Allen key, you’ll probably be fine. If you’re not confident though, you can either have a local shop do it or just pay them to inspect it after you’re done to make sure it’s correctly assembled.
The first thing that stands out about the Tezeus C8 is its appearance. The carbon fiber frame gives the bike a premium look, though it is finished in a subtle metallic charcoal and black color scheme that avoids drawing too much attention.
There’s also a white colorway, though you’ll have to be a bit more careful about regular cleaning if you ride often in the city and don’t want the dirt showing on the nice white paint.
The battery is integrated almost flush into the frame, while the controls are similarly understated. Even the power button blends in so well that it took a moment to find it!
At just 16.5 kg (36 lb), the C8 is also impressively lightweight. That low weight pays dividends in daily riding, making the bike easy to carry up stairs or maneuver through the city. It also means the motor doesn’t have to work particularly hard, resulting in even more range per charge. Even the lowest pedal assist setting provides enough help to flatten out moderate hills, and the bike handles gentle inclines with ease.
Steeper climbs are a different story. On very steep grades, the 250W mid-drive motor doesn’t quite have enough oomph and still requires a fair amount of rider effort. But that’s also not really what this bike is designed for, but it’s good to know if you live in an extremely hilly city. The C8 feels very much like a purpose-built urban commuter rather than a specifically hill-climbing powerhouse.
The lightweight frame and rigid construction create a ride that is firm but controlled. Without suspension, the bike communicates a lot of what is happening beneath the tires, though it remains comfortable on pavement and even light gravel.
One of the bike’s most attractive features is its Gates belt drive, widely considered the world leader in belt drives for bicycles (and plenty of other things). Belt drives are quieter and cleaner than traditional chains, and they eliminate much of the maintenance associated with lubricating and cleaning a drivetrain.
And while a belt drive means there’s no derailleur for shifting like with a chain, the use of an automatic 3-speed rear hub means the bike rides as simply as a single-speed, but with the benefit of three gear ratios for different speeds and inclines. That being said, you may want to adjust those shift points to dial them in more to your liking for smoother riding – more on that in a moment.
One other note: belt drives are great for commuters, and the Tezeus C8 also shows off its commuter chops with integrated LED lighting and slick-looking fenders, all included standard.
If it had a rear rack as standard, then that would have been the trifecta of LED lighting/water protection/cargo carrying gear that so many commuters need, but two out of three ain’t bad.
And of course, there are frame bosses to add a rack, if you’d like. Their own compatible rear rack is a bit pricy at US $99, and it might be a near necessity to buy from Tezeus due to the upper portion mounting at the center of the frame’s seat stay connection instead of either side like is more standard, but the important part is that the bike comes with the mounts built in, so you have the option of adding a rack later.
And at least including fenders and built-in lighting is already great to see.
The Tezeus C8 is also packed with technology. The onboard display is intuitive and easy to navigate, offering features such as radar safety functions, anti-theft tools, and a Smart Climb Assist mode.
The bike can connect to an app, though thankfully, it doesn’t require one to operate. In an era where some manufacturers seem determined to force every rider into a smartphone ecosystem, that flexibility is refreshing.
Having an app for extra features and monitoring is nice, but requiring an app or user signup is not. So bravo to Tezeus for giving us the option.
If you do choose to use the app, you’ll have access to even more technology, such as setting up the fingerprint scanner (which doubles as the on button) to lock your e-bike to your own biometrics.
The ability to customize how powerful each pedal assist level is also nice, since many e-bikes can feel either overly powerful or too muted, depending on how they set up the default assist. For me, I often like to dial the power down even further in Level 1 on my e-bikes, making it a true minimal assist mode for getting more exercise. Then, if I’m feeling a bit tired, I can use the higher pedal assist levels to really give me some more boost and share the load with my legs.
There’s also a neat navigation solution that can send turn-by-turn directions to the bike’s color display instead of needing your phone mounted on the bars, and you can get anti-theft notifications on your phone letting you know the bike has been moved, etc. The app lets you keep tabs on its location if it does manage to get away from you, helping you have a better chance of getting it back.
Charging is also another convenience.
The removable battery can be charged either while installed in the bike or separately, and a full charge took just over 2.5 hours during testing.
Real-world efficiency appeared respectable, with an estimated range of around 86 km (53 miles) compared to the manufacturer’s 100 km claim.
Without a throttle, this Euro-legal electric bicycle definitely gets more range for the same modest 360 Wh battery as compared to North American e-bikes that drain the battery much faster.
Unfortunately, one aspect of the riding experience keeps the Tezeus C8 from reaching its full potential.
The automatic shifting can sometimes feel inconsistent when you aren’t expecting it, and it comes as a surprise. Rather than delivering a smooth, predictable boost, the shifting can feel like a sudden change, especially under heavy load while climbing, which can occasionally interrupt the pedaling rhythm. Sure, it’s a fact of life that gear shifting changes the RPM and rhythm, but it’s something you’re expecting on a manual shifter and thus can catch you off guard with an automatic transmission. Fortunately, you can actually manually adjust the shift points via set screws on the hub’s shell (you just need a long screwdriver), and that can help dial it in to feel better for the individual rider.
So that’s one thing to watch out for, but it’s a smaller detail when nearly everything else about the bike works so well. The steering is stable yet agile, the bike is exceptionally quiet, the hydraulic disc brakes are grippy, and the overall build quality feels solid, even if the paint seems somewhat susceptible to scratches.
At €2,699 in Europe or US $2,299 in the US, the Tezeus C8 occupies the mid-level pricing tier while actually offering several features more commonly found in the premium commuter category. It isn’t inexpensive, and buyers at that price point have plenty of strong alternatives. But it’s also not trying to compete with the cheapest direct-to-consumer competitors. It’s a super-duper lightweight, easy-riding carbon bike, and that’s where it excels. And for riders looking for that featherlight (by e-bike standards) urban e-bike with a clean, elegant belt-drive system and understated styling, the C8 has a lot going for it.
What do you think of the Tezeus C8? Let us know in the comment section below!
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