Tesway X5 AWD Step-Thru Review: A 40 mph Fat-Tire Rocket With Serious Range
July 22, 2026
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The Tesway X5 AWD is the kind of e-bike that makes you recalibrate your expectations on the first ride. It’s a step-thru fat-tire bike that looks friendly enough at a glance, but once you put it in dual-motor mode and roll into the throttle, it turns into a legitimate 40 mph machine.
And that’s the real story here: the X5 isn’t just “powerful for an e-bike.” It’s fast-fast. The catch is that it’s also big and heavy, and the comfort setup isn’t perfect out of the box. After riding it on the road and pushing it onto rougher terrain, I walked away impressed with the tuning, the traction and the range potential—while also feeling pretty clear about who this bike is (and isn’t) for.
First Impressions
The X5 has a clean, sleek look, especially with the gold-and-black rear shock setup. It’s an aluminum step-thru frame with 20x4-inch Kenda fat tires, full fenders, and a big rear rack.
It also feels substantial the moment you put hands on it. Tesway lists the total weight around 119 pounds, and that tracks. Between the dual-motor setup and the massive battery, this is not the kind of e-bike you casually lift onto a rack after a ride.
The cockpit is straightforward: a large center-mounted color display and a compact control cluster. I like that it’s easy to navigate without feeling like you’re piloting a spaceship. My only nitpick is the button pod could be smaller, but functionally it does the job.
The Features That Actually Matter Day-to-Day
A lot of e-bikes have a long list of “features,” but only a handful change how the bike feels to live with. On the X5, a few things stand out immediately.
Massive battery = real range potential
The battery is a 52V 60Ah unit, and it’s huge—one of the biggest capacities you’ll see on something that still presents itself as a pedal-style e-bike. If your main anxiety is range, this bike is basically designed to calm you down.
The tradeoff is weight. The big battery is a big part of why this bike is so heavy. The good news is it’s removable, so if you need to reduce the weight to move it around, you can pull the battery and make the lift/roll situation slightly less intimidating.
AWD that you can feel
In single motor mode, the bike is totally rideable and smooth. But the moment I switched into dual motor, it was obvious why you buy an AWD e-bike in the first place.
The second motor doesn’t just add a little help—it wakes the whole bike up. Acceleration improves, and it feels more confident when you’re asking for power, especially if you’re thinking about dirt, hills, loose surfaces, or hauling.
NFC cards
The bike includes NFC smart cards, which is a nice touch for quick access. It’s one of those conveniences you appreciate more over time.
Rear rack and the included storage bag
The rear rack is legitimately useful, and Tesway includes a rear bag that’s better than the typical throw-in accessory. Unzip the sides and it turns into saddlebags, which makes the bike feel more ready for commuting or errands.
Tesway also includes accessories like a lock, cup holder, phone holder, and mirrors. I didn’t install everything because I don’t like cluttering my handlebars, but I do appreciate that they’re thinking about what most riders end up buying anyway.
Ride Experience: Smooth Tuning, Big Speed
The ride is where the Tesway X5 surprised me—in a good way.
A lot of powerful e-bikes feel jerky, overly aggressive, or awkwardly programmed. This one doesn’t. The controller tuning is genuinely smooth. When pedal assist comes in, it doesn’t lurch or try to rip the bars out of your hands. It just builds speed in a controlled way.
That smoothness makes the bike feel more expensive than it might look on paper.
Pedal assist behavior
The X5 has five pedal assist modes. One thing to know: pedal assist 1 is not “slow.” It wants to cruise around 11–12 mph.
That’s fine for most riding, but if you’re trying to creep through a crowded path or a campus environment, you may find yourself modulating with throttle instead of pedaling, or briefly riding with no assist.
There’s also a short delay before the sensor kicks in when you start pedaling, but it’s not excessive.
Throttle feel
The X5 uses a half-twist throttle. It works, and it’s easy enough to control, but it’s just not my personal favorite style. I usually prefer a thumb throttle or a full twist. This is subjective, but if you already know you dislike half-twist throttles, it’s worth considering.
Speed Test: Yes, It Hits 40 mph
Tesway claims 38 mph top speed, and in my testing I was able to reach 40 mph—briefly touching 41 mph.
A couple notes from riding it at speed:
It gets up to speed quickly, especially in dual motor.
The display was about 2 mph off compared to my test measurement, which is actually better than many e-bike displays.
At higher speeds, I felt some shake in the handlebars. It didn’t feel dangerous, but it was noticeable. My first instinct was to double-check bolt tightness, but I also think some of it is just the nature of fat tires and the way they track at speed.
And yes—riding around at 40 mph on a fat-tire step-thru feels as wild as it sounds.
Braking: Confident, No Drama
The X5 uses 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 203 mm rotors, and it shows.
I did a quick brake check around 15 mph and it stopped hard. The braking feels like the bike is properly equipped for its speed and weight, which is exactly what I want to feel on something that can hit 40.
Suspension and Comfort: Great Front, Stiff Rear (For Me)
The front fork is adjustable and lockable, which is a feature I always like on a bike that’s going to split time between pavement and rougher surfaces. On the road, it helps the bike feel composed, and off-road it takes the edge off.
Out back, the X5 uses a monoshock-style design with one shock on each side. I love how it looks, and I also like that it seems easy to upgrade—these styles of shocks are readily available.
But the stock rear setup feels stiff for my body weight. It’s not that it isn’t working—you can feel it doing something—but it’s noticeably firmer than the front. If you’re a heavier rider, you may actually prefer that firmness. For me, it made the bike feel a bit less plush than I expected.
The seat is “fine,” but I’d swap it
The saddle isn’t terrible. I’ve ridden much worse.
But if I owned this bike and rode it daily, I’d change the seat pretty quickly. The bike invites longer rides because of the battery capacity, and a better saddle would match that mission.
Handling: Surprisingly Easy to Ride
Despite the weight, the X5 is easygoing. The step-thru frame makes it approachable, and the seating position felt comfortable.
On pavement, it felt smooth and stable overall, with the main exception being that bit of front-end shake at speed. On rougher terrain, the fat tires and AWD vibe make it feel like it wants to explore.
It’s not a nimble little bike you flick around with one hand—but for what it is, it handles well.
Real-World Use Cases
Commuting (especially if your route is fast or hilly)
If you’ve got a longer commute and you want something that can maintain higher speeds, the X5 makes a strong case for itself. Dual motor helps on inclines, and the battery capacity is the headline feature for anyone trying to stretch distance between charges.
Just be realistic about where you’re storing it. A 119 lb bike is a commitment.
Cargo and errands
Between the rear rack and the expandable saddlebag setup, it’s easy to picture this bike doing grocery runs or carrying gear.
Off-road exploring
This is where AWD makes sense. The bike has the stance, tire size, and power to handle dirt and uneven terrain with confidence. The front suspension felt great to me; the rear will depend on your weight and preference.
What We Like
Dual motor AWD genuinely changes the bike’s personality (in a good way)
Smooth controller tuning makes power easy to manage
Big battery capacity for riders who care about range
Strong hydraulic braking that matches the bike’s speed
Useful rear rack and expandable storage bag
Things To Consider
Heavy bike overall, and still heavy even with the battery removed
Rear shocks feel stiff for lighter riders
Saddle is serviceable, but I’d upgrade it for long rides
Pedal assist 1 is relatively fast, which can be annoying in slow-speed areas
Some front-end shake at speed (worth checking setup/tire pressure/hardware)
Final Thoughts
The Tesway X5 AWD is a “more is more” kind of e-bike: more speed, more battery, more weight, more presence. If you want a step-thru fat-tire e-bike that can rip to 40 mph, pull hard in dual-motor mode, and give you serious range potential, it delivers.
I’d recommend it for riders who have space to store a heavy bike, want AWD for hills or off-road terrain, and value smooth power delivery over a twitchy, aggressive tune.
I’d skip it if you need something easy to carry up stairs, you’re tight on storage space, or you’re especially sensitive to a firm rear suspension.
With a better seat (and potentially dialing the rear suspension to your weight), the X5 has the makings of a really fun, really capable all-terrain commuter—one that feels closer to a small electric machine than a casual pedal bike.