Wide tires, long travel and sleek battery integration – the CONWAY eWME 629 has none of that. Instead of an aggressive look and the latest eMTB trends, CONWAY rely on proven technology: efficient suspension, 29″ tires and low weight. Could that possibly be the reason why this bike excels?
For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head
The frame of the CONWAY eWME is very versatile. With the help of a flip-chip, you can choose to ride it either with a mix of 29″ front and 27.5+ rear wheel or as pure 29er. The € 4.499 CONWAY eWME 629 we tested comes as a pure 29er with FOX suspension and 140 mm travel front and rear. CONWAY combine the powerful Shimano STEPS E8000 motor with Shimano’s external 500 Wh battery to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. At the cockpit, you’ve got the slightly lower end STEPS E7000 remote and the display. This is not a downgrade, the remote performs without fault and its slim design doesn’t get in the way of the dropper lever. Thanks to smart cable routing, the dropper post on the eWME requires very little force to operate, but we weren’t entirely convinced of the workmanship. The remaining componentry of the 22 kg bike is well thought out and designed for maximum fun on the trail. The Shimano XT four-piston brakes and 200 mm rotors front and back easily bring the eWME 629 to a halt. The grippy, 2.35″ wide tire combination also convinced our test crew thanks to the durable Super Gravity casing on the rear.
Plaything – the super agile eWME 629 is highly agile and lots of fun!
The CONWAY eWME 629 in detail
Fork FOX 34 Performance 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT EVOL LV 140 mm
Motor/Batterie Shimano STEPS E8000 504 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XT 11 speed
Brakes Shimano XT 4-piston 200/200 mm
Seat post CONTEC Drop-A-Gogo 150 mm
Stem CONWAY 35 mm
Handlebar CONWAY Low Rizer 780 mm
Wheels RODI Tryp 30/Formula Hubs 29″
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf 29″ x 2.35″
The 140 mm FOX 34 limits the potential of the eWME 629 in rough terrain. A 150 mm FOX 36 with would suit the bike better.
Thanks to the ingenious cable routing, operating the dropper post lever requires very little force, but its flimsy construction doesn’t make a very high-quality impression.
CONWAY combines a tough, fast-rolling Hans Dampf with the Super Gravity casing at the back with the grippy Magic Mary at the front. Perfect!
The high-end Shimano XT 4-piston brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear provide tons of stopping power.
The rear suspension “only” has 140 mm travel, but therefore it offers plenty of pop and fun on the trail. Very active riders will probably want to instal additional volume spacers for more progression.
The lower entry STEPS E7000 series remote and display are in no way inferior to the more expensive alternatives.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 410 mm | 440 mm | 470 mm | 500 mm |
| Top tube | 565 mm | 590 mm | 615 mm | 640 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 100 mm | 105 mm | 110 mm |
| Head angle | 67° | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat angle | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° |
| Chainstay | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,158 mm | 1,182 mm | 1,208 mm | 1,233 mm |
| Reach | 414 mm | 437 mm | 467 mm | 615 mm |
| Stack | 606 mm | 611 mm | 615 mm | 620 mm |
The CONWAY eWME 629 in review
When climbing and on long rides, the eWME 629 offers a comfortable and central pedalling position. Due to the balanced weight distribution, the CONWAY easily conquers technical climbs without losing traction. In Trail mode, the Shimano STEPS E 8000 motor automatically adjusts its power output to rider input, making it easy to modulate. Due to the low bottom bracket, you’ll have to time your pedalling carefully to avoid snagging your pedals – despite the short 165 mm cranks!
Tons of fun to ride! No other bike in the test field felt as agile and playful on the trail. The “narrow” 29″ tires and the firm 140 mm suspension ensure lots of precision and super-agile handling. With the low-slung top tube, the eWME 629 offers lots of freedom of movement to lean the bike into corners. With the ample support of the suspension, the bike lifts off with ease. On top of that, it keeps the rider informed about what’s happening on the trail, but without being uncomfortable. Only at high speed on very rough trails does the low front end of the bike start to feel a little sketchy. The 140 mm FOX 34 fork reaches the limits of its travel as well. A more potent, longer travel fork would improve the composure and capabilities of the CONWAY eWME 629.
The CONWAY feels less at home on rough terrain. But it will easily let you jump over obstacles or swerve around them.
Conclusion
The CONWAY eWME 629 proves: longer travel doesn’t automatically mean more fun. Firm suspension, paired with smartly specced, sturdy componentry makes it excel on almost every kind of trail. The versatile CONWAY eWME 629 reaches its limits only when things get really rough. But it’s a lot of fun to ride, whether on relaxed service roads or on singletrack.
Tops
- super agile handling
- predictable limit
- great spec
Flops
- no bottle cage
- not the highest quality finish
- fork offers little reserves
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
For more information head to conway-bikes.de
The Test field
For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON 7.0 | COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE | FLYER Uproc7 4.10 | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | RADON SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 | Specialized Turbo Kenevo Comp
"The mountain hut is the destination, not the trails" – rides mainly on gravel paths and flowy singletrack, comfort plays a crucial role.↩
The focus is on riding fun. Riding skills: from beginner to experienced – the range extends from flowy singletracks to demanding technical trails.↩
A rider with very good bike control – rides on demanding and challenging technical trails, uphill as well as downhill.↩
The rating used for riding characteristics refers to the bikes in the group test and the current state of development of eMTBs. The best bikes managed to blend supposedly opposite riding characteristics, feeling both lively and stable at the same time. The handling describes the balance of the bike on downhill sections. The information regarding motor-power refers to the ride-feeling in the overall context of the bike and not exclusively to the motor – that’s why the same motor can present different values.↩
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl
