The Dawes Elegance Low Step is, as the name might suggest, an urban e-bike with a step-through frame and, as style points go, one of the more aesthetically pleasing town bikes we’ve had for review. Designed to be as accessible as possible to encourage more riders to go electric, the Elegance offers a competitive package with its Bafang rear hub motor and utility-focused features.
Taking design inspiration from the Dawes Duchess analogue bike, the Elegance is a modern twist on a classic. In this review of the Dawes Elegance Low Step e-bike, we’ll look at how it works as an urban machine as well as for more countryside jaunts.
And at just shy of £1,200, it’s within many people’s budgets. Of course, an e-bike at this price is going to come with compromises, namely overall weight and power. But, as I found out during my testing period, the combination of the aluminium frame and chosen components can make it a worthy investment for those wanting a stylish electric bike to get them from A to B.
Dawes Elegance Low Step: The headline details
£1,199 | View offer
Pros:
Clean design/aesthetic
Good value for money
Utility focused with commuter-friendly accessories
Cons:
Battery range not the best
Bike is heavy
Only one size option
Specifications
Range – 40 miles (64km)
Motor – Bafang rear hub motor, 32Nm torque
Battery – 375Wh rack mounted
Gearing – Shimano 7-speed, 42T chainring, 13-28T cassette
Brakes – Promax V-brakes
Weight – 23kg
Dawes Elegance review: About the build
The Dawes Elegance Low Step electric bike comes in one build and one build only. That means there’s one frame size, too – 47cm. Although, there are adjustments that can be made to make it suitable for shorter or taller riders. Namely, the stem height and angle can be adjusted to increase or decrease the reach on the bike.
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In any position, though, it offers a nice and upright riding position so you feel in control and have a good visual position whilst riding.
The frame itself looks like a steel build, but it’s actually made from aluminium – which is good because a city e-bike with a rear rack mounted battery is already likely to be on the heavier side. So a lighter material like aluminium helps to keep the kilograms at bay.
The slow-step frame design makes it easy to get on and off the bike without having to stretch over the saddle. It also means that when you set off from a junction you are less likely to lose balance when remounting the bike.
But let’s talk about what makes this bike a bike – the components. Remember it’s only £1,199 at full price, so it’s never going to be a slick, full-powered mid-drive e-bike. Instead, it uses a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain with a gripshifter, and yes, the gear numbers are visible for those of us that rely on that type of cue to know what gear they’re in.
I found the Revoshift shifter easy to use, even in gloves, which sadly were a staple for the season I tested the Elegance in. The gears themselves weren’t always quite matched up and occasionally skipped, but the ratio was good and I barely found an incline that was too much to ride up.
Then there are the brakes. It’s quite rare to see anything other than disc brakes on e-bikes these days, and I’m torn between my dislike of mechanical disc brakes and the alternative which Dawes has gone for here: v-brakes. Mechanical disc brakes can be fiddly if not setup correctly but do have greater stopping power than traditional rim brakes. It’s a sign of a budget bike to see v-brakes on it in this day and age, but some compromises do have to be made to hit a certain price point.
Dawes Elegance review: The motor and battery
What does impress me at this price is the motor system. Dawes has gone for a Bafang rear hub motor, which offers up to 36Nm of torque. In the grand scheme of e-bike motors, that’s not a massive amount, but for basic urban riding I found it to be enough. I did find there was a little bit of lag between turning the pedals and the motor engaging, but the boost from the motor was certainly noticeable.
There are five assist levels to choose from, and I really felt a boost from about level three upwards. Levels one and two were what I’d consider to be ‘eco’ mode, and ideal for flat terrain where battery conservation is a priority. Overall, I found the motor to be relatively smooth and it was easy to adjust the assistance levels via the LED screen on the handlebars.
This screen, whilst small, does offer all you really need on a basic e-bike: battery level, current assistance setting and speed. You can also turn on the walk assist mode via this display, which proved to be helpful in pushing the bike up ramps to cafés.
What you might also notice about this bike is the battery position. It’s not hidden in a chunky downtube, or placed externally in an unsightly way within the frame. Instead, it’s placed over the back wheel, under the rear rack.
It’s not a particularly sizeable battery at 375Wh, but for short journey usage only it’s likely enough. Dawes reckons you can get up to 40 miles or 64km of range from one charge, I’d say it’s likely if you’re using the lowest levels of assistance on flat terrain. But in my experience, I drained the battery faster and only got about 25 miles out of it, bearing in mind this was on undulating terrain and in cold weather when batteries don’t operate at their most efficient. I do like that the battery can be locked with the included keys, which makes parking the bike in a public place that little bit less risky. You can also turn the battery on or off via the power switch on the battery, and check the level without having to turn the handlebar display on.
How does it ride?
So, where exactly does the Dawes Elegance sit? And who is it for? Dawes is positioning the Elegance as a classic and stylish e-bike, for “riding around town, local country parks and even down your local canal towpath.” It all sounds very middle-class, holidaying in the Cotswolds, but I think it’s got more use as a town bike.
It comes with a kickstand, flared back handlebars to promote comfort, a chain guard to prevent chain oil getting on your clothes, and full-length metal mudguards. It also comes with a basket for the front, and a rear pannier rack over the battery.
In essence, it’s pretty useful, as well as stylish. The ride quality of the bike left a little to be desired, but one can’t expect Rolls Royce comfort from a Ford Ka. It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s not a bike I’d ride for long periods of time. Instead, I found it far more useful for quick trips to the shops, or a gentle ride to a coffee shop a few country lane miles away.
The Elegance geometry forces an upright riding position, which is to be expected from a step-thru frame. And while this is a key selling point, I did find that it slightly compromised the handling of the bike. Personally, I feel it’s a little sluggish, but then again, that’s better than it being twitchy – particularly if you’re riding with a full basket of baguettes, Mini Eggs, puppies or whatever you carry in your basket.
Conclusions and competition
The Dawes Elegance is a stylish electric bike; there’s no doubt about that. Its almost retro design takes influence from an analogue bike Dawes has produced and applies a modern twist with the Bafang motor. At £1,199 it’s still within what many would call a ‘budget’ price point in the e-bike world. And I think it’s priced quite well.
Yes, there are compromises, for example, the v-brakes and the threaded nuts on the wheel axles, but the wide 40c tyres and other commuter-friendly features like the kickstand and chain guard make it an appealing product for those not wanting to spend a lot.
Nudged just above the £1,000 price point, our Dawes Elegance review pitches up against a reasonable amount of competition, although not from quite as many recognised brands as you might expect. Bikes from the likes of Decathlon, Halfords and Tenways remain the usual suspects at around this price point.
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