When it comes to manufacturing high-quality, yet affordable ebikes, Aventon is in a class of its own. JW Zhang launched the California based company in 2012 and initially specialized in fixed-gear bicycles. Those sleek, fashionable designs made a great impression on urban bikers when they first launched. Toward the end of 2018, they introduced their first electric bike, the Pace 500.
Since then, the company has shifted to exclusively manufacturing ebikes. Sales of ebikes skyrocketed during the pandemic, and Aventon, with its distinctive west coast aesthetic, has solidified its position as a top-tier brand.
The Aventure is Aventon’s top of the line model and with a price tag of $1,999, this four-inch fat tire, all-terrain beast is guaranteed to attract a wide range of riders.
Specs and Components
The outstanding 6061 single-butted aluminum alloy frame, which comes in three sizes and three color schemes, serves as the foundation of the Aventon Aventure. This ebike has a wide range of frame sizes to select from, unlike many of its rivals, including a step-through version. Among other things, the Aventure has some unique and beautiful welds and a paint job that’s not found on many other ebikes.
This bike’s downtube is hefty, but the beveled form and integrated cabling make it a standout piece. It comes as no surprise that this beefy and sturdy frame tips the scales at 73 pounds.
You can easily ride this fat tire ebike in both urban and off-road conditions with ease. There is enough tread on the standard 26×4″ fat tires for grip on loose soil or gravel, but they aren’t excessive for paved roads. The adjustable front suspension on the front fork of the Aventure makes it easy to adjust the bikes shocks to your desired comfort level.
To purchase an Aventon Aventure click here.
Additional specs
- Motor: Bafang 750-watt sustain that peaks at 1130 watts
- Shimano Acera drivetrain
- Battery: 48 volt 15 amp hour (720 watt-hours)
- Front Suspension
- Fenders in the front and back tire
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Integrated lights in the front and back
- Full-color LCD display with an integrated app
- Rear rack for an additional $50
Aventure Test Ride: Beautiful, powerful, and refined
Three distinct things best define the Aventon Aventure after we rode it: powerful, refined, and beautiful. Riding this beast felt out of this world, truly a bike deserving of the word-play on ‘adventure’.
This electric bike is powered by a 750W Bafang rear hub motor, which may be operated in throttle mode or with one of five different levels of pedal assistance. The on-demand throttle has a good amount of bite once you get it going, though the thrust is pretty unremarkable. Where this electric bike really shines is riding in higher pedal assist modes.
The high-capacity 48V/15Ah battery that powers this ebike is discretely concealed within the downtube. The entire energy storage capacity of 720Wh is rated as having a range of 45 miles or 27 miles with throttle only. Moreover, Aventon publishes real-life range information on their ebikes, which we wish more companies would do.
The Aventure also has an incredibly rapid charge time of 4-5 hours. One thing to note is that to turn on the LCD display to activate the bike’s motor you must first press a button on the frame itself.
Testing our Aventure on beach trails
Our ride experience was made more enjoyable by Aventon’s inclusion of higher grade components, like the drivetrain. This includes Shimano’s Acera shifters on a 12-32T, 8 Speed Cassette. The shifts are incredibly smooth and effortless, especially when compared to the usual thumb shifter that you find on cheaper ebikes.
On top of having an exceptionally powerful 750 watt motor with peak output of 1130 watts, the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power and round out an impressive overall package of components.
Overall, it’s a superbly configured bicycle. The welds are excellent, the lights, wiring, and battery are all seamlessly interwoven into the design of the bike, resulting in a sleek and stylish ride that is sure to win over a lot of riders.
Why You Should Buy an Aventon Aventure
If you’re looking for one of the most powerful electric bicycles we’ve ever tested, go no further than the Aventure. On the highest levels of pedal assist and on the highest gear, this e-bike accelerates at a breakneck speed, easily achieving and sustaining high speeds above 28 mph. However, in throttle-only mode, the acceleration of this e-bike is nothing to write home about.
More importantly, you’ll be surprised at how responsive and comfortable this huge bike is, especially considering its size. One of the only gripes we had with the Aventure is that it doesn’t come with torque sensors, which would come in handy since the controller limits the use of throttle from a standstill. To use the throttle you must first pedal out to build momentum first, which is intended as a safety measure, or live with the short delay that is programmed into the controller when using throttle alone. Some ebikes provide the kind of throttle acceleration that will allow you to zoom forward from a standstill, to quickly build momentum, but this is not one of those ebikes.
Riding the Aventure feels smooth and comfortable. The bike’s saddle is broad and comfortable and its aluminum alloy frame can carry riders weighing up to 300 pounds. Hydraulic disc brakes are controlled by levers on the left and right handlebars. Even with one finger, the brake levers are easy to use. Moreover, it has a front suspension fork with 80mm of range to smooth out the most uneven terrain. It includes built-in fenders, as well as integrated front and back lights that can be controlled via the LCD display or the Aventon app.
There’s just a lot of attention to detail with this ebike, which is one of the reasons we enjoyed our test rides so much.
Finally, if you don’t feel comfortable buying an ebike directly from the website, you can actually purchase one through local dealers. This is a great option if you aren’t comfortable assembling your own bike, which does require a bit of familiarity with bike tools. Luckily, the manuals and instructional videos provided by Aventon do smooth out the learning curve considerably.
Additional Considerations
The Aventure’s heft and weight could be an issue for smaller riders but at 73 pounds its comparable to other fat tire ebikes on the market. Fat tire ebikes in general are difficult to fit on most car racks so its best to either keep this bike in your garage or to throw it in the back of a pick up truck or van. Preferably a vehicle that has lots of cargo space.
On demand throttle is something most riders have come to depend on when it comes to ebikes and the fact that Aventon decided to program the Aventure with a delay has definitely annoyed a fair amount of riders based on our research. Considering how fast this bike accelerates in pedal assist modes it’s a bit frustrating how slowly this bike accelerates when you’re exclusively using the throttle.
Final Verdict
The fact that the Aventon Aventure comes with a high torque, 750W Bafang motor and high grade hydraulic disc brakes is reason enough to buy this fat tire ebike. Throw in its beautiful design, its multiple frame and color configurations and the fact that it’s manufactured by Aventon and you have a package that’s hard to compete with.
For us what really sets this bike apart is that it’s meticulously crafted with accuracy and attention to detail. There are several other fat tire ebikes under $1,999 that compare favorably to the Aventure but few would have the build quality of this bike or include as many high quality components.
You don’t always get sleek looks, sexy design and exceptional value in an ebike but Aventon has managed to pull off all three with the Aventure.