Electric bikes are so popular and plentiful right now that it can be hard to tell them apart. The Aventon Adventure 2, however, stands out by leaning into the little extras that show attention to detail and offer more value than similarly priced competition. It’s those little things that make for a better overall experience.
For example, the $1,899 Adventure 2 bike comes with a small packet of grease, useful for the pedals. That might not sound like a lot, but this was the first time I’ve seen this from a bike at this price point. It arrived well packaged in easily recyclable cardboard, no foam, and all the tools needed for assembly were in cardboard cutout slots in a branded box.
In putting the bike together, I appreciated the high quality paint finish and all the sleek branding all over the bike, tastefully placed from the rear fender to the kickstand. Even the charger had a letter A that lights up red while charging, then green when full. Standing out like that means a lot to a guy with a bunch of similar loaders.
Aventon
The cables cross the frame and are only visible when they exit. The buttons on the handlebars used to change the level of assistance are small but smooth and well laid out. The model I tested was the stepper, shown above, but there is also a stepper model, shown below. The step-over is available in gray and green; the stepper is available in black and blue.
The bike is quite heavy, constructed from single butted 6061 aluminum alloy weighing 77 pounds. The Adventure 2 can support a total load of 400 pounds. The bike has a front headlight and brake/indicator lights are at the rear, integrated into the frame. In addition to human power, the bike has a 750-watt motor that runs on an internal lithium-ion, 48-volt, 15 Ah battery. It can be charged in four to five hours and is removable.
Aventon
The bike comes with hydraulic disc brakes, eight gears and four levels of assist with a top speed of 28 mph. There’s also a throttle that gets the bike up to 20 mph without pedaling. The Adventure can be configured as a Class 2 e-bike (pedal assist only up to 20 mph or throttle up to 20 mph) or Class 3 (pedal assist only up to 28 mph or throttle up to at 20 mph) from the mobile application. By default, it comes in class 2.
The multi-color display has a matte finish, which reduces glare, making it easier to read in direct sunlight. Each of the four assist levels are indicated by different colors, making it easy to see your level at a glance. It also displays battery level, current speed, total mileage, signal indicator and availability.
The Adventure 2 handles smoothly on and off road – the 80 millimeters of travel on the front fork shocks helps. It features lockable ergonomic handles and a comfortable Aventon-branded Velo seat. It comes with 26 x 4-inch puncture-proof tires and a front and rear rear rack, making all-weather riding as painless as possible. (I only wish I had the chance to test it in the snow.)
The Adventure 2 has integrated taillights.
Joseph Kaminski/CNET
The Adventure 2, however, would be ideal for daily commuting. The original Adventure came with a cadence sensor (the motor assist kicks in when the cranks turn). This updated version uses a torque sensor, which works via pressure on the pedals, so the assist kicks in faster. Other new features in Version 2 are the rear rack and turn signals and improved range. The original had an estimated range of 45 miles, while the new is closer to 60 miles on a full charge.
Aventon has an app for iOS and Android that connects to the bike via Bluetooth. The app displays battery level, calories burned, total cycle time, maximum speed and average speed. On top of that, lights can be turned on and off from the app, riders can record their rides and there’s even a section where Aventon riders can log in and share photos.
In the app’s settings menu, you can change settings such as mph to km/h, set the bike to auto stop, and adjust screen brightness and speed limit. Plus, you never have to worry about your cell phone’s battery life because the Adventure comes with a USB-A charging port.
The only thing missing that would make this complete would be an electric horn, but that might be asking too much when the bike is only going to cost you $1,899.
Electric Bike FAQ
How fast can an electric bike go?
Before we can reach top speeds, we must first review the classifications of electric bikes. There are three classes:
- Class 1 is an e-bike where the motor only provides pedal assist while the rider is pedaling and has a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
- Class 2 follows the same maximum pedal assist speed as Class 1, but also has a throttle, allowing the rider to move without pedaling.
- Class 3 has a maximum assist speed of 28 mph and can be either pedal assist only or pedal assist with throttle assist.
These classes are limited to 1 horsepower (750 watts). That said, some supposed “e-bikes” can hit 50 or even 60 mph. But they are more like pedal motorcycles. They are not optimized like traditional bicycles for pedaling from point A to B and do not legally fall into the category of classes 1-3. As a general rule, only class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed where traditional bikes are located.
Do I need a permit or license to use an e-bike?
The short answer is no. However, riders must meet their state’s minimum age limit (which may vary). In New York, it’s 16.
Should I buy an e-bike or an e-scooter?
It’s honestly quite fun to have one of each. But if you need a reason to choose one over another, an e-bike can also be used as a traditional bike so riders get the benefit of a workout and the fact that you can travel further, even with a discharged battery. Also, most people I talk to feel better on bikes because they have more experience riding them.
