Aventon Abound Review

The Aventon Abound is an affordable, practical cargo bike for the whole family. The Abound ships as a Class 2 e-bike with pedal assist and throttle but can be used as a Class 1 bicycle with the throttle unplugged and removed. Built around a 720Wh (48V, 15Ah) battery and 750-watt hub motor, the aluminum frame rides on wide 20-inch wheels and comfortable 2.4-inch tires. Climbing aboard couldn't be easier thanks to an impressively low 18.5-inch step-over-height. The wheelbase is just over 50 inches, which makes this bike easy to maneuver in tight spaces. The bike has numerous attachment points and a variety of available accessories. Capable of carrying 440 lbs, this bike can make a serious dent in your motor vehicle usage. If your cargo needs are smaller, consider the Aventon Abound SR, the new high-tech short version of this bike.

Performance Comparison

Ride

Riding the Abound is quite enjoyable; it performs predictably and feels wildly capable. The geometry provides a stable platform, while the stretched wheelbase leaves plenty of space for kids or cargo. 2.4" tires provide a bit of shock absorption, and the 20" wheels make this bike's size manageable. A 750W hub motor provides plenty of torque up to 20 mph on this Class 2 e-bike. A torque sensor measures the amount of input you generate and adds power to complement. This system is significantly smoother and provides a better ride quality than bikes using cadence sensors that only measure if the cranks are turning, not how much force is being applied.

The components chosen for the Abound are functional and sensible. The suspension fork offers 50mm of travel which smooths the ride or can be switched off. The highly adjustable folding stem can accommodate a huge range of fit, while the 700mm wide riser bar and ergonomic grips give the rider nice touch points. The bike has a manually operated dropper seatpost, which seemed odd when we first looked it over. After riding with the dropper, which raises and lowers the saddle with a lever push, we're convinced it enhances the experience and makes the bike feel safer. When you come to a stop on this bike or any cargo bike, it's nice to be able to stabilize with your feet flat on the ground. However, riding with a seat height that would allow that isn't good for our knees, so being able to raise the saddle 4" with one hand quickly is a clever solution. The back of the saddle has a handle that is useful for passengers or when putting the bike on or off its kickstand. The kickstand on this bike is a highlight as it works so well; its mounting points are wide, it deploys quickly, and it stabilizes the bike well while loading, something that other manufacturers have been struggling with. Hydraulic disc brakes provide smooth stopping power, which is crucial for a bike capable of carrying 440 pounds.

A Shimano drivetrain offers seven speeds that work well in the speed range that this bike operates within. The cassette has a narrow range, but with this bike's abundant power, that doesn't impact performance. A simple twist shifter on the right lets you select gears, while a thumb lever on the left works as a throttle. The drivetrain is noticeably quieter than on other bikes, thanks to an idler pulley. The idler pulley is mounted above the chainstay and routes the chain upward so it doesn't hang down where it's prone to rattling. The bike includes an absolutely enormous rear rack, full fenders, mounts for a front rack, and integrated lighting. Notably, the Abound features a working brake light and turn signals. Supple, puncture-resistant tires with reflective sidewalls dampen the vibrations. The tires feature smooth, shallow tread that work well on pavement or packed surfaces but not much else.

The Abound integrated into our lives so easily. Being smaller than a full-sized cargo bike means it can be parked and stored in smaller areas and possibly even transported by vehicle; keep in mind that it's still heavier than most racks can handle. The bike has an impressive range that should calm anyone's range anxiety. Adjusting the bike to fit different riders is quick and easily done without tools. Aventon claims that riders from 4'11" to 6'3" should be able to fit this bike, and that seems plausible. Using wasted space, Aventon built an enclosed storage box just behind the seat tube; we found it to be perfect for storing a lock, a pair of gloves, or even a thermos.

With cargo bikes, the accessories that you add have a serious effect on the bike's utility. Aventon makes many accessories for the Abound, from massive panniers to kids' seating to multiple styles of baskets. The accessories we tested were mostly excellent and helped us use the bike in different ways. Installation of the accessories was pretty straightforward, and the instructions were clear and accurate. Assembly of this bike wasn't difficult as Aventon ships the bike almost completely built. The growing consumer-direct bicycle model is incredibly convenient and economical, but bicycles are also quite complex. Your author is a professional bicycle mechanic with over 30 years of experience, and I evaluate the consumer direct builds and how well they set end users up for success. While building this bike, I noticed an issue with the front end that could have led to the loss of control. The bike arrived missing a critical bearing that is responsible for steering; we were able to order the necessary part through a local bike shop but wonder if a consumer without mechanical experience would have noticed. If you don't feel competent with the mechanics of a bicycle, or even if you do, your local bike shop can be an excellent resource.

The bike has passenger footboards and finger guards that keep foreign objects from the rear wheel. We ordered the Handrail, Seat pad, Front utility rack, and basket to test with the bike. The Handrail is fantastic; it utilizes a rail around the grip area, preventing the pinching of kids' fingers. The seat pad works well to pad the rack surface, but the design of the back piece is quite strange; when properly assembled, it creates a 90-degree backrest prone to rattling. The front rack can hold 33 pounds and attaches to the sides of the headtube. We liked the flat rack, which added utility; we could attach various-sized items to its deck. The front basket worked as described but felt too small to be useful most of the time.

Range

The Abound is our new range king! The 720 Wh battery lasted far beyond our expectations. Using the same range test we use with every e-bike reviewed, we started with a fully charged battery and used only the throttle to propel us a stunning 37.4 miles with over 1500 feet of elevation gain. During this test, we do not pedal the bike until the battery dies; that's another kind of test, and no, this 85-pound bike isn't fun to ride without assistance. Aventon claims this bike can travel 50 miles on a single charge, and with some added pedaling, that's easy to believe. We were surprised that the new Aventon Abound SR that uses the same motor and battery didn't have the same impressive range. The bikes have very similar weights, but the 3" wide tires on the SR take a toll on the range.

The downtube-integrated battery kept us at full power until the final mile, when our speed dropped to 6mph. The battery is removable for convenient charging off the bike and additional security.

Power

Thanks to the integrated torque sensor, the 750W hub motor comes on smoothly and doesn't feel abrupt or overpowered. Our top throttle-assisted speed of 20.1 mph was reached in just 7.9 seconds. We were able to maintain an uphill cruising speed of 19.1 mph, and in the steepest section, the bike maintained a speed of 16.9 mph. The Abound's torque sensor and Class 2 speed limitations make it feel perfectly capable and highly efficient.

The controller offers 4 pedal assist (PAS) modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. Eco gives a subtle assist that is barely noticeable, while Turbo feels like a substantial push. The Abound uses a 52-tooth chainring, which allows you to pedal at moderate speeds and push the bike beyond its 20 mph assisted limit.

Cargo Carrying

The Abound looks quite compact yet purpose-built. The massive 28.5" rack extends below the saddle and is rated to carry 143 lbs. The rack can carry kids, cargo, groceries, friends, and everything else. With a total weight limit of 440 lbs, including the rider, you can haul just about anything you can load on this bike.

If you want to carry children or a passenger, there are seating options. Using the Handrail is great with little ones that you lift into the seat. Bigger kids not being lifted in have to climb through the bars, which is easy for kids but difficult for bike helmets. We found bigger kid helmets to get stuck or need to be finessed to make it through the opening.

We always advise checking to see what accessories are available for each bike, as they are rarely interchangeable and have a huge impact on the bike's utility. Most of the cargo bikes available today have accessories sold separately, and sometimes, they can add a substantial amount to the cost of the bike. Compared to other brands' offerings, the accessories and upgrades available for this bike are abundant and well-priced. With its 50" wheelbase, the Abound feels just right in the size department. It's compact enough that you don't feel awkward riding it solo and big enough to haul large, unruly loads. Despite the long wheelbase, the smaller wheels mean that this bike is just about average in length, and you can park it in a standard-sized space. One of the upsides to keeping bikes standard in length is the ability to transport them on standard bike racks. The Abound's length is narrower than a car, but unfortunately, its weight is above the limit for most bike racks.

Interface

The Aventon interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. The controller has 5 buttons that power the bike on/off, adjust settings, and operate the turn signals. The recommended method for powering the bike is to push a button on the battery and then push and hold the power button on the controller. When the bike powers on, you push the + button to put it into an assist mode. The process is somewhat tedious and an extra step that is not required on other bikes. We found that holding the power button for 6 seconds without touching the battery button first would also power the bike on. That's more convenient, but 6 seconds can feel like a long time as you hustle from chore to store.

The color display is bright and bold and presents your ride data in an easy-to-read manner unless you're wearing polarized sunglasses, which render the screen blank. We quickly adjusted our sunglass habits to shades that would let us see the screen's data.

You can also mount your phone to the handlebar (mount not included) and plug it into the screen's powered USB port. Doing so allows you to use the Aventon app, which features a map and a larger display for your ride data. The app can change bike settings, record rides, navigate, and even converse with other Aventon users. One of the metrics the bike tracks is how many trees you've saved by estimating your carbon savings; it's not useful but serves as a reminder that you're getting exercise and making fewer trips by car. Compared to the app that the Abound SR uses, this feels like a novelty. The newer bike uses an ACU (Aventon Control Unit) with 4G and GPS functionality, making the app experience far more comprehensive. All Aventon e-bikes are built to the IPX4 water-resistant standard, which means they're resistant to water splashes from any direction. Riding in the rain is not a problem, as spray from a wet road or raindrops won't harm your bike or its electrical system. The Abound shouldn't be submerged or subjected to pressure washing.

Assembly

The Abound arrives in an oversized cardboard box that weighs more than 100 pounds and isn't easily moved by a single person. Getting the box to the location where you'll build the bike is likely the hardest part of the assembly. Opening the box reveals a mostly assembled bike in all cardboard packaging. Aventon is shipping some of their bikes in plastic and styrofoam-free containers, even replacing plastic zip-ties with natural raffia. Aventon provides a box with instructions, tools, manuals, and everything you'll need to get acquainted with the Abound.

We spent about an hour assembling our Abound, some of this time diagnosing a missing bearing. Aventon has made this bike easy for most consumers to assemble, but they've also partnered with over 1000 bike shops qualified to assemble it. If mechanical aptitude isn't your strong suit or you want a bike that is properly adjusted, we highly recommend the resources of your local bike shop.

Aventon includes all the tools you'll need and easy-to-follow instructions. They also have videos to guide you through assembly if you're a visual learner. This bike's center mount kickstand is quite stable and was useful while building the bike, as it is too large for most bike stands.

Should You Buy the Aventon Abound?

If you're cargo bike curious and have the space, we absolutely recommend the Abound. Its thoughtful design and user-friendly size are highlights, while its torque sensor and giant battery bring value to the package. There are so many ways that a cargo bike can be useful, and the Abound and its accessories provide a ton of utility. You'll want to consider other options if you need a bike that can be easily moved on a bike rack or provides assistance above 20 mph. The Abound SR has a top pedal assist speed of 25 mph, which is nice when riding the bike unladen.

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