Aventon’s Slim Soltera Is The Affordable Ebike For Old-School Single-Speed Pedalers

In some cases, you just want to hold matters basic. Just before ebikes became so well-known, cycling was (and nonetheless is) a assorted universe of bicycle types that catered to every riding style, from burly mountain bikes to carbon-fiber racing specials to tremendous-light-weight urban instruments identified as “fixies” with just one fixed gear – and not substantially else.

Admittedly, I did not very own a fixie, but I rode (and nevertheless personal) a bicycle near to it, a super-uncomplicated, stripped-down “single speed” bicycle with a freewheel rather of a set equipment, generally referred to as a “single.” It’s even now a hoot to ride, and a great reminder of the KISS theory when it arrives to individual transportation.

Recently, I’ve gotten in a series of solitary-pace ebikes for overview, which include the SWFT Volt, the Cowboy 4, and now the new Solterra from Aventon. The VanMoof bikes appear like single-speed machines, but they have interior gearing so, technically, they aren’t. But they do have That Glimpse.

Soltera Tech Overview

The shiny black $1,199 Soltera I gained for assessment is a intelligent blend of previous and new technologies. Like several aged-skool one-pace bikes, it utilizes rim-grabber brakes (by Tektro) in its place of discs. If you choose for the $1,299 7-pace shifter version of the Solterra, it incorporates Tektro mechanical disc brakes, but honest warning, you do get rid of design and street cred points. A move-although Solterra variant is also offered.

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The Soltera bikes have no suspension, and roll on relatively skinny wheels and tires. The Kenda K193 tires are wider than pure street bike tires, but only just, and the wheels are the more modern 27.5-inch wide variety as a substitute of the aged 26ers. A 350-watt motor hides in the rear wheel hub, and the one gear is linked by chain, not a belt, to a significant entrance sprocket. The detachable 9.6 Watt-hour 36-Volt battery hides in the frame, and the rather much larger decreased spar of the all-aluminum body is genuinely the only semi-apparent indication that the Soltera is packing some excess ability on board.

Up major, Aventon’s app-linked and excellent coloration Liquid crystal display screen retains tabs on points, and a modest thumb throttle is concealed on the still left bar beneath the little D-pad model controller. A discreet but just bright sufficient LED headlight sits in entrance of the screen, and two large, sleek and classy shiny purple LED tail lights are cleanly frenched into equally rear triangle body spars – an Aventon trademark.

They also purpose as brake lights – even when the lights are established to “off” – and I would like additional bicycle makers would follow Aventon’s instance below and just make rear lights function as brake lights as a de facto market normal. It would make a massive change for a rider basic safety.

I’ll admit I have been a minimal spoiled by other bikes in this class from LeMond, Cowboy, and VanMoof that have done an outstanding job hiding the many wires that are needed on an ebike, so the slight mess of wires beneath the Soltera’s handlebars stood out when I received it, as did some wiring operates at at the back of the bicycle, but it was not just about anything I could not wrangle in a minute with a pair of zip ties. Seat height set, battery billed and tires aired up, it was time to choose the Soltera for a experience all around Portland.

Driving Working experience

I’m 6-foot-1 inch tall with a 34-inch inseam, so on event, a bike maker’s “large” body sizing isn’t pretty substantial enough, especially involving the seat and bars, but luckily the Soltera in good shape just correct and I was promptly comfy on the bike. It took me a mile or two to neglect the impulse to come to feel for shifter controls on the appropriate bar, but with pedal assist established to Degree 3 (of 5), I was rolling at 20mph in the flat with just the right total of pedal exertion. Pedal support speed limits can also be established in the quite useful Aventon application. At 42 lbs ., the Soltera isn’t a flyweight bicycle, but as ebikes go, it is on the lighter aspect to be certain, and with that small pounds comes agility and a far more “regular bicycle” experience to the experience. Warmed up, I rode for miles with the support set to 1 (”Eco”), and even zero (no aid, but with units managing), until I bought to my hill test part.

Topping the 1.5-mile, 700-foot elevation acquire climb was anything I could hardly do on my aged non-electric powered single pace, and I was substantially youthful (and lighter) in those days, so it’s been a fantastic take a look at of this new crop of single-velocity devices and their guide ability. The Soltera is geared tall, so I cranked the assist up to the max (Amount 5) and acquired out of the saddle. Cranking up the hill, I held a continuous 10mph as the rear hub motor quietly whirred away, and the moment at the top rated, the battery nevertheless held a 50% charge. Aventon suggests the battery will give an typical of 42 miles of help in mixed circumstances, so regardless of my maximum draw on the powertrain up the hill, I still had at minimum 20 miles of variety remaining at decrease configurations. A nice “hidden” element is that if you entirely operate it out of battery power, you are not stranded as it’s uncomplicated to pedal the lightweight Solterra with no support at all, despite the fact that a steep hill may well be a real challenge.

Heading back down the hill, the Soltera just touched 40mph on a steep portion but felt sound and self-confident at speed, such as as a result of some rapidly sweeper turns in the vicinity of the base of the operate. It was early spring even though I was driving and there was some h2o on the roadway in spots so I got a bit of a bathtub given that there are no fenders on the Soltera. Aventon does give fenders and racks, even though any bike store could in all probability figure one thing out if you know you are heading to be riding in the wet (as we typically do in Portland). Again in the flat, I simply rolled residence at Degree 2, and for a quick little bit, I even allow the thumb throttle and battery do all the tough get the job done for a mile or two, and it was in a position to shift me appropriate alongside at up to 20mph. A nice “modern” solution to be certain.

Conclusions

I enjoyed my time aboard the Aventon Soltera. It is a quickly, enjoyable, smooth and fantastic-looking ebike that is a joy to journey, especially if you like the single-velocity vibe but perhaps want one thing with a bit of juice to back up your efforts. It’s not truly a commuter bike per se, even though some may well find it the excellent dry-temperature do the job trip when all you need to have can match in a backpack or bicycle bag. Actually, the Soltera is about owning enjoyable when riding rather than getting a workhorse, and in that regard it is appropriate on focus on and at $1,199 MSRP, absolutely very affordable. I’d like to see the foundation bike get some hydraulic disc brakes, as moist rims make for gradual and noisy brakes, and a bit extra attention to the wiring. And it’s possible a couple extra lumens out of the front headlight as well. But as winter turned to spring in this article in the PNW, I found much more time (and dryish weather) to experience the Soltera, and bottom line, it normally created me smile.