Aventon Abound LR Review

The Aventon Abound LR combines the best features of the previous model with updated enhancements from the Abound SR. It operates on a 36V system with a UL-certified 20Ah 720Wh battery to power a 750W motor. The new frame features a gravity-cast aluminum front end and a BMX-style cockpit for improved rigidity and steering. As a Class 2 e-bike, it offers pedal assist and throttle capabilities up to 20 mph. Unlike the previous Abound, you can use the app to passcode lock the LR or allow a higher pedal-assist speed of 25 mph. Using the app, you can also lock the kickstand, sound an alarm, track the bike, and more.

An updated display and ACU give the bike more utility and a more user-friendly interface. The proven powertrain uses a dual-sided torque sensor and an all-new Shimano 8-speed drivetrain. The step-through frame is easy to mount and dismount with an even lower step-over height of 16 inches, 3 inches lower than the old Abound.

Ride

Several new additions to the Abound LR give it a more comfortable ride. Higher volume 3" tires and a 50mm suspension seatpost add some cushion between you and the road, while a new saddle has a more ergonomic shape. The updated cockpit ditches the folding/telescoping stem for a BMX-style handlebar and stout quill stem, giving the front end a much stiffer and more responsive feel. The wheelbase has grown by over 2 inches (58mm), with almost all that growth in the rear center. The rear center is the distance from the bottom bracket to the rear axle, and lengthening this section gives you more room for kids, cargo, and Aventon's clever storage bag.

The longer wheelbase is noticeable as the bike feels less agile in tight situations but much more stable at higher speeds. The 69-degree headtube angle provides predictable handling and calm steering that never feels nervous or sketchy. The bike's weight crept up by about 2 pounds due to the longer frame, larger tires, new cockpit, and larger battery. I'm generally in favor of bikes getting lighter, not heavier, but these updates all give the bike a much better ride quality.

A Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain is a big upgrade; the old twist shifter gives way to a Shimano SL-M315 underbar trigger shifter that is amongst our favorites for its ergonomics. Also of note is that Aventon has switched the 14-28T freewheel for an 11-32T cassette on the rear wheel; this gives the bike additional gearing and should alleviate the ghost pedaling that could happen when the old freewheel got dirty. The crank arms have been shortened to 165mm, which will help keep the pedals on the longer bike off the ground.

The 750W hub motor runs on the bike's 36V architecture to provide ample torque and power, even when fully loaded. The hub uses multiple speed sensors, and a dual-sided torque sensor ensures the bike responds quickly to your input. The torque sensor gives the bike a precise reaction that always feels like the proper or proportional amount of power. Even when pedaling above 20 mph, your extra efforts are rewarded with potent assistance. Wider 3.0" tires with reflective sidewalls not only increase the ride comfort, but the inverted tread pattern is sufficient for mild jaunts off the beaten path. The wheels use the same-sized rims as the previous model, laced with 13-gauge spokes up front and heavy-duty 12-gauge spokes in the rear; this makes the wheels stiff and strong.

The bike is powerful enough to accelerate uphill or from a stop with the throttle alone. Cruising around town, the bike barely notices the hills and inclines, even when carrying a 70-pound child. The previous Abound would not assist above 20mph, which sometimes felt mildly inconvenient. Now, you can adjust the speed settings to give a 25mph top pedal assist speed. After dropping the kids at school, it's nice to be able to ride faster when it's safe to do so.

The bike has full metal fenders, rear wheel guards, a rack with a 143-pound capacity, and additional mounts for a front rack. All of this weight requires solid, reliable braking, and Aventon doesn't disappoint. The Abound LR uses hydraulic disc brakes with a 203mm rotor in the rear and a 180mm rotor in the front. The large rotors give the bike fade-free braking even on sustained descents when fully loaded. Comparing the ride between the Lectric XPedition 2.0 and Abound LR, there are many similarities, but the Abound has a smoother, more refined ride quality, and the front end feels more confidence-inspiring.

I loved the Abound SR during testing; the LR is essentially a longer version of that bike. When riding with a single child, the SR seemed ideal, but sometimes I wanted to have things in the panniers and a kid in the rear, and it felt cramped. In particular, the small footpegs sit close to the panniers, causing competition for the small foot space. That isn't a concern with the LR and its long footboards; if your needs are like mine and you don't want to be limited to a kid or groceries, the LR gives you the flexibility to carry more cargo without sacrificing ride quality. The LR doesn't feel quite as agile as the smaller bike, but it's equally enjoyable.

Like the previous Abound, Aventon recommends the LR for riders between 4'11" and 6'3". While the LR doesn't have a larger cockpit, the new handlebar and stem are far more stable when raised to full extension. Our 6'2" testers found the bike to have much better handling than the previous model. Even our smaller testers commented on improved handling when the stem was in its lowest position.

The Abound ships with a rack and footboards, but you'll likely want to add some accessories to get the most out of the bike. Aventon offers a slew of different ways to customize the LR to your needs, from infant seats to pannier bags and baskets. The redesigned handrail is fantastic; it uses an inner and outer railing that prevents fingers from being squished, and a reclined backrest is new for this model.

The old Handrail sat your kid up at a 90-degree angle and caused a few complaints from our junior testers. The new model is compatible with the Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi seat and can be combined with a deck pad for carrying an infant and toddler. We tried to mount the Captain's Chair from our SR, but the LR uses a slightly different hole pattern, making ours incompatible.

Range

The original Abound set a distance record for the bikes we tested at GearLab, so we went into our range testing procedure with high expectations. The Abound LR is a couple of pounds heavier and has wider tires but a larger battery. With a fully charged battery and tires inflated to their maximum recommended pressure, our 180-pound test rider set out on throttle power to see what the LR was capable of. We put the bike in its highest pedal assist setting (turbo), but the throttle responds at the same level regardless of the PAS.

The bike charged up hills, coasted at well over 30mph on the descents, traversed multiple roadway surfaces, and just kept going. When the battery dropped within the final few percent of charge, my speed dropped below 10mph, but the bike kept going until the display showed 0% battery remaining.

The battery management system works well on this bike; you don't see wild fluctuations in the remaining charge as on other bikes we've tested. Our mileage at 0% was 33.4 miles and over 1700 feet of elevation change. The battery is listed as 20Ah and 36V, which should be 720Wh, but the battery label reads 733Wh. You wouldn't expect the LR to have more range than the SR using the same drivetrain and battery, but that is what we discovered in our range test. This is surprising since the LR weighs five pounds more than the shorter SR.

Power

The Abound LR and SR feel almost indistinguishable from a power perspective, and that makes sense since they use many of the same powertrain components. Aventon uses a Shengyi 36V 750w Hub motor to give the bike its pep. The motor uses 6-speed sensors that integrate with the bike's torque sensor to provide a predictable, smooth power band. In uphill testing, the LR accelerated all the way to 20 mph, and in the steepest part of the hill, its speed fell to 17.2 mph. This is faster and more powerful than the Rad Wagon 5 and Lectric XPedition 2.0. We also test acceleration on a flat course using the throttle. The LR accelerated to 20mph in just 6 seconds, 3.9 seconds faster than the XPedition 2.0.

During our testing on the dynamometer, the bike demonstrated a power output of 1260 watts at the wheel and a peak torque of 47.5 Nm. This performance is notably strong and aligns with our expectations based on our riding experience. Even under full load, the bike maintains its ability to accelerate smoothly and sustain speed without noticeable strain. While Aventon lists the motor's torque as 80Nm, it's important to note that this figure pertains to the motor's output alone. Our tests focus on the actual power delivered to the wheel, allowing for a more accurate comparison of power and torque across different bikes. The Abound SR laid down 1234 watts and 46.7 Nm of torque in the same test.

Much of our power testing uses the throttle only to eliminate variables of athletic performance, but this is, after all, a bike. When riding the bike using standard pedal assist, 165mm crank arms connect to a 52T chainring, giving you top-end speed to keep adding power above 20 mph. The trend of shorter crank arms doesn't cause any noticeable decrease in the torque you can provide while keeping the pedals slightly higher off the ground.

The bike features three pedal assist (PAS) modes designed to pad your power input. These modes include Eco, Sport, and Turbo. Eco Mode offers minimal assistance, sufficient to offset the bike's weight, but doesn't provide a significant boost. Sport Mode strikes a comfortable balance by substantially boosting your pedaling, but doesn't eliminate the effort involved in riding. Turbo Mode generates the most intense support, letting you spin the cranks ceremoniously while almost all of the power comes from the motor. I found Tour and Sport mode to be my preferred settings, letting me feel like I was an active participant without showing up at my destination drenched in sweat.

Cargo Carrying

The Abound LR is now longer, and consequently, the rack gains a bit of length as well. This gives the bike increased cargo capacity and additional space for passengers. The new rack sits slightly lower, spanning from the seatpost to the edge of the fender, with a maximum carrying capacity of 143 lbs. This rack offers a versatile surface measuring 27.5" x 6.75", making it suitable for transporting a variety of items, including friends, children, groceries, or any other gear that can fit.

One of the features that has improved on the new model is the Storage bag, which now features better access and a combination lock for securing belongings. This little bag is a great place to stash a lock, charger, or spare tools. Headtube mounts for a front rack are available for purchase from Aventon, but they feel somewhat compromised. The front rack can carry up to 33 pounds of gear, but it weighs 8 pounds. The rear rack uses low pannier mounts, which allow you to load things on top of the rack and use panniers simultaneously.

It's important to note that cargo bikes can be configured and customized in so many ways, each catering to different needs and preferences. Prospective buyers should research the available accessories, as some cargo bikes offer limited options while others have abundant options for accessorizing. You should also consider the weight of accessories, which can impact the bike's usability. Our test bike weighed 86 pounds, 8 ounces, and with the battery removed, it weighed approximately 77.8 pounds, which is still too heavy for most bike racks.

Interface

Aventon uses the same BC147 display on this bike as the Abound SR, a simple all-in-one display with integrated control buttons. The controller has five buttons mounted next to your left grip. The power button is in the middle, with turn signals to the sides and +/- above and below. The compact unit is intuitive and easy to use, but can be difficult to operate using gloves. The 38mm color display is clear and has excellent resolution, but the tiny font can be hard to read while moving. Your pedal assist level displays an icon with a unique color for each setting. Your current speed is shown in a large, easy to read font, but your battery level is incredibly small and hard to read even while stopped. You're not able to change the layout of the data, but you can swap to a window that shows your projected range in a larger font.

The + button increases the pedal assist, and holding it down activates the bike's headlight. The - button decreases the pedal assist, and holding it down activates walk mode, where the bike powers itself at walking speed. This is useful when pushing the bike uphill or through a pedestrian area. If you press both buttons simultaneously, you access the main menu to lock and unlock the bike with a passcode or access more features.

The component selections for the LR model are thoughtfully designed with practicality in mind. However, the standout feature of this bike lies in its advanced technology. The Aventon Control Unit (ACU) integrates GPS and 4G connectivity, enabling over-the-air updates and real-time bike tracking capabilities.

One of the notable safety features is the ability to lock the bike via the accompanying app. This locks the kickstand in place and triggers an alarm and a push notification if the bike detects any movement. Additionally, users can establish a geo-fence, restricting the bike's operation to a designated area, which can be particularly useful for adolescent riders. The bike's location can be monitored through its built-in GPS, or users can activate a “lost mode” that secures the kickstand and emits an alarm if the bike is stolen.

For added convenience, a USB-C outlet on the display's side allows riders to charge their smartphones while riding. Though a phone mount is not included, the BMX handlebar provides ample space to install one. When connected to the Aventon app, the smartphone can navigate, adjust settings, and access a digital dashboard interface.

The Abound uses a keyless battery; you eject it through the app to remove the battery from the bike. Fewer keys, a streamlined appearance, and a virtually theft-proof battery are big wins. The bike and its battery are designed to meet IPX-4 standards, indicating resistance to water exposure from any direction; however, they should not be submerged. The LR model includes a 4-amp charger, allowing for a full charge in approximately 5 hours, notably faster than most electric bikes that typically utilize 2-amp chargers, resulting in longer charging times.

Assembly

The Abound LR arrives in a top-off cardboard box weighing about 110 pounds. The top of the box pulls off to reveal a mostly assembled bike supported by the packaging. After removing the packaging and installing the handlebars, it was easy to prop the bike up on its kickstand to finish installing the front wheel and fender. Most of the packaging is recyclable cardboard, and an instruction manual and tools are included. Aventon also produces a step-by-step assembly if you'd rather watch than read. If assembly feels daunting, you can take it to one of the over 1000 bike shops that Aventon has partnered with.

The video above shows how simple the assembly is; from start to finish, it took us 20 minutes, including mounting the footboards. Nothing about the assembly was difficult or mechanically complex; most people should be able to build this bike if they follow directions.

Should You Buy the Aventon Abound LR?

A great cargo bike can improve your life with less time in traffic, rockstar parking, and exercise to boot. If you've been considering a cargo bike, this one should be at the top of your list. With near-perfect execution, Aventon has built a bike that is part modular hauling platform and part fun transport. This bike erases almost all of our criticism of the previous model and adds features we didn't even know we wanted. Given the Abound's excellent ride quality, impressive technology, and outstanding utility, its price feels like a steal. I'd recommend looking through the accessories and pricing out the ultimate option for your needs. Then, assess how you might use the bike to reduce car trips, and you might find that the bike pays for itself.

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