Aventon Abound SR Review

The Aventon Abound SR looks like a shrunken version of the Abound LR, and it's packed with new technology and features that make it more useful than most. Shipped as a Class 2 e-bike, the bike uses a throttle and pedal assist. A die-cast aluminum frame rides on stout 20-inch wheels clad in 3-inch tires. A low step-through height and a roomy cockpit make getting on and off the bike a breeze. Despite its compact size, the SR has quite a bit of space for gear and can haul up to 440 pounds.

Ride

Cargo bikes can sometimes feel awkward and precarious to ride. Packing them up with gear or passengers can exacerbate that feeling and make your ride feel nerve-wracking. The Abound SR focuses on ride quality first, with a stable, predictable feel that allows you to focus on enjoying the ride. A shorter wheelbase makes the bike feel less unruly and easier to maneuver without distracting from the bike's cargo-hauling capabilities.

The long, spindly stem from the past Abound has been replaced with a solid quill-style stem and 680mm wide BMX handlebars; this gives the front end a much stiffer and more responsive feel with steering that never feels vague or twitchy. The 3.0" tires provide extra volume, traction, and comfort, but seemingly affect the bike's range.

A 750W hub motor uses the bike's 36V architecture to provide adequate torque on a variety of terrains. Even when loaded to capacity, we had no issue starting uphill on throttle power or accelerating up a grade. As with other Class 2 bikes, the throttle speed is limited to 20mph, but like the larger Abound LR, you can increase the pedal assist speed limit to 25mph. This gives the bike more versatility; 20mph is fine with a kid on the back, but higher speeds when unaccompanied were appreciated.

165mm crank arms connect with a 52-tooth chainring and torque sensor to give the bike a pedalable feel at higher speeds. An 8-speed Shimano drivetrain with a 12-32 cassette is controlled by an easy-to-use SL-M315 trigger shifter up front that mounts under the handlebar. The heavy-duty wheels use 13-gauge spokes up front and 12-gauge in the rear, laced 3X to robust brass nipples. The spokes in our rear wheel became detensioned after about 100 miles of use, which required removing the rear wheel and retensioning the spokes to the proper spoke tension. This isn't an easy task, so if you hear the tell-tale consistent twang of spokes, we'd recommend using your local bike shop to fix the issue.

The SR boasts a sensible and well-thought-out build kit, but what truly excites is the new technology you can't see. Tucked behind the bottom bracket is the ACU (Aventon Control Unit), a small computer using GPS and 4G connectivity to provide over-the-air updates, bike tracking, and more. Using the app, you can lock the bike, which locks the kickstand into place and alerts you via alarm and push notification if the bike senses movement. You can set up a geo-fence to prevent the bike from being powered outside a designated area, or track its location using its built-in GPS. In the event your bike goes missing, you can activate “lost mode,” which locks the kickstand and sounds the alarm. When we tested the system, however, it came up a bit short;

The ACU's location refresh is infrequent, so the app often gave me a location for the bike that was hours or days old. There isn't a way to refresh the location through the app. Hopefully, this is an issue that can be addressed with a software update.

A thru-axle suspension fork with 50mm of lockable travel keeps the front end feeling composed. We loved the dropper post from the original Abound, but found the 50mm suspension post enhances your comfort while seated. The seatpost is fairly high quality and doesn't suffer from static friction that binds many of the cheaper suspension posts. The Aventon-branded Selle Royal saddle has a handle on the rear, making it convenient to maneuver and scoot the bike from side to side. Hydraulic disc brakes are standard; Aventon uses a 203mm rear and 180mm front rotor.

Full fenders, a rear wheel guard, a rear rack with 143-pound capacity, and integrated lighting with turn signals are all included. The puncture-resistant 3.0" tires with reflective sidewalls really increase the comfort of the bike. They use an inverted tread pattern that favors hard surfaces, but we found them sufficient for a few excursions beyond the pavement.

We loved the size of the SR; it's similar to the Specialized Globe Haul ST, and we found both bikes to be far more useful and versatile than expected. Parking, storing, and transporting the SR didn't require much extra effort. Aventon recommends the bike for users between 4'11" and 6'3", and our testers near the ends of this spectrum all used the bike with no complaints.

Aventon offers a wide range of cool accessories, from baby seats to large baskets, allowing you to customize your bike to your needs. We purchased a Captain's chair and footpegs for our bike, which we found useful for hauling kids (5 to 10-year-olds) around town. The Captain's chair is padded on the bottom and back and uses handrails on the sides for a little one to hold on to. It seems like a good solution, but it received poor reviews from the kids I put it in. The side rails make getting in and out of the chair more difficult, and a forward bias to the bottom cushion made our tester kids feel like they were sliding forward while riding.

Range

The original Abound performed very well in our range test, and since the SR uses the same motor and 720 Wh battery, we entered testing with high expectations. This bike is 3 pounds lighter and features 3" tires, as opposed to the 2.4" tires found on the longer model. The tires certainly add comfort, but they also significantly impact the range. When the battery was depleted, we had travelled 28.4 miles with an elevation gain of over 1,600 feet. There was no pedaling during the test, but a fair bit of it once the battery died.

The bike remained powerful until the last mile of our test, when the voltage numbers began to drop and the speed tapered to single digits. Aventon lists the battery at 720Wh, but the fine print on the battery itself reads 733Wh. Unlike most e-bike batteries, the battery has no key. To remove the battery from the bike, you unlock it electronically, and it ejects upward. This saves you from carrying another key on your ring, giving the bike a cleaner appearance and a virtually theft-proof battery.

Power

The 750W motor and torque sensor give the SR smooth, predictable power that feels robust but never unexpected. The bike has a sensor switch option that allows you to use its built-in cadence sensor in lieu of the torque sensor. This allows the bike to sense the crank movement rather than the amount of power going into the cranks. In practice, this makes the bike go faster with less input from the rider. In our uphill test, the bike accelerated to 19.9 mph, and the speed dropped to 16.3 mph when the grade kicked up to 9%. In our flat land acceleration test, the throttle shot us up to 20mph in just 5.1 seconds, 2.8 seconds faster than the Specialized Haul ST. This is a zippy little bike that is fun to ride.

In dynamometer testing, the SR produced 1234 watts of power at the wheel with a peak torque of 46.7 Nm. This is exceptionally strong, but about what we expected after riding the bike for a few months. Even when fully loaded, the bike doesn't feel like it struggles to accelerate or maintain speed. Aventon lists the motor's torque at 80Nm, which may be correct, but that figure is for the motor alone, and our testing accounts for drivetrain losses. This allows us to make apples-to-apples comparisons of power and torque between bikes.

When it's time to add a bit of leg power, the 165mm cranks push a 52T chainring with guards on the inside and outside to prevent derailment. In almost all riding situations, these shorter crank arms keep the pedals from contacting the ground. There are four pedal assist (PAS) modes to choose from: Eco, Sport, Turbo, and Boost. Eco provides the least assistance, just enough to compensate for the bike's weight, but it doesn't feel like much help. In Turbo mode, you feel like you're spinning the cranks to give the appearance of pedaling, while most of the power comes from the motor. In Boost mode, the bike moves like you have something chasing you, it's spirited. I preferred riding in Sport mode, as it provided a noticeable boost without compromising the fitness component of my ride.

Cargo Carrying

While the Abound SR appears much more compact than most cargo bikes, it still hauls some serious weight. The low-mounted rack extends above the frame to the tip of the fender. The rack can carry up to 143 lbs, allowing you to carry a friend, a kid, cargo, groceries, or anything else you can fit on its 21" x 6" surface. Pannier mounts sit lower than the top, allowing you to use panniers while also using the top of the rack for gear or a basket.

The head tube features mounts for a front rack, which can be purchased separately from Aventon. Once installed, the 8-pound rack can hold up to 33 pounds of gear. They also sell a square rear rack that sits on top of the existing rack, expanding its surface area while leaving room for panniers. If you have a passenger seated on the rack, there is very limited room for panniers simultaneously, but we did find adequate room for a small backpack between the rider and the passenger. The bike isn't long enough for running boards, so it uses foldable pegs instead. I like that they're compact and fold out of the way, but our junior tester says she prefers conventional running boards that give more support to her feet. At times, we experienced interference between the passengers and riders' feet, so you need to be cautious of overlap in tight quarters.

Since cargo bikes can be configured in so many different ways, and each will excel in different ways, we'd encourage those interested in buying one to research the accessories as thoroughly as the bikes themselves. Some cargo bikes have only limited accessory offerings, while others have accessories that can substantially add to your overall purchase price. Similarly, consider the weight of accessories and how they'll affect the bike. Our test bike weighed in at 81 pounds, 4 ounces. With the battery removed, the weight drops to about 72.7 pounds, which is light enough to be carried on several bicycle racks. Adding even a few accessories can bring the weight to over 75 pounds, putting the bike above the weight limit for most of those racks.

Interface

Aventon uses its BC147 display on this bike, an all-in-one display with integrated control buttons. Five buttons on the left side of the unit sit next to your left hand. A power button sits in the cluster's center, measuring 9mm from corner to corner. We appreciate the unit's compact size, but it makes operation difficult when wearing gloves. Next to the power button are buttons that control your turn signals, and above and below are multi-function buttons. The upper button increases your pedal assist level, and if you hold it down, it activates the bike's built-in headlight. The lower button decreases the level of assistance, and if you press and hold, it will activate the bike's walk mode, where it can power itself at walking speed. This feature can be particularly useful when pushing the bike uphill or through a pedestrian area. Pressing both upper and lower buttons simultaneously gets you into the bike menu, allowing you to lock/unlock with a passcode or access more ride data.

The tiny color display is clear and has a high resolution. Measuring just 38mm from corner to corner, the screen can be a bit hard to read. Pedal assist levels display an icon with a different color for each setting, making it easy to see which setting you're in. Your current speed is displayed in large font and is easy to read while riding, but the battery's state of charge is incredibly small and hard to read even while stopped. While you can't change that data layout, you can switch to a screen that shows your projected range in larger numbers.

A USB-C outlet on the side of the display allows you to plug a phone in while you ride. You'll need a phone mount, which is not included, but the BMX handlebar gives you ample space to mount one on the crossbar. With a phone plugged in and running the Aventon app, you can use it to navigate, change settings, and enjoy a digital dashboard experience. The bike and battery are built to IPX-4 standards, meaning the bike and its electronics are resistant to water coming from any angle but should not be submerged. The battery uses a 4-amp charger, giving a full charge in about 4.5 hours. Most ebikes use 2-amp chargers that charge at half the speed.

Assembly

The Abound SR shipped to us in a standard-size bicycle box weighing over 100 pounds. The box features a clamshell design, allowing you to remove the top, and its base serves as an assembly stand. Once we had the packaging removed and the handlebars installed, we found it advantageous to use the bike's center mount kickstand to support the bike while finishing the assembly. The packaging is largely recyclable cardboard and includes instructions and the necessary tools for assembly. If you're unsure of your ability to assemble the bike, consider watching a step-by-step assembly video on Aventon's website or consulting a local bicycle shop. Aventon has partnered with over 1000 bike shops to help get their bikes on the road while maintaining direct-to-consumer pricing.

As you can see in the video above, the assembly is remarkably simple; the total time from start to finish was 22 minutes, excluding battery charging. We did not encounter any steps that we found difficult or particularly mechanically complex. Inflating the tires can be tricky, depending on what kind of pump head you're using; there is limited clearance between the hubs and 20" rims.

Should You Buy the Aventon Abound SR?

Cargo bikes can be outrageously useful, and even if you don't have hauling ambitions, the SR's utility makes this bike a winner. I loved riding around on this bike as a commuter. Being able to lock the kickstand down provided enough security in my sleepy mountain town but may not be sufficient for areas with more bicycle theft. Considering this bike's excellent ride quality, utility, convenience, and technology, it's an incredible value worthy of consideration. I'd advise you to assess how you might use a cargo bike and consider how many car trips you could replace; this bike might pay for itself.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

Prior to testing this bike, my favorite compact cargo bike was the Specialized Globe Haul ST, but with recent price increases, it costs almost twice as much, and it isn't twice the bike. It's still an amazing little cargo bike, but the Abound SR hugely undercuts its value. I priced both bikes out, and the Haul ended up being $2500 more than a similarly equipped Abound. If you want a bit more space, the RadWagon 5 is a fabulous bike that feels like a family Volvo. The RadWagon is comfortable, stable, and also quite heavy. If you'd like to spend less, the Lectric XPedition 2.0 is our top choice for value in a cargo bike. It's an impressive bike that is only outshined by its price tag.