Aventon is among the hottest ebike firms within the US, and its Tempo cruiser bikes have lengthy been the corporate’s best-selling rides. Now the corporate is updating its Pace 350 and 500, each of which acquired main redesigns this week meant to make the bikes extra comfy and simpler to make use of.
I used to be capable of spend a number of days with the newest model of the Pace 500 Step-Through, and it will get a complete lot proper for not some huge cash.
First, some primary specs. Listed here are the numbers for the Tempo 350:
- Value: $1,399
- Motor: 36V, 350W
- Battery: 417 Wh with LG cells
- Vary: 39 km (24 mi) throttle-only, 39-64 km (24-40 mi) with pedal-assist. Measured with a 75kg (165lb) rider on flat terrain.
- High Velocity: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Weight: 22.2 kg (49 lbs)
- Tires: Kenda 27.5″ X 2.2″ (650b)
- Brakes: Mechanical disk brakes with motor cut-off
Now for the Tempo 500:
- Value: $1,699
- Motor: 48V, 500W
- Battery: 614 Wh with LG cells
- Vary: 48 km (30 mi) throttle solely, 39-76 km (24-47 mi) pedal help. Measured with a 75 kg (165 lb) rider on flat terrain
- High Velocity: 45 km/h (28 mph) with pedal help, 32 km/h (20 mph) with throttle
- Weight: 23.6 kg (52 lbs)
- Tires: Kenda 27.5″ X 2.2″ (650b)
- Brakes: Hydraulic disk brakes with motor cut-off
Aventon was identified for inexpensive and engaging fixed-gear bikes earlier than it pivoted into the electrical bike market, and its newest fashions convey again a few of that glossy DNA.
Just like the recently-announced Solterra, the brand new Tempo fashions supply a streamlined design that appears far more polished than the previous fashions. Whereas earlier fashions had a battery bump that jutted out of the bikes’ frames, the brand new ones stash the battery neatly into the downtube. It’s not fairly ‘stealth ebike’ territory, but it surely’s a pleasant compromise.
However by far the good design element on the brand new bikes are the tail-lights built-in into the rear stays, which can even gentle up everytime you brake. Whereas I personally gravitate in direction of extra customary elements for repairability, there’s no denying they appear superior:
It’s a small element, however one which units these bikes aside from a myriad of inexpensive ebikes with related frames and electronics.
To that time, Aventon can be utilizing a high-resolution coloration show that appears far nicer than nearly anything on this value vary, in addition to a headlight that’s vibrant sufficient to allow you to see the street in entrance of you, not simply be seen. The bike’s brains additionally can help you connect with a surprisingly well-equipped Bluetooth app the place you possibly can observe your stats and the like.
Likewise, the bike body itself simply appears and feels good, with easy welds and a really shiny paint-job that belies its price ticket. I additionally recognize that the bikes are comparatively gentle by ebike requirements; it’s not unusual to see 500W ebikes weigh nicely over 27kg (60 lb). That mentioned, for those who’re in search of one thing nearly as gentle as a daily bike, you must check out the Solterra as a substitute.
The trip high quality is equally wonderful, thanks largely to balanced weight distribution, an ergonomic cruiser trip place, an opulent saddle, and plush 650b tires. I a lot choose most of these ‘balloon’ tires over a budget suspension forks on many ebikes on this value vary. I additionally choose them over fats tires. 650b tires supply related consolation and extra agility than fats tires, however you’re additionally more likely to discover a substitute for a broken tire, tube, or rim at your native bike store.
Now for my pet-peeve: the Tempo household makes use of a typical cadence sensor, moderately than a fancier torque sensor. I wrote a complete article about the benefits of torque sensors, however the gist is that cadence sensors act like an on-off swap engaged by your pedaling, whereas torque sensors detect precisely how arduous you’re pedaling to feed you a proportional quantity of energy. The latter have interaction extra shortly and responsively — and so they merely really feel a lot nicer to pedal.
In Aventon’s protection, it’s very uncommon to discover a torque sensor beneath $2,000. Nevertheless it has change into extra frequent lately with bikes just like the Tenways CGO600 and the Fiido X. That mentioned, these bikes are nonetheless dearer and don’t supply a throttle, which not less than makes up for the cadence sensor’s delay when going uphill or ranging from a lifeless cease in a excessive gear.
Aventon’s cadence sensor is smoother than most too, but it surely nonetheless takes about half a crank rotation to interact. It might be good to see probably the most fashionable ebike makers stand out by providing a torque sensor — I’d gladly even pay for an improve package, as many ebike controllers do help a torque sensor even when the bike itself doesn’t have one — however perhaps we’ll get fortunate with the following redesign.
There’s rather a lot to love right here, and the one variable I’m actually lacking from my hands-on interval is an prolonged vary take a look at. Fortunately Aventon offers extra intensive vary figures than most producers, together with the vary you must get at totally different help ranges and speeds, so try the Tempo 350 and 500’s official pages for extra particulars on that entrance. They appear real looking primarily based on my real-world exams with equally spec’d ebikes.
It’s arduous to fault Aventon’s Tempo 500 Step-By means of; it’s one of many most-polished feeling ebikes I’ve examined at any value vary, so the truth that it is available in at $1,700 makes it a simple suggestion in my e-book. Assuming the opposite fashions within the line-up maintain up equally, it must be close to the highest of your record for those who’re searching for a brand new ebike.
