The Aventon Ramblas is the first mid-drive, electric mountain bike (eMTB) from the company known for affordable quality. At $2699 the Ramblas is a steal for a powerful, intelligent motor, well-chosen, branded mountain bike components and sleek design.
Find more of our reviews of Aventon’s range of ebikes here. Read on for more on the all new Ramblas and click below for our in-depth video review with 1st-person rider footage.
Aventon Ramblas Video Review
Sizes to fit every rider
A sloping top tube is easy to step over and makes for a comfortable ride, especially for off-road terrain. The Ramblas is available in 4 sizes from Small to Extra Large, differentiated by wheel sizes from 27.5” (size small) to 29” (sizes M,L,XL), suitable for riders from 5’1” to 6’5”. It weighs in at just 56lb, with the battery, which is great for an ebike.
Special mention for the beautiful, Borealis, finish which shimmers between green and gray. And since the frames are all hand painted, every Aventon Ramblas is unique. Smooth welds complete the premium look and feel, especially when compared to other electric mountain bikes.
Motor Focus: Aventon’s first mid-drive
The Aventon A100 motor gives a nominal 250 watts of power, peaking at 750 watts with 100Nm of torque. In-house design enables customization and seamless integration with the display and the app to suit each rider’s preference. Linking the bike to the Aventon app allows each of the three pedal assist levels (eco, trail, turbo) to be customized with three settings:
- Assistance: (The motor’s power contribution to the rider’s effort. For instance, at 50% it adds 30 watts to your 60-watt output, while 100% adds 60 watts)
- Max torque (Decreasing the max torque provides a more natural ride feel and increases the range. Increasing torque adds to the thrill factor.)
- Acceleration (Acceleration determines the bike’s initial power from a stop. Higher settings mean quicker response, while lower settings offer a more natural feel.)
In our hill climb tests, the Ramblas, with its torque sensor – making for a more natural pedaling experience – proved a mighty machine, especially in Turbo mode. It should tackle any hill you throw at it, on or off-road. The Ramblas is a Class 1 ebike with a top speed of 20 MPH (no throttle).
Enhanced Battery and App Controls
A compact display is easy to use via a neat button pad on the left handlebar, with speed front and center, time, and battery top left and right, respectively. Intuitive functioning via the power button cycles through other screens including odometer and trip information and accesses App Integration for fine tuning.
Battery capacity is excellent from the large 36V, 19.2AH pack using LG cells, complete with UL 2849 certification. Aventon advertises three different ranges of 40, 60, or 80 miles, depending on pedal assist though that range wasn’t on mountain bike single-track. Terrain and rider size also affect the range, but the battery easily held out for our day of off-roading. We ended the day which included several hours of riding with slightly over 50% bttery, playing in all three pedal assist modes. A generous 4A charger means a full charge in about 5 hours and it’s nice to be able to do this on or off the bike.
Solid MTB Components
SRAM DB8 4-piston hydraulic brakes give a sure stop, with a giant 200mm front disk rotor, 180mm at rear. Familiar to regular (non-electric) MTBs, the shifter set is also SRAM branded, notably the SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed shifter, with a matching derailleur. An 11-50 tooth rear cassette allows for a wide gear range, with a 34-tooth front chainring.
Mountain bikers will also be pleased to find 130mm of travel in the Rockshox 35 silver TK front fork. Although it would be nice to see an air suspension and a lockout feature, there is a rebound adjustment knob on this coil fork.
Maxxis Rekon tires are 29” by 2.4”, which can be enhanced up to 2.6” and there’s a sturdy thru-axle up front. Boost spacing at front and rear are also attractive features for the off-road enthusiast looking for upgrades. Plus the And a KS dropper seatpost lever in the cockpit is great for downhill drops.
Aventon intended the Ramblas to be dual-purpose, so a front headlight attachment comes in the box. Their signature integrated rear lights blend into the frame though they are not brake actuated. Wide handlebars, 720mm for size S and 760mm for M-XL, with locking rubber grips enhance the stability of this powerful eMTB.
Conclusion
The Aventon Ramblas is a well-designed machine, with solid components and a spectacular paint job. Although a couple of upgrades might have been nice – such as an air front fork – any concessions are justified by the accessible price point. And upgrade capacity is built in.
Aventon’s motor works exceptionally well with seamless app integration for enhanced customization. In-house design also maximizes output from the generous battery. The Turbo level pedal assist may be too much for an entry-level ebiker, but it can be turned down with ease.
As the Aventon brand grows – 1800 dealers at last count – excellent support is also available for those interested in taking the Ramblas for a ride. And given the price point and its specs, it will hold its ground sitting next to the legacy brands on the bike shop floor.
