The Aventon Abound SR cargo eBike has become a go-to in our household for everything from grocery trips to joyful rides around our neighborhood.
As someone who usually runs everywhere (here’s my running gear reviews website by the way: https://www.alastairrunning.com), it’s been very refreshing to cruise on two wheels with a little electric boost – and this short-tail utility eBike nails that balance of fun and function.
It’s honestly the whole family’s favorite eBike right now, for reasons I’m going to explain in this review, stay tuned, and whilst I have you – be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter for all the latest outdoor gear reviews.
Key specifications to note
- Price: $1,900 USD at aventon.com
- Top Speed: Up to 25 mph with pedal assist; 20 mph with throttle (it’s a Class 2 eBike)
- Range: Up to 60 miles per charge, depending on usage and conditions
- Weight: Approximately 80 lbs (36.3 kg) with a payload Capacity of 440 lbs (199.6 kg); rear rack supports up to 143 lbs (64.9 kg)
- Frame: Gravity-cast 6061 aluminum alloy. One size fits all, suitable for riders between 4’11” and 6’3″
- Assist Levels: Three pedal assist modes (Eco, Sport, Turbo) and throttle
- Motor: 750W rear hub motor with 80Nm of torque
- Battery: 36V, 20Ah (720Wh) removable battery – charge time is approximately 5 hours with the included 4A charger
- Tires: 20″ x 3.0″ urban tires with reflective sidewalls
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 203mm rotors
- Additional Features: Integrated front and rear lights with turn signals, suspension fork with 50mm travel, suspension seatpost, and optional GPS tracking with remote locking
Comfortable and confidence-inspiring to ride
Despite its heft, weighing around 82 lbs (thats 1 and a half Keplers), the Abound SR handles surprisingly well. And by the way, most utility eBike like this are heavy, weight comes from the batter, durable frame and heavy duty wheels / tyres.
Its 750W rear hub motor (with 80Nm of torque) delivers very smooth, responsive acceleration thanks to a torque sensor that matches your effort naturally.
This is a feature found only in the more premium eBikes and it makes the whole experience feel a lot more refined (you don’t get those jolty acceleration movements with this bike.
It makes hill climbs with cargo attached feel completely effortless, and there’s a throttle for quick starts (useful when crossing roads from a standstill, when waiting at signal lights), or no-pedal cruising up to 20mph – this is how I tend to ride my Abound SR – if I want to pedal, I use one of my other non electric bicycles.
It also has proper gears, which you can use to makes climbs easier to tackle too. They’re also extremely useful should you ever find yourself without and charge!
The ride is super comfortable, with 3-inch-wide tires, a front suspension fork, and a suspension seatpost that takes the edge off rough pavement – fancy right?!
I love how planted the bike feels, this will be especially important when my son Sebastian is big enough to ride in the captain’s chair on the rear.
The step-through frame and adjustable stem also make it accessible for a wide range of rider heights (Aventon recommends 4’11” to 6’3″) – for reference, and in case you were wondering when looking at my photos, I’m 5′ 8″.
Compact but seriously capable cargo hauler
This is a short-tail cargo bike, meaning it’s more compact than traditional long-tail cargo bikes but still offers impressive utility.
It can carry up to 440 lbs total, with 143 lbs on the rear rack alone. The included footboards, full-coverage fenders, and dual-leg kickstand add to the overall functionality.
I picked up Aventon’s Captain’s Chair accessory for our toddler (once he’s old enough). With the rear bench and wraparound handrails, it’s well-suited for carrying one child comfortably.
While I have read, the seat cushion has a bit of a forward slant that may cause some sliding, the setup looks safe and stable, especially with the heavy duty lockable kickstand when stationary.
I can’t wait for Seb to join me on the back of this bike but for now he’s loving rides on our Electric Bike Company eBike.
Tech-rich and thoughtfully designed
The Abound SR includes some smart upgrades over the previous Abound model – which I unfortunately didn’t get to test myself.
Its 720Wh battery is removable without a key and electronically locks via the Aventon app – so smart. With moderate pedal assist and occasional throttle use, we’ve been getting around 45 miles of range.
The color LCD display is easy to read (even in bright sunshine) and shows key ride data very clearly.
Integrated lights (with turn signals and brake light), hydraulic disc brakes, and a high-mounted headlight all make for a confident ride in varied and low light conditions.
The USB-C charging port is a nice touch for keeping your phone powered up on longer rides too – I mean you’ve got that big battery just sitting there, you may as well use it for more than just powering your eBike.
Another cool feature is its built-in GPS and 4G connectivity.
Through the Aventon app, you can track the bike’s location, get movement alerts, and even remotely disable the motor should you ever need to because some twerp douchebag stole your bike. Give him a nice heavy paperweight if that ever happens please!
While the GPS refresh lagged occasionally, the peace of mind this tech adds is real, especially when leaving the bike parked somewhere.
Ride performance and range
Performance-wise, this eBike is snappy and responsive and the top speed of 20MPH is more than enough for most cases. I mostly use Turbo mode for regular riding as it will chomp through any inclines that may come my way (which isn’t many now I’m in Florida!), but I also like to live fast!
Even fully loaded, it maintained speeds of 16-18mph uphill without issue.
On full assist and throttle-heavy rides, expect closer to roughly 30 miles per charge. But with balanced riding, I consistently get over 35 miles, which is more than enough for daily errands.
The fast charger gets the battery back to full in about 4.5 hours.
Real-world usability
I’ve done grocery trips, and even some park outings with this bike because honestly it’s just a fun thing to hop on and go for a ride on. The compact frame fits easily in our garage which is important to me because I get a lot of eBikes and large outdoor gear in for testing.
It’s not as nimble as a regular bike, but it’s for sure one of the best small utility eBikes available on the market today; the overall ride quality is stellar – and this is what I have come to expect over the years testing Aventon eBikes.
If you want to carry more than one larger child or an adult passenger, you might find the rack a bit limiting, and I recommend checking out the new Abound LR Ebike which is a longer version of this one (pictured below).
For us, the short rack design strikes a great balance between versatility and manageability but if I had two kids and needed to haul more things around, the Abound LR would for sure be an amazing addition to our household.
Final verdict
The Aventon Abound SR is a brilliant option for families or anyone looking to ditch short car trips. When you compare it to the competition, I believe the $1,900 price tag provides fantastic value for money.
It’s approachable, looks really great, thoughtfully built, and fun to ride. If you want a cargo bike that doesn’t feel oversized but can still carry serious weight, this has to be on your watchlist – it’s one of the best eBikes I have tested to date.
There is so much more to this eBike with features I haven’t even touched on, like an E-Lock Kickstand with tamper alarm, remote locking with a geo-fence alarm, and even a passcode and keyless battery.
It’s already become a key part of our everyday life, and I’m excited for the day Seb is old enough to enjoy the ride in that Captain’s Chair.