With rising gas prices, many people are turning to electric transportation for urban commuting. To me, this makes a lot of sense. It’s cheaper, more convenient, and you don’t have to look, or pay, for parking. And also, when’s the last time you saw grid lock traffic on a bike lane?
If you’re considering an electric bike, I have the review for you. I’m taking a look at the Aventon Soltera ebike. This is a subset of electric bikes called electric city bikes—bikes specifically designed for urban commuters rather than for rough trails. Best of all, it doesn’t even look like an electric bike! You can use it as a regular bike knowing you have power to assist at the touch of a button.
Aventon Soltera electric city bike specs
- 350-watt brushless rear-hub motor, speed of up to 32km/h
- Fully-integrated 10Ah battery, 65km distance on a full charge
- Backlit LCD handlebar display for speed, battery level, distance, etc.
- Built-in throttle and five pedal-assist levels
- Low-profile headlight and integrated taillight that works like a brake light
- Available in large or medium size and Black or Citrine colour
Design of the Aventon Soltera
The Aventon Soltera looks like a fixed gear track bike. With a 350W rear hub motor, you don’t have to be in bike track shape to reach 32 km/h. However, the step-over frame geometry allows for speed and agility. Nevertheless, it was designed with aesthetics in mind. I reviewed the Citrine colour and it captured people’s attention wherever I went. The Soltera also has a step-through frame model for those who find that design more comfortable.
Aventon did a stellar job with the integrated battery design. The removable battery integrates under the frame. You can’t tell this bike has a battery, which could be beneficial if you’re worried about thieves. The only evidence is the key lock to dislodge the battery from the frame.
The Soltera features a LCD display in the middle of the handlebars. It provides a variety of riding metrics, including how many kilograms of CO2 you’ve saved by riding an ebike instead of a car. That was one metric I was not expecting to see but I appreciate its inclusion. On the right handlebar was a 7-speed drivetrain. The twist shifter was intuitive to use to climb hills without having to increase pedal assist. On the left handlebar is the Throttle and Pedal Assist controls. There are five levels of Pedal Assist with the option of riding with no power as well. This makes the Soltera function perfectly as a standalone bike.
Riding the Aventon Soltera
I live in a central location about a five minute bike ride to the downtown area of my city with dedicated bike lanes on major roads. I’m also near a large city park with bike trails around a large man made lake. In short, I’m in the perfect location to ride the Aventon Soltera 7S. The first thing I noticed on my ride was the power delivery. It’s based on a cadence sensor that measures my cycling. It provided the same amount of support no matter the effort. As long as that crank was turning, it provided support. I found level 2 to be the most comfortable pedal assist support. Even level one was plenty of assistance for me. At level 5, you’re basically peddling just to keep the motor running. At that point, you might as well just use the throttle exclusively.
With no pedal assist, it rode just like a traditional bike. In fact, I could see myself just using it as a bike for most of the time. However, if and when I encounter a hill, I would hit the power button for pedal assist, and use the extra help. Sometimes I may want the exercise and use the 7-gears to climb hills. Other days, I may want to get from point A to B without breaking a sweat. The Soltera gives me that option at literally, the push of a button.
The other thing I noticed was the acceleration. It takes some time for it to get to top speed. This is where the 350W motor comes into play. For the most part, it’s adequate for any city commuting. But you can feel the tension during the acceleration. Still this is not a deal breaker for me on choosing a 350W motor over a larger, more expensive 500W motor.
How is the Aventon Soltera different from the Aventon Pace?
Aventon has another electric bike series called the Aventon Pace, which I recently reviewed. There are two models, with one having a step-through design. The most notable difference between the Soltera and the Pace is the different frame design and construction. The Soltera has a track bike frame and looks like it’s designed for speed. The battery is also mounted on the bottom of the frame. With both Pace models, the battery sits on top of the frame. The one commonality is a lock and key removable battery. This allows people to store the bike in one location and charge the battery in another.
Another difference is the gearing system on the right handlebar. The Pace models feature dedicated buttons to activate the drivetrain. The Soltera features a twist shifter to gear up and down. I’m having a hard time deciding which one I like better. They both get the job done.
What I like about the Aventon Soltera
Make riding great again. That’s the thought I had while riding the Aventon Soltera. I forgot how fun riding a bike is. With pedal assist, hills don’t mean a thing. All you need is the will to pedal, or hit that throttle. After the lightweight design, my second favourite feature is the LCD display. I’m a data nerd, I like to watch my speed and distance travelled while riding. It also tells me how much CO2 I’m saving from riding a bike instead of driving a car.
Another great feature I like is the USB port. Trust me, that’s going to come in handy when my smartphone is low on power. It’s not only an electric bank, it’s a powerbank on wheels.
My only issue is the lack of accessories with the bike. As an urban commuter, it should come with must-have accessories. For example, it’s great that it can charge a smartphone, but where do you put the phone? Universal phone holders are cheap, I wish it came with one. Another thing I wish it had was a bike rack and fenders. I didn’t ride this in the rain, but I think I would get soaked from water coming up off the tires.
Who is the Aventon Soltera for?
The Aventon Soltera is for people who live in an urban area that want a bike for commuting and recreation. It’s a good option for those who cannot store and charge their bike in the same location. For example, many condos offer private storage areas. Leave the Soltera in storage and charge it in your home office. When the weekend hits, you’re ready for a long bike ride. Grab your battery, put it in your bike, and away you go. That’s urban commuting in 2023.
Final thoughts
Electric transportation is the future. Governments are offering rebates to encourage people to purchase electric bikes. It’s better for the environment and our wallets. The big question is, what to get? There are a lot of different types of electric transportation, from scooters to hoverboards. But everybody knows how to ride a bike. Plus, if you look close enough, there are bike lanes everywhere. If you live in an urban setting and need to get around, check out the Aventon Soltera in large or medium size, or its step-through variant. It’s an electric bike that doesn’t look or feel like an electric bike. And that’s a good thing.
