Review: A look at the new Aventon Abound cargo bike

There we were, my son and I, flying down Broad Street in the dead of winter on the new Aventon ABound. Storefronts scrolled past. Two kilometers of separated bike lanes lay before us. Weekend traffic was sparse. Every intersection welcomed us with a green light. The morning was cold but sublime. My son pointed to our reflection in the shop windows—me pedaling in the saddle, him perched behind.

What made this moment possible was the Abound, the first-ever cargo bike from Aventon. Smooth, sturdy, and equipped to carry up to 200 kilos  (450 lbs.), the Abound is an impressive addition to the Aventon fleet, cementing the ebike manufacturer’s reputation as an industry leader.

Even on a frigid February day, my nine-year-old loved zipping through Providence at 25 kph. He perched on a padded seat (sold separately), his boots planted on special footboards (included) his gloved hands clutching a handle on the seat post (also included). We have ridden together before, using a trailer or cobbling together a seat out of a pannier rack. But the Abound is designed for comfort. If the passenger weighs less than 60 kilos (130 lbs.), two riders can comfortably carpool all over town. And that’s exactly what we did, exploring 20 urban kilometers of lanes and paths that my kid had never seen.

Tell Your Friends

Cargo bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and some look more like rickshaws or ice cream carts than traditional bicycles. If you plan to move a lot of stuff around—or perhaps multiple small children—you may prefer the kind of cargo bike that resembles a giant bucket with wheels.

But the Abound is sleek and lean, just raring for recreation. You can ride the Abound for fun, perhaps as a pair, and never once think about moving heavy objects. Yet if you do want to move heavy objects, the long rear-rack will bear most of that burden; there’s also a zippered bag, pre-attached to the frame, for stashing smaller belongings. For additional storage, you can affix a spacious basket (also sold separately). Despite the length, the Abound has a forgiving turning radius, and it maneuvers nimbly in traffic.

The digital interface is simple and intuitive, and the color screen is a pleasant touch. The headlamp is shockingly bright for something so small, and the bike even has rear turn signals. Aventon touts its sophisticated torque sensor, as it should; the four levels of pedal-assist and seven gears harmonize beautifully, and the bike accelerates with a silky ease. The hydraulic disc brakes are just as responsive as you expect them to be.

Aventon seems invested in user-friendliness, starting with the box the Abound arrives in. Once you yank open that first cardboard flap, you’ll find a QR code that links to a video. This video explains how to detach the box from its base and assemble the pedals, fenders, foot rests, and front wheel. Otherwise, the bike is mostly assembled; you should be able to hit the road in under an hour.

Wish List

Aventon’s other bikes can hit 40 kilometers per hour, and many ebike enthusiasts have come to expect high speeds. If velocity is important to you, note that the Abound peaks at 32 kph. In short, the 750-watt motor is powerful, but Aventon doesn’t want you to fly around curves on a heavily loaded velocipede, much less risk the safety of a third grader. This limit may strike some as unnecessarily cautious.

The bike weighs 36 kilos (81 lbs.) on its own, which is certainly not light. If you run into trouble on the road, you can’t just throw the bike in a taxi or set it on a standard car rack. However, the Abound doesn’t weigh that much more than Aventon’s all-terrain model, the Adventure, and it’s easy to push, even with the electronics switched off. The removable battery actually feels lighter than those of many other ebikes, and cargo bikes definitely come in larger sizes; the Abound actually reminds me of my old two-stroke moped.

Like all heavy-duty ebikes, the Abound requires you to closely watch your battery. Aventon claims the bike can reach 50 miles (80 kilometers) on a single charge, but this impressive distance will depend on terrain and encumbrance. You definitely don’t want to get stuck somewhere without the charger handy, especially if you’re hauling something valuable. The thick tires can take on any paved surface, but you shouldn’t plan to do much off-roading.

Ideal User

The Abound is best suited to a city-dweller with a private garage. The phrase “car-killer” could apply to this model: For most errands around the neighborhood, this bike easily replaces a drive, and it’s a great fair-weather commuter. If you have kids who want to skip the bus, the Abound is a fun way to chauffeur them to school.

The Abound will also thrive in a lot of suburban settings, especially where there are shoulders and paths already in place. The built-in speed limit more or less ensures that pedestrians won’t feel threatened, nor is it likely you’ll lose control in slippery conditions.

Meanwhile, more and more people are experimenting with cargo bikes for pleasure-trips. The Abound probably wasn’t designed with bikepacking in mind, but it must be said: This thing can carry a lot of camping equipment.

For more information on the Abound go here.