There are a lot of positives with the Aventure M in terms of its feel, value, and included extras. There are also a few wishlist items that we’d include in some future 2.0 model.
Let’s start with the good. The bike is comfortable. It’s currently only offered in a high-step model with two sizes to pick from. The frame geo is relaxed, while still qualifying as sporty. This makes on-road riding comfortable for the rider.
Comfort is further enhanced with the suspension fork and suspension seatpost. Both are solid options for entry-level additions, but the 80mm up front and 50mm under the saddle smooth out rougher roads. Additionally, if you run the tires at a lower pressure, you can further make the ride more comfortable.
The bike is decently maneuverable for something with fat tires that’s on the heavy side at 77 lbs. It’s nice to have the mid-drive as opposed to the hub motor – it’s a little lighter and better placed for weight purposes.
I thought the bike performed exceptionally well off-road. It has a dialed amount of control, feels appropriately responsive with motor input when navigating over uneven terrain, and effectively controls the bike when you need to slow down.
Honestly, if I can squeeze a dropper post on here (Aventon says it might be possible, but made no promises) it could make for a pretty cool XC fat tire explorer. Nothing overly intense, but it would take the off-roading to new heights. I’ll tinker with that later and see how it goes.
Of course, like most fat tires, this isn’t just about hitting the backwoods. The bike has all you need for commuting, like fenders, lights, a rack, and a kickstand. But it goes the extra mile (maybe two) with the ACU.
The Aventon Control Unit can provide significant benefits for the security of your bike. Motion alarms, geofencing, battery ejection, and more are all something you can control from within the Aventon app. You can use passcodes on the bike and perform other functions, such as ejecting the battery from the menu display. The advanced level of control from the app is great.
The ACU is free for the first year, then available for $2/month subscription thereafter. Not bad at all, considering all that you get and a whole lot cheaper than insurance.
The app’s usefulness doesn’t stop there. You can also adjust the Ride Tune feature, which will let you dictate motor functions like overall power and sensitivity of the torque sensor. Great for making it more natural riding, or to put things on easy street.
