Aventon has finally released its first mid-drive ebike and this time they have come up with an electric mountain bike. EMTBs are generally expensive with some high-end models costing as high as $15K as well. But the Ramblas is an entry-level eMTB with some solid components and an affordable price tag, something we always expect from Aventon.
Our Aventon Ramblas review will dive into the specs of this mid-drive ebike along with suggesting a few alternatives in the market. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this electric mountain bike first.
Aventon Ramblas eMTB: Pros & Cons
Best Alternative to Aventon Ramblas Ebike
Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0
Aventon is new to mountain ebikes but Specialized is the most well-known US brand in this category of ebikes. The Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0 offers better suspension and more powerful brakes than the Ramblas.
Key Features:
- 250W Custom-Tuned Mid-drive Motor
- RockShox Recon Silver RL Fork
- SRAM G2 RS Hydraulic Brakes
- 11-speed SRAM GX Drivetrain
- 710Wh Battery
- 4A Fast Charging
- Dropper Seatpost
- App Support
- 29″x2.35″ Ground Control Tires
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Aventon Ramblas eMTB: Electrical Components & Key Features
| Feature | Aventon Ramblas |
|---|---|
| Motor Power | Aventon a100 36V, 250W Mid-drive (750W Peak Power) |
| Top Speed | 20 MPH |
| Torque | 100 Nm |
| Battery | Aventon 708 Wh |
| Maximum Range | 80 Miles (Pedal Assist) |
| Charger | 42V 4A Fast Charging |
| Display | LCD |
| IP Rating | IP 67 |
| App Support | Yes |
| Taillight | Integrated |
A 250W Mid-drive Motor:
The Ramblas comes with a 36V, 250W mid-drive motor which isn’t surprising but does a decent job for an entry-level electric mountain bike. Aventon claims that this motor produces a torque of 100Nm with a 750W peak power.
Instead of including a Bosch or Bafang motor, Aventon has built and tuned this motor themselves. Although we feel the Aventon Ramblas is slightly underpowered, it makes sense considering the price tag of this eMTB. Moreover, more expensive eMTBs in the US market feature a similar 250W mid-drive motor. So, this is not a deal-breaker at all.
Battery and Range:
The Ramblas comes with a 708Wh battery which is good enough for an entry-level eMTB. However, the claimed maximum range of 80 miles can only be achieved if you ride the ebike on flat terrain. So, the actual range will be considerably less than the advertised figures.
Nevertheless, you should expect to get at least 40-50 miles of range on average if you are putting this hardtail eMTB through tough rough terrain.
Charging and Display:
Aventon has included a 42V, 4A charger with the Ramblas, which we appreciate since they always go with 3A chargers. So, this is an upgrade that we would love to see in other upcoming Aventon ebikes as well.
The LCD display on the Ramblas is slightly smaller than what you get on other Aventon ebikes. Moreover, it’s also positioned very carefully so that it does not distract you from seeing what’s ahead. So, it’s a very minimalistic display that does the job well and adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of the bike.
IP67 Rating:
Another impressive feature that we must mention is the IP67 rating that the Aventon Ramblas has to offer. Other Aventon models come with an IPX4 rating which means those models can handle some splashes of water and protection against dust is not specified.
However, the IP67 rating of Ramblas means that the bike is completely protected against dust (dust-tight) and it can handle immersion into the water up to 1 meter (3ft-3in) without any problem.
So, you can throw this electric mountain bike from Aventon into the mud as much as you like without worrying about its electric components.
App Support and Lights:
Like other Aventon ebikes, the Ramblas also comes with app support for both Android and iOS. So, you can track your rides and adjust the settings on the go. The rear light is integrated into the frame nicely as we expect from Aventon. Since the Ramblas is not a commuter ebike, Aventon has not included the turn signals that you see in other models like the Pace 500.3.
Let’s move on to the design section and see if there are any surprises for us!
Aventon Ramblas eMTB: Design
| Feature | Aventon Ramblas |
|---|---|
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Frame Sizes | Small, Medium Large, Extra-large |
| Recommended Height | S: 5’1″ – 5’5 M: 5’5″ – 5’9″ L: 5’10” – 6’2″ XL: 6’2″ – 6’5″ |
| Bike Weight | 54 lbs |
Aventon has released four different frame sizes for the Ramblas to suit a wide variety of riders. The above table shows the recommended height range for each frame size of the Ramblas.
The Aventon Ramblas weighs just 54 lbs which is pretty light weight for an electric mountain bike. Let’s dive into some components now and see what this electric bike offers.
Aventon Ramblas eMTB: Other Components
| Features | Aventon Ramblas |
|---|---|
| Brakes | Sram DB8 mineral 4-piston Hydraulic Disc Brakes |
| Rotors | Front: 200mm Rear: 180mm |
| Drivetrain | 12-Speed SRAM NX Eagle |
| Tires | Maxxis Rekon Small: 27.5″x2.4″ M/L/XL: 29″x2.4″ |
| Suspension | RockShox 35 Silver TK Suspension Fork 130mm Travel |
| Seatpost | Dropper 125-150mm Travel |
| Kickstand | Included |
Entry-level eMTB Brakes:
Like some other eMTB manufacturers, Aventon has also included the SRAM DB8 mineral oil brakes in the Ramblas. These 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes are not extremely powerful and use mineral oil instead of DOT fluid. But these are low-maintenance brakes and cost just around $140 (retail price).
The silver lining here is that you can always upgrade these brakes to more heavy-duty ones like the SRAM Code RSC if you feel that the braking power is not enough for you.
Most of the eMTB manufacturers are including the same brakes in their entry-level electric bikes to keep the prices low. So, if you are new to mountain biking, these brakes will do just fine. However, if you are an experienced rider, you’ll upgrade these brakes sooner or later.
SRAM NX Eagle Drivetrain:
The 11-speed SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain provides reliable shifting on the Ramblas but the build quality and performance are lackluster when you compare it to the likes of the Shimano Deore M6100 or SLX M7100 which are not too expensive either.
But you’ll have to compromise on those high-quality components if you need an affordable eMTB like the Ramblas. So, if you need better performance or high-end components, you’ll have to spend a lot more and that’s what makes the Ramblas a good deal.
RockShox 35 Silver TK Suspension:
There are no surprises either when it comes to suspension on this hardtail electric bike. The RockShox 35 Silver TK is an entry-level fork with poor damping. The Recon RL, for instance, is also a budget fork but offers much better damping than the 35 series.
The suspension fork on Aventon Ramblas doesn’t lock out either so you may not feel that comfortable while riding this ebike on roads.
Tires:
The Aventon Ramblas comes with 29″x2.4″ Maxxis Rekon tires for all the frame sizes except the small one which features 27″x2.4″ tires. The tires are suitable for light trails and you can rely on them to get a plush ride.
Aventon Ramblas Review: Our Verdict
If you are new to mountain biking and need an entry-level eMTB, Aventon Ramblas is a good option for you and we highly recommend it. However, suppose you are an experienced rider looking to shift from your regular bike to an electric one. In that case, the entry-level components will disappoint you and you’ll be looking to upgrade the components sooner or later.
We are not impressed with the SRAM DB8 mineral oil brakes and 35 Silver TK suspension fork. Aventon is famous for offering ebikes with durable components and affordable price tags.
The Ramblas is indeed affordable but the entry-level components lack the performance that we expect from Aventon.
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