Aventon Ramblas eMTB Review, 2024

Every now and then we test an e-bike that shocks us with its performance. Some e-bikes hit so far above their weight class that we have to double check our numbers. Such was the case with the Aventon Ramblas.

Before we get to the range numbers, we want to point out that this is an eMTB and it’s meant to be ridden on technical terrain, not bike paths and roads. Aventon estimates that with its 708Wh battery, riders may see 80 mi. of range, even on technical terrain.

In performing our range tests on the Aventon Ramblas, we stuck to bike paths and roads and tried to keep our elevation change to a modest range, consistent with our other tests.

In short, the Aventon Ramblas delivered an impressive performance. Set to Sport, its max PAS setting, we rode an incredible 47.5 mi. at an average speed of 17.5 mph, with roughly 1150 ft. of elevation change.

Set to Eco, its minimum PAS setting, the Ramblas was even more impressive. It rolled along at an average speed of 13 mph for 8:12, for a total mileage of 107.4, with 2224 ft. of climbing.

To put this in perspective, consider this: The Aventon Ramblas is one of only five e-bikes that we’ve tested that gave more than 100 mi. of range. It’s max power test was the fourth longest we’ve ever tested too. Given those results, 80 miles on a single charge of trail riding sounds realistic, and it makes it one of the more impressive eMTBs in terms of range.

If there is one performance aspect of an eMTB where it absolutely needs to shine, that would be its climbing ability. An eMTB needs to not only offer a rider solid power, but it needs to apply that power in a smooth fashion so that efforts by the rider don’t cause the rear tire to break free and spin while climbing a steep hill.

We were super-impressed with the performance of Aventon’s new A100 motor. Other Aventon e-bikes we’ve reviewed have historically faired well here, but this is a new level of acheivement. Thanks in part to its ability to produce 100Nm of torque on demand, the Aventon Ramblas outperformed other eMTBs with mid-drive motors that we’ve tested.

On our climb up Hell Hole, the ⅓-mi., 12-percent climb that we take all test e-bikes up, the Aventon Ramblas recorded a time of 1:16, for an average speed of 14.3 mph. That’s the third fastest time up that hill from a mid-drive motor. The only two that beat it were all-terrain powerhouses that had a 1000 watts and 160Nm of torque to play with. The Ramblas is now the leader amongst eMTBs to be tested on Hell Hole though.

Hell Hole is a paved bike path, so even this isn’t the most accurate portrayal of how well it performs on trails. But I can just tell you that overall the team agreed it’s a good climber, and its torquey nature will hold appeal for mountain biking newbies in particular. It can take the work out of the job and help you keep up with more experienced packs. Hills won’t be a deterrent as the motor has more than enough muscle, and the SRAM drivetrain’s range helps you get a good approach.

This section of the Aventon Ramblas review breaks from the norm. Typically we measure braking performance by the process described above, but we don’t feel that’s a great measure for mountain biking performance.

Brakes on eMTBs are more about how they help you control the experience, and the feel they provide. Also, do we feel the system is a good one for the price. With that said, let’s dive in.

The 4-piston SRAM DB8 hydraulic disc brakes strike an impressive balance between affordability and the power that comes with a 4-piston brake. The DB8 caliper uses a design that’s similar to SRAM’s top-of-the-line Code brake, going so far as to use the same brake pads, and that results in a brake with impressive power.

Aventon selected a 200mm rotor for the front brake and a 180mm rotor for the rear. In selecting a larger rotor the rider is granted even greater brake power. This brake setup is less about stopping distance than it is about scrubbing speed for control in turns and in settings where too much velocity equals too much air time.

The DB8 will allow riders to wait until the last possible moment to brake and find the power necessary to maintain control, with good modulation to use them lightly as well without a hard upfront bite.

We’ve talked about how impressive the motor, battery and brakes are on the Aventon Ramblas. Those three features alone make this eMTB an absolute standout among e-bikes that go for less than $3,000. What makes this eMTB so exciting doesn’t end there, though.

Hard-tail eMTBs of course don’t have the same smooth ride as full-suspension e-bikes, but in addition to being less expensive, they are lighter and require less service, and often last longer. And while full-suspension designs are exciting, in much of the U.S., the downhills aren’t long enough to really enable a rider to make use of the rear suspension. So while a hard-tail eMTB will feature a bumpier ride than a full-suspension model, it tends to be more efficient when pedaling on flat ground.

There is a front fork to talk about though. With most all-terrain and fat-tire e-bikes that are billed as being suited to off-road riding, we generally see a suspension fork of between 60 and 120mm of travel; 100mm is common. Aventon chose the RockShox 35 Silver TK suspension fork with 130mm of travel. Performance wise, I thought it was great. It held up well over several rounds on our local trails. As a 235 lbs human, I thought I was getting the ideal sag at around 35%. Why point out what I saw on the scale the last time I was on it? Well, you can’t adjust the compression at all, so heavier than me and it might have to much sag. Aventon has a lot of good here so I don’t want to overblow this point, but it would have been nice to have a fork you could adjust.

Another great touch that Aventon gave the Ramblas was the dropper post. Dropper posts have become necessities on both mountain bikes and eMTBs. With the press of a lever, a rider can sit down on the seat and lower it, then release the lever and the seat stays down. This allows the rider to move around on descents, drop-offs and any technical terrain where the presence of the saddle can hamper the rider’s ability to move.

We often talk about how the one-size e-bikes can’t really fit everyone. The Aventon Ramblas comes in four sizes because riding on technical terrain calls for a well-fitting e-bike in a way that commuting to work doesn’t. If a cruiser doesn’t fit just right, it’s not a big deal, but if an eMTB doesn’t fit right, the rider’s balance and ability to control the e-bike can be compromised.

With four sizes, Aventon estimates that the Ramblas will fit riders from 5 feet 1 up to 6 feet 5, with each size accommodating about a 4-in. range of heights. We think they got this right.

Another nice move on Aventon’s part was the decision to give the small size 27.5-in. wheels rather than 29-in. wheels. The bigger the wheel, the more easily it rolls over things, but bigger wheels can be problematic for smaller riders. By going with 27.5-in. wheels on the small size of the Ramblas, the standover height is lowered, wheelbase is shorted, center of gravity lowered and the top tube can be shorter, all features that will enhance the experience of more diminutive riders.

One truism of bikes and e-bikes is that if you want something that’s light, you have to pay more. The Aventon Ramblas defies that in an impressive way. They claim that it weighs 54 lbs., but our test bike tipped the scales at just 50.2 lbs. That’s an excellent weight considering how affordable this e-bike is.

For my personal shopping profile I often prefer to hold off on gen 1 products – I like to allow time for kinks to be ironed out. So Aventon trying its hand on making a motor AND making its first mountain bike easily could have warranted a “let’s wait and see” approach from me. But I think there was enough good experience and value here to dive in now.

There’s enough here that I would think it were a good buy over $3000. It’s only $2700

It proudly holds down some top performances in our hill and brake test and it is sporting good performance parts to enjoy riding on all day. I would like a little more options for tubeless riding or compression adjustment, but, meh. Again, at that price you don’t get everything – but you get a heck of a lot more than most other bikes.

The starting trajectory for Aventon’s mid-drive and eMTB is heading in the right direction. I won’t be shocked when I start seeing them more at my local trails.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Aventon Ramblas down in our comments section.