The Soltera is an eBike from Aventon, that has been designed with the city commuters in mind, and this is clear from its nimble handling, throttle/pedal assist power, and low weight for ease of carrying the bike up stairs when necessary.
For the most part, this Aventon electric bike looks like just like any other stylish non-electric commuter bike, and I love this stealthy look but as this is my first Aventon ebike review, I’m going to be looking extremely closely at the build quality and performance of the Soltera 7-speed.
It’s only when you start to unleash the e-bike’s full pedal-assist speed, while effortlessly cycling uphill that onlookers (and other cyclists that you pass) may start to realize that this is no ordinary bike – this is a stealth commuter ebike.
In this Aventon Soltera review, I’m going to share my experiences riding this electric Aventon road bike, give an overview of its key features, and what makes it stand out from the competition.
I’ll also share where you can buy it with some advice on sizing, and finally my review summary with pros and cons and a score out of 10.
Keep reading to the end of this post where I’ll answer some FAQs and leave you with some more photos of this stylish and functional commuter e-bike to get a closer look at some of the components and build quality.
There’s also a hands-on video review demonstrating the Aventon Soltera 7 speed’s acceleration, top speed, and a walk-through of all its features.
More Aventon Reviews: Aventon Level 2 Review: The Commuter eBike With Insane Range, Top Speed And Smooth Ride / Aventon Sinch Review: A Small, Folding eBike With Fat Tires / Aventon Aventure Review: The All-Terrain Beast
To see all of our electric bike reviews visit here: Trail & Kale eBike reviews. Grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy this in-depth Aventon Soltera review.
Aventon Soltera Review: Table of Contents
- What’s it like riding the Soltera 7 electric bike?
- Key features
- More about the ‘step-through’ version of this bike
- Where to buy the Soltera 7 commuter ebike
- Hands-on video review
- Soltera Review summary
- Image gallery
My first ever eBike experience was with a Rad Power Bikes eBike, the RadRunner. That experience put a huge smile on my face; it was so much fun and a truly exhilarating experience – the Soltera 7 makes me smile for a whole different set of reasons.
The Aventon Soltera pictured in this review and video (at the end of this post) is the 7-speed edition of the Soltera and it is the Citrine color – which I LOVE! There are 2 other colors available.
The Soltera also comes in a step-through version for those who may have mobility issues, or for those who prefer this style of bike – more on the step-through version later in this review.
It does also come in a single-speed version (more on that later too), but I like to have more gears so that when I’m not using the pedal assist on an electric bike, I get to ride it more like a traditional bike tends to ride.
This is especially so when you need an easier gear to ride hills, or to pull away from lights for example.
What’s it like riding the Aventon Soltera eBike?
Okay, so how does the Aventon Soltera actually ride in the real world?
Well, I actually really enjoy this bike, and I think what I like most is that it feels and handles much like a non-electric bike due to the fact it only weighs 43 lbs.
The low weight keeps the Soltera nimble when making quick turns or if you need to brake suddenly.
It also rides very much like a standard bike when you’re not using the electric pedal assist motor too.
It’s a very classy-looking bike so people do tend to give it a nod of approval when you cycle past them too but it’s also quite stealthy, in that it doesn’t look like an electric bike due to its thin frame.
I really like the narrow wheels when riding on the roads, as it helps with free-wheeling efficiency. This also allows helps the bike reach an average of 40 miles per charge.
There is a caveat to having thin wheels, however, and that is that they’re not great on gravel.
They will slip from side to side in deep gravel – I know because I tested it, but on tarmac and concrete (in cities/towns), the bike rides very well and that’s the environment that this bike has been designed to be used in.
If this worries you at all, maybe because you tend to ride on gravel a lot, or you’ve had a bad cycling experience on gravel in the past, I’d recommend checking out the Aventon Aventure as it has 4″ fat tires and 80mm suspension forks which make it a pleasure to ride on any surface.
So I really like the efficiency of this bike and the nimble feel that you get when you need to zip in and out of obstructions.
It also has a comfortable riding position, and the quick release saddle provides a nice soft platform to sit on.
There’s no suspension on the bike, so it does give you a bit of a bumpy ride if you do go off road at any point, like on light trails, for example.
So I would stick to concrete and city/town environments for this bike.
In addition to cycling, and cycling with pedal assist, you can also use the throttle which allows you to power along up to 20mph without even having to peddle – this is an awesome feature that I use a lot!
The throttle does take a second or two to kick in, which is good because it makes your ride nice and smooth, but it would be nice to be able to change how this works so that the throttle is more responsive when you want it.
The bike also comes with a little bell which is useful when you need to alert someone of your presence.
Now one downside when you’re riding the bike, and this really is the only downside I picked up on this bike so far, is the kickstand.
When the kickstand is kicked up and in the riding position, if you go over a large bump, it does tend to rattle as the bike bounces.
Maybe it’s possible to tighten it up, tie it down a bit better whilst you’re riding – or alternatively you could probably remove it if you never intend to use it.
My other little issue with the kickstand is that when it’s out, I would prefer it to be a little bit longer so that the bike is at less of a tilt when stood up with the stand.
Soltera 7-speed vs single speed option
I opted for the 7-speed version of the Soltera so that I could have a better riding experience going up hills, and so that I can reach higher speeds when peddling in a high gear, but also so that I can easily pull away at traffic lights in an easy gear (low gear) when I need to.
Single-speed bikes on the other hand, are really good for certain situations (and riders), but they also have some disadvantages when compared to geared alternatives.
Having only a simple gear operating on a simple mechanism makes them generally cheaper, and lighter than geared bikes.
DIFFERENCE 1: This is true for the Soltera as the single-speed version weighs 41lbs (2lbs less than the 7-speed).
DIFFERENCE 2: The single-speed edition is also $100 cheaper than the 7-speed edition.
They also use fewer components which means there are fewer parts to break and wear out. This means fewer repair costs over time.
Single-speed bikes are generally the better option if you like a challenge and are happy to have to pedal with more power (and with a lower cadence) when hills show up.
Electric bikes are generally much heavier than non-motorized bikes, so anywhere there is an opportunity to reduce their weight, this is a good thing but at the same time, additional gears will help you move that additional weight when you need to.
Silver linings can be found in every decision…
The disadvantages of single-speed bikes are that they cannot be pedaled efficiently due to their single gearing range.
That makes it harder for cyclists to maneuver around tight corners at lower speeds, or cycle uphill. They are also limited in top speed due to the single gear being a limiter of sorts.
Single-speed bikes are not to be confused with fixie bikes or ‘fixed gear’ bikes where the pedals spin regardless of whether or not you are pedaling.
This is often problematic for riders so I’m thankful that the Soltera single-speed option is not a fixie!
Of course many of the issue with a single-speed are irrelevant when you introduce an electric motor in to the mix like with the Soltera! 🙂
I have been very happy my choice of the 7-speed Soltera so far!
A lot of the time I find myself using the pedal assist setting of 2 or 3 (it goes up to 5), and fourth gear, as I find it’s a good balance between me wanting to do some exercise (without getting sweaty).
I can also get more than enough speed and still feel like I’m respecting other bike path users when I pass them, by not riding too fast.
I mention being courteous because the Soltera is a Class 2 electric bike, with pedal assist and a throttle going up to 20 mph.
The Soltera can also operate with the throttle unplugged and removed, should you want to ride in an area where throttles are prohibited.
Unplugging and removing the throttle from the Soltera will meet the requirements needed to be classified as a Class I ebike.
To learn more about electric bike laws around the world, and to see what power/speed options are allowed in your country, read this helpful Wikipedia article.
DIFFERENCE 3: The Soltera 7 uses Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes, with 160mm Rotors and it stops very responsively when I need it to. The single speed version uses Tektro Caliper Brakes.
What’s the riding position like?
The Aventon Soltera has a great riding position that is comfortable when using it as a commuter bike with a full backpack on your back.
There are two different frame sizes available, Regular or Large, and as a quick way to know which one is for you, go for Regular if your height is in the range 5’3″ – 5’10”.
If you’re taller, between 5’10” – 6’4″ then go for the Large.
The Aventon Soltera product page has full details on things like handlebar height, reach, maximum/minimum seat height, stand-over height, and seat tube length.
The saddle (pictured above) is soft and ergonomic enough for your rear end not to feel sore after longer rides, which is important because as this bike does not have any suspension on it.
You can adjust the saddle up, down, forward, and back, as you would expect.
The handlebars can also be adjusted up and down, so this should give most people enough flexibility to get a riding position that works well for them.
Watch my video below to get a better understanding of what the ride position is like – and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more eBike and outdoor gear reviews just like this one.
I don’t have any accessories for the Soltera yet but the rack and fenders would both be pretty useful to have!
Are the handlebars comfortable?
The handlebars are very comfortable thanks to the ergonomic grip shape which allows you to rest your palms very comfortably and with plenty of grip.
How stable is this electric bicycle when riding off-road?
Yeah, don’t go buying this bike expecting to have an enjoyable ride off-road because it’s not designed for that.
If you’re looking for an electric bike from Aventon that can ride on pretty much anything, check out the badass Aventon Aventure ebike!
Is the electric motor noisy?
The noise level of the motor is pretty standard for an electric bike like this. Nothing stands out as being loud or super quiet to be honest.
To get an understanding of the noise levels, check out my video at the bottom of this review.
Key features and specifications that matter (and some that don’t perform)
1. It doesn’t look like an e-bike, and its relatively lightweight
As mentioned earlier, the Soltera doesn’t look like a typical electric commuter bike and this is one of the things I love about it.
E-bikes are notoriously more attractive to bicycle thieves, so the less you can make a bike look like an e-bike, the less likely you’ll be a target to the common bike thief.
The Aventon Soltera weight is 43lbs (and can take a total payload capacity of 300lbs), which to me is very impressive because most of my electric bike experiences to date (apart from the single-speed Ride1Up Roadster) has been with more bulky-style bikes which are considerably heavier.
Check my video review out for a demonstration of me lifting the bike, if you have no reference point to how much 43lbs is – I do, because our dog Kepler weighs roughly 45lbs.
So to me the Soltera weighs approximately ‘1 Kepler’, haha.
Lightweight bikes, like this Aventon road bike have the advantage of being able to pick them up easily when mounting them to a bike rack on your car or garage wall, or lifting them onto public transport for example.
2. Battery power and life
You can get a lot of usage out of the removable integrated Lithium-Ion 36V, 9.6Ah with LG cells battery.
You can typically go roughly 40 miles on one charge, depending on rider weight, terrain, incline, and level of power assist being used. 40 miles was the average that Aventon came up with during all their testing.
The battery is also removable via the lock on the frame. See my video below for a demo on how easy it is to remove, should you need to take it into your home or office to charge.
3. The LCD display panel
Related Reading:
See my video below on how to operate the display.
4. Integrated brake lights.
At the rear the brake lights are built into the frame which looks really premium.
To me, design touches like this show a little bit of extra class over some of the other electric bike brands out there at the moment.
These rear lights and front light can also be turned on with the dial on the left handlebar – there’s a picture of that in my photo gallery below. Here’s the front headlight:
5. The kickstand that needs improvement
I’ve mentioned this already but that kickstand needs some design work to stop it moving when the bike goes over a bump.
It could also be a bit longer so that the bike is more upright and stable when on the stand, you can see what I mean here by watching my video below.
The Aventon Soltera also has a step-through version – Here’s what you need to know about it
The Soltera also comes in a step-through edition which would be a better option if you have mobility issues and you’re unable to lift your leg up high enough to get over the frame and onto the bike.
Shorter people including many women and young adults with a small build may also prefer step-through versions of bikes but that doesn’t mean men can’t ride them of course! The Step-Through version comes in 3 other colors which are more pastel in tone.
The step-through version comes in two different sizes but caters more toward shorter heights due to the dropped frame position. The Small frame is for those between the height of 4’11” and 5’7″, and the Large frame is for those who are 5’7″ – 6’1″ tall.
Aventon.com
Where to buy the Soltera Commuter ebike
You can buy the Soltera 7-speed directly from aventon.com for $1,399, which I think is great value for money for an electric bike that offers all that this one does.
The single-speed version, which you can choose on the product page, is $100 cheaper.
If you ride a lot in urban environments and are looking for an ebike that offers good speed, great mileage on a single charge, great hill-climbing ability (with the 7-speed), and a stylish frame, then you really can’t go wrong with the Aventon Soltera commuter ebike.
If you’re wondering whether to go for the single-speed or 7-speed, I’d recommend going for the 7-speed as it’s only 2lbs heavier but you’ll likely get more use out of it should your battery ever run out on a trip.
Having more than 7 gears will also make riding up hills easier, and will likely increase your average total mileage because you’ll be able to assist the motor with more power from your legs at times, thanks to the range of gears.
When you order online, the bike arrives in a box, so you do have to assemble some of it yourself, but it’s very easy to do. It should take the average person half an hour to do it, and the package comes with the tools required.
Shipping was also very quick from the Aventon store, so all in all I feel like this bike is good value for money.
Video review
Aventon Review Summary
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Image Gallery
I hope you enjoyed this Aventon Soltera review, if you have a question for me about this electric bike, please leave it in the comments below. Happy riding!!
Great Review!
Actually the kickstand is height adjustable and a small piece of weather stripping will reduce the stands rattle. I also own the bike and love it!
Thanks for pointing that out – super useful! I now see the screw on the back of the kickstand where. it’s possible to adjust it! Good tip on the rattle fix too!
-A