Aventon’s New Abound SR Cargo E-Bike Includes Anti-Theft Security Tech

Urban dwellers wanting to spend less on car travel have been flocking to cargo bikes for years now, and with the addition of built-in electric motors providing assistance, cargo ebikes are one of the hottest segments in bicycle sales at this time. During recent travels in London and Paris, the city centers were swarming with powered ebikes of every size, like this one loaded with flowers moving along a broad bike boulevard in Paris:

In my hometown of Portland, Oregon, one of the more bike-forward cities in the U.S. (despite the hills and rain), I see more and more cargo ebikes plying the city’s extensive bike lanes, often packed with kids, dogs, groceries – or all three. While not as popular in the U.S. as they are in Europe and elsewhere, the once-fringe cargo bike is now a hot seller, and ebike maker Aventon has just updated their Abound model (below), which they introduced in March of last year. The new model is called the Abound SR, which stands for Short Rack.

ForbesEbike Maker Aventon Goes Big With New Abound Cargo CarrierBy William Roberson

With popularity comes demand, and tangentially, an increase in theft. Sadly, one of my friends who relies on a cargo bike recently had theirs stolen, despite it being locked up.

Keep Your eBike Yours

One of the key features of the Abound SR is a suite of anti-theft tech, including a locking centerstand and built-in tracking tech.

The Abound SR packs in a lot of performance and features for the $2,199 price tag. Power comes from a 36 Volt, 708 Watt-hour removable battery in the frame feeding a 750-Watt motor in the rear hub. Aventon says the battery is good for up to 60 miles of assist; load, terrain and how much you’re pedaling will make that figure vary.

Tektro hydraulic brakes front and rear slow the 20 by 3-inch tires down, and riders can either pedal with three levels of assist across eight rear gears or just enjoy the ride without pedaling via thumb throttle that tops out at 20 mph. The performance of the pedal assist system can also be massaged in the Aventon app.

A rear rack is standard, as are fenders front and rear and mesh leg guards over the rear wheel for when riding two-up (or three if small kiddos). Aventon didn’t forget to add excellent LED lighting front and rear, including turn signals. The handlebars use a Quill stem for quick and easy adjustment over 140mm/five inches of height, and a small control pod on the left bar has been redesigned in the spirit of old MP3 players. The front forks include suspension travel for a smooth ride but can also be locked out, and Aventon has upped the comfort level with a suspension seat as well.

To counter anyone wanting to make off with the Abound SR without permission, the bike connects to 4G wireless systems to allow position tracking and geofencing. The center stand locks into place remotely to further stymie thieves, and the battery removal is now keyless via a passkey sequence on the tidy new control pad, which can also lock out the bike’s electrical systems.

Welcome tech to be sure, but I still highly recommend securing your precious bike to something solid with the new crop of theft and cutting tool resistant locks like those from Litelok. Not cheap, but far less than buying a new ebike.

Naturally, the company offers a wide assortment of racks, seats, foot rests, panniers and more for customizing the bike for your cargo duties. Cargo bikes are an investment, but they do pay for themselves by reducing gas bills, reducing wear and tear on your car and boosting your health. Plus, they are good fun to ride and for business owners in crowded cities, can also be used for delivery or errand running on the cheap.

Look for a ride report in the near future.

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