Aventon, the Southern California-based e-bike maker that’s been turning heads since 2012, is gearing up to drop the Abound LR, a new spin on their popular Abound SR cargo bike. This unreleased model stretches things out with a longer wheelbase, tacking on an extra 7 inches of rear rack space and boosting the total payload to a hefty 440 lbs—plenty for hauling gear, groceries, or whatever else you’re schlepping. The Abound LR isn’t just about size, though; it’s packing some clever tech too.
The new Aventon Control Unit (ACU) brings 4G connectivity, geofencing, a startup password for security, and alerts for unusual activity, while the Aventon App lets you fine-tune the motor, pull down over-the-air updates, and keep tabs on your rides. Structurally, it’s built around a redesigned gravity-cast frame that’s noticeably stiffer under load—great for stability when you’re maxing it out.Plus, they’ve added a 50mm suspension fork with thru-axle support to smooth out the bumps. It’s shaping up to be a versatile cargo rig with a sharp mix of practicality and modern smarts.
My Experience Riding The Aventon Abound LR Electric Cargo Bike
Riding the Aventon Abound LR feels familiar if you’ve spent time on the Abound SR—it shares much of the same geometry, just stretched out with a longer wheelbase and extended chainstays to accommodate that extra 7 inches of rear rack space. Comfort’s a standout here, thanks to the 50mm suspension fork, a suspension seatpost, and beefy 20×3 Innova tires that soak up the road. I tested it in the Sage colorway, a cool earthy off-white that’s easy on the eyes, though if you lean toward something moodier, the matte black ‘Stealth’ option has you covered.
Aventon pitches the one-size-fits-most frame for riders from 4’11” to 6’6”, and at 5’11” with a 33-inch inseam, I found it mostly hits the mark. That said, the pedal extension felt a touch short for me—something to note if you’re a heavy pedaler near the taller end of that range.
The good news? There is room for a longer seat post, about 4 more inches in the tube.
The cockpit’s comfy, though, with BMX-style handlebars that adjust vertically and a seat that slides fore and aft to dial in your fit.
Starting from a stop, the Abound LR’s 88.3 lbs feels hefty but manageable. The throttle eases in gently before ramping up, a smart touch for a cargo e-bike powered by a 750W motor and 80 Nm of torque. For a real-world test, I loaded it up—my 180 lbs plus 40 lbs of cargo, totaling 220 lbs, which seems reasonable for hauling groceries in the pannier bags or even a small kid on the back.
On a steep 9% grade, holding the throttle, it dropped about 1 mph as it climbed—still respectable. Then, on a longer 5-7% grade, it held steady at the max 20 mph without flinching. That’s solid performance for a loaded-up ride.
The torque sensor aligns with Aventon’s 2025 updates, like what we’ve seen on the Level.3 and Abound SR. It’s smoother and more refined than older models, giving a natural, responsive feel under pedaling. Braking comes courtesy of Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 2-piston calipers—180mm rotor up front, a beefier 203mm in the rear. It’s a subtle but welcome boost in stopping power. Sure, 4-piston calipers would be nice, but the setup as-is handled everything I threw at it just fine.
Overall, the Abound LR is a breeze to ride, packs enough power for most everyday jobs, and offers storage and cargo space to haul a small crew—and their stuff—wherever you’re headed.
Range
Estimated Range (from Aventon): 60 miles
Real World Range Test Results:
- MIN PAS: 75 miles
- MAX PAS: 38 miles
Aventon pegs the Abound LR’s range at 60 miles, but my test rides told a broader story. Running it in ECO mode with minimal pedal assist (PAS), I stretched it to an impressive 75 miles—outpacing the spec sheet. Flip it to Turbo PAS with max output, and it clocked in at 36 miles.
In full transparency, I stuck to mostly flat terrain with negligible elevation changes, so those numbers are a best-case snapshot. Range is always a moving target—your weight, the hills you tackle, even tire pressure can nudge it up or down.
Powering this is a 750W motor paired with a 36V system and a 708Wh battery, a setup that’s pretty standard for cargo e-bikes in this class. The 750W peak gives it enough grunt for heavy loads, while the 36V architecture keeps things efficient without overcomplicating the design. That 708Wh battery (roughly 19.7Ah) is the real workhorse here, offering a decent energy reserve to back up those range claims.
The torque sensor plays a big role too—it’s tuned to Aventon’s 2025 standard, feeling smooth and responsive, which helps stretch the juice in ECO mode by syncing power delivery to your pedaling effort.
For a real-world spin, I was more than happy. It’s enough range for a handful of store runs, work commutes, or school drop-offs before you’re hunting for an outlet. Solid performance all around.
Power (Motor & Battery)
The Abound LR runs on a Shengyi 36V 750W rear hub motor, delivering a hefty 80 Nm of torque—perfect for a Class 2 e-bike designed to haul serious weight. It offers three riding modes—Eco, Sport, and Turbo—letting you choose between stretching range or maxing out power, with the Aventon App adding the ability to fine-tune the motor’s response and save it to a custom profile for a tailored ride.
The torque sensor, refined for Aventon’s 2025 lineup, feels smooth and intuitive, syncing assist to your pedaling effort seamlessly. With a nominal 750W output, it’s the torque that shines, effortlessly handling the 440-lb payload. The juice comes from a 708Wh battery—a 36V, 19.6Ah pack with LG 21700 cells, UL 2271 certified for safety against fire and electrical hazards. This battery powers the 75-mile range I saw in Eco mode on flat ground, dropping to 36 miles in Turbo when cranked up.
A new twist is the keyless design—gone are the old physical keys, replaced by an electronic locking mechanism you control via the BC147 display or the app. It’s a slick upgrade for security or off-bike storage, making it easy to lock or pop the battery out without fumbling for a key. Charging happens with a 36V 4A charger, bringing it back to full in about 5-6 hours—convenient for overnight top-ups.
Interestingly, this 36V 708Wh battery isn’t unique to the Abound LR; it’s the same pack Aventon’s used across their last four bikes, including the Abound SR, Level.3 ST, and Level.3 HS. That interchangeability is a smart move—swapping batteries between models simplifies replacements and boosts spare parts availability, cutting overhead for Aventon while making life easier for riders. It’s a long-term play that signals they’re in it for the haul, not just a flash in the pan.
The rear hub motor keeps things low-maintenance, though it does shift the bike’s 88.3 lbs rearward, noticeable when maneuvering unloaded. Tied to the BC147 color LCD, you’ve got full visibility into the system. It’s a powerful, secure, and cleverly designed setup that’s built to last.
Components
The Abound LR rolls out some notable upgrades over the original first-gen Abound—not the SR—making it a sharper take on an already solid cargo platform. One tweak is the drivetrain, stepping up from a 7-speed to an 8-speed setup, which adds a little extra flexibility for juggling different loads or terrain.
The real game-changer, though, is the new gravity-cast 6061 aluminum frame. Unlike traditional frames pieced together with welds, the new LR frame uses a process called gravity casting.
Gravity casting pours molten aluminum into a mold under natural pressure, forming a seamless, single-piece structure. It feels stiffer and more composed, especially when you pile on the weight—I noticed better handling with no hint of flex, just a rock-solid ride under load.
The cockpit gets a boost too, with a quill stem offering 140mm of vertical adjustability paired with wide 720mm BMX-style handlebars for an upright, customizable perch. A suspension seatpost teams up with a 50mm-travel front suspension fork to take the edge off bumps, while the Aventon App introduces ride-tuning profiles to tweak the 750W motor’s behavior to your liking.
The standout feature, though, is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU)—a discreet little box with 4G connectivity that drives the security perks like 4G data connectivity, geofencing, GPS tracking and unusual activity alerts, keeping things smart without cluttering the bike’s lines.
Beyond those highlights, the frameset is a gravity-cast 6061 single-butted aluminum alloy with a 440-lb load capacity, rolling on double-wall 20-inch aluminum rims with 36-hole, 13-gauge spokes up front and 12-gauge in the rear, wrapped in 20×3” Innova IA-2131 tires with reflective sidewalls.
The fork is an Aventon-branded unit with a 15x110mm thru-axle, threaded steerer tube, and quill stem setup. The drivetrain runs an 8-speed Shimano Altus rear derailleur with a 12-32T HG-200-8 cassette, triggered by simple shifters, and a 52T chainring on a square-taper bottom bracket with 165mm cranks.
For the cockpit, you’ve got a 40mm-long quill stem with a 31.8mm bar clamp, Aventon lock-on ergonomic grips, and a Selle Royal saddle with a grab handle atop a 30.9mm suspension seatpost—though taller riders past 5’10” might want to opt for a longer seatpost for better pedal extension, something I felt was a tad short at 5’11” with a 33-inch inseam.
Flat 9/16” pedals keep it simple, and braking comes via Tektro hydraulic discs with 2-piston calipers, a 180mm rotor up front, and a beefier 203mm in the rear, a subtle yet helpful bump in the braking performance, especially for a cargo bike.
Compared to the first-gen Abound, the LR feels like a more modern, polished package—stiffer, smarter, and ready for whatever you strap to that rack.
Screen / User Interface / App
The Abound LR swaps in the new BC147 display, a compact, horizontally oriented color LCD that’s a fresh step up for Aventon. It’s designed to keep things simple, showing a clear spread of readouts: time, speed, PAS level, battery status, odometer, trip meter, average speed, max speed, plus handy extras like an Aventon App connectivity indicator, a 4G data coverage bar, and turn signal cues.
One of its slickest perks is the USB-C port for charging your phone on the go—a feature I quickly grew to love. The full-color screen pops with high contrast, making it legible in any light, whether you’re riding under midday sun or dusk shadows.
That said, at 44, I caught myself squinting at the small font—age creeping up, I guess. It’s not a dealbreaker, though; slap a phone mount on, fire up the Aventon App, and you’ve got the same metrics in a bigger, easier-to-read format on your screen. The app doubles as a ride tracker too, syncing seamlessly with the bike’s 4G-enabled ACU to mirror the display’s data and then some.
I’m also a fan of the BC147’s understated vibe—it doesn’t scream “clunky e-bike” like some bulkier displays. Instead, it’s sleek and low-profile, blending into the cockpit without drawing attention. For a modern cargo rig, it’s a smart, functional setup that balances tech with style, even if us over-40 folks might need a workaround for those tiny digits.
Security and Tech
The Aventon Abound LR stands out with a suite of security and tech features anchored by the Aventon Control Unit (ACU), a clever little brain with a built-in 4G cell data chip that’s free for the first year and just $20 annually after that—a steal of theft’s a worry where you ride.
The ACU powers geofencing, letting you set digital boundaries around up to four zones through the app; if the bike crosses one, you get a notification and real-time GPS tracking kicks in, thanks to that 4G connection—I could see this being a lifesaver in busy urban spots.
There’s also a locking saddle kickstand, a two-legged central mount that lifts the wheels off the ground as usual, but hit ‘lock’ on the app or BC147 display, and it freezes in place, immobilizing the bike so no one’s pedaling—or even coasting—away with it.
Another gem is the unusual activity alarm, adjustable from 1 to 5 sensitivity levels; bump or jostle the bike when it’s set, and it triggers an audible alarm while pinging your phone—I tested it, and even at mid-level, it’s quick to catch odd movement.
It’s worth clarifying that after that first free year of 4G data, renewing is optional with no cost to you if you opt out (the other services like the kickstand lock, alarms, etc are free forever), but for $20 a year, it’s an industry-leading security setup that I found impressive and practical.
Aventon Abound LR Model Options
The Abound LR keeps things straightforward with its model options, built around a one-size frame designed to fit riders from 4’11” to 6’6”—a broad range that relies on adjustable components like the quill stem and seatpost to dial in comfort. I found it worked well at 5’11” with a 33-inch inseam, though taller folks might want that optional longer seatpost for better leg extension.
It comes in two colorways: Sage, a mellow off-white with an earthy vibe that I rode, and Stealth, a matte black that’s all business if you prefer a darker look. The frame’s got practical attachment points—three bosses on the downtube plus front and rear rack mounts—making it a blank canvas for customization.
Out of the box, it includes a rear rack, fenders, footboards, and a frame storage bag, covering the essentials for cargo duty. Aventon’s optional accessories open up more possibilities: a front rack, panniers, a rear rack handrail, a captain’s chair, a rear handlebar, a rear basket, a rear seat pad (with or without a backrest), a front pizza rack—yes, really—and more, letting you tweak it for groceries, kids, or whatever you’re hauling.
The battery tips the scales at a TBD weight (still waiting on that spec), but it’s the same 708Wh pack shared across recent Aventon models, locked in with that new keyless system.
Warranty-wise, you’re covered for two years, a solid commitment that matches the long-game vibe of their interchangeable battery strategy. It’s a versatile package—one frame, two colors, and a pile of add-ons to make it your own, backed by a brand clearly planning to stick around.
Is The Aventon Abound LR Worth Buying?
The Aventon Abound LR builds on the solid foundation of its predecessors, bringing a longer wheelbase and a beefy 440-lb payload that make it a legit cargo contender. The ride’s comfy, thanks to the 50mm suspension fork, suspension seatpost, and fat 20×3” tires, and the 750W motor with 80 Nm of torque handles steep climbs and heavy loads without much fuss—I saw it hold 20 mph on a 5-7% grade, though it dipped a bit on a tougher 9% hill.
Range impressed me too, stretching to 75 miles in Eco mode and 36 miles in Turbo on flat ground, powered by that 708Wh battery with a slick keyless lock you control via the app or BC147 display.
The gravity-cast frame feels stiffer and more stable under weight, and upgrades like the 8-speed drivetrain, adjustable BMX bars, and smart Aventon ACU with 4G connectivity add real value. On the flip side, the one-size frame’s pedal extension felt short for my 5’11” frame—taller riders might need that extra seatpost—and the display’s small font had me squinting at 44, though the app’s a solid workaround. Braking’s good with Tektro hydraulics, but 4-piston calipers would’ve been a nice bump for heavier hauls.
This bike’s a fit for urban riders needing a do-it-all hauler—think grocery runs, kid shuttles, or small business deliveries—especially if you’re between 4’11” and 6’2”ish and don’t mind tweaking fit with accessories.
The shared battery design and two-year warranty hint at a brand that’s here to stay, which feels good for an e-bike investment. If you’re in the market for a new electric cruiser
Pros
- The Abound LR stretches its wheelbase with an additional 7 inches of rear rack storage, which I found perfect for piling on extra cargo during my test rides, making it a standout for anyone needing more space.
- Packing a big 440-lb payload, this bike handled my 180-lb self plus 40 lbs of gear with ease, proving it’s built to haul serious loads like groceries, kids, or delivery runs without blinking.
- The Aventon Control Unit (ACU) powers 4G connectivity for perks like geofencing, security features, and GPS ride tracking through the app, which I loved for its smart, keyless battery unlock and the fun of logging ride data.
- Featuring a new gravity-cast frame, the Abound LR offers a stiffer, more seamless build that I noticed handled better under load on a 9% grade, giving it a solid edge over the original’s welded design.
- A slew of new accessories—from food delivery racks and kid-friendly captain’s chairs to panniers and a front rack—lets you customize this rig, and I appreciated how they made my test hauls more versatile and practical.
- Despite weighing 88.3 lbs, the Abound LR delivers a surprisingly cozy ride thanks to its 50mm suspension fork and suspension seatpost, which I found smoothed out bumps even when loaded up.
Cons
- Marketed to fit up to 6 ‘6”, the Abound LR struggles to establish proper pedal extension beyond 5’ 10”, which I felt at 5’ 11” with a 33-inch inseam, suggesting taller riders might need an optional longer seatpost to get leg extension right. The good news? There is room, about 4 more inches in the seat tube.
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