The Aventura-X EV29 has a lot of the feel-good appeal that comes together with nostalgic Vespa rides, but with none of the exhaust noise, odor of gasoline, or oily rag in your workbench. I spent just a few pleasing weeks using this enjoyable little runabout and felt virtually like I used to be dishonest, getting the enjoyable vibes with out paying the conventional entry value of muss and fuss that goes with basic ICE scooters.
Initially, I most likely shouldn’t name it a Vespa, although it seems and appears like one. Aventura-X most likely walks a positive line as it’s, conjuring up old-timey Vespa vibes whereas sustaining simply sufficient differentiation to keep away from authorized points. It’s a widespread recreation today, giving us old-school feels with out blatantly ripping off a decades-old model.
However these sorts of points apart, this scooter nonetheless brings with it a classic-inspired trip that feels oh-so-good.
Test it out in my video evaluation beneath, then maintain studying for all of my ideas on this enjoyable trip!
Aventura-X EV29 video evaluation
Fast, what are the specs?
You most likely need to know the numbers proper off the bat, so let’s hop to it.
The model I examined is the Aventura-X EV29. It has a 2,900 watt motor fed by a 72V 20Ah battery. There are literally two battery slots below the seat, so you can add an additional battery to double the vary from 35 miles as much as 70 miles (56 km to 112 km). When you don’t have an additional battery, like mine, you then’ve obtained some additional storage below the seat!
The present sale value of US $3,295 doesn’t embody the additional battery, which is a further US $799. You do get the keyless begin from a wi-fi keyfob included totally free although as a part of a promotional add-on, so at the very least you’ve obtained that going for you!
Clearly this scooter is constructed for seems, although that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have some respectable utility baked into it as effectively.
There’s a small storage space in entrance of the battery compartment, however it’s extra of a telephone/pockets/keys/sunglasses-sized storage compartment. There’s additionally a bigger storage compartment in the fitting rear fender that I used to be capable of squeeze three of my using cameras into in addition to my microphone setup.
I do know that’s not a traditional unit of measure until you’re a YouTuber, however I’d guess that the wheel effectively storage is round 1.5 liters or so. It’s additionally roughly within the form of a water bottle. So for the Individuals within the room, image a 2L soda bottle and subtract a bit.
Then you definately’ve obtained the wicker basket on again, although that’s an add-on accent. It’s additionally not precisely a high-security resolution, however it does provide you with some additional storage and positively seems stylish. The truth is, it’d be proper at house using to a picnic in your native park.
Now I feel most individuals will agree that the scooter seems nice, which is good because it isn’t terribly quick. At 30 mph (51 km/h), folks will get a very good lengthy have a look at you as you cruise by. Aventura-X additionally has 50 mph (80 km/h) fashions, however the one I’m using is constructed for seems, not for pace.
Contemplating I used to be testing this in Florida, the place 50 mph roads are simply the way you exit your neighborhood, that decrease pace was a little bit of a difficulty. I largely caught to smaller streets the place I might and stayed in the fitting lane after I needed to take quicker streets.
I can completely see the knowledge in having extra pace for conserving your choices open by way of street alternative. Clearly a 30 mph high pace goes to influence the place you may trip, and so I see this mannequin being higher for cruising alongside the seashore roads than commuting on the freeway, if that wasn’t clear.
However I suppose that’s the great thing about a number of choices. You may get the 50 mph scooter that Aventura-X gives if you wish to trip on quicker roads, or can avoid wasting dough on the slower scooter in the event you’re sticking to neighborhood streets.
And as a fast word on security: You’ll discover within the video on the high of this text that I’m sporting my motorbike jacket and normally my using gloves on the scooter (although admittedly I did overlook my gloves a few instances). I’m additionally in full pants and boots. Whereas I’m not going to be anybody’s mom right here, I attempt to by no means get on a bike with out all of my protecting using gear, and that’s how I like to recommend using. In relation to scooters, the extra laissez-faire nature of the trip makes it simple to by chance (or purposely) push the considered using gear to the again of your thoughts. “I’m simply going for a bit of cruise,” is a standard sufficient thought, and I’ll admit that I’ve usually heard the siren’s name of a romantic scoot alongside the lapping waves in nothing however a t-shirt and shorts. However in the end, that is nonetheless technically a bike and you’ll nonetheless technically cheese grater the pores and skin off varied components of your physique in a crash. So simply take into account that when selecting your trip outfit.
Whereas I’m sporting my Dianese mesh motorbike jacket on this video since I used to be travelling, I’ve been extra steadily sporting my Past Riders motorbike gear for my pleasure/commuter using because it has all of the protecting qualities I’m on the lookout for however seems like typical road garments. I simply obtained a brand new flannel shirt from them that has hidden armor and a pair of khaki pants that get the identical remedy.
So I’m not saying you must go well with up, however I’m saying I’d suggest it. Okay, security rant over.
I’m glad to see each a aspect stand and a middle stand included on the scooter, since they’re helpful in numerous conditions. The aspect stand is nice for fast stops like hopping off and operating right into a retailer, whereas the middle stand provides extra secure parking, particularly when parking on a hill or looser terrain like grass. It’s uncommon to see bikes or scooters that supply each. My every day rider – a Gogoro – has each, and I exploit them each usually.
With cute little 10″ wheels and a pretend leather-based seat, the scooter positively seems the a part of a classic getup. Even the handlebars virtually appear to be they may very well be from a number of a long time previous, skipping the large gaudy plastic molded components of as we speak’s scooters and placing as a lot steel as attainable on these bars as a substitute. I’ve a ’69 Honda Sports activities Cub and the bars/switches/mirrors, and so on. all truly look fairly much like these on the Aventura-X. The rubber finish grips take away from the retro vibe a bit, however not an excessive amount of.
Nevertheless, the physique panels don’t get the identical basic remedy. Whereas they appear the half, they’re truly plastic. That’s positive from just a few steps again because you’d by no means know from a look. However in the event you seize maintain of the entrance protect and shake it, it appears like a plastic panel.
That’s probably not a difficulty per se, however it means you may need to watch out together with your parking so that you don’t crack a panel that may have merely dinged if it had been metal or aluminum.
As for the trip, I’ve lengthy been a scooter fan. I’m a every day scooter rider myself. Since my spouse and I went car-less some time again, an electrical seated scooter is our major type of conveyance. And so the extensive foot space of the Aventura-X feels at house to me, as does the handy bag hook for carrying varied odds and ends alongside for the trip.
The truth is, as a lot as I like my bikes, I usually go for my scooters after I’m truly commuting or operating errands because the additional foot house makes it simpler to hold issues with me or do the occasional procuring journey.
The texture shall be acquainted to any scooter rider, even when the wheels are a tad bit smaller than on a few of my different rides. The lengthy bench seat is snug, the big entrance protect retains you largely climate shielded from splashes and street particles, and also you get all the enjoyment of being a part of the surroundings (as a substitute of watching it go by by a window) but with out the advanced emotions that many individuals have in the direction of true bikes. Mainly, it’s all the enjoyable with out the luggage.
In the end, I’m not precisely positive what I anticipated of the Aventura-X, however it positively left me smiling and happy. It’s a enjoyable, retro trip that appears to convey pleasure to only about everybody who sees you go by.
On the similar time, although, you’re paying a premium for these feel-good rides. At its present value of $3,295, that is clearly not essentially the most reasonably priced technique to cruise round at 30 mph. And talking of which, that 30 mph pace is certainly limiting, leaving you barely quicker than an electrical bicycle but on a automobile that appears very misplaced within the bike lane.
The truth is, you virtually actually shouldn’t be utilizing it within the bike lane, until your native legal guidelines enable it. After I spent a yr in Boston again in 2018, I truly might legally trip my 30 mph electrical moped (a Genze 2.0, RIP) within the bike lane. But even with the legislation on my aspect, cyclists who noticed me have been pissssssed about it. That meant I not often truly used the bike lanes until it was to briefly skip a line of site visitors, and even then I used to be at all times additional cognizant of any precise cyclists round me. I’m unsure many locations would enable an Aventura-X within the bike lanes today, or if Boston even nonetheless permits mopeds in, and so that you’ll have to plan your personal native journeys accordingly.
There’s positively a spot for a trip like this, and I’m glad vintage-inspired electrical scooters exist. I would definitely take into account springing for the additional 20 mph although, because it opens up many extra prospects for the place you may trip. However in the event you’re in a sleepy neighborhood or laid-back seashore city, zipping right down to that sea breeze coast at 30 mph on a scooter that appears like a blast from the previous is likely to be the right trip certainly.
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