The bus came into sight and I straightened, squeezing the handle on my Aventon Sinch folding e-bike. Around me, bored-looking commuters stood at the McAslin Park n’ Ride bus stop, checking their watches. A few others had bikes with them. I noticed at least one sideways glance checking out my bulky electric commuter.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get this bike loaded onto the oncoming bus. Was I going to have to fold it up and lug it onboard? Would it have to ride awkwardly in the seat next to me? Or would I have to try and load this behemoth of a bike onto the front of the bus?
I’d checked the RTD website beforehand — their racks have a weight limit of 55 pounds per bike. Mine was 68 pounds. Getting it onto the bus was the only part of this Louisville-to-Denver commute experiment I was uneasy about.
The bus arrived. People shuffled toward the door and started filing on. Then the bus driver got off, took one look at me and my bike, and opened up the luggage compartment underneath. I sighed with relief. I flipped the locking switch of the Aventon Sinch, folded the bike in half easily, hefted it, and slid it into the storage space. It fit, no problem.
I hopped onto the bus. The hard part was over. From there, I was bound for Union Station, and then it would be a short 13-minute ride south to the GearJunkie office. This commute was shaping up to be pretty easy.
In short: The Aventon Sinch folding e-bike is a really solid option for a city commuter. The bike has some get-up-and-go when the pedal assist is on. It’s got beefy 4-inch fat tires and a claimed range of 55 miles to a single charge, and, of course, it folds in half. It’s easy to store in a closet or garage, and it transports fairly easily on a bus or in a car. It is heavy, though. Lugging this thing upstairs, or hefting it into the bed of a truck is no easy task. And it will not ride on most standard bike racks.
- Motor: 750W (peak) 500W (sustained) 48V brushless hub motor
- Throttle: Throttle on demand, throttle from a complete stop
- Display: LCD Smart Easy Read Display with backlight, colorful screen with app
- Speed: Up to 20 mph on pedal assist
- Sensors: Torque sensor
- Pedal assist: 4 levels
- Range: Up to 55 miles* on PAS, 22 miles on throttle
Pros
- Easy to store
- Easy to commute on buses with
- Has a range of 55 miles to a charge
- Ideal for city commutes
Cons
- Very heavy
- Awkwardly shaped when folded
Aventon Sinch.2 Folding E-Bike Review
I normally ride mountain bikes — almost exclusively, in fact. So, saddling up on a 68-pound commuter with 4-inch fat tires, a step-through frame, and a standover height that’s half of what I’m used to was a somewhat foreign experience. The bike rides more like a moped than what I’m used to.
There’s nothing wrong with that, though, especially for a commuter bike. As I pedaled away from Union Station in Denver, south along the Platte River path, the bike handled well. The pedal assist has four modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. I kept it on Turbo because why not? For most of the ride, I was clocking 15-20 mph. And I barely put any energy into it.
The bike has a smartphone-compatible, full-color LCD display screen in the middle of the handlebars. It’s easily navigated with a directional pad on the left handle and keeps track of your battery power, speed, pedal assist mode, distance ridden, time on the bike, and even calories burned. You can hook your iPhone up to the concealed USB port to charge it.
It can also sync with the Aventon app to share your goals and information with the wider e-bike community.
I didn’t mess with the app. It feels a little like Aventon is fostering a Strava-like community for e-bikes, and I was just commuting. I didn’t feel the need to get competitive with the other e-bikers out there.
What I Liked
As far as e-bikes go, the Aventon Sinch folding e-bike is clearly built for the road. Its 4-inch fat tires felt right at home on the asphalt and pavement. I didn’t worry about riding over gravel or hitting a pothole with those monsters under me.
It’s also got a bunch of lights. The rear of the bike features lights that double as turn signal indicators. And the front of the bike has an LED headlight that makes seeing and being seen easy when it’s dark out.
The battery is also very easy to remove, and charges fully overnight using a standard wall outlet.
The coolest feature of this bike, though, is obviously its ability to fold in half. You simply unlock the switch, open it up, and the bike folds smoothly like you’re closing a book. The pedals also fold up, to make it easier to stow away in a closet or truck.
For folks who live in city apartments, who don’t have a garage, and who don’t want a car, this is an ideal alternative. It’s compact enough to store at home, and it’s also great for getting around town.
Where the Sinch Fell Short
I honestly only have one real gripe with the Aventon Sinch.2 folding e-bike, and I’ve mentioned it already. This thing is heavy. And when it’s folded up, its shape is awkward and somewhat challenging to carry or hoist. I’m a 31-year-old, 5’11’ male who generally considers himself to be athletic — I really had to manhandle this bike to get it into the bed of my truck or into my closet.
For some people, I could see that being a real issue. I wouldn’t want my mother carrying this thing up multiple flights of stairs or even just lifting it onto a storage rack.
I’ll also add that this bike’s 390mm standover height feels even shorter because of a metal standing bar Aventon placed under the frame. When the bike is folded, that props it up so that it’s freestanding.
But when you’re riding, if you go over a curb or down a couple of stairs, you will feel that thing bottoming out. I certainly did. Granted, this bike isn’t necessarily meant for curb hopping or riding stairs — but it’s worth mentioning.
Aventon Cinch Folding E-Bike: Who Is It For?
My Louisville-to-Denver-and-back commute was a cinch on the Aventon Sinch e-bike. It took about the same amount of time to get from my house to the office as it does when I drive. If I practiced that route daily, it would probably end up being a faster option that doesn’t use gas and requires no sitting in traffic.
Truly, this is a great bike for city commutes. I could see it replacing a car for some people. You can store it easily, transport it on a bus easily, and easily and quickly get across town — without spending a dime on gas. It’s outfitted for the road with lights, fat tires, and a pedal assist that keeps you effortlessly flowing with traffic.
So, it’s heavy and awkward to carry around when folded up. But that’s true for any e-bike. For what it’s designed for, the Aventon Sinch is a solid option for a commute-specific bike and for everyday errands.
