Aventon Soltera 3 Electric Bike Review: A Fun Hybrid Single-Speed
Source: Wired
Belt‑Drive Advantages
Belt‑drive bikes offer several notable benefits. They typically require less maintenance, with belts often lasting twice as long as a typical chain. There’s no grease involved, so you won’t get black smudges on your work pants. The Soltera 3 uses a Gates brand belt, which is regarded as one of the best drivetrain belts on the market. Belt‑drive systems are silent and generally smoother than their chain‑driven counterparts.
Brake Considerations
The Soltera 3 pairs its low‑maintenance belt drive with hydraulic disc brakes, which need to be bled roughly every year. If Aventon’s goal was to make the bike as hands‑off as possible, cable‑actuated brakes would have been a more intuitive choice.
Weight and Handling
At 37 lb, the Soltera 3 is relatively light for an e‑bike, though it is heavier than a comparable analog bike. Despite the added weight of the battery and motor, the bike feels stiff, nimble, and easy to navigate—qualities often missing from heavier e‑bikes.
Design and Color Options
The Soltera 3 has a sleek appearance that stands out among many e‑bikes. The tester bike arrived in matte black, a finish that “always looks cool.” The model is also available in:
Beyond the finish, the bike’s geometry—wide, almost perfectly flat handlebars and narrow (by e‑bike standards) 700 × 36 mm tires—gives it a road‑bike‑like DNA rather than a traditional e‑bike feel.
Fit and Sizing
Photograph: Michael Venutolo‑Mantovani
I’m 6′ 4″, and the extra‑large Soltera 3 I tested was at a maximum saddle height. It was suitable for me, but I couldn’t recommend it for riders taller than myself. The line offers four frame sizes—from small to extra‑large—covering a wide range of riders, from 5′ tall up to my height.