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 pleasurable weeks driving this enjoyable little runabout and felt nearly like I used to be dishonest, getting the enjoyable vibes with out paying the traditional entry worth of muss and fuss that goes with traditional ICE scooters.
To begin with, I in all probability shouldn’t name it a Vespa, regardless that it appears to be like and looks like one. Aventura-X in all probability walks a high quality line as it’s, conjuring up old-timey Vespa vibes whereas sustaining simply sufficient differentiation to keep away from authorized points. It’s a frequent recreation lately, 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 journey that feels oh-so-good.
Test it out in my video assessment under, then preserve studying for all of my ideas on this enjoyable journey!
Aventura-X EV29 video assessment
Fast, what are the specs?
You in all probability wish 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 beneath 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). For those who don’t have an additional battery, like mine, then you definately’ve received some further storage beneath the seat!
The present sale worth of US $3,295 doesn’t embrace the additional battery, which is a further US $799. You do get the keyless begin from a wi-fi keyfob included at no cost although as a part of a promotional add-on, so at the very least you’ve received that going for you!
Clearly this scooter is constructed for appears to be like, although that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have some respectable utility baked into it as properly.
There’s a small storage space in entrance of the battery compartment, but it surely’s extra of a cellphone/pockets/keys/sunglasses-sized storage compartment. There’s additionally a bigger storage compartment in the best rear fender that I used to be capable of squeeze three of my driving cameras into in addition to my microphone setup.
I do know that’s not a traditional unit of measure except you’re a YouTuber, however I’d guess that the wheel properly storage is round 1.5 liters or so. It’s additionally roughly within the form of a water bottle. So for the People within the room, image a 2L soda bottle and subtract a bit.
Then you definately’ve received the wicker basket on again, although that’s an add-on accent. It’s additionally not precisely a high-security resolution, but it surely does provide you with some further storage and undoubtedly appears to be like stylish. Actually, it’d be proper at house driving to a picnic in your native park.
Now I feel most individuals will agree that the scooter appears to be like nice, which is sweet because it isn’t terribly quick. At 30 mph (51 km/h), individuals will get lengthy take a look at you as you cruise by. Aventura-X additionally has 50 mph (80 km/h) fashions, however the one I’m driving is constructed for appears to be like, 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 principally caught to smaller streets the place I might and stayed in the best lane after I needed to take sooner streets.
I can completely see the knowledge in having extra pace for retaining your choices open when it comes to street selection. Clearly a 30 mph prime pace goes to impression the place you may journey, and so I see this mannequin being higher for cruising alongside the seaside roads than commuting on the freeway, if that wasn’t clear.
However I assume that’s the great thing about a number of choices. You will get the 50 mph scooter that Aventura-X provides if you wish to journey on sooner roads, or can avoid wasting dough on the slower scooter when you’re sticking to neighborhood streets.
And as a fast observe on security: You’ll discover within the video on the prime of this text that I’m sporting my motorbike jacket and often my driving gloves on the scooter (although admittedly I did neglect my gloves a few occasions). 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 motorbike with out all of my protecting driving gear, and that’s how I like to recommend driving. Relating to scooters, the extra laissez-faire nature of the journey makes it simple to by accident (or purposely) push the considered driving 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 motorbike and you may nonetheless technically cheese grater the pores and skin off varied elements of your physique in a crash. So simply contemplate that when selecting your journey outfit.
Whereas I’m sporting my Dianese mesh motorbike jacket on this video since I used to be travelling, I’ve been extra incessantly sporting my Past Riders motorbike gear for my pleasure/commuter driving because it has all of the protecting qualities I’m in search of however appears to be like like typical road garments. I simply received 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 should 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 offers 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 take advantage of them each usually.
With cute little 10″ wheels and a fake leather-based seat, the scooter undoubtedly appears to be like the a part of a classic getup. Even the handlebars nearly seem like they could possibly be from a number of many years previous, skipping the massive gaudy plastic molded elements of immediately’s scooters and placing as a lot metallic as doable on these bars as a substitute. I’ve a ’69 Honda Sports activities Cub and the bars/switches/mirrors, and many others. all really 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.
Nonetheless, the physique panels don’t get the identical traditional remedy. Whereas they appear the half, they’re really plastic. That’s high quality from just a few steps again because you’d by no means know from a look. However when you seize maintain of the entrance defend and shake it, it looks like a plastic panel.
That’s probably not a difficulty per se, but it surely means you would possibly wish to watch out along with your parking so that you don’t crack a panel that might have merely dinged if it had been metal or aluminum.
As for the journey, 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 fundamental 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 journey.
Actually, as a lot as I like my bikes, I usually go for my scooters after I’m really commuting or operating errands because the further foot area makes it simpler to hold issues with me or do the occasional buying journey.
The texture will likely 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 comfy, the big entrance defend retains you largely climate protected against splashes and street particles, and also you get all the enjoyment of being a part of the atmosphere (as a substitute of watching it go by by means of a window) but with out the advanced emotions that many individuals have in direction of true bikes. Mainly, it’s the entire enjoyable with out the bags.
Finally, I’m not precisely certain what I anticipated of the Aventura-X, but it surely undoubtedly left me smiling and glad. It’s a enjoyable, retro journey that appears to deliver pleasure to only about everybody who sees you go by.
On the identical time, although, you’re paying a premium for these feel-good rides. At its present worth of $3,295, that is clearly not probably the most reasonably priced solution to cruise round at 30 mph. And talking of which, that 30 mph pace is certainly limiting, leaving you barely sooner than an electrical bicycle but on a car that appears very misplaced within the bike lane.
Actually, you nearly actually shouldn’t be utilizing it within the bike lane, except your native legal guidelines permit it. After I spent a 12 months in Boston again in 2018, I really might legally journey my 30 mph electrical moped (a Genze 2.0, RIP) within the bike lane. But even with the regulation on my aspect, cyclists who noticed me have been pissssssed about it. That meant I not often really used the bike lanes except it was to briefly skip a line of site visitors, and even then I used to be at all times further cognizant of any precise cyclists round me. I’m undecided many locations would permit an Aventura-X within the bike lanes lately, or if Boston even nonetheless permits mopeds in, and so that you’ll must plan your personal native journeys accordingly.
There’s undoubtedly a spot for a journey like this, and I’m glad vintage-inspired electrical scooters exist. I will surely contemplate springing for the additional 20 mph although, because it opens up many extra prospects for the place you may journey. However when you’re in a sleepy neighborhood or laid-back seaside 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 proper journey certainly.
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