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, scent of gasoline, or oily rag in your workbench. I spent a couple of gratifying weeks driving this enjoyable little runabout and felt virtually like I used to be dishonest, getting the enjoyable vibes with out paying the traditional entry value of muss and fuss that goes with basic ICE scooters.
To begin with, I most likely shouldn’t name it a Vespa, regardless that it seems and looks like one. Aventura-X most likely walks a fantastic 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 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 evaluate beneath, then hold studying for all of my ideas on this enjoyable journey!
Aventura-X EV29 video evaluate
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 might add an additional battery to double the vary from 35 miles as much as 70 miles (56 km to 112 km). In case you don’t have an additional battery, like mine, then you definitely’ve bought 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 without spending a dime although as a part of a promotional add-on, so not less than you’ve bought that going for you!
Clearly this scooter is constructed for seems, although that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have some first rate utility baked into it as nicely.
There’s a small storage space in entrance of the battery compartment, however it’s extra of a cellphone/pockets/keys/sunglasses-sized storage compartment. There’s additionally a bigger storage compartment in the suitable 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 standard unit of measure until you’re a YouTuber, however I’d guess that the wheel nicely 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.
You then’ve bought the wicker basket on again, although that’s an add-on accent. It’s additionally not precisely a high-security answer, however it does offer you some additional storage and undoubtedly seems stylish. In actual fact, it’d be proper at dwelling driving to a picnic in your native park.
Now I feel most individuals will agree that the scooter seems nice, which is sweet because it isn’t terribly quick. At 30 mph (51 km/h), individuals will get a very good 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 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 may and stayed in the suitable lane after I needed to take quicker streets.
I can completely see the knowledge in having extra pace for preserving your choices open when it comes to highway selection. Clearly a 30 mph high pace goes to influence the place you’ll be able to 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 fantastic thing about a number of choices. You will get the 50 mph scooter that Aventura-X presents if you wish to journey on quicker 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 high of this text that I’m carrying my bike jacket and often my driving 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 driving gear, and that’s how I like to recommend driving. In terms of 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 slightly cruise,” is a standard sufficient thought, and I’ll admit that I’ve typically heard the siren’s name of a romantic scoot alongside the lapping waves in nothing however a t-shirt and shorts. However finally, that is nonetheless technically a bike and you’ll nonetheless technically cheese grater the pores and skin off varied elements of your physique in a crash. So simply take into account that when selecting your journey outfit.
Whereas I’m carrying my Dianese mesh bike jacket on this video since I used to be travelling, I’ve been extra regularly carrying my Past Riders bike gear for my pleasure/commuter driving because it has all of the protecting qualities I’m on the lookout for however seems like typical road garments. I simply bought 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 swimsuit up, however I’m saying I’d advocate 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 provide each. My each day rider – a Gogoro – has each, and I take advantage of them each typically.
With cute little 10″ wheels and a pretend leather-based seat, the scooter undoubtedly seems the a part of a classic getup. Even the handlebars virtually seem like they may very well be from a number of many years previous, skipping the large gaudy plastic molded elements of as we speak’s scooters and placing as a lot steel as attainable on these bars as an alternative. 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.
Nevertheless, the physique panels don’t get the identical basic remedy. Whereas they give the impression of being the half, they’re really plastic. That’s fantastic from a couple of 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 not likely a difficulty per se, however it means you would possibly need to watch out along with your parking so that you don’t crack a panel that will have merely dinged if it had been metal or aluminum.
As for the journey, I’ve lengthy been a scooter fan. I’m a each day scooter rider myself. Since my spouse and I went car-less some time again, an electrical seated scooter is our primary type of conveyance. And so the huge foot space of the Aventura-X feels at dwelling to me, as does the handy bag hook for carrying varied odds and ends alongside for the journey.
In actual fact, as a lot as I like my bikes, I typically go for my scooters after I’m really commuting or operating errands for the reason that additional foot house makes it simpler to hold issues with me or do the occasional procuring journey.
The texture might 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 massive entrance defend retains you largely climate shielded from splashes and highway particles, and also you get all the enjoyment of being a part of the surroundings (as an alternative 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 the entire enjoyable with out the bags.
In the end, I’m not precisely certain what I anticipated of the Aventura-X, however it undoubtedly left me smiling and happy. It’s a enjoyable, retro journey that appears to convey pleasure to simply 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 value of $3,295, that is clearly not essentially the most inexpensive option 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 car that appears very misplaced within the bike lane.
In actual fact, 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 really may legally journey 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 had been pissssssed about it. That meant I hardly ever really used the bike lanes until it was to briefly skip a line of site visitors, and even then I used to be all the time additional cognizant of any precise cyclists round me. I’m undecided many locations would enable 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 take into account springing for the additional 20 mph although, because it opens up many extra prospects for the place you’ll be able to 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 perhaps the proper journey certainly.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
