Aventon Sinch.2 review: Is this new folding fat tire electric bike worth it?
When Aventon updated its popular Sinch folding electric bike for the latest generation, it brought in a number of new features while also leaving out a few choice options as well. So we’re taking a deep dive into testing the Aventon Sinch.2 to see how well the company’s new model works.
One of the great things about Aventon is that you aren’t only limited to listening to what I have to say about the bike – you can try it yourself too! Aventon has partnerships with hundreds of local bike shops around the US, so there’s a good chance that you’ll find an Aventon dealer near you.
That means you can test the bike out yourself to feel how it fits your own riding style.
But if you’ve got five minutes, then you might want to check out my video review below for an overview of the important points of this new model. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for when you test one out yourself.
Aventon Sinch.2 video review
Aventon Sinch.2 tech specs
- Motor: 750 W peak-rated geared hub motor
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: Up to 88 km (55 mi) on pedal assist
- Battery: 48V 14Ah (672 Wh) with LG cells
- Charge time: 4-5 hours
- Max load: 136 kg (300 lb)
- Frame: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: RST spring suspension fork with 45 mm travel
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
- Extras: LCD with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS level indicator, odometer, trip meter, four-speed settings, thumb throttle, accompanying smartphone app, included rear racks and full fender set
- Price: $1,799 from Aventon
What do I like about it?
There’s a lot to like about the Aventon Sinch.2. As a next-generation bike, it retains a lot of great features from the previous Aventon Sinch model and adds even more.
The step-through design makes it easy to mount, which is increasingly important for many different types of riders, such as those that carry bulky rear cargo or that have mobility issues that make it hard to swing a leg over a bike.
Despite the laid-back appearance, the decently powerful rear motor combined with the fat tires gives the bike plenty of on-road and off-road performance. That makes it both a comfort bike and a fun adventure-style bike, even if it isn’t quite as adventurous as Aventon’s full-size fat tire e-bikes.
I love that the company has included a torque sensor in the bike, which makes for a very nice upgrade to the pedal assist operation.
There are now four levels of pedal assist instead of five, but with the torque sensor is still a major upgrade because the pedal assist doesn’t just stick you in a preset speed based on pedal assist level. Instead, it actually modulates power in proportion to how hard you’re pedaling.
And I’m also a huge fan of Aventon’s turn signals, which they’ve included in the seat stay tubes at the rear of the frame. That’s a big value-added feature for me since the turn signals are both bright enough and far enough apart to actually be effective – something we don’t always see in other bike turn signals.
Aventon also decided to stop holding its rack and fenders back behind a paywall, instead including them as standard equipment. That’s another big win for value shoppers who can now include those often-demanded features in the cost of the bike instead of budgeting for adding them later.
And while this won’t affect your everyday riding, I’m also in love with the fact that Aventon brought their eco-friendly cardboard packaging to the Sinch.2. That means you can recycle everything in the box and aren’t left with a huge pile of Styrofoam to throw away after you’ve unboxed the bike.
What don’t I like about the bike?
While there are some major wins, there are also some areas that fell a bit short.
I wish Aventon had given the Sinch.2 the same hydraulic brakes from the Aventure line. Yes, I know the Sinch hasn’t had hydraulic brakes in the past, but this would have been a great time to add them. While mechanical brakes are just fine, there are major advantages to hydraulic brakes that would have been nice to see.
I also would have loved to see a bump up in battery capacity. The 48V 14Ah battery is sufficient, and it’s also nicely designed to pop up with a springloaded release when you turn the key. But as nicely designed as the battery is, extra range from a 17.5Ah battery would have been a nice upgrade and would have only required one extra row of battery cells in the pack.
Even so, the range is actually still pretty good, and the more effective pedal assist means you’ll be more likely to use some pedaling effort to stretch out the range. While I’m as guilty as the next guy for sometimes being overly reliant on the throttle, the Aventon Sinch’s pedal assist is efficient and a great way to extend those rides even further. The company says you’ll get 55 miles on the lowest power setting, but even a moderate power setting should easily still net you over 30 miles of range.
And that long range is partly due to the modest top speed of the bike. This is one last area where I can see room for improvement. The 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed isn’t unlockable to offer class 3 operation, meaning you’re stuck at around 20 mph on both throttle and pedal assist. I wish Aventon had given us the option to unlock a higher speed, especially for those of us that like to commute on long straightaways where a higher speed makes a big impact on trip time.
But to be fair, those three main complaints don’t take away too much from the bike and still leave us with a number of major improvements on an already great design.
Summary
To conclude, I’d say that the Aventon Sinch.2 is a very nice improvement over the previous Sinch, leaving us with the well-engineered frame and slick-looking design but bringing in more value components like the torque sensor and included accessories.
The bike is comfortable, easy to use and great for both recreational and utility riding. It offers good power, good range, and a great look.
All told, I think it’s a good deal for $1,799. Hydraulic disc brakes would have made me call it an even better deal, but you’re still getting a lot here. And the fact that you can actually try it at a local dealer can’t be ignored, as most e-bikes in this price range require you to order them on faith and internet reviews alone.
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Tesla has officially launched the new Model Y in North America and Europe after launching it in China earlier this month.
The difference is that Tesla is now taking orders for both the older and newer versions of its best-selling electric SUV.
That’s a unique launch for Tesla. I don’t remember the automaker doing that before.
After launching the new Model Y design refresh in China two weeks ago, Tesla is now starting to take orders for the refresh in North America and Europe.
But it looks like the design refresh is still a transitional in Tesla’s production as the automaker is still taking orders for the previous version:
For the launch in North America and Europe, Tesla has only added a new “trim” on the Model Y online configurator for a ‘Launch Series New Model Y’, which is the version unveiled in China earlier this month.
But in China, only this new version has been available for sale since the last two weeks.
Tesla estimates that the new version will have 320 miles of EPA range. Compared to 311 miles for the previous Model Y Long Range AWD, the only version of the new Model Y Launch Series available.
Here are all the other changes with the new Model Y compared to the previous version:
| Feature | Model Y | New Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price After Est. Savings | $31,490 Available Now | $46,490 Available Starting March |
| Trims | Long Range RWD Long Range AWD Performance AWD | Launch Series Long Range AWD |
| Range | 277-337 miles (EPA est.) | 303-320 miles (est.) |
| Seating | First row: power recline and heated Second row: manual fold and heated | First row: power recline, heated and ventilated Second row: power two-way folding and heated |
| Displays | 15.4″ front-row touchscreen | 15.4″ front-row touchscreen 8″ second-row touchscreen |
| Ride Comfort | First-generation suspension First-generation noise reduction hardware | Second-generation suspension Second-generation noise reduction hardware |
| Cameras | 7 exterior cameras | 8 exterior cameras (includes a new front-facing camera) |
| Audio | Long Range RWD: 7 speakers Long Range AWD: 13 speakers, 1 subwoofer Performance AWD: 13 speakers, 1 subwoofer | Launch Series Long Range AWD: 15 speakers, 1 subwoofer |
| Connectivity | First-generation hardware | Second-generation hardware |
| Trunk | Power open | Hands-free power open on approach |
| Interior | Footwell and door pocket ambient lighting Wooden detailing with black interior | Footwell and door pocket ambient lighting Wrap-around ambient lighting Aluminum detailing and premium textiles |
| Climate | Tinted and laminated safety glass Power-actuated first-row air vents Manual second-row air vents | Tinted and laminated safety glass with metallic infrared reflective coating Power-actuated first- and second-row air vents |
For the Launch Series, Tesla is pricing the new Model Y Long Range AWD at $59,999 USD. That’s $12,000 more than the previous Model Y Long Range AWD, which is still available to order.
Specifically for the Launch Series, buyers get a bunch of special badging around the car:
But they also get things called “Premium Textil Trim” and “Vegan Suede for Black Interior”:
Currently, Tesla is only offering the new Model Y in Stealth Grey, Pearl White Multi-Coat, Ultra Red, and Quicksilver, but they are all included in the Launch Series price.
The Glacier Blue that is offered in China is currently not offered in North America or Europe.
Tesla is talking about the first deliveries of this new version of the Model Y coming in March in North America.
Electrek’s Take
This came sooner than expected, as most expected the launch to be closer to March based on how Tesla launched the Model 3 refresh last year.
But this is also different since Tesla continues to take orders for the previous version.
Tesla was likely worried about the Osborne effect and this strategy of starting with this more expensive version of the Model Y, the Launch Series, is going to help sales of the much cheaper previous version.
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Rivian (RIVN) plans to launch a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) this year to enable hands-free driving. The new feature is expected to be similar to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD). In 2026, Rivian will up the ante with an “eyes-free” system.
Rivian plans hands-free driving in 2025, eyes-free in 2026
At the new Rivian Space opening in San Francisco on Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe revealed a few exciting developments to look forward to.
According to the folks at RivianForums, Scaringe said during the event that the company plans to launch a hands-free ADAS feature in 2025. Next year, Rivian will follow it up with an “eyes-free” system.
The big question is, will current Rivian R1S and R1T owners gain access? It could depend on whether you drive a Gen 1 or Gen 2 model. All Rivian models built through 2024 are considered Gen 1, while models 2025 and newer are Gen 2.
Rivian introduced the second-generation R1S and R1T last summer. They were “completely reengineered” with hundreds of hardware improvements, fully redesigned software, and more.
The upgrades include its new in-house autonomy system, Rivian Autonomy Platform. It’s powered by 11 cameras, five radars, and predictive AI.
Rivian said the new platform is “10 times more powerful” than the old system. It also features 360-degree visibility with 8X the number of camera pixels than the previous models. Gen 2 models already include features like Blind Spot Monitoring and Highway Assist.
With the premium version, drivers gain access to Lane Change, while Rivian said Enhanced Highway Assist and other features were coming soon.
Although all Rivian R1S and R1T EVs include OTA updates, some features may require additional hardware or software not included on Gen 1 models.
Rivian hands-free and attention-free autonomous highway driving will be available on the upcoming R2 model. The smaller electric SUV is due out in the first half of 2026, starting at around $45,000.
Electrek’s Take
As a Tesla Model 3 driver, I can tell you that Full-Self Driving (FSD) is fun and can be helpful at times. I’ve used it on longer trips, like through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it makes driving or sitting in the car a little more enjoyable.
Although the system still requires you to pay attention, it enables the vehicle to drive itself almost anywhere with “minimal driver intervention.”
The new Actually Smart Summon feature is one of my favorites. Through the Tesla app, you can summon your vehicle to come to you in a parking lot. The vehicle will then move around other cars, people, and objects to find you.
Other functions, like Navigate on Autopilot, will take over while the vehicle is on the highway, changing lanes (with turn signals) and braking or accelerating as needed.
For Rivian owners, it would be like an upgraded system from Highway and Lane Change Assist. The “eyes-free” system coming next year will likely have a few regulatory hurdles to pass before it rolls out, so it should be interesting to see what that will consist of. Check back for more info soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
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The United Arab Emirates is building the world’s largest solar and battery storage project that will dispatch clean energy 24/7.
Emirati Renewable energy company Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) are developing the trailblazing solar and battery storage project. Once it’s online, will become the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the world.
Located in Abu Dhabi, the project will feature a 5.2 GW solar PV plant coupled with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and chairman of Masdar, said:
For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency – to be able to source uninterrupted clean power day and night.
In collaboration with EWEC and our partners, we will develop a renewable energy facility capable of providing clean energy round the clock.
For the first time ever, this will transform renewable energy into a world-leading 1 GW of reliable baseload energy every day on an unprecedented scale – a first step that could become a giant leap for the world.
Masdar announced China’s JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of the world’s largest solar panel suppliers, and Chinese battery and BESS giant CATL as preferred suppliers. JA Solar and Jinko Solar will supply 2.6 GW of solar panels each. India’s Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA have been selected as preferred engineering, procurement, and construction contractors.
Masdar says the project will create 10,000 jobs and doesn’t yet indicate a projected completion date.
Read more: China installed a record capacity of solar and wind in 2024 – in numbers
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