That said, incorporating a low-maintenance element like belt drive paired with hydraulic disc brakes, which require bleeding almost every year, struck me as an odd choice. If Aventon wanted to make the Solterra 3 as practical as possible, cable-activated brakes would have been a more intuitive choice.
The second thing that immediately stands out about the Soltera 3 is its relatively light weight. At 37 pounds, the Soltera 3 is heavy for an analog bike. But it certainly isn’t heavy for an eBike, and it’s just as rigid, nimble, and maneuverable as a traditional bicycle. One problem I’ve always had with ebikes is their heavy weight. Given that they are often built to replace a car, they are designed with load carrying in mind. Also, ebike batteries are heavy.
Adding a sense of “this is it” just like that My other bike, the Solterra 3 simply looks good, which is not often the case with ebikes. The matte black that my tester bike came in looks good because matte black almost never looks good. (Additionally, the Solterra 3 is available in deep matte blue and smooth silver.) But beyond the finish, the bike’s geometry; its wide, almost completely flat handlebar; and its narrow (by ebike standards) 700 x The 36 tires make it feel closer in DNA to a road bike than a traditional ebike.
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Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
I’m 6′4′′, and the extra large Soltera 3 I tested was at maximum saddle height. It was fine for me, but I couldn’t recommend anyone older than me to ride the Solterra 3. That said, with four sizes ranging from small to extra large, this line covers a wide range of riders, from my height to those 5′ tall.
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