The Aventon Naro brings a wealth of smart technology to the affordable city e-bike segment: For €2,599, this new low-step model combines a 600 Wh battery, belt drive, electronic 5-speed automatic gearbox and its own 4G module complete with GPS tracking. This means the bike offers just about everything you could want from a city-class e-bike. We’re keen to see whether the Naro performs as well in practice as it does on paper. - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor
Aventon is technically very closely linked to the Aventon Trava EXP review . Its safe operation, mobile-based tracking and integrated rear-wheel lock already impressed us during our test. The Naro offers reduced motor power, battery capacity and price, whilst retaining the key everyday features.
Aventon Naro: Key facts at a glance
| Characteristic | Aventon Naro | Classification |
| Price | 2,599 euros | remarkably good value for a belt drive, automatic transmission and 4G tracking |
| Engine | Aventon Ultro L, 70 Nm | suitably sized for urban traffic and normal gradients |
| Battery | 600 Wh, removable | ample reserve for commuting and several days’ everyday use without recharging |
| Circuit | Shimano Nexus 5-speed, electronic with automatic function | low-maintenance and user-friendly gearbox |
| Drive | Dayco Carbon Belts | clean, quiet and with no need for chain maintenance |
| Safety | 4G, GPS, motion alarm, geofencing, rear wheel lock | a real unique selling point in this price range |
| Weight | 25.9 kg in size L | Pleasantly light for a fully-equipped low-step model |
The Naro is priced in the same range as many new city e-bikes with hub motors and smaller batteries currently on the market. A good example is the Trek Inbound+: Trek has also opted for a 600 Wh battery in its top-of-the-range model, priced at 2,499 euros, and offers a well-thought-out design. For an extra 100 euros, the Aventon adds a mid-drive motor, a belt drive, an automatic hub and connected safety technology.
That doesn’t mean the Naro automatically outperforms all its rivals. Depending on the version, the Trek is significantly lighter, and a hub motor can be the elegantly simple choice for flat city rides. However, Aventon’s package has a different priority: as little maintenance as possible and as little worry as possible when parking it.
The difference compared to the Aventon Trava EXP is also clear. The Trava, with its 800 Wh battery, 90 Nm motor and Enviolo continuously variable transmission, is in a league of its own, but costs 3,899 euros. With the Naro, the battery capacity and torque are reduced to a level that is sensible for everyday city use. Rather than investing an extra 1,300 euros in extended range and power reserves, buyers get a package designed specifically for urban use.
70 Nm and 600 Wh: that’s all you need for city driving
The new Ultro-L mid-drive motor is said to deliver 70 Nm of torque and, according to Aventon, weighs just 1.95 kilograms. This means it offers less thrust than the Trava SUV. However, the power should easily be sufficient for city use. The calibration of the sensor technology and the control of the U-modes are also likely to be crucial. We’ve particularly liked the automatic mode on previous Aventon bikes.
In our view, the removable 600 Wh battery – which is firmly integrated into the frame – offers a better balance than a mini battery with a capacity of 360 or 400 Wh. Anyone who commutes daily, carries shopping or doesn’t want to charge the bike every evening gains greater flexibility. At the same time, Aventon avoids the Trava’s large and expensive 800 Wh battery, which often provides more range than is necessary for a bike used purely for city riding.
Nexus 5 and belts: low maintenance rather than maximum gear ratio
Aventon combines a Shimano Nexus 5-speed hub with Dayco carbon belts. This is well suited to the bike’s intended use: no chain oil on your trousers, no exposed sprockets and no frantic re-lubrication after riding in the rain. The electronic automatic function announced by Aventon is designed to select the appropriate gear ratio automatically. This can make a noticeable difference to comfort, particularly when stopping frequently at traffic lights.
The Nexus Inter-5E is specifically designed for e-bikes: Shimano specifies a gear ratio range of 263 per cent, a higher load capacity and the option of automatic gear-changing functions. However, Shimano’s technical description of the Nexus Inter-5E also highlights the limitations of the design: five gears are a solution deliberately geared towards everyday use, not a gear system for long Alpine passes or sporty rides involving significant changes in speed.
For the Naro, this isn’t really a drawback. Anyone who mainly drives through flat to gently undulating urban areas is likely to value the automatic selection of a suitable gear more highly than ten or twelve manual gears. For long commutes involving steep gradients, a wider range of gear ratios remains the safer choice.
4G GPS tracking: The real selling point of the Aventon Naro
The Naro’s most distinctive feature is not the motor, but the Aventon Control Unit, or ACU for short. It connects the e-bike to the MyRide app via 4G and Bluetooth and offers features that are usually missing from budget city e-bikes:
- GPS tracking and geofencing
- Motion alarm with push notifications
- password-protected display
- integrated rear wheel lock
- digital journey recording
- Over-the-air updates
- Adjustment of support levels
Aventon has already used this system at the Trava with keyless features and GPS tracking introduced. During the Trava road test, the tracking and motion alert functions worked reliably; according to the manufacturer, the integrated SIM tracking was included for eight years at no extra cost. It is important to remember that tracking and alarms are no substitute for a high-quality lock. However, together with the integrated anti-theft system, they increase the chances of quickly detecting any movement and recovering a stolen bike.
Fully equipped for cobbled streets and shopping bags
When it comes to comfort, the Naro follows the classic city e-bike formula, but without any noticeable shortcomings. A 60-mm suspension fork and a suspension seatpost are designed to smooth out cobblestones and potholes. Added to this are agile 27.5-inch wheels with 2.1-inch-wide Kenda tyres, hydraulic Tektro disc brakes with 180-millimetre discs at the front and rear, and a 3-inch colour display.
Mudguards, lights, a side stand and a luggage rack are all included as standard. The low step-through frame makes it easy to get on and off at every set of traffic lights and is just as suitable for everyday footwear as it is for office wear. For a low-step-through bike, the Naro isn’t heavy, but at 25.9 kilograms it’s still not a bike you’d want to carry up a flight of stairs on a regular basis. The city e-bike is available in sizes S/M for riders between 160 and 175 centimetres tall. Size L is designed to suit riders between 175 and 195 centimetres tall.
BIKE’s verdict on the Aventon Naro
The Aventon Naro strikes a chord: rather than cutting corners on connectivity and anti-theft protection, Aventon has made precisely these features the core of the design. For €2,599, the 600 Wh battery, the 70 Nm mid-drive motor, belt drive and automatic hub are a compelling package. However, 4G GPS tracking, geofencing and a rear wheel lock set this package apart noticeably from many conventionally equipped alternatives.
The key caveat is this: the Naro is a city bike, not a versatile touring e-bike. Its five gears and moderate-power motor are designed for short to medium-length everyday journeys. However, for anyone looking for a city e-bike that is as low-maintenance, comfortable and digitally secure as possible, this is one of the most interesting new additions of the model year.
Adrian Kaether
Editor