Aventon Sinch.2 ST Review, 2023 | Electric Bike Report

As a Class 2 e-bike, the Sinch.2 offers both throttle and pedal-assisted speeds of up to 20 mph. It also features a 500W (750W peak) rear-hub motor, an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, and Aventon’s recently adopted convention of 4 pedal-assist settings; Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo modes. To get a feel for these elements of the bike, we performed a Circuit Test, which you can read more about in the graphic above.

With no motor assistance, the Sinch.2 moved fairly well on flat ground, but it was not the easiest bike to pedal uphill due to its weight. In Eco Mode (and above), however, the motor’s engagement was immediate thanks to the bike’s torque sensor, and it was also impactful. As our data shows, the bike was easily able to approach its maximum motor-assisted speed even in its lowest PAS setting.

As is typical with e-bikes that use torque sensors, the Sinch.2 responds based on the amount of effort put in by the rider. The bike’s four PAS settings dispense greater amounts of power with each pedal stroke in its higher levels, but the motor’s output is not capped (as with many cadence sensors).

For this reason, our average speed data from this test does not indicate or suggest much difference between the various PAS settings – though to be clear, there is a noticeable change in the bike’s feel when you’re riding it. Getting up to speed is much faster in Turbo Mode than it is in Eco Mode, and it is possible to feel greater inertia from each pedal stroke on the higher end of the settings as well. Your speed can be controlled more through the gear you ride in and how heavy your pedal strokes are and less through the PAS setting you choose.

As with all of Aventon’s e-bikes, the Sinch.2 pairs with the brand’s app for ride data tracking, access to the Aventon community, and more – but it’s worth noting that unlike other bikes like the Aventure.2, the Sinch cannot be unlocked to speeds above 20 mph. Personally, I found the bike to feel like it easily could achieve higher speeds, and I imagine that the graph above would likely display more differentiation between its average speeds in its different PAS settings, but I’m also not unhappy about such a limitation on a folding e-bike just for added safety and peace of mind.