Aventon Soltera 3 ADV vs Vvolt Alpha II
Two commuter e-bikes at a similar price, compared on the same normalized specs. Both scored by us, both reviewed in full.
The verdict
Same price and nearly identical Genius scores, so this comes down to whether you value a throttle and hill-pulling torque (Alpha II) or a lighter bike with longer claimed range (Soltera 3 ADV).
Buy the Aventon Soltera 3 ADV
Buy the Soltera 3 ADV if you want a lighter bike to carry or store and care more about range than raw pull, and you're fine without a throttle (Class 1 pedal-assist only).
Buy the Vvolt Alpha II
Buy the Alpha II if you want a throttle (Class 2), more torque for hills and stop-starts, and wider tires for a steadier ride, and you can live with roughly half the claimed range and 7 more pounds to haul around.
The differences that matter
- Vvolt Alpha II pulls harder from a stop and on hills, by 5 Nm of torque.
- Vvolt Alpha II runs a 100W bigger motor on continuous power.
- Aventon Soltera 3 ADV is 7 lb lighter, which you notice lifting it or carrying it up steps.
- Aventon Soltera 3 ADV claims 30 more miles of range, though both figures are the manufacturer's optimistic "up to" number.
Who each one is for
Aventon Soltera 3 ADV
City commuters on mostly flat routes who want a light, low-maintenance bike and don't mind pedaling.
Vvolt Alpha II
City commuters who want a light, quiet, low-maintenance daily ride and mostly stick to flat or gently rolling roads.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Aventon Soltera 3 ADV | Vvolt Alpha II |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499 | $1,499 |
| Motor (nominal) | 250W | 350W |
| Torque | 40 Nm | 45 Nm |
| Battery | 366.8 Wh | 374 Wh |
| Claimed range | 70 mi | 40 mi |
| Weight | 37 lb | 44 lb |
| Max payload | 300 lb | Not published |
| Motor type | hub | hub |
| E-bike class | Class 1 | Class 2 |
| Brakes | Tektro HD-T3020 Hydraulic Disc Brake (w/o e-cutoff) | Shimano hydraulic disc |
| Drivetrain | Single Speed, Gates Carbon Belt Drive | Single-speed Gates carbon belt drive |
| Tire size | 700x38C | 27.5" x 2.4" |
Highlighted values are the better of the two where both brands publish the number. Where a spec isn't published we leave it blank rather than guess.
The short version on each
Aventon Soltera 3 ADV
What's good
- At 37 pounds it's roughly half the weight of many e-bikes, which is rare in this category
- The single-speed Gates carbon belt drive skips the chain entirely, so there's no grease to deal with and nothing to keep adjusting
- Hydraulic disc brakes give you strong, consistent stopping in city traffic and wet weather
What to know
- The 366.8Wh battery is small for the category, so long or hilly rides mean charging more often than you would on a bigger-battery commuter
- One gear makes steep hills a real workout, and there's no low gear to drop into when the grade kicks up
Vvolt Alpha II
What's good
- At 44 pounds it's light enough to carry up a flight of stairs or lift onto a rack without a fight, which is rare for an e-bike.
- The Gates carbon belt drive replaces a greasy chain, so upkeep is close to nothing and the ride runs quiet.
- Shimano hydraulic disc brakes give you strong, dependable stopping even in the rain.
What to know
- With 45 Nm of torque and a 350-watt motor, steep hills take real effort.
- The 374Wh battery and its up-to-40-mile claim put real-world range on the shorter side next to rivals in this price range.
Full Aventon Soltera 3 ADV review → Full Vvolt Alpha II review →