Tech Roundup: E-Shift and AutoShift

Just like Bob Dylan at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, shifting has gone electric.

Aventon’s new E-Shift/AutoShift system utilizes an electric cable puller and electronic shifter, offering riders increased precision and consistency with every gear shift. Even more exciting is the AutoShift. As the first fat-tire ebike in this category to deploy an electronic shifting system, Aventure M also features AutoShift to take the guesswork out of gear selection and frees you up to focus on the ride. By taking advantage of the torque, power, and cadence sensors built in the A100 mid-drive system, the Aventon Control Unit (ACU) communicates with the E-Shift system on the drive side chainstay to find the right gear for any situation

This is the first electronic shifting system in a fat-tire bike in this price category and we see it as both another landmark in our history of innovation as well as the groundwork for further development and wider implementation. The E-Shifter uses an ergonomic, wired pod-shifter that communicates directly with ACU as well as the E-Puller mechanism, located on the inside of the driveside chainstay. This generates a flow of information across the bike’s ecosystem, creating more opportunities for us to improve your ride.

Electronic shifting is known for its “set-it-and-forget-it” setup and general ease of use. It’s also the more ergonomic option since the rider isn’t pulling on the shift cable directly. Aventon’s E-Shift is meant to guarantee clean shifting across the board, no matter where your adventure takes you. A clean shift is important in any scenario, whether it be climbing a mountain trail or riding through an intersection to a local park.

An exploded view of the Aventon E-Shifter Pod

While Aventon AutoShift isn’t necessarily the first of its kind, it's definitely one of the most affordable. Available exclusively on the Aventon Aventure M at $2899, AutoShift automatically shifts gears based on your pedalling cadence, torque, and speed. This means that AutoShift keeps you pedalling at your most comfortable cadence wherever the adventure leads.

Finding the right gear is the difference between making it through some rough trail or stepping off the bike. It’s also a comfort and personal preference, which is why every gear-selection parameter is fully customizable on the Aventon:MyRide app. There, you can choose your preferred cadence, shifting sensitivity, and amount of motor torque during the shift. These three factors are taken into consideration in different pedaling contexts. For example, when you’re pedalling the bike as usual, the ACU will use cadence as the main factor in gear selection in addition to pedaling torque.

However, if you’re gliding down a hill and the ACU senses that a gear change would be for the best, the ACU will send a rotation command to the A100 chainring and then a gear-change command to the E-Puller, completing the shifting process. If you are gliding and decide to change gears manually, the ACU will send a rotation command to the A100, as well, keeping you in the gear of your choosing, even when you’re off the pedals. AutoShift even works if you’re utilizing the throttle, reading the rotation of the chainring and sending a gear-shift command to the E-Puller.

It is also possible to adjust the shift sensitivity on the AutoShift system. This parameter affects the minimum interval between two shifting actions (aka. shifts). The greater the sensitivity, the smaller the interval between shifts. This is a personal preference, but some folks would prefer a more dialed cadence vs a more consistent cadence to know what to expect, especially in a techy climb.

The final adjustable parameter is the Torque Limit, which dictates the maximum amount of torque the A100 will output during a shifting action. This will determine both the speed at which the mechanism shifts as well as chain longevity (the higher the limit on this parameter, the shorter the lifespan of the chain).

E-Shift and AutoShift were created with the rider in mind. Instead of fighting to find cadence, let AutoShift find it for you on your next adventure.

The E-Shifter comes ready to rip out of the box, meaning that once the bike is charged, you’re ready to go. The mechanism is powered by the main battery on the bike. To choose a gear manually, use the upper side of the ergonomic rocker paddle to shift into the harder gears and the lower side to downshift.

There are three ways to activate AutoShift. The first option is to press and hold the back of the E-Shifter pod until the first LED on the pod turns blue. That light indicates that AutoShift is activated and ready to roll.

You can also access AutoShift through the main BC 280 display menu (press and hold “+” and “-” simultaneously and hold). By choosing the AutoShift menu, you have the options to activate or disable AutoShift, adjust expected cadence, turn on Torque Limit, and set the parameter for Torque Limit.

A similar menu is available on the Aventon:MyRide app, under the “More Settings” option. This menu will show the same options as the on-bike display, with the addition of the Sensitivity setting.

E-Shift and AutoShift are two of the newest technologies featured on the Aventon Aventure M. Totally new to our lineup, the best way to learn about them is to go out and ride them! Check out the exciting new Aventure M, available now at your local Aventon Dealer or at aventon.com!