The A2B Alva offers more of a bicycle riding experience vs. scooter feel that the older Metro (now called the Octave) does. Previously, the Alva was called the Velociti and all of these name changes with A2B electric bicycles is the result of a merger. In 2011 A2B merged with F4W and is now a part of the Hero Eco group… Okay, now that we’re up to speed with names and such, let’s talk about the bike. A2B is known for their classy purpose-built frames with integrated wires, fenders, lights and easy to mount Y-frame. The Alva+ is no different and offers a range of high quality features and power that make it fun and convenient for city riding.
Both the Alva and Alva+ were named to honor Thomas Alva Edison who invented the “long lasting and practical” electric lightbulb. So A2B wants you to know that their gearless rear hub motor and sturdy frame will also be practical and long lasting and they’ve backed it up with a generous five year frame warranty and two year motor, battery and electronics warranty. That’s impressive for any electric bike. The differences bewteen the Alva and Alva Plus, aside from price ($3.4K vs. $3.1K), include the 500 watt motor vs. 480 and larger 13.5 amp hour battery vs. 12 on the Alva. The Alva+ even offers a battery upgrade to 17 amp hours so that works out to 612 watt hours vs. 486 for the standard Plus or 432 for the basic Alva. This is why the quoted “range” of the Alva+ is so much higher with the website stating 40 miles vs. just 20. It really depends on the battery size you choose. Also, you can extend your range greatly on the Alva+ by using pedal assist which in one of three modes: economic, standard or high power. The Alva+ also offers BB7 mechanical disc brakes instead of the BB5’s on the Alva and has another option to upgrade with Tektro Hydraulic disk brakes. The Alva+ also weighs a bit less (66 pounds vs. 69lbs) and offers eight speeds on a Shimano XT system vs. just 7 with a Shimano Alivio.
In summary, the Alva+ should go further because it has a larger battery capacity and pedal assist mode option. Depending on how you ride, this should be true and one of the other big benefits here is a higher top assisted speed of 24 miles per hour. The Alva+ still cuts out at 20mph in throttle mode, but there is a movement towards higher assisted speeds in the US with some ebikes reaching 28mph in what is called “speed pedelec” mode. Controlling the different settings on the Alva+ is a small LCD computer mounted in the center of the handle bars. To turn it on you’ve got to use a small key fob and to change settings you’ve got to twist a little dial. It’s pretty fancy and looks durable but in my experience was harder to reach than some other ebike designs that have break-out button pads located right next to the grips on one side or another. In the video review you can see me riding with one hand while I use my other to twist the little dial.
The motor powering ebike is a 500 watt gearless design that is smooth, quiet and powerful. Gearless motors are known for being durable but also large and heavy. That’s because they use magnets vs. plastic gears and require more physical space to generate power. It’s a heavy motor but it’s capable of climbing and reaching top speed with little effort from the rider. Some gearless motors offer regenerative braking but this is not the case with the Alva or Alva+. This likely saves money on the build and certainly reduces complexity, thus increasing durability. The motor may actually create some resistance when coasting simply because the magnets inside are repelling vs. geared motors which tend to freewheel with a clutch system. All in all, I love the way this motor feels.
The battery pack is mounted to a rear rack arm and connects to the drive system using the new magnetic EnergyBus standard. It’s also removable and has a nice handle built right in so you can slide it off and carry it inside the office or your house for charging at the half way point of your commute. As mentioned previously, the standard battery offers 36 volts of power with 13.5 amp hours of capacity but there is an upgrade option for a 17 amp hour pack that will take you even further. Regardless of the batter you choose you should get decent range using that pedal assist option but in throttle mode expect 20 to 25 miles. The battery itself is enclosed in aluminum and uses durable Samsung cells. One drawback to the design is where it’s mounted on the bike. All of the weight including the motor and battery are at the rear of the bike vs. spreading it out more forward with a downtube design. Also, the rear rack itself uses larger metal tubing that won’t work with many standard bags and panniers. Ultimately, since it’s welded and solidly built this is a minor gripe but worth noting. A2B sells their own rack cargo systems that work with this rack so consider those vs. something off Amazon which might not fit.
Other highlights of this bike include the oversized (but not too oversized) tires that provide some cushion in addition to the front suspension fork. Also, 24″ wheels create a mechanical advantage for the rear hub motor, making it easier to climb hills. The front and rear fenders look beautiful and are extra wide so they cover the tires adequately and should keep your pants and shoes clean in wet conditions. The chain stays on this bike protrude outward and act as a natural chain guard to keep your pants from getting greasy. There’s also a small plastic shield covering the chain and an aluminum chain guard to protect the teeth on the front sprocket. The bike also comes with front and rear LED lights that run off of a dynamo built into the rear motor assembly for improved safety at night, even if your main battery pack runs out. This bike uses torque sensing pedal assist vs. pedelec meaning it is more responsive but requires more force when pedaling to activate. The system features a higher end TMM4 sensor that is super smooth.
In summary, this is a durable commuting style bike that is meant for pedaling. It looks great, has a few neat features and offers lots of utility but it’s also heavy and hard to transport via car or bus racks. Weighing in at 66 pounds it’s one of the heavier models out there and it only comes in a 20″ frame. The step-through design is easy to use and the controls are intuitive but a bit awkward to reach at times. No ebike is perfect but if you love the design of this one, appreciate the warranty and want something that’s going to be durable it could be a great choice. I’ve seen many city dwellers successfully commuting on A2B bicycles and they do hold up. I think these newer models are more polished than ever and I love the adoption of the key fob system and the EnergyBus charging standard.
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Kevin Nelson
10 years agoA2B Alva + is a great concept and a fun bike to ride. but that is when you get to ride it. I purchased Two A2B Alva + around 5 months ago both have experienced problems with the rims getting out of round or were never trued properly to begin with. Both bikes shake violently at speed it was just slightly noticeable when we first got it now 5 months later I no longer feel safe at all on them at any speed. The Authorized service center I went to was not properly equipped to service these bikes and A2B did not have any printed service manuals available to help. This was a disappointing experience after spending so much.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Kevin, I cut some of your comment out to focus in on the issue. I’m really sorry to hear you’ve experienced problems with the wheels on your Alva+ coming out of true (or not being setup correctly). Which shop were you going to for help and where did you purchase the bike? Have you been in contact with A2B directly at any point? Maybe I can help you resolve this.
ReplyChloe Stratton
10 years agoHi, I was curious if you could give me a comparison between the A2B Alva and the Stromer ST1 elite / ST1 platinum. That’s my range. I noticed that they are about the same weight, but I’m curious if they FEEL the same weight when riding them, and if you think they would be similarly easy/difficult to take up stairs. I’m buying a bike in that range and it will be my primary transportation, but I live upstairs in an apartment complex where I don’t exactly trust people to not steal it if I leave the bike out. I’m also hoping to take it on the bus…but I know the a2b alva probably won’t fit. If you could sort of just give me a list of pros/cons vs the two I’d really appreciate it. It seems impossible to get a read on which one of these will best fit my needs.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Chloe! The first big difference between these two ebikes is body position. The Stromer bikes are more aggressive, meaning you will lean forward more. Both bikes have removable batteries which is nice for reducing weight but neither one is light weight so carrying up stairs and putting them on busses may be a challenge. Depending on how heavy you are, and how strong you are these bikes might be a fit but you could also consider a lighter folding bike that would be easier to deal with and take up less space in your apartment or on the bus. Check out the e-Joe Epik Lite, it has throttle and pedal assist but isn’t too expensive and weighs a lot less than these other bikes. Its range and power are more limited but if you’re going to take the bus or train part way this might be a better fit. There are lots of different options out there and another light weight fit that doesn’t fold and could work for you in the city might be the Emazing Bike Daedalus 72pd. I hope this helps, you can also ask in the forums to compare bikes that you’re interested in.
ReplyJosh
5 years agoI just replaced the rear tube on one of these beasts and broke a sweat. Thats a bout 30 minutes of my life I’m not getting back. The retainer on the non-drive side of the axle is not easy to remove and the spacers that fall off the axle on the drive side are not fun either. By the way, make sure the wire gets back into the bracket above the drop out or else the rotor will wear through it.
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