Our Rating - 4.5/5
Aventon Level commuter bike comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a high-end e-bike at half the price. On top of that, it’s sleeker than some of the high-end e-bikes on the market.
Aveton Level: In-Depth Review
Aventon got their start by producing high-quality, non-motorized, fixed gear bikes, but a couple of years ago, they started expanding their offering with e-bikes. Besides their Pace line of e-bikes, they also offer a foldable fat bike and the star of our today’s review - Aventon Level.
The Level is in many things similar to the Pace but also comes with quite a few additional bells and whistles. For starters, Level features a fully integrated battery and an awesome-looking two-tone colorway.
This e-bike has got a lot of good going for it, but I’ll talk about that later in the article. Before we get to that, let’s take a look a the key specs.
Key Specs | |
Weight | 62lbs |
Frame | 6061 Double-Butted Aluminum Alloy |
Tires | 27.5" x 2.2" |
Motor | 500W, 48V Brushless Rear Hub Motor |
Battery | Lithium-ion 48V, 14Ah (672Wh) with Samsung Cells |
Range | ~40 miles |
Max Speed | 28 MPH |
Brakes | Hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors |
Frame
The Aventon Level features a hydroformed aluminum frame. The frame has a reasonably low-slung top tube to provide a low stand-over height.
Just like with all Aventon bikes, the battery is integrated into the downtube. However, unlike the Pace, the battery is fully integrated into the frame. Most people will easily mistake this for a regular bike because the battery is that well hidden.
Another awesome feature of the frame is that all the wiring is done through the frame. This means there are no wires danging on the sides or running along with the outer parts of the bike you can accidentally cut or snag.
Another benefit to hydroformed aluminum is that the frame is light because there is no extra material on the parts of the frame where there won’t be any excessive stress.
Extra Features
When it comes to extra features, unlike the Pace 350 and 500, the Level comes with quite a few bells and whistles.
For starters, the Level comes with suspension. The SR Suntour MObie A32 coil-spring fork offers plenty of travel to take out even the gnarliest of bumps from the front.
The Aventon Level also comes with fenders. They’re also made out of aluminum. This is incredibly good news because aluminum fenders don’t rattle at all, unlike the plastic ones.
And if that’s not enough, this e-bike also comes with a cargo rack. The rack can handle up to 50 pounds of cargo. This is great news if you want to take your kid for a ride or if you need to carry something a bit heftier.
Motor
Aventon has gone above and beyond to ensure the motor provides tremendous power. The Shengyi brushless rear-hub motor is rated at 500 watts (750 watts peak), and it’s rated at 50 N/m of torque. You’ll feel the torque the second you start turning the pedals. It takes about one-third to one-half of the revolution of the pedals for the pedal-assist system to engage, and once it engages, you’ll feel like you’re riding on a rocket.
Just like with the Pace 350 and 500, the Level also uses cadence sensors to figure out when you’re turning the pedals. This means you can ghost-pedal this bike with ease - which is great if you don’t want to sweat on your way to work. But if you want a bit of a workout, you will have to turn off the pedal assist.
Of course, you don’t have to ghost pedal when you can use the throttle. On throttle, the Level can reach the speed of 20 MPH. Just keep in mind that throttle drains the battery quite a lot.
Battery
Like I mentioned above, the battery is fully integrated into the downtube of the frame. And what a battery it is - rated at 672 WH for a range of around 40 miles. The battery features Samsung cells, so you don’t have to worry about them dying out any time soon. When it comes to recharging time, thanks to Aventons fast charging technology, you’ll be able to top the battery off in less than 5 hours.
Speed And Brakes
The Aventon Level commuter e-bike is a class III e-bike which means it can reach speeds of up to 28 MPH on the pedal assist. And if you’re too lazy to turn the pedals, you can engage the throttle and cruise at 20 MPH.
The hydraulic brakes are quite capable, and you won’t have any trouble coming to a full stop in just a couple of feet. On top of that, they feature an automatic cut-off system that will disengage the throttle the second you hit the breaks.
Shimano Acera 8 Speed drivetrain ensures you can effortlessly switch from uphill driving to flat terrain as well as downhill.
Tires
The tires on this bike are quite big, which means they’ll absorb some of the shocks from the road. When combining with the fork suspension, it results in an incredibly smooth ride. The rims also feature a reflective layer to ensure vehicle drivers won’t have trouble spotting you when driving this e-bike during the night.
Post Test Summary: Aventon Level Pros & Cons
When you take a look at the price and what you’re getting, the Aveneton Level Commuter is one of the best e-bikes you can buy at this price point.
The motor is more than capable of getting you from point A to point B in record time. For further comfort, the bike also features fork suspension and big tires. And if you need to carry any cargo, it also comes with a rack. Of course, I can’t forget about the fenders, which provide much-needed protection from the rain.
However, there are two things that erk me about this bike. The first is the torquiness of the motor. It takes quite a while to get used to the boost you get once the pedal assist kicks in. The second thing that I dislike about the Level commuter e-bike is the throttle operation. Just like with all Aventon e-bikes, you have to turn the pedals at least half a revolution to engage the throttle. While this is a cool safety feature, it can be an issue for those with disabilities or when you need to take off quickly.
What I Like About Aventon Level
PROS
What I Don’t Like About Aventon Level
Cons
Conclusion
The Aventon Level commuter e-bike is an excellent pick for those that want to drive around town in a more green way. Not only is this e-bike fast, but it also allows you to carry quite a lot of cargo.