Name: Aventon Level Review
Item: Aventon Level
Author: Court Rye

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Aventon Level Review

Aventon Level Suntour Suspension Fork Alloy Front Fender

Aventon Level 46t Steel Chainring Alloy Guide 170mm Cranks

Aventon Level Shimano Acera Derailleur 1x8 12 To 32 Tooth

Aventon Level Shengyi 500 Watt Rear Hub Motor

Aventon Level Rear Rack Standard Gauge Tubing 25kg Weight Limit

Aventon Level Aventon By Velo Saddle 27.2mm Seatpost

Aventon Level Rear Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand

Aventon Level Downtube Integrated 48v 14ah Battery Pack

Aventon Level Bengal Aries 3 180mm Rotor Hydraulic Dual Piston Caliper

Aventon Level Kenda Quik Drumlin Ebike Specific Tires Hybrid Tread Pattern

Aventon Level Cockpit View Center Mounted Display

Aventon Level Grayscale Lcd Display Three Button Control Pad

Aventon Level Bengal Aries 3 Brake Levers With Motor Inhibitors

Aventon Level Thumb Throttle Rubber Locking Grips

Aventon Level Stock High Step Earth Grey

The Aventon Level is a powerful and feature-rich Class 3 commuting electric bike, a new model from Aventon that is competitively priced with impressive quality components throughout
The Shimano Acera drivetrain feels smooth with a good gear range across eight speeds, Quik Drumlin tires from Kenda are Ebike-specific with hybrid tread and puncture protection, alloy fenders and rack are durable and well built
Shengyi's 500 watt rear hub motor is reliable and powerful, easily accelerating the Level up to 28mph Class 3 speeds when using pedal-assist, the Level has a hybrid setup that also allows throttle activation up to 20mph
The SR Suntour suspension fork performs great but is coil which adds some weight, lights are not included so you'll have to add your own if riding at night, the center-mounted display has excellent visibility and good readouts but is not removable

Make:

Aventon

Model:

Level

Price:

$1,599

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

58.6 lbs (26.58 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.9 lbs (3.58 kg)

Motor Weight:

9 lbs (4.08 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Double-Butted Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

15 in (38.1 cm)17.5 in (44.45 cm)20 in (50.8 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Large 51cm Measurements: 20" Seat Tube Length, 27" Stand Over Height, 34" Minimum Saddle Height, 27" Width, 72" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Earth Grey

Frame Fork Details:

SR Suntour MOBIE A32 Coil Suspension, 75mm Travel, 32mm Steel Stanchions, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Thru-Axle with Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

135mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Mount, Fender Mounts

Gearing Details:

8 Speed 1x8 Shimano Hyperglide CS-HG200-8 12-32 Tooth Cassette, Shimano Acera Derailleur

Shifter Details:

Shimano Acera Triggers on Right (Two-Way High, Three-Shift Low)

Cranks:

Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length, 46 Tooth Steel Chainring, Double-Sided Aluminum Alloy Guard

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy, Wide with Pins

Headset:

Semi-Integrated, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, Straight 1-1/8"

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, Threadless, 7 Degree Rise, Three 10mm Spacers, 95mm Length, 31.8mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Low-Rise, 690mm Width, 31.8mm Bore

Brake Details:

Bengal Aries 3 Hydraulic Disc with 180mm Rotors, Dual-Piston Calipers, Bengal Aries 3 Three-Finger Levers with Adjustable Reach and Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Velo Comfort, Lock-On, Rubber, Dark Grey

Saddle:

Aventon by Velo, Foam

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

310 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 32mm Outer Width, 36 Hole

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 13 Gauge, Black with Silver Nipples

Tire Brand:

Kenda Quik Drumlin, 27.5" x 2.2" (56-584)

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

50 to 80 PSI, 3.4 to 5.5 BAR, Ebike-Specific, KS+ Puncture Protection, Hybrid Tread Pattern, Reflective Sidewall Striping

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Aluminum Alloy Fenders (Black), Rear-Mount Adjustable Length Kickstand, Aluminum Alloy Rear Rack with 25kg/52lb Weight Limit (Black)

Other:

Locking Removable Downtube-Integrated Battery Pack, 1.8lb 3 Amp Charger

Motor Brand:

Shengyi

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Peak Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

60 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung, 18650 Cells

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

14 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

672 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-Ion

Charge Time:

4.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

57 miles (92 km)

Display Type:

LCD-M5, Grayscale, Backlit, Fixed, Adjustable Angle

Readouts:

Energy Bar (10 Bars), Current Speed, Assist Level (0-5), Odometer, Trip A, Trip B, Voltage, Timer

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left, Buttons: Up, Down, M, (Backlight: Hold Up, Cycle Readouts: Press M, Walk Mode: Hold Down, Settings Menu: Hold Up and Down)

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,000 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)46 in (116.84 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

Number of Gears

030

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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Aventon. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Aventon products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Aventon electric bike forums.

Observations:

The Level is a hybrid that straddles the line between Class 2 and Class 3, with a throttle that provides power up to 20mph while pedal-assist can push you further up to 28mph. This is a rare configuration and a nice setup for those who want the Class 3 speeds while also making use of a throttle from time to time
Aventon started in 2013 making fixed-gear bicycles, and over the years they have steadily grown in size and turned to focus more and more on the Ebike space. The Pace 350 and 500 are some of their most popular Ebike models from previous years, and this year is the first year they have produced a Class 3 commuter like the Level

Pros:

Comes with a solid warranty that offers one year of comprehensive coverage and an impressive lifetime of coverage for the frame, widely available thanks to Aventon’s hybrid model of selling directly to consumers with online ordering in the United States (with free shipping!) and also partnering with dealers across the US and in Canada. Dealer support is great not just for support but also for test rides and fitting as you also have three frame sizes to choose from
Having those three frame size options means the Level will be a great fit for a wide range of riders, and the curved top bar also helps with approachability, blending the line between high-step and mid-step
I found the Level to be a very comfortable ride, you have a mid-range SR Suntour coil suspension fork up front combined with nice wide Kenda tires, and my favorite feature is the wide handlebars which felt great for me as a tall rider with long arms, as well as providing nice stability at higher speeds
Included accessories are excellent in terms of quality and performance, you get a rear rack with standard gauge tubing and weight limit (25kg/52lb) and plentiful attachment points for bungees or panniers, as well as sturdy full-coverage aluminum alloy fenders, alloy construction means they will rattle less than plastic while being a bit more resilient than steel
The drivetrain, in particular, stands out to me as an above-average component for this price range, the Level is equipped with a Shimano Acera derailleur and rapid-fire trigger shifters, this is a one-by-eight setup with a cassette range of 12 to 32 teeth – a pretty decent range that will do great for starting out or tackling hills, as well as being able to handle Class 3 speeds on the top end. Shifting up and down the gears is smooth as expected from the Acera and I enjoy the satisfying tactile feedback of the trigger shifters
Excellent tires from Kenda, these are the Ebike-specific Quik Drumlin series featuring an efficient hybrid tread pattern, reflective sidewall striping for safety, and puncture protection – the perfect tire for a high-speed commuter like the Level. At 2.2 inches wide they are just a bit bigger than the usual commuter tire, which I think is excellent because the extra air provides some more cushion while the efficient center of the tread pattern minimizes drag
The 500 watt motor from Shengyi is the same tried-and-true motor from the Aventon 500, it can peak at up to 750 watts and is more than capable of pushing the Level up to Class 3 speeds of 28mph. I was able to reach the top speed with only moderate exertion on the pedals, and my understanding is that the Level can actually be unlocked to handle up to 32mph of speed… but only when riding on private property as that much power is illegal in most cities. I think Aventon has done a good job with their tuning here as the Level felt as powerful as some other 750-watt Ebikes I have ridden recently
When riding below 20mph the variable throttle is responsive and satisfying, and I appreciate the tuning from Aventon that allows full-throttle power in any assist level, useful if you are riding in a low level of assist and need to suddenly accelerate to avoid a collision or conquer a particularly steep hill. As with most electric bikes, you can engage the throttle while pedaling or simply use it by itself
The cadence sensor is a sealed 12-magnet sensor located on the left side of the bottom bracket, this is a great setup that is high resolution and the sealed nature keeps it immune to damage
Hydraulic brakes do a great job for stopping power, these are the Bengal Aries 3 disc brakes with 180mm rotors in the front and rear, I found the levers easy to actuate and did some hard stops from full speed in the review video to demonstrate their effectiveness. These brakes include motor inhibitors which will cut power to the motor instantly when you pull on either lever, always a welcome safety feature!
I’m a big fan of Aventon’s displays as they are large with great informational readouts, grayscale LCD technology is extremely easy to see in any light setting, and the battery readout is a full 10 bars – nice and precise compared to many Ebikes that only show a four or five bar readout
Seating position is forward which feels good for commuting while still being more relaxed than the forward-aggressive stance on a mountain or road bike, rubber grips are locking and won’t rotate if you bear down on them while riding at higher speeds, and the Level feels incredibly stable even at top speed. The wide handlebars help with this, as does the rock-solid frame with the thick downtube
Speaking of the downtube, Aventon has integrated the battery into the underside of the downtube, this combined with excellent integrated cable management lends a beautiful and sleek appearance, most people will not even realize this is an Ebike until they hear the motor (which is fairly loud). I’m a fan of this smooth integration as it helps the Level to have a lower theft risk than some electric bikes with more obvious and exposed electronic components
The battery is high capacity at 48 volts and 14 amp-hours, constructed of high-quality Samsung 18650 cells, and features a charging port for off-bike charging as well as an LED indicator for checking the charge level. The battery fits snugly into the frame with a two-step removal process that helps keep it secured, and the on-bike charging port is high up on the right side of the downtube, great positioning compared to some Ebikes that place the charge port down near the bottom bracket and cranks where it’s at risk for damage if the bike is moved or knocked over while charging
The kickstand is sturdy with a wide base, adjustable for length, and rear-mounted which means no risk of locking it up with the left crank arm. This rear position is even more important on the Level since we have the motor in the rear, as well as the rear rack, which means the bike will be nice and stable on the kickstand even when carrying cargo
Aventon has assembly and tutorial videos, as well as manuals, for the Level (and all of their electric bike models) available on their website, and I was particularly impressed by the manuals. You can easily download them in PDF format, they’re extremely well written and easy to read, a welcome surprise as most Ebike manuals are too generic and vague to be of much help
The standard charger provides 3 amps of power, better than the typical 2 amp chargers that come with most electric bikes, so you get a little bit faster charging time with the tradeoff of more weight. This charger weighs in at 1.8 pounds, so it’s still light enough to transport in a backpack… or pannier bag! This is handy if you have an exceptionally long commute and need to charge while at the office, although for most commuters the Level should have more than enough range to get you there and back, especially if you pedal regularly to help out the motor

Cons:

The standard configuration of Aventon Ebikes means that you cannot use the throttle from a dead stop, you have to start pedaling first and once you get moving you can switch over to the throttle. This may be a confusing setup if you’re used to electric bikes, and a bit frustrating if you are a rider who likes to get started with the throttle and then switch over to pedaling. Fortunately, thanks to the good gear range on the Level it’s pretty easy to start pedaling on human power alone, and I’ve heard that some riders will simply use the “Walk Mode” to get started and then engage the throttle. Aventon limits this functionality as a safety feature to prevent unexpected or unintentional acceleration when stationary, a common cause for accident and injury among riders who are new to electric bikes, or new to cycling in general
Only one color option… so hopefully you like “Earth Grey”! I do love the color scheme and find it sleek and sporty looking, although I would like to see a white or similar light color option as many people prefer it for the safety offered by higher visibility
The level does not include any lights, this is a bit surprising for a commuter that has so many other great features, so you’ll have to add lights of your own if you need them. I do understand Aventon’s choice here, the idea is that riders who want lights will often have specific lights they prefer, while other riders don’t need or want lights and would be paying extra for an unused feature… so skipping the lights saves costs for everyone and riders who want lights can pick the perfect setup. That’s a fair deal, with the biggest downside being that lights added won’t be integrated into the electrical system for ease of use. Just make sure you pick up lights if you ride at night! I noticed that Aventon has a large selection of lights and other accessories available on their website, and they seem to be very competitively priced
The display is not removable so there is some risk of damage or tampering when parked outside, fortunately, these are durable displays so that should be a minor concern. There are no USB charging ports either so you won’t be able to charge your phone while you ride, which isn’t a big deal although the Level is a great candidate for mounting your phone on the handlebars thanks to the extra real estate there
As mentioned above the motor is fairly loud when you get up to higher speeds, this is normal for a hub motor setup but you may get tired of the sound if you ride for long periods at high speed
I think Aventon picked a great suspension fork in the SR Suntour MOBIE A32, but I do want to call out that since it is a coil suspension fork it is a bit heavier and not quite as high-performing as an air fork, however, this is a minor complaint as the SR Suntour fork performs great and helps to keep costs low
All sensing systems have their trade-offs and the trade-off for cadence-sensing pedal-assist is that it’s just not very responsive compared to a torque-sensing system, cadence-sensing also means a sensor delay when starting and stopping pedaling. Fortunately, these are easy to work around thanks to the wide gear range and motor inhibitors on the brakes, and cadence sensors are actually preferred by many riders as they can be easier on the knees and other joints. For reference, torque sensors require more force on the crank arms to get more power from the motor, whereas cadence sensors (like on the Level) simply require you to cycle the cranks with light pressure in order to get full power
There are no bottle cage bosses, although that’s understandable since the curved nature of the top bar limits the space for mounting bottle cages, it would still be nice to see them especially for mounting other smaller accessories
The wheels do not have quick-release skewers which means that if you do have to change a flat it’s going to require more tools and effort. On the Level, I don’t see an issue with this since these Quik Drumlin tires have excellent puncture protection, and lack of quick-release does also help to minimize theft risk

Useful Resources:

April 30, 2020 (3 months ago)

April 9, 2020

Aventon Sinch Review

MSRP: $1,499
MODEL YEAR: 2020

The Aventon Sinch is a value-priced fat tire folder with a beautiful visual appearance thanks to internally routed cabling and paint-matched components, Kenda Krusade tires can tackle any terrain and include puncture resistance. A 500 watt motor from Shengyi provides satisfying power and is activated via either a…...

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Aventon Pace 350 Review

MSRP: $999
MODEL YEAR: 2019

A very affordable ($999) yet capable and versatile step-thru electric bicycle which aims to give more bang for your buck and remain approachable and comfortable with some cruiser design elements. The Pace 350 features a nice electric drivetrain sporting a 20mph trigger throttle and cadence…...

February 10, 2019

Aventon Pace 500 Review

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David

3 months ago

Awesome review, I am currently looking into purchasing an e-bike for commuting in the city. If you were to pick between the Aventon Sinch and the Level, what would your choice be?

Thank you in advance.

Tyson Roehrkasse

Hi David, thanks for the question! The Level is my personal favorite, but I think they’re both great bikes and it really comes down to how you’ll be using it. For commuting, I would prefer the Level, you get better range and higher speeds, the rack and fenders are great, and it also performs better for just “riding like a bike” without any electric assist. I think where the Sinch shines is all-terrain capability with those fat tires, as well as being more portable and easier to store thanks to the folding.

The Sinch also only has one frame size, so you’ll probably be able to find a better fit on the Level since there are three frame sizes to work with.

Ben G

I am in the market for my first ebike. I’m looking at the Level, and the ride 1 up 700. Of the two, which would you choose? Love the site and I appreciate the help.

Court

Hi Ben! Man… these are both sweet ebikes. I think it might come down to geometry of the frame. Look at the step-thru of the 700 series and the swept-back handlebars vs. the more aggressive forward flat bar and stiffer high-step frame on the Level. I’m a more comfort oriented rider who uses a rack, so I’d probably aim for the step-thru for myself… but Tyson said that he loved the Level, and he’s a taller heavier rider. I think you’ll be happy with either, but those are my thoughts and reasoning. You can see all of the stat’s for both bikes at this link that I setup for you, so you can really scrutinize the details. One final thought, the Ride1Up 700 Series is less expensive, has a bottle cage mount, and also has lights. To me, that shows that they really thought it out and scrutinized the details. However, Aventon is a bigger company and might have more resources and staying power in the industry. I have however, heard that their ebikes are more difficult to assemble if you’re ordering online direct (at least for the older models that I covered and talked with shops about).

Wendy B.

My husband and I are looking to purchase our first Ebikes, through a local bicycle shop .We live in a rural area, so we will be on roads and dirt trails. We are older. We aren’t sure if we should get the Pace 500, or the Level . Will the extra weight of the Level not work out so good for dirt trails? We are so new to this, any info or suggestions would be helpful.

Hi Wendy! Either of these two ebikes should work well for you… and it might come down to what’s available without a wait time! I’ve heard that some brands are low on stock… The Level really impressed Tyson when he performed this review, so I might nod towards that one between the two :)

Hey Wendy, I’ll echo what Court said that I personally would prefer the Level over the Pace 500 because the Level is more rigid and sturdy, yes it does weigh more but I think that will help it to feel even more stable on trails. I think an important thing to consider is the frame style, the Level is a more forward seating position, while on the Pace 500 you would be more upright and relaxed. That part really comes down to preference, though, and honestly, I think both bikes will do just fine on your trails as long as you aren’t talking about intense mountain biking trails. I recommend test riding both at your local shop if you can!

Ana

2 months ago

Hey there! Thanks so much for your reviews and all your work. I’m trying to decide between the Pace 500 and the Level. I appreciate the accessories that come with the level, but when I do a side by side idea comparison of the two on their website, the Pace 500 says “great for hills” which isn’t mentioned for the level. It looks like the Level has everything the pace does and more, but I’m just concerned about the hills. I live in Providence, which is pretty hilly, and I’d be going up and down hills every day on my commute. Any insight here as to which would be better?

Thanks!

Hi Ana, great question! The Level should perform equally on hills as both bikes are using similar electronics including the same rear hub motor.

Great question, Ana! I’d say that these two ebikes are going to perform very similarly. Perhaps you just got some marketing speak there… because they both have 500 watt planetary geared motors from what I can tell, and they both seem to have 48 volt batteries. Now, the Level has a higher capacity battery… so it could probably climb for longer distances. I personally prefer how it looks, and appreciate the added fenders and rear rack. If you want the step-thru, don’t mind a slightly smaller battery pack, and are looking to save $200… then the Aventon Pace 500 should be very comparable, based on the stats I’m seeing, and my experience reviewing ebikes :)

Scott Chadwick

I enjoy riding road bikes and my wife would like to join me, but her speed is an average of 11 mph and mine is closer to 19-22 mph. I thought about getting her an ebike so that she could join me for a 30-40 mile ride every now and then. My budget is $1400-$1800, does the Aventon Level make sense for what I am trying to do?

Hi Scott! The Level is an awesome bike for the money… but you might be just fine getting your wife the cheaper, more approachable Pace 350 from Aventon. That ebike doesn’t have the fenders or rack, but it does have disc brakes and reflective tires. If you decide on this one, you’ll be getting less power, but if she is already close to your speed and used to a traditional bicycle, it will probably still be enough to keep up ;)

The big downside that I’ve heard about for the Pace 350 is that it might require more assembly than average ebikes. If possible, try to buy it from a local dealer, or pay a shop to build it for you (cost of $150+). Here are some other affordable ebikes worth considering, they’re all made with cheaper parts, but they should accomplish your goal of having her keep up. One of my personal favorites for direct-order is the RadCity Step-Thru 3 because the company offers great support.