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Aventon Level.2 Review

Aventon Level.2
By
Toby Hill,
E-Bike Reviewer
Aventon Level.2
By
Robb Dorr,
Co-founder

42 mi

RANGE

28 mph

TOP SPEED

5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

62 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

Sponsors keep us charged up

Ideal for...

Running errands or visiting friends
Commuting
Mid-distance rides in the countryside
Use as a runabout when using your RV

Aventon Level.2 Commuter Review Overview

Targeted at commuters, the Aventon Level.2 — available in step-through (tested) and step-over frame styles at an MSRP of $1,799 — is Aventon’s first torque-sensing e-bike. Until Level.2’s introduction in 2022, the Southern California e-bike brand had exclusively used cadence sensors with its rear-hub motors.

The difference between cadence vs. torque sensing e-bikes? Cadence sensors detect if the rider is pedaling.Torque sensors, on the other hand, detect how hard the rider is pedaling. The result is that pedal assist from torque-sensing systems feels more natural and comes on with little delay, while cadence-based systems can lag in both their initial activation and cutoff. So the Level.2 represents a new level of sophistication for Aventon when it comes to pedal assist.

The Perks of the Level.2

The Level.2 also has a thumb throttle for pedal-free assist, and the drive system comes set to 20 mph for both throttle and pedal assist, making it a Class 2 e-bike. However, customers can use Aventon’s smartphone app to increase the Level.2’s pedal assist up to as much as 28 mph, which makes it an out-of-class e-bike as long as the throttle remains on the bike.

Aventon Level.2 Commuter
The e-bike’s 672-watt-hour battery is integrated into the downtube of the frame and can be removed for off-bike charging. It can also be charged on the bike. Credit: Toby HIll

Getting the bike up to those max speeds is a 500-watt rear-hub motor (peaking at 750 watts). The motor offers five levels of pedal assist and is powered by a 672-watt-hour lithium-ion battery housed in the spacious downtube of the low-stepover aluminum frame. Riders may remove the battery with a provided key and it can be charged either on or off the bike.

Our testing yielded a battery range of 42 miles with max pedal assist increased to 28 mph and using mostly the strongest two of the five pedal-assist modes the system offers, rarely employing the thumb throttle. Charge time from zero to 100 percent is just under five hours.

Aventon Level.2 Commuter Rear Rack
The included rear rack is rated to carry up to 55 pounds of cargo. Credit: Toby Hill

Per the Level.2’s commuter intent, Aventon outfits the e-bike with metal front and rear fenders, a robust rear rack capable of carrying up to 55 pounds, a headlight, and tail lights and brake lighting integrated into the rear of the frame as well as the rear fender.

Cushioning rough pavement and potholes are a Zoom suspension fork with 65mm of coil-sprung travel, a wide and generously padded comfort saddle, and 2.1-inch-wide Arisun hybrid tires with reflective sidewalls and a water-shedding tread pattern.

Aventon Level.2 Commuter Handle Bars
Cables and wires could be more elegantly managed. Credit: Toby Hill

The bike’s front cockpit includes 680mm-wide riser handlebars bookended with lock-on rubber grips, the e-bike system’s controller and thumb throttle on left side of the bars, and a and backlit LCD display screen with large readout perched centrally above the handlebar stem. Riders can shift among eight gears via Shimano’s Acera drivetrain, while a pair of Tektro hydraulic disc brakes keep the Level.2’s speed in check. The brakes include cutoff sensors to stop the motor from powering the bike when the levers are pulled.

Takeaways from our Aventon Level.2 Review

Muscle under the hood

Paired with Level.2’s torque sensing, the rear-hub motor accelerates quickly from a stop, without the extended delay you’ll get with a cadence-based system. That off-the-line acceleration can be enhanced by also thumbing the throttle while pedaling.

If you’re going to be riding in motor traffic, tuning the bike’s pedal assist up to the 28 mph is a no-brainer, allowing the rider to keep or exceed the pace of their fellow commuters stuck behind the wheel in urban riding environments. The speed adjustment is super simple once the bike is paired with the mobile application.

Tackling grades into the low teens without coming close to breaking a sweat is no problem for the bike in the second and third levels of pedal assist. The throttle alone will also get the job done, but starts to flirt with its limits on these steeper ascents. You’ll also see battery level drop off precipitously by relying solely on the throttle for extending climbing.

Extended range

Even with upping the bike’s pedal assist to full whack and leaning heavily on the top two assist levels, we still got very respectable range from the Level.2 — more than enough to handle most commutes. 

For round-trip commutes or recreational rides pushing out beyond 40 or so miles, just toggle down to a lower assist level and stay from the battery-draining throttle. And mind the battery level on the display screen: You will not be happy slogging along on this 50-plus-pound beast and fighting its inherent motor drag should you run out of bars.

Solid component choices

Aventon strikes an admirable balance between price and performance with the eight-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain, which shifted crisply and consistently stayed in gear without any bothersome skipping. Tektro’s hydraulic disc brakes are always a welcome — so are the brand’s mechanical stoppers, for that matter, but we’ll take the hydros given our druthers. They have a smooth lever feel and offer fine modulation and strong stopping power without being overly grabby.

Aventon Level.2 Commuter Tektro hydraulic disc brake calipers
The Tektro hydraulic disc brake calipers clamp a set of 180mm rotors. Credit: Toby HIll

And the Zoom suspension fork does a commendable job smoothing out rough surfaces. Many e-bike at or below this price level will have a sprung fork stuck on more for appearance’s sake than legitimate performance. That’s not the case here; the fork does its job, and well.

Sleek integration

The original Level (the one preceding the point.2 designation) was Aventon’s first ebike with an integrated battery. That clean integration continues here and now exists throughout the brand’s entire line. It’s so much sharper and cleaner looking than the bolt-on power packs found on Aventon’s early e-bikes.The battery is also better protected from the elements.

Similarly, the rear lighting and brake lighting integrated into the frame is slick and is now seen on almost every bike in the Aventon lineup. The headlight bolts into the faceplate of the stem, so it’s also nicely integrated to alway throw its beam from the dead center of the bike.

Circuit Test

We performed the Circuit Test on a 0.75-mile loop with 65 feet of total elevation gain and loss.

Lap #PA LevelAvg. Speed
#1115.6 mph
#2217.9 mph
#3320.7 mph
#4421.9 mph
#55 (max)22.7 mph
Tester’s weight: 172 lbs. • Tester’s height: 5’11”

Hill Climb

We performed our Hill Climb assessment on a 0.2-mile route with 108 feet of elevation gain, a 9.7 percent average grade.

Attempt #TimeAvg. Speed
#1: Throttle only, no pedaling1:0312 mph
#2: PAS 5, max pedal assist0:4018.8 mph
Tester’s weight: 172 lbs. • Tester’s height: 5’11”

Braking Test

We performed the Braking Test from a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph on a flat paved surface.

Attempt #Stopping Distance (ft)
#157′
#256′
#354′
#455′
#555′
Tester’s weight: 172 lbs. • Tester’s height: 5’11”

Reasons to Buy

Riders can customize the Level.2 to their specific needs. It comes stock as a Class 2 e-bike, but if your chosen route or bike path is limited to Class 1s, simply remove the throttle. 

The 20 mph top speed too fast for you? Pair the bike with Aventon’s smartphone app and you can tune the max assist even lower if you like. Conversely, speed demons can go ahead and turn it all the way up to 28 mph just as easily.

It’s a commuter-ready rig with no immediate need for add-ons except some bags to fit to the rear rack. Or maybe you want to put a phone mount on the handlebars, perhaps a cup holder for your morning java? Aftermarket options abound (Aventon also sells several brands’ bags and a full complement of other accessories on its website). But lights? You’re already covered. Fenders? Those too — and they’re a solid set, with no pesky rattling even when rough, weathered pavement can’t be avoided.

Things to Consider

It’s a heavy bike — no two ways about it. It could be a bit much for the smallest-statured and lightest riders to manage, even with Aventon’s recommended fit range down to 4-foot-11 for the smallest frame. 

Apartment dwellers will also be challenged to carry the Level.2 up stairs, if needed — not only due to its 62-pound weight, but because the low-step frame doesn’t leave a convenient place to lift the load from like a step-over frame does. It’s an awkward, unwieldy package in this regard.

As nice as the integrated battery and lighting are, untidy cable and wire management throughout the bike doesn’t help it in the looks department. This is especially so at the handlebars: Stuff is clipped together or looped securely in place, but it’s still like a spilled bowl of spaghetti out front. 

We’d also like to see some protection for the bar cables, wires and rear brake hose protruding from under the frame’s bottom bracket, lest they get damaged by kicked-up road debris.

Specs & Components

Motor
750W (peak), 500W (sustained), 48V
Battery
Removable internal lithium-ion 672Wh
Power delivery
Pedal assist/throttle
Controller
5 speed settings, LCD display
Accessories
Panniers, mudguards, kickstand, front and rear lights
Gears
8 speed, 12-32t cassette
Fork
75mm travel suspension fork
Weight limit
300 lbs

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power
3.5/5
3.5

The 500-watt motor and 672-watt-hour battery make this e-bike quite a powerful machine. It will handle large hills when carrying a load of 300 lbs.

However, the electric bike is heavy because of the large battery, motor, and overall weight, so much of the power in the motor is used in pushing itself as opposed to you and your cargo.

Range
2.5/5
2.5

Distance is the most disappointing element of this electric bike. Even with a relatively high-powered motor and very large battery, the bike isn’t in the same league as more efficient European electric bikes.

You can get up to 20 mph on the throttle alone, but this is a very battery-hungry method of riding. Cycling using pedal assist at a more modest speed will get a better range. Big hills and excessive loads will impact the range even more.

Comfort
4/5
4

The rider is in a classic/Dutch position — in other words, leaned over comfortably in a slightly forward posture. This relaxed position allows for many miles of riding without excess stress on the arms, core, and back. This isn’t great for riding off-road but better for city riding.

With 70mm of travel, the sprung forks will absorb most bumps in the road and take some gentle off-road riding. The 27.5-inch wheels are a similar size to those of mid-sized cross-country mountain bikes, and with their road tires, absorb the bumps even more.

Durability
4/5
4

Overall, this is a relatively low-maintenance machine. The rear-hub motor should be good for more than 2,500 miles and should be a zero-maintenance part.

You’ll need to change the chain about every 500 miles and the cassette about every 1,000 miles depending on how you use the bike. This should be oiled on a weekly basis (if used every day) and after a rain shower, or the chain could rust and break.

If you use the throttle more than pedal assist, you can get away with a lot less maintenance of the chain drive. Even so, the chain and cassette need to be kept in good condition.

Style
4/5
4

There is no arguing that the Aventon Level Commuter electric bike looks great. With its curved tubes and gray color scheme, it looks like an in-vogue European electric bike with hints of a trekking heritage. It would not be out of place in a cycling city like Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and while not breaking new ground in terms of design, it’s a machine you’d be very proud to ride.

Our Research Methodology

We personally research and test every e-bike featured in our reviews and guides to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn how we review.

About Our Editorial Team

Toby Hill
Written by Toby Hill
E-Bike Reviewer
A trained journalist with 30 years of print and online experience, Toby Hill is an avid cyclist who has fully embraced the exciting new ride experiences that e-bikes have brought to his favorite pastime. He's ridden and tested dozens of e-bikes of all styles and technologies.
robb dorr
Edited by Robb Dorr
Co-founder
Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.

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