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Founded in 2013, Aventon introduced their first e-bike in 2018. Since then they’ve been continuously improving the quality of their e-bikes. Aventon e-bikes consistently make the top tier of any of our Top 10 lists.
Today, let’s talk about the Level.2 from Aventon. The Level.2 is a nice upgrade from the Level.1 model. Aventon has positioned the Level.2 as their ideal commuter e-bike. In this post I’ll walk through the pros and cons of the Level.2.
Bottom line, the Level.2 is an excellent commuter e-bike at an affordable price. While I personally prefer the Aventure.2 for commuting because of the bigger tires, you really can’t go wrong with the Level.2. It’s much lighter and more nimble than the Aventure.2
Key e-bike details
Basics
- Base Price: $1,799
- Class: 3
- Max Speed: 28 mph
- Estimated Range: 20 to 60 miles
- Weight: 62 lbs
Motor & Electronics
- Motor: 750W (Peak) 500W (Sustained), 48V Brushless
- Motor location: Rear hub
- Battery: Removable Internal Lithium-ion 48V, 14Ah (672Wh) with LG cells
- PAS Sensor: Torque
- Throttle: Yes, thumb lever
- Display: Color LCD Display
Components
- Brakes: Tektro HD-E350 Hydraulic Brakes, 180mm rotors
- Drivetrain: Shimano Acera Cassette,12-32T,8 Speed Trigger
- Belt Drive: No
- Tires: Chaoyang Arisun Hybrid Tires, 27.5”X 2.1” with reflective stripe
Misc
- Recommended Rider Height:
- Small/Medium: 4’11” – 5’7″
- Medium/Large: 5’7″ – 6’1″
- Max Rider Weight: not given
- Payload Capacity: 300 lbs
What we like about it
- Weight & Size: The Level.2 weighs 62 pounds, a reasonable weight for an e-bike. Its more compact size compared to some other Aventon models allows you to carry it up stairs and store it in tighter spaces.
- Torque Sensor: The torque sensor offers an immediate motor assist, resulting in a smooth and intuitive riding experience that feels like you are riding a regular bike, but with Tour de France cyclist legs.
- Powerful Motor: With a sustained 500w and peak 750w motor, the Level.2 ensures you have ample power for steep inclines and fast rides. While I prefer a mid-drive motor for hills, I’ve climbed hills without any issues on the Level.2
- Speed: With this e-bike, you can reach speeds up to 28 mph on a flat stretch, making it a great option for those that want to make their commute fast.
- Range: Impressive range listed at 60 miles. While you won’t reach 60 miles using level 5 pedal assist, you should get a comfortable 25 miles, good enough for most commutes.
- Integrated lights, rack, & fenders: The Level.2 has integrated lights, always a plus in my book since I so often would forget to bring my lights to the office leaving me to ride home in the dark. It also comes with rain fenders and rear rack, both of which make this an excellent e-bike.
- Tire Size: The Level.2’s 2.3″ tires are slightly wider than standard road tires but not as massive as the 4″ fat tires found on the Aventure.2. This middle ground makes it ideal for commutes that are majority pavement.
- Front suspension: The front suspension will help damped any potholes or bumps that you encounter. Always a nice plus.
Where it falls short
- Tall riders: Aventon lists the rider heights for the Level.2 to be from 4’1” to 6’1”. If you are on the taller side, 6’0” or taller, you’ll find that the handlebars feel too low and that you have to lean forward quite a bit.
- Throttle delay: There is a slight delay between when you press the throttle and when power is outputted from the motor. It is not as bad as the delay I observed on the Aventure.1, but it is still noticeable.
In-depth review
Let’s start with the motor. The Level.2 packs a punch with a sustained 500W motor that peaks at 750W, providing plenty of power for steep inclines and fast rides. Although I usually prefer a mid-drive motor for climbing hills, I was pleasantly surprised by the Level.2’s performance. I managed to climb hills without any struggles, a testament to its hill-climbing capabilities.
The Level.2 uses a torque sensor, rather than a cadence sensor found on most e-bikes in this price range. The torque sensor gives you a much more fluid and intuitive riding experience. The e-bike instantly responds to your pedal pressure, giving you a smooth and manageable boost that perfectly complements your effort. When riding, it feels like riding a normal bike, except that you have powerful Tour de France cyclist legs.
A standout feature of the Level.2 is its reasonable weight and size. Coming in at just 62 pounds, it offers a more compact frame compared to some of Aventon’s other models. This feature makes it a practical choice for people who may need to carry it up stairs or stash it in tighter spaces during their daily commute.
When it comes to speed, the Level.2 is no slouch either. It can hit speeds of up to 28 mph on flat terrain, making it a fantastic choice for commuters who like to get to their destination quickly. As far as range goes, the listed range is an impressive 60 miles. Obviously, that is if you only use level 1 pedal assist. But even if you’re using the level 5 pedal assist, you should comfortably get around 25 miles, which is more than adequate for most commutes.
One of my favorite features of the Level.2 is the integrated lights. As someone who often forgets to bring lights when cycling in the evening, the convenience of having them built into the bike is a huge plus. Additionally, the inclusion of rain fenders and a rear rack adds practicality, transforming the Level.2 into a well-rounded commuter e-bike.
The 2.3″ tires on the Level.2 are narrower than the Aventure.2’s 4″ fat tires, but unless you plan to tackle a lot of gravel trails, the 2.3″ tires should suffice.
Lastly, the Level.2 comes equipped with front suspension, a nice bonus if you have a lot of potholes or bumps on your commute. The suspension effectively dampens the impact, resulting in a smoother, more enjoyable ride.
The one area where the Level.2 falls a bit short is that it’s not great for riders over 6’0″ tall. While Aventon claims that the bike fits riders from 4’1″ to 6’1″, I found that if you’re on the taller end of that spectrum (like me), the handlebars feel uncomfortably low. This low height forces you to lean forward quite a bit, which can be tiring over longer rides. The e-bike shop I test rode the Level.2 add said they’ve had some customers replace the handlebars on the Level.2 for the more relaxed ones that come on the Pace 500. This will give the e-bike a more upright feel.
One other thing I noticed when testing the Level.2 is that there is a slight delay between when you press the throttle and when power is output from the motor. It is not as bad as the delay I observed on the Aventure.1, but still noticeable at about one second. While the Aventure.1 also had a power delay when you turned the pedals (due to its use of a cadence sensor), the torque sensor on the Level.2 does not have a noticeable delay.
Overall, the Aventon Level.2 is an impressive e-bike. It packs numerous high-end features into a compact and practical design. While it might not fit tall riders, this doesn’t detract from me recommending the Level.2 as a quality e-bike at an affordable price.
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