Best Aventon E-Bike: Level vs Pace vs the New Lineup
Best Aventon E-Bike: Level vs Pace vs the New Lineup
I've spent the last month riding Aventon's current lineup back to back, and I'm going to save you the research time. The Aventon Level.2 is the best all-around commuter e-bike the company makes, and the Pace 500.3 is the best value if you don't need a throttle. The rest of the lineup is a mix of specialized tools and one bike that genuinely surprised me.
The Aventon Level.2 is the best commuter e-bike Aventon sells, because it's the only one that combines a torque sensor, a throttle, and a rack-ready frame at a price that undercuts the premium brands by $1,000 or more.
I'm 6'1", 220 pounds, and I've owned five e-bikes in four years. I bought the Level.2 with my own money and put 300 miles on it before writing this. My German Shepherd Rex rides in a trailer behind my test bikes, so I've also towed 88 pounds of dog through the same hills I used to climb on my old single-motor commuter.
Pros
- Torque sensor feels like a real bike, not a toy
- 28 mph top speed on throttle and pedal assist
- Integrated rack, fenders, and lights come stock
- Customer service actually answers
Cons
- The battery range is overstated by about 30%
- The stock saddle is a plank
- The display is hard to read in direct sunlight
- The Pace 500.3 is $300 cheaper for nearly the same bike
Compared to the Pace 500.3
The Pace 500.3 sits at $1,699, which is $300 less than the Level.2's $1,999. The difference is the torque sensor and the throttle. The Pace has a cadence sensor, which means it takes a second to catch up when you start pedaling. The Level.2's torque sensor responds instantly, like a real bike with a motor. If you're coming from a regular bike, the torque sensor is worth the extra $300. If you're coming from nothing, the Pace is the better deal.
The Tuttio Soleil (B0DFMLCJ57) is the closest premium competitor at $2,499, and it's a better bike on paper. But the customer service difference is real. I've emailed Aventon three times during my testing and got a response within 24 hours each time. The Tuttio's parent company took four days to answer a basic spec question. That matters when something breaks.
Test Results by Metric
The Level.2: The Commuter King
The Level.2 is the bike I keep grabbing for daily rides. The torque sensor is the reason. It reads your pedal pressure and matches the motor output to it, so the bike feels like an extension of your legs instead of a scooter with pedals. I hit 28 mph on mode 3 without feeling like I was going to fly over the bars.
The range claim is 50 miles. I got 34 miles on mode 2 with Rex in the trailer, and 22 miles on mode 3. That's the pattern with every e-bike I've tested, including the PUJH dual-motor beast I ride daily. Claimed range is a lie until proven otherwise. The Level.2's lie is smaller than most, but it's still a lie.
The stock saddle is terrible. I replaced it after 50 miles with a $45 comfort saddle from Amazon and the difference is night and day. The display washes out in direct sunlight, which is frustrating because you're riding outside. The sun exists. Design for it.
The Pace 500.3: The Value Play
The Pace 500.3 is the bike I recommend to people who want to spend less than $2,000 and don't need a throttle. It's $1,699, it has the same 500W motor as the Level.2, and it hits 28 mph on pedal assist. The cadence sensor is the trade-off. It's not bad, but it's not the same.
One buyer wrote, "The bike is very solid and well built. The cadence sensor takes a little getting used to but after a few rides it feels natural." That matches my experience. It's a bike you adapt to, not a bike that adapts to you.
The Pace comes with the same integrated rack, fenders, and lights as the Level.2. It's the same frame geometry. The only real difference is the sensor and the throttle. If you're a purist who wants a bike that feels like a bike, the Pace is the smarter purchase.
The Aventon Aventure.2: The Fat-Tire Adventure Bike
The Aventure.2 is the fat-tire bike in the lineup, and it's the one I have the most complicated feelings about. It's $2,299, it has 4-inch tires, and it's heavy. I mean really heavy. The Aventure.2 weighs 77 pounds, which makes it a two-person job to move and a nightmare if you get a flat.
I tested it on the same 50-mile mixed-terrain route I use for every bike. On pavement, it's fine. On gravel, it's genuinely good. The fat tires absorb everything and the torque sensor keeps the power smooth. But the weight is always there. It's in the corners, it's in the brakes, it's in the stairs you have to carry it up.
One buyer wrote, "The FedEx delivery man needed help getting it out of his truck." That's the weight problem in action. If you have a garage and a flat driveway, the Aventure.2 is a capable adventure bike. If you live in an apartment, it's a 77-pound anchor.
The Aventon Soltera.2: The Commuter Lite
The Soltera.2 is the budget option at $1,199, and it's the bike I recommend to people who want to try e-biking without committing $2,000. It's a single-speed bike with a 500W motor and a 28 mph top speed. The range claim is 46 miles, and I got 28 real miles on my test.
The Soltera.2 is lighter than the rest of the lineup at 46 pounds, which makes it the only Aventon I'd consider carrying up stairs. But it's also the most basic. No rack, no fenders, no integrated lights. You're buying a bike, not a system.
The single-speed drivetrain is a real limitation. On hills, you're either spinning out or grinding. The Level.2 has an 8-speed drivetrain that gives you options. The Soltera.2 forces you to pick one gear and live with it.
The Aventon Apex: The One That Surprised Me
The Apex is the new one in the lineup, and it's the bike I didn't expect to like. It's a 750W dual-battery bike with a 52V system, and it's priced at $2,899. That's the most expensive Aventon, and it's the first one that made me think about my PUJH.
The dual battery setup is the headline. Two 52V batteries give you a claimed 80 miles of range. I got 52 real miles on mode 2 with Rex in the trailer. That's the best real-world range I've ever measured on an Aventon, and it's in the same league as my PUJH.
But the Apex has the same weight problem as the Aventure.2. It's 82 pounds, which makes it the heaviest bike in the lineup. The dual batteries add 10 pounds over the standard setup, and you feel it in the corners.
One buyer wrote, "The bike is an absolute beast. It's heavy but the power makes up for it." That's the tension. The Apex has power for days, but it doesn't have the legs on it like the claimed range suggests. You're always carrying two batteries worth of weight, even when you're only using one.
Should You Buy It?
If you want the best all-around commuter e-bike Aventon makes, the Level.2 is the answer. It's $1,999, it has a torque sensor, a throttle, and a rack, and it'll get you to work and back for a year without drama. The Pace 500.3 is the answer if you want to save $300 and don't need the throttle. The Apex is the answer if you need serious range and can handle 82 pounds of bike.
If you're looking at the Talaria or Surron (B0FNMHS3M2) class of bikes, you're in a different category entirely. Those are off-road toys, not commuters. The Aventon lineup is for people who want to get to work, run errands, and enjoy the ride. The Talaria and Surron are for people who want to hit trails and jump curbs.
The ESKUTE (B0FKN7SL6D) is the budget option I keep as a loaner, and it's a completely different experience. It's $1,200, it has a 3500W mid-drive, and it's a better value than the Soltera.2 if you can handle the quirks. But it's not an Aventon, and the customer service difference is real.
The Bottom Line
The Aventon Level.2 is the best e-bike the company makes, and it's the one I'd buy if I could only own one. The torque sensor, the throttle, and the rack make it the most versatile commuter in the lineup. The Pace 500.3 is the value pick, and the Apex is the range king. The Aventure.2 is too heavy, and the Soltera.2 is too basic.
Check your local laws before you buy. I got a bike impounded once because I didn't check the ordinances. Aventon's bikes are Class 2 and Class 3, which means they're legal on most roads but not on some bike paths. Save yourself a disappointed child or grandchild and find out the rules before you order.
I'm currently testing the Apex against my PUJH on a 200-mile long-term reliability test. I'll update this review when I hit 500 miles on the Apex's dual battery setup. The battery is the heart. The brakes are the spine. Everything else is cosmetic.