Aventon Level 3 Review

Aventon has been building bikes since 2012 and has been churning out innovative, high-value e-bikes directly to consumers since 2018. The Level 3 is Aventon's third attempt at making the ideal commuter bike. With a 500W motor, torque sensor, and 720Wh battery, this bike can go the distance. Avenrton's ACU uses 4G and GPS to give the bike useful features that no one else offers at this price point. Not only is this an excellent commuter bike, it's an outstanding value.

To create follow-up content and long-term testing impressions, we continue to test bikes after publishing our reviews, and our Level 3 experienced a mechanical issue that caused the battery to fall out while riding. After investigating the issue and corresponding with Aventon, it appears to be an isolated issue. However, they've sent us a replacement bike, which we'll be riding, testing, and abusing for the foreseeable future. Issues like this are regrettable, but luckily, no one was hurt, and we found their customer service to be prompt and helpful.

Ride

The Level 3 rolls on 27.5" wheels that use supple 2.2" Kenda Kwick tires. The tires provide enough volume to soften the ride without sacrificing much efficiency and feature a puncture protection belt and reflective sidewall. If efficiency isn't important to you, a wider tire would give the bike even more comfort, but this rubber balances range and comfort well, we'd estimate that a 2.3" tire would fit the rear, perhaps slightly larger without the fender. The 80mm suspension fork takes the edge off the larger bumps and can be turned off when you want a sportier feel or more efficiency. The dual-sided torque sensor and 24 amp controller give the bike predictable acceleration and enough power to conquer hills with the throttle alone. We ordered the Regular size, which is recommended for riders from 5'3" to 5'10", while the Large size is recommended for riders 5'10 to 6'4". Both sizes are available in traditional step-over or convenient step-through styles. The Zoom suspension seatpost offers six inches of adjustability while the Stem trades reach for height, and the handlebars are 680mm wide. The bike uses “hidden cable routing” that routes cables through the headtube.

Like the Abound Sr, the Level 3 uses a gravity-cast front triangle that simplifies manufacturing and creates a torsionally rigid front end. The bike isn't light enough to pass as an Analog/Amish model, but it pedals well without assistance. A 70-degree headtube angle makes the front end feel sporty and quick in traffic, but relaxed enough to sit up without your hands on the handlebars on the bike path. The bike arrives in Class 2 mode, which limits its pedal assistance to 20mph, but it can be unlocked in the Aventon app, giving you a top speed up to 28mph.

Testers commented that the bike felt stable at speed, even on prolonged downhills exceeding 28 mph. The 27.5-inch wheels are perfect for a commuter bike as they're fast-rolling but not so big that you get toe overlap with the front wheel. It's a confidence-inspiring ride that balances comfort and efficiency. The hydraulic brakes feel fantastic; they're made by Magura and connect with 180mm rotors to provide significant stopping power in wet or dry conditions. Aventon bikes have traditionally come with Bengal, Tektro, or unbranded brakes; the Magura AT-2 stoppers are a big upgrade. The drivetrain was also upgraded with a Shimano Altus rear derailleur, a nicer SL-M315 trigger shifter, and a larger 48T chainring that should help maintain those higher Class 3 speeds while commuting.

The seated position on this bike feels a bit more upright than the previous model; the longer headtube likely contributes to that. Our main tester is 5'10", which is the top of the size range for this Regular size frame, but he felt well fit to this bike. Our 5'4" tester felt compromised standover height, but that could be alleviated by selecting the step-through version of the bike. We generally recommend the step-through models for most users; the days of the bike accommodating a woman's long dress are long gone, and there's little, if any, performance difference between the shapes of the frames.

Features

The Level 3 comes equipped with everything you need for commuting and quite a bit more. Full fenders keep you dry; a rack comes standard and can carry up to 60 pounds. The bike has front and rear lights that use the bike's large battery as a power source, ensuring you'll never be caught in the dark with no lights or need to recharge your bike lights. The tail lights are integrated into the frame's seat stays and feature working turn signals. The headlight is the same model that Aventon has used for several years. It is a compact LED model that doesn't use much power but is not very bright. We've attempted replacing the Aventon headlight in the past and couldn't find a brighter plug-and-play option, so if you're commuting in the dark, you may want to invest in a secondary light source.

The exciting features of this bike all revolve around Aventon's new ACU (Aventon Control Unit), a sealed unit encased in the frame with 4G and GPS connectivity. This allows the bike to do mundane things like receive over-the-air updates and exciting things like lock and track the bike using the Aventon app. When you park the bike, you can mechanically lock the rear wheel with the app (or through the display). This won't stop a would-be thief from carrying your bike away, but its 68.2-pound weight might. Should your bike disappear, the ACU allows you to track it in real time and even sound an alarm. The app allows you to establish a geo-fence; if you're unfamiliar with the term, it means creating a perimeter (or fence) on a map outside of which the bike won't operate. The bike won't lock itself, but it will cut the motor's power and send a message to the app owner if the bike strays from your fenced area. This might be a nice feature for your high-school kid or an added level of security for your bike. The ACU can run diagnostics on the bike, connect with Apple Health or Strava, and even help navigate the most efficient route. The IoT (4G connectivity) service is free for the first year and $20 annually (or $2/month) after the free trial. The subscription isn't mandatory, but certain remote connectivity features are limited should you choose to forego the expense.

Range

With a large 720Wh (48V, 20Ah) battery, the Level 3 can lay down some mileage. To test the range of the Level 3, we head out to our range course, which has mixed surfaces, including pavement, packed gravel, and a small amount of single track that connects the course. There are rolling hills, a few steep sections, and almost no stops. We inflate the tires to their maximum recommended pressure, charge the battery to capacity, and then load a backpack up for our tester so that they are exactly 180 pounds.

The Level 3 uses 2.2" tires with a relatively hard, puncture-resistant casing. The tires are primarily for hard surfaces, but the small amount of inverted tread can handle some gravel and loose conditions while maintaining the efficiency they're designed for. We were able to ride the Level 38.1 miles in our range test, which included over 1900 feet of elevation change. This is amongst the longest range of any e-bike we've tested, coming in a mere 0.1 mile shy of the Segway Xafari with its 936Wh battery.

Power

The Level 3 uses a 36V system to power the 500W brushless rear hub motor. The motor has adequate power to throttle you away from a stop sign at speeds you'd expect while pedaling. In our hill test, Level 3 accelerated uphill to 16.6 mph and carried momentum until the steepest part of the course, where it slowed to 12.5 mph. Our acceleration test uses the throttle to propel a 180-pound rider up to 20 mph on level ground. The Level did this in 7 seconds, which is impressive for this size motor. These tests give us some comparative data for analysis, but our real power and torque numbers are obtained from a dynamometer.

In our dyno test, the Level 3 generated 32.5 Nm of torque and 890 watts of power. These are solid numbers coming from Aventon's 500W hub motor, giving the bike a good balance of power and efficiency. The Level 3 uses a dual-sided torque sensor to modulate power precisely. This gives the bike an intuitive drive feel where the harder you pedal, the more assistance the bike delivers. There are three ride modes that allow you to tailor just how much power the bike is adding, but none of them feel abrupt or continue giving power when you don't want it, like a bike with a cadence sensor. With the bike in Class 2 setting, you can use the throttle, pedal assist, or a combination of both to ride at speeds up to 20 mph. Switching over to Class 3 mode allows you to ride with assistance up to 28 mph, but the throttle is only active up to 20 mph.

The throttle is a simple thumb paddle next to the left grip; it's the same model used on most current Aventon models, and I love how little resistance there is to pushing it. Even on prolonged stretches (range testing), it doesn't feel like too much work for my thumb to hold it down for hours. The lack of resistance makes modulation easy, and while powerful, the throttle isn't so strong that it disrupts your balance.

Interface

Aventon has equipped the Level 3 with a BC280 display; this is a center-mounted color screen with a 5-button wired remote on the handlebar's left side. The form and general function are similar to most e-bikes, but Aventon's ACU adds some high-tech features that set the Level 3 apart. The color display prominently shows your current speed and remaining state of charge. There is a USB-A port at the bottom of the display that allows you to charge a phone while riding.

Like many of the other new Aventon bikes, the Level 3 is equipped with turn signals. The left and right buttons on the keypad turn on the respective blinkers located on the bottom of the chainstays. We love this feature on cargo bikes, but find it a bit less useful on a bike like this or the Ramblas. The chainstays also contain the bike's taillights, which are not wired to the brakes.

I found the distance from the grip to the bike's keypad too far to reach comfortably with my thumb, so I switched the position of the control and brake lever to bring it closer to the outside of the handlebar. This pushes the brake lever further inboard, but the Magura brakes are powerful enough that you only need a single index finger to stop the bike. Brakes are generally great unless they're not working, but the Magura brakes give the bike a refined feel that made a difference to our testers.

The keypad itself is relatively standard, with five buttons in an oval shape. The center button powers the bike on and also switches your view of the data field on the display. Pushing it while you're riding can give you data like range, the odometer, and even the amount of CO2 you're saving. Above and below the power button are +/- buttons that allow you to select one of the bike's three assist modes. A long push of the (-) button activates walk mode, while a long push of the (+) button turns the lights on or off.

The tiltable, color display is 2.5" tall and 1.75" and adjusts its brightness when the lights are switched on. The overall layout of the data on the display is excellent, with the use of colors and larger fonts to convey info easily. The battery's remaining charge is in the top right corner, displayed as a percentage and a graphic. Your pedal assist setting is shown as a colored block in the lower left quadrant of the screen with ECO in green, SPORT in blue, and TURBO in red. If you have range anxiety, you can set the display to show your remaining range in miles or km.

Aventon uses their new keyless battery on this bike; it pushes into the bottom of the down tube and can be ejected using the display. I really like not having another key to lose, and the battery tucks into the cast downtube. It can be charged on or off the bike using Aventon's new 4-amp charger that can fill the battery in just 5 hours. The charging port on the battery is located on the underside of the downtube; it's a really inconvenient place to plug the bike in and one of our few gripes about the design of the Level. Both the bike and battery carry an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they resist water splashes from all directions and are sufficient for commuting in the rain.

Assembly

The Level 3 arrived in a standard bicycle box requiring very few steps to assemble the bike. The handlebars, front wheel, pedals, headlight, and front fender need to be installed. Completing these tasks took us 20 minutes, and you can see the steps involved in the video below. The user manual has clear instructions and includes a multi-tool and grease. If you're a visual learner, Aventon has a step-by-step assembly video that you can follow along with on their website. Most of the assembly was straightforward, with the exception of the small plastic cover on the front of the stem. The cover routes the cables and wires into the headtube and requires a bit of effort to accomplish.

The Level 3 weighs just over 66 pounds, but the shipping box will support the bike until you get the front wheel on, so you really don't need a bicycle stand. If the assembly process feels daunting, reach out to one of the more than 1000 bike shops that Aventon has partnered with to handle the assembly for you.

Should You Buy the Aventon Level 3?

Aventon has added some serious value to their most serious commuter bike. The Level 3 has had several iterations to work out the kinks and refine itself for duty. This bike is likely the best commuter bike you can buy for the money, and for many people, the best one you can buy, period. The combination of the bike's user-friendly ergonomics, excellent range, high-tech features, and value makes it a hard bike NOT to recommend. I love how ready for commuting it is right out of the box and how fun it is to ride. At the current price, it doesn't have to save that many car trips to pay for itself while keeping you out of traffic.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

Aventon hit a home run with the Level 3, and this bike bests many worthy competitors. We recommend many bikes for a narrow swath of riders or with caveats, but the Level 3 is versatile enough to recommend for almost anyone wanting to commute. The Lectric ONE is a top-rated compact commuter model with an internal gearbox and a more powerful 750W geared hub motor if you want something more unique. The ONE is much easier to store and transport, but less comfortable on long rides. If you appreciate simplicity, take a look at the Ride1Up Roadster V3. It provides a bit less assistance but is fun to ride and very lightweight.