Aventon Level Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
The Aventon Level is a zippy 28mph eCommuter for getting to work and running errands all while having a lot of fun!
In addition, the Level has a stable and durable ride characteristics that underscore the quality ride feel.
Some of the highlights are the distinctive hydroformed aluminum frame with integrated 48V 14ah battery, Suntour suspension fork, 500 watt motor, hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano drivetrain, aluminum fenders, and rack.
In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.
Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.
What you can expect from the Aventon Level:
To get acquainted with the Aventon Level, checkout this video:
Riding the Aventon Level:
Overall there are some characteristics of the Aventon Level that really stand out when riding this eBike. To summarize they are:
- High performance with 28 mph pedal assist
- Durable ride feel from quality frame, components, & accessories
- Balanced and efficient ride feel
The Look & Feel of the Aventon Level
The Level is a well equipped eCommuter for zipping around town quickly! It can make commuting to work and running errands quick and fun.
In some cases the ride time can be comparable to drive time when you consider no traffic or parking issues when commuting by eBike.
A big highlight of the Level is the sophisticated hydroformed aluminum frame that has been sculpted to provide a good rider fit, integrate the battery into the downtube, and to create a stylish look that stands out from the crowd.
The tubing varies in size and shape considerably to build in all of those features and it is impressive what can be done with aluminum tubing, especially at its competitive price point.
Integrating the battery into the downtube of the frame is a feature generally found on more expensive eBikes.
With the battery in the downtube and the rear hub motor, the Level has balanced feel when picking up the bike.
It also handles very well when cornering and there is no noticeable flex from the frame.
Carving into corners feels very natural and stable thanks to the weight distribution, well built frame, and Kenda Kwik Drumlin tires.
Another benefit to the battery integration is that the downtube provides protection of the battery in addition to creating a very clean looking design. From a distance it is hard to tell that this is an electric bike.
To make the Level a good fit the top tube has been sloped down considerably to create a good stand over height.
There are 3 frame size options that Aventon states will fit riders ranging from 5’1″ to 6’4″. Offering 3 frame sizes is also usually found on more expensive eBikes. The Level in this test is the Medium frame size.
The shaping of the aluminum tubing for the battery integration and rider fit naturally adds some distinct shapes and Aventon adds to that with some additional styling.
The head tube, top tube, and downtube connection is a highlight with the unique tubing shapes that have been welded together then finished with smoothing to create a very cohesive blended look. It also looks like an incredibly strong connection!
With the large down tube housing the battery it is impressive to see how Aventon narrowed it down near the cranks to create clearance at the chainring area.
Another style highlight is the seat tube that has an aerodynamic profile and adds to the unique look of the Level.
Smoothing out the road on the front of the bike is the Suntour Mobie A32 coil spring suspension work with about 3″ (75mm) of travel.
It has an active feel that does a good job of absorbing a lot of the bumps and cracks in the road.
Suspension on a 28 mph pedal assist eBike is especially helpful because at the higher speeds you can really feel the roughness in the road.
There is a preload dial for setting the fork spring rate to your weight and riding style.
In addition there is lock out dial for a more efficient ride on smooth roads.
When locked out the fork does not move up and down and provides a more efficient ride when pedaling hard on smooth roads. It is easy to quickly activate the suspension with a turn of the dial.
A feature highlight of the Suntour Mobie A32 is the thru-axle design that gives the front wheel more of a stable connection compared to a traditional quick release.
The thru-axle design offers more lateral stability so the front wheel tracks well through corners. It probably adds to the overall stable ride feel of the Level while cornering.
Speaking of smoothing out the road, a suspension seat post would be a nice upgrade for the Level if you ride on rough roads.
Aventon offers suspension seatpost options at their equipment section of their website. Additionally, here is a guide to suspension seat posts.
The Aventon saddle has mid width profile for a comfortable ride and a narrow front end for efficient pedaling.
The ride position of the Level is a sporty performance style with a longer reach and wide and flat profile handlebars.
The handlebars do have a bit of rise to them and the stem can be adjusted up or down the steerer tube to vary the height of the handlebars.
With the wide handlebars the steering of the bike feels stable and predictable.
Lock-on grips add to that feeling of stability with their solid attachment to the handlebars. Its a small detail but makes a big difference in ride feel.
Now let’s take a look at the drive system on the Aventon Level
A 500 watt (750 watts peak power) geared rear hub motor provides pedal assist up to 28 mph and throttle up to 20 mph.
This combination makes the Aventon Level a Class 3 electric bike.
There is an option to change the pedal assist limit per the information on the Aventon website “If you are riding on private property or in an area without ebike speed restrictions, the speed limit can be modified in the settings, and Level’s powerful motor can go up to about 32 MPH on pedal assist.”
Additionally “Level will also operate with the throttle unplugged and removed, should you want to ride in an area where throttles are not allowed.”
The 5 pedal assist levels offer a wide spectrum of assist from easy going to fast and powerful.
Pedal assist levels 4 & 5 are high performance for quicker acceleration, strong hill climbing, and assist up to the 28 mph range. And these assist levels will also drain the battery the quickest!
Level 3 has some kick but it not as powerful as levels 4 & 5 which helps to extend the range.
Levels 1 & 2 are good for casual riding around the neighborhood or when riding in crowded areas where any easy going ride is best.
Pedal assist transitions are pretty smooth for a cadence sensor system.
The assist starts after about a 1/4 turn of the cranks and it blends in pretty well with your pedal power. The assist stops as soon as you stop pedaling.
The thumb throttle is another assist option (up to 20 mph) that can be used with or without pedaling.
It can add a boost to the lower pedal assist levels for getting through an intersection quickly or for getting over a hill.
The throttle has a wide spectrum of power that can be easily adjusted to provide exactly the amount of assist that you want.
As a safety feature the throttle is usable after the bike is moving at 2 mph. After coming to a stop it does take the display a few seconds to go to 0 mph, so you can use the throttle after a short stop.
There is also the walk mode that helps with walking the bike up stairs or up a steep hill at 2mph. It is activated by holding the lower arrow on the control pad for a few seconds.
Like most geared hub motors there is some noise from this motor and it’s in the medium range when compared to other electric bikes.
The Shimano Acera 8 speed drivetrain covers the range of speeds up to 28 mph well.
There is a 46t chainring and 12t to 32t Shimano Acera cogset.
The gear range climbs steeper hills well and has a comfortable pedaling cadence at the higher speeds.
Shifting through the 8 speeds is easy with the light action feel typical of Shimano drivetrains.
There are double chainring guards to keep the chain on the chainring along with providing some pant let protection.
Let’s take a closer look at the integrated frame battery.
Popular Samsung cells make up the 48V 14ah 672 Wh lithium battery.
The battery can be charged on or off the bike bike and charge time is 4-5 hours for a complete charge from empty.
Removing the battery is accomplished by unlocking it with one of the supplied keys (2 supplied) and then rotating the dial on the underside of the downtube of the frame to release the battery from the frame attachment.
The center handlebar mounted LCD display provides information on:
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed
- Pedal assist level. There are 5 levels of pedal assist.
- Battery voltage
- Ride time
It’s easy to see the important information at a quick glance while riding because of the large format.
The display has a backlight for easy visibility day and night.
Bengal Ares 3 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear do a good job of slowing the Level down.
Hydraulic disc brakes are another quality highlight for a bike at this price point and they are also nice to have on a Class 3 eBike with assist up to 28 mph.
The Bengal Ares 3 have the very solid engagement feel typical of hydraulic brakes.
They have a lot of power and they modulate the power well from just a little all the way up to full stop.
There are brake lever reach adjustments to adjust the levers to your hand size.
Each brake lever has a sensor that will stop the assist if either brake lever is engaged.
A quality accessory package makes the Level ready for the daily commute and errand running.
The rear rack has a sturdy look and feel and it is rated to carry 60 pounds (27 kg).
There are multiple attachment points to use straps to secure cargo as well as carrying bags or baskets on the top and sides of the rack.
Another big highlight of the accessory package are the sleek looking and durable aluminum fenders.
This is another quality highlight because most eBikes in this price range come with plastic fenders.
Rounding out the accessory package is the kickstand that is mounted to the back left side of the frame. The length of the kickstand is adjustable so that you can set the angle of the bike when it is parked.
Aventon has a number of additional accessory options available at their website.
Okay, let’s see how the Aventon Level did out on the open road!
Aventon Level Range Test Results:
Here is the real world information on how the Aventon Level electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.
While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the Aventon Level in the highest pedal assist level (Level 5) with average pedaling on paved roads.
Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the Aventon Level traveled 25.8 miles and did a total elevation gain of over 2,000 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is pretty good range for a 48 Volt 14 ah 672 Wh battery pack with a 500 watt motor assisting up to 28 mph.
Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.
Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.
Speed: The Aventon Level will assist up to 28 mph with pedal assist and up to 20 mph with throttle which makes this a Class 3 electric bike.
Weight: The Aventon Level tips the scales at 63.3 pounds which is on the heavier side for an electric bike. Removing the 7.9 pound battery brings it down to 55.4 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.
The weight distribution of the Aventon Level is good because the battery is low and centered on the bike while the rear hub motor makes it just slightly back heavy.
Pros:
High Performance: The Level is a fun and sporty eBike with high speed and a stable ride feel. It handles well with a solid frame, balanced weight distribution, and a nice ride fit for zipping around town.
Quality Components: The stable and durable ride feel comes from the quality frame and components from Shimano, Suntour, Bengal, Kenda, and more. In addition the aluminum fenders and rear rack are a nice highlight for stock accessories.
So Much Value: Considering all of the features like the hydroformed aluminum frame with integrated battery, quality components & accessories, and free shipping, it is very impressive that the Level is priced at $1,599. Most eBikes with these features are priced significantly higher.
Cons:
Heavier:The Aventon Level tips the scales at 63.3 pounds which is on the heavier side for an electric bike. Removing the 7.9 pound battery brings it down to 55.4 pounds which makes it a little easier to pick up.
Motor noise: Like most geared hub motors there is some noise from this motor and it’s in the medium range when compared to other electric bikes.
Conclusion:
Overall the Aventon Level is a fun high performance eBike at the very impressive price of $1,599 with free shipping.
It has many of the features found on electric bikes that are generally much more expensive.
The Level can make commuting to work and running errands quick and a lot of fun! In some situations it can be comparable in time to driving when you consider no traffic and parking issues.
Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.
Do you have any questions about the Aventon Level? Do you own a Aventon Level? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks!
-Pete
Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you.
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[…] Now checkout Part 2 of the Aventon Level review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts! […]
B says
What size frame is being ridden in the video? And what height is the rider? Thanks!
Pete says
Hi B, The Level in this test is the Medium frame size and the rider height is 5’11”, which is on the border between the Medium and Large frame size per Aventon’s recommendations.