Aventon Pace 500.3 Review | Hello, Torque Sensor Upgrade!

Aventon advertises a range of up to 60 miles on the Pace 500.3, as measured during their own range testing with the bike limited to Class 2 speeds, in Eco Mode, on flat ground, and with a 160-lb rider.

We evaluated this claim through two separate Range Tests, which are explained in the graphic above. Our results in this test showed a low- and high-end bracket of roughly 35 miles (using the maximum amount of motor power in Turbo Mode) to 68 miles (with the minimum amount of power in Eco Mode).

A quick disclaimer: this specific data was gathered using the step-thru version of the bike. The only difference between the two is the additional material of the top tube on the high-step frame, which should have a negligible impact on range.

These results easily met our expectations – and even exceeded them – for a few reasons. First, simply because we were able to achieve a better range than advertised.

Second, the Pace performed incredibly well when compared to similar e-bikes we have tested. Its results in Turbo Mode greatly surpassed the performance of its competitors (see the comparison graph above), and its results in Eco Mode were only slightly less remarkable. Furthermore, when compared to the previous iteration of the bike, the 500.3 achieved between 15% and 65% better range depending on the pedal assist setting!

Third, and more technically – the Pace 500.3 demonstrated that its motor and battery pairing was surprisingly efficient. We explain this in more detail in our guide to e-bike batteries, but the ratio between a motor’s watt output and a battery’s watt-hour rating is important. We typically prefer at least a 1:1 ratio between these numbers, which the Pace’s 500W motor and 48V, 614 Wh battery exceeds. Based on these numbers, we expected the bike to travel roughly an hour and 15 minutes in Turbo mode, but we were able to travel for almost exactly two.

Much of the Pace 500.3’s efficiency and good range can be attributed to its torque sensor. Since this results in the bike’s motor splitting the effort with its rider, it doesn’t need to draw so much power from the battery. This extends the amount of charge the battery holds, which lengthens the distance the bike can travel.

In the big picture, the Pace 500.3 can travel a significant amount of distance that will likely cover a long commute, a handful of leisurely cruises, or quite a few short workout sessions.

By the numbers, the Pace 500.3 High Step’s performance in our Hill Test (explained above) was relatively unremarkable – but not unexpected for a bike with a 500W rear-hub motor.

In the Circuit Test section above, I mentioned that the bike could feel faster and more powerful than expected, and we attribute this to the Pace 500’s weight. With a relatively small amount of bulk to move around, the motor had an easier job on flat ground. Our Hill Test gave a much better indication of raw power; on such a steep slope, it quickly became obvious that the bike’s motor had its work cut out for it.

As shown in the graphic above, the Pace 500.3’s throttle-only result (2 minutes and 5 seconds at an average of 8.7 mph) was toward the bottom of the list when compared with similar e-bikes we have tested. That said, we can’t be disappointed because the bike made the climb successfully – this is not something we can say about the previous iteration of the Pace 500!

The 500.3’s results when pedaling in Turbo mode showed a similar pattern. Its time and average speed (1 minute and 28 seconds at 12.3 mph) were, again, fairly slow when compared to other similar e-bikes we have tested. But once again, the Pace 500.3 performed better than the 500.2, which we appreciate!

The bike ships with Tektro E-350 hydraulic disc brakes on 180mm rotors, which we have had consistently good experiences with – even on heavier e-bikes. Their performance was reliable in this test as well, with an average stopping distance of 20’-5”. Despite being slightly longer than our result for the Step-Thru version of the bike we recently reviewed, this result was still better than average when compared to other similar e-bikes we’ve tested. The pool of similar e-bikes is fairly small, however; most differ in terms of size, weight, brake type, etc. Speaking more broadly, the Pace 500.3’s results were better than our current running average across all of the e-bikes we have data for, which is, at time of writing, roughly 21’-4”. We are quite satisfied with these results, which show that the bike’s brakes are able to both slow and stop it quickly.

However, there was one aspect of the bike’s braking that was somewhat less desirable. When riding around in the late spring weather here in southern Utah, the mixed-use paths where we test e-bikes are populated with lizards that, like land mines, we do our best to avoid. When braking hard to dodge kamikaze-style sprints from these rambunctious reptiles, we noticed the Pace 500.3 had a tendency to skid alarmingly; I personally struggled to maintain control on a few occasions. I believe this behavior to primarily be a result of the low street tread on the bike’s 27.5″ x 2.1″ tires, but there may have been environmental factors like dust or pea gravel present as well; regardless, it’s something to be aware of.

I’ve discussed the Pace 500.3’s taillights, brake lights, and turn signals at length, however, there is also a small but bright headlight equipped on the bike. Aside from reflectors, that covers all of the bike’s safety features.

The Pace 500.3’s contact points are much more cruiser-styled than most of the other e-bikes in the Aventon lineup. Instead of the standard wedge-shaped Aventon saddle, the Pace includes a thicker and more rounded seat. The bike’s pedals are fairly standard, but the handlebars are expectedly swept back. I’m not typically a fan of cruiser-style bikes because of their handlebars and the wrist angle required to steer them, but aside from feeling like the handlebars on the Pace 500.3 were a bit too narrow for my frame, their sweep was much more comfortable than I expected!

The bike uses ergonomic rubber grips that were comfortable but not out-of-the-ordinary; however, they allowed the bike to feel much more nimble and maneuverable than expected when considering its large 27.5” wheels. I found that the natural wrist/hand placement of the bike’s handlebars allowed me to use the supportive “wings” of the grips as leverage points when cornering, and that enabled for tighter turns and more responsive handling overall.

We enjoyed the cockpit layout as well, as it distributed controls effectively. The bike’s thumb-operated throttle lever and control panel were mounted to the left handlebar, with an under-the-bar trigger shifter on the right bar. All of these elements are common components we’ve seen on many of the other Aventon e-bikes we’ve tested, and they’ve been consistently good in our experience. Similarly, the Pace 500.3’s display is standard, but we appreciate its layout, organization, and color scheme.

Overall, I found the bike to be comfortable, maneuverable, and easy to operate – all things that were a pleasant surprise considering that I personally tend to be less enthusiastic about cruiser-style e-bikes in general. The Pace 500.3 has been one of the best I’ve experienced!

The addition of the bike’s torque sensor has greatly improved its general feel, its motor’s responsiveness and efficiency, and the distance it can travel. And the addition of turn signals makes it safer and more effective for street use as a commuter and even on casual neighborhood rides.

We might prefer to see tires with more heavily textured tread to reduce the likelihood of sliding out when braking hard. And despite liking the layout of the Pace 500.3’s display, it could be a bit difficult to read in the middle of the day, at least here in the sunny desert where we test e-bikes.

Those couple of critiques aside, we think Aventon nailed this new-and-improved version of the bike, and we think it’s a great fit for riders of all shapes and sizes who might find a relatively lightweight, cruiser-style e-bike appealing.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Aventon Pace 500.3 HS.