Aventon Pace 4

Aventon’s Pace 4 is a 500W cruiser e-bike designed for casual riding.
With this bike, the brand promises a comfortable ride, customizable assist, and smart technology to “elevate all of your weekend rides.” But does the Pace 4 live up to this promise?

In this review, we’ll discuss assembly, the standout components and features, and the ride experience. To finish, we provide the headline pros and cons, results from our standardized testing, and an overall assessment of the Pace 4’s value.

Assembly and Setup

The Pace 4’s packaging is solid. It has quick-release tabs for opening the box, which makes it easier to get the bike out, as it doesn’t have to be lifted up and out like with typical bike boxes.

The bike comes with all the tools and information required for assembly, including a printed manual and online assembly videos. The assembly guide and user manual are clear and well-organized. Aventon also provides handy extras like grease and a spare derailleur hanger.

Finishing assembly involves aligning and installing the stem and handlebars and attaching the front wheel and headlight. Next, check all of the wiring connections and fastener torques. After assembly, connect the bike to the Aventon app to access the aforementioned tech features and register the warranty.

Specifications

The Pace 4 has a rigid aluminum step-thru frame available in three colors and two sizes: regular and large. The regular should fit riders from 4’11” to 5’7”, and the large 5’ 7” to 6’1”. The large size weighs 58.2lb and both can carry 300lb.

The Pace 4’s clean lines and high-quality finish give it a more refined look than many of the other beefy e-bikes flooding the market.

The bike ships as Class 2, with the option to unlock Class 3. It has a light-duty 36V electrical system that includes a 500W, 60Nm rear hub motor and a 20Ah (733Wh) battery. Aventon has standardized this battery across its latest models, so chargers and batteries can be swapped between the Pace 4, Aventure 3, and Level 3.

The Pace 4 can reach 20mph using the thumb throttle. The three PAS levels are modulated by switchable torque and cadence sensors, and the pedal assist top speed can be set at 20mph or 28mph.

The integrated display and five-button control pad sit on the left side of the handlebars. The display is unobtrusive but bright and easy to see.

The Pace 4 is packed with tech features, and the controls are clearly explained in the user manual. In the display, clear item descriptions and on-screen prompts make the settings menus easy to use.

The Pace 4 is certified to meet the UL 2849 standard, and the battery is certified for UL 2271. The bike has an IPX5 rating for water resistance, and its components are rated IPX6. These ratings provide peace of mind for riding in the rain.

The Pace 4’s wheelset includes 27.5” aluminum rims with nutted axles and 2.1” tires with a smooth city tread.

The 8-speed drivetrain comprises a 48t chainring and 12-32t cassette, a Shimano trigger shifter, and an Altus derailleur. The brakes are Tektro hydraulic discs with motor cut-off and 180mm rotors.

The Pace 4 comes with a 720mm BMX-style handlebar with lock-on ergonomic grips. The Aventon comfort saddle sits on a 50mm suspension seatpost, providing some cushion.

For accessories, Aventon only includes front and rear lights and a kickstand. The taillights are built into the seatstays, and they include turn signals and brake activation. Fenders, racks, bags, a phone holder, a lock, and spare batteries can be added, but cost extra.

Additional Features and Customization

Ride Tune

Users can tune the max torque output, assistance level, and pedal response in each pedal-assist level, and Aventon provides graphs showing how these adjustments affect performance and range.

Switchable Sensor Modes

In the Aventon app, riders can switch between cadence and torque sensors to match their preferred riding style.

Password Protection and Wheel Lock

Aventon has included two anti-theft features: an optional password to prevent unauthorized use of the display, and an integrated lock that immobilizes the rear wheel when parked. Both features can be accessed through the display or app.

Boost Mode

Boost is activated by pressing the up button while in the Turbo mode. This provides up to 120% of the motor’s torque value for a maximum of 30 seconds. Unfortunately, it can only be used once every five minutes.

IoT Services

IoT Service is an optional feature from Aventon that connects the bike to a 4G network to provide remote lock and unlock, GPS tracking, and unusual-activity detection modes that sound the alarm and alert via phone if the bike is tampered with. Aventon provides this service for free for the first year, after which it costs $20 annually.

The alarm is disappointing. The faint beep it emits is unlikely to scare a thief. However, the password and wheel lock make the bike harder to steal.

Riding the Aventon Pace 4

Aventon says the size Large that we’re testing is for riders up to 6’1”. I’m 6’ tall, and with the saddle near its highest setting, the bike fits well.

From the first pedal stroke, the bike was very comfortable. The straight-backed riding position, comfortable touchpoints, and 50mm suspension seatpost are ideal for relaxed cruising.

The controls are intuitive, the display is bright, the icons on the buttons are easily understood, and the menu items have sensible names and descriptions. Basically, everything works smoothly.

Under motor power, the bike is responsive and surprisingly quick, with good acceleration. The torque sensor is responsive, and the cadence sensor works well, too.

The three assist levels offer a good range of assistance. In Turbo mode, acceleration is strong and the bike handles most hills. Eco mode is slow and steady, providing great range, and Sport mode is a nice middle point between the two.

Using the torque sensor together with Sport mode, I easily reached 20mph. With the speed limit raised to 28mph, the range of assistance adjusts accordingly.

The Pace 4’s responsive handling and relatively narrow 2.1” tires mean it corners and descends well and easily maintains speed. The bike also feels stable at 28mph, and with solid braking performance, it descends confidently.

The ride is surprisingly comfortable over light bumps and gravel. On a dirt forest path with some roots, the 50mm suspension post smoothed things out perfectly. Obviously, the fast-rolling city tread doesn’t provide tons of grip on loose surfaces, but once kept to pavement and light off-road surfaces, the Pace 4 is a delight.

With its torquey motor and 12-32t cassette, the bike climbs well, especially for a 500W e-bike, and having Boost mode in reserve gives some peace of mind when tackling the steepest inclines.

There were no unusual creaks or clunks during my test rides. The motor is fairly quiet for a rear hub, even when worked hard. Overall, everything functioned very well, which isn’t always the case with bikes at this price point.

At 58lb, the bike is fairly easy to move around, but it’s certainly not lightweight. It’s possible to pedal the Pace 4 over level ground with motor assistance turned off, but I wouldn’t want to encounter any hills with an empty battery.

Pros

Design Quality

From paint to performance, the Pace 4 is a great example of what one should expect when buying an e-bike. It’s easy to set up and a pleasure to ride. The excellent user experience, solid feel, and reasonable price are a winning combination.

Range

The Pace 4 and its 36V, 20Ah battery performed well in the range tests. With 45 miles from Turbo mode and 54 miles from Sport mode, the Pace 4 easily outperformed the other bikes in our tests. The onboard range estimate also proved reliable, and actually underestimated range by a few miles, which is a nice safety net to have.

Tech Features and Customizability

The solid feature set and customization options enhance the user experience. For example, the switchable sensors and configurable e-bike class allow owners to tune the bike to their preferred riding style. The optional geofencing, password protection, and wheel lock provide extra peace of mind when locking the bike outside.

Cons

Charge Port Position

Given how well-thought-out the rest of this bike is, it seems odd that Aventon positions the charge port right down near the bottom of the battery. It’s a pain to reach, and it exposes the charge port to water and dirt thrown up by the front tire, which is made worse by the bike’s lack of fenders. There is a rubber cap, but if it’s not closed correctly after charging, water and dirt could end up inside the charge port.

Test Results

We usually perform our standardized tests with the bike in its stock configuration, but as Aventon’s latest generation of bikes includes the Boost mode for temporary extra torque, we wanted to provide data on how that affects performance in the climbing and acceleration tests.

The Pace 4 was tested using the stock PAS tuning and with the speed limit set at 20mph. We usually just do these tests at max assist. However, for this bike, we did each test once in Turbo mode and again in Turbo mode, but with Boost activated for the steepest part of the hill.

I was very surprised to find the Pace 4 took longer to climb both hills when I used Boost mode. I could feel the extra torque in Boost mode, but it seems like the transition between Turbo and Boost modes actually slows the bike down slightly overall.

Small Hill Climb

The Pace 4 is described as a laid-back cruiser for recreational riding, and up our first hill, it delivered on that promise. The Himiway A7 scurried up the hill in 2:54 with the Lectric XP4 500W and Velotric Discover 1+ close behind. The Pace 4 needed 3:13 to finish, and its stablemate, Aventon’s Level 2, slouched along in 3:33.

With Boost made deployed, the Pace 4 took an additional four seconds.

Medium Hill Climb

Surprisingly, the Pace 4 performed better on our shorter, steeper climb, coming second in the group of comparison bikes at 2:34 in Turbo mode and again, four seconds slower with Boost activated.

That left it 6 seconds behind the XP4, but 5 seconds ahead of the Himiway A7 and Velotric Discover 1+, and an impressive 13 seconds in front of the Level 2.

Acceleration Test

The acceleration tests brought more pleasant surprises. Using just the throttle, the bike pulls away more slowly, taking 10 seconds to get from 0 to 20 in Turbo mode.

Boost only shaved one second off this time. Using pedal-assist, however, the Pace 4 accelerated to 20mph in just six seconds in Turbo mode and five seconds with Boost.

Range Test 1 (PAS 3/3)

The Pace 4 might not be the fastest, but it can cruise all day, with great battery range in all PAS levels. Using the highest level, it lasted 45.2 miles and climbed 1,467 feet. This beat the comparison bikes by between six and 15 miles.

Range Test 2 (PAS 2/3)

The commendable results continued when testing Sport mode, the middle of the Pace 4’s three assist levels. In this mode, the bike traveled 54.8 miles with 1,690 feet of elevation gain, a fantastic result for any e-bike. Again, the closest competitor was the Himiway A7, which managed 45.77 miles.

Brake Test

The Pace 4 stopped from 20mph in a respectable 18 feet. That’s about average for the e-bikes we’ve tested, and matches or betters the comparison bikes here.

Conclusion

Overall, the Aventon Pace 4 proved itself to be a thoughtfully designed and well-executed electric cruiser that delivers on its promises. The build quality also seems solid, at least from our short-term testing.

The comfortable, relaxed ride makes casual jaunts and weekend adventures a breeze, but what really sets the Pace 4 apart at this price point is its performance and customizability.

Being able to swap between torque and cadence sensors, adjust PAS levels through Ride Tune, and programme the bike for Class 2 or 3 gives the owner great control over their riding experience. The security features also add extra peace of mind when locking the bike outside.

The Pace 4 accelerates quickly, easily overcomes steep hills, and handles light off-road terrains with confidence. The battery also delivers outstanding range.

At this price point, we believe Aventon’s Pace 4 offers excellent value, and anyone looking for a comfortable, feature-packed cruiser for daily rides and weekend adventures should give it serious consideration.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 95
• Performance/Innovation: 95
• Design: 90
• Ride quality: 95
• Price/Value: 95

Overall: 94

Detailed Specs

Electric Bike Class: 1, 2, or 3
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
UL Certification: UL 2849 – UL 2271
IP Rating: Bike IPX5 – Components IPX6
Total Weight: Claimed: 58.2lb – Actual: 58.2lb
Motor Brand: Aventon
Motor Type: Rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 500W
Max Torque: 60Nm
Battery: 36V 19.88Ah (716Wh)
Range Claimed: 70 miles
Range Test 1 (PAS 3/3): 45.24 mi – 1,467 ft. – 16.8mph avg.
Range Test 2 (PAS 2/3): 54.79 mi – 1,690 ft. – 14.9mph avg.
Max Speed: 28mph
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 3 levels (adjustable)
Sensor Torque and cadence (switchable)
Charger: 42V 4A
Charge Time: 5 hours
Display: Aventon BC147
Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Rigid aluminum
Brake Levers: Tektro hydraulic
Brake Calipers: Tektro hydraulic
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Crankset: 170mm, 48t
Derailleur: Shimano Altus 8-speed
Shifter: Shimano Altus
Cassette: 12-32t
Rims: 27.5” Aluminum
Tires: 27.5″ x 2.1″
Fenders: None
Lights: Integrated front + Rear
Grips: Ergonomic lock-on
Saddle: Aventon comfort
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: BMX-style 720mm
Kickstand: Yes
Payload Capacity: 300lb

Geometry Details

Size: Large
Seat Tube: 18“ (480mm)
Reach: 17” (450mm)
Stack: 25” (639.4mm)
Stand Over Height: 16” (430mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 28” (721.8mm)
Min Saddle Height: 35.5” (902mm)
Max Saddle Height: 40.5” (1029mm)
Wheelbase: 43” (1110mm)

It demonstrated excellent range, great stopping power, solid hill climbing ability, and an intuitive, customizable, and precise pedal assist system… This new version of the bike offers a fun, responsive, sporty, secure, and comfortable ride that’s chock-full of value.

While the added cost of optional accessories and the ongoing subscription for full ACU functionality are factors to consider, the Pace 4 offers a compelling blend of innovation, performance, and peace of mind.

This whole ride was comfortable today. This bike coasts super long. [The] paint job’s always excellent on these bikes… I cannot see, without squinting, the battery level on this bike.

… Aventon delivered a solid cruiser that has excellent range, practical speed, industry-leading security, and tech all wrapped up in a nice modern look and at a price that doesn’t require a second mortgage.

Its solid build, integrated security features, and approachable price point make the Pace 4 an excellent choice for those seeking a stylish and capable e-bike for casual city cruising and bike path adventures.