Aventon Level 3

More and more people are swapping gas-guzzling car commutes for e-bikes to save money, avoid traffic, or inject some fun into the daily commute.

Aventon’s Level 3 is a commuter e-bike designed specifically for this type of riding. On top of the usual fenders, cargo rack, and light, it has extra features to prevent theft while it’s locked up outside.

On paper, the Level 3 from Aventon seems like the perfect commuter e-bike under $2,000, but how does it perform in the real world? Keep reading to find out!

Assembly and Setup

Like with the other Aventon bikes we’ve tested recently, assembling the Level 3 was straightforward and smooth, just with one hiccup.

The Level 3 comes with a small piece of plastic trim that covers the cables where they enter the head tube. This is much harder to install than it should be and I struggled to get it installed.

Apart from this issue, assembly was straightforward. It’s easy to get the bike out of the box, grab the included assembly guide and tools, and start putting it together.

Assembly involves aligning the stem and installing the handlebars, front wheel, headlight, fenders, and rear rack.

In addition to detailed instructions, Aventon includes grease and a spare derailleur hanger.

Specifications

The Level 3 is the latest version of Aventon’s commuter e-bike. It’s offered as a step-through or step-over in regular and large sizes.

Aventon says the size large step-over we’re testing fits riders from 5’10” to 6’4”, and the regular fits 5’3” to 5’10”. For the step-through, it’s 4’11” to 5’7” for the regular and 5’7” to 6’1” for the large. Unusually, Aventon provides inseam ranges on its website to help buyers find the right fit.

All frames come with an 80mm hydraulic coil fork and 50mm suspension seatpost.

The Level 3 ships as a Class 2 e-bike, with a thumb throttle and three-level pedal assist with selectable torque and cadence sensors. The bike’s speed limits can be adjusted between 12 and 28mph for pedal assist, and 12 and 20mph for the throttle. The throttle can be removed for full Class 1 compliance.

The 36V electrical system includes a 500W, 60Nm rear hub motor and 19.88Ah (716Wh) battery pack. The battery is housed in the down tube and unlocks via the display or app.

Aventon’s Pace 4, Level 3, Aventure 3, and Aventure M all use the same battery and charger, so they can be swapped between bikes for those who own more than one.

The Level 3 has a five-button control pad and Aventon’s BC280 display. Aventon explains the controls and functions clearly in the owner’s manual.

The bike is certified for UL 2849 compliance, and the battery for UL 2271. The whole bike’s water resistance rating is IPX5, but the components are rated IPX6. These certifications provide peace of mind that the bike will be safe and reliable, even in the rain.

The Level 3 has 27.5” aluminum rims, with a 15x100mm front thru-axle and a nutted rear axle. The 2.2” Kenda Kwick Seven.5 Sport tires have puncture resistance and reflective sidewalls.

The drivetrain is Shimano Altus, with an underslung trigger shifter, 48t chainring, and 8-speed, 12-32t cassette.

Our test bike has Tektro HD-E3520 brakes with 180mm rotors. Older test bikes were shipped to reviewers with Magura brakes. Since then, Aventon swapped to Tektro brakes to give the bike motor cut-off and brake light activation.

The angle of the stem can be adjusted to make the most of the 680mm riser handlebar and nice rubber lock-on grips. Composite platform pedals and an Aventon-branded padded saddle round out the touchpoints.

The Level 3 comes with full-coverage metal fenders, a MIK-compatible rear rack, and integrated lighting with a headlight, taillight, and turn signals. Finally, there’s a pair of bottle cage mounting points on the down tube.

Like the other new releases from Aventon, the Level 3 has some useful high-tech features.

Additional Features and Customization

Sensor Switch

Using the advanced menu or Aventon app, riders can switch between cadence and torque sensors to suit their preferred riding style or mood.

Ride Tune

Ride Tune allows owners to easily customize max torque output, assistance level, and pedal response for each PAS level. Clever graphs in the app show how the changes affect range and overall performance.

Password Protection and Wheel Lock

Security is enhanced by optional password protection on the display and an integrated lock that immobilizes the rear wheel when parked. Both of these features can be accessed via the display or app.

Boost Mode

When riding in Turbo PAS mode, pressing the up button engages Boost Mode, which increases torque to 120% of the rated maximum for 30 seconds at a time. This can only be used once every five minutes.

IoT Services

IoT Service is an extra-cost option that connects the bike to a 4G network for advanced features. This service allows users to remotely lock or unlock the bike and access the GPS tracking and unusual-activity detection modes, which sound the alarm and alert the associated phone via text if the bike is tampered with, but the alarm is just a faint beep that won’t scare anyone.

All Aventon bikes come with this package for free for the first year, after which it costs $20 per year.

Riding the Aventon Level 3

The Level 3 has good curb appeal, with a nicely shaped frame, clean welds, and a great finish.

At 6’ tall, the large step-over fits me well, with plenty of room left on the seatpost, so it should fit riders up to the claimed 6’4”. With the adjustable stem set midway between aggressive and fully upright, I found the bike comfortable on longer rides.

While pedaling, the torque sensor feels responsive and well-tuned. Pedal assist is quick and peppy, but the throttle output is subdued, with power slow to ramp up.

With the stock settings, the three PAS levels provide a good range of assistance. Sport and Turbo are quite similar when the speed limit is set to 20mph. The difference is only noticeable when accelerating hard or climbing a steep hill.

With the speed limit upped to 28mph, the difference is obvious, as Sport tops out around 20mph and Turbo continues to 28mph. Eco mode is very restrained, making it an excellent choice for congested areas and relaxed cruising.

Boost mode was an interesting experience. On the road, it improved initial acceleration, and it felt like the bike climbed steeper hills faster, but testing revealed a bit of a surprise.

The Level 3 is responsive and agile. The 27.5 x 2.2” tires are easy to get rolling, and they grip well in corners and help provide a smooth ride. Despite the small tread blocks, the tires offer good traction on gravel and dirt.

The fork and suspension seatpost do a surprisingly good job of ironing out bumpy surfaces. Forest paths with roots were quite comfortable.

The motor was fairly quiet for a rear hub, especially in lower assist levels, and there were no creaks or clunks from the frame or suspension.

At 68lb, the Level 3 isn’t exactly a lightweight, but the shape of the frame makes it easier to pick up and move around. Unlike e-bikes with big, bulky tires, the Level 3 should also fit on most vehicle racks.

Pros

Commuter Ready

As promised by Aventon, the Level 3 is ready for commuting. It comes with metal fenders, a MIK-compatible rear rack, and integrated lighting with turn signals and brake activation. The bike arrives set up for Class 2, and is easily configured for Class 1 or 3.

Security Tech

Aventon’s ACU technology gives the Level 3 some solid features, including built-in GPS tracking and geofencing, remote locking and motor shut-off, an integrated rear-wheel lock, a display password, and unusual movement alerts with an alarm.

Deep Customization

Switchable torque and cadence sensors and Ride Tune make the Level 3 one of the most customizable bikes in this price range. Together, these features give owners simple, deep customization of the motor output to suit their riding style.

Cons

Internal Cabling Execution

I build bikes like this on a weekly basis, but even following the assembly instructions, it was challenging to install the cover. This might be because the Level 3 originally had Magura brakes, which don’t have extra cables for the motor cut-off and brake activation. A longer screw might make it easier to get this cover installed.

USB-A Port

A USB-A charging port on a new e-bike in 2025 doesn’t make sense. Most new phones come with a USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable, so many users will have to dig up an old cable to charge their devices while riding.

Charging Port

The charge port’s location is near the bottom of the battery, where it’s hard to reach and is exposed to dirt and water thrown up by the front tire, even with fenders installed. There is a rubber cover, but forgetting to replace the cover after charging could result in the port getting exposed to water and dirt.

Test Results

So, how did the Level 3 perform against its competitors in our standardized tests?

To ensure our comparisons are relevant, we test all e-bikes using settings that are as close to typical as possible, usually the stock settings.

Our climbing and acceleration tests are done in the highest PAS level, so we can see how powerful and fast the bike is.

Because of the new Boost feature on Aventon’s latest e-bikes, we’ve completed the tests once in Turbo mode and again using Boost.

Small Elevation Hill

The Level 3’s motor output is best described as measured but effective, and it maintains speed well. The bike completed the climb in 3:05, putting it ahead of the Pace 4 and Himiway Rambler, but slightly behind the Velotric Discover 1 and Himiway A7.

Surprisingly, Boost mode actually added seven seconds to the bike’s time.

Medium Elevation Hill

In the medium-elevation climb, the Level 3 was one second faster than the Velotric Discover 1 and Himiway A7, and a whopping 27 seconds ahead of the Himiway Rambler. However, the Aventon Pace 4 beat its sibling up this hill by two seconds.

Once more, Boost slowed the Level 3, this time by two seconds.

Acceleration

The Level 3’s acceleration is smooth and controlled. Using the throttle, the Level 3 takes 11 seconds to reach 20mph, but with pedal assist, that time drops to seven seconds, outpacing Himiway’s A7 and Rambler, and the Velotric Discover 1+, making the Level 3 one of the quickest bikes we’ve tested.

Unlike in the hill-climb tests, using the Boost button improves the Level 3’s results, dropping the 0-20 times to six seconds using pedal assist and nine seconds with the throttle.

Range Test 1 – PAS Turbo (3/3)

All of the latest Aventon bikes we’ve tested have demonstrated impressive battery range, and the Level 3 is no different.

In the highest PAS level, Turbo, the bike covered 42.18 miles and 1,426 feet of elevation. That is a spectacular result using an e-bike’s most powerful PAS setting, and it easily beats all the comparison bikes, except for Aventon’s Pace 4, which squeezed an extra two miles from the same 20Ah battery, probably because of its lower weight.

Range Test 2 – PAS Sport (2/3)

In the middle PAS level (Sport), the result was even more impressive: 53.26 miles and 1,610 feet of elevation gain. This outstanding performance again beat all of the comparison bikes except the Pace 4. This shows that the Level 3 will easily handle long commutes or multiple days of riding without needing a charge.

Brake Test

In the brake test, stopping the Level 3 from 20mph took 18 feet, which is the average of the e-bikes we’ve tested. Again, the Pace 4’s lower weight probably shows in its superior braking distance of 17 feet. The Velotric Discover 1 and Himiway Rambler performed similarly, but the Himiway A7 needed 23 feet to stop.

Conclusion

The Aventon Level 3 delivers on its promise of providing “everything you need” in a commuter e-bike, including excellent range, decent hill-climbing performance, and all the key accessories. The security features also add real value.

Sure, the charge port placement isn’t ideal, and it would’ve been nice to have a USB-C charge port, but these are relatively minor issues on an otherwise well-executed package.

For under $2,000, the Level 3 is a serious competitor in the commuter e-bike market. It handles daily commutes with ease and is plenty capable of weekend adventures. For anyone looking to ditch the car for a tech-forward e-bike, the Level 3 is worth a look.

Score Breakdown

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

Overall: 93

Detailed Specs

Electric Bike Class: 1, 2, 3
Warranty: 2-year
UL Certification: UL 2849, UL 2271
IP Rating: Bike: IPX5 Components: IPX6
Total Weight: Claimed: 67lb – Actual: 68lb
Motor Brand: Aventon
Motor Type: Rear Hub
Motor Nominal Output: 36V 500W
Torque: 60Nm
Battery: 36V 19.88Ah (716Wh)
Range Claimed: 70 miles
Range Tested (PAS 2/3): 53.26 mi – 1,610 ft. – 14.1mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 3/3): 43.18 mi – 1,426 ft. – 15.7mph avg.
Top Speed: 28mph
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 3 levels
Sensor Torque/Cadence
Charger: 42V 4A
Charge Time: 5 hours
Display: Aventon BC280
Frame: Aluminum
Fork: 80mm Hydraulic coil suspension
Brake Levers: Tektro HD E3520
Brake Calipers: Tektro HD E3520
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Crankset: 170mm 48t
Derailleur: Shimano Altus 8-speed
Shifter: Shimano SL-M315
Freewheel: 12-32t
Rims: 27.5” Aluminum
Tires: Kenda Kwick Seven-5 Sport 27.5″ x 2.2″
Fenders: Full coverage
Lights: Integrated lights
Grips: Aventon lock-on
Saddle: Aventon comfort
Pedals: Composit platform
Handlebar: 680mm riser
Kickstand: Yes, single-sided
Payload Capacity: 300lb
Rack Capacity: 60lb

Geometry Details

Seat Tube: 19“ (500mm)
Reach: 17“ (450mm)
Stack: 24” (618mm)
Stand Over Height: 27” (695mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 25” (635mm)
Min Saddle Height: 37.5” (953mm)
Max Saddle Height: 42.5” (1080mm)
Wheelbase: 46” (1187mm)

The Level 3 performed extremely well in our testing, with top-notch range test results, impressive stopping power, intuitive programming (that happens to be customizable), and solid climbing capability. As such, it’s a shining example of a commuter e-bike done right.

The Level 3 refresh blends smart technology with a sleek, updated look… Though it may not top the charts for power among commuter options, it provides a smooth, well-rounded ride.

… the Level 3 is full of high-end tech that is competitive with the top brands, additionally they’ve upped their production game with a more refined and quality construction of the frame and choice quality componentry.

You are going to be limited on the throttle to 20mph, but you can get that pedal assist to go all the way up to 28mph. It’s probably one of the better-performing 500W motors that I’ve been on.

The new Aventon tech package – 4G connectivity, geofencing, an audible alarm, and the electronic wheel lock – finally addresses urban theft concerns head-on. It’s a commuter’s ideal ride that’s just as capable for a leisurely weekend spin.

My verdict: Aventon’s Level 3 is still the benchmark commuter e-bike and one of the best bicycles I’ve ridden in the past several months.