=== Summary === The Aventon Level ebike knocks it out of the park and delivers a triple-homerun with its high-quality build materials and good looks, comfortable and performant ride quality, and great range from its 672 Wh lithium-ion battery. Despite its 62-lb weight, the Level is easy to ride and live with. It makes for an excellent cruiser and commuter. _____ *Pros: -Attractive frame design with beautiful welds, meticulous paint job, & neat cable management. -Built-in frame battery with no unsightly and awkward-looking hump. -Large, clear, backlit LCD display that is plug-and-play & upgradeable. -Comes standard with a metal bike rack and fenders. -Hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. -The 75mm-travel suspension fork has both a lock-out and preload settings & smoothly handles bumps and uneven roads. -The Shimano Acera rear derailleur and Rapid Fire 8-spd shifter jive well together and results in crisp and predictable shifting. -The tires are low-rolling resistance, making it easy to pick up and maintain speed. -It rides and turns like a normal bike. -Climbs hills very well. -The hydraulic brakes are quiet, powerful, and stop the bike fast. -High-speed stability is excellent with no nervous wobble or lean. -Top pedal-assist speed can be unlocked to 32MPH. -Throttle-on-demand is a convenient and welcome feature. -Snap-on plugs on the wiring make repairs & replacements easy (brake lever, LCD screen). -Thanks to smart cable management, the rear wheel is easy to take off for tube changes & flat repairs. -There are seven Aventon dealers close to my home for support. _____ *Neutral: -Doesn't come with integrated front & rear LED lights. -I wish the LCD display had a clock. -No bells or horns. -No chain protector on the chainstay. -It's way heavier than a regular bicycle. -The front and rear disc brakes, as well as the rear derailleur, required tuning. -The seat could use more padding or a suspension seatpost underneath. -Mine didn't come with Kenda tires or the Suntour fork. _____ *Cons: -During sharp turns, my shoe touches the tire. === My bike background === My family of four ride about 300 miles every month and we love riding for exercise and checking out new trails and pathways on the weekends. Biking was the perfect solution to the COVID lockdowns and it has allowed us freedom to explore. My other bike before the Aventon is a 27.5" MTB that I modified with higher-level components. I also converted its original 3x7 drivetrain to a 3x9 for better climbing and more speed. === Design and Build Quality Impressions === My first impression of the Aventon Level was fantastic, due to its beautiful welds, rich and glossy paintjob, neat cable management, and the tasteful way the big battery was integrated into the downtube. Thanks to its impeccable packaging, the bike arrived in perfect condition with no dings and scratches. Looking over the components on the bike, I felt a bit let down. Instead of the Suntour fork, Shimano crankset, and Kenda tires, my Level came with a Mega Wheel crankset, the Zoom Aria 188DSSHL/O suspension fork, and some CST tires. I'm guessing that was due to the global bike component shortage. On the positive side, my bike did come with the Shimano Acera RD-M360 SGS rear derailleur, Shimano Acera SL-M315-8R shifter, and the Bengal Ares 3 hydraulic brake system, which all work very well and reliably. The Velo handlebar grips are comfortable and fine, as is the saddle, adjustable seatpost, and pedals. I appreciated that the cost of the bike included front and rear metal fenders, a metal rack, and a sturdy, albeit clunky and loud, kickstand. The lights are missing but it's not a big deal to me as I have many extras. The bike is quite a looker and carries a presence which I like. It's a great conversation starter with people you meet on the trails and it blends in well with regular, analog bicycles. === Assembly and Tuning === About 70% of the bike is already preassembled and you or a bike shop is responsible for putting on the handlebar, pedals, and the front wheel. Like many bikes that arrive at your doorstep inside a box, some tuning was required. I had to adjust the front & rear brakes to stop the rotors from rubbing against the pads, and I reset the limit screws & indexed the derailleur to fix the initially clunky, loud, and slow shifting. Once all the parts got a do-over, the bike shifted, rode, and braked just fine. === Ride quality and handling === If you're coming from an analog bike like me, then you'll notice the 62-lb weight straight away. It takes more strength to push the bike along when you're walking it, and it's much harder to lift it onto a bike rack. Despite its heft, once you get the bike going, the Level rides and feels just like a regular bike when you ride it even without the motor assist. Thanks to the smooth-rolling tires, I can easily maintain 13-15mph using just my legs and the shifter at the 4 or 5 setting. The only thing I didn't like was when making sharp turns as my shoes would keep hitting the tire, throwing off my balance. Using the throttle reminded me of riding an electric scooter, with its smooth acceleration and predictable burst of power. The Level comes with throttle-on-demand, meaning that as long as the bike is in one of the five PAS settings (one through five but not zero), you can move the bike from a complete stop without having to pedal first. This feature is very useful and nice for steep hills and stop-and-go traffic conditions. The PAS system was new to me and it took me a while to get used to it. A quarter rotation of the pedal brings the motor to life and it sort of jolts the bike to life by quickly accelerating to the PAS-level dependent maximum speed (level 1 is 13 MPH, level 2 is 17 MPH, 3 is 20 MPH, 4 is 25 MPH, and 5 is 28 MPH). The surge of acceleration isn't violent or jerky but it may catch you off-guard so be aware when riding near people and obstacles. Fortunately, pulling on the brake level will promptly cut the power to the motor and the hydraulic disc brakes deliver good stopping power. Even when you're slowly turning the pedals, the bike wants to reach its top speed for the PAS level you've selected. So if you're on PAS Level 1 and you're super slowly turning the pedals, it'll still try to get you to 13mph regardless. Needless to say, you have to be mindful and careful about this "feature" lest you run into objects or people. To be safe when I'm around people, I either use the throttle to gently get me going, or I turn off the PAS (level 0) and just pedal without the motor assist. The CST tires are pretty good and their low-rolling resistance design makes it easy to build up speed and maintain it. The tires are also quiet and wide enough to offer comfort and stability. They can handle hardpack dirt roads just fine as well as some light gravel. The wheels spin true and I don't think I need to take them to a shop. The Shimano Acera rear derailleur and Acera 8-spd shifter were a joy to use after calibration. The shifts are crisp, fast, and predictable, and it is way better than the Tourney and Altus-level component families. The Rapidfire Plus shifter enables quick downshifting, up to three levels. I have a Deore system on my analog MTB and the Acera isn't as responsive and smooth but it gets the job done and I have no complaints. The Bengal Ares 3 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors offer good lever modulation, strong stopping power, and predictable behavior. I would say they're almost as good as the Tektro hydraulic system on my wife's 2020 Marlin 6 MTB. The Zoom Aria 188DS suspension fork is not an air fork but it did a great job absorbing bumps and uneven surfaces and keeping the tire planted to the road. It comes with two customizable settings: preload and lockout. I weigh about 150 lbs. so I increased the preload a bit and kept the lockout in the middle, which offered the most comfort for me. Although the front end of the bike does a great job absorbing bumps, the rear is not so comfy. Due to the weight of the motor and a lack of rear suspension, you'll feel medium and big bumps on your butt all the time. A suspension seatpost as well as a padded gel seat cover are in my future. I unlocked the PAS speed limiter from 28mph to 32mph and the bike was a blast to ride at that speed! Even at such high speeds, the bike remained stable and safe-feeling. At high PAS levels, the motor whine becomes quite noticeable and can be easily heard over the wind noise. It's not obnoxiously loud by any means but it is a bit distracting. Aventon did a fabulous job crafting the Level to be such a comfortable, stylish, and performant commuter bike, and I think most people will love the experience. === Battery life and Range === Aventon is well-known and appreciated for being honest about their bikes' real-life ranges, and my experience with the Level reinforced that belief. After conditioning the battery three times (as instructed in the manual), the type of battery life and range I've been getting has been spot-on and fantastic. My commute to work is 12 miles one-way and my battery level only dropped by one bar. I was riding 70% on PAS Level 3, 20% on Level 4, and 10% on Level 1. The route is mostly flat but there are about fifteen up and downs on the bike trail. I'm very content and happy with the range I'm getting and it made me change my mind about purchasing an extra battery pack. === Repairability and service centers === Lucky for me, nothing is wrong with my Level. But if something does go wrong, I'm comforted by the fact that there are SEVEN Aventon dealers near my home where I can go for service. This is a BIG plus for me. === Is the Level a good buy? === Absolutely. It has a highly attractive design, assembly and maintenance is easy, the ride is comfortable and very fun, and the performance is simply fantastic. It's a complete 5-Star Win!

The Aventon Level Commuter Step Over Bike is my first foray into E-bikes. Having a mountain bike as a kid I loved riding long distances with friends around local park trails. When I had the opportunity to get my hands on this E-bike I didn’t hesitate! The wife and I have been wanting to get into long distance riding lately, so this was the perfect time! Initial Assembly – the bike was easy enough to assemble for someone with little to no experience tuning or assembling bikes. I did notice that the instructions that came with the bike were not accurate to the exact model I was given so I went online and found the assembly video that Aventon has on their support site. I didn’t have too much trouble installing everything, the only hiccups I encountered was getting the fender to sit properly and straight on the front wheel and getting the plastic piece that protects the back gear chains off the bike. You are supposed to break it off and then pull it off with pliers and it took me a good 20 minutes to finally pry it off. The only thing I was a little bummed about is the LCD screen got damaged in shipping. The way they pack the bike the LCD must have rubbed against some metal pieces during shipping because the entire top of it looks “chewed”. It’s unfortunate but something I can learn to live with! The bike itself has excellent build quality. It is heavier than any bike I’ve previously owned but that’s to be expected when you have a lithium battery powered bike. The LCD screen is sharp and easy to read and displays all the relevant information and even is backlit if you’re riding at dusk. The gears and tires and suspension seem like very solid quality compared to bikes I’ve owned previously. Overall, the entire thing just feels like a beautiful piece of machinery. The one thing I was surprised at is that the bike doesn’t come with a front or rear light. For being a commuter bike, I would think that would be a standard feature, but it’s something that can be installed after purchase. The seat is comfortable and easy to adjust. Once I got everything tuned to my size it was off to enjoy my new e-bike! Having never ridden an e-bike before I didn’t know what quite to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to operate. The bike can be driven with no Pedal assistance like a normal bike, or you can kick in the PAS system by adjusting the system past 0 and peddling the bike or using the throttle on the handle. The throttle makes it feel very much like a scooter, but I love that at any time I can just hit the throttle and cruise with no effort. I am a 200-pound man so I noticed going up hills that it does slow down quite a bit but that’s expected with my weight. I love the balance of assistance from the bikes motor and your own peddling. It makes it MUCH easier to go long distances or get up that steep hill. The Pedal assistance or PAS as Aventon calls it comes in 5 different modes. 1-13mph 57-mile range, 2- 17mph 44 miles, 3- 20 mph 36 miles, 4- 25 mph 26 miles, or 5 28 mph 25-mile range. I kept mine for the most part around PAS 3 and got about 15 miles on my first full ride with lots of battery left to spare, so I do believe it will hit the 40m mile range it advertises but I will have to test that out more on summer rides once it warms up a bit. The back rack will be useful for long trips in the future with my family where I want to store a cooler or other items for our day. I am a little bummed that this bike being an “E” bike doesn’t have any type of app integration with the display. That would have been a nice feature but one that I see is upgradeable on their website. Overall I am seriously impressed with the Aventon Level Commuter bike. I could see how this bike could be very functional in an urban setting where you want an alternative to a car. But I also think this bike has a rightful place in your garage if you want a fast, fun bike that can go super long distances and still have the mountain bike feel. This bike to me opens up a ton of possibilities for longer trips to places you normally wouldn’t ride your bike. Knowing that you have the PAS system if you get need it means MUCH longer bike rides are coming in my future and I’m all for it. This bike is the nicest bike I’ve ever owned and I will enjoy it for years to come!

This bike oozes quality. From the excellent components, alloy construction, etc., etc. In this review, I will try to go into some detail as to assembly, adjustments, and actual riding experience. I took pics along the way to help illustrate. The bike is fairly heavy, and packed in a large bulky box. It is somewhat awkward to handle - get help if needed. It was packed well, with padding, packing, strapping, etc. I opted to carefully cut down the side of the box, lay flat, and use as the cardboard as a "work mat" while assembling the bike. *First word of caution here* If not experienced with bike assembly, tuning, and adjustments, I suggest getting help or a bike shop to do this. Being quite experienced in bike mechanics, tuning, etc., I set to work assembling the bike. I had already purchased an adjustable stem which I installed loosely. Then seat and handlebar - again, snugging only. Now the bike can be turned upside down for finishing wheel, fender, pedals, etc. At this point, I checked brake rotor and wheel rim run-out. I did find the front wheel needed a little truing, and rear brake caliper needed a little adjustment to center on rotor. Then putting bike upright again, finished adjusting and tightening the seat, stem, handlebar, brake and shift levers. The seat can be adjusted for height, and front to back. The bar and levers can be adjusted for angle and tilt. For safety, be sure to double check all adjustments and operation of steering, brakes, cables, etc. to operate properly, no binding or interference. *Leave the display loose enough to adjust - or move to prevent damage if there is a mishap.* I did add a few accessories along with the adjustable stem - a more "cushy" seat for my bony derriere, a tool / safety kit, rear light, bell, and rear view mirror. Then charged battery and went out for the maiden ride. I did need to adjust derailleur slightly, and rear brake lever. Now to actual riding.... This bike is phenomenal - more about that. But, as I started to ride, I did find a couple things a rider needs to be very careful about. *If using pedal assist, stop pedaling when making a sharp corner. One, your toe can hit front fender, and two, I found if the motor could kick in abruptly. Come out of the corner and resume pedaling.* After getting the hang of it, I was awe struck. I was riding along with a pedal assist of only 1 or 2, in 7th and 8th gear. And, I was breezing along at 16 / 17 MPH, with minimal effort. As pedaling begins, the motor will add power, getting bike up to speed. You can vary the gear, along with the assist level, to achieve the speed / effort level you want. If at a stop, you can use the thumb throttle lever to help taking off. Throttle can also be used for riding full power. And while using full power, the speed can be varied by how far the throttle is pushed down. The bike is heavy, but with the powerful motor, hydraulic brakes and front suspension, it didn't feel at all heavy, and handled well. Here are just some of the great points about the bike: Excellent alloy construction, hydraulic disc brakes, quick release front wheel and seat post, Zoom suspension fork with pre-load adjustment and lockout, alloy luggage rack, index shifter, excellent alloy kick stand, quality components throughout, and large display with ODO /trip 1&2 / power level / assist level, etc. There are a few minor misses..... There is no provision for water bottle, no "tab" on luggage rack for usual mount tail light, and most importantly, the issue with hitting front wheel when pedaling in tight turns..... But, overall, a great bike, and an excellent way to get around / commute / quick trip to the store. I highly recommend

Since my review is so lengthy, I wanted to summarize the main pros and cons first. Since the Pros were so great and the Cons were more or less minor, this E-bike is a must for sub-$2000 budgets. Pros High-end build quality/parts (clean welds, high-end brakes, and tires) Quick, powerful, and lightweight Informative LCD display Fenders and rack included at no extra cost Best value/performance in this price sector Cons No built-in lighting Default LCD display setting is too bright Only cadence sensor without a torque sensor Seat may not be comfortable for some riders during long rides If you need more details, keep reading. This is my first electric bike. I was looking for a bike that extended family members could use if they were on a ride with my family, as well as something that would make it easier to haul a bike trailer. Assembly There was no real need for assembly instructions, but the manufacturer has provided a couple of options for those in need of them: the manual, which was very clearly written and easy to follow, and an online video, which includes step-by-step instructions. It was simple to attach the saddle, pedals, front tire, and handles. I really liked that Aventon provided an all-in-one tool kit, which is especially beneficial for individuals who don’t already own the necessary tools. If all else fails, you could take it to a bike shop to help or check your work. Build quality The bike is very well built, and it is clear that Aventon paid careful attention to all of the welds to make sure they were clean, which I found amazing. I was also pleasantly surprised by the high-end brakes and tires. The frame is light, for being an E-bike, and I like the wide handle bars. The fact that the cargo rack and aluminum alloy fenders are included is nice, since many bike companies like to charge you for such additions. Performance Due to our winter weather, I was unable to take the bike on a long distance ride. However, I was blown away by my first test ride. I was impressed with the power and speed of this bike. I went up a steep incline (about 40°) from a standing position and ended up going a little over 14 mph on pedal assist level 3. On a flat surface, I was able to get go over 31 mph, even though the bike advertises a limit of 28 mph. Using the throttle without pedaling, I was able to maintain a speed between 19 and 20 mph. The only minor complaint I had about the pedal assist is that it doesn’t activate until you crank the pedal a couple of times, since this bike uses cadence sensors to activate pedal assist. For example, when I started a steep incline on a high gear, I had a hard time getting the pedal assist to activate. I felt for the price of this bike, the exclusion of a torque sensor was reasonable and I don’t think it’s necessary with a commuter bike, since it will likely not be used on a trail. The included saddle (seat) was pretty comfortable, but I would upgrade it if you plan on long rides. I weigh 162 pounds and after more than 10 miles I could see where a wider/softer seat would be necessary. The screen on the display is very informative and is very good quality. It shows the battery level (Energy Bar) as 10 bars and not just high, medium, and low. This layout allowed me to gauge how much battery life I still had, just as I do with a tank of gas in my vehicle. The display also shows speed, pedal assist level, and odometer with trip options. The display is very clear and the backlight is nice and bright for night riding. However, I did notice the brightness on the screen was a little too bright. I know you can access options to modify features on the display, but checked if the screen brightness can be modified. I was impressed with how well the battery held a charge. I went on a 16-mile ride to test out this bike and used the various pedal assist levels and yet only used 2 of the 10 battery level bars. Conclusion I would highly recommend this E-bike. Aventon performed a miracle by featuring high-end parts, ensuring clean welds, and including fenders, a rear-tire rack, and a LCD display with multiple battery bars, all while keeping the price affordable. If your budget is under $2000, this is the best E-bike you will find.

Excellent fit and finish. Welds are smooth, and make the bike look like it was made from a single formed piece of alloy. No trouble assembling, but a novice may want to have a bike shop do setup. Riding this is amazing. Using assist allows me (a senior) to get back out on bike trails again. Working between PAS levels, and the throttle, you can apply just enough assist to make riding pleasant, and still get some workout. Shimano 8 speed shifter helps you set your effort level. Hydraulic disc brakes provide good stopping power. Front fork smooths the bumps, but does have an annoying clang on rebound. Luggage rack is great for loading / carrying items.