Aventon Level Step-Thru Review

Aventon has been producing fixed gear and track racing bikes for many years, and they've recently taken the electric bike market by storm with a growing range of e-bike models. The Level Step-Thru is one model that caught our attention with its streamlined design, Class 2 and 3 capability, and large battery storage capacity. We tested it against some of the best electric bikes at its price point and it quickly became a tester favorite for its great range, smooth ride, 28 mph top speed, and generally well-rounded performance. It comes in step-over and step-thru (tested) frame styles in multiple sizes and colors.

Performance Comparison

Ride

The Level has a quality feel, a high comfort level, and numerous useful features. It is impressively stable at speed with responsive handling, high-volume tires, and a suspension fork to help smooth over the rough stuff. The Step-Thru version we tested comes in two sizes to suit riders between 4'11" and 6'2" (the step-over version comes in three frame sizes).

The Level rides just like a normal bike; we mean that as a compliment. Its handling is very natural and responsive, making a variety of turn shapes well. We found it very stable at speed, even when cruising along at 28 mph or bombing down steeper hills. The 27.5-inch wheels are fast-rolling, and the higher volume 2.2-inch wide tires help to dampen the ride and take the edge off cracks or bumps in the road. A Suntour suspension fork provides 75mm of front wheel travel,, which helps take the edge off bigger bumps or the unexpected pothole. The Bengal Ares 3 hydraulic disc brakes are quite powerful and have no problem slowing or stopping this heavyweight bike in a hurry. The parts and details seem to be thoughtfully chosen, down to the alloy platform pedals and the Shimano Acera 8-speed drivetrain. Overall, the bike also has a very solid feel, and it seems well put together with quality parts, and there are virtually no noises or rattling coming from anywhere.

The Step-Thru model we tested has a low-slung frame design that makes it easy to get on and off the bike. It comes in S/M for riders between 4'11" and 5'7" and M/L for riders between 5'7" and 6'2" tall, and all Level models have a 250 lb weight limit. Our six-foot-tall tester with long legs had no problem fitting on the M/L size we purchased for testing. It has a comfortable, upright seated position, and the seatpost has a quick-release clamp to easily adjust your seat height. The seat was quite comfortable, even during our nearly 30-mile range test ride. Unlike some models with easily adjustable stems, the Level has limited handlebar height adjustment in the form of spacers that can be shifted above or below the stem. We found it quite comfortable despite the limited handlebar height adjustability, but we could see riders who like a very upright position to be left a little wanting.

Features

The Level comes equipped with a few features that help to enhance its user-friendliness. Fenders on both the front and rear wheels help to keep you dry should you ride through a puddle or during inclement weather. It is also built to meet the IPX4 water resistance standard, so it "is resistant to water splashes from any direction." Aventon claims that riding or parking this bike in the rain is okay, although they caution against spraying it with a hose to clean it. A folding multi-tool comes with the bike and a bottle cage. The rear rack can support up to 55 lbs of cargo at the back of the bike. Unfortunately, this bike does not come with a head or tail light like most competitors. This means that you'll need to purchase those separately if you'd like to enhance your visibility on the road or ride at night. Aventon does sell lights as accessories on its website.

Range

With a large 672Wh (48V, 14Ah) battery, the Level can go the distance, and it proved that in our standardized range test. In fact, it was one of the top performers in this metric and is a good option for those with longer commutes.

To level the playing field and eliminate as many variables as possible, we perform our range testing on the same course, with the same rider, using the throttle only. In this test, we rode the Level Step-Thru for 28.4 miles with 1,479 feet of elevation gain/loss at an average speed of 15.32 mph. This is just shy of Aventon's claimed throttle (no pedaling) distance range of 30 miles, though we assume that doesn't include the rolling hills of our test course. We wouldn't be surprised if it could travel slightly farther than 30 miles using the throttle on flat ground. Aventon also includes "real-world range testing" info on their website with speed and range calculations for each pedal-assist level using a rider weight of 165 lbs on flat terrain. We didn't test the range using pedal assist, but Aventon's claims of 57 miles at 13 mph in pedal-assist setting 1 and 25 miles at 28 mph in pedal-assist setting five are pretty impressive and seem like they could be reasonably accurate.

Power

With a 500W (750W peak) brushless rear hub motor, the Level is a powerful bike with no problem reaching its top pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph or pushing you along at 20 mph using the throttle. The five levels of pedal assistance provide a great range of support, and the throttle can be used when you don't want to pedal, even from a complete stop. Like most quality electric bikes, the brakes have a power shutoff feature that kills all power when applied.

The Level uses a cadence sensor, and power is delivered after about a quarter-turn of the cranks. As long as the pedals turn, it delivers power consistently and smoothly, regardless of how much effort you put into pedaling. While you're moving, shifts between output levels feel smooth, with a noticeable increase in power delivery as you shift up through the settings. It can feel a little jumpy if you start from a stop in a high output setting and an easy gear, but that is the case with virtually all the bikes we've tested. The five settings provide a great range of assistance for your pedaling efforts, with level 1 topping out around 13 mph, level 3 at 20 mph, and level 5 up to the bike's top speed of 28 mph. It also has a walk mode that assists at a walking pace when you press and hold the down arrow on the controls.

The throttle is engaged by pushing the thumb paddle with the left grip. The throttle only works when you are in one of the pedal-assist settings, and it provides the same level of power regardless of which level you choose. You do not need to be moving to use the throttle; you can start from a complete stop by just pressing the thumb paddle. You can modulate the power of the throttle by pressing it only slightly or feathering it. Due to the larger wheel diameter, it doesn't feel quite as torquey or fast to accelerate as models with smaller wheels, but we found it to feel more powerful than most bikes with similar-sized wheels. It handles gradual hills well and only begins to bog down on slightly steeper or extended climbs.

Interface

Aventon has equipped the Level Step-Thru with intuitive controls and a quality LCD that shows all your pertinent information at a glance. This bike is straightforward to use, and the handlebar-mounted display is easy to read and understand. The battery is very cleanly integrated into the frame's downtube, though it can easily be removed for charging on or off the bike.

The Level has similar controls to most of the other bikes in this review. A small control unit is mounted on the handlebar by the left grip, and it has three buttons that control all of the bike's functions. It has a power/mode button on the bottom and two arrows to shift up or down through pedal assist settings. The power/mode button is used to turn the display on/off and switch through data fields at the bottom of the display. These controls can also be used to adjust the bike's settings, like its speed limit (if switching from Class 3 to Class 2), though we had to look online to find instructions for the display. The throttle is a thumb paddle situated next to the controls, and you engage it by pressing and holding it down. The throttle can also be disengaged by unplugging it if you prefer not to use it or want to switch the bike to Class 1. Both the throttle and button controls have reasonably good ergonomics and are easy to reach with the thumb while riding.

The M5 LCD Smart display is centered in the handlebar above the stem in an easy-to-see location. The screen has dimensions of 3" long x 2" wide with dark numbers and letters on a light background. The screen's angle can be adjusted to suit your preferences, and it is easy to read in a range of light conditions, including direct sunlight. It also has a backlight feature for use in dim light. This screen shows all of your most important information at a glance. The remaining battery charge is displayed graphically with 10 bars across the top of the screen that turn off sequentially as the battery is depleted. Below that, your current speed is displayed in miles per hour in large numbers, and it can be switched to metric units if you prefer. The pedal-assist setting is shown below as a number 0-5. The data field at the bottom of the screen can be switched by pressing the mode button to show various information including an odometer, current trip distance, and a real-time voltage indicator.

Aventon knocked the battery integration out of the park on the Level, and it is cleanly stored inside the large downtube of the frame. The included keys lock/unlock the battery within the frame, and when it is in the unlocked position, the battery can be removed by turning the small knob at the top of the battery on the underside of the downtube. Therefore, the battery can be charged on or off the bike or removed for security purposes. Charging the battery is as simple as plugging the included charging cord into the battery's charging port, making sure to close the rubber cover when the cord is removed. Aventon claims a charge time of up to 7 hours for a completely depleted battery.

Assembly

The Level Step-Thru is about average for its ease of assembly. Like most full-size, non-folding models, it comes mostly assembled with only a few easy steps to complete the process. It comes with a nice folding multi-tool containing all the tools needed, and the user manual, an assembly video, and a quick-start guide can be found on the Aventon website.

The Level Step-Thru arrives in a standard-size bike box that is pretty heavy given the bike's 60 lb weight. Moving the box and removing the bike from the box can be a bit awkward, and we'd suggest getting a second set of hands for assistance. Thanks to well-placed packing materials, our test bike arrived in perfect condition with no shipping damage. Once we removed the protective packing, the remaining assembly took approximately 25 minutes. The Level comes about 85% assembled, and the remaining 15% can easily be completed at home by following along with the instructions or how-to video on the website. The stem, handlebar, front fender, front wheel, seat/seatpost, and pedals must be installed for the Level to be ride-ready. Ours came mostly charged, so we didn't need to plug it in before taking it out for a spin.

Should You Buy the Aventon Level Step-Thru?

We feel the Level is a good value, and it's one of the top performers in its class. With a 28 mph top speed, a large battery, and a great distance range, this moderately priced e-bike could easily replace your car for commuting, errands, and outdoor fun. Aventon's attention to detail and finish quality are second to none, and this bike's clean lines and sleek looks only complement its impressive performance.

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