2022 Aventon Level.2 Review

Video Review

Written Review

Up on today’s menu we’ve got the Aventon Level 2 electric bike. This is yet another remarkable ride from Aventon and is offered at an equally remarkable starting price of $1,799 USD. 

The Level 2 is a highly polished e-bike, both figuratively and literally — the paint job on this ride is beautiful, and the components are expertly chosen. Aventon really swung for the fences here with the Level 2. 

We’re looking at a torque sensor, hydraulic disc brakes, a very nice integrated lighting system, suspension, a rear rack and more.

The Level 2 comes in one color — grey — and three frame sizes — small, medium and large.

Aventon offers a 14-day return policy on the Level 2, which is great for those who might be on the fence about buying one, and a 1 year comprehensive warranty.

Ok. Let’s dive into the specs.

Driving the Level 2 is a powerful yet efficient 500 watt, Aventon-branded hub motor in the rear wheel that can propel this green machine up to a top speed of 20 mph out of the box. And that top speed can be reached using the thumb throttle, or the torque sensing pedal assist. And yes, you can unlock the 28 mph top speed in the settings. :)

Now, for those of you who have been with us here at Electrified Reviews for a while, will know just how obsessed we are with torque sensors. And for good reason! The torque sensor on the Level 2 offers blistering fast motor activation and deactivation, but more importantly, it precisely matches your power output. This makes for a feeling of connectedness when using the pedal assist, and just helps to encourage pedaling overall. Right off the bat, we’re giving Aventon 10 points for this. We’re off to a good start. 

So, let’s take a look at the battery. The 48 volt, 14 amp hour locking and removable battery is completely concealed within the down tube, which leaves the Level 2 looking super streamlined, and also helps to protect the battery from the elements. 

On top of that, the position of the battery low and in the center of the frame keeps the Level 2 perfectly balanced. This is important for those who want to take the Level 2 on the trails. 

This battery has a max estimated range of 40 miles in perfect conditions. But what about real world max range? During testing we rode the Level 2 nearly 14 miles in the highest pedal assist setting with heavy throttle use and tons of starting and stopping, which absolutely destroys the max range. Even still, after a full day of heavy riding we were left with about 54 percent charge. Very nice.

I’m a big fan of the Level 2’s frame style. The swooping top tube helps to reduce the standover height enough so that I can easily straddle the frame with both feet flat on the ground. This helps to increase the approachability of the Level 2, and again, is great for off-road use. The extra clearance comes in handy when putting a foot down in the corners. 

The Level 2 has a max payload capacity of 300 pounds and a relatively light curb weight of approximately 62 pounds, and yet it still feels much more nimble than it should. Part of the high maneuverability of the Level 2 is because of the slightly compact nature of the frame geometry. It’s not technically a compact e-bike, but the Regular frame size we tested felt a little snug. And for reference, I’m 5’10”.

At the back of the frame we’ve got a bolt-on rear rack. I love that Aventon puts rear racks on most of their e-bikes as it really increases the functionality of their rides. You can use the Level 2 as a commuter, a trail rider or a delivery vehicle.

However, since this rear rack is a bolt on, it’s a good idea to periodically check the tightness of the bolts as they might become loose over time. 

At the front of the frame we’ve got the Zoom spring suspension fork with preload adjust and lockers. These shocks have approximately 75 mm of travel and do a good job of mitigating chatter from rough roads, and they can pretty easily soak up the bumps from light trail riding. 

Let’s move to the back of the frame again, where we find the smooth-shifting Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur. This is a wonderful upgrade point for the Level 2 since we’ve got that torque sensor that helps to encourage pedaling. And with more pedaling and more switching between gears. 

The Acera is paired with trigger shifters, which, again, we here at Electrified Reviews absolutely love. Trigger shifters require minimum hand movement compared to thumb shifters, and this is another great feature both for on road and off. 

The Level 2 is also equipped with a double sided bash guard, which not only helps to prevent damage to the front chainring in the event of a strike, but also help to minimize derailments by keeping that chain locked tightly into place.

When it comes to stopping power, the Level 2 has plenty. This electric bike is outfitted with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels. Fan-flippin-tastic. 

This gives the Level 2 more than enough stopping power in ideal conditions, and even when you get mud and gunk on the discs when riding through your favorite trails, you can still feel confident that the Level 2 will stop on a dime, every time. 

Ok, so, let’s talk about the electronics here, starting with the illumination.

The Level 2 has an integrated headlight that is refreshingly bright and attaches high on the handlebars. So, whichever way you point your handlebars, you’ll get illumination. Excellent.

But I think the really impressive part about the Level 2’s light setup is the rear lights. There are two bright red LEDs on either side of the rear of the frame, and one on the rear fender. These tail lights get brighter whenever you hit the brakes, letting anyone behind know that you’re slowing or coming to a stop. This is an absolute must-have feature for riding in traffic in low light conditions. 10 more points for safety, Aventon. Nice job.

Wire management is great here too, with everything routed internally.

Moving up to the handlebars we’ve got the throttle and independent button pad on the left side, and the trigger shifters on the right side. And in the middle we’ve got the display, which is fairly easy to read in direct sunlight, though, it could stand to be a bit brighter. 

If you want tons more ride data, Aventon also offers an app that connects to your bike. 

Overall, the Aventon Level 2 really sets the bar. It’s got a reasonable starting price of $1,799 USD, is highly versatile, comes with a great warranty and is a fine looking e-bike.