Aventon Level.2 Step-Through Review

Torque sensing makes pedaling more refined, but not always easier.

The Level.2 is Aventon’s first torque-sensing ebike.Toby Hill

Aventon has come a long way from its beginnings as a seller of non-electric track and fixed-gear (or fixie) bikes.

Founded in 2014, the Southern California brand released its first ebikes in 2018 as the electric market was heating up in the US. Like the humble single-gear analog bikes Aventon started with, its first electrics were modest in design and aimed at accessible price points: basic cadence-sensing hub-drive ebikes with bolted-on external batteries for $1,000 to $1,400.

Fast-forward to today, and Aventon is exclusively electric, with an expansive line of throttle- and pedal-assist models for commuting, recreational riding, and moderate off-road use. The brand sells consumer direct online, at electronics retailer Best Buy, and through a network of around 800 local bicycle dealers.

Aventon still plays in the sub-$2,000 sandbox, but its ebikes have grown a bit more sophisticated, with frame-contained batteries, suspension forks on select models, and cleanly integrated lighting.

The Level.2 and Level.2 Step-Through commuter models represent Aventon’s latest push forward: the adoption of torque sensing in its hub-drive system.

The Level.2’s drive system comes set to Class 2 status out of the box, but can be adjusted using Aventon’s app.Aventon

What Is the Aventon Level.2 Step-Through?

The Level.2 Step-Through is a low-stepover commuter/urban ebike. It ships as a Class 2 ebike, with pedal and throttle assist both limited to 20 mph, but pedal assist (not the throttle) can be increased to as high as 28 mph using Aventon’s app when paired with the bike. This is how I rode the Level.2 for the duration of my testing.

A 500W sustained/750W peak brushless hub motor puts out pedal assist based on input from a bottom-bracket-based torque sensor, which measures the pressure the rider applies to the pedals. This is a first for Aventon, which until now has exclusively used only cadence sensors that initiate assist based simply on crank rotation. Throttle assist is activated with a thumb lever just inboard of the right handlebar grip.

The Level.2’s hub drive system has five levels of pedal assist. Riders can set the bike’s top assist speed—up to 28 mph—through Aventon’s app.Toby Hill

The drive system is powered by a 672Wh integrated battery that locks into the frame’s massive downtube section. The rider can toggle through five levels of pedal assist with the left-hand thumb controller, and an LCD smart display with backlighting sits front and center on the handlebars reading out ride data including speed, assist level, trip distance, odometer, battery level, and more.

Aventon outfits the Level.2 (also available in a high-step frame) with a host of commuter and comfort touches: a rear rack with 55-pound carrying capacity, metal fenders front and rear, tail and brake lighting integrated into both the rear fender and the frame’s seatstays, headlight, a coil-sprung Zoom suspension fork with 65 millimeters of travel, ergonomic comfort grips, and a wide, moderately soft saddle.

Aventon also offers a high-step version of the Level.2.Aventon

Rounding out the component spec are a Shimano Acera eight-speed drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic brakes with 180-millimeter rotors, and 27.5-inch double-wall alloy wheels shod in 2.1-inch-wide Arisun hybrid tires with reflective sidewall striping, a rounded profile, and a low-profile tread pattern.

Aventon offers the Level.2 Step-Through in two frame sizes: S/M fitting riders 4-foot-11 to 5-foot-7, and L/XL for riders 5-foot-7 to 6-foot-1. At 5 feet, 11 inches, I fit comfortably to the latter size.

Speedy commuter or leisure cruiser? The Level.2 Step-Through can be both.Aventon

How Does the Aventon Level.2 Step-Through Ride?

I already mentioned that I maxed out the bike’s top pedal assist setting to 28 mph—wanting as much speed as possible to better keep pace with motor traffic. This was done easily by pairing the bike with Aventon’s smartphone app and navigating to the “speed limit” setting. Here, the user can set that limit anywhere from 12 to 28 mph. This affects pedal assist only, not the Level.2′s thumb throttle, which is capped at 20 mph.

From the first pedal stroke, the Level.2 felt different from any Aventon I had ever ridden before. This was down entirely to Aventon’s adoption of a torque sensor rather than the cadence-sensing drive systems the brand has used until now. Torque sensors measure how hard you’re pedaling, whereas basic cadence sensors only tell the motor whether you’re pedaling. So the onset of the pedal assist is markedly more immediate, as well as strikingly fluid and measured. No huge delay or herky-jerky fits and starts at the pedals.

As I mentioned in my First-Ride Review of the Level.2 Step-Through, the pedal assist isn’t as sophisticated and natural-feeling as more complex and pricey mid-motor ebikes, but experienced cyclists and ebike riders will no doubt appreciate the improvement in pedaling quality over simple cadence-based systems.

Novice riders comparing the different sensing systems might not be so easily convinced.

Cadence-sensing ebikes take a bit longer for the pedal assist to initially kick in (which can be overcome with a throttle), but once it gets going the rider can easily keep turning the pedals in an easy gear to “ghost pedal” the bike and get essentially free assist from the motor. Not so with a torque sensor, which measures the force the rider puts into the bicycle drivetrain. So overall, the torque-sensing bike will require more legitimate effort from the rider.

Personally, I’ll take the more natural-feeling assist of torque sensing every time. It’s just a more pleasurable ride experience.

I rode the Level.2 almost entirely in the top two levels of pedal assist—rarely touching the throttle—and saw 39 miles of range over 1,500 feet of elevation gain before the battery dipped below 5 percent remaining charge. Pretty solid performance carrying a 170-pound rider over rolling topography. Flat-landers and those setting the bike to a lower max pedal assist level can expect even greater range.

Aventon has done a commendable job outfitting the Level.2 for its intended use as a commuter. The rear rack is a bolt-on piece rather than integrated into the frame, but it’s super stout and stable. Riders in damp climates will appreciate the full-wrap metal fenders, which are also very securely mounted and don’t rattle at all when riding over rough pavement. And the front and rear lighting combined with the tires’ reflective sidewalls give the rider 360-degree visibility in traffic.

But most important of all, the Level.2 is just fast. That’s what I want most when riding in traffic. It accelerates quickly off the line—no throttle assist required—and has all the gearing needed to fully take advantage of its powerful Class 3 pedal assist. If that kind of speed isn’t your thing, or you lean more toward leisure riding than snaking through busy traffic, go ahead and tone down the max assist. Aventon lets you tailor the Level.2 to your needs and preferences.

Who’s gonna complain about that?

The Level.2 is available in two colors: Polar White and Himalayan Pink (pictured).Aventon

How Much Does the Aventon Level.2 Step-Through Cost?

MSRP is $1,949. Aventon sells consumer direct online at aventon.com, through Best Buy (in-store and online), and at authorized independent bicycle dealers.

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