Thanks! I purchased an Aventon level commuter without really doing enough research or knowing too much about a ebike. This is my first ebike and I am now even more confident that I purchased the right one.
I now have just over 5,000 miles on my Aventon Level. No mechanical issues and still plenty of use left on the original tires. And the battery still holds and charges the same it did when I got it.
@@bicyclekikz14 I now have over 11,000 miles on my bike. The battery and motor work fine. I've had the chain replaced as well as the brake pads. The tires are original, but I will replace them in May. But to answer your question, I consider the amount I've spent on repair and maintenance to be minimal. My wife has over 3,000 miles on her bike, and we've done nothing to it.
@@ap-mb3sm My Aventon Level now has 12,500 miles on it. The battery is original and showing no signs of fatigue. When I'm finished with my daily 22-mile ride, I usually have 3-4 bars on the battery life meter. I immediately plug it in, but I keep an eye on when the light on the charger turns green and I unplug it and disconnect the charger from the wall outlet. I never leave it on the charger. Given the stupidly high cost of a replacement battery, I want this one to last as long as possible. I will have owned this bike for 3 years this July. This process seems to have worked for me so far.
Nice Ebike journey!! I have 6,000 miles on my folding Tern Ebike. I like to run front bags on my touring adventures to distribute the weight more even on the bike. I noticed you had a lot of weight on the rear tire. Thanks for sharing your trials and tribulations.
I was on the fence, but felt very confident buying the Level after watching this video. I pulled the trigger yesterday and will become a Level rider soon myself. Looking forward to commuting to and from work ~35 miles roundtrip.
Just received my first ebike (Aventon Level) today. I've done a bunch of research over the last several weeks and chose the Level. Now that I watched your video, I am relieved that I seem to have made a good choice. BTW, just subscribed to your channel.
Sandy, I own the Level and have 250+ miles on it. I don't see anywhere in the USA to buy parts for the Bengal disk brakes? Have you changed the brake pads on your Level yet? If so where did you get the pads from? Any guidance would be appreciated. -Rick
My aventon came with three things broke. . The throttle, the front brakes, and the lock out fork..its all noted by a bike shop. Aventon is not even trying to help and the delay in the motor coming on gets on my nerves.
I’ve had my Level for a year and put 3,300 miles on it riding mostly in the foothills in Idaho. We’re not trail riders. I’m referring to lots of road grades in the 4-7% range. I’ve had two broken spokes and no problems with the motor or brakes. In this review, the bike is admittedly overloaded. It’s a commuter bike, not a pack mule. It’s a great bike. My wife and I both have one and we highly recommend.
I to have a level 2 that I bought one and half months ago , already had break issues and now the motor is junk it’s been at the dealer where I bought it for over two weeks not even a call from the dealer or Aventon .l also bought a aventure2 That I use of rode , one of the other writers is right the level 2 is a commuter bike not a pack horse, STILL waiting for my level 2 as the summer rolls on.
@@Doug-tp9qm over 13,000 miles on my level. 3,000 miles on my wife's. Both 3 years old. Battery and motor still working fine. Brakes work fine. I've replaced the pads 2x because we ride on some 6% road grades and they wear out quicker. But they're not expensive to replace. Just have to do it before they start gouging the rotors. And I've replaced the rear tire. The front is original. They've been great bikes for us so far. Having said that, I don't expect the motor and battery to last forever.
just bought the 2022 Aventon Level for my wife. Thanks for the videos. Very insightful when your making a large purchase to know that they have decent longevity.
Great review. My seat keeps sliding down. I'm going to tighten the bolt, and hopefully it will solve the problem. Despite the weight, the Aventon Level performs great. It's too bad their are not protected bike lanes where I live.
I have to say that this review is fantastic, in that it actually lists some negatives unlike most E-bike reviews. The broken spokes, bike wobble and especially the overheating motor concerns me. Hopefully they get addressed accordingly. Larger gauge spokes might address the one issue, but it could also be related to the rim material and amount of flexion in the rim.
Thanks for this great review. I’m interested in riding for longer distances on an ebike. I’m interested in how much time you spent charging the battery. I’m assuming nightly in hotels or homes. What about during the day at public places?
Seldom charge during the day, but I’ve had to lug my battery into the occasional coffee shop or plug my bike into an outdoor restaurant patio plug every so often. Take about 4 hrs to fully charge but lots of time just getting an hour charge gets me to my goal.
Hello trying to size up a bike for myself, how tall are you. I paid close attention to the section where you said you wished you had chosen a large frame. Second question, how wide of a tire do you estimate the level frame would accept? Thanks for any help you can give me DD
Should I buy this or the allant? I don’t like the stagger version. I like the one with the straight top tube. But they don’t make 1 my size 50 or small frame only with stagger version. If I was gonna spend that much in a bike I want no compromise. Since am only 5foot 5
I bought a Level earlier this week. I never did any real research on any brand or the whole ebike thing. I think I got lucky at a local bike store. The support was good and now with about 100 miles I have nothing to complain about. I put a plastic storage crate on the rack and mounted it with stout zip ties. It’s going to be my way to the grocery and stores I frequent from now on. I save wear and tear on the short ride car trips, and can bring 55 lbs along for the ride. Bike has excellent hydraulic brakes, and limits at 20 mph which may not sound impressive, but it really is all I want or need. One essential add on for me was a left side mirror mount on the end of the handle bar. You absolutely need those when going from a bike lane over to a left turn lane. Even though I can get my leg over the bar, I’m glad I got the pass through model, it’s just easier. I paid the retail 1799.00. Since the geometry of the ebike is different than a standard bike, I was glad for the support I was able to get from the dealer, mainly the mirror and the stem I needed on the handlebar to make the ride more comfortable. I think it’ll going to give me many years and miles of service.
i purchased the level around july 2020, i also had issues with my spokes breaking. aventon kindly sent me some new ones. i installed 2 new spokes and then i went from 60 psi. down to 50psi. in my tires and added a suspension seat post. so far this has fixed my problem. i will know more when riding season resumes this spring.
Aventon Level still has 13 gauge spokes according to their website. As far as load capacity: max rider weight is 250 lbs. It does mention cargo capacity of 50 lbs, but it does not say this is to be added to the riders weight. It would appear you were at maximum weight for the bike on your ride. The motor overheating going up a mountain in the heat is to be expected and apparently its safety features of shutting off without damaging the motor is a positive. The spokes on the other hand are not acceptable and they should fix that asap.
As a engineer in both electrical and mechanical engineering, I would argue that a motor that overheats in those conditions (80 degrees going up a hill) is poorly and cheaply made. Yes, auto shut off of the motor is a good feature, but under other circumstances. A 80 degree day seems like a pretty average summer day to me. Basically I'am saying that I think the motor needs redesigning.
Sandy- love your review- I'm a newbie to ebikes and considering buying a Level ST for my wife. My biggest concern is getting repair work done locally. In your experience, now that ebikes are more popular, can bike shops work on the Aventon bikes or do they stick to their own brands that they sell? I'm in NYS and most ebikes are sold out of CA. Online companies do not have direct phone service and very slow email response time- frustrating for buying, can't imagine service help! Any suggestions for new buyers (local shops charge at least $1000 more per bike versus online dealers).
It seems there could be a secondary market that E-bikes are currently kinda ignoring or missing. That's people who want to ride cross country. For 99% of people they will never stress the motor to the point of overheating under normal day to day conditions, but under endured stress, like going up hill for long long periods of time, that can happen - imagine though if there was a more heavy duty version of a motor designed specifically with this in mind. I am certain that would catch some peoples attention. Of course, if a bike can do 10 miles uphill without over heating, some guy is gonna try to do 20 miles uphill, have it fail, then claim the company ripped him off haha... Dual Battery, Higher end motor (something that probably doesnt currently exist) , full weather sealing for both cold and hot conditions, rain worthy, I can imagine alot but I honestly don't think I have seen a Ebike with this in mind yet. A ebike that can handle high stress load for longer then normal motors can, but I would guess that when some company makes that kinda motor, there is gonna be a rather interesting market hungry for it.
Broken spokes have not been an issue for over a year, and no motors get warm even, and there is no wobble on these Levels. Even then it was very rare, and typically only happened to D2C buyers who don't know how to properly prep an ebike, nor how to properly tension the rear spokes. SO VERY old news. Despite that, It's a good review since its objective, but again anything mentioned as a POSSIBLE issue was very rare, and has been resolved by Aventon. Dealers know this model well, and have dealt with hundreds and thousands of them. No dealer is reporting any of these issues here in late 2021.
Thanks for the review!!! :) I was eyeing the Ride1Up 700, but saw a used (ridden only twice) Aventon Level that would save a LOT of money over the Ride1Up. I think after watching a few reviews I can safely choose the Aventon bike
I bought a brand-new Aventure that arrived with a problem in the rear brakes. I have been attempting to get assistance from Customer Support for nearly one week to no avail. Aventon has my money, and I have a beautiful e-bike that I can't ride because it arrived DEFECTIVE!
The rack has a 50 lb max capacity, while the rider max weight is 250 lbs. Those panniers look heavier than 50 lbs, do you think this contributed to the spokes breaking? As well as the frame wobble?
Great review but I’m not sure what you mean by frame wobble? How can the frame wobble if the welds and attachment points did not fail? Also, can you elaborate on the overheating issue? How many miles did you ride without stopping before it overheated?
Steel will bend for a time rather than break, and with my bike fully loaded I could shake the handlebars side to side and feel the back swing or “wobble” slightly later than the front (sort of like shaking a fishing rod). In high crosswinds while fully loaded this lack of stiffness became a disconcerting balance issue as I tried to keep the bike upright. The frame is stressed by the weight of the motor on the back wheel, which was made worse by the 30 +/- lbs in my paneers.
Overheating happened on steep climbs while fully loaded. Picture 10-18% grades on days in 80+ degree temps. It would take a few minutes for the motor to cool down before I could continue under power. I’ve never had this problem except when I was loaded with two full paneers of gear and going steeply uphill. Engine shutdown is a fail safe to protect the motor, so by pushing it that hard I was going beyond the bike’s limits.
I test rode it and loved it, im planning on buying this week. The only thing was the low level pedal assist had too much initial power. Have you tried to turn them down? If so how was it?
When fully loaded I can shake the handlebars and feel the frame wobble. So it’s partly the frame and partly the heavy load. This isn’t a problem when the bike has just the rider.
I wouldn’t, unless it’s a child. I think 300lbs is a little optimistic and likely also should include the weight of the bike itself. Just my personal opinion.
Just ordered the Level 350 for wife so she can accompany me on my rides. Maybe I can draft her too. Anyway, regarding the wobble, which probably happened while pedaling. Looks like you overstuffed the panniers. Also probably didn’t balance the load, which is minor but adds to the effect. Get a set for the front to take some weight off the back. Normal pedaling no matter how smooth causes a weight shift which is amplified by any load.
I did some cyclotouring trips in the 90s and as late as 2001 with a company that specializes in these things. In fact, on my 2001 trip I cycled the entire Oregon coast. Our rides were all light weight Trek rentals with approximately 18 speeds. But no such thing as battery assist. Some daily rides were up to 80 or 100 miles, *however*, we were completely van supported. The only thing you needed to carry between hotel or inn stays was water, helmet, and daily personal items. Lunch was provided by van support, or restaurants in route. Not sure how to compare that with your effort...
Could you elaborate more on the frame size choice. You said you should have gone by leg length. What do you mean? I am 5' 8' but my inseam is only 29" so I tend to go with a smaller frame.
I recently purchased an Aventon Level and have yet to take it on any lengthy trips. I am somewhat concerned, after watching your video, about the spokes and the motor overheating issues. Can I ask what the total load (you plus cargo)on the bike was? So far I like my Level and am looking forward to doing Pittsburgh to D.C. in a few weeks but I'm a little concerned about the issues that you had. Thanks for your informative review.
My total load was about 250 lbs - my weight of 210 plus 40 lbs of gear. With that much gear next time I would probably choose to distribute it some via front wheel paneers. The bouncing, surges of effort through uphill pedaling and downhill braking all contribute to the spoke problem IMO, and I hear there’s not much of that on the trail you’re following vs me where I was up and down mountains. BTW Aventon has now replaced my entire rear wheel assembly as part of its warranty coverage for the bike.
@@TheCoffeeField yep! Aventon responded quickly, my local bike shop put the whole new wheel assembly on for free, and I’ve been trouble free since. It all confirms in my mind that this was about pushing my bike too far beyond its limits.
Debating between this and the fat tire version. Fat tire version has larger 750 motor but fat tire bike harder to pedal with no assist. Wish they offered larger extended range battery.
Impressive trip and review! I love your candor. I wondered about motor wear under stress and heat. I could see how important it is to be in a motor-friendly gear, at the correct weight capacity, especially when going up a hill for an extended climb. Also, that's a lot seat time. The bike has no rear suspension, so it's all about the seat. I wonder if you used the stock seat and how that went for you. I'm also wondering about that trip - specifically, the route you took. It looked creative. I wonder how safe and scenic it was.
@@jayw900 You're right. I learned about that myself later -- the advantage of a mid-drive motor as a hill-climber over a hub-drive. You can still choose your gear 1-8, but now I question if it matters too much which gear you're in. I'm in 6 or 8th a lot on flats, but not on hills. I just don't know gear matters much there for burning up motors.
Hi Sandy, I’m considering an Aventon Level and shipping it downunder. I’m 5’ 8”, my legs are average length for my height, and was going for a medium size but after listening to your thoughts, do you think a large size is a better choice?
I live in San Francisco and use my Aventon level daily. A great bike. I have a definite clicking sound my bike makes that my hearing impaired wife can hear. The shop guys say they don’t hear it. I recorded it and will let them hear it . What do others think it is? I thinks it’s coming from the hub motor.
I understand that the throttle doesn't work from a standstill. Especially carrying a load, is that an issue? Do you have a suggestion for starting on hills without the throttle?
Put the shifter in a lower gear, pedal assist at any level (not zero!) in less than one revolution of the crank the motor kicks on. At that point you can use the throttle but why? If the assist level is set to 5 it takes very little pedal effort, too little actually under most conditions. I rarely use the throttle.
Aventon's customer SERVICE is NONEXISTENT! The lack of a dedicated toll-free number staffed with actual living customer support representatives is deplorable. And for a customer to have to wait for one week or longer for any type of response to an email request for assistance is unconscionable and totally ridiculous in the XXI Century
@ZeroZero Seven:To be honest and after reading all the reviews and as a experienced "traditional "cyclist I'm leery of purchasing the level ebike at this time. As far as aventons customer service hot line (lack of)is concerned that's a major concern for myself also. Specialized,trek etc are more professional.
People need to learn that if you are doing long steep hills, you have to get a mid-drive. Direct/gear drive hubs are fine for short hills, but will get too hot because they aren't geared right.
Thats just so very untrue. You know NOTHING about mid drives versus hub drives. Using gears appropriately solves any potential issue. Hub drives have considerably more torque and power than mid drives, and the key is to keep the rpm of the wheel up sufficiently to give you the needed torque for any hill. 'Dumbduck' is a good moniker for you.
It is a very attractive ebike. Now the big question is ebike or electric scooter. lol. Obviously, I don't plan on using it for a 900 mile trek, but just around the city and sometimes on bike trails. That's it. The decisions....
I'm like 2 cm shy of 5'11" and also recently purchased the medium, but after hearing his comments I'm wondering if I should've gone with the larger frame. How did the bike frame end up working for you? Any regrets on sizing? Thanks
@@pathbasics I have no regrets but I encountered a program with the electronic with 30 miles on the bike . It shut down with a full charge and I just notified by email . the company , calling them today. It needs service and hoping for resolution.
How did you call them when I can't find a contact phone number anywhere...please do tell this secret number. I have concerns about my battery on reaching 15 miles before its drained in level 5. I have the same bike. I only have 170 miles on it.
yeah you must have bad luck. ive had mine for months and not one problem. get across town with ease. obviously if u try riding up a mountain its gonna have difficulty.
MELE MEL I love the headlight - I have three from different companies and the Aventon is the best. The taillight is good, though mine sometimes chooses on its own to stop flashing. The water bottle holder is not good. It tips over when full.
Ok, I guess I'll just get the headlights from them then. I was assuming that they would be fair at best, but if they're that good I guess there's no need to purchase them elsewhere.
MELE MEL just recognize that these are rechargeable battery lights, not integral system lights that operate off the bike’s battery, like those from some other manufacturer. As far as licks, nowadays people buy a thick cable lock to use for short periods in safe places and pair it with a heavier u-lock for longer periods in less -safe places. Kryptonite locks are recognized as one of the best brands, but there are many.
Thanks! I purchased an Aventon level commuter without really doing enough research or knowing too much about a ebike. This is my first ebike and I am now even more confident that I purchased the right one.
I now have just over 5,000 miles on my Aventon Level. No mechanical issues and still plenty of use left on the original tires. And the battery still holds and charges the same it did when I got it.
whats the maintenance /cost like?
@@bicyclekikz14 I now have over 11,000 miles on my bike. The battery and motor work fine. I've had the chain replaced as well as the brake pads. The tires are original, but I will replace them in May. But to answer your question, I consider the amount I've spent on repair and maintenance to be minimal. My wife has over 3,000 miles on her bike, and we've done nothing to it.
Hey is there a specific way you charge your battery? Or maintain it?
@@ap-mb3sm My Aventon Level now has 12,500 miles on it. The battery is original and showing no signs of fatigue. When I'm finished with my daily 22-mile ride, I usually have 3-4 bars on the battery life meter. I immediately plug it in, but I keep an eye on when the light on the charger turns green and I unplug it and disconnect the charger from the wall outlet. I never leave it on the charger. Given the stupidly high cost of a replacement battery, I want this one to last as long as possible. I will have owned this bike for 3 years this July. This process seems to have worked for me so far.
That is exactly the kind of review that is needed! Really great job and greatly appreciated Sandy!
Nice Ebike journey!! I have 6,000 miles on my folding Tern Ebike. I like to run front bags on my touring adventures to distribute the weight more even on the bike. I noticed you had a lot of weight on the rear tire. Thanks for sharing your trials and tribulations.
I was on the fence, but felt very confident buying the Level after watching this video. I pulled the trigger yesterday and will become a Level rider soon myself. Looking forward to commuting to and from work ~35 miles roundtrip.
Just received my first ebike (Aventon Level) today. I've done a bunch of research over the last several weeks and chose the Level. Now that I watched your video, I am relieved that I seem to have made a good choice. BTW, just subscribed to your channel.
just came home with one as well! wanted to ride longer but it started to rain and the battery died. just watching videos on it now until tomorrow!
Perfect review, Sandy - thanks for sharing your experience. I'm so close to pickin' one of these up!👍🏼
Broken spokes seem to be a big problem with hub drive motors, glad this review showed the stress!
Sandy, I own the Level and have 250+ miles on it. I don't see anywhere in the USA to buy parts for the Bengal disk brakes? Have you changed the brake pads on your Level yet? If so where did you get the pads from? Any guidance would be appreciated. -Rick
My aventon came with three things broke.
. The throttle, the front brakes, and the lock out fork..its all noted by a bike shop. Aventon is not even trying to help and the delay in the motor coming on gets on my nerves.
Can't wait to get mine. Ordered one this morning.
I’ve had my Level for a year and put 3,300 miles on it riding mostly in the foothills in Idaho. We’re not trail riders. I’m referring to lots of road grades in the 4-7% range. I’ve had two broken spokes and no problems with the motor or brakes. In this review, the bike is admittedly overloaded. It’s a commuter bike, not a pack mule. It’s a great bike. My wife and I both have one and we highly recommend.
Great. As you know, I recommend it too. 😀
Thanks for the video and this comment, have been wanting one for a while and am ordering it tomorrow! Wonder, how hard was it to assemble?
@@corysimek Not a pack mule...I burst out in laughter. Thanks, I needed a good laugh!!!
I to have a level 2 that I bought one and half months ago , already had break issues and now the motor is junk it’s been at the dealer where I bought it for over two weeks not even a call from the dealer or Aventon .l also bought a aventure2 That I use of rode , one of the other writers is right the level 2 is a commuter bike not a pack horse, STILL waiting for my level 2 as the summer rolls on.
@@Doug-tp9qm over 13,000 miles on my level. 3,000 miles on my wife's. Both 3 years old. Battery and motor still working fine. Brakes work fine. I've replaced the pads 2x because we ride on some 6% road grades and they wear out quicker. But they're not expensive to replace. Just have to do it before they start gouging the rotors. And I've replaced the rear tire. The front is original. They've been great bikes for us so far. Having said that, I don't expect the motor and battery to last forever.
just bought the 2022 Aventon Level for my wife. Thanks for the videos. Very insightful when your making a large purchase to know that they have decent longevity.
great review no one else puts in this kind of time
Nice review, I just bought my wife the Aventon Pace 500 Step Thru, great price for what you get and a good looking bike.
Great review. My seat keeps sliding down. I'm going to tighten the bolt, and hopefully it will solve the problem. Despite the weight, the Aventon Level performs great. It's too bad their are not protected bike lanes where I live.
I have to say that this review is fantastic, in that it actually lists some negatives unlike most E-bike reviews.
The broken spokes, bike wobble and especially the overheating motor concerns me. Hopefully they get addressed accordingly. Larger gauge spokes might address the one issue, but it could also be related to the rim material and amount of flexion in the rim.
But how many people are going to be riding it over mountain ranges.
Sandy, Never mind I see that Aventon updated their parts catalog to include hydraulic brake parts for the Level -Rick
Great. This is the ebike that I would like to have!
Thanks for this great review. I’m interested in riding for longer distances on an ebike. I’m interested in how much time you spent charging the battery. I’m assuming nightly in hotels or homes. What about during the day at public places?
Seldom charge during the day, but I’ve had to lug my battery into the occasional coffee shop or plug my bike into an outdoor restaurant patio plug every so often. Take about 4 hrs to fully charge but lots of time just getting an hour charge gets me to my goal.
Hello trying to size up a bike for myself, how tall are you. I paid close attention to the section where you said you wished you had chosen a large frame. Second question, how wide of a tire do you estimate the level frame would accept? Thanks for any help you can give me DD
Should I buy this or the allant? I don’t like the stagger version. I like the one with the straight top tube. But they don’t make 1 my size 50 or small frame only with stagger version. If I was gonna spend that much in a bike I want no compromise. Since am only 5foot 5
Sandy what's your hight sit. I'm 5'5". They are suggesting small? I'm thinking medium. If I find it too big just change out stem/goose neck.
Im in love with my Aventon Pace 500 Stepthrough. It is perfect in my opinion.
I love the look of the Pace but need front suspension.
I bought a Level earlier this week. I never did any real research on any brand or the whole ebike thing. I think I got lucky at a local bike store. The support was good and now with about 100 miles I have nothing to complain about. I put a plastic storage crate on the rack and mounted it with stout zip ties. It’s going to be my way to the grocery and stores I frequent from now on. I save wear and tear on the short ride car trips, and can bring 55 lbs along for the ride. Bike has excellent hydraulic brakes, and limits at 20 mph which may not sound impressive, but it really is all I want or need. One essential add on for me was a left side mirror mount on the end of the handle bar. You absolutely need those when going from a bike lane over to a left turn lane. Even though I can get my leg over the bar, I’m glad I got the pass through model, it’s just easier. I paid the retail 1799.00. Since the geometry of the ebike is different than a standard bike, I was glad for the support I was able to get from the dealer, mainly the mirror and the stem I needed on the handlebar to make the ride more comfortable. I think it’ll going to give me many years and miles of service.
Thanks for your honest review, I might get one after ça lot of good and honest recommendations, but I need to chose wisely.
i purchased the level around july 2020, i also had issues with my spokes breaking. aventon kindly sent me some new ones. i installed 2 new spokes and then i went from 60 psi. down to 50psi. in my tires and added a suspension seat post. so far this has fixed my problem. i will know more when riding season resumes this spring.
Aventon Level still has 13 gauge spokes according to their website. As far as load capacity: max rider weight is 250 lbs. It does mention cargo capacity of 50 lbs, but it does not say this is to be added to the riders weight. It would appear you were at maximum weight for the bike on your ride. The motor overheating going up a mountain in the heat is to be expected and apparently its safety features of shutting off without damaging the motor is a positive. The spokes on the other hand are not acceptable and they should fix that asap.
As a engineer in both electrical and mechanical engineering, I would argue that a motor that overheats in those conditions (80 degrees going up a hill) is poorly and cheaply made. Yes, auto shut off of the motor is a good feature, but under other circumstances. A 80 degree day seems like a pretty average summer day to me. Basically I'am saying that I think the motor needs redesigning.
I was thinking same.
@@iceman382 Even if the bike is loaded in excess of its stated load capacity?
Sandy- love your review- I'm a newbie to ebikes and considering buying a Level ST for my wife. My biggest concern is getting repair work done locally. In your experience, now that ebikes are more popular, can bike shops work on the Aventon bikes or do they stick to their own brands that they sell? I'm in NYS and most ebikes are sold out of CA. Online companies do not have direct phone service and very slow email response time- frustrating for buying, can't imagine service help! Any suggestions for new buyers (local shops charge at least $1000 more per bike versus online dealers).
My local shop charges more to service my eBike, but they’ve never had problems fixing it.
It seems there could be a secondary market that E-bikes are currently kinda ignoring or missing. That's people who want to ride cross country. For 99% of people they will never stress the motor to the point of overheating under normal day to day conditions, but under endured stress, like going up hill for long long periods of time, that can happen - imagine though if there was a more heavy duty version of a motor designed specifically with this in mind. I am certain that would catch some peoples attention. Of course, if a bike can do 10 miles uphill without over heating, some guy is gonna try to do 20 miles uphill, have it fail, then claim the company ripped him off haha... Dual Battery, Higher end motor (something that probably doesnt currently exist) , full weather sealing for both cold and hot conditions, rain worthy, I can imagine alot but I honestly don't think I have seen a Ebike with this in mind yet. A ebike that can handle high stress load for longer then normal motors can, but I would guess that when some company makes that kinda motor, there is gonna be a rather interesting market hungry for it.
thanks for sharing your experiences; i'm curious how you decided between a hub and mid motor configuration?
Broken spokes have not been an issue for over a year, and no motors get warm even, and there is no wobble on these Levels. Even then it was very rare, and typically only happened to D2C buyers who don't know how to properly prep an ebike, nor how to properly tension the rear spokes. SO VERY old news. Despite that, It's a good review since its objective, but again anything mentioned as a POSSIBLE issue was very rare, and has been resolved by Aventon. Dealers know this model well, and have dealt with hundreds and thousands of them. No dealer is reporting any of these issues here in late 2021.
Thanks for the review!!! :) I was eyeing the Ride1Up 700, but saw a used (ridden only twice) Aventon Level that would save a LOT of money over the Ride1Up. I think after watching a few reviews I can safely choose the Aventon bike
Great review Sandy, thanks!
I bought a brand-new Aventure that arrived with a problem in the rear brakes. I have been attempting to get assistance from Customer Support for nearly one week to no avail. Aventon has my money, and I have a beautiful e-bike that I can't ride because it arrived DEFECTIVE!
The rack has a 50 lb max capacity, while the rider max weight is 250 lbs. Those panniers look heavier than 50 lbs, do you think this contributed to the spokes breaking? As well as the frame wobble?
For sure!
Great review but I’m not sure what you mean by frame wobble? How can the frame wobble if the welds and attachment points did not fail? Also, can you elaborate on the overheating issue? How many miles did you ride without stopping before it overheated?
Steel will bend for a time rather than break, and with my bike fully loaded I could shake the handlebars side to side and feel the back swing or “wobble” slightly later than the front (sort of like shaking a fishing rod). In high crosswinds while fully loaded this lack of stiffness became a disconcerting balance issue as I tried to keep the bike upright. The frame is stressed by the weight of the motor on the back wheel, which was made worse by the 30 +/- lbs in my paneers.
Overheating happened on steep climbs while fully loaded. Picture 10-18% grades on days in 80+ degree temps. It would take a few minutes for the motor to cool down before I could continue under power. I’ve never had this problem except when I was loaded with two full paneers of gear and going steeply uphill. Engine shutdown is a fail safe to protect the motor, so by pushing it that hard I was going beyond the bike’s limits.
Thank you for the response. Can you install a front rack on it?
@@TheCoffeeField I can't see any reason why not, and front paneers would definitely relieve some of the weight on the back wheel.
@@SandyBrown thank you
I test rode it and loved it, im planning on buying this week. The only thing was the low level pedal assist had too much initial power. Have you tried to turn them down? If so how was it?
There is kind of a surge. You get used to it.
What cause the frame wobble on the bridge is it the wind or the actual alignment of the part or frame of the bike?
When fully loaded I can shake the handlebars and feel the frame wobble. So it’s partly the frame and partly the heavy load. This isn’t a problem when the bike has just the rider.
@@SandyBrown HI thank you for your response. I would like to know if i purchase the rear rack that rated for 310 lbs can i carry a passenger ?
I wouldn’t, unless it’s a child. I think 300lbs is a little optimistic and likely also should include the weight of the bike itself. Just my personal opinion.
Just ordered the Level 350 for wife so she can accompany me on my rides. Maybe I can draft her too. Anyway, regarding the wobble, which probably happened while pedaling. Looks like you overstuffed the panniers. Also probably didn’t balance the load, which is minor but adds to the effect. Get a set for the front to take some weight off the back. Normal pedaling no matter how smooth causes a weight shift which is amplified by any load.
I did some cyclotouring trips in the 90s and as late as 2001 with a company that specializes in these things. In fact, on my 2001 trip I cycled the entire Oregon coast. Our rides were all light weight Trek rentals with approximately 18 speeds. But no such thing as battery assist. Some daily rides were up to 80 or 100 miles, *however*, we were completely van supported. The only thing you needed to carry between hotel or inn stays was water, helmet, and daily personal items. Lunch was provided by van support, or restaurants in route. Not sure how to compare that with your effort...
Could you elaborate more on the frame size choice. You said you should have gone by leg length. What do you mean? I am 5' 8' but my inseam is only 29" so I tend to go with a smaller frame.
I only can talk about my own experience but at a 32” inseam and 5’10” height I should’ve gone with the L.
Awesome review. Thank you 😊
I recently purchased an Aventon Level and have yet to take it on any lengthy trips. I am somewhat concerned, after watching your video, about the spokes and the motor overheating issues. Can I ask what the total load (you plus cargo)on the bike was? So far I like my Level and am looking forward to doing Pittsburgh to D.C. in a few weeks but I'm a little concerned about the issues that you had. Thanks for your informative review.
My total load was about 250 lbs - my weight of 210 plus 40 lbs of gear. With that much gear next time I would probably choose to distribute it some via front wheel paneers. The bouncing, surges of effort through uphill pedaling and downhill braking all contribute to the spoke problem IMO, and I hear there’s not much of that on the trail you’re following vs me where I was up and down mountains. BTW Aventon has now replaced my entire rear wheel assembly as part of its warranty coverage for the bike.
@@SandyBrown did replacing the wheel fix the issue?
@@TheCoffeeField yep! Aventon responded quickly, my local bike shop put the whole new wheel assembly on for free, and I’ve been trouble free since. It all confirms in my mind that this was about pushing my bike too far beyond its limits.
Debating between this and the fat tire version. Fat tire version has larger 750 motor but fat tire bike harder to pedal with no assist. Wish they offered larger extended range battery.
Impressive trip and review! I love your candor.
I wondered about motor wear under stress and heat. I could see how important it is to be in a motor-friendly gear, at the correct weight capacity, especially when going up a hill for an extended climb.
Also, that's a lot seat time. The bike has no rear suspension, so it's all about the seat. I wonder if you used the stock seat and how that went for you.
I'm also wondering about that trip - specifically, the route you took. It looked creative. I wonder how safe and scenic it was.
It's a hub motor, you don't get to choose the gear.
@@jayw900 You're right. I learned about that myself later -- the advantage of a mid-drive motor as a hill-climber over a hub-drive. You can still choose your gear 1-8, but now I question if it matters too much which gear you're in. I'm in 6 or 8th a lot on flats, but not on hills. I just don't know gear matters much there for burning up motors.
I’m 5.7 male would you recommend a small one or step up to a medium. Thanks
Depends on your inseam. I’m 32” and definitely wish I’d bought the large. If you’re 30” I’d go for a medium.
How tall are you. I'm 5'9 but not sure if I should get a medium or large frame.
I’m 5’10” with a 32” inseam. I wish everyday I had a size L.
Hi Sandy, I’m considering an Aventon Level and shipping it downunder. I’m 5’ 8”, my legs are average length for my height, and was going for a medium size but after listening to your thoughts, do you think a large size is a better choice?
Can’t really say, sorry. To me it all depends on inseam. M definitely was to small for me.
Sandy Brown Thanks for the reply. Inseem? Never thought of that. Anyway 30” in Levi’s 501.
@@Voigt465 I think you’ll like the M just fine. Enjoy!
@@SandyBrown Cheers!
As a Clydesdale, broken spokes come with the territory. You definitely got your money out of it. Do you run tubed, or tubeless? No CC...
Tubed. All fixed now thanks to Aventon.
Thank you for the review. This will help me decide which e-bike to purchase.
I live in San Francisco and use my Aventon level daily. A great bike. I have a definite clicking sound my bike makes that my hearing impaired wife can hear. The shop guys say they don’t hear it. I recorded it and will let them hear it . What do others think it is?
I thinks it’s coming from the hub motor.
Take small zip ties and tie the spokes together where they intersect this will strengthen the wheel. Old BMX trick! 🤠
I understand that the throttle doesn't work from a standstill. Especially carrying a load, is that an issue? Do you have a suggestion for starting on hills without the throttle?
Sorry, I never use the throttle - I find it completely unnecessary.
Put the shifter in a lower gear, pedal assist at any level (not zero!) in less than one revolution of the crank the motor kicks on. At that point you can use the throttle but why? If the assist level is set to 5 it takes very little pedal effort, too little actually under most conditions. I rarely use the throttle.
How do you think the bike would handle in 85+ Atlanta temperatures for everyday commuting
No problem unless you load it down too much.
Aventon's customer SERVICE is NONEXISTENT! The lack of a dedicated toll-free number staffed with actual living customer support representatives is deplorable. And for a customer to have to wait for one week or longer for any type of response to an email request for assistance is unconscionable and totally ridiculous in the XXI Century
@ZeroZero Seven:To be honest and after reading all the reviews and as a experienced "traditional "cyclist I'm leery of purchasing the level ebike at this time.
As far as aventons customer service hot line (lack of)is concerned that's a major concern for myself also.
Specialized,trek etc are more professional.
Does your Level's PAS and Throttle work even when the display is powered off while riding?
I’ve never powered off the display, so I’m afraid I can’t answer that.
Wow I am tired now.. just kidding. Just picked up 2 Aventon Aventure bikes today, can't wait to get on a good ride...
How tall was the guy with the large bike size?
About 6’, but he wore the same length pants as me.
People need to learn that if you are doing long steep hills, you have to get a mid-drive. Direct/gear drive hubs are fine for short hills, but will get too hot because they aren't geared right.
Thats just so very untrue. You know NOTHING about mid drives versus hub drives. Using gears appropriately solves any potential issue. Hub drives have considerably more torque and power than mid drives, and the key is to keep the rpm of the wheel up sufficiently to give you the needed torque for any hill. 'Dumbduck' is a good moniker for you.
I figuring what size frame would you recommend if your 6’ tall and wear 32” inseam in jeans
I would definitely get a "Large." I'm 5'10" and 32" inseam and wish I had a large frame. Enjoy!
It is a very attractive ebike. Now the big question is ebike or electric scooter. lol. Obviously, I don't plan on using it for a 900 mile trek, but just around the city and sometimes on bike trails. That's it. The decisions....
Best review on the bike
Did they replaced the engine? For a better one?
They did replace the motor as part of the spoke repair.
We use them. Excellent.
Do you find that any bike shop works on the Aventon bikes?
I’ve never been turned down by a bike shop.
Still have the bike ? How many miles now . Thinking about getting same .
Review is great by the way, nice job 👍
Thanks! I’m riding my Level in CA right now. Passed 2000 miles yesterday!
Also where exactly is the size difference located on the bike?
Not sure where it’s labeled, but the order and packing slip both indicate a size M.
Thanks!
"...and when I got home...I took 4 Xanax and made this...review..."
Great review, I have the. Medium and I am putting it together.
I 5’10 and I hope that it’s not going to be disappointing.
I'm like 2 cm shy of 5'11" and also recently purchased the medium, but after hearing his comments I'm wondering if I should've gone with the larger frame.
How did the bike frame end up working for you? Any regrets on sizing? Thanks
@@pathbasics
I have no regrets but I encountered a program with the electronic with 30 miles on the bike .
It shut down with a full charge and I just notified by email . the company , calling them today.
It needs service and hoping for resolution.
Is the motor loud, annoying or exhausting to listen to from your perspective?
Not at all. I hardly notice it.
Whoa... that is a long trip to do on an eBike
I have one love it
How heavy is this bike?
I believe it’s about 80 lbs.
How did you call them when I can't find a contact phone number anywhere...please do tell this secret number. I have concerns about my battery on reaching 15 miles before its drained in level 5. I have the same bike. I only have 170 miles on it.
yeah you must have bad luck. ive had mine for months and not one problem. get across town with ease. obviously if u try riding up a mountain its gonna have difficulty.
Exactly. As I mentioned I pushed the bike beyond its limits.
Please add CC, thanks!
Being an abnormal 105 lbs, these ebikes fly for me and though I'd love a bigger bike, I dont want to end up in China.
Aventon is selling the pace 350 without battery chargers, they are not informing customers before sale or speaking with you after sale.
I put a comment in a short time ago and noticed it isn’t there any more, everyone else’s is still there,reply
How tall are you?
5’10” with a 32” inseam.
@@SandyBrown are their add-on lights any good? And could you recommend a good affordable lock?
MELE MEL I love the headlight - I have three from different companies and the Aventon is the best. The taillight is good, though mine sometimes chooses on its own to stop flashing. The water bottle holder is not good. It tips over when full.
Ok, I guess I'll just get the headlights from them then. I was assuming that they would be fair at best, but if they're that good I guess there's no need to purchase them elsewhere.
MELE MEL just recognize that these are rechargeable battery lights, not integral system lights that operate off the bike’s battery, like those from some other manufacturer. As far as licks, nowadays people buy a thick cable lock to use for short periods in safe places and pair it with a heavier u-lock for longer periods in less -safe places. Kryptonite locks are recognized as one of the best brands, but there are many.
It scares when me one person doing review is a shame to give price
Price was $1699.