Aventon Level 3 Review: Long Range and an Unlockable Top Speed for $1,699
A big 733Wh battery, a throttle, and strong hydraulic brakes make this a genuinely low-fuss daily commuter at $1,699.
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What the stars are rated against
The stars compare this bike with other commuter e-bikes we have scored — 50 of them, priced $1,189–$2,209. They are a ranking inside that group, not an absolute grade: four stars means it beats most of that set on the measure, not that it hits some fixed standard.
Peers are drawn from a tight price band around this bike, so a $1,000 commuter is judged against other $1,000 commuters rather than against machines costing three times as much. Change the group and the stars would change with it.
The headline Genius Score is not decided by that group alone. It blends the category ranking above with a market-wide view across every bike we publish, so a bike cannot climb simply by sitting in a weak category. How we score.
If your main question is whether one bike can handle a real commute, run errands, and still have juice left for a weekend ride, the Aventon Level 3 is built for exactly that. A 733Wh backs a claimed 70 miles, so range anxiety mostly drops out of the daily routine. And because it comes with a , you can pull away from a light or ease up a short hill without pedaling at all.
It ships as a bike, so the throttle works up to 20 mph, and you can unlock a faster Class 3 mode when your route allows it. At a Genius Score of 71 out of 100, it lands as a well-rounded mid-priced commuter: long range, confident brakes, and enough power for daily riding, with steep climbing being the one place pricier bikes pull ahead.
Pros & cons
What we like
- The 733Wh is big for a commuter and backs a claimed 70 miles, long enough to cover a full commute with plenty in reserve.
- A lets you ride without pedaling up to 20 mph, a real help pulling from a stop or grinding up a short rise.
- Strong (Magura up front, Tektro at the rear) give you firm, low-effort stopping in traffic.
- moves a loaded bike off the line without fuss on flats and rolling terrain.
- You can unlock speeds in the app when your route allows, so the bike has more to give as you want it.
Worth weighing
- The 500W delivers only average climbing power, so long, steep grades will have it working harder than a higher-torque rival.
Key specs
The motor & power
The Level 3 runs a 500W . A hub motor like this delivers its power evenly, so acceleration comes on in a smooth build as you gain speed. Aventon advertises up to 864W of output in Boost mode, but on this bike you'll spend nearly all your riding on the steady 500W, so that's the number to judge it by.
is enough to get a loaded bike and rider moving on the flat and to handle the rolling hills most commutes throw at you. On a long, steep climb it keeps pulling, though you'll feel it working harder than a torquier motor would.
Out of the box it's a bike, which means the powers you up to 20 mph with no pedaling needed. That's handy for easing away from stoplights or saving your legs partway up a hill. Riding mostly on the throttle drains the battery faster than pedaling along with it, which is worth keeping in mind on longer routes.
The Level 3 ships as a Class 2 bike, so it tops out at 20 mph with the throttle live. In the Aventon app you can switch it to Class 3, which raises the assisted top speed to 28 mph. It's the same bike either way, just a setting, but check your local rules first: some bike paths only permit Class 2, and the Class 3 mode is where the extra speed (and a bit more battery use) comes in.
Range & battery
Range is where the Level 3 stands out. That 733Wh pack is large for a commuter, and Aventon claims up to 70 miles on a charge.
The 70-mile figure assumes gentle, near-ideal riding, so your real total will land lower depending on how hilly your route is, how much you load the bike, and how often you use the throttle instead of pedaling. Even trimmed to real conditions, there's enough capacity here that a week of typical commuting can fit between charges rather than a nightly top-up.
The pack is removable too, so you can carry it inside to charge and leave the bike locked up outside or in a garage.
You'll see two range numbers from Aventon: up to 70 miles in some places and up to 60 in others. Both are best-case estimates, so treat either as a ceiling and plan your commute around a comfortable margin below it.
Ride & components
Stopping is a genuine strength. The Level 3 pairs a Magura AT-2 up front with a Tektro HD-E3520 at the rear, so you get firm, reliable braking with just a light pull. That matters on a heavier bike moving through city traffic.
Shifting comes from a Shimano 8-speed Altus setup, entry-level gear that covers a commuter's needs without any fanfare. The 27.5 x 2.20 Kenda tires are a middle-ground width that rolls easily on pavement while taking the sting out of rough patches and curbs.
At 67 pounds it sits right in the normal range for a commuter this size, and the weight is a non-issue once you're moving. It'll of rider and cargo, which leaves plenty of headroom for a loaded pannier or a backpack full of groceries.
Price & value
At $1,699, the Level 3 is priced fairly for what it packs in. You're getting the big battery, quality hydraulic brakes, and a throttle-equipped motor with room to unlock more speed, which is a well-rounded package for the money.
Value is a real high point here. Few bikes at this price pair 70 miles of claimed range with braking this good, so you're getting a lot of usable commuter per dollar. Where it saves money is the drivetrain and outright climbing power, not the parts you rely on every single ride.
Who it's for
The all-week commuter
If your commute runs long and you hate babysitting a battery gauge, this is the bike that takes range off your mind. The big covers a full round trip with room for errands on the way home and a weekend ride, so you're not hunting for an outlet mid-week.
The rider who'd rather not pedal
If the appeal is twisting a to pull away from a stop or take a breather on a hill, this does it out of the box up to 20 mph. Pedaling along when you can stretches the battery much further on longer rides.
The gear hauler
If you ride loaded down with a heavy backpack, full panniers, or a rack of groceries, the leaves real headroom over your own weight, and the strong hydraulic brakes give you confident stopping even with all that on board.
The serious hill climber
If your daily route packs long, steep grades, the 500W hub and 60 Nm are adequate but not eager, so they'll labor where a torquier wouldn't. It's worth comparing bikes built specifically for climbing if that's your everyday reality.
Frequently asked
Does the Aventon Level 3 have a throttle?
Yes. It comes with a , so you can ride up to 20 mph without pedaling at all if you don't want to. That's useful for starting from a stop or resting your legs on a hill, though riding on the throttle uses the battery faster than pedaling.
How far does the Aventon Level 3 go on a charge?
Aventon claims up to 70 miles from its 733Wh . That's a best-case number, so expect less on hilly routes, under a heavy load, or with heavy throttle use.
What class is the Aventon Level 3 and how fast does it go?
It ships as a e-bike with a 20 mph top speed on both throttle and pedal assist. You can unlock Class 3 in the Aventon app to raise the assisted top speed to 28 mph.
Is the Aventon Level 3 good for hills?
It handles rolling hills and gentle grades comfortably with its 500W hub motor and , and the throttle helps you pull up short rises. Long, steep climbs are where it works hardest, so a genuinely mountainous route is better served by a higher-torque bike.
How much does the Aventon Level 3 weigh?
It weighs 67 pounds, which is normal for a commuter of this size. The battery is removable, so you can take it out to make the bike lighter to lift or to charge indoors.
How much does the Aventon Level 3 cost?
It's priced at $1,699, which is fair for a commuter with this much range, hydraulic disc brakes, and a throttle.
How it compares to its siblings
The Level 3 undercuts the Level 4 REC by $300 and still scores higher on the Genius scale (71 vs. 66), despite the REC's bigger numbers on paper. You give up 20Nm of torque and 250W of nominal motor power, plus the REC's option to unlock Class 3, but you get a lighter bike (67 lb vs. 68.5 lb) and the same 733Wh battery for less money. If you're not hauling loads on steep grades or chasing top-end speed, the Level 3 is the smarter buy here.
Similar bikes
Denago Folding 1
Strong torque, a throttle, and a big battery make the Folding 1 a well-rounded daily commuter, as long as you can live with mechanical brakes at this price.
Read the review Genius 70 / 100Ride1Up Prodigy V2
A German Brose mid-drive gives this $1,795 commuter strong climbing that works through its gears, though the 504Wh battery keeps range midpack.
Read the reviewAventon Level 3 is ranked on:
Guides worth reading
- E-bike classes explained: Class 1, 2 and 3Three classes, two questions: does it have a throttle, and how fast does the motor keep helping.
- Nominal vs peak watts on an e-bikeThe wattage in the headline is usually the peak figure, which can be roughly double the number the motor actually sustains.
- E-bike range explainedEvery range figure on every spec sheet is a best case. Here is how to translate it into what you'll really see.
How we score: the Genius Score blends a bike's capability against same-price peers with its value for the money, weighted for what this commuter buyer prioritises. Specs are pulled from the manufacturer's live page and normalised (nominal vs peak watts, true weight with battery). Ratings are our estimate from specs, not a lab test.