First Look at the new Aventon Level.3

For less than $2000, the Level.3 may just be the bike to beat for an everyday commuter and weekend runner. With new updates to the frame, battery and inclusion of the ACU Technology, the Level.3 is packed full of new features that have absolutely transformed the ability and comfort of this bike.

While we had great things to say about the Level.2 in the past, the Level.3 is quite nearly just a whole new bike that shows the amount of time and energy Aventon has spent into making their Flagship model even better.

As a new release we’ve only had a brief amount of time on the bike and won’t be able to speak to its long-term concerns, but from our experience with Aventon so far, we have little doubt that it will be a great bike for years to come. We found the Level.3 to be a great bike to ride around for the day. No spoilers just yet, but let’s just there wasn’t much to not like.

The Level.3 is a class 2 do it all sort of electric bike favoring urban environments. Using a 500w rear hub motor, the Level.3 has a torque sensor for sensitive and natural pedalling feel as well as using a throttle. Now you can increase the speed limit power of the Level.3 by using the app, but be sure to check your local laws before doing so. Additionally, within the app you can now take advantage of the Ride Tune capabilities to dial in the right levels of Pedal Assist.

The first thing you’ll notice is the new frame design. There is both a step thru and step over frame available, both using a gravity cast frame design. From the Level.2 to the Level.3 there is a new geometry between both frames and the two different sizes. This accounts for a slightly longer reach and slightly lower stack height. This brings the rider position a bit more forward on the bike, but riders can adjust the stem now to find the right bar position.

Why did Aventon choose to go with a gravity cast frame? Because it looks better… but that’s not the only reason. The gravity cast frame offers a nearly weld free frame that looks very sleak and has optimized strength in the right areas. They’ve added an accent line down the side of the downtube and this new design has integrated cable routing, keeping things nice and tidy up front. The integrated tail lights/ turn signals have been moved further down on the frame now increase their visibility while using panniers.

Another benefit of the gravity cast frame is the seemless integration of the new battery. The new battery Aventon uses will now be the same as seen on the Abound SR as well as future bikes. This creates more uniformity within the Aventon family across models. The 708Wh battery has an estimated range of up to 70 miles.

More welcomed new features include a suspension seat post with preload adjustment and Aventon’s newly released ACU Technology which we’ll get into shortly.

The Level.3 has a Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain, and they’ve added a few more teeth to the chain ring. The reason behind this was from their own testing and comments from owners of the Level.2. A larger chainring helps to optimize the cadence while pedaling at maximum PAS output.

Aventon’s ACU Technology is a new unit found on their new models. This is an advanced Control Unit with features from security to Ride Tune.

Before we get into some of the features available right now, it’s important to note that this is only the beginning of the ACU capabilites. As time goes on Aventon will be able to continue to offer more and more features that will be available through OTA Updates.

The ACU has 4G Connectivity and GPS tracking. This is great with the app to track rides, enable the Keyless Battery (for removal when needed) and Auto-Lock/Unlock of the bike. Additionally you can utilize the Geofencing feature. This feature may not be for everyone, but it is rather convenient in regards to security. Say you only ride your bike in a certain area, or you let your friends/family borrow the bike. You can set a perimeter where the bike is allowed and it will alert you when it leaves that boundary. This is a big deal for security integration.

The ACU has an alarm and a rear wheel lock. This wheel lock is similar in application to the kickstand lock feature of the Abound SR. Rather than the lock being part of the kickstand though, there is a mechanical lock to lock the rear wheel located on the non drive side. At 67 pounds, locking the rear wheel will make things a lot harder for people to roll away with your bike.

The Ride Tune feature is something we like most with the new tech on the Level.3. This is something we’ve seen from brands like Bosch and Shimano for years. This allows you to customize the PAS modes to get a personalized tune for each mode that fit your riding style and how you want the PAS to support your rides.

Of course the Level.3 is a fantastic upgrade for any existing owners of previous Level generations. With major upgrades and adaptions to their flagship model, the Level.3 is refined in all the right ways.

Outside of the current list of Level riders, the Level.3 is without a doubt a bike worth looking at for new riders looking to begin their urban cycling adventures.

For under $2000 the Level.3 is full of high end tech that is competitive with the top brands, additionally they’ve upped their production game with a more refined and quality construction of the frame and choice quality componentry.

In application the Level.3 is a smooth riding bike with plenty of power. Whether it be a few miles blip from your house to the market or needing to log double digit mileage through your day, the Level.3 is fun to ride and again very comfortable mile after mile.

Urban electric bikes are something we have a lot of experience riding here at EBJournal. From premium high-end ebikes to budget-friendly options. The Level.3 has surprised us with a premium ride experience with advanced tech all at a consumer-friendly price point.

While integrated cable routing is all the rage in the bike world these days, we’re still a little averse to some of the long-term maintenance difficulties it presents, but by no means does it take away from its performance and the benefits of a cleaner-looking front end are worth it. 

We spent equal time on both the step over and the low step frame. While riding there’s little to no difference and quite frankly we’ve become fans of step thru frame designs for urban bikes. They make it much easier and convenient to get on and off especially at bike racks and stop lights. 

While logging miles we bounced between pedaling only and using the throttle. The sensitivity of the torque sensor is smooth and feels very natural. We found a few steep grassy knolls to test the full power of the drive unit. From a dead stop using throttle only, the Level.3 impressed us with its power to boost us up to the top of the hills. 

All in all, we’ll be revisiting the Level.3 on our local turf to put plenty more big miles in and see how it does over time, but we are rather impressed and really like this new direction from Aventon on the Level.3. 

The ACU integration, new battery and Gravity cast frame are only a few of the new features we’re seeing in new Aventon bikes which has us excited to see the direction their going. 

Price: $1899
Sizes: Small/Medium, Large/X-Large
Weight: 67 lbs
Website: aventon.com