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| Aventon Level 2 with Brooks saddle |
Prior to buying the Level 2, I was considering buying a Gazelle 2024 Ultimate C380 HMB, a $5,000 bicycle manufactured in the Netherlands. I even test-rode the Ultimate, and it was a beautiful ride. I kept researching, though, and when I found out there was an Aventon dealership about three blocks from the Gazelle dealership, I decided to try out the Level. What I discovered was that the Level was an e-bike that handled well, had excellent online reviews, and was a third the price of the Gazelle. The Level also provided as a part of the $1,800 package a second battery, including free shipping. My final costs provided me a very ride-worthy e-bike and an excellent bicycle carrier strong enough for two e-bikes at half the cost of the Gazelle. However, it wasn't just the price that was my e-bike choice determiner. The Level 2 comes with a throttle (which I use rarely but is great to have when I need it), and it also can be programmed through the phone app so it will generate power up to twenty-eight miles per hour rather than twenty.
How the Level 2 Rides
The Level 2 is my first e-bike, and one concern I considered when buying was weight. At a little over fifty pounds, the Level is much lighter than the Aventon Adventure, and about the same weight as the Gazelle Ultimate. I found the extra weight of the bike does make handling different. I can't just throw the e-bike around like I can a conventional bicycle. This is my first bike with front shocks, and I must say that the shocks cause less strain to my arms. This is especially true for me because I have two pins in my left elbow, which causes the elbow to tire more quickly. I most recently have changed out the saddle to a Terry Cite Gel and have also added a seat shock absorber; with the seat cut-out and the shock, the ride is much smoother.
About seventy-five percent of my riding is on lime-chip trails. When the Level's tires eventually wear out, I will replace them with a more gravel-worthy tread, probably replacing the Kendas with Schwalbe treads. I find the current tires not as secure on gravel as I'd like. I've also found the kickstand sticks out a bit more than I like, and I have to adjust my foot position occasionally so my shoe doesn't tick the stand.
The eight-speed shifting is adequate for the e-boost levels. I rarely move below gear 4; however, when I turn off electric support and just pedal by my own power, I'm in the bottom four gears and have to stand on the pedals for any hill beyond a mild incline. The bike can be ridden without the electric support, but it's a slog. It's pretty easy to bottom out those eight gears when riding downhill, but I don't have much desire to ride more than thirty miles per hour. Using the higher electric-assist levels, I can keep a good pace when on pavement, which is great when I'm just jumping on the bike for a trip to the store.
The battery holds up well. I ride most of the time in the lowest power assist level. (There are five.) At 150 pounds, I'm not real heavy, and I believe I could easily hit fifty miles on a battery charge and not drain the 500w battery. The farthest I've traveled in a single ride so far is a little over thirty miles, and I had a little less than half the battery charge remaining. If I were to take the second battery with me, I believe my rear end would give up long before the batteries would!
All in all, I'm pleased with my purchase of the Aventon Level 2. The bike doesn't come with a Gates belt drive like the Gazelle Ultimate, nor does it have the infinite gear range of the Gazelle transmission. However, for the price, I'm putting many miles on a bike that has other options that I'm glad to have, namely, the throttle and the second battery. The bike doesn't weigh too much and comes with all the extras a commuter bicycle needs: rack, fenders, and lights. I added a mirror, which I think is essential, and also a nice brass bell, which provides a happy sound so I can alert trail walkers who aren't paying attention. I might one day still buy myself a Gazelle, but for now I'm perfectly content with my Aventon.
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