We thought we'd seen the last ebike from California's Aventon back in March, but today the company has updated its flagship commuter ebike to the second generation – bringing torque sensing to its range for the first time.
The Level.2 features a 48-V/500-W (750-W peak) brushless hub motor and, in a first for Aventon, a torque sensor in the bottom bracket for more responsive pedal assist over five levels up to 28 mph (45 km/h).
The inclusion of an 8-speed gearset also makes for more ride flexibility, and there's a throttle too for an effortless start from the lights, some help on the hills or just rolling along at up to 20 mph (32 km/h) without pumping your legs.
The double-butted aluminum alloy frame hosts a lockable and removable 672-Wh integrated Li-ion battery that Aventon reports could get up to 60 miles (96.5 km) of per-charge real-world range at the lowest assist level on the flats.
The ebike comes with a suspension fork with 65-mm of travel for smoothing out bumps along the way, and rides on 27.5-inch double-wall rims wrapped in 2.1-inch-wide hybrid tires that could allow for the city commuter to wander into the wilds at weekends. Stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes with 180-mm rotors.
A color LCD display with backlighting allows for checking ebike metrics as you go, and it's Bluetooth-enabled for pairing with a smartphone running a companion mobile app for deeper dives and more control options. And there's integrated lighting front and back.
The Level.2 is available as a 52-lb (23.5 kg) step-through model or a 54-lb (24.5 kg) step over, and ships as a Class 2 ebike but can be unlocked to Class 3. Each flavor has a maximum payload capacity of 300 lb (136 kg), comes supplied with fenders, a kickstand and a rear rack, and carries a suggested retail price of US$1,949.
Product page: Aventon Level.2