The Aventon Pace 500.3 Electric Bike Is Beginner-Friendly yet High-Performing.

If you’re looking for a reliable commuter e-bike with a surprisingly powerful engine and stylish looks, look no further than the Aventon 500 Pace 3 . Aventon has carved out a niche in the crowded e-bike market by striving for a balance between “high performance” and “beginner-friendly”, and the Pace 3 hits the bull’s eye. It’s comfortable and easy to ride, with an easy-to-ride frame and a confident, upright riding position, but hydraulic disc brakes, torque sensing and a powerful engine mean you don’t sacrifice performance for ease of use.

Pros and cons of the Aventon Pace 500.3

pros

• Great for beginners
• Torque-sensing drive is intuitive
• Powerful engine

Minuses

• No suspension
• Throttle is a bit sensitive

Characteristics

• Price: $1,799 (currently on sale for $1,599).
• Classification: Class 2
• Motor: 500W 48V brushless hub motor
• Weight limit: 300 lbs
• Speed: up to 28 mph with pedal assist.
• Assist: 4 levels of torque assistance
• Battery: Removable internal lithium-ion, 48 V, 12.8 Ah (614 Wh), LG cells.
• Recharge time: 4-5 hours
• Claimed maximum range: up to 60 miles with pedal assist, 30 miles with throttle only.
• Display: Full color LCD with backlight.
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes.
• Transmission: 122 links, 8 speeds
• Tires: Puncture-resistant 27.5 x 2.1 inches, reflective sidewalls.

Two looks at riding the Aventon Pace 500.3

I’ve been riding a variety of electric and analog bikes for years and have found the Pace 3 to be a solid bike – it’s a good commuter ebike – but since it’s aimed at beginner cyclists, I’ve had my wife take it out a few times to get the point across newbie.

“I haven’t ridden a bike for years and have never ridden an e-bike. “I just wasn’t a cyclist,” Robin said, “but that made me a cyclist!” I’ve ridden this bike more in the last month than any bike I’ve ridden in the last 20 years.”

“Before I rode it, it was scary because it has an engine and I’m a wimp, but as soon as I rode it, there was nothing in it. I practiced walking up and down the block a few times and thought, “Got it; let’s go ! ” It’s like riding a bicycle. It’s not like riding a motorcycle. It’s like a beach cruiser with a few extras.”

“I also got used to using the throttle pretty quickly. It’s instinctive because it’s right next to your thumb. Mostly I pedal and let it help, but if I need to speed up to cross the street or something, I hit the gas and go. It’s like the perfect bike for aging Gen X.”

I didn’t have the same reaction as my wife. She found the vertical position of the Pace 3 comfortable. I’m used to a more forward position, which feels more stable to me, but the “relaxed” position seems to be the choice for most, especially beginners.

The Pace 3’s “most of the weight is in the butt” attitude and lack of shock absorption in the Pace 3’s forks and seat make it not the most forgiving bike to take on impacts. It’s not too bad – like most e-bikes, the tires are designed to ride on fairly soft surfaces, which helps a lot – but it would have been nice if a suspension seatpost came as standard rather than an Aventon extra.

I found the thumb-controlled throttle to be too sensitive at first, but in general I prefer twist-controlled throttles. Until you get used to them, it’s easy to give your throttle thumb more force than you need and end up jerking forward a little.

Exterior of the Aventon Pace 500.3: the bike of tomorrow today

Pace 3 looks like the future. It doesn’t look like those e-bikes that mimic the look of motorcycles, but it doesn’t look like a traditional bike either. The simple lines, cruiser-style handlebars, built-in battery and cables running through the frame are reminiscent of a bike from a sci-fi movie. It even has brake lights and turn signals. However, it would be nice to use a couple of colors other than Ghost White and Blue Steel.

Under the hood, the Pace 3 features a 500-watt motor and torque control.

Despite its “beginner-ready” and non-threatening appearance, the Pace features a 500W, 48V brushless hub motor that packs real punch. It’s a Category 2 e-bike with a throttle speed of 20mph, but the pedal assist gets you up to 28mph – as fast as e-bikes are typically allowed to go. If you’re just starting out, these speeds might worry you, but the iPhone and Android app that comes with the bike allows you to set your own top speed, up to a turtle-like 12 mph.

Pace 3’s torque-sensing pedal assist system is a step up from the cadence-sensing system of previous generations of Pace bikes. Instead of assisting the engine by monitoring how often you turn the cranks, torque sensing based on how much force you apply to the pedals helps. The result is a more natural feel—like you have stronger legs, rather than feeling like a motor is turning on when you press the pedals. Torque sensing is also more energy efficient, so the Pace’s battery lasts longer.

Cockpit: Pace 3 controls and screen

The Pace 500.3’s backlit color LCD display is easy to read and understand even in bright sunlight. It details the remaining battery charge, level of assistance, miles traveled and the time of your current trip – pretty standard. The bike’s four assist levels are given names like “eco” and “touring” rather than numbers, which is a bit annoying until you get used to it.

Controls on the left handlebar allow you to engage and adjust the assist’s power, and the rear fender even has turn signal buttons for lighting – not the most useful feature in the world, but pretty cool anyway. This will all be intuitive if you’ve ever driven any vehicle – no instructions required. There is an integrated headlight and taillight for night driving, and LED brake lights illuminate when you press the brake levers. Quite chic.

How long does the Pace 500.3 battery last?

Aventon claims the battery will last 60 miles with pedal assist and 30 miles with throttle alone. Any estimate of battery life will vary depending on hills, rider weight and how much assistance the motor provides, but this estimate is not far from my experience.

Simply riding it on flat terrain seems to take up quite a bit of battery, but as a stress test, I took this bike on a hilly 22-mile ride that included riding over Mount Hollywood, a 1,333-foot climb. I used the assist to try and keep pedaling at as steady and natural a speed as possible as I climbed the hill/mountain and easily passed “real” spandex-clad cyclists with only a slight sweat.

When I got to the top, about halfway, I was surprised to see that I had only used 10% of my battery. The entire trip drained about 35% of the battery’s charge – not bad for such a high altitude gain, especially considering how hard I pressed the gas on the way home.

Pace 3 frame, brakes and gears

Overall, the old-school, non-electric or e-bike parts of the Pace 3 feel solid. The hydraulic disc brakes perform superbly even when leaned heavily on steep descents, and the Shimano Altus shifter shifts the eight gears quietly and efficiently when you pull the trigger. The Pace 3 weighs 50 pounds and is surprisingly light, so you can use it as a bike even if you’re completely out of charge.

In total, I rode the Pace 3 for about 90 miles, and the bike felt reliable during each of them. Even when descending at 35mph or so (the top speed is based on my own level of fear when using the new bike) it never felt out of control, wobbly or unsettling. I wouldn’t ride it on a long gravel road or mountain bike trail, but a few experiences with broken, gnarly concrete didn’t cause any problems.

Overall: This might be the bike of your dreams.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to e-bikes, you should consider finding a local bike shop that sells Aventon bikes and try out the Pace 3. It’s beginner-friendly, but if you end up going from “beginner” to ” newbie.” enthusiast,” you’ll appreciate the Pace 3’s torque control system, hydraulic brakes and powerful engine. And even if you only use it twice a year, those trips will be easy and fun.