Aventon Level 2 vs Ride1UP 700

Intro

No segment of the e-bike market features more competition than the commuter segment. With so many brands vying for the attention of shoppers, every manufacturer out there is trying to maximize value for the consumer. In a way, that’s both good news and bad news. It’s good news because the buyer’s dollar has never gone farther. The bad news is that it is harder than ever to make a choice because so many of the commuter e-bikes on the market are terrific.

Let’s take our comparison of the Aventon Level 2 with the Ride1UP 700 Series. Let’s begin with what they have in common. For starters, the two e-bikes look a lot alike; that’s no accident. Both can be ordered with either a traditional or step-thru frame. Both go for less than $2000. Both weigh only 62 lbs. and offer a total payload capacity of 300 lbs. Both ship as throttle-equipped Class 2 e-bikes, but can be unlocked for Class 3 top speeds. Both feature an 8-speed drivetrain and come with hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. Both benefit from a suspension fork. And both include the necessary accessories for a good commuter: front and rear lights, full fenders, a kickstand and rear rack. In a word, they are competitive. However, there are solid reasons why someone might pick one of these e-bikes over the other.

When choosing a commuter e-bike, riders do well if they ask themselves a few important questions. More important than how long the commute is, how often will riders start and stop? The more traffic lights and stop signs a rider encounters, the less Class 3 assist speeds will matter. Also, what is the condition of the roads or paths the commute will take in? Rough roads call for bigger tires and more suspension. How much of a workout do they want? An e-bike with a cadence sensor asks less of the rider than one with a torque sensor.

Key specs of the Aventon Level 2 vs. Ride1UP 700 Series

	Aventon Level 2	Ride1UP 700 Series
Class	2 or 3	2 or 3
Motor	500W hub motor	750W hub motor
Battery	672Wh	720Wh
Drivetrain	8-speed Shimano	8-speed Shimano
Brakes	Hydraulic disc brakes	Hydraulic disc brakes
Notable features	Torque sensor, includes lights, fenders, kickstand and rear rack	Includes lights, fenders, kickstand and rear rack

What we like about the Aventon Level 2:

• 500W brushless, geared hub motor that can be unlocked for Class 3 speeds and is governed by a torque sensor to make the motor more responsive to rider effort
• Comes with a complete package of accessories for the commuter: lights, fenders, kickstand and rear rack
• The 8-speed Shimano drivetrain offers riders a wide range of gears for all types of terrain

What we like about the Ride1UP 700 Series:

• 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 60Nm of torque, which will give it great acceleration as well as the muscle necessary to cruise at Class 3 speeds
• Thanks to a 100mm-travel fork and 2.4-in.-wide tires, this is a very comfortable commuter e-bike that will enjoy better acceleration and battery life than a fat-tire e-bike
• Includes a compelling accessories package consisting of lights, fenders, a rear rack and kickstand

Read our review of Aventon Level 2 | Read our review of Ride1UP 700

Conclusion

Examining the Aventon Level 2 vs the Ride1UP 700 series does serve as an apples-to-apples comparison, but they aren’t the same apple. Once we dig below the surface, each e-bike has its strengths. Perhaps more important, as commuters go, neither e-bike has any significant faults.

Riders concerned about maximum range will want to consider the Aventon Level 2 (60 mi. estimated). That may sound odd considering it has a 672Wh battery and the Ride1UP 700 Series sports a 720Wh battery (up to 50 mi. estimated). The Aventon Level 2 squeezes more juice from the battery thanks to faster-rolling tires and a torque sensor (which uses power more judiciously than an e-bike equipped with a cadence sensor).

Smaller riders will want to look at the Aventon Level 2 with the traditional frame in the S/M size, if they want the shortest possible reach from the saddle to the handlebar. And for exceptionally tall riders, the Aventon Level 2 in the step-thru frame in the L/XL size for the most room between the saddle and the bar.

The Ride1UP 700 Series features the biggest tires (27.5 x 2.4 in.) and the longest travel fork (100mm), making it the smart choice for anyone riding rough roads. These same features also make it the most appropriate choice for anyone who may have to ride on stretches of dirt, gravel ro cinder.

In the matchup of Aventon Level 2 vs. Ride1UP 700 Series it’s obvious that there is no clear winner, and that’s good news for shoppers. These are two of our favorite commuter e-bikes; both of them stretch the buyer’s dollar like a trampoline. Buying either one of these e-bikes is a win.