Aventon Pace 500.3 Review 2024

Intro

The commuter e-bike is like the four-door sedan of the e-bike world. They come in many shapes and sizes and with a variety of different priorities. It’s fair to say that the commuter e-bike is no one particular thing. With the Aventon Pace 500.3 we have a relatively light e-bike that gives riders a responsive, sporty ride at an affordable price.

In our Aventon Pace 500.3 review we will look at the choices Aventon made that make the Pace 500.3 lighter than most competitively priced e-bikes, as well as their other choices that make this an above-average e-bike for its price.

Aventon makes the Pace 500.3 in two different frame designs and both frames come in two sizes. It is driven by a 500W brushless, geared hub motor powered by a 614Wh battery. Other notable details in its build are the 8-speed Shimano drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes.

Readers will notice that the Aventon Pace 500.3 lacks a few of the common touches we often see with commuter e-bikes. It is not equipped with fenders, a rear rack or suspension fork, but it is equipped with a torque sensor, which is not common in this price range.

So the Aventon Pace 500.3 is a commuter of a different feather, but what do all these different details add up to? Let’s dive in and take a look.

E-Bike Category: commuter

Who the Aventon Pace 500.3 Electric Bike Is for: the commuter or leisure rider who wants a relatively lightweight e-bike with a responsive motor and crisp handling.

Aventon Pace 500.3 E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 614Wh
• Expected Range: 60 mi. estimated
• Charger: 3A
• Motor: 500W brushless, geared hub motor
• UL Certification: Certified to UL 2849
• Pedal Assist: 4 PAS levels
• Throttle: Included
• Display: Color LCD
• Headlight: Included
• Taillight: Included
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: 6061 Aluminum
• Fenders: N/A
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: Alloy
• Grips: Ergonomic comfort
• Drivetrain: 8-speed Shimano
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors
• Pedals: Alloy, with reflectors
• Saddle: Aventon
• Tires: 27.5 x 2.1-in., puncture-resistant

In-Depth Aventon Pace 500.3 Review

Aventon Pace 500.3 Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

The direct-to-consumer e-bike market is dominated by one-size-fits-all e-bikes. One-size-fits-all works about as well with e-bikes as it does with pants. The people in the middle of the bell curve of height enjoy lots of choice, while the closer we to move to the extremes of stature the more choice narrows. Aventon offers riders more choice than most direct-to-consumer manufacturers do. The Pace 500.3 is made in both a traditional frame and a step-thru version and each of those frames is offered in two sizes, regular and large. The reach changes for each size, which gives the Pace 500.3 a greater ability to fit riders of differing heights than we usually see. This isn’t a sexy feature, but it’s worth plenty.

Often, when we talk about comfort and an e-bike, we’re looking at whether the e-bike includes a suspension fork and just how big the tires are. But comfort comes in a number dimensions, and one that is applicable with the Aventon Pace 500.3 is this e-bike’s weight—just 52 lbs. For an e-bike that runs less than $2000, that’s a terrific weight and will have an effect on how this e-bike handles.

Considering that most similarly-priced e-bikes weigh at least 60 lbs, and many weigh more than 70 lbs., finding a lightweight alternative is nice. We do need to look at some of the factors that help keep this e-bike’s weight low. There several details that contribute.

The Pace 500.3 comes equipped with an aluminum fork, not a suspension fork, and that saves several pounds. They also left off fenders and a rear rack, which also helps keep the price down. The low-profile-tread 27.5 x 2.1-in. tires roll quickly and weigh half of what a 4-in.-wide tire weighs.

Of course, without wide tires and a suspension fork, the Aventon Pace 500.3 won’t offer as comfortable a ride on rougher roads, but it will lend this e-bike a sportier feel. The handling will be crisper and the feedback more distinct.

Aventon Pace 500.3 Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

The Aventon Pace 500.3 is spec’d with a 500W brushless, geared hub motor, which is powered by a 614Wh battery. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that big numbers, i.e., more wattage and more capacity, are always better. But that’s not universally true. Aventon’s decision to go with a 500W motor and 614Wh battery are key to this e-bike’s 52-lb. weight. Many e-bikes with a 750W motor and 720Wh battery can weigh more than 70 lbs. Aventon’s own Level.2 weighs 77 lbs.—25 lbs. more than the Pace 500.3. The lighter an e-bike, the more effective a lower-powered hub motor can be.

Smaller riders will appreciate an e-bike that is easier to handle, but someone doesn’t need to be of less stature to enjoy a lighter e-bike.

Our general rule of thumb regarding battery size is that its capacity should roughly equal the motor’s wattage. We want to see something on the order of a 504Wh battery with a 500W motor and a 720Wh battery with a 750W motor. The Aventon Pace 500.3 exceeds this with a 614Wh battery matched to the 500W motor. That’s roughly 20 percent more capacity than is enough to be judged adequate.

When our sister publication, Electric Bike Report, reviewed the Pace 500.3 they found that not only did it enjoy excellent range, it exceeded Aventon’s own estimates. On the website they say riders can expect to cover 30 mi. on throttle alone and 60 mi. with pedal assist. What our colleagues found was that the Pace 500.3 managed 35 mi. in Turbo and nearly 68 mi. in Eco, beating their own estimates by more than 10 percent.

The Aventon Pace 500.3 is equipped with a torque sensor, rather than a cadence sensor. What this means is that the moment the rider begins pedaling, the motor will spring into action. There’s no waiting for a pedal stroke or two before the motor wakes up. Also, with a torque sensor, it provides power in proportion to how hard the rider is working; pedal harder and the motor goes harder; back off on the pedals before a turn and the motor backs off as well. A torque sensor will make a rider work harder to go faster, but the experience is more seamless, seemingly telepathic.

The Pace 500.3 features a motor that can be unlocked for Class 3 speeds. This can be done via Aventon’s smartphone app, which allows users control over other performance functions, as well as the ability to track rides via GPS and to connect with other Aventon owners.

Most e-bikes in this price range are equipped with 7-speed drivetrains, but the Aventon Pace 500.3 comes with a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain. This 8-speed drivetrain comes with a few benefits over the 7-speed systems. First, it offers a 266-percent gear range, as opposed to just 200 percent, which will come in handy on hills. Second, the 8-speed system uses a below-the-bar trigger shifter which is easier to operate than the above-the-bar thumb shifter we usually see. This drivetrain is a definite step up.

Aventon Pace 500.3 Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

We see plenty of e-bikes with mechanical disc brakes and they work well. They offer more power than traditional rim brakes and help to keep the cost of an e-bike down, but hydraulic disc brakes offer better overall braking power, better modulation and a smoother, more sensitive feel at the lever. They always make the e-bike feel a bit more upscale.

The Aventon Pace 500.3 is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors, a setup that always gives us confidence in an e-bike.

One touch that Aventon gives all of their e-bikes is a pair of rear lights mounted in the frame’s seatstays. This is an easy-to-spy location and there is enough space between the two lights that when a rider uses the turn signal, drivers behind can tell which direction the rider plans to turn. Sometimes those lights are so close together that a driver a hundred yards back and closing quickly can’t tell which direction they are pointing.

Aventon’s warranty is a step above many we see. They offer a lifetime warranty on their frame and fork, two years on Aventon-branded parts and components, including the motor and electronics. Third-party components are not covered, but may be covered by a warranty from the OEM manufacturer.

Aventon Pace 500.3 Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

As we’ve noted, the Aventon Pace 500.3 is a different sort of commuter. It’s lighter than most, thanks in part to the 500W hub motor and 614Wh battery. Even though the motor and battery are smaller than we typically see on commuter e-bikes in the $1500-$2000 price range, this e-bike isn’t skimping.

The Pace 500.3 features other component choices that will drive up an e-bike’s cost. For instance, this e-bike is spec’d with hydraulic disc brakes, an 8-speed drivetrain and, perhaps most significantly, a torque sensor. Also, let’s not forget that not only does the Pace 500.3 come in both traditional and step-thru frames, but both frames come in two sizes. Making more than one frame design or size can drive up cost as well.

Some shoppers will be disappointed that Aventon didn’t include fenders and a rear rack. We think that’s a bonus. Why? Let’s suppose that Aventon decided to include fenders and a rear rack on this e-bike, but didn’t want to raise the price to do it. They would compensate by using some less expensive components along the way. The torque sensor would be the first to go, to be replaced by a less reactive cadence sensor. A 7-speed drivetrain would be substituted for the notably better 8-speed drivetrain and the hydraulic disc brakes would probably be replaced by mechanical disc brakes.

What’s helpful to consider is that fenders, a rear rack and other accessories can be purchased along with the e-bike or at some point in the future, if the buyer needs to stick with a strict budget. What a buyer can’t do without considerable expense is to upgrade a drivetrain from 7-speed to 8-speed. Due to the difference between the way cables are routed and the way hydraulic hoses are routed, upgrading from mechanical to hydraulic disc brakes usually isn’t possible. And adding a torque sensor to an e-bike that came equipped with a cadence sensor just isn’t an option at all.

For the rider weighing whether to go with an e-bike that comes equipped with a full set of commuter-friendly accessories or one that doesn’t have as complete an accessory package, but comes with more upscale components, we suggest going with the latter, due to the challenge to later upgrade the e-bike. Fenders and a rack can always be added, and while those items can be handy, they are by no means necessary for someone to commute; for many commuters, a backpack gets the job done.

At just 52 lbs., the Aventon Pace 500.3 is built with a set of priorities that aren’t as common to commuter e-bikes. Despite the smaller motor and battery, it gives up nothing in speed or range. Its selection of components will rival any e-bike in this price range. This e-bike is such a solid design and respectable value that we can’t figure why it doesn’t face more competition from other manufacturers.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Aventon Pace 500.3. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!