Aventon Aventure 3 review

Should you buy one?

Buy the Aventure 3 if most of your riding is on gravel or rough trails, you want a throttle that works from a stop, and you can store and move a 76 lb bike. After several weeks and about 56 miles, it’s my favorite Aventon, and my favorite e-bike overall.

Skip it if you need to carry it up stairs or lift it onto a rack by yourself. Skip it too if your rides are all smooth pavement, where 4 inch tires and a front fork aren’t doing much.

The deciding factors: where you ride, and whether you can deal with the weight. On gravel, the tires, fork and suspension seatpost together justify the bike. On a smooth bike path, a lighter Aventon will do the job.

Who it’s for

• Gravel and trail riders. I mostly ride gravel now. The 4 inch tires and Aventon’s front fork make that comfortable.
• Riders around my size. I’m about 6’1” and 200 lb, and the bike fits me very well. Aventon rates it for 400 lbs total.
• People who make quick errand stops. The app-controlled rear wheel lock let me run into Trader Joe’s without pulling out a chain.
• Anyone who wants fenders and a rack included. Both come on the bike.

Who should look elsewhere

• Apartment dwellers with stairs. The 76 lb weight is the biggest practical downside.
• Riders who want full suspension. There’s no rear shock. The suspension seatpost gets you part of the way there, not all of it.
• Anyone shorter than 5’3”. That’s where Aventon’s Regular size starts.

Aventure 3 vs Aventure (1st gen) vs Pace 500.3

Specs come from Aventon’s product pages. The Pace 500.3 numbers are from Aventon Canada’s listing.

The gap that matters is between the Aventure 3 and the Pace. The Pace weighs 22 lbs less and has no suspension at all. On my Pace test, the concrete trail felt fine and the bumps came straight through. The Aventure 3 is the one for gravel.

How it rides on gravel

Gravel is most of my riding these days, and this is the Aventon I’d pick for it. The 4 inch tires grip loose surfaces and soak up chatter. The Aventon-branded front fork gave me plenty of cushion. Aventon lists 80mm of travel with a lockout.

There’s no rear shock. Aventon fitted a suspension seatpost instead, rated at 50mm. On rougher trails, that seatpost added a lot of cushion. It felt close to full suspension without the extra moving parts and cost, and I think it’s the smartest choice on the bike.

I’ve also taken it on some fairly aggressive terrain. The thick chain slap guard on the frame has the marks to prove it, and it held up. I like a real slap guard on a rugged bike much better than the clear paint protection film Aventon uses on some other models.

Motor and power

The motor is a 750W rear hub. Aventon rates it at 80 Nm, with up to 1440W in Boost Mode. At 6’1” and about 200 lb, I had plenty of power for every incline I hit, including long sloping hills.

The throttle on the left side works from zero, so you can pull away from a stop without pedaling. It’s a Class 2 bike. Aventon also uses a torque sensor, so the assist follows how hard you push on the pedals.

A viewer asked whether a 36V system is a downgrade. I can tell you what I felt: plenty of power on hills. Aventon puts the battery at 36V and 20Ah, which is 733Wh. That’s slightly more stored energy than the original Aventure’s 720Wh, even though the voltage is lower.

Controls and display

• Assist levels: off, Eco, Sport and Turbo, changed with the + and – buttons. The display shows a range estimate.
• Power: hold the power button to turn the bike on or off. Tap it to cycle through the menus on the full color display.
• Headlight: hold the + button.
• Shifter: a thumb-and-pointer-finger shifter for the 8 rear gears. It’s my favorite kind.
• Brakes: hydraulic discs front and rear.

The turn signals feel a bit gimmicky to me, though they do make you more visible. I wish both could blink together like hazard lights. I couldn’t figure out how to make that happen.

A viewer asked where the tail light is. There’s no center light. The rear lights and blinkers are built into the frame on both sides at the back, and they’re plenty bright as brake lights.

The app and the wheel lock

The Aventon app does more than the display does. It shows where your bike is, and it has security settings. The feature I actually used is the rear wheel lock. A pin shoots into a new piece on the left side of the rear wheel and stops it from turning. You can set it to lock every time you switch the bike off, or tap a button in the app.

I rode to Trader Joe’s, locked it in the app, and went in without a cable lock. With the rear wheel locked, someone would basically need a truck to haul off a 76 lb bike.

A few viewers asked about cost. Aventon says the 4G subscription is free for the first year. Their page doesn’t give the price after that, so check it before you count on the tracking.

Comfort and small gripes

The good fit at 6’1” and 200 lb is a big part of why I’ve put so many miles on this one.

The Aventon-branded seat has grippy patches that stop you from sliding around. It’s comfortable without being anything special, so upgrade it if you like. My one wish is the larger palm-rest grips I’ve praised on other bikes. Swapping grips is a quick job, so this is minor.

The chain guard only covers about half the chain. I wear long pants and they’ve never caught.

Mud sprayed past the rear splash guard on muddy rides. The front fender also let some dirt reach the underside of the battery. The battery sits inside the frame and is well protected, so it wasn’t a real problem. Expect to wipe it down after muddy rides.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 4 inch tires, front fork and suspension seatpost make gravel comfortable
• Plenty of hill power from the 750W hub
• Throttle works from zero
• Fenders and rear rack included
• App wheel lock and bike locator
• Thick slap guard
• Thumb-and-pointer-finger shifter

Cons

• Heavy: Aventon lists 76 lbs (I said 75 in my video)
• Turn signals can’t be used as hazards
• Basic grips and seat
• Some mud gets past the fenders

FAQ

Can I ride it on paved trails, and will fat tires feel slow? It works on pavement, but I bought it for gravel. If you only ride pavement, a lighter, thinner-tire bike like the Pace 500.3 makes more sense.

Can I ride on throttle only? Yes. The throttle works from zero.

Can I swap batteries with other Aventons? Aventon says the battery fits the Abound SR/LR, Level 3 and Pace 4.

Regular or Large at 5’10”? Aventon lists Regular for 5’3”-5’10” and Large for 5’10”-6’4”. At exactly 5’10” you’re on the line between them, so try both if you can.

What’s the weight limit? 400 lbs total, according to Aventon.

Can I raise the handlebars? I didn’t test that, so ask Aventon about stem options before you buy.

Is it water resistant? Aventon rates it IPX5.

Price

The Aventure 3 is $1,999 on Aventon’s site as of Oct 22, 2026. The 4G service is free for the first year.