If youre looking for a solid city-commuter e-bike with a surprisingly brawny motor and a stylish look, look no further than the Aventon 500 Pace 3. Aventon has secured its niche within the crowded e-bike market by aiming for the juncture between high performance and beginner friendly, and the Pace 3 hits that bullseye. Its casual-friendly and easy to ride, with a no-problem step-through frame and reassuring upright posture, but the hydraulic disc brakes, torque-sensing assist, and powerful motor mean youre not sacrificing performance for ease of use. Pros and cons of the Aventon Pace 500.3ProsGreat for beginnersTorque-sensing drive is intutivePowerful motorConsLack of suspensionThrottle is a little sensitiveSpecsPrice: $1,799 (currently on sale for $1,599)Classification: Class 2Motor: 500W 48V Brushless Hub MotorWeight limit: 300 lbsSpeed: Up to 28 MPH with Pedal AssistAssist: 4 levels of torque-sensing assistBattery: Removable internal lithium-ion 48V 12.8Ah (614Wh) with LG cellsRecharge time: 4-5 hoursAdvertised max range: Up to 60 miles with pedal assist, 30 miles with throttle onlyDisplay: Full color, backlit LCD display Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakesDrivetrain: 122 Link, 8 SpeedTires: 27.5" x 2.1" puncture resistant, reflective sidewallsTwo perspectives on riding an Aventon Pace 500.3Ive been riding different electric and analog bikes for years, and I found the Pace 3 to be a solid rideits a nice commuter e-bikebut since its geared toward just-starting-out e-bikers, I had my wife take it out a few times to get a beginners perspective.Before I rode it, it was scary because it has an engine and Im a wimp, but once I got it on it, there was nothing to it. I practiced going up and down the block a few times and I was like, got it; lets go! Its like riding a bike. Its not like riding a motorcycle. It feels like a beach cruiser with a little extra. She added that she has "ridden this bike more in the past month than [she has] ridden any bike in the last 20 years.I didnt have exactly the same reaction as my wife. She found the upright posture of the Pace 3 comfortable. Im used to a more forward posture which feels more stable to me, but the relaxed position seem to be the choice for most, especially newer riders.That most of your weight on your butt stance and the Pace 3's lack of suspension on the forks and seat make it not the most forgiving bike for bumps. Its not terriblelike most e-bikes, the tires are meant to be ridden fairly soft, which helps a lotbut it would have been nice if the suspension seatpost came standard instead of as an add-on from Aventon. I found the thumb-controlled throttle a little overly sensitive at first, but I prefer twist-controlled throttles in general. Until you get used to them, its easy to give a thumb throttle more juice than you want and end up jerking forward a bit. The Aventon Pace 500.3's look: tomorrows bike today Credit: Stephen Johnson The Pace 3 looks like the future. It doesnt look like those e-bikes that mimic the look of motorcycles, but it doesnt look like a traditional bike, either. The simple lines, cruiser-style handlebars, integrated battery, and cables that run through the frame suggest a bike from a science fiction movie. It even has brake lights and turn signals. That said, a couple of colors beyond Ghost White and Blue Steel (metallic light blue) would be nice.Under the hood of the Pace 3: a 500w motor and torque-sensing assist Credit: Stephen Johnson Despite its ready for beginners nature and non-threatening look, the Pace features a 500-watt 48-volt brushless hub motor that packs real power. Its a category 2 e-bike with a throttle speed of 20 miles per hour, but the pedal assist will take you up to 28 mphas fast as e-bikes are generally allowed to go. If youre just starting out, those kind of speeds might concern you, but the iPhone and Android app that comes with the bike lets you set your own top speed, down to a turtle-like 12 mph. The Pace 3's torque-sensing pedal assist is a step up from the cadence sensing of previous generations of Pace bikes. Instead of providing motor assistance by monitoring how often youre turning the cranks, torque-sensing assists based on how much force youre using to pedal. The result is a more natural feelits like having stronger legs instead of feeling like your pedaling is turning on a motor. Torque sensing is more energy efficient too, so the Paces battery lasts longer. The cockpit: the Pace 3's controls and screen Credit: Stephen Johnson The Pace 500.3's backlit, colored LCD display is easy to read and understand, even in bright sunlight. It details the remaining battery power, assist level, miles traveled and time of your current ridepretty standard. The bikes four assist levels are given names like eco and touring instead of numbers, which is a little annoying until you get used to it. The controls by your left handgrip let you turn the assist on and adjust the assist power, and there are even turn signal buttons for lights on the back fendernot the most useful feature in the world, but pretty cool anyway. All of this will be intuitive if youve ever operated any kind of vehicleno instructions necessary. There's an integrated headlight and rear light for nighttime rides, and the LED brake lights go on when you squeeze the brake levers. Pretty snazzy.If you want to change the top-speed on your Aventon Pace and go a little more in-depth on the customization options, here's a how-to guide. How long does a battery charge last on a Pace 500.3?Aventon says the battery will last up to 60 miles with pedal assist and 30 miles with throttle only. Any battery life estimate varies depending on hills, rider weight, and how heavily the motor is assisting, but that estimate isnt far from my experience. Credit: Strava/Stephen Johnson Just riding it around on flat ground seems to use a reasonable amount of battery, but as a stress test, I took this bike on a hilly 22-mile ride that included a trip over Mount Hollywood, a 1,333 foot climb. I used the assist to try to keep pedaling at as steady, natural rate as possible as I ascended the hill/mountain and easily passed the spandex-clad real cyclists while only breaking a moderate sweat. When I got to the summit, around the halfway point of the trip, I was surprised to see that Id only used 10% of the batterys power. The entire ride used about 35% of the batterynot bad for that much elevation gain, especially given how heavily I leaned on the throttle on the way home.The frame, brakes, and gears of the Pace 3Overall, the old-fashioned, non-electric or electronic bike parts of the Pace 3 seem solid. The hydraulic disc brakes performed admirably, even when leaning on them hard during steep descents, and the Shimano Altus derailleur shifts through its eight gears quietly and efficiently when you pull the trigger controls. At 50 pounds, the Pace 3 is surprisingly light, so its viable as bicycle even if you totally run out of juice. Ive ridden the Pace 3 for about 90 miles overall, and the bike felt solid for every one of them. Even when going downhill at 35 mph or so (top speed based on my own fear level with a newer bike) it never felt out of control, wobbly, or alarming in any way. I wouldnt take it out on a long gravel road or down a mountain bike track, but a few experiences with broken-up, gnarly concrete didnt cause any issues. Overall: This might be your dream bikeIf youre thinking of making the move into e-bikes, you should consider finding a local bike shop that sells Aventon bikes and trying out the Pace 3. Its beginner-friendly, but if you end up going from beginner to enthusiast, youll appreciate the Pace 3's torque-sensing assist, hydraulic brakes, and powerful engine. And even if you only ever use it twice a year, those rides will be effortless and fun.