Radcity or Aventon Pace 500 step through?

[DKMCape]

Hello all. I am new to the forum, but have been searching it voraciously for advice about my first purchase of an ebike. I am 67 years old but have ridden for fun, exercise and commuting for much of my life, and especially for the past 20 years, even with a hip replacement. But I recently had arthroscopic knee surgery and am therefore looking for an ebike to ease back into riding and commuting. While I could easily get excited about a high performance road/gravel ebike, for now I am looking into a “starter” step through for rehab, exercise and medium distance rides around town. I may eventually pass this bike onto my wife or her mother, and so that also affects my decision (i.e. size).

I have arrived at a choice between the Rad City ($1,499) or the Aventon Pace 500 step through ($1,399). There is a lot more information and discussion here on the forum about the Rad City, and the bike and company gets good reviews for value and customer service. But it is heavy (65 lbs.), and I like the weight (50 lbs.) and greater speed of the Pace 500 (28 spd).

The other factor is that I can get the Aventon Pace at a semi-local bike shop (95 mi. drive), while the Rad City is online only, despite good reviews for service. The LBS gets good reviews and on a phone call they seemed to be the only LBS within 100 miles who actually know something about ebikes and are willing and trained to work on them.

And so I am leaning toward the Aventon…..unless I hear anything consistently bad about it, or much better about the Rad City.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Dewey]

It sounds like you’re set on the Aventon and in person shop support is helpful, I’ve only watched Court’s review on this site but it sounds like a good value as is the Rad Power bike. It’s kind of you to think of weight and size as you intend to give the bike to your wife’s mother. The Aventon offers Class 3 performance so it ought not be ridden on bike paths but Massachusetts prohibits all ebikes from riding off street bike paths, as you will be riding it on street for commuting you said you preferred the higher performance, whereas the Rad City is a Class 2 ebike.

 

[Deleted member 4210]

It's a great ebike, we'll built, and smoother/stronger acceleration than the Rad. If you don't mind adding fenders, or lights if you need them, it's a lot of ebike for the money. It's a more comfortable riding position too, with pedal forward design. You'll appreciate the lighter weight in the long run. Avant Sports started with the Populo brand but then decided to go with this Aventon line. This is a better ebike than the Populo's, but those were at even lower price points but fixed gear. They've been making bikes for awhile, and while a late Comer to the ebike market, they have put a ton of thought into this Pace, and gotten a lot of little things spot on. If you can get it from a dealer all the better, as they will do assembly for you.

 

[Deleted member 4210]

It sounds like you’re set on the Aventon and in person shop support is helpful, I’ve only watched Court’s review on this site but it sounds like a good value as is the Rad Power bike. It’s kind of you to think of weight and size as you intend to give the bike to your wife’s mother. The Aventon offers Class 3 performance so it ought not be ridden on bike paths, I think Court said you can lower the top speed setting in the display to act as a Class 2, and if you will be riding it on street for commuting you might prefer higher performance, whereas the Rad City is a Class 2 ebike so might be legal to ride on sidewalks and bike paths depending on your state.

Pete over at electric bike report has done a very thorough review on the Aventon, and it was out before Court did one here. He's objective and also includes range tests, and perhaps more info than is here. Just another set of eyes though, and not knocking reviews here at EBR.

 

[vincent]

would like to hear your feedback on whichever step through you end up with

think I would get the pace because of the lbs and the hydraulic brakes

is this a bafang motor?
and does anyone know if it will fit a bigger battery than the one on it

 

[Dewey]

Bicycle Retailer mentioned Aventon will also have a Class 2 version of the bike the Pace 350 with mechanical brakes for a grand

 

[vincent]

forgot to add the weight on the pace would sway me too

in fact I will check it out for my step thru just because of that

 

[DKMCape]

Thanks all for taking the time to reply!
Dewey: You are correct that I am leaning toward the Aventon, unless I get a lot of negative feedback. Thanks for the heads up on the Mass ebike regulations. As I don't usually ride on Cape Cod's bike paths (except in the off season), I hadn't paid much attention to the bike path rules. But it does seem a bit confusing, as two local bike shops with ebikes are based right on the Cape Cod rail trail, and one had me do a test ride on the trail. Of course it was January. It looks like all ebikes are prohibited, but if it is just class three, I see that you can set the assist speed level to 20 on the computer of the Aventon. Not sure if this holds up in court. But it is a consideration, as my wife's mother does ride some of the trails. But the ebike assist would mostly be for getting up a few semi-steep hills. Does anyone know if you can ride an ebike with no assist (i.e. PAS "0") on a bike path in Massachusetts? If so, the Aventon is better suited as it is lighter and apparently has no drag in PAS 0.
Mike: Thanks for the input and reminder about Pete's reviews. I had looked at his reviews for other bikes, but not the Aventon yet. The range test is really helpful. Looks like the Aventon is about 15 miles less than the Radcity (40 mi), but both can handle the moderate hills we have on Cape Cod. Also correct that I would add fenders (at least), and likely a rear rack. But I notice that many folks on the forum seem to add or replace accessories, so starting "bare" may not be a bad thing.
Vincent: On Court's review he lists the motor brand as a Shengyi. It is a 500W brushless geared hub. I don't know about a bigger battery. If I get the Aventon, I will review.....looks like plenty of reviews of the Radcity.
Thanks again

 

[Dewey]

Dewey: Thanks for the heads up on the Mass ebike regulations. As I don't usually ride on Cape Cod's bike paths (except in the off season), I hadn't paid much attention to the bike path rules. But it does seem a bit confusing, as two local bike shops with ebikes are based right on the Cape Cod rail trail, and one had me do a test ride on the trail. Of course it was January. It looks like all ebikes are prohibited, but if it is just class three, I see that you can set the assist speed level to 20 on the computer of the Aventon. Not sure if this holds up in court. But it is a consideration, as my wife's mother does ride some of the trails. But the ebike assist would mostly be for getting up a few semi-steep hills. Does anyone know if you can ride an ebike with no assist (i.e. PAS "0") on a bike path in Massachusetts?

This might soon not be an issue as this year legislators have introduced bills in the Massachusetts legislature (House 3014 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3014, and Senate 1882 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/SD1882 interestingly co-sponsored by your state senator Julian Cyr) to enact the 3-class model ebike law that would by default permit Class 1 and 2 ebikes, but not Class 3, on bike paths throughout the state unless a local jurisdiction were to prohibit them. If passed this might suggest a choice between the Aventon Pace 350 (not the 500) or the Rad City to remain Class 2 legal, I had an IM chat with an Aventon customer service rep today who said they are not currently taking pre-orders for the Pace 350 model but that model is planned to be made available later in 2019.

 

[DKMCape]

Dewey: Thanks again for providing this info. I plan to take a look at the Aventon on Monday, and am pretty sure I will purchase it, barring some unforeseen negative, as I want to get moving on my rehab. So I guess I will just keep track of the Mass legislature, and see how the chips fall.

 

[Nova Haibike]

The Aventon has an 8-speed cassette and hydraulic disc brakes, while the Rad has an inferior 7-speed freewheel and mechanical disc brakes.

 

[Dentman333]

I have both a Rad City and a Pace 500. The Rad is heavier, 20mph top speed with pedal assist and built like a tank. Comes with front suspension, headlight, brakelight, fenders and a rack. The Pace 500 is a rocket ship, has hydraulic brakes, is much lighter (65 vs 49 lbs) but no rack, fenders, etc., the battery sits in the frame so it has a cleaner look. They are both low-mid quality components but far from being junk. One thing that is a big diff is the Rad throttle will get you going but the Aventon needs you to pedal up to about 5 mph before the throttle activates.