Comfort cruisers usually come with a trade-off: a laid-back ride wrapped around a mellow motor. Aventon’s answer to that compromise is the Pace 5 REC, and this generation earns attention for three key reasons. First, it is more powerful, trading the modest 500W motor of earlier Paces for a 750W rear hub unit that peaks at 1,440 watts. Second, it brings back the swept-back cruiser handlebars the Pace 4 abandoned. Finally, it revisits a technology the ebike world long wrote off as impractical: regenerative braking, which recaptures energy as you slow down and coast. All of this lands at $1,799.
The launch also raises a fair question for anyone shopping Aventon’s lineup: should you buy the Pace 5 REC, or spend $200 more on the Level 4 REC? The two share so much, including the same motor, battery, regen capabilities, and connected tech suite, that the decision gets genuinely difficult. We will highlight the standout features, detail our performance test results, compare the Pace to its commuter sibling and a competing model, and round up the pros and cons to help you decide if this cruiser is the right pick for you.
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Aventon Pace 5 REC Video Review
Our full video review goes deep, with an up-close look at all the components, a side-by-side comparison with the Level 4 REC, and thorough walkthroughs of the display and app. We also put you behind the handlebars with first-person riding footage as we take the Pace to the pavement for our full gamut of performance tests. At the end, we round up the pros and cons and share our final verdict, giving you a clear picture of where the Pace shines and where it falls short before you buy.
Standout Features | Aventon Pace 5 REC Review
Higher-Powered 750W Motor with 1440W Boost
The headline upgrade is power. Earlier Paces ran a capable but mild 500W motor; the Pace 5 REC jumps to a 750W rear hub unit rated at 80 Nm of torque, peaking at 1,188 watts in Turbo and 1,440 watts in Boost. On paper that’s a big leap for a cruiser, and you feel it the moment you push off. What keeps it from being too much is the tuning. Paired with the torque sensor and Aventon’s Ride Tune software, power arrives smooth and proportional rather than jumpy, so the bike hits real speed without ever feeling twitchy in the hands of a returning or first-time rider.
Regenerative Coasting and Braking
Regen is rare in this segment, and it’s one of the most interesting things Aventon brought to the Pace. The motor recaptures energy in two ways: when you brake, and when you coast. Aventon claims the system can add around 10 miles of range, and while our time on the bike suggests the real-world gain is more modest, the effect is genuinely there. Coasting regen is the one you notice most. With it cranked up, lifting off the pedals at 20 mph slows you noticeably, almost like light engine braking, which some riders will love and others will want to dial back. Braking regen is the easy call: pull the levers, watch the bar climb on the display, and claw back a little range while saving wear on your pads. Both are fully adjustable from 1 to 5 or switchable off in the app.
Built-In Security: Keyless Battery and Electronic Wheel Lock
Security is where this bike quietly outclasses most of its price range, and it starts with the hardware. The 733Wh battery is keyless, so there’s no fumbling for a key. You unlock it through the display which also means there’s no lock cylinder for a thief to attack. Backing that up is an electronic rear wheel lock: engage it and a pin drops into the rear wheel so nobody can simply hop on and ride off. Together they form a hardware layer that pairs with the app’s tracking and alarm features for real peace of mind when the bike is parked.
IoT Services and Apple Watch Connectivity
Aventon’s connected security suite is powered by an onboard 4G connection. You get real-time GPS tracking, unusual-activity alerts that ping your phone the moment the bike is disturbed, and geofencing that lets you draw zones where the bike is allowed or off-limits, cutting power if it strays. You can lock the rear wheel or power the bike down remotely, and Apple Watch connectivity lets you lock, unlock, and track rides right from your wrist. The service is free for the first year, then $20 annually, which works out to roughly $2 a month for a dedicated data plan that watches over your bike.
Ride Tune and Performance Customization
Ride Tune is the feature most riders will spend real time in. For Eco, Sport, and Turbo, you can independently set maximum torque, assistance, and pedal response, with charts and an experience triangle to visualize each change before you apply it. Dial the power down to a gentle nudge or crank Turbo to full output. This level of granular control over the ride feel is uncommon at $1,799, and it’s a big part of why the bike can suit such a wide range of riders.
On-the-Road Features of the Aventon Pace 5 REC
A handful of ride features round out the experience:
- Sensor Switch gives you two ways to ride: the torque sensor reads how hard you press the pedals and rewards effort proportionally for the most natural feel, where most riders will stay. Riding with the cadence sensor rewards you with more power the faster you pedal. You can switch between them in the app, or hot-swap on the fly by holding the left turn-signal button while in any active assist level.
- Boost Mode sits one assist level above Turbo and surges the motor toward its 1,440-watt peak and 96 Nm of torque for 30 seconds, then automatically drops back into Turbo. You can only call on it once every five minutes, so it’s a tool for the moments you really need it.
- Cruise control works just like in a car, holding whatever speed you’ve settled into above 6 mph so you can rest your throttle hand on longer flat stretches. Engage it by holding the right turn-signal button, and drop out of it just as easily: hold that same button for a second, pull either brake lever, or switch the assist mode to Off or Walk.
- Hold Mode keeps the Pace from rolling backward while you walk it up a hill. It works hand in hand with Walk Mode and automatically engages once you release the minus button. It holds the bike in place for 30 seconds, though if you need more time, a tap of the minus button resets the timer for another round. Otherwise, let it time out or press the plus button to drop back into your assist level when you’re ready to push on.
Over-the-Air Firmware Updates
This is the feature that keeps the bike getting better after you buy it. Aventon pushes firmware updates over the air, and we saw it firsthand: new settings rolled out while we were still filming the review, including a configurable startup assist level. Keeping the bike current through the app is the single most worthwhile thing you can do with it, since updates can refine the motor behavior and unlock features that didn’t exist at purchase.
Aventon Pace 5 REC Frame Options, Sizing, and Fit
The Pace 5 REC comes in a step-through frame only, and its standover is noticeably lower than the Level 4 REC’s, sitting under 16 inches on both sizes. That low, open frame makes getting on and off easy regardless of age or flexibility. You also get a more pedal-forward seat tube angle than the previous generation, which promotes a more comfortable seated posture. The swept-back bars and the adjustable stem help dial in a reach that keeps pressure off your wrists, but the down tube is long, so we do recommend shorter riders test the fit. A rigid alloy fork keeps the ebike lighter than the suspension-equipped Level 4 REC, a fair trade for a model meant to live on pavement.
Two sizes are offered, Regular and Large, covering riders from about 5’0″ up to 6’3″. At 6 feet with a 32-inch inseam, Ryan got a great fit on the Large, and Allie at 5’5″ was comfortable on it too. One thing worth flagging: the down tube is on the long side, so the reach can feel stretched for shorter riders. If you’re at the lower end of the height range, sit on one in a shop before committing. Aventon now offers the Pace in five colorways: Anvil, Lagoon, Sakura, Glacier Mint, and Koi.
Aventon Pace 5 REC Specs
Here’s the full component and geometry breakdown, so you can see exactly how the Pace 5 REC is outfitted.
Aventon Pace 5 REC Performance Test: Motor, Sensors, and Hills
Throttle-Only Acceleration
We started with the throttle alone to get a feel for the bike off the line. The thumb throttle on the left grip engages smoothly, without the jerky surge some ebikes give you, and pulls the Pace up to its 20 mph cap on its own. There’s real, usable pull from a dead stop, enough to get you across an intersection without pedaling, and it’s just as handy when you’ve come to a stop in a high gear and need to build momentum before your legs take over.
Torque Sensor Testing
The torque sensor is the star of this bike, and it’s the mode most people will ride in. Press the pedals and the motor responds in proportion to how hard you push, so the bike feels like an extension of your own legs rather than something yanking you forward. In Eco, a relaxed, barely-there pedaling effort cruises you around 10 to 14 mph, the kind of pace you could hold for an hour without breaking a sweat. Sport asks a little more from your legs and comfortably carries you into the high teens, with 20 mph there if you want it. Turbo is where it shines: easy pedaling has you cruising in the mid-20s, and you can touch 27 mph without working too hard. Flip on Boost and 28 mph arrives almost before you notice the effort. Through all of it the power builds smoothly and predictably, never catching you off guard, which is exactly what makes the bike feel approachable for a newer rider.
Cadence Sensor Testing
The cadence sensor works differently, and it’s the more divisive of the two. Instead of matching your effort, it rewards how fast you spin the pedals, so the quicker your legs move, the more the motor gives. In practice it hands out a lot of power for very little work: in Eco we were already rolling past 20 mph while barely turning the pedals, and Sport launched us into the mid-20s just as easily. For a lot of riders that will feel like too much, too soon, and because it sits outside Ride Tune, you can’t tame it the way you can the torque modes. Most people will be happiest leaving the bike in torque mode, which is no sacrifice given how good it feels.
Hill Climb Performance
We pointed the Pace 5 REC up a steep test hill to see how it handles real elevation. On throttle alone, it never bogged down. It held a steady 14 mph for most of the climb, only dipping to a minimum of 13 mph for a brief moment. The performance while pedaling is nuanced depending on the sensor you are riding with and your Ride Tune settings. One thing worth knowing is that with the torque sensor, it is difficult to access as much motor power as the throttle does. On the steepest pitches, you can hold the throttle while you pedal and let the two work together. The cadence sensor is the other answer: it pours on power the moment your legs start spinning, giving you easier access to the motor’s muscle on a climb. Since you can hot-swap to it on the fly, it is simple to flip into for a hill and back out afterward.
Regenerative Braking and Coasting in Practice
This is the feature we were most curious to test, since regen is so rare on a bike at this price. It comes in two flavors. Coasting regen kicks in the moment you stop pedaling, and it’s the one you feel most: turn it up to its highest setting and easing off the pedals at speed slows you noticeably, a bit like downshifting a car on a long descent, which gives you a welcome dose of extra control going downhill. At the lowest setting it’s barely noticeable, and you can switch it off entirely, so it’s easy to dial in to your taste. Braking regen comes on when you squeeze the levers, working alongside the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes that do the real stopping, and you can watch the energy flow back to the battery on the display. The payoff is real but modest. You won’t add a huge chunk of range, but you will ease wear on your brake pads and recover a little charge over the course of a ride, and on a long downhill the extra drag is genuinely handy. For a comfort cruiser at this price, having it at all is a pleasant surprise.
Aventon Pace 5 REC vs. Level 4 REC | Cruiser or Commuter?
Aventon’s own Level 4 REC is the closest cross-shop, at around $1,999, or $200 more. High level, the Pace is the cruiser and the Level is the more aggressive commuter, a difference you see right away in the Pace’s generously swept-back handlebars versus the Level’s straighter bars, though both get an adjustable stem. The Pace is the lighter of the two because it runs a rigid fork where the Level adds a front suspension fork and a suspension seatpost, neither of which the Pace includes. The Level also comes ready to commute with fenders and a rear rack out of the box, while the Pace counters with front-rack mounting points the Level lacks, an easier-to-reach charging port, and a wider, more cushioned saddle. Its step-through has a slightly higher standover height and its seat tube angle is more straight, so if you want relaxed cruiser comfort the Pace is the pick, and if you’d rather have suspension and commuter accessories handled for you, the Level earns its premium. Our full Aventon Level 4 REC review covers it in depth.
Aventon Pace 5 REC vs. Lectric XPress 2 | A More Affordable Alternative
If the Pace’s price or its tech-heavy approach gives you pause, the Lectric XPress 2 is an alternative worth a look. At $1,399 it undercuts the Pace by a few hundred dollars while still covering the fundamentals, and it answers a couple of the Pace’s setup choices head-on. Like the Pace, it lets you switch between torque and cadence sensors, and it adds a name-brand SR Suntour XCM 32 suspension fork up front, something the Pace’s rigid fork goes without. It also comes in two frame styles: a high-step diamond frame that delivers a sportier, more active ride much like the Level 4 REC, and a step-thru with swept-back cruiser handlebars and a quick-release adjustable stem that lands very close to the Pace 5 REC’s relaxed, upright geometry. Our full Lectric XPress 2 review digs into both.
What the XPress 2 leaves behind is the bells and whistles. There’s no companion app, no 4G IoT module, and none of the built-in security that makes the Pace so reassuring when it’s parked, so you give up the GPS tracking, the alarm, and the electronic wheel lock entirely. You also trade away Aventon’s 1,800-plus dealer network: the XPress 2 ships direct to your door, which means assembling it yourself and going without a local shop for test rides or in-person service. If you want the smart features, the security, and the dealer support, the Pace earns its premium. But if you value a name-brand front suspension and a lower sticker price and don’t need the connected ecosystem, the XPress 2 makes a strong case.
Aventon Pace 5 REC Pros and Cons
Final Thoughts on the Aventon Pace 5 REC
Aventon set out to build a comfortable, approachable cruiser that no longer asks you to give up power, and the Pace 5 REC largely nails that brief. The geometry is relaxed and the step-through is welcoming, but the 750W motor and Boost mode mean you can hit real speed whenever you want it, all delivered in that smooth, controlled way that makes the bike feel safe in the hands of a returning rider. Stack on the regen, the deep Ride Tune customization, and a security package that genuinely outclasses most of its price range, and the value is hard to argue with.
It isn’t perfect. The missing suspension seatpost is a real omission on a comfort-first bike, the cadence sensor needs restraint, and riders wanting fenders and a rack will eye the Level 4 REC. None of that undercuts the core of what Aventon built here. If you want a classic, comfortable cruiser with modern power and the smartest tech in its class, the Pace 5 REC is an easy bike to recommend, especially for first-time riders, anyone returning to cycling, and commuters who value comfort and security over outright sportiness.
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