Direct-to-consumer versus the bike shop. The cheaper bike has better specs — and that is not the whole story.
This comparison is really about how you want to own a bike. The Level 3 costs $300 less and beats the Trek on nearly every number. The Trek is sold and serviced by a shop that will still be there in three years. Those are different products, not different price points.
| Aventon Level 3 | Trek FX 1+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699 | $1,999 |
| Top speed | 28 mph | 20 mph |
| Range (claimed) | 70 mi | 50 mi |
| Motor | 500W | 500W |
| Battery | 733Wh | 520Wh |
| Weight | 67 lb | 48 lb |
| Max payload | 300 lb | 300 lb |
| Street legal | Yes | Yes |
| Folds | No | No |
| Throttle | Yes | No |
| Rider height | 61–78 in | 60–78 in |
| Sold | Direct + dealer | Dealer only |
The Level 3 does 28 mph to the Trek's 20, holds 733Wh against 520Wh, and goes 70 miles to 50 — for $300 less. It also has turn signals and app control. If you buy on spec sheets, stop reading and buy the Aventon.
48 pounds against 67. That is a nineteen-pound difference, and it is the whole argument. A lighter bike is easier to carry up stairs, easier to put on a rack, and rides more like a bicycle when the motor is off. Add a shop that assembles it, tunes it, and fixes it under warranty without you shipping anything.
Buy the Level 3 if you want the most bike per dollar and are comfortable doing your own maintenance. Buy the Trek if you have never wrenched on a bike, live somewhere with stairs, or want someone to call when something goes wrong. Neither answer is wrong.
Answer eight questions and get three bikes matched to how you actually ride.
Take the quizSpecs are taken from each manufacturer's own product page and were last checked on the date shown in our catalog. If you buy through our links the brand pays us a commission — roughly the same from every brand, so it does not change what we recommend. We link only to manufacturer websites, never marketplace listings.