Velotric Discover 2 vs Aventon Pace 500.3 Ebike Comparison
If you’re here, you are probably looking for the best possible commuter or cruiser e-bike for your money. There are plenty of choices on the market today. We think you’ll find that our Discover 2 is the best choice.
The Discover 2 builds on what was already great in our original Discover 1. Discover 2 features a step-through frame, the lowest in its class, at merely 15” high. This makes it incredibly easy to mount the bike for everyone. It avoids you having to swing a leg over the seat, which also makes it better if you have a child seat on the included rear rack.
There are a ton of great safety features included, it’s available in two sizes to fit riders from 4’11” to 6’4”, and it’s available in four vibrant, beautiful colors.
In this blog post, we’re comparing our Discover 2 to Aventon’s Pace 500.3, since Aventon is probably another brand you’re considering. Both are good entry-level cruiser e-bikes meant to provide many years of riding pleasure.
Motor | |||
Battery | |||
Pedal Assist | |||
Sensor | |||
E-bike Class | |||
Throttle | |||
Top Speed | |||
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Drivetrain | |||
USB Charger | |||
Step-Through | |||
Carrying capacity | |||
Size and Fit | |||
Riding Position | |||
Stem | |||
Fork | |||
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Weight | |||
UL Certification | |||
IP Rating | |||
Frame | |||
Brakes | |||
Front hub | |||
Apple Find My™ | |||
Colors | |||
Rear Rack | |||
Front-basket compatible | |||
App | |||
Trailer Compatible |
Discover 2 |
Pace 500.3 |
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750W (1100W peak), 75Nm torque | 500W (750W peak), 60Nm torque | ||||
705.6Wh with LG cells | 614Wh with LG cells | ||||
3 modes / 5 PAS. A total of 15 power settings. | 5 PAS | ||||
Torque | Torque | ||||
1,2 or 3, user selectable through menu or app | 1,2 or 3, user selectable | ||||
Trigger throttle | Thumb throttle | ||||
28 mph | 28 mph | ||||
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Shimano Altus, 8-speed | Shimano Acera, 8-speed | ||||
√ | √ | ||||
√USB-C | √USB | ||||
440 lbs | 300 lbs | ||||
Regular: 4'11"-5'9", Large: 5'6"-6'4" | Regular: 4'11"-5'7", Large: 5'7"-6'1" | ||||
Upright | Upright | ||||
Adjustable | Adjustable | ||||
Hydraulic suspension, 80mm travel with lockout | Rigid aluminum | ||||
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63 lbs | 53 lbs | ||||
UL 2849, UL 2271 | TUV, UL 2849 | ||||
IPX6 (bike) IPX7 (Battery) | IPX4 (bike & battery) | ||||
Triple-butted aluminum alloy, front basket-compatible, step-through | Single-butted alumiinum alloy, step-through or step-over | ||||
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes | Tektro hydraulic disc brakes | ||||
Thru-axle | Nutted | ||||
√ | × | ||||
4 | 2 (High-step)+ 2(Step-over) | ||||
Included | Optional | ||||
√ | √ | ||||
iOS, Android | iOS, Android | ||||
√ | √ |
Mentioned right in the name, the Pace 500.3 has a 500W motor that has a peak output of 750W. That and its build quality can carry a payload of up to 300 lbs (rider plus cargo). It has a 614Wh battery that will take it up to 60 miles. It can be configured as a class 1, 2 or 3 depending on your local and state laws. It has five levels of pedal assist.
Discover 2 gets you going easier, with a 750W motor with a peak output of 1100W and 75Nm of torque. It's built even sturdier and can carry a payload of up to 440 lbs (rider plus cargo). It's 705.6 Wh battery can take you up to 75 miles on a full charge. It also can be configured as a class 1, 2 or 3 depending on your local and state laws, and can be done in the menu or via the connected iOS or Android app. It has fifteen levels of pedal assist spread across 3 riding modes, so you can customize your ride exactly how you want it.
Both bikes feature a torque sensor, providing a much more natural-feeling power delivery than a cadence sensor. With a torque sensor, the moment the sensor feels you putting your own legs into pedaling, it starts giving you assistance from the motor.
With a cadence sensor, you often have to spin the pedals a full rotation before the power kicks in, and you will be immediately sped up to the maximum speed that whatever mode you’re in will climb to. Either type is fine, for example several of our other models offer a cadence sensor.
Both have a full-color display, but the Level.2 has a 2.8" display and our Discover 2 has a big 3.5" display to see your speed, mode level, battery percentage and more.
- Discover 2 has 50% more power and 25% more range.
- With 25% more torque you can conquer steeper hills with ease.
- Best-in-class total payload of 440 lbs with enough torque and power to get you going with ease
- A bigger display is easier to see
Motor | |||
Battery | |||
Pedal Assist | |||
Sensor | |||
E-bike Class | |||
Throttle | |||
Top Speed | |||
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Drivetrain | |||
USB Charger | |||
Carrying capacity |
Discover 2 |
Pace 500.3 |
Notes | ||||
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750W (1100W peak), 75Nm torque | 500W (750W peak), 60Nm torque | Our motor has 50% more power and more torque to get you moving further, longer and tackling hills with ease. | ||||
705.6Wh with LG cells | 614Wh with LG cells | The Discover 2's higher-capacity battery offers more range than the Pace 500. Get up to 15 more miles from the Discover 2. | ||||
3 modes / 5 PAS. A total of 15 power settings. | 5 PAS | With 3 riding modes: Eco, Trail and Boost, and a total of 15 power settings, the Discover 2 offers a high level of customization - you can select how you want to ride, and how much power you want/need. | ||||
Torque | Torque | A torque sensor measures how much effort you’re putting in, and gives you more assistance the harder you pedal. This is compared to a cadence sensor that delivers consistent power regardless of how much you are pedaling. The Discover 2's torque sensor feels both natural and smooth to ride. most natural-feeling. | ||||
1,2 or 3, user selectable through menu or app | 1,2 or 3, user selectable | Class 1 - has only pedal assistance up to 20mph. Class 2 - has pedal assistance up to 20mph + throttle assistance up to 20mph. Class 3 - has pedal assistance up to 28mph + may or may not have throttle assistance up to 20mph. | ||||
Trigger throttle | Thumb Throttle | The throttle gives you an instant boost of power, which is great if you're at a traffic stop and need to acelerate quickly or, if you simply don't want to pedal - for example if your legs are tired. | ||||
28 mph | 28 mph | The Discover 2 ships as a Class 2, but can be configured as a Class 3 via the display menu or the app. You can also limit the top speed according to your preference via the menu or app. | ||||
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Due to our proprietary drive system, our ebike has a greater power efficiency, resulting in 25% longer range. | ||||
Shimano Altus, 8-speed | Shimano Acera, 8-speed | Acera and Altus are both regarded as good quality deraileurs by Shimano that also have good longevity. | ||||
√USB-C | √USB | An integrated USB charger helps you charge your phone while you ride which is useful for GPS, music, etc. The Discover 2's USB-C port offers compatibility with the latest cell models. | ||||
440 lbs | 300 lbs | The Discover 2 offers a 46% heavier payload capacity compared to the Pace 500, meaning it can carry heavier riders and cargo. |
Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands or simply riding to enjoy the outdoors, comfort is important. You won’t want to ride very far if you’re uncomfortable.
The Pace 500.3 has a lightly padded saddle, an adjustable stem and seatpost height, ergonomic grips and aluminum platform pedals. It has a rigid aluminum fork and 27.5x2.1” tires, which don’t do a lot for the bumps in the road. There is an optional rear rack available, to help carry your stuff.
Discover 2 has a larger, well-padded saddle, also has an adjustable stem and seatpost height for your perfect riding position, ergonomic grips and aluminum platform pedals. It has a hydraulic suspension fork with 80mm of travel, and voluminous 27.5x2.4” tires, the combination will make for a much more comfortable ride, even on poorly maintained pavement. It comes standard with a sturdy rear rack that can carry up to 55 lbs, and is even set to hold a standard child seat.
In total, the Discover 2 can handle 440 lbs of rider plus cargo, versus the 300 total that the Pace 500.3 can handle. It also has the lowest step-through height, at just 15” high, making it easy to mount the bike if you have a child seat on the back or have any mobility issues.
- Discover 2’s payload capacity of 440 lbs is perfect for riders of all sizes and shapes, and whatever they wan to fit onto their carrying racks and is 46% more than Pace 500.3.
- Handlebar has a nice sweep back, grips have wide palm support and elastic cusions, allowing otherwise typically high-tension areas from cycling such as your arms, shoulders, neck, back and waist to fully relax.
- It's equipped with a superior suspension system with 80mm of travel that keeps the ride smooth and your tush cushioned even in less-than-ideal road conditions. In case you want to feel the road more, you can also use the lockout to adjust the experience.
- 27.5x2.4” tires have enough volume to make for a smoother experience over bumps.
- 15" step-through height, the lowest in the class
Size and Fit | |||
Riding Position | |||
Stem | |||
Fork | |||
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Weight |
Discover 2 |
Pace 500.3 |
Notes | ||||
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Regular: 4'11"-5'9", Large: 5'6"-6'4" | Regular: 4'11"-5'7", Large: 5'7"-6'1" | Discover 2 fits a wider range of rider heights, and has a lower step-through frame. | ||||
Upright | Upright | The upright position is the most comfortable riding posture for most, so it's perfect for all-day rides! | ||||
Adjustable | Adjustable | An adjustable stem allows riders to make the handlebar lower or higher to offer the most comfortable riding position. | ||||
Hydraulic suspension, 80mm travel with lockout | Rigid aluminum | The suspension system helps reduce vibration and improves the handling experience on complex road surfaces, enhancing comfort and safety. Hydraulic suspensions typically offer the best quality and experience. Lockout allows you to change the length of travel of the suspension for different road conditions. | ||||
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27.5" wheels allow for a smoother ride over bumps, and the 2.4" wide tire offers more damping than the 2.1" because of the air volume. | ||||
63 lbs | 53 lbs | At 63lbs the Discover 2 falls within the normal range for the weight of an ebike. The bike has great built quality, and the portable battery can be removed to make it lighter. |
Safety is paramount, whether you’re talking about riding, charging or even the possibility of theft.
The Pace 500.3 is UL 2849 Certified by TUV, a European standard that isn’t the same as UL doing the certification. It has integrated lighting, including a headlight, brake light and turn signals. It has an IPX4 rating, meaning it can survive some rain sprinkled on it.
Discover 2 is UL 2849 and UL 2271 Certified by UL. TUV focuses on product safety and reliability, while UL certification focuses on both product safety and sustainability. This means that UL-certified products must meet not only safety and quality standards but also environmental standards, such as energy efficiency and sustainability.
It has an IPX6 rating for the bike, meaning you can wash your bike with a hose with no worries, and even splash through puddles in the rain. The fenders will keep the puddles from getting to you. The battery is even more protected from water ingress, with an IPX7 rating, meaning it’s safe to sit in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes!
It also has integrated lighting, including a headlight, brake light and turn signals. The headlight is the brightest in its class at 130 lux, allowing you to see well at night and be seen during the day. The brake light can be set to be solid or blinking, depending on rider preference.
Also built in to Discover 2 is Apple Find My™ technology, the same used in AirTags, iPhones and other products, so you can always find your bike, whether you forgot where you parked it, or in case someone decides to take it. Unlike affixing an AirTag somewhere on your bike, where it will likely be found by a would-be theif, it’s baked-in and non-removable.
Both have Tektro hydraulic brakes with integrated motor cut-off switches, so when you do apply the brakes, power to the the motor stops immediately to make braking more effective.
- UL 2849 and UL 2271 certifications through UL Solutions
- The Discover 2 comes as a Class 2 ebike, and can be adjusted to a Class 3 via the bike display menu or the app
- The Discover 2 comes as a Class 2 ebike, and can be adjusted to a Class 3 via the bike display menu or the app.
- Tektro dual-piston hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors
- Brighter headlight
- Apple Find My technology built-in
UL Listed |
IP Rating |
Frame |
Brakes |
Front hub |
Apple Find My™ |
Discover 2 |
Pace 500.3 |
Notes |
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UL 2849 | TUV, UL 2849 | UL Certification is very important for safety. Velotric’s UL 2849 and UL 2271 certification was done by UL here in the U.S., whereas Aventon's is done in Europe by TUV. |
IPX6 (bike) IPX7 (Battery) | IPX4 (bike) | The IP (ingress protection) rating is important to show how water-resistant the bike and motor system are. An IPX4 rating means it can splash through some water, however an IPX6 rating means it can withstand powerful jets for at least 3 minutes, so you can wash your bike or ride it in the rain. IPX7 rating for the battery sets a very high bar. Under IPX7 the battery can be fully submerged in water at 1m depth for 30 minutes. |
Triple-butted aluminum alloy, front basket-compatible, step-through | Single-butted alumiinum alloy, step-through or step-over | Between the better-engineered frame and bosses on the head tube for a front basket, Discover 2 is the clear winner here. |
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes | Tektro hydraulic disc brakes | Hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent braking performance, better brake control, higher durability and reduced maintenance requirements. They're the preferred choice for e-bikes. |
Thru-axle | Nutted | A thru-axle has a quick release structure allows front wheels to be removed easily making it more convenient to store the bike when needed. It also won’t come loose on its own. |
√ | × | Discover 2 has Apple Find My tech built right in - you'll be able to track your bike whether lost or stolen. |
The Discover 2, tailored to fit you and your lifestyle seamlessly. Embrace choice with a palette of colors both bright and dark, and customise it with an array of accessories. Dive into our accessories page for further details and make your Discover 2 truly yours! Shop Now .
Colors |
Rear Rack |
Front basket compatible |
App |
Tralier compatible |
Discover 2 |
Pace 500.3 |
Notes |
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4 | 2 (step-through) + 2 (step-over) | Discover 2 offers 4 colorful options, including Cherry Crimson, Stone Grey, Pine Green and Mint. |
Included | Optional | Having a sturdy rear rack included adds a ton of utility to the bike. You can add side bags, a basket, a child seat and more! |
√ | √ | Being able to attach a trailer means being able to carry your kids, your dogs, or more stuff. |
iOS, Android | iOS, Android | Compatible apps offer plenty of ways to customize settings on your bike, download and install OTA updates, track your rides, even connect to fitness apps. |
√ | √ | Being able to attach a trailer means being able to carry your kids, your dogs, or more stuff. |
The difference in price, on the surface, is $100. The difference in performance is night-and-day. You get a far more powerful motor to get you going and flatten all the hills you find, included sturdy rear rack, fenders, a brighter light, a more comfortable riding experience, and hey, just more fun with Discover 2!