On an Aventon Pace 500, a throttle that does nothing is often not broken at all. Before you order a part, there are a few things worth ruling out first, plus one error code worth knowing. This guide is based on Aventon's own Pace 500 Owner's Manual (version 1.1.8, May 2019) and on posts and product pages published by Aventon. Other Aventon models and later model years can behave differently, so where this guide says to check your manual, do.
First: the throttle is built to wait for you to pedal
The Pace 500 manual says the throttle sits near the rider's left thumb, and that to use it you start pedaling and then apply the throttle. Once the bike is moving on throttle power, you can stop pedaling. In its troubleshooting section Aventon explains why: the throttle engages only after the motor has been turned on through pedal assist, a safety feature meant to stop it firing while you park or walk the bike. Its advice if you are struggling is to make one revolution of the pedals first, then engage the throttle.
If that matches what you are seeing, nothing is faulty. In February 2021 Aventon announced a controller change called Throttle On-Demand that removes the pedal requirement, along with an upgrade kit of a new controller and display for existing bikes. The same post still recommends pedaling first. Which behavior a given Aventon has depends on its model and controller, so owners of other models should check their own manual rather than assume the Pace 500 rule applies.
Second: rule out the brake cutoff and the power chain
The same manual says the motor stops when you stop pedaling, squeeze the brake levers or release the throttle. It follows that a brake sensor wrongly reporting a pulled lever can kill the throttle too, often with no obvious sign. Our brake sensor walkthrough covers the check. If the display itself is behaving oddly, work through the power-chain checklist before blaming the throttle.
Third: what Aventon says error 22 means
The manual's error-code table lists code 22 as a throttle error. Aventon's instructions are physical checks, not a parts order: when you press and release the throttle it should return to its original position, so remove any obstruction, and inspect the throttle and its cable for damage such as a cut or frayed cable.
Code 30 is a different fault. The manual lists it as a communication error, a poor connection between the controller and the display, and says to check all cable connections. It is worth ruling out when the display and the throttle both seem dead. For the full set of codes across Aventon's different display systems, see our Aventon error codes guide.
Test it before you replace it
If the throttle moves freely, the cable is intact and the pedal-first rule does not explain it, the next step is a meter test. Our ten-minute throttle test checks the supply and the signal separately, which tells you whether the throttle is at fault or something upstream is. If you want help narrowing down what your symptoms point to, our e-bike repair online page is a good place to start.
Stop riding if the motor ever pulses or surges without any input from you. That is not a symptom to test on the road.
If the throttle really is bad, match it carefully
Aventon sells a replacement throttle, described on its product page simply as a replacement for a damaged throttle on Aventon ebikes. The page text does not list which bikes it fits. In a reply to a buyer on that page, Aventon said the throttle the customer had bought was designed for the Level.3 rather than the newer Level.4 ADV. The lesson is that generation matters, not just the brand or the model name.
The Pace manual makes a similar point from the other direction: batteries, controllers, displays and motors do not interchange between the Pace 350, a 36V system, and the Pace 500, which is 48V, even though both are Pace bikes. So before you buy:
- Note the exact model and model year, and the serial number if you can find it.
- Compare the plug on your current throttle with the replacement's photos.
- Ask Aventon to confirm the part for your bike, and do not rely on a compatibility list from a third-party seller.
- Do not assume a part from an older bike fits a newer generation.
One more detail from the manual: the throttle can be unplugged and removed, and the bike keeps running on pedal assist. With the bike switched off, that gives you a way to keep riding while you wait for the right part, provided the bike behaves normally with the throttle unplugged.
Sources: Aventon Pace 500 Owner's Manual, version 1.1.8, and Aventon's blog posts on the Pace 500 features (February 2019) and the Throttle On-Demand upgrade (February 2021), all read in October 2026.
RideRow is an independent parts retailer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Aventon. Aventon and model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to identify the bikes this guide covers.