Aventon Current ADV Review

Aventon may not have been a name you associated with high-end full-suspension e-bikes, but the Current looks to change that. Aventon blasts into the competition with a bike that isn't just significantly less expensive; it's actually better than a lot of its competitors.

Downhill Performance

What has traditionally been the “fun part” of mountain biking has drastically evolved since the advent of high-powered e-bikes, but it's still one of the key ways we evaluate a bike's performance. There are so many factors that go into making a bike that descends well, and Aventon didn't miss any of them. Modern geometry, the right amount of suspension in a layout that doesn't sacrifice efficiency, kinematics, cockpit choices, tire spec, rim width, and seatpost dropper length are the primary considerations for how a bike rips downhill. All of those things need to be designed so they work together to provide the rider with a balanced, stable platform that excels at speed.

For starters, Aventon gave the Current geometry with all of the modern advantages, but doesn't lean too far into the “shred the gnar” territory. The bike has 140mm of 4-bar suspension travel in the rear and a 150mm fork up front. This gives the bike the capability to conquer the rough stuff, while remaining efficient enough that it never feels like a monster truck. If you're looking for a first full-suspension bike, this is where you want to start in today's market.

At this price point, we don't expect fancy suspension components, but the RockShox Psylo Gold fork and Deluxe Select+ shock don't detract from the bike's splendor. The fork and shock have enough adjustability to tune the basics to your weight and preferences. Both suspension components have compression lockouts that firm up the shock, but the bike's kinematics make those features largely unnecessary.

What this means is that the suspension is designed so that rider input has less effect on the suspension movement than trail input. It's an overall efficient-feeling ride with a progressive leverage ratio that gives a plush initial feel and support and stability as you get deeper into the travel. Despite having almost six inches of travel, the bike doesn't bob up and down while you pedal.

One of the critical design components is the head tube angle; that's the angle that the fork extends from the frame. We measured this at 64.5 degrees, which is firmly in line with most modern trail bikes. The slacker this angle gets, the slower the steering and the longer the wheelbase. While this isn't technically an adjustable angle, Aventon uses a ZS56 headset, which can be swapped out for one that lets you adjust the angle by up to 1.5 degrees. This isn't a popular upgrade, but their headset size options allow for aftermarket tweaks.

Another important component that Aventon nailed was the rim width and tubeless compatibility of the wheels. Replacing the innertubes with liquid sealant has several advantages, but the main ones are increased traction and reduced rolling resistance.

30mm wide (internal) rims give the tires the ideal profile and prevent the tires from rolling to the side of the rim under high loads. The tires they chose have an ideal tread, but the casing thickness is a bit thin. The weight of this bike calls for a heftier tire that will hold up better to trail hazards.

A dropper post lets you push the saddle down by 170mm (150mm on SM/MD) with the push of a button. This lowers your center of gravity, bringing confidence and stability to your descent. Getting the saddle out of the way lets you descend faster and have more control of the bike.

The bike uses an 800mm-wide handlebar (780mm on S/M) that might feel wide to non-mountain bikers, but this width helps you stay centered in the cockpit and put your weight into the suspension. Overall, the bike rips down the trail with commendable trail manners. While this bike is exceptionally heavy, that doesn't really count against it while losing elevation.

Higher speeds on a heavy bike call for exceptionally strong and reliable braking. Deceleration is handled by SRAM's DB8 brakes; this is a robust 4-piston brake that uses 200mm rotors to give you modulation and power.

Climbing Performance

Ripping up the trail requires more than just a powerful motor, although it certainly helps. The bike's geometry plays a crucial role in just how efficiently and effectively you can ascend the steep hills. Aventon designed the Current with a 76.6-degree seat tube angle and 445mm long chainstays. This puts you in a powerful position over the drivetrain and prevents your center of mass from falling behind the rear axle on a steep climb. A slack seat tube or shorter chainstays lead to sloppy handling and a front wheel that is hard to keep on the trail.

With the rider in the correct position, much of your climbing performance is dictated by traction. The factors that influence traction are the suspension design, rear shock, and the tires. The 4-bar suspension and shock are renowned for stellar performance on the way down, but they're every bit as important while climbing.

This setup gives the bike sensitivity to the terrain without compromising your efficiency, allowing you to remain seated while pedaling and keeping the rear wheel positively engaged. While we would have liked a burlier tire casing, the tread on these tires is exceptionally good. When set up tubeless, they conform to the terrain and offer relentless grip.

Range

Just how far can the Current go on a single charge? The answer depends on a huge range of factors, but our testing evens the playing field to allow for bike-to-bike comparisons. We test all of our e-MTBs on the same course in the bike's most powerful setting, with our 180-lb tester putting in minimal effort. This gives us comparable data, but also something of a worst-case scenario for range. The Current has a Boost feature that increases the power and torque for up to 30-seconds, so while that is technically the bike's most powerful setting, it isn't useful for our test. With the battery at full charge, our tester set off on our test course in Turbo mode, while trying to keep his input wattage as close to 100 watts as possible. For reference, 100 watts is just barely enough to pedal, but it's enough to activate the motor.

When the battery finally ran out, the Current had carried our tester 34.1 miles and up 6,100 feet of elevation gain. So, when you read on Aventon's site that the bike has “Up to 105 miles of range”, that probably isn't an exaggeration. Had our tester been using a lower level of assist, pedaled a bit harder, and not tackled the steepest terrain he could find, it's very likely we could achieve that kind of range. We're not sure who has the stamina for a 105-mile mountain bike ride, but suffice to say, the Current is quite capable. The bike uses an 800Wh battery, which is on the larger side, but also has a very efficient motor. Our testers noted a rattle in the motor, which we've seen in many GoBao motors, likely due to very light seals. Other manufacturers have encountered the same rattles and used heftier seals that quiet the motor but decrease its efficiency. So, we didn't love the motor noise, but its efficiency is hard to argue with.

Power Output

While the amount of power a bike generates has been a major selling point, most new bikes have plenty. The Aventon Ultro X motor delivers up to 110Nm of torque and 750 watts of power. In situations where you want (need?) more, the bike has a “Boost Mode” that pushes those numbers up to 120Nm and 850 watts. This is like riding a tandem with a pro rider on the back; the amount of power at your disposal lets you flatten hills, challenge wildly steep grades, and ascend trails at speeds that used to be reserved for descending. Boost mode can be called on for 30-second stints, after which the battery needs a few minutes to recover. To be honest, we don't think anyone actually needs the Boost mode, but it can be fun to outrun your friends or ride something that would otherwise be impossible. If these numbers seem Greek to you, know that this bike is at the cutting edge of power and torque, and it's unlikely anyone will find it “not powerful enough”.

E-Bike Controls

The physical controls are straightforward: a power button on the top tube, a three-button remote on the handlebar, and a touch screen that lets you dig into the settings. Most people can probably figure out the basics without reading the manual, but this bike packs so many features that it behooves you to go deeper and read up on what it can do. While many of the features the bike has are not unique to Aventon, they deserve a mention. Features like fully adjustable ride modes, letting you tweak the power and torque in each setting, adjustable overrun (how long the motor continues to provide power after you've stopped pedaling), and bike tracking are all becoming more common as standard features, and the Current doesn't disappoint. In addition to the Eco, Trai, Turbo, and Boost ride modes, an Auto mode lets you kick back and let the bike decide how much power you need. While we're sometimes reluctant to give up too much control, the Auto mode is well designed and feels intuitive.

Then there are some features that are a bit more unique. The touchscreen on the top tube works with gloves and gives you access to controls that usually require breaking out your phone and using the app. The app works with Apple Watch for ride tracking and locking. You can use the WATCH TO LOCK the bike or set a PIN code through the touchscreen that will lock non-authorized users out.

The bike has a host of complex sensors that detect your input power, your angle of ascent, front wheel lift, and even if you catch some air. The bike catalogs all of your Air Time, recording data about how high, far, and fast your jumps were; at the end of your ride, the Aventon app will show you a graphic depiction of each jump that lets you compare with others. Those sensors also enable Wheel Lift Control, an adjustable feature that senses if your front wheel lifts off the ground during a steep climb, and automatically reduces motor output to keep you planted.

The Current uses a removable 800Wh battery that nestles tightly in the downtube. While it's not the easiest battery to extract, removing three bolts and sliding it out in front of the bottom bracket reduces the bike's weight by about 9.2 lbs. This can be useful when transporting the bike and also allows you to charge the battery away from your parking location. Aventon provides a 4-amp charger that fills the battery to capacity in just 6 hours.

Build

Whether you choose to pick this bike up from a shop or assemble it yourself, you're in for a treat. The assembly process is straightforward, with very few steps to get the bike trail ready. The components on the Current are far better than you might expect for the price.

The ADV has a perfectly curated collection of parts from a company with enough buying power to deliver serious value. While the Current EXP has a nicer and lighter-weight part spec, there really isn't anything about the parts they chose that distracts from the excellent ride quality. If you're on the fence between the two models, the extra $2000 gets you a carbon front end, a nicer suspension package, electronic shifting, and the best brakes on the market in a package that weighs about 3 pounds less.

Should You Buy the Aventon Current ADV?

This is likely the most compelling electric mountain bike of the year. It may not be the lightest or most adjustable bike out there, but its high-performance powertrain and quality parts spec make it the perfect choice for someone new to the sport. Even if you're not new to the sport, this bike is likely better than anything you could have purchased two years ago. If the bike's almost 58-pound curb weight doesn't bother you, snap this bike up while you can.

What Other Electric Mountain Bike Should You Consider?

The value of the Current makes it hard to compare with others. This bike is such a compelling value that the only real standout in the field is the Aventon Current EXP. While it costs $2000 more, you get a lighter carbon frame, significantly better suspension, brakes, and electronic shifting. If you're less concerned with budget and just want the best bike out there, our “favorite at any price” is the Amflow PX Carbon Pro. It features the best motor on the market, a battery with industry-leading power density, adjustable geometry, and a part spec that is hard to improve upon. It's also more than 10 pounds lighter!