Aventon Current EXP Review

Aventon rolled out two incredibly capable new electric full-suspension mountain bikes that redefine value. If you're reading this, you may be wondering if the Current EXP is worth the extra $2000. Our testers are divided, and we'll break down the reasons why you should (or should not) spend the extra cash on this feature-rich trail ripper.

Downhill Performance

The adrenaline rush of descending is still the gold standard for testing a bike's true capability, even as high-powered e-bikes transform the sport. Aventon nailed every single detail needed for downhill dominance: progressive geometry, pedaling-efficient suspension layout, fine-tuned kinematics, and the ideal combination of cockpit, tire, rim, and dropper specs. The result is a rock-solid, balanced ride engineered to fly downhill with poise and stability.

Aventon struck a sweet spot with the bike's geometry, offering all the benefits of modern design without pushing into overly aggressive downhill territory. Armed with 140mm of 4-bar rear travel and a 150mm front fork, it effortlessly smooths out rough trails while staying nimble and efficient. This feels like the ideal entry point for anyone shopping for their first full-suspension rig; it doesn't feel sluggish on mild terrain but doesn't feel restrained when the trails turn technical.

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The RockShox Lyrik Select fork and Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock complement the bike's more premium character. Compared to the Psylo fork found on the Current ADV, the Lyrik drops weight while increasing stiffness and adjustability. Out back, the piggyback shock reservoir provides consistent, fade-free damping performance on long descents. While both units include compression lockouts, the frame's anti-squat kinematics are so well-tuned that you will rarely need to flip the levers.

In real-world riding, this design separates pedaling forces from terrain impacts. The progressive leverage curve offers a supple, small-bump sensitivity early in the stroke, transitioning into firm mid-stroke support and bottom-out protection as you push harder. The end result is an efficient pedaling platform that eliminates unwanted energy loss, giving you nearly six inches of travel without any annoying pedal bob.

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Measuring 64.5 degrees, the head tube angle matches modern trail standards to offer a great mix of steering agility and high-speed stability. While the angle isn't adjustable out of the box, the frame's ZS56 headset standard leaves the door open for aftermarket modifications. Riders looking to fine-tune their setup can install an angle-adjustable headset to shift the front-end geometry by up to 1.5 degrees.

The wheel spec is another highlight, thanks to tubeless compatibility and a wide 30mm internal rim width that maximizes grip, reduces rolling resistance, and prevents tire squirm in fast corners. Although the stock tire tread performs well, the casing feels too thin for a bike of this weight. Upgrading to a heavier-ply tire will provide much better protection against punctures and trail hazards.

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To really make the most out of a descent, it helps to push the saddle down and out of the way. The Manic X-Fusion dropper post provides 170mm of travel (150mm on SM/MD frames) to lower your center of gravity on demand. Moving the saddle out of the way boosts rider confidence, enhances downhill stability, and allows you to descend faster with total control over the bike.

The wide cockpit, featuring an 800mm handlebar and 50mm stem, keeps you perfectly centered over the bike, making it easy to drive weight straight into the suspension. Aggressive riders may choose to shorten the stem a touch, which brings your weight further back. One of the biggest highlights on this bike is the choice of SRAM Maven brakes. These 4-piston, mineral oil-fed stoppers are so powerful and require so little force that you feel significantly less fatigue from gripping the levers.

With great power comes great... err uhm. Go fast, need strong brakes.   Credit: Joshua Hutchens

200mm rotors with these 4-piston brakes make stopping effortless.   Credit: Joshua Hutchens

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So, does the Current EXP outperform the Current ADV on the downhills?

-The Lyrik fork offers more stability and less flex than the Psylo due to stiffer uppers and a more refined damper, but neither fork lets you separately adjust high- and low-speed compression damping.

-The shock on the EXP uses a piggyback reservoir, which provides more consistent performance, especially in longer descents where the shock on the ADV stiffens up as the heat increases.

-The Carbon frame on the EXP saves 5 lbs 1 oz over the ADV, and that's no small amount of weight. While the flex characteristics aren't noticeably different between the two bikes, the lighter weight gives the EXP poppier handling.

-The Maven brakes on the EXP are fantastic, while the DB8 brakes on the ADV are… pretty good. If you're a casual recreational rider, either one will likely impress you. If your riding style is a bit more aggressive or if you're planning big downhills, the extra power from the Mavens will keep your hands and forearms much happier.

-The AXS drivetrain on the EXP doesn't provide any tangible benefit over the mechanical drivetrain on the ADV. In fact, the AXS drivetrain may be something of a liability due to its complexity. We've ridden dozens of bikes with the electronic transmission derailleur without issue, but during testing this S1000 derailleur ended up 2 gears off of where the shifter thought it was. This wasn't something that could be fixed trailside, or even in a bike shop. While shifting with the AXS pod was certainly preferred, the inability to service the electronic derailleur is almost a deal breaker.

Climbing Performance

Conquering steep climbs takes more than high motor output; it calls for dialed frame geometry. With a steep 76.6-degree seat tube angle and 445mm chainstays, the Current keeps your body weight centered over the pedals rather than slumping behind the rear wheel. That means no light, wandering front end, and control when you need to make tight technical moves.

The bike's 4-bar suspension and rear shock work just as hard climbing as they do descending, providing active tracking without robbing pedaling efficiency. This allows you to stay comfortably seated, lay down power, and keep the rear tire hooked up. That rear tire uses an aggressive tread that excels (when set up tubeless), letting you claw up challenging ascents with excellent grip.

Range

To test the bike's actual range, we put it through our standardized torture test: a 180-lb rider outputting a lazy 100 watts in Turbo mode (skipping the temporary 30-second Boost feature). This gives us repeatable benchmark data across every e-MTB we evaluate. Since we put in minimal effort and tackle massive grades, it gives you a worst-case scenario for range.

That “worst-case” is a massive 34.2 miles with 6,100 feet of climbing. Notably, this is 0.1 miles further than the Current ADV, and while weight may factor in, this discrepancy could easily be within our margin of error. Aventon claims the Current has a massive 105-mile range, and this might be more than marketing fluff. The Ultro X (GoBao) motor appears to be incredibly efficient. The large 800Wh battery certainly helps, but other bikes that put out similar power and with similar-sized packs don't fare quite this well. One reason for this may be the use of minimal seals on the motor. While other manufacturers have focused on keeping their motors quiet, the Ultro X and other GoBao-produced motors have a slight rattle. If our suspicions are correct, lighter seals are making this a far more efficient motor. It's too early to tell if this will impact the motor's durability.

Power Output

While high motor output is becoming more common on modern e-MTBs, the Aventon Ultro X motor sits near the top of the torque curve. The nominal output is 250 watts, but at peak power, output is an impressive 110Nm of torque and 750 watts. Pushing the envelope further, “Boost Mode” spikes those numbers to 120Nm and 850 watts for 30-second bursts.

The industry has come up with so many catchy/cringy phrases to describe the power. Slogans like “It's you only faster,” "2X you," and “Downhill both ways,” just to name a few. Those marketing slogans do a good job of conveying the feeling of power. Long arduous climbs are now spirited ascents with wind in your face and fingers that never leave the brake levers. If motor output is one of your primary concerns with a new bike, the Current won't let you down. While it doesn't have as much power as bikes with the Avinox motor system, it's ahead of most of its competitors, and it's unlikley you'll ever be wanting more power.

E-Bike Controls

As e-bikes have become more complex, the controls have actually become more intuitive. There is a programmable three-button remote on the handlebar that lets you switch ride modes or access other programmable features like controlling a GoPro or DJI Osmo camera. Ride modes are Eco, Trail, Turbo, Boost, and an Auto feature that takes the guesswork out of which mode you need to be in. In Auto mode, the bike changes its power and torque depending on your speed, incline, and input force. It's a cool feature that lets you just focus on the ride, and it never seemed to give us more or less power than we wanted. A glove-friendly touchscreen display on the top tube gives you access to the bike's controls, where you can switch the information layout, adjust your speed limit (up to 28mph), and set a PIN code to lock the bike. The touchscreen lets you easily swipe through screens to change the data that you see while riding.

Eco, Trail and Turbo ride modes are fully adjustable, meaning you can fine-tune the torque, power, and overrun in each setting. The Boost mode ramps your torque up to 120Nm and power up to 850 watts, and while it only lasts for 30 seconds, it isn't the type of power we'd want to harness full-time. Each mode can be adjusted independently, letting you fine-tune the power, torque, and overrun for each setting. Overrun is what it sounds like: the amount of time the motor keeps powering after you've stopped applying force to the cranks. Longer overrun can be helpful in technical terrain where you may not have the pedal clearance to smash your way through.

The Aventon smartphone app lets you get a bit deeper into the bike's adjustments and also track the bike's location. There is also an Apple Watch app that provides some useful features, like being able to lock your bike from your wrist. If you're tech-averse and don't want to use the app, you can still electronically lock the bike using a PIN code. When the bike is locked, it can still be rolled or ridden, but the motor will not provide any assistance, and the alarm will sound. We wouldn't place much trust in the alarm, as it is pitifully quiet and very unlikely to stop (or alert) anyone.

At first look, it seems Aventon is making a “comparable” electric mountain bike to others on the market, but when you look a little deeper, the bike has some serious cutting-edge technology that you won't find on most ebikes, even at higher price points. The bike uses a bevy of high-tech sensors that measure things like the amount of power you're putting in, the angle of the bike, and whether the front wheel (or the bike) leaves the ground. The software uses these sensors to turn the data into tangible features. A feature called Wheel Lift Control can help you keep the front wheel on the ground during steep climbs. If the bike detects a sudden rise in the front end, power is decreased to keep you engaged and in control. With the feature turned off, you can use the motor to help wheelie over obstacles.

Another cool feature is Air Time tracking that records your jumps, showing you how high, how far, and for how long you stayed in the air. The BMX kid in me loved the jump tracking and watching the animated video record of each jump after a ride. A built-in 4G connection lets you communicate with the bike when it's out of range, and allows the bike to download its own software updates.

Inside the girthy carbon downtube is a removable 800Wh battery. The easiest way to remove the battery is to flip the bike upside down and remove three fixing bolts. Once unplugged, the battery can be taken out and charged away from the bike, but unlike any other bike we've seen, the battery uses a different charging interface than the bike itself. It's not a big deal since the bike comes with an adapter for charging the battery solo, but the adapter does seem like an easy piece to lose. On or off the bike, the battery juices up in about 6 hours using the 4-amp charger.

Build

Aventon pulled out all the stops with the EXP and gave it the kind of build kit that we're accustomed to seeing on much more expensive bikes. The carbon frame, stronger brakes, AXS drivetrain, and better suspension make it clear they were not cutting costs. This is the build for enthusiasts, those who pick up on the nuances of performance and appreciate the extra engineering that goes into making the bike's interface a bit more enjoyable. While both bikes use the same underwhelming tire casings, the lighter weight of the EXP mixed with its more sensitive suspension makes you slightly less prone to tire damage.

Since Aventon is partnered with so many local bike shops, you can likely find one to test ride and purchase at a brick-and-mortar store near you. If that isn't the case, fret not; the assembly process is straightforward and involves very few steps. The only complication to the build process is the (optional) setup of the tubeless tires. If this isn't something you've done before, you may want to watch a few videos or leave it to the pros at your local bike shop. The bike arrives with tubes in the tires.

Should You Buy the Aventon Current EXP?

Maybe. The $2000 price jump from the ADV to the EXP isn't easy to swallow, and a wide array of riders won't really notice too many of the differences, save the weight. We absolutely encourage people to buy the Current ADV; it's a screaming deal for such a capable bike. If this isn't your first ebike, or you're the type of rider that wants a lighter bike with more adjustability in your suspension, the EXP starts to make more sense. Our testers loved this bike; its powerful brakes and fancy drivetrain give it a very high-end feel, but it's hard to justify the additional expense.

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