Taking a massive leap into the premium eMTB space, the Aventon Current is the company’s first full suspension mountain bike. This release is designed to put legacy brands on notice by delivering a highly capable machine that rivals bikes costing thousands of dollars more. The driving force behind this bike is Aventon’s new Ultro X mid-drive motor. Pushing out 110Nm of torque, it provides the kind of power that makes grueling climbs and technical trails feel completely natural. That motor pairs seamlessly with the Aventon Control Unit, or ACU. This smart ecosystem brings unique technology right to your handlebars, including jump tracking, integrated GPS, and an anti-wheelie mode to keep your front tire planted on steep ascents.
To accommodate different riders, Aventon offers this bike in two distinct builds. The Current ADV is priced at $4,599, while the premium Current EXP model comes in at $5,999. In this review, we will break down exactly what you get for that $1,400 price difference and explore the shared features between the two models. We will also compare the Current directly against legacy brand models to show exactly how the specs and pricing stack up. Finally, you will find a complete side by side spec table, our detailed pros and cons, and a deep dive into how this ebike actually performs on the dirt to help you decide which model is right for you.
If you are planning to purchase an Aventon ebike, consider using our affiliate link as a free way to support the work we do. If you prefer to buy at one of Aventon’s 1,800 plus dealers, you can simply email us your receipt at ryan@ebikeescape.com.
Video Review: The Aventon Current in its Natural Habitat
For a complete breakdown of the Aventon Current, check out our full video review below. We cover the differences between the ADV and EXP builds, walk through the components, and dive into the display and app technology. Then, we took both models out on rocky trails in Phoenix. Watch as we tackle the challenging climbs of the Ridgeline Trail and see how the full suspension handles the descents. It is an in-depth look at how this ebike performs in the dirt and gives you the power to confidently conquer technical terrain.
Standout Shared Features | Aventon Current ADV & EXP
Aventon Ultro X Mid-Drive Motor
The Ultro X mid-drive motor is the most important component on this ebike. It delivers 750W of peak power and 110Nm of torque to help you power up technical, rocky climbs with ease. If you need a little extra punch, engaging Boost mode bumps the output to 850W and 120Nm of torque for 30 second bursts. Just note that there is a 5 minute cooldown required after using Boost mode to protect the system. The power delivery is incredibly smooth, and the motor is surprisingly silent on the trail.
800Wh Integrated Battery
To support that powerful motor, Aventon equipped both models with an 800Wh battery integrated cleanly into the down tube. This high capacity is on the upper end for electric mountain bikes, ensuring you have plenty of juice for long days on the dirt, with a claimed range of up to 105 miles in the lowest power setting. It is also fully certified to UL2271 for safety and peace of mind. When it comes to the removal process, it is not a quick release system. You will need a tool, and we found the easiest way is to flip the bike upside down to access and remove the three bolts. There is a quick disconnect connector inside, but because of the slightly involved process, you will likely just charge the battery directly on the ebike.
Aventon Control Unit (ACU) and Smart Tech
The tech on this ebike is seriously impressive. The Aventon Control Unit sits centrally in the top tube and features a bright touchscreen display. You control it using a wireless Bluetooth remote on the left side of the handlebars. Pairing the bike with the Aventon app unlocks features like Ride Tune for customizing pedal assist levels, jump tracking, and an Anti-Wheelie mode to keep the front tire planted on steep hills.
150mm/140mm Suspension Platform
Both builds share the exact same frame geometry and suspension travel, featuring 150mm up front and 140mm in the rear. This balanced full suspension setup soaks up the bumps and keeps the tires planted to the ground. It gives you a comfortable and highly composed ride on chunky descents and technical climbs. However, it is important to note that while the travel numbers match, the actual suspension components differ between the two models, which we detail in the next section.
Maxxis Minion Downhill Tires
Aventon went with a proven tire setup that mountain bikers already know and trust. Both models roll on 29 inch tubeless ready tires, featuring a Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 inch in the front and a DHR II 2.4 inch in the rear. This aggressive tread pattern provides exceptional grip and is perfectly suited for rocky terrain.
Aventon Current ADV vs EXP: The $1,400 Difference
Think of it this way: the EXP is for riders prioritizing weight savings, top tier components, and advanced suspension performance. The ADV is for the rider who wants that core Current experience with the same power, range, and geometry without having to pay for every last little upgrade. Here is exactly what you get for that extra $1,400.
Frame Materials: Carbon vs. Alloy
The most visible difference between the two builds is in the frame construction. The premium Current EXP features a sleek carbon front triangle paired with an aluminum rear triangle. This hybrid construction adds a very premium look to the bike and helps drop the claimed weight of the EXP down to 53 pounds. The Current ADV utilizes a full 6061 alloy frame, which still feels incredibly solid on the trail but does push the claimed weight up slightly to 56 pounds, making for a 3 pound difference between the two builds.
Suspension Component Upgrades
(Aventon Current ADV)
(Aventon Current EXP)
While both models offer 150mm of front travel and 140mm in the rear, the actual components represent a significant step up for the EXP. On the front of the EXP you get the RockShox Lyrik Select fork, and in the rear, you get the RockShox Super Deluxe Select Plus shock. These are the same exact premium suspension upgrades that you will find on legacy brand ebikes that cost a whole lot more. Over on the ADV, you get the RockShox Psylo Gold fork and the RockShox Deluxe Select Plus in the rear. The good news is that no matter which model you choose, you still get highly capable, air adjustable suspension with rebound adjustments and lockouts.
Drivetrain: Wireless vs. Cable-Driven
(Aventon Current ADV)
You know Aventon wants to compete with higher end electric mountain bikes when they launch the EXP with SRAM S1000 AXS wireless electronic shifting. This 12-speed setup is incredibly crisp and it draws power directly from the main ebike battery, meaning you never have to worry about replacing a coin battery in the derailleur. The ADV build sticks to a traditional cable driven system with the highly capable 12-speed SRAM Eagle 70 transmission. There is also a notable difference in the gearing. While both bikes share a 34T front chainring, the EXP gets a slightly wider range with a 10-52T cassette, compared to the 11-50T cassette found on the ADV.
Braking Power: SRAM Maven vs. DB8
(Aventon Current ADV)
Aventon did not want to compromise on braking power on either build, but you do get a heavy duty upgrade on the EXP. The premium model comes equipped with the SRAM Maven Base four piston hydraulic disc brakes for maximum stopping power on steep terrain. The ADV model utilizes the SRAM DB8 Stealth four piston hydraulic disc brakes. Both systems run massive 200mm rotors in the front and rear to keep your speed completely in check when you are bombing down a gnarly descent.
Aventon Current Spec Sheet
The spec sheet table below gives a side by side comparison of the Current ADV versus the Current EXP, clearly showing what is the same and exactly where the component and value differences lie.
Looking for a mid-drive hardtail instead? While the Current represents a major step up in both performance and price, it is not the only mid-drive mountain bike in the lineup. If you decide you do not need a full suspension platform and want a more affordable entry point into trail riding, be sure to check out our full Aventon Ramblas review. You can also find Aventon’s full eMTB lineup here.
Frame and Sizing
The Aventon Current features a clean frame design with neat internal cable routing. The ADV model uses a robust 6061 aluminum frame built to take a beating, while the EXP upgrades to a sleek carbon front triangle to save weight and deliver a premium look. Each build also gets its own exclusive colorways. The ADV is available in Blue Onyx or Camouflage, and the EXP comes in a striking Glacier Mint or stealthy Midnight Black.
Despite the material differences, both models share the exact same modern trail geometry. To ensure a proper fit, Aventon offers the Current in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. Finding the right fit is crucial when maneuvering a powerful ebike through technical terrain. Because the geometry is identical, the sizing chart applies equally to the alloy ADV and the hybrid carbon EXP. The table below outlines Aventon’s recommended rider heights along with key geometry and dimension measurements to help you dial in the perfect fit.
Trail Performance
To truly understand what the Aventon Current is capable of, we took both models out to the rocky trails of Phoenix to put them to the test. It is worth noting that all the technical riding and climbing in our review was performed on the less expensive ADV model by a heavier rider. We did this intentionally to show just how capable the core components and motor are without needing to step up to the premium build. The high speed flat riding was then performed on the EXP model. Here is how the ebike handled across a variety of different riding conditions.
Technical Hill Climbing and Auto Mode
We put the Aventon Current to the test on a technical hill climb on the Ridgeline Trail. Leaving the ebike in Auto mode, the system automatically adjusted the pedal assist levels based on the terrain, giving us more power when the climb got unexpectedly steep. With the torque sensor and Ultro X mid-drive motor, power engages instantly and naturally. You just point and shoot, keep pedaling, and the motor has the full capability to keep you going right up the steepest, chunkiest sections.
The display also provides a ton of useful climbing data, allowing you to reference the exact hill grade as you are riding. Aventon even included advanced firmware features like wheel lift control to keep your front tire planted on steep ascents, as well as jump tracking, even though we did not test that feature in our review.
We also tested Boost Mode from the bottom of the hill, which delivered 30 seconds of maximum torque and easily blasted up the incline. Despite all this power, the motor is surprisingly silent, with the sound of the tires hitting the dirt often being louder than the motor itself.
Downhill Descents and Braking
When going down the rocky, chunky descents of the Ridgeline Trail, the full suspension platform soaked up the bumps and kept the tires securely planted to the ground. We specifically tested the SRAM DB8 four piston hydraulic disc brakes on the ADV model during these descents.
They provided a lot of confidence to slow down on steep drops and were instantly ready when we wanted to let off the levers and bomb the rest of the way down. The bike’s geometry felt incredibly dialed in, making it easy to keep our weight balanced over the front and maintain control.
Technical Trail Handling and Overrun
A standout feature we tested extensively on the Current is the overrun capability. When navigating tight rock gaps where a full pedal rotation might cause you to bash a pedal, overrun provides a little bit of extra motor power even after you stop pedaling.
It acts very similarly to ratcheting on an acoustic bike. Overall, as long as we stayed in the saddle and kept pedaling, we could just point and shoot through the chunky rocks without the ebike batting an eye.
Pedal Assist Levels and Flat Terrain
Switching over to the EXP model for some flatter terrain, we were really able to feel out what to expect from the different pedal assist levels. For cross country or flowy riding, Eco mode is exactly where you want to be. With a gentle cadence, it smoothly carries you at about 10 mph. Kicking it up to Trail mode, you can really feel the torque sensor working, matching your pedaling effort up to 500 percent and easily holding a 14 mph cruising speed.
Bumping up to Turbo provides almost more power than you need on flat ground. You can pretty much spin your legs in a low gear with barely any effort and easily hold 20 mph. Because this ebike is Class 3 capable, we also pushed Turbo mode to the limit on the flats. By shifting into a higher gear and putting a little more power into the pedals, the bike smoothly carried us all the way up to 28 mph.
You can even engage Boost mode to get there even faster if needed. This kind of top end speed makes the Current a fantastic option if you prefer to ride directly from your house to the local trails rather than dealing with loading it onto a vehicle rack.
The Competition: Aventon Current vs. Legacy Brands
When Aventon launched the Current, they made it very clear that they were putting legacy brands like Specialized and Trek on notice. Importantly, this massive price difference does not come with the usual compromise of dealing with a strictly direct-to-consumer company. Aventon boasts a robust dealer network of over 1,800 bike shops across the US, meaning you get local support and service just like you would with the big names. To really understand the value proposition of this ebike, we need to look at how it stacks up against the competition in the current market.
Current ADV vs. Legacy Brand Offerings
Let’s look at the entry-level alloy models from the big names. The newest Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Alloy and the Trek Rail+ 5 Gen 5 both start right around $6,099. For that price, Trek gives you an 85Nm Bosch motor and a RockShox Psylo Gold RC fork. Specialized steps it up with a 101Nm motor and Marzocchi Bomber Z1 suspension.
Compare that to the Aventon Current ADV, which comes in at just $4,599. For $1,500 less than the base models from Specialized and Trek, Aventon gives you a more powerful 110Nm motor, a massive 800Wh battery, SRAM DB8 four-piston brakes, and the highly comparable RockShox Psylo Gold fork found on the Trek. The value here is undeniable.
Current EXP vs. Legacy Brand Offerings
The comparison becomes even more striking when you look at the premium Current EXP build compared to similarly equipped legacy bikes. To get a carbon frame and SRAM AXS wireless electronic shifting from the big brands, you have to look at models like the Specialized Turbo Levo Expert or the Trek Rail+ 9.8 GX AXS T-Type.
The Turbo Levo Expert and the Trek Rail+ 9.8 AXS T-Type will set you back just under $11,000. At just $5,999, the Current EXP costs a fraction of those premium builds while still delivering a sleek carbon front triangle, premium RockShox Lyrik and Super Deluxe+ suspension, heavy-duty SRAM Maven brakes, and SRAM wireless shifting. Aventon has essentially built a high-performance electric mountain bike and priced a top-tier build below the entry-level offerings of the competition. If you are a rider looking for maximum performance for your dollar, the Current is incredibly hard to beat.
Pros and Cons | Aventon Current Review
Final Verdict | Aventon Current Review
The release of the Current makes a massive statement. It proves a highly capable, full suspension electric mountain bike can go toe to toe with legacy brands while keeping the price tag grounded in reality. The new Ultro X mid-drive motor is a powerhouse, the massive 800Wh battery provides all day range, and the advanced tech features show this ebike was designed by people who truly understand what riders need on the dirt.
Deciding between the two builds comes down to exactly what kind of rider you are. The Current ADV is the perfect choice if you want a core, high performance experience and robust suspension without paying a premium for weight savings and electronic shifting. If you demand top tier components, wireless shifting, and a carbon frame, the Current EXP delivers a dream build for thousands of dollars less than the competition.
If you are planning to pick up a Current or any other Aventon ebike, please consider using our affiliate link as a free way to support what we do. If you buy locally at one of Aventon’s 1,800 plus dealers, you can simply email us your receipt (ryan@ebikeescape.com). Thank you for your support, it helps make reviews like this possible.
