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As I blindly dove over a waterfall of jagged rocks with the confidence usually reserved for bikes I’ve spent more time riding, I wondered, “Is this really an Aventon?”
The most unexpected and refreshing mountain bike release of 2026, thus far, the Aventon Current full suspension E-MTB performs as well as bikes costing twice its price.
Over the last several years, Aventon has morphed from a brand mostly known for its fixed-gear bikes into one of the country’s top electric bike manufacturers. The brand has developed a strong reputation for its well-designed and affordably priced commuter- and recreation-focused e-bikes.
However, the early 2024 launch of the Ramblas mountain bike demonstrated the brand’s willingness to step into the performance-oriented off-road category. So, when Aventon reached out to me about trying its new 150/140mm travel Current electric mountain bike, I was immediately interested.
Current Pricing and Models
The Current’s price is one of its biggest highlights. And it will serve as a wake-up call to some established players in the electric mountain bike market.
At $5,999 for the EXP build or $4,599 for the ADV, it’s half the price of many similarly equipped e-bikes on the market. For example, the Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Comp costs over $3,000 more for a comparable build kit.
While Aventon might not be the first brand that comes to mind for mountain bikers, the prices alone may be what gets many riders to peek over their wide, mirrored shades. The sharp pricing will be especially appealing to those looking to add another bike to their fleet or perhaps dip their toe into the E-MTB waters for the first time.
The EXP features a carbon front triangle, while the ADV model has a full-aluminum chassis. The two bikes share the same touch points, rear shocks, and cockpits, with differences in the forks, brakes, and drivetrains.
The Current EXP comes with a RockShox Lyrik Select fork, SRAM Maven Base brakes, and SRAM’s S1000 Transmission groupset.
The CurrentADV is equipped with a RockShox Psylo Gold fork, SRAM DB8 brakes, and SRAM Eagle 70 Mechanical transmission.
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Current Build Details
The build kit on the EXP, as tested, is very smart. It’s clear where money was saved, but nothing was skimped so much to be a nuisance. For example, the bars, stem, wheels, and grips were fairly basic, but none of them hindered the bike’s performance. The Maven Base brakes offered all the power I’m familiar with from the Maven Ultimate brakes on my personal bikes. I didn’t really notice the small weight penalty of the less expensive model.
Tires are a popular cost-saving measure employed by brands, which often disappoints me. The EXO casing Minions will not last long on a 52-pound E-MTB, such as the Current. It’s a matter of when, not if, you will flat them. I punctured one by merely choosing a bad line on a climb. That said, tires are also highly subjective, and your choice varies by where people live and ride. So, I can’t really blame Aventon for saving money on this component; at least it picked one of the most trusted tread patterns in mountain biking.
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Frame protection keeps things quiet.
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Added security from a slick chainguide.
The Current models also come with short 160mm crank arms. These proved great for picking through rock gardens and keeping the power down on longer climbs without smashing said rocks.
The wheels on the Current are basic double-walled, tubeless-ready, unbranded rims. When I flatted, I slightly dented the sidewall of the rim—I wouldn’t expect these to have a super-long lifespan if you ride rougher terrain.
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The only casualty in testing was this EXO casing Maxxis Minion, luckily saved by some bacon strips.
The dropper post lengths on the Current will be a point of contention for some riders; the small and medium-sized bikes only have a 150mm drop. Personally, I felt the saddle was plenty far out of the way, but I could have fit another 20–30mm more travel before bottoming out on the seatpost collar. Short of using an adjustable-length dropper, I think Aventon’s choice not to slap 200mm posts on all sizes is a good move; it allows the bikes to fit more customers. That said, I’d likely swap to my trusted adjustable OneUp dropper.
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The s1000 Transmission derailleur worked as well as any T-Type derailleur.
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Maven Base brakes offer plenty of stopping power.
On the Trail
Immediately upon hitting the trail, the Current felt familiar. With geometry similar to other bikes in the trail category, the Current happily splits its time between climbing and descending, like other bikes in this travel bracket.
The Current’s four-bar system is tried-and-true and works similarly to many other Horst-link-equipped bikes. (It’s a popular design used on other mountain bikes with about 150mm travel.) The leverage curve ramps up nicely and is a relatively progressive 22 percent, with solid bottom-out resistance while still being plenty willing to pop off trail features.
The kinematic model didn’t come out of thin air; Aventon partnered with Kairn Design Studio to craft the Current’s ride feel. The design group has experience working with other electric mountain bike brands, and it showed on the trail.
Aventon / Ale Di Lullo
On my first ride on the Current in Phoenix, Arizona, I had a blast riding the trails, many of which I was seeing for the first time. After some initial adjustments (including adding a volume spacer to the fork), I was able to confidently point the bike down steep chutes and rally up technical climbs with relative ease.
The Aventon neither felt too planted nor too skittery. It strikes a nice balance that most mountain bikers will appreciate. At 140mm travel, I expected some harsh bottom-outs, but the shock tune and kinematics helped prevent that from happening much. While it’s certainly possible to get the Current in a little too deep, it manages to keep its composure even when you push it a little too hard.
The climbing position felt balanced when riding up climbs, both more traditionally (as if riding an analog bike) and when leaning on the motor for more assist and letting the bike do the work while remaining seated.
The Motor and Smarts
The Current’t drive unit is Aventon’s finest to date. Its Ultro X motor and controller system really shines.
Starting with the user experience, the Aventon app pairs quickly with the bike. It allows you to easily and intuitively set the bike up to your liking. With the app, you can customize data screens and switch features on or off. I liken this to the experience of using a cycling computer, like the Wahoo Elemnt; if you know how to use your phone, you’ll be able to figure out the Aventon app.
Without the app, changes on the touchscreen display on the top tube are almost as intuitive. It’s akin to using a Garmin Edge head unit and making changes by long-holding and swiping through the screen.
The control unit and computer system provide a boatload of features to the rider, with even more planned with updates. It’s packed with 4G, ANT+, GPS, and Bluetooth. This gives you access to ride stats and added tuning capability, thanks to the data the control unit can pull from.
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The screen is easy to see and navigate, even on a sunny day.
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The UltroX motor is tucked nicely into the carbon frame.
The drive unit itself packs plenty of punch with 750 Watts and 110 Nm of torque—plus, up to 850 W/120 Nm when set to Boost mode. The other modes available are Auto, Eco, Trail, and Turbo. I spent most of my time riding in Eco setting, with the occasional swap to Auto for technical climbing.
Aventon’s Auto mode does a great job of increasing power when needed on punchy climbs and backing off once you’re flowing along again. Riders who prefer a set-it-and-forget-it style of riding will be good candidates for the Auto setting.
The delivery of power is smooth and felt pretty intuitive without sudden surges or getting bogged down. There were times, though, when I got a little more than expected, especially when using the higher-powered modes. Luckily, the drive modes are all fully tunable, so I was able to dial the power delivery into a window that matched my riding style. After spending more time with the bike, the power delivery can become more dialed in as you learn what works best for you.
The peak power is delivered earlier in the rider’s RPM range than on some e-bikes. While many motors peak over 100 RPM, the UltroX hits its peak in a more usable 78 RPM range. This means that you’re getting full assistance at a more natural cadence. So, for someone who spends more time on a non-assist mountain bike, this meshed better with my riding style.
A polarizing feature of the Current, and found on many other E-MTBs, is what Aventon calls “Overrun.” This allows riders to get a certain level of assistance after pedaling has ceased or get a little drive while ratcheting the pedals.
As someone who mostly rides acoustic mountain bikes, I would have preferred this mode to be completely shut off (as opposed to being limited to a short distance). But some riders I was with loved the feature, especially on rocky trails. When I deliberately focused on using Overrun, I could see how it could be handy to some, particularly riders who spend a lot of time on E-MTBs. Regardless, the ability to totally shut the feature down would be appreciated.
The only issue with the drive unit was a slight rattling noise. Aventon told us it comes from the clutch mechanism in the motor. This isn’t uncommon, and I’ve also experienced it from other brands’ bikes. I only occasionally heard the rattle while descending, but it sounded like there was something loose in the downtube.
Another point to note is that the battery doesn’t have a quick release. It can be removed with a few bolts, and this will be handy for those who need to charge the battery away from the bike. However, keep this in mind if you usually remove your battery so as not to exceed the weight limit found on many bike racks.
Related StoryWarranty and After-Sale Service
Aventon offers a standard two-year warranty on its bikes. That period can be extended to a lifetime (for the frameset) if the bike is registered with Aventon. The battery and motor also carry a two-year warranty.
Aventon also offers labor reimbursement to dealers ($120/hour) for warranty work. That’s something that should be standard on e-bikes, but unfortunately, it is not usually the case. Aventon has approximately 1,900 dealers (searchable on its website) for when you need warranty service performed.
Additionally, home mechanics will appreciate that Aventon doesn’t hide its technical documents. All repair info is readily accessible to the owners and your local bike shop.
Should You Buy It
The Current offers an incredible value on a platform that’s ready to ride right out of the box. The bike’s intuitive ride feel will please experienced mountain bikers and also benefit first-time mountain bikers. The Current’s motor and interface provide riders with a wide range of tuning options and lots of data.
Whether you’re looking to jump into the world of electric mountain bikes for the first time or are an experienced rider seeking a good deal on a solid E-MTB, I don’t hesitate to recommend the Aventon Current.
Trevor Raab is the senior photographer for Runner’s World and Bicycling, a dedicated cyclocross racer, and, occasionally, a product reviewer for the Test Team. He fits the typical “how I got into bikes” story: his dad introduced him to mountain bikes when he was a kid, then found skateboarding in the middle, worked as a bike shop mechanic, and now he’s riding or racing every sort of bike he can find.
