The Current feels designed for broad appeal, and it’s set up well to deliver on that. The geometry, suspension travel, and overall trail feel make it a strong trail / all-mountain option that can handle a pretty wide range of terrain and riding stylesfrom tight and twisty trails, to steep climbs, or fast, fun descents.
Part of that all-around appeal comes from the full 29” wheel setup and the 140/150mm suspension platform.
The 29ers bring good stability and rollover capability. They’re usually not quite as agile as bikes with a 27.5” rear wheel, but the Current still has a playful side thanks in part to its 455mm chainstays. I never felt like it was lacking in the handling department, and it still moved through tighter, windier flow sections really well.
Our team also found it easy to get the bike off the ground. Standing still, you can sense a little more rearward heft from the aluminum rear triangle compared to the carbon front when you lift it up, but that weight mostly disappears once you’re on the trail. In practice, it never felt like it was holding the bike back. We found ourselves actively looking for trail features to pop off, and it was a blast doing so.
The 140/150mm RockShox suspension package performs well. The Lyrik Select fork and Super Deluxe Select+ shock strike a nice balance between plushness and support on the trails we tested in both Arizona and Utah, where chunky rock gardens are the norm. The main limitation showed up at the highest speeds, where trail chatter became a little more noticeable. Riders who really like to push hard may eventually want a Zeb up front, but for most people, the Lyrik will be more than good enough.
Situationally, the bike is just a really strong performer. It handled both climbing and descending better than we expected. The geometry plays a big role there, with a 64.6-degree head tube angle and a 76.6-degree seat tube angle. It leans trail-oriented overall, but the head angle starts to edge toward slacker enduro territory. The result is a bike that feels comfortable on the climbs and more than capable when pointed downhill.
The SRAM drivetrain and brakes are another major highlight. Wireless SRAM shifting on a bike around this price point feels like a real luxury. Shifting was reliable on a nice 12-speed groupset, and the motor system does a nice job of helping smooth out less-than-perfect shift timing.
The brakes are extremely powerful. I used to be a little mixed on them because they take some adjustment (they felt too powerful to me at first), but I’ve come around in a big way. Now I think they’re excellent, and I’m even considering them for my own eMTB. Again, getting that kind of brake setup on a bike at this price is a huge win.
The tires and dropper feel more in line with what you’d expect at this price. The Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR combo is a proven setup, and the tubeless-ready design is always appreciated. The tires are grippy enough and roll well. The EXO casings aren’t the toughest option out there (especially if you ride in rocky, thorn-heavy desert terrain like we do) so that’s one area some riders may want to upgrade.
The X-Fusion Manic dropper post worked well, with 150mm or 170mm of travel depending on frame size.
The rest of the touchpoints are solid. We appreciate the wider 780/800mm handlebar choice fo balanced steering control. The bar could have used a bit more rise, but we could chalk that up to personal preference.
The Selle Royal SRX saddle occasionally felt like it grabbed at our shorts a bit because of its texture, but saddles, grips, and pedals are also in that personal preference category anyway, and those are easy swaps if needed.
For riders not needing the carbon front, you can also look at the Current ADV. This bike is fully aluminum with a most of the other parts a step below on the spec tier if you’re not looking to ride as aggressively and would rather save the $1400 or so in cost difference.
Overall, the Current exceeded expectations in the handling department at nearly every turn. And when you combine that ride quality with a parts package that mixes premium and genuinely luxurious features at this price point, the value starts to feel elite. If there’s any hesitation because this is Aventon’s first full-suspension eMTB, I wouldn’t stress too much about that either. Aventon for years has been one of the fastest-growing names in cycling, it has a proven track record, and its service network is already well established, which gives the Current a pretty reassuring long-term outlook.
