The Affordable E-Mountain Bike Taking the US by Storm: Aventon Current ADV E-MTB Review

We were surrounded by rock outcroppings that felt like another world. As we rode along the sandy and decomposed-granite singletrack, I looked up and noticed a rock drop. I turned the bars and pedaled up the steep, undulating rock face, which was full of elongated spines, cracks, and divots.

As I pedaled the Aventon Current ADV, I noticed how completely silent the motor was, enabling me to absorb the surrounding sounds of nature and immerse myself in the location. Despite being quiet, the power delivery was strong, smooth, and punchy. The Auto Mode didn’t detract from the motor’s clean execution, either, which I liked so much that I set it and forgot it.

Now, in this Moab-esque terrain, it was time to see how capable this e-MTB was, with a fun bit of freeride-style riding.

Rolling into the blind drop, I focused on keeping my alignment solid — being extra mindful of the sharp, coarse, firm rock. I took off and, upon landing, was reminded how firm the rock was; the bike handled it well, and I rode away clean.

In short: The new, progressive Aventon Current ADV ($3,999) electric mountain bike delivers solid trail performance at an extremely competitive price. The brand’s first-ever full-suspension build delivers a 29er, with 140/150mm suspension and a proprietary, powerful motor on a stable, responsive, and playful platform. Furthermore, the Current ADV uniquely boasts 4G technology — enabling anti-theft features like geofencing and remote battery disabling — and automatically records ride stats in the app. I particularly like the Auto power mode and jump stats. Keeping the cockpit super clean, the flush touchscreen display is nicely built into the top tube.

Check out our other favorite electric bikes in our Best Electric Bikes buyer’s guide.

Field Testing Aventon’s First-Ever Full-Suspension Electric Mountain Bike

I rode the Aventon Current ADV on several rides in Colorado. The terrain was a mix of flowy trails, chunky singletrack in the mountains, and techy rock rides in the high-alpine desert.

I’ve been riding e-MTBs for 8 years, and started mountain biking 29 years ago. I tested a Large frame (that I found to be true to size). I’m 5’11”, 165 pounds.

The Aventon is a better bike for its dollar in its class. While it doesn’t have a legacy motor (and I’ll have to see how the in-house motor’s durability and performance hold up in the long term), for a budget bike, it’s specced with reasonable components and still lands below comparable models like the Norco Sight VLT A3 ($4,799).

How It Rides

My first impression is that I feel right at home on the Current ADV. The bike’s ergonomics felt instantly comfortable for my riding style. My focus is downhill, dynamic, fast, and flowy, rowdy and loose — depending on the day and the trail. The way the weight is distributed makes the bike feel closer to 52 pounds (rather than the brand-cited 56 pounds).

The suspension with the stock-suggested air pressures felt well-balanced. The rebound and compression dampening made the bike feel poppy and playful.

The bike handled a variety of terrain well. I rode winding, rolling singletrack, occasionally coming across rough rock gardens that the bike smoothly absorbed. Along the way, I spotted a few choose-your-own-adventure rock rides that I was able to power up (pun intended) and rally down.

Even though this is the baseline model, I was happy to see the bike specced with the Maxxis Minion combo — Maxxis Minion DHF 29″ x 2.5″ in the front and a Maxxis Minion DHR II 29″ x 2.4″ in the rear, though I would prefer a stiffer sidewall than the EXO casing. Preferably DoubleDown, for those who know what I’m talking about.

The cockpit was nice, and the handlebars had a comfy curve. Also, the 800Wh battery is huge. It’s certainly a large battery that will give you plenty of range.

Proprietary Aventon Ultro X Mid-Drive Motor

Many e-MTBs use third-party motors, like Bosch or Shimano — but Aventon developed its own proprietary mid-drive motor.

It pumps out 110Nm of torque and boosts to 120Nm. Most high-end eMTBs top out at 85Nm–90Nm — like the Specialized Turbo Full Power 2.2 at 90Nm and the Shimano EP801 at 85Nm — making the bike shred up steep climbs. (I’m honestly surprised that the torque is higher than on the Santa Cruz Bullit, which maxes out at 85Nm.)

The motor is so quiet on delivery, it’s almost silent — it’s got to be the quietest I’ve ever ridden. Though I did notice a slight rattle on bumpier terrain. It’s much less noticeable than the older Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 and Shimano EP8 motors.

Auto Power Mode

Rather than needing to switch between power modes, the Auto Mode does it for you. An internal sensor (an IMU) reads the pedal torque, cadence, and the slope/incline. It automatically ramps up motor power when the hill gets steep or pedal cadence increases, and dials it back on the flats.

I spent most of my time riding in the Auto power mode. The bike modulates power well, depending on how much effort I put into the pedals. I would say it’s a livelier power delivery because it’s more dynamic compared to the linear modes (Eco, Trail, Turbo, Boost).

Innovative 4G Communication: Easier to Tune & Track

Built-in 4G means the bike has its own dedicated cellular chip installed inside the frame (powered by the Aventon Control Unit, or ACU). It basically has its own independent internet connection anywhere there is cell service.

That 4G lets the bike upload its current battery percentage, location, and diagnostic health to the server, so you can check on it remotely on the Aventon: MyRide App. Want to know if your battery is fully charged while you’re sitting inside a coffee shop or at work? Even if you are miles away from the bike, you can check. 

With 4G (and regardless of whether you open your phone), the bike automatically tracks your ride statistics — trail route, speed, and mileage — and uploads them to your app profile, even if your phone is dead or sitting in the truck.

Also, Aventon can send wireless software updates directly to the bike’s computer via the 4G network. This allows them to tweak motor efficiency or improve battery management. They can even unlock new digital features and screen layouts without you needing to plug the bike into a computer or visit a bike shop.

Overrun Adjustment & Anti-Wheelie Assist

Built-in sensors monitor the bike’s pitch and weight distribution. If the software senses that the front end is getting light, it instantly, smoothly micro-adjusts the motor’s power delivery to help keep the front tire firmly planted. This prevents the rider from flipping backward.

I didn’t really notice this feature during my rides and could still easily wheelie the bike. If desired, you can turn this feature completely off in the app settings. In the app, you can crank the overrun time up for highly technical, rocky trails, or turn it down if you want a more traditional, immediate motor cutoff.

Top-Tube Touchscreen: Air Time, Jump Tracking

When catching air, the bike’s internal sensors detect that the wheels have left the ground, a gamification element. You can read the metric on the top-tube touchscreen and a more detailed breakdown in the app. The log includes the total number of jumps and accrued air time.

A track shows where along the GPS route the jumps occurred. There’s also an Aventon digital achievement called the “Jump” Medal that’s awarded to high achievers.

Lead Safety: GPS, Anti-Theft Security

You can use the app to draw a digital fence (called a Geofence) around your bike. The bike’s internal sensors detect the vibration or movement and use the 4G network to send an instant push notification alert to your phone, warning you that someone is tampering with it. You can see exactly where your bike is in real-time.

With the app, you can remotely trigger a “Report Lost” command from your phone. It instantly deactivates the motor entirely via the 4G network — and yes, that would send the thief flying.

Critiques

On drops, I did notice the shock felt a bit dead on heavy hits. That being said, a rider could certainly swap the shock to something higher-end. This is still a budget-oriented bike.

The premium version of this bike, the EXP ($5,999), has a carbon frame (compared to alloy) with the RockShox Lyrik Select fork, Super Deluxe Select+ shock, and SRAM Maven Base brakes. Those shock and fork models offer greater tunability, while the brakes are more powerful.

In contrast, the ADV has the more entry-level RockShox Psylo Gold fork, Deluxe Select+ shock, and SRAM DB8 Stealth brakes — which still get the job done. I found the bike performed well with these components.

At a minimum, a bike this heavy would be better specced with EXO+ casing tires. Or, for pure performance, DoubleDown, which is designed to handle high-speed Enduro racing and heavy, high-torque e-bikes. If you stood holding the DHF parallel to the ground, an EXO casing would flop over. A DoubleDown casing retains its rigid shape due to its stiffer sidewall. While I didn’t pop a sidewall or get a pinch flat while testing the ADV, riding hard on basic EXO casings means it’s only a matter of time.

Who It’s For

This Aventon Current ADV electric mountain bike packs a solid punch, even though it comes with lower-end components.

It’s perfect for your up-and-coming kid who’s hard on their gear and wants to smash up a new e-bike! And for any rider who’s looking for a solid e-mountain bike at an affordable price. On top of the bike’s build, the app offers a ton of features and adjustability options.

If you have range anxiety or like to do really big rides, this 800Wh battery is right for you.

This bike doesn’t come with the highest-end suspension or lightest frame, but it’s an all-mountain crusher with strong downhill capabilities — it’s ready for any ride.