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In the ever-evolving landscape of electric bikes, the Priority Current stands out as a distinguished contender. Its reliable performance, high-speed capabilities, and array of high-quality components have earned it much praise. It’s our top pick for Best Belt Drive E-Bike. Now, let’s explore the ins and outs of the Priority Current e-bike.
Table of contents
Key e-bike details
Basics
- Base Price: $3,299
- Class: 3
- Max Speed: 28 mph
- Estimated Range: 20 to 50 miles
- Weight: 53 lbs
Motor & Electronics
- Motor: 500W mid-drive motor
- Torque: 140 Nm
- Motor location: Mid-drive
- Battery: 500wh 48v battery
- PAS Sensor: Torque
- Throttle: No
- Display: Backlit display
Components
- Brakes: Dual piston hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors
- Drivetrain: Gates Carbon CDX belt with Shimano Inter-5 internal hub or Enviolo Heavy Duty
- Belt Drive: Yes
- Tires: 650B puncture resistant
Misc
- Recommended Rider Height:
- Small: 5’0″ – 5’6″
- Medium: 5’6″ – 5’10”
- Large: 5’10” – 6’23”
- Max Rider Weight: not given
- Payload Capacity: not given
What we like about it
- Quality components: The Current is built with quality components and materials, which contribute to a solid ride experience and very few maintenance issues.
- Mid-drive motor with torque sensor: This is our preferred e-bike setup. The mid-drive motor provides ample power (500 watts) and when it’s paired with the torque sensor it gives you a very natural pedaling experience without any of the sudden accelerations that come with a cadence sensor.
- Tons of Torque: With 140 Nm of torque, the Priority Current accelerates very fast and is a beast on hills.
- Belt drive with internal geared hub: We love a belt drive due to their longevity, reduced maintenance needs, and the smooth pedaling experience. The Current’s Gates Carbon belt-drive paired with an internal gear hub makes this e-bike perfect for folks commuting in rainy weather.
- Rain fenders: The rain fenders on the Current go super far down providing excellent coverage on both the rear and front wheels. As someone that rides my e-bikes in Seattle rain, fenders are very important to me 🙂
- High speed capabilities: The bike can achieve a maximum uncapped speed of up to 28 mph, though it is more comfortable and less effortful at a top speed of 24-25mph, depending on the rider’s weight and cargo.
- Agility: The Current is agile and responsive making it easy to handle all sorts of terrain, including dirt & gravel trails.
- Design and aesthetics: This e-bike sports a clean, aesthetically pleasing design.
- Customer service: Priority is praised throughout the bicycle industry as being one of the best Direct to Consumer (DTC) brands for customer service. While their bikes are very reliable and of good build quality, if issues do come up, online forums are full of people saying positive things about the customer service they received.
Where it falls short
- Battery life: With a 20 to 50 mile range people with long distance commutes may find this to be not enough, especially if you ride on level 5 pedal assist. That being said, they do offer a battery range extender ($799) that can give you about another 50 miles.
- No throttle: The Current lacks a throttle, which some riders might find inconvenient, especially when having to start on a hill.
In-depth review
In the ever-evolving landscape of electric bikes, the Priority Current stands out as a distinguished contender. Its reliable performance, high-speed capabilities, and array of high-quality components have earned it much praise. Let’s explore the ins and outs of the Priority Current e-bike.
The Priority Current was shipped to me 95% assembled. All I had to do was install the front tire, handlebars, fenders, and pedals. It took me close to about an hour to get it assembled, a bit longer than my initial estimate of 20 minutes. Overall it was easy to assemble, but I did have a little bit of trouble with getting the handlebars mounted. Here’s a video of my unboxing and assembling my Priority Current:
The Current boasts an array of top-notch components that give this e-bike a smooth and enjoyable riding experience with few maintenance concerns. I’m impressed that Priority is able to offer such a good quality e-bike at this price. While it’s certainly not the cheapest e-bike out there, I think you are getting a really good value for the price. Priority has positioned itself as a reliable choice for riders who are seeking an e-bike that brings robust, quality parts together into a single, seamless package.
For those whose thrill of riding comes from pushing speed limits, the Current offers an impressive maximum uncapped speed of up to 28 mph. Although, it truly shines when cruising at around 24-25mph, a speed at which it remains comfortable and relatively effortless. Keep in mind, that top speed can vary depending on the weight of the rider and any additional cargo being carried.
One of the standout features is the Current’s Gates Carbon belt drive paired with an internal gear hub. Belt drives are known for their longevity, reduced maintenance, and smooth pedaling experience, making them a popular choice among e-bike commuters. Paired with the internal gear hub, the Current is perfect for commutes in all weather, including those rainy days when a traditional chain would get covered in the wet city grit.
Speaking of wet weather, the Current’s rain fenders extend very far down from the wheel providing excellent coverage on both the rear and front wheels. As someone that rides my e-bikes in Seattle rain, fenders are very important to me.
I’m also a big fan of the Current’s mid-drive 500 watts motor coupled with torque sensor. This is my preferred e-bike setup. The combination of the mid-drive motor and torque sensor gives you a very natural pedaling experience unlike rear hub motors with cadence sensors. This is especially helpful when you are navigating multi-use trails where you might need to adjust your speed. With a torque sensor you can simply pedal a bit softer and the e-bike will back off the power.
The Current’s proprietary motor also has a tremendous amount of torque, 140 newton meters (Nm) of it. This is way more than it’s competitors. Most of e-bikes that are considered great for hills have around 80 Nm of torque. This means the Current can accelerate really quickly and tackle hills easily.
The Current doesn’t compromise on comfort, either. It’s equipped with a stock saddle that’s noted for its comfort, standing tall against competing e-bike brands.
Another commendable feature is the bike’s agility. The Current responds well to rider input, handling varied terrain with ease, from dirt to gravel trails. I really like how well it handles the curves and it responded well when I had to quickly maneuver to avoid a big pothole.
In terms of design and aesthetics, the Current doesn’t disappoint. Its clean, sleek design stands out, but it doesn’t compromise on function or performance.
Customer service can often be an afterthought for many companies, but not Priority. They have developed a reputation for stellar customer service within the bicycle industry, recognized as one of the best Direct to Consumer (DTC) brands. While their bikes are highly reliable and of exceptional build quality, if issues do arise, online forums are full of people with positive experiences working with Priority’s customer service.
While the Current ticks many boxes, there are two areas of improvement. First, is the e-bike’s battery life, which offers a range of 20 to 50 miles. Depending on what level of pedal assist you like to ride (I like max power) you may find that it won’t handle a long commute very well. That being said, Priority does offer a battery range extender ($799) which can significantly extend your ride for a total of 100 miles. Even on max power you should be able to 50 miles at a minimum.
One drawback for some riders is the lack of a throttle. Starting on a hill can be a challenge without this feature, and some riders might find its absence inconvenient. However, this omission is balanced out by the bike’s other powerful features, including the high-quality components, belt drive system, mid-drive motor with torque sensor, and excellent customer service.
In conclusion, the Priority Current e-bike stands as a reliable and efficient choice in the e-bike market, especially for those riding in inclement rainy weather. It’s an attractive option for those who value quality, performance, comfort, and aesthetics. This is why it’s our top-pick for the Best Belt Drive E-Bike.
Watch our YouTube review
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I’ve had my current for a month now and completely agree with you about the battery. It really needs to be 750 watt-hour. I get to about 50% indicated on the gauge and the battery output drops like a rock. I still get about 25 miles on a charge (just across the Sound from Seattle) but that last five miles is a lot of work. Upping the battery by 50% would really hold off the power drop and get the bike solidly in the middle of the range estimate. Priority’s (very responsive) customer service told me what I’m seeing is a result of the battery management system trying to conserve energy. I’m sorry, but the last part of my rides is always a long uphill slog and I would really prefer it if I could tell the battery what I wanted from it rather than the other way around. My only other complaint is with the high gear on the Enviolo hub. At my typical cadence I’ll pedal past the highest gear at about 18mph – where the rate I’m pedaling at is basically just spinning. If I up the cadence to as fast as I can go, I pedal past the gear at about 26. Really need to shave a few teeth off that gear 🙂
But, I’m using it as a fitness bike and don’t really need the range and can make do with the rest. Would be nice to get a spare battery or three, though.
I’d love to see a review of the Evelo Atlas if you could get your hands on one.
i’ve ridden my priority current with the enviolo shifter 950 miles. Agree about the torque–this will climb a wall in level 4-5. I always ride in level 2 (3-4 on big hills) and I’ve averaged 36 miles of range for the life of the bike. Long lightly hilly rides exclusively on level 2 give me 42 miles of range. And like you said, level 4-5 to scoot somewhere fast will burn the range quickly. My one complaint about the bike is if you take a turn too steeply while pedaling, you will bottom out pedals–it’s that close to the ground. Priority customer service is great–they answer calls and emails quickly. I wish they would update the display software with more visual voltage numbers such as current as its expended and current voltage of the pack.