Long, low,
low-buck cruiser
{ BIKE TEST }
AM E R ICAN
CYCLE COMPANY
CURRENT
One thing you rarely get with a low-priced e-bike is style, but despite an introduc- tory suggested retail price of just $1200,
the Current from newcomer American Cycle
Company has style in reserve. All of our
test sessions were in the company of more
expensive bikes, but few riders or observers
guessed the modest pricing. At first glance
there is something a little more aggressive and
racy to the pseudo-vintage beach cruiser’s
styling cues. Then we tried to put it on a Thule
bike carrier and we saw the difference. A
typical city bike in our stable has a 46.5-inch
wheelbase. The Current’s 52-inch wheelbase
is stretched between the crank and the steering head to achieve the laid-back look, but
that stretch makes the swept-back handlebar
work with a comfortable but not overly upright
riding position.
“In most important respects, the performance of the Current is quite good.
The ride is aided by a padded
saddle and the fat tires.” The Current comes in the rich cream and red like our test machine or in matte black, but
in either makeup, it puts a good face forward.
We are partial to the cream-and-red unit, and
it never failed to attract fans as we rode. With
white sidewalls on the sizable flame-tread tires
and the red accent stripe on the center of the
rims, the wheels have an almost four-tone look
that is distinctive. The Current isn’t all style,
though. It is equipped with a Shimano sev-en-speed cassette and derailleur, a rack, padded grips, a suspension seatpost, and front
and rear lighting. It also has a keyed ignition
and a switch to power up the lights on the fly.
