{"id":357202,"date":"2025-12-19T00:58:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T00:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/357202\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T00:58:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T00:58:18","slug":"amflow-pl-carbon-pro-review-a-new-player-in-full-power-e-mtbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/357202\/","title":{"rendered":"Amflow PL Carbon Pro Review A New Player in Full-Power e-MTBs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated6 min read<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t expect a drone company to create one of the most intriguing e-MTBs I\u2019ve ever ridden\u2014but here we are.<\/p>\n

When word spread that DJI\u2014the global giant behind drones and action cameras\u2014was building a mountain bike, most riders, myself included, were skeptical. A drone company? Making e-bikes? But then the prototypes appeared. Testers raved. Competitors quietly bought them to study. Suddenly, nobody was laughing.<\/p>\n

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro isn\u2019t just DJI\u2019s first mountain bike; it\u2019s a showcase for the company\u2019s new Avinox drive system\u2014a motor so light, powerful, and refined that it\u2019s forcing the biggest names in e-MTBs to pay attention. What\u2019s less certain is how long Amflow itself will stick around, or whether this bike will be available much longer than the buzz that launched it.<\/p>\n

The Bike<\/p>\n

Amflow PL Carbon Pro <\/p>\n

\"PL<\/a><\/p>\n

ACTUAL WEIGHT 45.2 lb.(size large)
PRICE AS TESTED $10,199
CUSTOMIZABLE BUILDS No
FRAME ONLY PURCHASE OPTION No
SIZES OFFERED M, L, XL
WEIGHT LIMIT 125 kg|276 lb (bicycle, rider, and cargo)
TIRE CLEARANCE 2.6\u201d
BB STANDARD N\/A – ebike
BRAKE HOSE ROUTING partial internal
DERAILLEUR HANGER UDH<\/a>
MIXED WHEEL COMPATIBLE? Yes
ADJUSTABLE GEOMETRY? Yes
<\/a>WARRANTY 5 years<\/a>
CRASH REPLACEMENT POLICY Yes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"amflowOpen Gallery\"\"What, and Why, Is Amflow?<\/p>\n

Amflow is the first bike brand to run DJI\u2019s Avinox M1 drive system\u2014the same system shaking up the e-mountain bike world with its combination of light weight, massive power, and uncanny smoothness. (You can read my deep dive into the Avinox system here<\/a>, but the short version is that it\u2019s the best full-power drive unit I\u2019ve tested.)<\/p>\n

Amflow currently makes just one model\u2014the PL Carbon, a 150mm-rear\/160mm-front trail bike\u2014offered in two builds: the $7,499 base model and the $10,199 Pro. My test bike was the latter.<\/p>\n

The brand sells bikes both direct to consumers and through local shops. On the surface, it behaves like any other bike company. But it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

As then-DJI product experience director Ferdinand Wolf (now at Avinox) explained in an interview with Bike Europe<\/a>, DJI launched Amflow as a showcase for its Avinox drive system\u2014a way to prove the technology to riders and convince other brands to spec it. Asked how DJI planned to convince OEMs, Wolf said, \u201cJust give them an Amflow and let them experience it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on Wolf\u2019s comments, Amflow\u2019s real purpose was clear: to get the Avinox system under riders and build demand among OEMs. Whether Amflow continues as a standalone brand or quietly fades once Avinox is firmly established remains to be seen. But its mission is obvious\u2014put the Avinox system on trails and in front of other bike makers.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

Riding the Amflow PL Carbon Pro<\/p>\n

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro ($10,199) I received for review is a solid, well-sorted bike\u2014and it costs less than many similarly equipped full-power e-MTBs.<\/p>\n

Honestly, for a first effort from a new brand, it exceeded my expectations. The build quality is high, with thoughtful touches you don\u2019t always see at this price. <\/p>\n

Take the headset preload cap, for example: it\u2019s beautifully machined, etched with a mountain landscape, and secured with a lightweight aluminum bolt. Many \u201cpremium\u201d bikes use a cheap steel bolt that rusts before the first service.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

But the PL Carbon isn\u2019t perfect. Both wheels de-tensioned quickly (though re-tensioning solved it), and the Magura MT7 brakes\u2014while capable\u2014feel dated for a modern full-power e-MTB.<\/p>\n

Geometry is another weak spot. There\u2019s no size small, and the seat tubes are quite long, which makes fitting longer-travel dropper posts difficult. The standover height is tall too: a medium Amflow has 780mm of standover, compared to 715mm on a medium Pivot Shuttle AM\u2014a difference of about 2.5 inches.<\/p>\n

The rear suspension tune comes up a bit short as well. The long-link four-bar design works well overall, but it feels slightly overdamped and a touch harsh unless both compression and rebound are run wide open. Other brands\u2014Specialized, Transition, and others\u2014get more suppleness and well-rounded performance out of similar layouts.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

That said, the Amflow handles well on both climbs and descents. While its fit and suspension could use small refinements, the handling geometry is solid, and for a full-power e-MTB, it\u2019s remarkably light.<\/p>\n

My size-large PL Carbon Pro weighed 45.2 pounds with its 800Wh battery\u2014about three pounds lighter than the Pivot Shuttle AM I\u2019m testing with a similar build, and nearly seven pounds lighter than the S-Works Levo 4.<\/p>\n

Despite its enormous power, the Amflow is easy to steer and dance through terrain, with livelier handling than most full-power e-MTBs.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not at its best in fast chunk and chunder, where the Fox 36\u2019s fork stiffness (many competing bikes use the stiffer, and heavier, 38), rear shock tune, and some frame flex add up. Heavier or more aggressive riders may find its limits there. But for most riders, it\u2019s an enjoyable, easy-to-ride, and well-mannered bike across a wide range of terrain.<\/p>\n

Matt\u2019s Rating<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Buy | It\u2019s Okay | Thumbs Up | Something Special | Unicorn<\/p>\n

This is my own unique, totally unscientific rating system. It\u2019s a mix of value, ride performance, innovation, and just plain vibes.<\/p>\n

After 30 years as a cycling test editor and riding thousands of bikes, I\u2019ve learned one big thing: most bikes are pretty good. Most get a Thumbs Up because they do what they promise, have the right parts and tech for the price, and let you get out and enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n

But every so often, a bike stands out\u2014sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. Those bikes get an It\u2019s Okay or Something Special rating.<\/p>\n

Then there are the outliers: the real misses and the real standouts.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Buy and Unicorn are my rarest ratings, reserved for bikes that genuinely stand apart in the most exceptional \u2014 or most unfortunate \u2014 ways.<\/p>\n

Matt\u2019s rating for the Amflow PL Carbon Pro:<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf1f Something Special (primarily because of the Avinox DU) \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

The Real Star: The Avinox Drive Unit<\/p>\n

In truth, the real star of the Amflow PL is its drive unit. This motor is on another level\u2014lighter, quieter, and more refined than anything from Bosch, Shimano, or Specialized.<\/p>\n

Read my full review of the superb Avinox M1 drive unit. <\/a><\/p>\n

The Avinox M1\u2019s 1,000-watt peak and 120Nm torque make it intoxicating at full power, but it\u2019s the motor\u2019s smoothness, tunability, feature depth, and near-silent operation that truly set it apart. Even dialed down to 750 watts, it feels more natural and connected than its competitors.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so good, in fact, that the bike around it occasionally feels like an afterthought. Every time I rode the Amflow, I found myself thinking, \u201cI wish this drive unit were in a Yeti or Pivot.\u201d That\u2019s how transformative it is.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

Can You Even Buy\u2014or Ride\u2014One Here?<\/p>\n

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro\u2019s Avinox M1 drive unit doesn\u2019t just blur performance boundaries\u2014it blurs legal ones, too. A recent firmware update boosted peak output to 1,000 watts and added a 28-mph Class 3 mode, even though U.S. federal and most state e-bike definitions cap motors at 750 watts.<\/p>\n

Avinox, like many brands, interprets that 750-watt limit as rated continuous power rather than a hard ceiling on peak output, and the system defaults to compliant settings each time it\u2019s powered on. Still, it technically exists in a gray area\u2014especially on non-motorized trails. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) supports only Class 1 e-MTBs\u2014pedal assist up to 20 mph and under 750 watts\u2014on non-motorized trails. Anything above that, they say, belongs on motorized routes.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s a second, bigger question: Will you even be able to buy one in the U.S. much longer? In late 2024, the federal government began moving toward restrictions on DJI\u2014the company that originally developed both Amflow and Avinox\u2014citing security concerns related to its drone business.<\/p>\n

I go into more depth on this topic in my Avinox review, which you can read here.<\/a><\/p>\n

My Amflow and Avinox contacts insist that both brands, though incubated at DJI, are now separate entities operating independently of DJI. So any government action against DJI should not impact Amflow or Avinox<\/p>\n

For now, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro remains available, and nothing concrete has changed. But amid ever-evolving rules governing e-bike power limits and trail access, plus potential import bans, there\u2019s more uncertainty surrounding this e-bike than with any other I\u2019ve tested. It\u2019s a remarkable machine caught in the middle of forces far beyond the trailhead.<\/p>\n

\"amflow<\/p>\n

Matt Phillips<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/p>\n

Even with those questions hanging over its future, one thing is certain: as a riding experience, the Amflow delivers.<\/p>\n

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro\u2019s frame may not be class-leading, but its motor absolutely is.<\/p>\n

Whether Amflow remains a long-term brand or simply fades once Avinox\u2019s technology finds its way into more bikes, it\u2019s already accomplished its goal\u2014to put Avinox’s e-MTB system in front of riders, engineers, and competitors.<\/p>\n

Member Exclusive: Check Out Our Top Cycling Stories\"Chevron\"Chevron\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt\u2019s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he\u2019s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling, Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you\u2019re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn\u2019t race often, but he\u2019s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"6 min read I didn\u2019t expect a drone company to create one of the most intriguing e-MTBs I\u2019ve…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357203,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[195543,195544,64,63,195545,195546,195552,784,195548,195547,195550,195549,195553,195551,85,195133],"class_list":{"0":"post-357202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-amflow","9":"tag-amflow-pl-carbon-pro","10":"tag-au","11":"tag-australia","12":"tag-avinox","13":"tag-avinox-m1","14":"tag-class-3-e-bike","15":"tag-cycling","16":"tag-e-mtb","17":"tag-electric-mountain-bike","18":"tag-electric-trail-bike","19":"tag-full-power-e-mtb","20":"tag-imba-trail-access","21":"tag-mountain-bike-review","22":"tag-sports","23":"tag-supes"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357202\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}