Amflow PL Carbon Pro Review: 10 Pros, 10 Cons Is This the Future of Full‑Power eMTBs?

The first time you see the Amflow PL Carbon sprint up a climb, it feels a bit like cheating physics. It looks close to a regular trail bike, yet climbs like a chairlift with pedals.

This bike has been hyped as a disruptor of the eBike industry, thanks to a DJI/Avinox derived motor that borrows a lot of tech from the drone world. But hype is easy. What matters is how it rides, where it shines, and where it falls short.

This review is built around exactly that. You get 10 clear pros and 10 clear cons, based on long term riding, back‑to‑back testing against popular full‑power eMTBs, and proper hill climb and heat tests. No glow-only fan piece, no pure hate review.

Key things to know up front:

The bike here is the Amflow PL Carbon Pro, the top build.
Price is about $10,500 USD, with a recent sale dropping it to around $8,600.
It runs a full‑power motor with 105 Nm / 850 W, and a boost mode up to 120 Nm / 1,000 W.
It packs an 800 Wh battery, 150–160 mm travel, and weighs about 45.5 lb stock without pedals.
It has been tested back to back with bikes like the Specialized Levo and top Bosch CX builds over steep, long climbs and real trail rides.

You can check official specs and availability on the Amflow PL Carbon Pro page.

Motor from the future? Let’s find out where this thing really lands.

Amflow PL Carbon Pro: What It Is and Who It’s For

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro is the first U.S. bike built fully around the DJI/Avinox motor system. When this drive unit first showed up at Eurobike, some brands literally called it vaporware. They did not believe the claimed power, size, and features were real.

So instead of waiting for others, DJI’s bike division launched Amflow as its own brand to showcase the motor in a complete bike. The PL Carbon platform is their take on a light looking, full‑power trail eMTB.

Key design goals:

Full‑power performance, not a “SL” style low‑power bike
Long‑travel trail focus, roughly 150–160 mm
As light and clean looking as possible for a full‑power build
Modern tech: touchscreen display, wireless remotes, and app control

It targets riders who want the shove of a Bosch or Shimano full‑power system, but hate the brick‑like look and weight of many big eMTBs. If you are coming from analog bikes and are nervous about bulky, 55–60 lb eMTBs, this bike is built with you in mind.

Motor and Battery: Drone Tech On Dirt

At the heart of the Amflow PL Carbon Pro is that DJI/Avinox derived motor. On paper, it reads wild, and on trail it mostly lives up to it.

Motor specs

105 Nm of torque in standard full‑power mode
850 W peak power
Up to 120 Nm and 1,000 W when you hold the “turbo” or up button for a boost mode
Very compact size and impressively quiet for the power it puts out

You also get:

A touchscreen display mounted on the top tube
Two wireless remotes, one on each side of the bar, that you can remove if you want a cleaner cockpit
A smartphone app (iPhone in the review) that lets you tune behavior, update firmware, and dig into data

Battery and weight

The Pro build here runs the 800 Wh internal battery. You can also get a 600 Wh version, which drops a bit more weight.

With 800 Wh battery and stock 29er carbon wheels: about 45.5 lb without pedals
With a 600 Wh battery, it would be around 43 lb, which is crazy light for a full‑power system

The battery is slim and fully integrated. There is no range extender and no quick‑swap pack. More on why that matters in the cons section.

How It Was Ridden and Tested

This review is based on:

Over 20 rides on this exact Amflow PL Carbon Pro
Time on it box stock in full 29er form
Time after converting to a mullet with a 27.5 inch rear wheel, carbon wheels with fiber spokes, and different tires
Standardized hill climb tests using a power meter to match rider effort
A long, punishing 5 mile, 2,000 ft road climb at full effort to see if the motor overheats or fades

The bike was also compared directly to popular full‑power eMTBs using Bosch and Shimano systems on the same climbs and trails, ridden at matched rider power.

This is not a parking lot impression. It is a proper lived‑with test.

The 10 Pros: Where the Amflow PL Carbon Pro Shines

Pro 1: Lightweight build with proven suspension

The Amflow PL Carbon frame uses a Horst link suspension layout (called “four‑bar” by many), which is widely used on eMTBs for good reason. The patent has expired, so a lot of brands rely on it because it pedals well and stays active under braking.

Highlights here:

Dual link design for stiffness around the rear triangle
Well thought‑out frame details like a black chain, short stubby stem, and a wide handlebar out of the box
Once sag, pressure, and rebound are dialed, the suspension feels supple and supportive

For a first effort from a new brand name, the frame and suspension execution is surprisingly polished.

Pro 2: Impressive stock weight for a full‑power bike

Stock, with the 800 Wh battery and 29er carbon wheels, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro weighed in at 45.5 lb without pedals. That is lighter than many so‑called “light” full‑power builds.

Swap to the 600 Wh battery and you are likely near 43 lb, still with a full‑power drive unit. For context, many other full‑power eMTBs hover in the 50–55 lb range.

If you want a bike that looks and handles closer to a regular mountain bike, but still has big motor output, this weight is a huge selling point.

Pro 3: Motor performance that feels from the future

Here is where this bike pulls away, sometimes literally.

In a standardized steep hill test, using a power meter to match rider effort:

A Shimano equipped bike took about 6 minutes to climb the test hill
The Amflow PL Carbon with the DJI/Avinox motor did it in around 3 minutes and change at the same rider power

On a longer 5 mile, 2,000 ft climb (Montebello style paved climb), ridden at full personal effort with max motor support:

Many full‑power eMTBs, including the newest Bosch motors, clock 18–20 minutes
The Amflow did it in about 14 minutes

Despite that brutal test, it did not overheat or shut down. It just kept pushing.

There is also a 28 mph “commuter” mode that lets you run higher assist on the road, turning the bike into a very fast urban or fire road machine.

In short, the power is not just numbers on a page. It shows up in real climbing speed.

Pro 4: Surprisingly good real‑world range

When this motor system first appeared, some early comments online slammed its range. That usually came from riders blasting around at close to 1,000 W all the time, then being shocked when the 800 Wh battery drained quickly.

A few key points on range:

At full boost, the motor can draw a lot of power, and no rider can really “keep up” with that on the pedals
Because the bike climbs so fast, you actually spend less time on long climbs, which means less total time drawing high power
In big group rides with bikes like the Specialized Levo and Bosch powered bikes, ridden hard but not at constant max boost, the Amflow often finished the ride with more battery left

If you treat it like a rocket all the time, you will empty the tank fast. If you ride it like a powerful trail bike, the range is impressive for a full‑power setup.

Pro 5: Modern tech that fades into the background

The bike is loaded with tech, but most of it stays out of your way once you know how it works.

You get:

A touchscreen display on the top tube. You actually have to tap the screen to wake and start the system, which confused the tester at first because he only pressed buttons.
Two wireless remotes, left and right. You can run both, remove one, or even go without to clean up the cockpit.
A smartphone app that lets you change settings, see ride data, and apply firmware updates. It feels like something borrowed from the drone side of DJI.
A fast charger with a metal body, which feels solid and likely helps with heat dissipation. This kind of premium charger is usually limited to ultra high‑end builds like Specialized S‑Works models.

For riders who enjoy tuning and tech, this system opens a lot of doors. If you are more old school, you can mostly ignore the deep settings and just ride.

Also Read: Eahora Juliet Pro II e-bike Review: Electric Powerhouse on Two Fat Tires

Pro 6: Magura MT7 brakes that can keep up

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro comes with Magura MT7 brakes, a powerful 4‑piston setup with a strong reputation.

Some details that matter:

Lever shape is a bit square and can feel odd until you tilt the levers to match your finger angle
Once bedded in and positioned correctly, the power is more than enough for a fast full‑power eMTB
The bike does not use floating rotors that can rattle, which many riders will appreciate
If you want more feel, you can swap to Magura’s upgraded HSC levers, but the stock setup already stops very well

Bottom line, the brakes are not flashy new models, but they are trusted and strong.

Pro 7: Professional packaging and a growing dealer network

Most riders buying this bike will go the direct route or through smaller shops, so packaging and support matter.

Good news on both fronts:

The bike comes in a custom box that uses structure, not piles of foam, to protect the frame
There is enough protection where it counts, but not bags of random packing material
Inside, the presentation is tidy and professional

On the shop side, Amflow has already signed a handful of local dealers within a short window, including several in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are expanding as fast as they reasonably can, though the network is still small compared to the big legacy brands.

Pro 8: Fun, capable trail manners

Once the suspension pressures and rebound were sorted, the bike rode very well on real trails.

Highlights:

The suspension feel is supple off the top, then supportive enough for trail riding
Geometry sits in the “trail” zone, not ultra slack freeride, which makes it easy to live with on a mix of climbs and descents
The seat tube angle is around 77 degrees, so climbing position is strong and you sit over the pedals nicely

Stock, as a 29er with the flip chip in low, the bottom bracket felt a bit high and the tester is not a big fan of full 29er for aggressive riding. After switching to a mullet setup (27.5 inch rear wheel) and keeping the flip chip low, the bike:

Sat lower, which helped cornering
Gained a slightly slacker head angle
Offered more butt clearance behind the saddle for steeper or more playful terrain

With those changes, the ride quality jumped from “good” to “exciting” for aggressive trail riding.

Pro 9: Constant firmware updates that really matter

One of the largest hidden strengths of this system is the pace of firmware development.

In about six months, the motor firmware has seen five or six meaningful updates. These are not just bug fixes, they are new features and better behavior pushed to bikes that are already in customers’ garages.

Some standout features added or improved through firmware:

Co‑shift
When you are at the top of a climb in a very easy gear and need to drop into a harder gear for the descent, you often cannot pedal while shifting because of rocks or sketchy ground. With co‑shift, you can shift while coasting, and the motor gently turns the cranks on its own, just enough to let the chain move across the cassette. You barely feel it, but it lets you be in the right gear without awkward pedal strokes.
28 mph commuter mode
For road or bike path use (where legal), you can unlock a higher assist limit for a fast, almost moped‑like ride.
Chain protect during shifts
Under high load, the motor eases off power while you shift, which helps protect the chain and cassette and makes shifts smoother.

Because the display and system do not rely on a separate small “access” battery, everything pulls from the main pack and controller, which simplifies things and makes those smart tricks easier to implement.

Pro 10: Clean, integrated electronics

There is no extra little battery to charge for the display or remotes. Everything is powered off the main battery and central controller.

That means:

Fewer things to remember to charge
Less chance of dead remotes or screens at the trailhead
More options for smart modes, including potential automatic shifting in the future for commuter style builds

For riders who hate small nuisance batteries, this is a quiet but very real benefit.

The 10 Cons: Real Drawbacks You Need To Know

Now to the other side. This bike has genuine weaknesses, and they matter for the right buyer.

Con 1: Fit issues and no small size

The sizing range on the Amflow PL Carbon is medium, large, and extra‑large only. There is no small size.

On top of that:

The seat tube is tall, which limits how low you can get the saddle
The seat tube also has a bend, which means a dropper post will “bottom out” against that bend and cannot slide very deep into the frame

The stock dropper is on the shorter side. If you like long‑travel droppers and ride a smaller frame in other brands, you could run into problems getting enough saddle drop for steep terrain.

Con 2: 29er native frame with mullet compromises

From the factory, the bike is a 29er front and rear with carbon wheels and Maxxis Assegai front and Dissector rear. The frame is designed as a 29er, so all key dimensions like chainstay length and bottom bracket height are based on that.

Amflow says the bike is mullet compatible, and it does work with a 27.5 rear wheel, but there are caveats:

Stock, with 29ers, the flip chip sits in “low” for proper geometry
With a mullet wheel, the chart says you should move the flip chip to “high” to keep the design numbers, but that then sends the bottom bracket height back up
The tester kept the flip chip in low with a mullet rear, which lowered the bottom bracket and slackened the head angle slightly

That setup felt better, but it is technically outside the official design. Also, Amflow does not sell a mullet wheelset, so you need to sort that through your dealer or your own parts bin.

Con 3: Fixed internal battery, no quick swaps

The 800 Wh battery is fixed inside the frame. You cannot drop a hatch and slide it out in 30 seconds like a Levo, and you cannot unbolt it in 10 minutes like some other designs.

If you want to swap the battery, it is:

A shop‑level job, not a trailside task
Not something you will do between laps or big days in the mountains

For riders who like to carry a second battery and swap for all‑day missions, this is a real drawback.

Con 4: No range extender support

Unlike some newer Specialized and Bosch powered full‑power eMTBs, there is no support for a range extender bottle battery on the Amflow PL Carbon.

What you see is what you get:

800 Wh or 600 Wh internal
No plug‑in extra pack option

If you want extremely long days without managing modes, this limits your options compared to bikes that accept range extenders.

Con 5: Conservative trail geometry, not a mini‑DH sled

On paper and on trail, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro rides like a trail bike, not an all‑out enduro or bike‑park machine.

The geometry feels similar to an older generation Stumpjumper style layout:

Not ultra slack in the head angle
Not super long in reach
Good for technical trail and general riding, but not a planted missile for steep bike‑park laps

The tester mentioned that bikes with more modern, aggressive numbers, like very slack head angles and very stiff frames, feel better for full‑on enduro. The Amflow can handle rough and steep sections, just do not expect it to feel like a heavy‑duty long‑travel bruiser.

Con 6: Flex in the stock stem and rear triangle

Some heavier riders have reported and felt flex in the stem and chainstays when pushing hard.

You can even see a bit of movement in the stem by pressing down on the bar. At around 150 lb, the tester did not feel this as a problem in real riding, even while riding aggressively.

If you are a 220–240 lb rider who rides hard, you may notice more twist or movement when loading the bike in corners and compressions. A stiffer aftermarket stem would be a smart first upgrade.

Con 7: Light wheel and tire spec for an eMTB

The stock wheel and tire package is on the lighter side for a full‑power eMTB:

Maxxis tires in EXO casing, which is usually more of a trail bike casing, not a reinforced eMTB option
A Dissector rear tire where many riders would prefer a burlier DHR for braking and support
The spokes on the stock wheels do not seem to be double butted and are tensioned quite high

If you ride in rocky terrain, sharp edges and a powerful motor are rough on light casings. Expect to upgrade to tougher tires and possibly stronger wheels if you push the bike hard on rough ground.

Con 8: Noticeable drivetrain drag when the motor is off

With the motor off, spinning the cranks on this bike feels draggy. It can almost feel like your brakes are lightly rubbing, even when they are not.

Measured by lifting the rear wheel and spinning, the extra drag was around 3 lb of resistance. It was higher when the motor was brand new and has eased slightly over time.

That means:

You will burn a few extra watts when pedaling with the motor off, estimated around 10–20 W
Some of that drag also shows up as extra load the motor has to overcome, so it has a small hit on efficiency

Most eMTBs have some drag, but this system has more than average right now.

Con 9: Small display with a lot of wasted plastic

The top tube display packs a lot of data into a small active screen area. Surrounding it is a fairly large plastic frame.

On trail, this means:

The numbers are hard to read while riding, especially at speed or in bright light
It feels less refined compared to displays like Bosch’s Kiox 500/400 series, which offer larger, clearer screens in tidy packages

The physical size of the housing suggests a bigger display, but the actual visible area is not that large.

Con 10: Dealer network is still small and maturing

While Amflow has started to build a dealer base, it is:

Nowhere near the scale of brands like Specialized, Trek, or Giant
Often made up of smaller, newer dealers, since many premium shops are already committed to big legacy brands

That means support can be patchy depending on where you live. If you have a local Amflow dealer, you are in good shape. If not, you may be on your own for some service work or have to ship parts or the bike.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Amflow PL Carbon Pro?

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro is not perfect, but it is important. It proves that a full‑power eMTB can be almost as light and nimble as many “SL” style bikes, while still pulling away from Bosch and Shimano systems on big climbs.

It is a great option if:

You want maximum climbing speed and strong assist, but hate the feel of 50+ lb bikes
You ride mostly trail and all‑mountain terrain, not constant bike‑park double blacks
You are comfortable sorting some upgrades over time, like tires, maybe a stem, and possibly a mullet wheel

It might not be for you if:

You need a size small frame
You want a removable battery or range extender system
You are a very heavy, very aggressive rider who demands the stiffest frames and wheels

At around $8,600 on sale for the Pro build during recent promos, the package of motor performance, weight, and tech is very compelling.

If you want to see what other high‑end eMTB deals look like right now, you can skim the current JensonUSA Black Friday eMTB and component offers for comparison.

In the end, the Amflow PL Carbon shows where full‑power eMTBs are heading: lighter, smarter, and faster than many people thought possible. If that vision fits how you ride, this bike deserves a serious look.