Amflow TL Carbon review: A premium full-suspension bike at an entry-level price?

This bike is the bane of every bike manufacturer’s existence. For just 3,499 euros, DJI’s subsidiary brand Amflow is launching an e-MTB suitable for everyday use that the world has never seen before.

As a carbon-fibre SUV e-bike, the Amflow TL is virtually unrivalled – certainly at this price. The other SUV e-bikes on the market are often considerably heavier, less capable off-road and easily cost twice as much! That alone makes the TL one of the most interesting e-bikes of the year. - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor

Here at BIKE, we test over a hundred bikes every year. Many of them now have motors. The rule of thumb is that good e-bikes for everyday use cost at least 3,500 euros​ – barring exceptions - and decent full-suspension e-MTBs usually start at around 4,500 euros. With entry-level components, mechanical gear changes and an aluminium frame, mind you. Not with a carbon frame and electronic gear changes.

Amflow and the rise of Avinox

Since 2023, however, a new player has been shaking up the e-bike market. Like Amflow, Avinox is a subsidiary brand of the tech giant DJI and has featuring the super-powerful, lightweight and smooth M1 and M2/M2S mid-engines (reviewed here) hit the mark. The engines were unveiled at lightweight and stylish bikes from Amflow (such as the first Amflow PL).

One of Amflow Bikes’ long-standing strengths has always been its value for money. With an in-house engine manufacturer, this comes as little surprise, but this combination is a first for the cycling world. Normally, motor manufacturers are wary of selling bikes under their own brand. After all, doing so would put them in direct competition with the bike manufacturers who are their customers.

It’s different at Amflow. Like the Avinox motor itself, the bike brand has enjoyed a meteoric rise since its debut. Consequently, Amflow is currently expanding its product range significantly. In addition to the newer PX e-MTB Sport models with a fixed battery There’s also the PR with a removable battery – at 4,499 euros, that’s a cracking deal too. And now Amflow is also showcasing the TL, which, as an SUV, is a further 1,000 euros cheaper.

The Amflow TL in practice

Without any exaggeration: the full-suspension Amflow TL is one of the best everyday and touring e-bikes we’ve ever tested. Not just in terms of its unrivalled low price, but in general. There’s hardly any real competition anyway, as hardly anyone else has managed to strike such a consistent balance between a sporty full-carbon frame and trail capability on the one hand, and everyday comfort on the other.

The following are comparable: If anything, classic full-suspension SUVs (see the big comparison test) or full-suspension touring bikes such as the excellent new Specialized Vado X. However, they easily cost twice as much, rarely offer as many smart features and, with their aluminium frames, are often considerably heavier and not designed for use without a luggage rack and mudguards.

Given its particularly wide range of uses, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Amflow TL below, both in its role as an e-mountain bike and as a comfortable and straightforward everyday touring bike. Of course, we’ll also highlight where the bike still has room for improvement. Because, despite our enthusiasm for the Amflow all-rounder, we’ve also identified a few minor shortcomings.

For trail riding and everyday use: the Amflow TL’s features and geometry

Amflow has made a name for itself with lightweight and sleek e-MTBs such as the first PL Carbon, and has retained the same fundamental design language in the concept of the TL Carbon SUV e-bike, which is suitable for everyday use. The frame has a delicate appearance; only the down tube on the TL – as on the PR Carbon e-MTB – is slightly thicker to accommodate the 800-series removable battery. In the bottom bracket sits the slightly cheaper Avinox M2 motor, which still delivers 125 Nm and 1,100 watts at peak. Admittedly, these aren’t quite the phenomenal figures of the more expensive M2S motor, but they still offer plenty of power.

The shock is mounted horizontally beneath the top tube. Amflow has reduced the suspension travel on the TL to 120 millimetres at the front and 105 millimetres at the rear. The spec is high-quality, especially when you consider the price. Instead of aluminium, the entire frame of the TL – including the rear triangle – is made of carbon. Even many bikes without a motor still have to make do with an aluminium frame for €3,499.

Fox suspension and TRP electronic gear system

The suspension components are taken from Fox’s budget-friendly AWL SUV range; whilst they are simple, cost-effective parts in the mould of SR Suntour and the like, they are nonetheless significantly superior. The Amflow TL is equipped with Tektro four-piston hydraulic disc brakes at the front and rear and features electronic gear changes via a version of the TRP E.A.S.I. ten-speed system tailored to the Amflow. The gear system is connected by cable to the main battery and requires no separate power source. The bright Amflow headlamp, featuring a high beam and up to 1,200 lumens, is also powered by cable from the main battery.

To provide additional freedom of movement and riding safety on challenging terrain, Amflow has fitted a tele-suspension seatpost with 170 millimetres of travel on our test model in size L/XL. Incidentally, the Amflow TL doesn’t run on 29-inch wheels like Amflow’s e-mountain bikes, but on smaller 27.5-inch wheels. This is no doubt also to allow for better integration of mudguards and luggage racks. And speaking of SUV parts: if you wish, you can remove the attachments in just a few simple steps. This transforms the 26-kilo e-SUV into a 23.6-kilo e-mountain bike – at least in theory.

This touring bike offers incredible comfort; with its full suspension, it glides over potholes whilst still handling with agility and confidence. It’s also well-built and is almost perfect for everything from short rides to long cycling tours.

Comfortable and confident: that’s what the Amflow is like on a ride

The Amflow TL’s clear mountain bike influences are hard to miss. Nevertheless, the bike really comes into its own on long rides. With its small 27.5-inch wheels and short stem, the handling is agile and responsive. The Amflow is fitted with an extra-high handlebar, 74 millimetres wide. This ensures a comfortable and relaxed riding position, meaning you won’t suffer from sore shoulders or wrists, even on long rides.

The suspension also plays its part. The Fox components respond well. The rear suspension offers noticeable progression on large impacts, whilst smoothly absorbing minor bumps and handling medium-sized obstacles such as kerbs and potholes with ease. With the responsive and powerful motor and the excellent suspension, you literally glide over potholes and rough tracks, and you’ll happily tackle a bumpy section from time to time.

In city traffic and in wet conditions, the mudguards, the bright headlight with full beam and the crisp electronic gear-shifting really come into their own. One might almost wish for a switchable automatic mode for the TRP chain drive. It’s also possible that Amflow will add this feature via software at a later date. After all, the gear system already changes gears whilst the bike is rolling, without you having to move the crankset. This is handy, for example, for changing gears whilst mountain biking downhill, or for shifting into a low gear before traffic lights.

Chain guard, luggage rack and display

There is still room for minor improvements, though. A chain guard is missing. The luggage rack complies with the MIK HD standard and is approved for 27 kilos, whilst the bike itself is approved for a generous 200 kilos in total weight, as well as a trailer. However, when loaded, the TL has a tendency to rock and can no longer be ridden hands-free. The rear light has to be switched on and off and charged separately. That’s a bit annoying. However, permanently connecting the rear light to the e-system via a cable would make it more difficult to remove the mudguard and luggage rack.

The top tube display is a matter of personal taste. The responsive touchscreen and the in-depth menu deserve praise; the menu even allows you to access advanced functions such as a torque limiter to protect against wear and tear, or fine-tune the assistance levels directly on the screen. However, the display is positioned a little too low, outside the normal field of vision, and could do with being larger. If you want to use the display for navigation, you can, in principle. However, Amflow requires pre-loaded GPS tracks and only displays the navigation track without a map. Quickly navigating from A to B in city traffic isn’t the system’s strong point. The integration of the navigation is also still a bit clunky. A real highlight, though, is that the bike can be tracked via Apple Find My. If you fit a SIM card into the display, you can even access an advanced electronic anti-theft system and GPS tracking.

Avinox M2 Motor and Range

The motor itself is beyond reproach. The M2 already offers more power than one could possibly wish for in the vast majority of situations. The difference in performance compared to Avinox’s top-of-the-range M2S model is only really noticeable in a direct comparison on long, extremely steep inclines. As is typical of Avinox, the assistance is very smooth. The motor responds sensitively to the rider’s pedalling input whilst still delivering a very smooth ride. The ‘Auto’ assistance mode works for almost any riding situation. ‘Eco’ is mainly used to save battery life, whilst ‘Boost’ gets you up to the 25 km/h limit in no time at all, even on inclines.

Thanks to its 800 watt-hour battery, the Amflow TL offers a generous range on a par with Bosch’s 800 series system. A range of 100 kilometres on a single charge without needing to swap the battery is a realistic prospect on flat rides. If you wish, you can also fit the TL Carbon with an optional additional 480 watt-hours in the form of an extra battery (range extender) on the down tube for extra-long rides, or use the optional 12-amp fast charger to recharge the battery almost fully during a lunch break.

The Amflow TL in E-MTB use

With just four bolts at the rear and three at the front, you can remove the mudguards and luggage rack in just over 10 minutes. The 26-kilo e-SUV then transforms into a 23.1-kilo e-mountain bike. For an SUV, that’s a really good figure, especially as removing the everyday components isn’t as easy on any other bike we know of as it is on the Amflow. So it’s entirely realistic to use the bike as an SUV for your daily commute and then convert it to an e-MTB for your summer holidays.

But how well does the bike actually perform off-road? The fact is, it depends on your expectations. If you’re primarily looking to tear up tricky trails, or are after action in the bike park and on enduro rides, you should take a look at Amflow’s Sport models, the PR and PX. On more moderate terrain, however, the TL certainly holds its own. Gravel rides, even on rough surfaces; easy trails with moderate obstacles; or purpose-built flow trails: it handles all of these with ease. The long chainstays and a low bottom bracket contribute to confidence when riding downhill. You sit well integrated behind the bike’s (very!) high front end.

The moderate reach, head angle and wheelbase, combined with the small wheels, promote neutral handling. Unlike many modern e-MTBs, the TL doesn’t require much effort to navigate tight bends at slow speeds, but it doesn’t offer the same reserves of power at higher speeds. The same applies to the suspension. The bike is generally well-tuned, but 105 millimetres of rear travel is noticeably limited off-road. The biggest compromise on the Amflow TL is the SUV tyres. They lack grip, particularly in wet conditions, but roll more easily in everyday use and can be easily upgraded if required.

​The Amflow TL Carbon at a glance

Advantages

• a very powerful yet responsive Avinox motor
• large 800 Wh replaceable battery
• comfortable Fox suspension
• high-quality carbon frame
• precise electronic circuit
• A well-designed touchscreen and app integration
• Apple tracking integrated
• high maximum permissible weight of 200 kg
• a luggage rack suitable for touring
• Trailer authorisation
• an incredibly attractive price

Disadvantages

• Rocking may occur with heavier loads
• only two frame sizes
• no chain guard
• The separate rear light must be charged separately
• The display could be larger and positioned more centrally
• Navigation is still a bit clunky

​Amflow TL Carbon: Technical Specifications