The Amflow PL Carbon Pro electric mountain bike sets a new standard [Review]

There’s been a lot of buzz around the Amflow PL electric mountain bike since its announcement alongside the much-anticipated DJI Avinox M1 motor at Eurobike 2024. DJI didn’t hold back with this release as they powered straight into the eMTB world, aiming for the top with their very first model.

Best known as a drone behemoth from China, DJI has been innovating in the consumer and pro-sumer drone space for decades. Now, they’ve stepped into the eMTB market, ready to compete with brands that have been established for years. The bike first rolled out in Europe in early 2025, launching in Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom, followed by Spain, France, Italy, and Belgium. The U.S. market now has access too, through both online sales and select local bike shops.

I had the opportunity to test the Amflow PL Carbon Pro, and I’m excited to share my thoughts. Simply put, this eMTB rides like nothing I’ve experienced before, and I think many will agree it sets a new standard for what eMTBs should deliver in the years ahead.

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Amflow PL Carbon key specs

• Carbon frame
• Fork: 2026 Fox 36 Factory, 160mm travel, GRIP X2 Damper
• Rear Shock: 2026 Fox FLOAT X Factory, 150mm travel, Trunnion（185×55mm)
• SRAM XO Eagle Transmission
• Magura MT7 Pro hydraulic disc brakes
• Amflow HMC-30, Carbon, 29” wheelset
• Tires: Maxxis Assegai MaxxTerra 29×2.5” (front), Maxxis DissectorMaxxTerra 29×2.4” (rear)
• Price: $10,199
• Buy from Amflowbikes.com

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The frame

The Amflow PL Pro that I tested has a carbon fiber front and rear triangle with a Cosmic Black paint job which has a subtle shimmer to it under the sun that I like. I didn’t get a chance to strip the bike to weigh it, but Amflow claims a 2.27kg/5lb weight on the frame by itself. 

Amflow utilizes a four-bar linkage which is tried and true and is efficient both on the climbs and the descents. The four-bar linkage offers very little shock “bobbing” on the climbs and is sharply responsive on tight descents. 

I had heard some complaints about the rear triangle feeling flexy while riding, but in my testing, it wasn’t noticeable. I have experienced noticeable rear triangle flex in the past on my Orbea Rise, and was honestly expecting the worst. But I can say that the Amflow PL frame offers a great balance of stiffness, light weight, and comfort for everyday trail riding.  

The frame was designed with modern trail/all-mountain geometry in mind. A headtube angle of 64.5°, a seatube angle of 77°, and a 445mm chainstay length give the bike a comfortable and confidence-inspiring stance on a variety of trails. 

I have been riding medium mountain bike frames for the longest time, and have even sized down to a size small on road/gravel bikes. I measure at a solid 5’8″ tall, and according to the Amflow size chart, I should be able to fit a medium or large frame. Amflow could only provide me with a large frame due to availability, and I was a bit worried at first. But on my first ride, I felt very much at home. My personal bike, a Specialized Kenevo SL, is an enduro rig that tackles just about any steep, chunky descent, which has me spoiled. To my surprise, I felt just as confident, if not more, on the Amflow PL Pro. 

I was pretty stoked to see that the frame offers internal cable routing via headtube inlets instead of the mechanic-nightmare headset routing. 

The frame is fitted with a 185×55mm 2026 FOX FLOAT X Factory Trunnion Shock, which performed excellently. 

Amflow ships its bikes with 29-inch wheels front and rear, but the frame can accommodate a 27.5-inch rear wheel/tire with a simple adjustment of a flip chip located at the shock linkage. I have confirmed with Amflow that they will not sell mixed-wheel builds, but customers can, of course, buy their own rear wheel if they wish.

Noteworthy frame features include water bottle cage mounts along with tool/equipment mounts under the top tube. The chainstay guard quiets chain slap, and a rear lower frame pivot mud guard is preinstalled to keep gunk out. There’s a downtube bash guard, but it doesn’t extend high enough to protect the bike when shuttling using a truck. 

Overall, the frame has a sleek, modern look with unique styling thanks to its forward-facing shock mounting point. The downtube, where the battery is held, isn’t bulgy and awkward, helping to minimize that “eMTB” look I have come to dread over the years. Even up close, the Amflow can deceive you into thinking it is a non-electric bike.

DJI AVINOX M1 Drive System

The Amflow PL is a full-power eMTB utilizing DJI’s Avinox M1 drive system. DJI developed the drive unit (motor), battery, touch control display hub, wireless handlebar-mounted controllers, charger, and an optimized phone application for personalized riding data configurations. If you are familiar with DJI Products, they have been perfecting similar componentry and user interfaces for their drones and camera equipment for many years. All they had to do was re-engineer this tech to suit the needs of mountain bike riders. Which is easier said than done, of course. 

Touchscreen / controls

The DJI Avinox system features a two-inch, full-color OLED touchscreen built into the Amflow PL’s frame. The display is plenty bright to make data legible even while pedaling under the bright sun. It displays real-time riding data, like speed, range, cadence, power, torque, gradient, altitude, calories burned, ride times, and even heart rate when connected to third-party sensors.

You can swipe between data screens with and without gloves. The two Bluetooth controllers on the handlebars allow for toggling between data screens and assist modes while riding. A physical power button under the touchscreen will allow you to turn the bike on or off. The user interface is really well executed in my opinion. There are plenty of features to go through in a non-overwhelming way. The data is there when you need it, but doesn’t interfere or distract when riding. 

Avinox App

When connected to the Avinox App, riders can unlock a range of advanced functions. You can quickly customize riding modes and adjust power, torque, and cadence to match your riding style. Each data screen can be customized as well to display as much or as little information as possible.

The app alerts you whenever there is a new software update for the bike. I had to make sure the phone was near the bike during the process, which only took about 5-10 minutes. Having “over the air” updates is a huge plus, as many eMTB drive system companies still have you take the bike to your nearest supporting bike shop to update the system. For example, I asked a bike shop how much it would cost to update my friend’s TQ drive system, and they quoted me $45 for the service. 

There’s a password-protected anti-theft mode that will sound an alarm and send a notification to the app if any unauthorized movement of the bike is detected when “armed.” Through the app, you can check the bike’s real-time location and battery percentage. There’s even a button to give you directions to your bike using Apple or Google Maps. 

Avinox M1 drive unit

The Avinox High Torque Drive Unit can deliver 105Nm of continuous torque. It is small enough to disguise itself behind the 34-tooth chainring and has a claimed weight of 4.96lbs. The drive unit uses a compound planetary gearset producing a high gear ratio within a minimal space. I learned that some of the internal gears are made out of a polymer material that is claimed to be high-strength, wear-resistant, and durable. Only long-term use will prove how durable these gears can be. A great benefit of this polymer material is that this drive system is very quiet, even when riding in the highest torque modes. I have ridden Shimano, Brose, Bosch, TQ, and other branded drive units in the past. The Avinox is one of the quietest e-bike motors that I have experienced. This adds to how well this bike can disguise itself as a non-electric-assisted bike. 

The DJI drive unit has four riding assist modes: Auto, Eco, Trail, Turbo, and Boost. These can be toggled through using the Bluetooth remote on the handlebar while riding. Eco mode offers 70Nm of torque assistance and is excellent for maximizing range, which can be up to 74 miles on a full charge. I ended up riding a lot in Auto Mode to let the bike do what it’s designed to do and get the most out of the built-in features. I still had to change through my gears at times when necessary, but not as much as when in Eco or Trail mode. There is a mode for every scenario out there. You can even ride the bike with all power assistance off. While the pedaling is quite smooth with little resistance, the weight of the bike will give you quite the workout on the climbs. 

Battery 

Powering the Avinox system on the Amflow PL Carbon Pro test bike is a high-capacity 800Wh compact battery which weighs a bit over eight pounds. The battery is bolted on the inside of the frame’s downtube. It can be removed but only by taking the motor out, which requires a bit of knowledge and tools. There isn’t a quick battery release on the Amflow, which is a hot topic with many E-MTB enthusiasts. I haven’t had the need to remove the battery. Based on what I’ve read about battery doors rattling on other e-bikes, I am okay with not having that quick battery release door feature. The battery is IP56 rated, meaning water and dust that would get in the frame isn’t too much to worry about. 

Avinox states the battery has a health management system to keep the battery running efficiently after many charge cycles. Self discharge, realtime health system alerts, and active voltage reduction should extend battery life long term, allowing for a claimed 80% capacity even after 500 charge cycles. That is a lot of cycles and to go through and still retrain such high battery life capacity. 

When it is time to charge the battery, the included 508W fast charger can charge the 800Wh battery from 0% to 75% in about 1.5 hours. I did so with a handful of timed charges, and the claimed charge speeds were spot on. I was even able to charge the battery from 50% to 100% in about 1.5 hours and 0% to 100% in about 2 hours. That last 25% always seems to take the longest if you need a full 100% charge. Once the battery is full, the system will shut off and stop giving power to the battery. You can see battery charge progress on the bike’s OLED display or check on the Avinox App, in case you don’t want to walk over to your bike.

The charger plugs straight into the bike using a proprietary plug that only fits in one direction. While this isn’t an issue, I do wish all charging ports/heads could be plugged in any orientation. I will say DJI makes up for this with a spring-loaded charge port cover, so that after charging, the cover prevents dust and muck from getting in the charge port. My old Orbea Rise and current Specialized Kenevo SL pop open, and I tend to forget to close the covers at times. So props to Avinox and Amflow on that small detail. I would also like to see a charge port up top near the head tube like the new Yeti MTe. 

Special features

The Avinox Drive system has many unique features that caught my attention. Some that I found useful and some that I didn’t. 

Class 3

The Amflow’s Avinox Drive System preset max speed is 20mph, which makes the bike a Class 1 pedal assist bike here in the U.S. Class 1 eMTBs are the most common class, as they are throttleless and are starting to be allowed in many trail systems around the country, thanks to their growing popularity. 

The Avinox Drive system has a feature on its latest firmware update that allows the rider to change the bike to a Class 3. This gives the bike a throttleless, pedal-assisted max top speed of 28mph. Class 3 e-bikes are allowed only on paved roads or paved bike paths and are restricted on many shared public-use trails. These restrictions vary by state, so make sure you check your state and local jurisdictions. 

I gave the Class 3 mode a try on a paved road, and I found it definitely reaches that 28mph top speed. I can see how this feature could come in handy if you must ride through paved streets from home to get to the trailhead, or even to work if you live in of those MTB-friendly towns like Bentonville. Another reason to want to ride in Class 3 mode is if you live on acres of private land. This bike could come in handy to get around your property!

Regardless of where you use the Class 3 feature, it will drain the battery much faster, especially when in Turbo mode. I will mention that I got a rear wheel sensor error on the screen at those speeds a couple of times. It seemed like it was not detecting the rear wheel spin correctly, shutting Class 3 off and topping me off at 20mph. I didn’t care much for this mode and only rode in Class 3 a couple of times. 

 “With great power comes more responsibility,” said Spider Man’s Uncle Ben. There’s truth to that. Amflow and Avinox are giving riders the trust that they will use the Class 3 feature responsibly. E-MTB riders need to advocate for safe bike riding and not ignore local restrictions. 

Osmo Action Camera Connection

One of my favorite features is the ability to connect a DJI Osmo Action camera to the bike itself. I connected my Osmo Action Pro 5 with just a few taps of the display. Once connected, you can change between video and photo modes and start/stop recording video or take a photo from one of the data screens with a finger tap, which I found to be super handy. I would like to see an update where the Avinox OLED screen can show a small preview of the camera POV so I know I have the camera angle perfectly aligned. 

Wireless capabilities

The Avinox System has a built-in GNSS and 4G chip. This allows for precise location trackability. The app will give you a pretty accurate location of where the bike is at all times. Pretty handy.

SmoothShift

The SmoothShift Feature has to be toggled on in the settings and will allow bikes equipped with a SRAM Eagle Transmission drivetrain to upshift or downshift while coasting. For example, if I start a descent on first gear and need to shift to sixth gear, this feature allows me to shift through all those gears without needing to pedal. 

Another feature that can be toggled on is the chain protection feature. This will reduce power momentarily when it detects a downshift or upshift from the SRAM AXS Pod for a smooth shift that should help reduce the wear on the chain, especially with the high torque on each shift. 

When pedaling or climbing, the gear shift suggestion feature can be toggled on in the settings. This will show a suggestion on the OLED screen when speed and cadence are low, but torque is high. Once you shift to a lower gear, the pop-up will disappear. This is a great feature for learning and finding a balanced drivetrain and motor power ratio for optimal bike performance. IMO, sometimes it’s okay to let the computer do the thinking for us.

Walk Assist 

The Avinox M1 Drive Unit’s high torque and responsiveness make hike-a-bike a breeze with significantly reduced jolting. By just pressing and holding the Walk Assist button on the Bluetooth remote, the bike will engage power to the rear wheel and gradually propel the bike forward to get you to the top of the hill as you push the bike. This greatly reduces the difficulty of pushing a 45lb bike up a hill. 

If you want to take a quick break while on a slope, the Auto Hold feature will prevent the bike from rolling back. You definitely don’t want a 45-pound bike rolling back on you. 

After a quick break, when it is time to continue walking the bike up the hill, Hill Start Assist will provide a bit more torque to the rear wheel to facilitate that initial push. During long rides, these little features can help with exhaustion. 

Performance on the trail

There is a lot to like about the Amflow PL Carbon Pro and the Avinox M1 Drive Unit. The seamless integration between the tried and true four-bar link in a carbon frame built around a high-tech Drive Unit system is a perfect example of how great a product can be when one company engineers both the hardware and software. DJI may be new to the E-MTB world, let alone MTB, but they are not new at integrating software and hardware with a clean UI for the masses. I found the technology works hard in the background without interfering with the ride. 

Motor assistance is top-notch thanks to the Avinox Drive Unit. It does an excellent job getting me to the top of the hill, no matter how adventurous the trail is. System adjustability helps make the bike feel more personal. Rich data is there, but only when I need it. Physical and touch controls allow for on-demand changes. An easy-to-use app unlocks more features and adjustability while also allowing the bike to be updated wirelessly and free of charge. 

When it was time to descend, the Amflow PL Pro performed like a well-established flagship bike. The bike offers a quality ride and really earns its “Pro” label. Basic adjustments to the suspension had to be made in between rides to dial it in. Top-shelf components complement the bike well. The newest 2026 Fox suspension felt really good under the bike. Small pump compliance allows the bike to float through dirt, and on big hits and jumps, the suspension offers great mid stroke support and supple bottom outs. This was my first time on the new Fox Factory 36 160mm and Float X 150mm, and it really complements an all-mountain bike like the Amflow PL. The stiffness of the frame and carbon wheels, paired with upgraded Exo+ Maxxis Assagai and Minion DHR II tires, allowed the bike to precisely dance its way through the flow. When things got extra rowdy, the bike stayed poised and didn’t shake itself out. Riding on a size large frame made me realize that I like bikes with increased geometry numbers. Not once did I feel out of my comfort zone, but now I want to know what a size medium would feel like on the trails. 

I haven’t felt the need to upgrade the bike’s rear shock to a coil shock, but luckily, I could do so down the road. Amflow has confirmed that the frame’s progressive leverage ratio design can work well with coil shock. Shock manufacturers should be contacted first to see if the shock is compatible with a yoke linkage. The yoke connecting to the rear shock is 70.18 mm for those wondering. I was informed that the Amflow PL is known to fit these Coil shock models. The Ohlins TTX22m.2 , RockShox 2023 Super Deluxe Coil and Deluxe Coil, X-FUSION H3C, and Formula MOD (yoke mount version). 

The SRAM XO Eagle Transmission groupset shifted smoothly right from the get-go. Shifting is slower than AXS, but each shift feels more precise. The derailleur is wired directly to the Avinox Drive Unit. This allows the derailleur to draw power from the bike’s battery and also communicate with the drive system for the smooth shift feature. Plus, you don’t have to worry about charging the derailleur battery separately. 

I fell in love with the Magura MT7 Pro hydraulic disc brakes. They offer plenty of modulated stopping power, giving me lots of confidence on steep terrain, especially with the included 203mm Storm HC rotors. The lever has great ergonomics and requires reduced finger pull compared to my old SRAM Code brakes, giving me a lot less hand and finger fatigue. 

At this price point, I was surprised to find a carbon wheelset as part of the build kit. The 29er wheels are Amflow-branded and have an internal width of 30mm. They are not overly stiff and offer enough compliance for a comfortable ride. I will also complement the Amflow hubs as they have sealed cartridge bearings with 78t of engagement at the rear. These are definitely great all-around wheels that you can only get by buying the Pro model. 

Amflow includes a box of necessary accessories to get riders set up quickly, including a torque wrench with all the bits to tighten every bolt on the bike, a shock pump to set up suspension, plastic pedals, reflectors, and front and rear lights. 

My biggest gripe is that this “Pro” bike came with a Maxxis Exo+ Dissector on the rear and a standard Exo Assegai up front. I have come to love the Assegai tire, but EXO+ or even DD sidewall tires should be the standard on all e-bikes. While the included Assegai tracked really well with its aggressive knobs, the Dissector was a huge disappointment to me. I just was not getting enough traction at the rear, both on loose, steep climbs and especially on fast descents, with the Dissector riding unpredictably at times. Lowering the pressure made things worse, adding tire flex and taking away lateral support, especially on tight, fast turns. 

I knew I had to swap the tires as soon as possible. After a couple of rides, I threw on some Maxxis EXO+ Assegai and Minion DHR II tires. This immediately improved the feel of the bike, and I felt very much at home. This is a good reminder of how important the right tires can be in improving ride quality. 

The Assegai kept the front stable while the DHR II kept the bike grounded on fast, steep, and loose climbs and descents. This tire combo became the icing on the cake and helped to showcase the bike’s true potential on the trails. 

While the 800Wh battery has provided me with plenty of range, the lack of a range extender is worth noting for those seeking to get more miles per ride out of the bike. There’s no word from Amflow if an extender will be offered in the future.

Lastly, if I had to nitpick, I would want all the cables to be more precisely cut to prevent cable rattling. It’s a small detail that will go a long way.

Pros and cons of Amflow PL Carbon

Pros

• Tried and true four-bar link frame design that is fun and capable
• Software and hardware integration by one company for seamless execution
• 105Nm constant power and 120Nm Boost mode
• Free over-the-air firmware updates

Cons

• OEM tires aren’t suitable for aggressive trail riding
• The price of the Pro model is high but competitive
• No quick release battery
• No battery range extender available

Bottom line

The Amflow PL Carbon Pro is the new kid on the block, and it’s wasting no time climbing toward the top. DJI clearly did its homework going into the competitive E-MTB market.

E-MTBs are evolving quickly, and riders expect brands to push boundaries with every release. With Amflow and Avinox, DJI has the industry’s attention, and more importantly, it’s delivered a bike that feels both innovative and genuinely fun to ride on the first try.

At $10,199, the PL Carbon Pro isn’t exactly pocket change, but for riders shopping in the premium category, it stands tall as a serious contender. The bike pairs a state-of-the-art drive unit system with a proven four-bar link carbon frame, rewarding riders the harder they push.

Available in three sizes (M, L, and XL) and two build options, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro isn’t just another eMTB, it’s a sign of where the market is headed. This bike may just mark the start of a new technological era in electric mountain biking.