Amflow TL Carbon Review: The SUV of E-Bikes has Arrived
A go-anywhere, do-anything e-bike for adventurous riders and urban explorers.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
Over the past few years, we’ve reviewed a number of e-bikes here at RV.com. In most cases, we’ve tested models that offer good range, nice features, and a comfortable ride at an affordable price. But as the e-bike market has evolved, we’ve seen an increasing number of models that offer better specs, improved handling, and increased versatility, allowing riders to go more places and do more things than ever before. Still, nothing prepared us for what we would experience when we finally had the chance to ride the new Amflow TL Carbon, a bike that redefines what is possible, delivering an experience that was way more exciting and fun than anything we’ve tested before.
Amflow describes the TL Carbon as “an SUV e-bike built for multiple scenarios,” which is certainly an apt description. Like a well-designed and bu SUVilt, this bike is definitely at home in an urban setting and is perfect for exploring a new setting, running errands, or handling a daily commute. But this powerful, rugged, and surprisingly comfortable model is also extremely capable off-road, allowing riders to bomb down technical descents, power up long climbs, and effortlessly conquer dirt, mud, rocks, roots, sand, and other terrain. It is so good, in fact, that you’ll find new excuses to take it out for a ride, pushing your own limits along the way.
Here’s what you need to know about this amazing e-bike.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
A Full-Featured Premium E-Bike
At its core, the Amflow TL Carbon is a traditional mountain bike with fully integrated e-bike features. That starts with a carbon frame that is stiff, durable, and lightweight, tipping the scales at a mere 6.4 lbs, which is incredibly light for considering the bike’s price point. The TL Carbon is also a full-suspension model, which means in addition to the suspension on the fork, it has another one integrated into the frame just below the seat. The suspension system was co-developed with Fox and provides a comfortable and controlled ride on and off-road, removing much of the jostling and jarring out of the equation while lowering wear and tear on the body that can lead to fatigue.
The geometry of the frame allows Amflow to integrate all of the bike’s components while still managing to keep it fast and agile. Those components include a DJI Avinox M2 motor capable of producing up to 1100W of power. The standard model comes with an 800Wh battery, giving the bike a range of up to 106 miles. A smaller, lighter 600Wh battery with a 77-mile range is available separately for riders looking for different riding dynamics. And for those who need yet more range, a 480Wh secondary battery can be added to the mix, boosting the distance ridden between charges by an additional 62 miles. That should appeal to bikepackers and long-distance riders setting out on multi-day adventures. Those battery options are just another hint of the versatility on offer here. That said, the standard 800Wh power cell is more than adequate for most buyers.
The TL Carbon’s mechanical drivetrain is a ten-speed group set that features wireless electronic shifting. This allows riders to cycle through gear changes at the push of a button, making smooth, nearly instantaneous shifts, even when climbing steep grades. The system is so good that it has made it hard to return to riding my regular road and mountain bikes, both of which lack this feature. And since electronic shifters communicate to the derailleur wirelessly, there aren’t any unsightly cables to detract from the bike’s clean lines and beautiful design.
Amflow also quipped the TL Carbon with some other nice features of note. For instance, it comes with hydraulic disc brakes that are efficient and responsive, allowing riders to maintain their speed while descending or come to a controlled stop over a relatively short distance. An integrated dropper post also makes it easy to adjust the seat height on the fly, lowering the center of gravity for improved control while gliding down steep hills. The bike also comes with front and rear mudguards, a bright headlight, 27.5” Maxxis tires, and a rear cargo rack, all of which add value and utility to the package.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
The Amflow Ride Experience
As direct-to-consumer e-bikes go, the TL Carbon arrived relatively ready to ride. I did have to install the handlebars and the front wheel and mudguard, along with the seat, kickstand, and headlight, all of which was quick, easy, and straightforward. That meant I was ready for a first ride in less than 20 minutes, although I did fully charge the battery before first setting out. That took roughly an hour out of the box, with subsequent charges taking between a half-hour and two hours depending on how depleted the (removable) battery was.
Once I was fully charged, I set off for a ride and was immediately struck by how well the full-suspension performed. The bike offers a plush, smooth ride on a variety of surfaces, keeping the rider comfortable at all times. At first, I stayed on city streets and paved greenway trails as I familiarized myself with the TL Carbon’s features and handling. Later, I would venture off-road on some seriously technical and diverse mountain bike trails, which the bike handled with ease. In fact, I came away very impressed with just how well it transitioned from paved surfaces to dirt and back again, all the while maintaining outstanding control.
Unlike most other e-bikes, the TL Carbon doesn’t have a digital display mounted on the handlebars. Instead, the cockpit is relatively clean, with just separate buttons for turning it on and off, switching gears, and selecting the pedal assist modes. The lever that controls the dropper post is also located there, but the screen itself has been moved to the top tube, where it is less distracting on a ride. The small display does show the usual metrics, like speed and distance ridden, along with the current assist mode and gear settings. It also provides access to many of the bike’s settings, which are easily adjustable thanks to its touchscreen interface.
Those settings can also be explored and adjusted using the bike’s smartphone app, which further unlocks a whole host of additional features like OTA firmware updates, GPS navigation, and support for Apple’s Find My network. You can even use it to customize the bike’s display to show the metrics that are most important to you, like cadence, power output, speed, time, and other metics. And as if that wasn’t enough, you can pair a Bluetooth heart rate sensor with the bike and it will automatically adjust the level of pedal assist to ensure you’re hitting your fitness goals.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
No discussion of the TL Carbon’s ride experience would be complete without mentioning its various ride modes. The bike’s motor offers four levels of pedal assist, including Automatic, Eco, Trail, Turbo, and Boost. When “auto” mode is selected, the bike monitors changes to a rider’s pedal cadence and automatically applies additional power as needed based on the riding resistance. Alternatively, Eco mode is designed to balance performance with battery life to get the most range, while Trail mode offers extra boost when wandering off tarmac. The very powerful Turbo and Boost settings each take things up a notch further, supplying an incredible amount of power for speedy rides and steep climbs, albeit at the expense of battery life.
During our test rides, we generally stayed in Eco mode for the entire length of our rides. This provided ample power for handling just about anything, especially when using the electronic shifters to pick the appropriate gear for climbing or cruising. As noted above, Eco also allowed us to get the most out of the battery, giving us a range of 90+ miles between charges. We did switch to Trail mode while exploring some legit mountain bike trails, and the extra power provided an undeniable boost to our confidence and control. Automatic mode was very interesting to play with and functioned as advertised, supplying the power riders need in changing conditions. We used Turbo mode very sparingly, but it also offered a noticeable bump in power, although most of the time it seemed unnecessary, especially considering the increased battery drain. Still, it is good to know that such a mode exists for when you need it.
Photo Credit: Amflow
A Go-Anywhere, Do-Anything E-Bike SUV
Amflow’s analogy of the TL Carbon being the SUV of e-bikes proved apt during our time testing it. As you probably already know, “SUV” is an acronym for “sports utility vehicle,” placing a particular emphasis on the “utility” part of that moniker. That’s exactly what you get here, as the bike feels like it is well suited to a wide variety of tasks, giving owners a level of versatility that isn’t found in most other e-bikes. Like most SUVs on the market, the bike is very comfortable while cruising around town, and its included cargo rack makes running errands and hauling gear a breeze. You can even add a rear passenger seat, as the bike supports up to 440 lbs. of weight.
All of that said, you’ll find plenty of other e-bikes that offer similar capabilities. Where the TL Carbon truly separates itself from the field is its ability to seamlessly transition to riding legitimate challenging mountain bike trails. The bike handles exceptionally well in those conditions, motoring up steep climbs, smoothly handling cross-country routes, and offering tight control on downhills. As already noted above, at its core, the TL Carbon is a mountain bike and acquits itself very well in that category, although its performance could be further enhanced by removing the mudguards, rear cargo rack, and kickstand. Doing so drops the bike’s weight from 57.2 lbs down to 50.5 lbs for the L/XL sized version, turning it into a true eMTB in the process.
The bike’s all-around great performance makes it an enticing option for bikepackers, too. Out of the box, it comes with plenty of range, and the addition of the secondary battery allows riders to travel even further without worrying about a recharge. The cargo rack is a good place for adding a storage bag, while the frame supports a wide variety of panniers and other accessories. The TL Carbon’s 440 lb. cargo capacity also proves useful for anyone embarking on a long-range cycling adventure.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, we’re absolutely enamored with the Amflow TL Carbon. The bike is incredibly fun to ride and offers smooth handling under a wide variety of conditions. Its size and weight make it easier to load and unload from a bike rack, truck bed, or RV storage compartment, and its build quality, components, and features are all absolutely top-notch. This is easily among the best e-bikes we’ve ever ridden, making most other models look like toys in comparison. As with all things in the bike industry, all of those features and capabilities don’t come cheap, as the bike has an MSRP of $3,899. That puts it squarely into the premium e-bike space and above what most mainstream buyers are looking to pay. But as an avid rider of all kinds of bikes, believe me when I tell you that this one is worth every penny, providing an experience that is above and beyond just about anything else on the market in a package that delivers outstanding value along the way.
The new Amflow TL Carbon e-bike is available now. For more information, and to order one of your own, visit amflowbikes.com. If this is the kind of bike you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
