Amflow PL Carbon owners, check your seat tube for cracks!

[5G_vaccinator]

I bought my Amflow PL carbon in late 2025. But I only started riding it in spring 2026. So it's basically a new bike with just 12 cycles.

Recently I've noticed a giant crack in a seat tube area. Contacted the local Amflow community and found at least 4 more people with the same problem. All bikes are late 2025 (2026) models. All PL versions (silver). Out of just 100 people, some of whom don’t even have the bike yet.

So you might want to check yours for cracks.

Worst of all, Amflow refuses to help me. I've bought mine in Hong Kong. So it's the Chinese version. The seller just doesn't respond to my messages. I've tried contacting Amflow support: they told me they don't support Chinese bikes. And Chinese support told me to contact the seller. Who doesn't respond to my messages.

At this point I'm so pissed I'm seriously considering buying a ticket to Hong Kong and dropping this frame at DJI headquarters. Making a TikTok out of it.

 

[Sergey K]

I would like to see a comment from the manufacturer

 

[nowayfra]

@5G_vaccinator
Whats your riding weight if I may ask?

 

[Strassenkater]

The video looks like AI. Also, the crack in the pictures is not consistent. On top of that, this is the very first post from a user who just joined the forum the same day.
It’s most likely fake/AI, just like the video of the burning Amflow a few months ago. And seriously, why would someone shake his phone like crazy if he actually wants to show a very thin crack?

 

[Zimmerframe]

With the linkage removed there appears to be more than just the crack.

It almost looks like the linkage came back and crushed the frame, causing the crack ??

None standard shock ? Some other tweak ??

 

[DylanJM]

The video looks like AI. Also, the crack in the pictures is not consistent. On top of that, this is the very first post from a user who just joined the forum the same day.
It’s most likely fake/AI, just like the video of the burning Amflow a few months ago. And seriously, why would someone shake his phone like crazy if he actually wants to show a very thin crack?

It's shaky because it's a gif. OP should definitely post the raw vid though.

 

[Strassenkater]

Converting a video into a gif does't add shakyness. But maybe i'm wrong.

 

[nowayfra]

Looks legit to me, especially its not the only complaint about cracks in the seat tube area. I guess amflow used a unidirectional carbon layering and the weight onto the dropper post leverages enough to splay the seat tube open.
Even in the old days where carbon frames mostly were bidirectional they put some aluminium inlets into stressed areas.

 

[DylanJM]

Converting a video into a gif does't add shakyness. But maybe i'm wrong.

A gif (generally) has far fewer frames which makes everything look choppy or "shaky".

 

[Vision_Tim]

This has been discussed a bit on the DJI Amflow Owners Facebook page - it's real, this has happened to others. No issues with mine but... I won't clamp the seat post on the work stand any more.

 

[insplean]

The cracking issue is too widespread to try and fake it using AI. I have a crack too. I also know other owners. Some of them might post here soon—I’ll share this thread with them.

 

[RickBullotta]

If I recall, almost all of these issues are on size large frames, and most with a specific dropper post.

 

[insplean]

If I recall, almost all of these issues are on size large frames, and most with a specific dropper post.

It’s not just size L; someone in the local community reported a frame failure on a size M. Besides, a dropper post is a standard normal component of any trail/enduro bike, and the difference in the stress placed on the seat tube is negligible—though a dropper post does need to be more resistant to bending (i.e., more stable) than most standard seatposts.

 

[insplean]

Looks legit to me, especially its not the only complaint about cracks in the seat tube area. I guess amflow used a unidirectional carbon layering and the weight onto the dropper post leverages enough to splay the seat tube open.
Even in the old days where carbon frames mostly were bidirectional they put some aluminium inlets into stressed areas.

I think the problem also lies in the construction—the seam where the carbon layers meet runs through this area. The photo shows the spot after the paint and clear coat have been removed.

 

[5G_vaccinator]

The video looks like AI. Also, the crack in the pictures is not consistent. On top of that, this is the very first post from a user who just joined the forum the same day.
It’s most likely fake/AI, just like the video of the burning Amflow a few months ago. And seriously, why would someone shake his phone like crazy if he actually wants to show a very thin crack?

I was applying all my weight to the seat while attempting to film the crack widening under pressure. To show that it is an actual deep crack. Not some paint chip or a scratch.

Plus, it's a GIF. I believe GIFs are coded with lower FPS; therefore, it seems even shakier than it was.

I have a full video I made for Amflow support, but it shows the bike's SN and other info. As per their request.

 

[B-man]

Very common on the large PL.

 

[5G_vaccinator]

This has been discussed a bit on the DJI Amflow Owners Facebook page - it's real, this has happened to others. No issues with mine but... I won't clamp the seat post on the work stand any more.

Never clamped mine.

PS Love your channel! Didn't know you owned an Amflow. Went to check and realised I'm not subscribed anymore. YouTube did its magic again. Fixed that.

 

[5G_vaccinator]

It's shaky because it's a gif. OP should definitely post the raw vid though.

Uploaded to YouTube.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[RickBullotta]

It’s not just size L; someone in the local community reported a frame failure on a size M. Besides, a dropper post is a standard normal component of any trail/enduro bike, and the difference in the stress placed on the seat tube is negligible—though a dropper post does need to be more resistant to bending (i.e., more stable) than most standard seatposts.

The issue seemed to be highly correlated to the insertion depth of the lower spec dropper on size L bikes. There are different droppers for each size, and also different droppers on the lower spec PL carbons.

 

[RickBullotta]

Very common on the large PL.

Specifically the ones with the lower spec dropper. I’m convinced it has to do with insertion depth

 

[5G_vaccinator]

With the linkage removed there appears to be more than just the crack.

It almost looks like the linkage came back and crushed the frame, causing the crack ??

None standard shock ? Some other tweak ??

View attachment 187525

Everything was standard. I was to install a Manitou Mara Piggyback instead of a stock Fox shock when I first saw the crack. Hence the removed linkage.

 

[insplean]

Specifically the ones with the lower spec dropper. I’m convinced it has to do with insertion depth

Specifically the ones with the lower spec dropper. I’m convinced it has to do with insertion depth

I have a dropper post with 185mm of travel; it is inserted into the seat tube to a depth of approximately 240mm. Do you still consider that too shallow? I would remind you that, according to the user manual: "The seatpost should be inserted into the frame deep enough so that the minimum insertion mark on the seatpost is invisible." At the same time, the maximum insertion depth is listed as 270mm for the size L frame.

 

[Strassenkater]

I was applying all my weight to the seat while attempting to film the crack widening under pressure. To show that it is an actual deep crack. Not some paint chip or a scratch.

Plus, it's a GIF. I believe GIFs are coded with lower FPS; therefore, it seems even shakier than it was.

I have a full video I made for Amflow support, but it shows the bike's SN and other info. As per their request.

I see. I take back everything I said.
I thought it had been filmed under more or less normal circumstances.

 

[F4Flyer]

That frame is pretty light and reportedly flexy, which makes sense. They need to redesign the frame and add some carbon and strength to it.

 

[Plyphon]

I will check my size L PL carbon shortly.

I have kept it completely stock and have the seatpost inserted all the way to the collar. I do, however, clamp the bike by that area in the bike carrier on my car (and clamp the seatpost in the workstand).

I have not seen anything and have recently stripped the bike so would have thought I would have spotted that if present.

Shame Amflow won't help the OP, but I do sort of get it - you'd didn't actually buy from Amflow, you bought it direct from the factory one assumes. Part of the cost of buying from a dealer is the cost of your warranty - that is provided for free, that makes up part of the cost of the item. So while it sucks and I empathise, I'm unsure Amflow should feel obligated to do anything.

I guess you could fault them for supply chain leaks. It should not be possible to buy an Amflow branded product straight from a factory - they need to tighten their supply chain.

 

[5G_vaccinator]

I will check my size L PL carbon shortly.

I have kept it completely stock and have the seatpost inserted all the way to the collar. I do, however, clamp the bike by that area in the bike carrier on my car (and clamp the seatpost in the workstand).

I have not seen anything and have recently stripped the bike so would have thought I would have spotted that if present.

Shame Amflow won't help the OP, but I do sort of get it - you'd didn't actually buy from Amflow, you bought it direct from the factory one assumes. Part of the cost of buying from a dealer is the cost of your warranty - that is provided for free, that makes up part of the cost of the item. So while it sucks and I empathise, I'm unsure Amflow should feel obligated to do anything.

I guess you could fault them for supply chain leaks. It should not be possible to buy an Amflow branded product straight from a factory - they need to tighten their supply chain.

It was an actual DJI dealer in Hong Kong. They sell drones, action cameras, etc.

 

[Vision_Tim]

Never clamped mine.

PS Love your channel! Didn't know you owned an Amflow. Went to check and realised I'm not subscribed anymore. YouTube did its magic again. Fixed that.

Thanks! Appreciate the support.

 

[RickBullotta]

I have a dropper post with 185mm of travel; it is inserted into the seat tube to a depth of approximately 240mm. Do you still consider that too shallow? I would remind you that, according to the user manual: "The seatpost should be inserted into the frame deep enough so that the minimum insertion mark on the seatpost is invisible." At the same time, the maximum insertion depth is listed as 270mm for the size L frame.

Is yours a size large? If so, it came with a 170mm KS dropper whereas the Pro version came with a Fox Transfer Factory dropper. It sure seems like the majority of the problems were with the non-Pro PL's in size large. It just seems statistically relevant that this combo caused some issues.

 

[5G_vaccinator]

Is yours a size large? If so, it came with a 170mm KS dropper whereas the Pro version came with a Fox Transfer Factory dropper. It sure seems like the majority of the problems were with the non-Pro PL's in size large. It just seems statistically relevant that this combo caused some issues.

What you are saying makes total sense. But I know quite a few people who bought the early version of this bike and still ride it without any problems. Using the stock dropper. I've never heard a bad thing about this frame.

I think it is just a defective batch that left the factory around October last year. Too bad Amflow refuses to accept the defect.

 

[Brawwp]

It was an actual DJI dealer in Hong Kong. They sell drones, action cameras, etc.

Was it an authorized dealer? That’s the key here. Amflow isn’t helping people who purchase off alibaba stores.

Seller not responding to your messages tells me probably not authorized.