robikinkela
Active member
My AMFLOW PL Carbon Test
Aesthetics: The PL Carbon I tested is a pleasant bike to look at, especially thanks to the slim down tube and the small motor, which makes it look like a non-motorized MTB. The gray of the bike I tested isn't the prettiest of colors; it's neutral and a bit bland. The black of the PRO version is much better. Rating: 8.5
Riding Position: The L size, for me at 186 cm tall, pedals well on flat terrain, and uphill, and downhill, I never felt it was too short. The riding position reminds me a lot of the Turbo Levo Gen 2, which I owned. The excessively wide handlebars on the bike I tested affected things a bit, but not in a positive way. As with all tests, you have to make do with an approximation, since the limited time available prevents you from making all the important adjustments that often greatly improve your confidence. Rating: 8.
Suspension: Certainly not top-of-the-line on the base version we tested, but it does its job satisfactorily: neither bad nor bad. At least it has the advantage of being easily adjustable. Rating: 7.5.
Smooth climbing: It depends a lot on the assistance settings. Certainly, if you exploit the motor's torque and power, it feels like riding a motorcycle, but it loses much of that cycling feel that I don't want to give up. The enormous amount of customization options allows the user to tailor the e-bike to their needs and meet all their needs. Riding uphill sections, even steep ones, in turbo mode seems almost ridiculous, given the speed you reach. One could easily argue that turbo mode and boost might as well not exist on this bike. Rating: 10.
Technical climbing: This is impressive! The bike (even just in TRAIL mode) conquers climbs bordering on the unbelievable with astonishing traction and power. It's probably more fun going uphill (technical) than going downhill. Here too, a lot depends on the setup (there are truly many possibilities) but, generally speaking, the traction and smoothness of the engine combined with the responsiveness and acceleration capacity, allow you to easily overcome obstacles that at first glance might seem insurmountable. The 29" rear wheel also helps with traction and overcoming small and large obstacles. A 10 out of 10.
Single-track: The bike is agile and fun enough, but it didn't surprise me that much. This, too, is a good compromise, but it doesn't have a wow factor. I noticed, as I had with my Levo Gen. 2 with 29" wheels, a certain tendency to go off-center in corners. I'd be curious to try it with a 27.5" rear wheel; this would probably lower the center of gravity and make the bike perform better in tight turns and on off-camber sections. A 7.
Flowing descents: Here too, the frame, with its somewhat dated geometry, doesn't seem to excel; for comparison, I found the Turbo Levo Gen. 4 to be more fun and satisfying, which, despite its weight, manages to be more agile. A 7.5.
Technical and narrow descents: The bike performs well overall, but I still prefer the behavior of the My Levo Gen. 3 is much more planted on steep technical terrain, making it stable and safe, as well as easy to maneuver in tight turns. In this case, light weight isn't an advantage, nor are the 29" wheels and bottom bracket height. The front end sometimes feels a bit sloppy; higher-rise handlebars might be helpful. Rating: 7.5.
Braking: The Magura MT5 brakes are powerful and well-modulated, no complaints there. They would be even better with higher-performance discs than the stock ones (which are also noisy). If it were my bike, I'd go with the MDR-P discs. Rating 8
Stiffness: I haven't noticed any issues with this, and it's important to remember that this isn't an enduro bike, although it could become one with some tweaks, such as a Fox 38, a lower center of gravity, and a 27.5" rear wheel. Rating 8
Equipment: Decent considering the price of the base model I tested. Rating 7.5
Motor and electronics: This is a superior product, there's no denying it; this is what truly sets this brand apart from all the others. It's a real shame that the motor is a bit noisy when descending on rough terrain, with a rattling sound similar to, but less pronounced than, the infamous Shimano EP8, so no praise for it. The walk mode and the interaction with the touchscreen are fantastic. Rating 10
Finish: Very well built and finished. The black paint is very delicate due to scratches; a matte finish would have been better. I saw a very beautiful pearl white one on the net. Rating 9.
Value for money: The base model is attractively priced, as is the top-of-the-line model, which, with the same features, costs less than the competition. Score 8.5.
Final notes: A beautiful ebike, well done for a first attempt. What's particularly impressive is the motor and management software, which are currently unmatched by competitors. The frame is less surprising, with its somewhat dated geometry and, above all, a somewhat high center of gravity, which doesn't make it the best performing downhill bike. From this perspective, the work Specialized engineers have done with the Levo Gen. 4 is undoubtedly superior. A mix of the two would probably yield a near-perfect result! Levo Gen. 3/4 frame plus Amflow motor, battery, and software. Bingo!
What I liked most:
– The concept that makes it a full-power bike that weighs as much as an SL
– Exceptional performance on technical climbs.
– Leading-edge battery life with the right settings.
– Value for money.
– Fast charging.
– Excellent motor and management software.
What I liked least:
– The bottom bracket is a bit high, which affects downhill performance.
– The motor rattles on rough terrain.
– The battery is not removable.
– Downhill performance is not the best.
– The standard handlebar is excessively wide.
– Water bottle space is limited.
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Aesthetics: The PL Carbon I tested is a pleasant bike to look at, especially thanks to the slim down tube and the small motor, which makes it look like a non-motorized MTB. The gray of the bike I tested isn't the prettiest of colors; it's neutral and a bit bland. The black of the PRO version is much better. Rating: 8.5
Riding Position: The L size, for me at 186 cm tall, pedals well on flat terrain, and uphill, and downhill, I never felt it was too short. The riding position reminds me a lot of the Turbo Levo Gen 2, which I owned. The excessively wide handlebars on the bike I tested affected things a bit, but not in a positive way. As with all tests, you have to make do with an approximation, since the limited time available prevents you from making all the important adjustments that often greatly improve your confidence. Rating: 8.
Suspension: Certainly not top-of-the-line on the base version we tested, but it does its job satisfactorily: neither bad nor bad. At least it has the advantage of being easily adjustable. Rating: 7.5.
Smooth climbing: It depends a lot on the assistance settings. Certainly, if you exploit the motor's torque and power, it feels like riding a motorcycle, but it loses much of that cycling feel that I don't want to give up. The enormous amount of customization options allows the user to tailor the e-bike to their needs and meet all their needs. Riding uphill sections, even steep ones, in turbo mode seems almost ridiculous, given the speed you reach. One could easily argue that turbo mode and boost might as well not exist on this bike. Rating: 10.
Technical climbing: This is impressive! The bike (even just in TRAIL mode) conquers climbs bordering on the unbelievable with astonishing traction and power. It's probably more fun going uphill (technical) than going downhill. Here too, a lot depends on the setup (there are truly many possibilities) but, generally speaking, the traction and smoothness of the engine combined with the responsiveness and acceleration capacity, allow you to easily overcome obstacles that at first glance might seem insurmountable. The 29" rear wheel also helps with traction and overcoming small and large obstacles. A 10 out of 10.
Single-track: The bike is agile and fun enough, but it didn't surprise me that much. This, too, is a good compromise, but it doesn't have a wow factor. I noticed, as I had with my Levo Gen. 2 with 29" wheels, a certain tendency to go off-center in corners. I'd be curious to try it with a 27.5" rear wheel; this would probably lower the center of gravity and make the bike perform better in tight turns and on off-camber sections. A 7.
Flowing descents: Here too, the frame, with its somewhat dated geometry, doesn't seem to excel; for comparison, I found the Turbo Levo Gen. 4 to be more fun and satisfying, which, despite its weight, manages to be more agile. A 7.5.
Technical and narrow descents: The bike performs well overall, but I still prefer the behavior of the My Levo Gen. 3 is much more planted on steep technical terrain, making it stable and safe, as well as easy to maneuver in tight turns. In this case, light weight isn't an advantage, nor are the 29" wheels and bottom bracket height. The front end sometimes feels a bit sloppy; higher-rise handlebars might be helpful. Rating: 7.5.
Braking: The Magura MT5 brakes are powerful and well-modulated, no complaints there. They would be even better with higher-performance discs than the stock ones (which are also noisy). If it were my bike, I'd go with the MDR-P discs. Rating 8
Stiffness: I haven't noticed any issues with this, and it's important to remember that this isn't an enduro bike, although it could become one with some tweaks, such as a Fox 38, a lower center of gravity, and a 27.5" rear wheel. Rating 8
Equipment: Decent considering the price of the base model I tested. Rating 7.5
Motor and electronics: This is a superior product, there's no denying it; this is what truly sets this brand apart from all the others. It's a real shame that the motor is a bit noisy when descending on rough terrain, with a rattling sound similar to, but less pronounced than, the infamous Shimano EP8, so no praise for it. The walk mode and the interaction with the touchscreen are fantastic. Rating 10
Finish: Very well built and finished. The black paint is very delicate due to scratches; a matte finish would have been better. I saw a very beautiful pearl white one on the net. Rating 9.
Value for money: The base model is attractively priced, as is the top-of-the-line model, which, with the same features, costs less than the competition. Score 8.5.
Final notes: A beautiful ebike, well done for a first attempt. What's particularly impressive is the motor and management software, which are currently unmatched by competitors. The frame is less surprising, with its somewhat dated geometry and, above all, a somewhat high center of gravity, which doesn't make it the best performing downhill bike. From this perspective, the work Specialized engineers have done with the Levo Gen. 4 is undoubtedly superior. A mix of the two would probably yield a near-perfect result! Levo Gen. 3/4 frame plus Amflow motor, battery, and software. Bingo!
What I liked most:
– The concept that makes it a full-power bike that weighs as much as an SL
– Exceptional performance on technical climbs.
– Leading-edge battery life with the right settings.
– Value for money.
– Fast charging.
– Excellent motor and management software.
What I liked least:
– The bottom bracket is a bit high, which affects downhill performance.
– The motor rattles on rough terrain.
– The battery is not removable.
– Downhill performance is not the best.
– The standard handlebar is excessively wide.
– Water bottle space is limited.
45 - 2025 In compagnia delle zanzare (Test AMFLOW PL Carbon) | Strava
View Robi Kinkela's E-Bike Ride on August 8, 2025 | Strava
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