Amflow’s TL Carbon is a bike that wants to be two things at once: a trail beast and a grocery getter. It has the wide tires and front and rear suspension of an off-road machine, plus fenders and racks that belong on a city commuter. The Dutch reviewer who tested it for The Verge spent a month riding it through Amsterdam, including a three-day bikepacking trip to the island of Texel at the northern tip of the Netherlands. His verdict is simple: it works, but the compromises are real.
The Test Ride From Amsterdam to Texel
The 170km trip was roughly 70 percent asphalt, 20 percent gravel and dirt, and 10 percent rutted, hilly single-track. The rider was loaded down with about 20kg of gear on a 19.2kg bike, and he admits he was nervous about the technical sections. But the bike’s compact mid-drive Avinox M2 motor, with 125Nm of torque and 1100W of max output, flattened long, technical hills that other riders had to hike. He arrived at his destination with 22 percent charge remaining after riding 82.3km, for an efficient 7.58Wh per km.
The battery is removable, which means it can be charged behind a bar, at a cafe, or inside a home. That flexibility helped the rider get through a very windy weekend. He didn’t miss the optional 480Wh battery extender.
What Works About the TL Carbon
The TL Carbon’s strengths are easy to list:
- It handles technical trails with confidence.
- The Avinox drive system is powerful and compact.
- The range is excellent, especially considering the load.
- It can carry a kid to daycare and bomb down trails.
The bike is built on the same Avinox drive system that shook up the mountain bike industry a few years ago, when DJI’s offshoot disrupted the market with its small, powerful motors. The TL Carbon is less powerful than the PX Carbon Pro the reviewer tested over the summer, but its eMTB roots are unmistakable.
The Compromises Are Everywhere
The problems start when you look at the details. The 27.5-inch front wheel rolls over roots and rocks less well than the 29-inch wheels found on modern mountain bikes. There’s clearance to swap a 29er in if you want, but the accessories that make the bike practical in town are not designed for quick removal. Stripping the bike to go full eMTB could take 30 minutes or more, and then again to return to city mode. It’s a bike that requires commitment in either direction.
Why the TL Carbon Is a Compromise Machine
The TL Carbon is an eSUV in the same way a Jeep with leather seats and a stereo is a city car. It has the right parts, but they’re arranged for the wrong environment. In town, the gas shock, Fox branding, and wide knobby tires scream “expensive,” and they make the bike stand out from basic city bikes. That’s not ideal in places where bicycle theft is a problem.
The reviewer wouldn’t feel comfortable parking it on the street overnight in Amsterdam, where leaving a bike locked outside is otherwise routine. Amflow does equip the bike with Apple Find My if you need to track it down, but that’s a consolation, not a solution.
The Tires Are the Biggest Letdown
The Maxxis Crossmark II tires are better suited for trails than for pavement. They add rolling resistance and noise to city commutes, and they lack the anti-puncture features found on tires made for commuting and touring. That makes them more vulnerable to flats from glass and construction debris on city streets. The knobby tread also makes fast cornering on pavement feel squirmy, though the nubs eventually wear off.
There’s no chain guard on the TL Carbon. That’s fine for mountain biking, but it’s a nuisance in the city, where an exposed drivetrain can snag trousers and skirts. The reviewer describes the bike as a thief magnet, and the combination of visible value and exposed components doesn’t help.
How the TL Carbon Stacks Up Against Other eSUVs
The TL Carbon isn’t alone in this niche. Cowboy launched its Cross in 2024, and the reviewer notes that eSUVs are more popular than ever. Canyon, Specialized, Riese & Müller, and now Amflow all make versions of the same idea.
The reviewer tested the TL Carbon against his own experience with the PX Carbon Pro, noting that the newer bike is less powerful, sporty, and springy than the older model. But the eMTB roots are clear in both.
The Verdict on the TL Carbon
The TL Carbon is a capable crossover e-bike for €3499 / $3,899. It can fetch groceries during the week and conquer trails on the weekend. But it’s a compromise machine. It’s more at home on trails than in the city, and the accessories that make it practical in town add significant weight and make it harder to strip down.
“If the Amflow TL Carbon is your only bike then it certainly gets the job done in urban environments. But it’s a little like putting leather seats and a stereo inside a WWII-era jeep and calling it a city car.”
That’s the reviewer’s final assessment.
Key Facts Box
- Price: €3499 / $3,899
- Battery: 800Wh, with optional 480Wh extender
- Motor: Avinox M2, 125Nm torque, 1100W max output
- Weight: 19.2kg (42.3lbs) loaded, 190lbs rider, 20kg gear
- Range: 7.58Wh per km (12.2Wh per mile)
- Trip distance: 170km (106 miles), 70 percent asphalt, 20 percent gravel, 10 percent single-track
- Longest day: 82.3km (51.1 miles), 22 percent charge remaining
Source material: “Can ‘eSUV’ e-bikes really go from trail to town?,” The Verge.
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