Drone maker DJI’s electric bikes launch today in the US

The e-bike industry has seen its fair share of unexpected players over the years, but today marks the US debut of one of the most interesting newcomers yet: drone giant DJI. Through its electric bike-focused subsidiary, Amflow, DJI has officially launched its first e-bikes in the US market, the Amflow PL Carbon and Amflow PL Carbon Pro, and they’re not messing around.

The two new models are full-suspension, high-performance electric mountain bikes designed to be lightweight, nimble, and surprisingly tech-heavy. And if you know DJI, that last part shouldn’t come as a surprise.

At the heart of both bikes is DJI’s own drive system dubbed Avinox. It’s a DJI-developed mid-drive motor platform that seems intent on taking a swing at the likes of Bosch, Shimano, and Brose. And the numbers back it up: 105 Nm of torque and up to 850 watts of peak power, all in a compact, 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) unit. That’s a serious punch for a bike that weighs just 19.2 kg (42.3 lb) in its lightest configuration, not to mention all the other gear it has to carry around.

The Avinox drive system comes paired with a smart 2-inch color OLED touchscreen display, which shows your speed and ride data. DJI also included Bluetooth connectivity that lets riders make several customizations via the Avinox app.

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The large 800Wh battery is paired with a powerful 500W fast charger that can fill the battery from 0 to 75% in just 90 minutes – a rate that is much faster than average in the eMTB world.

The bike itself is no slouch either. Built on a carbon fiber frame, the Amflow PL Carbon and Pro models feature 160 mm of travel up front and 150 mm in the rear, making them capable all-mountain or enduro-style rigs. Suspension duties are handled by Fox, and the bikes roll on mullet wheels – 29” up front, 27.5” out back – for the best of both agility and rollover performance.

While DJI is clearly positioning the Avinox motor system as a standalone product to be used by other OEMs in the future, they’re using their new Amflow brand as a showcase, and it’s a pretty flashy demo. The design is sleek, the weight is impressively low for a full-suspension eMTB, and the integration of DJI’s tech expertise shines through.

Electrek’s Take

We’ve seen all kinds of companies try to jump into the e-bike game, but few have the R&D firepower of DJI. If you’ve ever flown one of their drones, you know they’re well made and tech dense, offering a level of refinement and performance that’s tough to match. And now they’re use that same precision and tech-savviness they’re known for all the way to e-bikes. With features like anti-theft and location tracking, DJI definitely brought its technology A-game.

Thought with a starting price of US $7,499 (or over $10k for the top end model), these bikes are not cheap. Not by a long shot.

But let’s not ignore the broader implications: DJI is throwing its hat into the e-bike motor ring with Avinox. That could ruffle feathers at some of the established motor companies, especially if other bike makers start adopting DJI’s drive system. We’ve already seen several hop on board, and we’ll be watching closely to see how many other Avinox-powered bikes start popping up with other brands soon.

But for now, the Amflow PL Carbon and PL Carbon Pro are one heck of a way to make an entrance. Welcome to the e-bike party, DJI.