Avinox M2S Motor Review – My Experience Upgrading an Amflow Carbon PL

I’ve been riding my Amflow Carbon PL as my main bike for around 16 months, including racing it in downhill events and pushing it considerably harder than you might expect from a lightweight eMTB.

When I had the opportunity to test the newer Avinox M2S drive unit, I wanted to do more than simply ride a new bike fitted with one. I removed the motor from one of my demo bikes and installed it into my existing Amflow Carbon PL.

That gave me the opportunity to compare the M1 and M2S motors on a bike I know extremely well, rather than trying to separate differences in the motor from differences between two complete bikes.

The result surprised me. The M2S is a significant upgrade.

Installing the M2S in my Amflow Carbon PL

The conversion was relatively straightforward.

I retained my existing battery and display, and both worked with the M2S immediately. I did need to change the AXS power cable and speed sensor because the M2S uses different connectors.

I also had to modify the existing bash guards because the M2S has a different external shape.

My original display and battery otherwise worked without issue.

With the motor installed, the power settings showed up to 1,300 watts available.

M2S vs M1: the biggest difference is how the power is delivered

The headline power figure doesn't tell the whole story.

The biggest improvement I noticed with the M2S was how much more usable the assistance felt.

With the original M1, I rarely used Turbo on technical trails. There were situations where the motor would deliver more assistance than I wanted, particularly when entering or exiting corners. The power was impressive, but sometimes difficult to use effectively.

The M2S feels considerably more controlled.

The harder you pedal, the more assistance it gives you, and the relationship between rider input and motor output feels much more natural.

On my first proper ride with the M2S, I rode a trail blind in Turbo and finished only two seconds off the Strava KOM. More importantly, I was comfortable leaving the bike in Turbo because the power delivery was predictable enough to use.

That's a significant change from how I rode the M1.

Low-speed climbing and motor response

I deliberately tested the M2S on steep roads at very low speeds to see how it responded under load.

After allowing the bike to slow considerably, I started applying power through the pedals.

The response was excellent.

There was plenty of assistance available, but it arrived in a controlled manner. Instead of simply feeling like the motor was overwhelming the available traction, I could actually use the power.

For technical climbing, I think this is one of the most important improvements to the system.

Motor drag is noticeably lower

One of the most obvious differences was actually with the motor switched off.

Pedalling the M2S without assistance is significantly easier than the M1.

It still doesn't feel exactly like an analogue mountain bike, but the reduction in resistance is immediately noticeable.

I rode alongside a mate on his M1-equipped Amflow and we swapped bikes during the ride so we could compare them directly.

The difference was clear.

The biggest surprise: coasting speed

This was probably the strangest and most noticeable difference of the entire test.

My bike seemed to carry considerably more speed when I stopped pedalling.

Between trail sections, it repeatedly felt like the bike wanted to accelerate away from me. I found myself using the brakes more than usual simply because I was carrying more speed.

I can't definitively explain the cause from one test. The most obvious explanation is reduced drivetrain resistance, but I don't want to claim that's the sole reason without measuring it properly.

What I can say is that the difference was noticeable enough that I kept thinking about it throughout the ride.

The closest comparison I can make is the first time I started riding Onyx hubs and noticed how freely the bike carried speed.

The M2S is extremely quiet

Noise is another substantial improvement.

The M2S is exceptionally quiet while riding.

When riding beside my mate's M1 Amflow, I could hear his motor more clearly than the M2S underneath me.

There was also no noticeable motor rattle while descending.

For riders who value a quiet bike, this is a meaningful improvement.

Battery consumption

My test bike was running an 800Wh battery.

Despite spending a considerable amount of the ride in Boost while deliberately testing the motor's performance, battery consumption was better than I expected.

Over the same ride, I used approximately 10% more battery than my mate riding an M1-equipped Amflow.

That's not a controlled efficiency test — rider weight, assistance use, riding style and bike setup all affect consumption — but it gives some useful real-world context.

I'll continue monitoring range as I put more kilometres on the M2S.

Rider weight still affects performance

The Avinox system remains sensitive to rider input and rider weight.

At approximately 105kg, I was able to slightly pull away from riders weighing roughly 60kg and 80kg when we were riding M1 bikes in Boost and I was riding the M2S at its higher-output setting.

We then swapped bikes.

With me riding the M1 and the lighter riders on the M2S, they pulled away from me very quickly.

This isn't a scientific test, but it reinforced how strongly the system responds to rider input and the conditions under which it's being used.

Is the M2S better than the M1?

Yes.

I still think the original M1 is an excellent drive system. I've spent a lot of time riding it and it has performed extremely well.

But after riding the M2S back-to-back on the same platform, I think the M2S is a substantial improvement.

It isn't simply about having more peak power.

The improvements I noticed most were:

• more controlled and usable assistance

• better relationship between rider input and motor output

• noticeably lower resistance when pedalling without assistance

• excellent low-speed power delivery

• significantly quieter operation

• no noticeable motor rattle while descending

• better confidence using the highest assistance settings on technical trails

Changing the motor made an already excellent bike noticeably better.

The Amflow Carbon PL is more capable than its "trail bike" label suggests

I've raced downhill events on my Amflow Carbon PL Pro and have pushed the bike as hard as I reasonably can.

It has never let me down.

Although the Amflow is commonly described as a lightweight trail eMTB, my experience with it goes considerably beyond ordinary trail riding.

The combination of its low weight, Avinox power and the right suspension and component setup makes it an extremely capable platform.

The M2S takes that another step further.

I’ll update this article again after spending more time on the M2S and comparing it with the newer Amflow PX platform.

My Amflow Carbon PL setup

For context, this is the bike I used for the comparison:

Frame: Amflow Carbon PL, XL
Fork: RockShox ZEB Ultimate 29", 170mm, Charger 3.1
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate with Linear XL air can
Linkage: Cascade Components link
Handlebar: OneUp Components carbon, 50mm rise
Stem: Burgtec Enduro, 35mm
Brakes: SRAM Code Stealth Ultimate
Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Transmission
Chain: SRAM XX, Silca wax treated
Cranks: 155mm
Chainring: 5DEV 36T titanium
Dropper: RockShox Reverb AXS B1, 200mm
Pedals: Deity Supervillain
Wheels: Wingman carbon mullet wheelset
Rear hub: Onyx
Tyres: Continental Kryptotal front and rear, DH casing
Grips: Burgtec Minaar Pro

I'm 188cm tall and approximately 105kg.

About this review

I own and operate CB Cycles in Australind, Western Australia, and we're an Amflow dealer.

This isn't a review based on a short demo ride. The Carbon PL used for this comparison has been my personal bike for around 16 months, which is why installing the M2S into the same bike was particularly useful. I could assess the change in drive unit without simultaneously changing frame, suspension, wheels and bike setup.

We stock Amflow bikes along with Avinox components, replacement parts and many of the components I use on my own bikes.

If you're trying to decide between Avinox-equipped bikes, need help with Avinox compatibility, or want to discuss an Amflow setup, contact CB Cycles or visit us in Australind.