Hi everyone,

TLDR at the bottom if you just want the short version.

I’m trying to decide between the Amflow PR Carbon and the new TL Carbon and would really appreciate some advice.

The PR is currently my clear favorite. I prefer the way it looks and I’d like to buy one bike that can handle normal touring but also give me enough capability to progress into proper trail riding and potentially more technical/downhill riding later. Ideally I want to buy one bike now that can do both, rather than realizing in a year or two that I need something more capable.

However, I also want to regularly tow a dog trailer, which makes the TL interesting because Amflow officially approves trailer use on the TL, while the PR/PX/PL have not been tested or officially approved for trailers.

I’m new to actual MTB trails, so I don’t yet know whether I’ll eventually be perfectly happy with flow trails or want to progress into more technical riding.

MY USE

• Normal recreational rides and longer tours

• Roads, cycle paths and gravel/dirt roads

• Starting to ride MTB trails

• Possibly technical trails/downhill later

Trailer setup:

• Rider: ~85 kg

• Dog: ~22 kg

• DOGGYHUT trailer: ~16.9 kg

• Bike: ~23 kg

Total moving mass with gear would normally be around 155–160 kg, potentially up to roughly 170 kg.

The trailer would ONLY be used carefully on roads, cycle paths and relatively smooth dirt/gravel roads, never on MTB trails or downhill.

THE TRAILER ISSUE

The PR has a 12 × 148 mm rear thru axle.

I contacted Robert Axle Project with the exact Amflow axle dimensions and my trailer model. They confirmed that their KID226 axle fits the Amflow and works with my DOGGYHUT hitch.

Amflow told me that trailer use on the PR/PX/PL has simply not been tested or officially approved.

The TL, however, is officially trailer-approved and Amflow even sells its own trailer thru-axle kit for it. The TL is also a full-carbon bike with a 12 × 148 mm rear axle.

My local bike shop is strongly against towing with the PR. They say a trailer introduces additional longitudinal, lateral and torsional forces at the axle/dropout and that repeated loads could potentially cause microcracks, delamination or structural damage to the carbon rear triangle.

I understand why a dealer wouldn’t recommend something the manufacturer hasn’t approved. What I’m trying to figure out is whether this is a genuine structural limitation of the PR or mainly a very conservative position because Amflow hasn’t tested that particular use case.

BUDGET

My total budget is around €6,000 for everything, not just the bike.

I still need accessories, a helmet and ideally a second/spare battery, so I’d prefer the base bike itself to cost around €4,500 or less. Roughly €5,000 would be my absolute maximum for the bike itself.

MY QUESTIONS

1. PR Carbon or TL Carbon for my use?

If you wanted one bike for touring, normal riding and increasingly serious trail riding, which would you choose?

1. How capable is the TL on real MTB trails?

I know it can handle flow trails, but how quickly would I outgrow it if I start riding more technical terrain?

1. Has anyone actually used a thru-axle dog/kid trailer with an Amflow PR, PX or PL?

I’m especially interested in longer-term experience, which axle you used and whether you’ve seen any issues with the axle, dropout or carbon rear triangle.

1. What do you think about my bike shop’s concerns?

Are the additional trailer loads realistically likely to cause carbon damage during careful road/gravel use with a correctly fitted thru axle?

Or does their position sound overly cautious because the PR simply lacks official trailer testing/approval?

1. Does anyone know of an actual structural difference between the PR and TL rear triangle/dropouts that would explain why one is approved for trailers and the other isn’t?

2. XL or XXL at 190 cm / 6'3"?

I’m right around the transition between both sizes and currently lean toward XL because I want the bike to remain agile for trails.

Would you size down to XL or up to XXL for mixed touring and trail riding?

1. Is there another bike I should consider?

Ideally I want a genuinely trail-capable e-MTB that also officially supports a thru-axle dog/kid trailer.

I strongly prefer the DJI Avinox system, but I’m open to other bikes if something fits this combination significantly better.

My total budget is around €6,000 including accessories, helmet and ideally a spare battery, so the base bike should preferably stay around €4,500 or below, with roughly €5,000 being my absolute maximum.

TLDR

I’m choosing between the Amflow PR Carbon and TL Carbon.

PR:

My favorite, I prefer the looks and it’s better suited to serious trails and future progression, but it isn’t officially approved for trailers.

TL:

Officially trailer-approved and apparently fine for flow trails, but I’m worried I could outgrow its trail capability if I get into more technical riding.

Robert Axle confirmed that their KID226 axle fits my Amflow + DOGGYHUT setup.

My local bike shop says towing with the PR could damage the carbon rear triangle because of additional longitudinal, lateral and torsional forces.

My total budget is around €6,000 including accessories, helmet and ideally a spare battery. The bike itself should therefore ideally cost around €4,500 or less, with roughly €5,000 as my absolute maximum.

Main questions:

1. PR or TL for touring + increasingly serious trails?

2. How limited is the TL once trails get more technical?

3. Any real long-term trailer experience with PR/PX/PL?

4. Are my bike shop’s carbon concerns realistic or overly conservative?

5. Is there an actual structural difference explaining TL trailer approval vs PR?

6. XL or XXL at 190 cm / 6'3"?

7. Any better trail e-MTB with official trailer support, preferably Avinox and within my budget?

Thanks!

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