Blix Sol Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
The new Blix Sol electric cruiser bike is in for testing & review!
This is an economical eCruiser bike with an easy going step thru design and upright comfortable ride position.
Some of the highlights are a 350 watt geared rear hub, a 36V 11ah lithium battery (upgradable to 17.5ah), pedal assist + throttle, Shimano drivetrain, Tektro brakes, Kenda tires, and more.
The Blix Sol is priced at $1,599 with free shipping & assembly at your local bike shop. Blix also offers monthly payment options.
In addition they give you a 30-day trial with the Sol.
In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.
Part 2 of the Blix Sol review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.
Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Blix Sol!
Ready for eCruising! The Blix Sol features a low step thru design for easily getting on and off the bike and it also has a very comfortable upright ride position.
In addition to Sky Blue color of the bike in this testing, the Blix Sol also comes in the Charcoal color shown above.
The aluminum frame has a very low and spacious step thru area which makes getting on and off the Sol very easy. The step thru height is 17″ off of the ground.
The Sol is designed to fit a range of rider sizes from 5′-2″ to 6′-1″.
The fork is also aluminum and the tab on the sides is for the attachment of an optional Blix front cargo basket.
Here is a closer look at the head tube area where you can see substantial reinforcing with an additional gusset below the downtube. Also visible is some internal cable routing in the downtube.
This is the reinforcing tube at the step thru area that connects from the down tube to seat tube. It adds a little bit of style to the bike and it can also be used as a handle for picking the bike up.
Just behind the seat tube is the 36V 11Ah (396Wh) lithium battery that can be upgraded to a higher capacity size of 36V 17.5Ah (630Wh) for more range. The upgraded battery is an additional $300.
The battery location is good because it is centered and relatively low on the bike for good handling and balance.
This might look a little strange but the seat does rotate forward to allow removal of the battery by pulling it up and off the bike. On the back of the seat is a lever that releases the seat for rotation forward.
There is a lock at the bottom of the battery that is opened with one of the supplied keys (4 provided).
Here is a look at the frame with the battery removed. The battery is supported by the black rail which also acts as a guide as the battery slides up and off the bike for removal.
When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 43.8 pounds. The total bike weight with the battery is 49.9 pounds.
The battery can be charged on or off the bike and it takes 3-4 hours to fully charge an empty battery. The battery weights 6.8 pounds.
The charge port is on the upper right side of the battery.
On the back of the battery is the on/off button and charge level indicator. There is also a charge level indicator on the handlebar display.
Providing the assist is a 350 watt geared rear hub motor that has a fairly compact size. There are 4 levels of pedal assist and/or the thumb throttle option that will provide assist up to 20 mph.
The Blix Sol is a Class 2 electric bike which is pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph with assist.
Another view of the 350 watt geared rear hub motor.
The Kenda Kwick Seven 5Sport 27.5″ x 2.2″ tires are used front and rear. These have an efficient road tread pattern with a balloon style profile that fits the cruiser style of the Sol well.
Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160 mm rotors are used front and rear.
This is the Tektro mechanical disc brake with 160mm rotor mounted to the 350 watt rear hub motor.
Now let’s take a look at the cruiser style handlebar area. As you can see these handlebars are very wide and they are swept back for an upright and comfortable ride position.
In this view you can see how the Sol has a very upright and easy to reach swept back handlebar position relative to the seat.
The stem angle is adjustable in height and reach. This is the more upright position which can be adjusted lower if that is preferable. This is a helpful for setting up the Sol to fit you and your preferred riding style.
On the left side of the handlebar is the ergonomic grip, thumb throttle, front Tektro disc brake lever with integrated bell, and combined display and control pad.
The grips have a wing shape to provide wrist support and an overall stable feeling.
The thumb throttle can be used on its own (without pedaling) and it can also be used to provide a boost when using the lower pedal assist levels. Similar to the volume dial on a radio, the throttle provides a linear spectrum of assist from just a little to full assist.
The SpinTech display provides the following information:
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed, average speed, max speed
- Pedal assist level. There are 4 levels of pedal assist. The Sol uses a cadence sensor for the pedal assist system.
There is a backlit option for riding in low light and it really helps for reading the display.
Just below the display on the inside of the handlebars are the up and down arrows for adjusting the pedal assist. The backlight on the display is turned on by pressing the up arrow for a few seconds.
The mode button is on the lower outer side of the display. It is used for turning the bike on/off and cycling through information on the display.
The left brake lever (front brake) has an integrated bell that is easy to ring by pulling on the small lever.
The front and rear brake levers have sensors that will stop the assist when either brake lever is pulled.
Each brake lever has a rubber grip surface that provides a solid grip in wet or dry conditions.
The right side of the handlebar features the ergonomic grip, twist grip Shimano 7 speed shifter, and rear Tektro brake lever.
The Shimano RevoShift 7 grip shifter has a display window for showing what gear is currently selected.
There are 2 chain guards that keep the chain on the front 48 tooth chainring and they provide some protection to keep your pant legs clean.
A Shimano Tourney rear derailleur shifts through the 7 speed Shimano freewheel.
The plastic Wellgo pedals have a wide platform with a solid grip surface. There are reflectors on each end of the pedal for extra visibility for riding in the dark.
The Velo Cruiser seat has a wider profile that matches the comfortable style of the Sol well.
Last but not least is the kickstand. The height is adjustable so that you can vary the tilt of the bike when it is parked.
Here is a look at the Sol decked out with some of the optional accessories like the front cargo basket, fenders, and rear cargo rack.
Blix Sol Electric Bike Specifications
Frame: Aluminum step-thru frame with internal cable routing
Fork: Aluminum fork
Motor: 350W geared rear hub motor
Battery: 36V 11Ah (396 Wh) lithium battery. Optional upgrade to 36V 17.5ah (630 Wh) for additional $300. The battery weighs 6.8 pounds.
Assist Options: 4 pedal assist levels (cadence sensor) and thumb throttle.
Speed: Pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 2 eBike
Display: SpinTech display provides information on the battery level, odometer and trip distance, current speed, average speed, max speed, and pedal assist level (4 levels). Also has a backlight for low light visibility.
Drivetrain: 7 Speed drivetrain with Shimano Tourney derailleur and Shimano grip shifter.
Brakeset: Tektro mechanical disc brake with 160 mm rotors and motor cut-off sensors in the brake levers.
Tires: Kenda Kwick Seven 5Sport 27.5″ x 2.2″
Seat: Velo Cruiser
Accessories: Kickstand
Sizes: One step-thru frame size that fits riders in size from 5’2″ to 6’1″.
Colors: Charcoal or Sky Blue
Weight: Bike without the battery = 43.8 pounds. Battery = 6.8 pounds. Total bike = 49.9 pounds.
Price: $1,599 with free shipping & assembly at your local bike shop. Blix also offers monthly payment options. In addition they give you a 30-day trial with the Sol.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the Blix Sol testing & review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!
-Pete
Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.
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[…] Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike. […]