Blix Sol Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
After many miles of testing the Blix Sol it has proven to be an easy going, comfortable, and fun eCruiser bike!
It has the upright and relaxed ride style of a classic cruiser bike with the easy get on and ride low step-thru design.
One of the big highlights of the Sol is its very quiet and smooth 350 watt geared rear hub motor that provides pedal assist and/or throttle operation.
The Blix Sol offers a lot of value at $1,599 with its impressive features, quality components, free shipping and assembly. Plus Blix offers monthly payments and a 30-day trial period.
In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.
Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.
What you can expect from the Blix Sol:
To get acquainted with the Blix Sol, checkout this video:
Riding the Blix Sol:
Overall there are some characteristics of the Blix Sol that really stand out when riding this eCommuter bike. To summarize they are:
- The easy get on and off step-thru frame design
- Comfortable easy riding upright position
- Smooth & quiet ride experience
The Look & Feel of the Blix Sol
One of the most noticeable and useful features of the Sol is the large and low step-thru aluminum frame design.
The step-thru height is 17″ off the ground and the area is very wide which makes it very easy to get on and ride.
The swooping downtube also adds to style to the Sol with its long curved profile.
There is some internal cable routing through the large downtube that provides for some cable protection and a cleaner overall look.
Reinforcing gussets at the head tube and seat tube connections provide strength and also add some style as well.
The reinforcing tube from the down tube to seat tube also provides a place to pick up the bike.
While the frame has the reinforcing gussets there is some flexibility in the frame that can be felt when cornering quickly from side to side but for most general riding conditions it feels very solid.
The Sol is designed to fit a range of rider sizes from 5′-2″ to 6′-1″ which makes it a good eBike for families of different rider sizes. There is a lot of adjustability with the handlebar stem and seat height.
Blix also designed the Sol to work with a variety of different accessories and one of the more noticeable accessories is the front rack option that is bolted to the front fork.
The aluminum fork has tabs for attachment of the front rack that can carry up to 25 pounds of cargo and it has a built in drink holder.
In addition to the front cargo rack, Blix offers a rear rack and full fenders as optional accessories that can make the Sol more capable for commuting and errand running.
Another frame highlight is the battery location just behind the seat tube which is good for relatively central and low weight distribution.
The frame structure around the battery does provide a bit of protection as well.
Now let’s take a closer look at the ride position of the Blix Sol.
Typical of beach cruiser style bikes the Sol has the easy going, comfortable, and fun ride position.
The wide swept back and upright handlebars are very comfortable and give the Sol a relaxed and stable ride feel.
Ergonomic grips with end wings provide wrist support and add to the stable ride feel.
The adjustable stem angle lets you dial in your preferred ride height and reach. It’s nice to have this a stock item on the Sol.
Following along the lines of a comfortable ride is the Velo Cruiser saddle that has a wider profile with dual springs. It definitely smooths out the ride and matches the easy going style of the Sol well.
If you ride on rougher roads a suspension seatpost is a nice addition for smoothing out the ride.
One of the interesting features of the stock seatpost that comes on the Sol is that it can be “opened” to rotate the seat forward for quick removal of the battery for charging off the bike. The battery can be charged on the bike as well.
If you were to add a suspension seatpost, the seat & seatpost can be removed for battery removal by opening the quick release lever on at the seat tube.
Kenda Kwick Seven 5Sport 27.5″ x 2.2″ tires are used front and rear and they also match the cruiser style of the Sol well.
Their balloon style profile and air volume provides a bit of suspension effect when run at the lower tire pressure range (30 psi).
The Kenda Kwik Seven 5Sport tires have a road tread pattern and they really roll well with an efficient gliding feeling.
Now let’s take a look at the electric assist system.
A 350 watt geared rear hub motor provides the assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist and/or throttle.
The Blix Sol is a Class 2 electric bike which is pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph and 750 watts max.
The motor has a compact size that blends in well with the overall look of the Sol.
And it is also one of the quietest geared hub motors I have ridden!
Most geared hub motors have a whirring noise but the motor on the Sol is almost silent which is impressive.
The almost silent motor lets you focus more on enjoying the ride.
In higher pedal assist levels and upper throttle range the Sol does have some kick and it can climb hills pretty well.
There are 4 levels of pedal assist that are based on a cadence sensor at the cranks.
The transitions of adding and stopping assist is impressively smooth for a cadence sensor system. Some cadence sensor systems can be a bit abrupt when adding or stopping the assist.
There are up and down arrows on the control pad under the display on the handlebars that are used to adjust the 4 different levels of pedal assist.
Pedal assist levels 1 and 2 offer an easy going ride style and they are a good option for cruising rides around the neighborhood or when riding in crowded areas.
Levels 3 and 4 give the Sol more of kick and they get you up to speed pretty quickly. These higher assist levels really help on the hills and for accelerating quickly but they do drain the battery quicker than the lower assist levels.
The thumb throttle can be used in addition to the pedal assist or without pedaling if you prefer.
In the lower pedal assist levels the throttle can be used to give you a boost of power for quickly getting through a busy intersection or for a boost up and over a hill.
The throttle has a lot of variability from just a little power up to full power. It operates much like the volume dial on a radio with a linear spectrum of assist.
A 36V 11ah 396 Wh lithium battery is the power pack for the assist system.
Blix also offers a high capacity battery that is a 36V 17.5Ah (630Wh) for more range and it is an additional $300.
The battery fit is slightly loose in the frame mounting track and when riding on rougher roads it does make a slight rattling noise. It would be nice to have the battery connection to the frame be a little tighter for minimal noise.
The relatively central and low location of the battery helps with the overall balance and handling of the Sol.
The Blix Sol is somewhat back heavy with the rear hub motor, battery behind the seat, and a relatively light front end.
The battery weighs 6.8 pounds and it can be charged to 100% in 3 to 4 hours.
Now let’s take a closer look at the display.
The Spintech display and control pad is located on the left side of the handlebar and provides information on:
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed, average speed, max speed
- Pedal assist level
The display has fairly large numbers for seeing the important stats at a quick glance and the backlight option really helps for reading the display in low light conditions.
The Sol’s drivetrain is a 7 speed Shimano system that features the RevoShift grip shifter on the right side of the handlebar.
It is very easy to shift with its light action twist grip style of shifting.
Another nice highlight of the drivetrain is the double chainring guards that helps to keep the chain on the chainring while providing some pant leg protection.
Keeping the speed in check is handled by Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors front and rear.
They are powerful brakes that do a good job of slowing the Sol down quickly.
The brake levers have a rubber grip surface on each brake lever for good grip in any weather.
There are sensors in each brake lever that will stop the assist when either brake lever.
One feature missing from the brake levers is the ability to adjust adjust the brake lever reach for riders with smaller hands.
Okay, let’s see how the Blix Sol did out on the open road!
Blix Sol Range Test Results:
Here is the real world information on how the Blix Sol electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.
While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the Blix Sol in the highest pedal assist level (Level 4) with average pedaling on paved roads.
Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the Blix Sol traveled 26 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 2,000 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is pretty good range for a eCruiser bike with a 36 Volt 11 ah battery pack (396 Watt Hours) with a 350 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph.
Blix does offer the higher capacity 36V 17.5Ah (630Wh) lithium battery for more range and it is an additional $300.
Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.
Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.
Speed: The Sol will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only and/or throttle.
Weight: The Sol tips the scales at 49.9 lbs which is on the lighter side for an electric bike. Removing the 6.8 pound battery brings it down to around 43.8 pounds.
The weight distribution of the Sol is somewhat back heavy because of the rear hub motor and the battery behind the seat tube.
Pros:
Easy Going: The Sol is a comfortable, easy going, and fun eBike to ride with its beach cruiser style and low step-thru design. Getting on and off is super easy and its upright and relaxed design make it a fun bike to ride.
Smooth & Quiet: The 350 watt geared rear hub motor is surprisingly quiet and smooth. The higher assist levels and/or throttle give the Sol a sporty feeling with quicker acceleration and good hill climbing capabilities.
Price: $1,599 with free shipping & assembly at a local bike shop is impressive for the features and components that come with the Sol. Monthly payment options and a 30-day trial period are also nice purchasing perks.
Cons:
Battery Noise: The battery fit is slightly loose in the frame mounting track and when riding on rougher roads it does make a slight rattling noise. It would be nice to have the battery connection to the frame be a little tighter for minimal noise.
Brake Lever Adjustments: It would be nice to have the ability to adjust the brake lever reach to fit riders with smaller hands.
Conclusion:
Overall the Blix Sol is a fun eCruiser with a comfortable and easy going ride style with an impressive price point.
The casual beach cruiser ride style combined with the easy get on and go step-thru design makes the Sol a very approachable and comfortable eBike to ride.
The smooth and quiet 350 geared rear hub motor is a highlight along with the well rounded component spec from Shimano, Tektro, Kenda, and more.
The Blix Sol is priced very well 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.
Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.
Where to buy a Blix Sol? Check with the Blix website.
Do you have any questions about the Blix Sol? Do you own a Blix Sol? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks!
-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.
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