2015 Blix Komfort+ Review

Blix introduced an improved Komfort+ model in 2016 with fenders, front and rear lights and an LCD display panel stock. It costs the same amount of money but weighs slightly more due to the accessories. To see that model and read the updated review click here.

The Blix Komfort+ is an elegant city cruiser that’s agile and efficient compared to the larger beach cruisers. It’s narrow tires, easy-mount frame and ergonomic grips create a balance that’s aesthetically pleasing and relatively comfortable to ride. The sprung saddle helps to smooth out bumps but the tires aren’t as soft as a beach cruiser and there’s not other suspension on the bike. Priced at just under $2k there’s a lot to appreciate when you dig into the details here. I especially liked the integrated LED headlight, clean wire management and 12 magnet pedelec which offered surprisingly responsive pedal assist cutout where most others tend to lag. The upgraded brake levers (with motor inhibitors) further the sense of control and the proven 8Fun motor is quite powerful and even made it up a rather large hill using throttle only! Blix is a new company in the US but is offering bikes through a manufacturer that’s been supplying Scandinavian countries since 2006. With three colors to choose from and a generous warranty this is a solid offering and the big difference between it and the regular Komfort model is the rear mounted motor vs. front and the higher 350 watt output vs 250. There’s room for fenders and a rear carry rack but those were skipped here. Both models are the same price.

Driving this little beauty is a 350 watt planetary geared hub motor that’s mounted in the rear wheel. As mentioned earlier, it’s quite capable in terms of torque and power output with 550+ watt peak output. You can operate the motor in pedal assist mode and override with the throttle which is nice but I would have liked a throttle-only mode for simplicity. If you get a flat tire with this ebike the front wheel offers quick release but the rear is bolt-on. Thankfully, there’s a quick disconnect point in the power cable to the motor which makes maintenance easier. Also located at the rear axle is a seven speed cassette with Shimano Alivio derailleur. It’s not high end stuff but it’s also not the lowest and seven speeds should be enough for around town errands or fun. The shifting mechanism is intuitive and easy to reach at the front. One little extra I like is the plastic chain guide which helps to limit dropped chains while riding on bumpy terrain while doubling as a basic pant guard. It’s not going to keep you as clean or snag free as a full sized chain guard but it weighs less and won’t get kicked as easily.

Powering the Blix Komfort Plus and its integrated headlight is a well positioned Lithiu-ion battery pack. It’s not seamlessly integrated into the frame but the black paint is handsome on the green and white frames while blending in more completely on the black frame. It’s nice that they offer several color choices but the frame only comes in one size (standard medium). Given the lower step-thru design and adjustable seat height I think this electric bike could accommodate a wide range of riders (short to medium) but the bars could be a little high and there’s no quick-adjust there. Back to the battery… You get 36 volts of power here with 10 amp hours of capacity which I would call “average” in the US. I love that you can remove the pack for charging and that it has an integrated LED power level display but was bummed that the key had to be in and set to “on” in order to activate this display. That’s one of my biggest gripes here, you must leave the key in while riding in order for the battery to power the bike. This could mean jingling sounds, forgotten keys and chips and scratches on the frame. I love that the saddle is mounted to a swivel bracket that lets you slide the battery up and out of the frame without messing with the quick release seat tube but found myself banging the key into the seat stays as I pulled up… this isn’t uncommon on ebikes with this type of battery mount but take care not to accidentally bend the key or break it off in the pack.

Starting the Komfort+ isn’t as straight forward as I’d like but once you get going it’s very intuitive. First, make sure the battery is charged up and mounted to the frame… and locked to the frame… and that the key is in the second slot on the battery and turned to on. Okay! Now you can mess with the display panel that’s mounted hear the left grip. Press the “on” button here an the bike is basically ready to go. It starts in an “auto” level which seems like “high” to me but you can change power output by holding the mode button for a couple seconds and then pressing once to cycle through Low, Med and High pedal assist. I wish it would just start out in Low and let me press once or twice to get to Medium and High but maybe their tests showed that most people prefer high? The top speed is limited to ~15.5 miles per hour (per European law) but that will help to extend the range. At any time you can override pedal assist with the trigger throttle which is also mounted near the left grip. I like that they chose a trigger activator here instead of a twist grip because it keeps the grips fully in tact. The grips themselves are beautiful, comfortable and stylish and as mentioned earlier, the Tektro brake levers are stunning and functional.

The Blix Komfort+ is special, there’s an attention to detail here that feels premium yet it’s priced closer to entry level. It’s not a perfect electric bike and I know I’ve really dug in and been critical of the battery, stiffer ride and display panel limitations but it truly performs and rides well. The motor is powerful but more important, it’s responsive. The frame is clean, wires are not cluttered and the light adds an element of safety. I’d love to see the fender and rack kit from the standard Komfort added to this model (or offered as an upgrade) and maybe a suspension fork in the future. You could always add a seat post shock after-market yourself but I would recommend a locking seat tube ring as well to keep it from sliding down depending on your height and weight.

Pros:

• Beautiful frame design that’s easy to mount, thoughtful component choices and extras like the Spanninga LED light that runs directly off of the main battery
• Efficient hybrid tires should extend range and smooth out cracks given their large diameter
• Relaxed upright position with swept back “gull wing” handle bars, ergonomic grips and sprung saddle
• Solid motor power and battery size, climbed steep hills well for me (I’m ~135 lbs)
• Good weight distribution given the low, centrally located battery pack and light-weight geared hub motor
• Both brake levers are higher quality and include rubberized comfort surface and motor cutoff switches
• The saddle flips up for convenient battery removal, the battery pack can be charged on or off the frame for convenience or to reduce weight when traveling, includes an integrated plastic handle for easier carrying
• Fully integrated electrical cables with a nice wrap solution at the front keeping them organized and out of the way
• Obvious attention to detail with chain guide, matching seat and grips, 12 sensor pedelec that’s very responsive and the 1 year warranty (3 for the frame)

Cons:

• No bottle cage mounting points on the downtube or seat tube which means you’ll need to add one to the seat post or saddle rails, wear a CamelBak or setup a rear beam rack
• Narrow tires and lack of suspension fork or seat post shock can make the ride a little stiff, the sprung saddle helps
• The key must be left in the battery pack while riding, if you have it connected to a keychain there may be some jingling noise and the paint on frame could be scratched
• You could probably mount a rear rack or rear fender but there’s only one hole vs. two seat stay braze ons which means it could get crowded and the rack might not have as much strength
• No throttle only mode, you can override assist but there does not appear to be any way to shut assist off, I also didn’t like how the bike turned on in full assist mode vs. low
• Limited feedback on distance traveled, speed and precise battery charge level given the basic LED display (this helps to keep the bike more affordable and functions well enough)
• Only available in one standard “medium” size which might not fit larger riders but should work well for small and medium people
• Produces a bit more noise and high pitched whirring, especially at low speeds and when starting from rest
• Lower top speed than most electric bikes available in America at ~15.5 mph, this extends the range a bit and may feel safer for some riders

Resources:

• Official Site: http://blixbike.com/collections/bikes/products/komfortplus
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/1ztqa7dn8KEZJda78