2015 Blix Vika+ Review

This review is for the 2015 version of the Vika+, a new model was introduced in 2016 with fenders, a rear light (as well as the front), a slightly larger battery and two upgrade options for even larger battery packs for increased ranged. This model is priced a bit higher at $1,650 and you can read all about it here.

The Blix Vika+ is a folding electric bike that offers good power, weight distribution and attention to detail with matching components. Its step-thru frame makes it easy to mount and stand over for nearly any rider but the “one size fits all” frame means taller people could feel scrunched. I especially liked the sprung saddle with flip-up action for easy battery removal. The saddle has several metal button accents and is made of a faux leather that matches the padded ergonomic grips. Priced at under $1.6k there’s a lot to appreciate when you dig into the details of this bicycle. I especially liked the integrated LED headlight, clean wire management and 12 magnet pedelec disc which offered 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! The power and efficiency of the motor are enhanced due to the smaller wheel diameter (improving leverage) and slower top speed of ~16 mph. Blix is a new company in the US but it’s offering bikes through a manufacturer that’s been supplying Scandinavian countries since 2006. With a decent one year warranty (three for the frame) this is a solid offering. In case you’re wondering, the big difference between the Vika+ and regular Vika is the rear mounted 350 watt hub motor vs. a smaller front mounted 250 watt. The Vika+ also forgoes fenders and rear carry rack but those come stock on the Vika, both models are the same price.

Driving this bike 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 drops while traversing bumpy terrain. The plastic protector also doubles as a basic pant guard… it isn’t as clumsy as a full chain guard which might get in the way on a folding bike.

Powering the Blix Vika Plus and its integrated headlight is a well positioned Lithium polymer battery pack. It’s not seamlessly integrated into the frame but the black paint is handsome and professional. 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. This might be designed intentionally to avoid slowly discharging the battery through the battery level indicator circuit. One of my biggest gripes here is that you must leave the key in the pack while riding. 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 a “silver fish” tall type of battery but take care not to accidentally bend the key or break it off in the pack. Frankly, it would be nice if there was just one key slot that both powered the bike on and locked the battery to the frame. That is the case on premium offerings like these Tern electric bikes but you pay a premium price for it… about $1k extra.

Starting the Vika+ 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 top slot on the battery and turned to on. Okay! Now you can mess with the display panel that’s mounted near the left grip. Press the “on” button and 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 as mentioned earlier. 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 Tektro brake levers are beautiful and functional, they cut power to the motor when activated and this offers a sense of control and security when riding in the “high” level of pedal assist.

I noticed that the Vika+ has a locking tab to keep the main hinge from coming undone while riding (which could result in the frame becoming loose or even unfolding while riding). I feel like the main plastic lever could have been mounted facing towards the back of the bike instead of the front to further reduce the potential for pants getting snagged. When you’re ready to fold the bike down there are three areas to focus on (seat tube, stem and mid-frame). They’re all easy to deal with and fairly straight forward… The one area that wasn’t as intuitive was in keeping the bike from coming unfolded. Some folding bicycles I’ve seen have magnetic clasps mounted at the axles and others have rubber straps to keep them in place. These extra bits ensure that the bike won’t rattle during transport which could help you avoid scratches and chips on the nice paint job.

The Blix Vika+ 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, folding mechanisms 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 wish it had a rear light or at least a red reflector in the back. I’d also love to see the fender and rack kit from the standard Vika added to this model (or offered as an upgrade) and maybe a suspension fork in the future. If the style appeals to you and the price is right, this could be a great bike. You’ll get decent range and avoid wobble due to the limited top speed setting. You’ll also avoid some vibration and hard hits when riding over rough terrain and that’s great because there isn’t a suspension fork. All of this adds up to a relatively light folding ebike given the battery capacity.

Pros:

• Beautiful wire management, the brake and electrical cables from the front portion of the bike are contained and fold easily when the bike is stowed
• Intuitive folding mechanisms with secondary lock features to avoid accidental loosening during operation
• Comfortable sprung saddle, padded ergonomic grips and rubberized brake levers with classy accents like metal buttons and thread stitching to match
• Folding aluminum alloy pedals feel stiffer than plastic and are tougher in the event of a tip or transportation misshap
• Integrated “balance bar” that supports the middle of the bike when folded, protects the front chain ring and keeps the unit stable
• Impressive climbing ability thanks to the 350 watt geared motor being mounted in a smaller diameter 20″ wheel
• Thoughtful component choices and extras like the Spanninga LED headlight that runs directly off of the main battery
• Efficient hybrid tires should extend range and smooth out cracks given their large diameter but aren’t so thin that you miss out on some cushion at 1.75″ wide
• 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 to reduce weight when traveling, includes an integrated plastic handle for easier carrying and an LED charge lever indicator (key must be turned to on for the LED readout to function)
• 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 magnetic clasp or other binding mechanism to help the bike stay folded and reduce rattling or clanking as it is transported
• The battery capacity is a bit too large to fly with (the FAA stipulates < 300 watt hours and this one is 360 watt hours)
• 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
• Lack of suspension fork or seat post shock can make the ride a little stiff given the smaller 20″ wheels which tend to fall into cracks and potholes rather than spanning them, the sprung saddle and padded grips 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 could get scratched or chipped
• 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, only available in one color “racing green”
• 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 (especially on a folding bike with joints and smaller wheels)

Resources:

• Official Site: http://blixbike.com/products/vikaplus
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/2ysijkmn2WyCZZAPA