2019 Blix Aveny Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Blix. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Blix products.

Today I had the opportunity to check out the new 2019 version of the Blix Aveny. The bike is similar to last years model, so you if you read that review you may see some parallel information, however, there are upgrades here too, so I will try to call those out as we go along. The Blix Aveny (which means Avenue) is a stylish step-thru ebike with a laid back cruiser approach and upgraded drivetrain hardware, a full accessories package, and a powerful geared hub motor drive system. It’s one of the more interesting models on the market right now because it hits a reasonable price point at $1,599, commuter ready out of the box, and is still sold through dealers. That means you can go for a test ride, see the 3 different colors in person, and get help with maintenance and support down the road if needed. Anyway, the tires have been upgraded here, they are now thicker at 2” and have reflective sidewall stripes for visibility. The thicker width means more cushion, comfort, and stability overall. The Blix Aveny is built around a wave “step-thru” frame that is stylish and easy to approach, while maintaining stability at the same time. This frame increases strength, it also helps to balance out any rear cargo you might add to the back rack. I appreciated the chain guide, which will prevent chain drops and also keep your pant legs or dress ends clean and snag-free. The kickstand is positioned out of the way on the left, so it won’t collide with the crank arm when walking the bike backwards. The stem offers adjustable angle, so you can really get this bike dialed into your specific geometry. One of my favorite features is actually the Wellgo metal pedals with grip tape; they match the silver accents and provide more strength and surface area than the majority of other pedals I see. The bike isn’t perfect, they have made some trade-offs to save weight or money, but overall it works very well. Some of the trade-offs that I perceive are mechanical brakes vs. hydraulic, which would be easier to actuate. There’s no suspension fork up front, but the sprung saddle and stitched faux leather locking ergonomic grips felt decent and this keeps the bike more steady and definitely lighter. Blix has added mounting points in the front and rear this year, so you can put baskets, racks or other accessories on the bike. The rear rack that is included here is stiff and holds panniers and child seats well. I should take a moment to mention all of the accessories Blix has available for the Aveny. For the rear rack, there are 2 different style single side panniers available, 1 double sided pannier, a Yepp child seat, and large basket attachment. In the front, there is a color matched basket available with a drink holder area, small platform rack that can mount the same basket available for the rear, and a large platform rack. Really a lot of cool options and I love the utility of it all. I also should mention that the bike has battery integrated lights, with the front one being mounted on the fender. Having it mounted there means you can add those modular accessories without need to re-wire, do anything electrically, or re-mount that light somewhere else. Very cool!

Driving this e-bike is a new stronger 500-watt nominally rated Shengyi hub motor, spoked into the rear wheel. It has both pedal assist and a thumb throttle on the left, so it make this bike a Class 2 category bicycle. With the centrally mounted battery pack, the bike is very steady and even front to rear. Hub motors usually offer the advantages of instant power, efficient freewheeling (so they won’t slow you down when coasting), they don’t interfere with the pedaling drivetrain, and they can be used more easily with throttles. With the assist and throttle, you have many ways to ride and eliminates the need for pedaling at all if you get tired or need to focus on balancing. The throttle is live as soon as the display panel is activated on and it overrides zero, 1, 2, 3, and 4 assist, so be careful mounting, dismounting, and storing the bike if you don’t turn it off first! If you utilize the throttle and the highest levels of assist frequently, it will cut down on your maximum potential range since the pedal assist mode dictates your throttle top speed. Mechanically, the bike uses a Shimano Acera setup with a grip twist shift on the right handlebar. The gearing uses a 14-28 tooth system in the back with a 48 tooth chain ring in the front. Stopping the bike is a set of 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes from Tektro. It works really well with that small diameter wheel size and is easy to adjust and maintain.

Powering the bike is an upgraded 48v 14ah lithium ion battery pack. The previous battery was a 36v version with just 11ah. So this bike will have more power and more range than the previous model year. Really a big win! This is what I would consider a high capacity battery and compliments the system well… when you are hauling kids around and need to engage that electric motor to the max, a battery like this is just what you want. Although we don’t do range tests at EBR, I would imagine it should easily be able to go 30 miles or so with all the optional accessories and child attached at max power as it seemed to do during my review. It is secured via lock and key and mounts behind the seat post on the bike. This keeps the weight very centered and is appreciated for stability. There is an LED charge level indicator here on the battery too and charging is done through this 2amp charger. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.

Operating the bike is simple. Once the battery is mounted, start by turning the key in the on position. From there, the display will come to life and give you the read outs. The battery is shown across the top in 16 ticks. These ticks are in an infographic that somewhat resembles a ruler. Shown below that is you speed in MPH and the various levels of pedal assist you might be in, 0-5. To change the pedal assist, simply hit up or down on the arrow controls mounted on the left handle bar. Keep in mind, the pedal assist level controls the throttle too. This is great so if you are in a parking lot, or need to take it slow, you can have it… let’s say at level 2, and the throttle will go nice and easy without fast acceleration and keeps the top speed limited. Similarly, if you want to go full out, you can put it in level 5 and the throttle will act accordingly. Anyways, there is an odometer readout below that and pressing the mode button will change that to display max speed, average speed, and trip set. Some versions of this setup allow you to hold the up and down arrows together for a moment and that will unlock the deep drive menu. Here you can mess with top speed as well as other electrical power configurations to really get the setup how you want it. I was unable to check with Blix if this feature was going to be available in the production version on this bike.

Blix is doing a great job growing their dealer network and refining their product line. The Aveny is one of their most popular bikes, and I can definitely see why. It’s beautiful but not overpriced, the components are all upgraded, and safety and strength have really been taken into consideration. The step-thru frame is incredibly low but weight is positioned well and the battery is easy to remove for charging or transport because of the flip-up saddle mount. As I was learning about this updated model, I asked Pontus about the name of the company and some history. He’s originally from Sweeden and was inspired by the vintage European bicycle designs that he saw growing up. The name Blix means lightening and Aveny means Avenue. It was cool to see how much attention he and his team have paid to user experience here, including a nicer tool set and available accessories. I would like to thank Blix for giving me the chance to check out the new Aveny and look forward to seeing the rest of their lineup.

As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Blix ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)

Pros:

• The bikes are feature-complete, you don’t need to add fenders, lights, or a bell aftermarket and the ones Blix chose work very well and look beautiful
• I appreciate how the rear rack is positioned away from the battery and saddle but still reinforced underneath with a metal strut, there’s even a plastic tube for the rear light wire that adds extra protection, the metal fenders didn’t rattle as much
• Great choice on the kickstand hardware and positioning, it supports the rear rack well and is just out of reach for the left crank arm so you won’t get pedal lock
• It made me smile to see how Blix attached the front rack to the left fork arm by actually curving the support rod to avoid blocking the beam, very custom and thoughtful, you can see this in the cup holder and bamboo platform as well
• The upright handlebar is swept back to create a relaxing geometry and I liked the stitched locking grips and rubberized brake levers, the bike feels comfortable and some of the road vibration is lessened through the bumpers on the saddle and steel fork
• Notice how the fork is swept forward a bit, this creates stability and also moves the fender forward so you won’t kick it when turning, a nice touch
• New drivetrain and powertrain on the bike this year, you get an upgraded 500 watt Shengyi motor versus the old 350 watt, and it now uses a Shimano grip shifter on the right
• The tires have been upgraded, they are now thicker at 2”, the thicker width means more cushion, comfort, and stability overall
• This has been upgraded with a high capacity battery, a 48v 14ah lithium ion battery pack, the previous battery was a 36v version with just 11ah, so this bike will have more power and more range than the previous model year
• Beautiful display panel, it’s simple and the wires are wrapped nicely, note the threaded metal connectors with rubber washers vs. plastic press fit
• The battery looks nice, I like how the flip-up saddle makes it easy to remove for safe storage or independent charging, and the charger itself is faster than normal at 3 amps vs. just 2 amps
• I care about safety, so it’s nice to see integrated lights and reflective tires here, you could opt for the cream paint job to make the bike extra visible vs. dark green or black
• Blix has been in business since 2014 and I have reviewed some of their earlier products, it’s a company that I trust and they have a pretty solid two-year warranty

Cons:

• The display panel is not removable, this means that it could get scratched at the bike rack or when storing and transporting, it may also take additional weather wear over time if you leave the bike outside, also, it sticks out more than last years, so be careful when carting around
• In order to power the bike on, you need to first press the battery power button and then hold the M button on the display, this two-step process adds time and can require some flexibility or dismounting if you forget the first step
• The key slot, for locking and unlocking the battery, is positioned near the left crank arm and if you leave the key in it could actually get bent… same goes for sliding the battery out of the mount, because there is a frame tube that would collide with the key, just make sure the key is out of the bike once it’s locked on
• Hub motors are great for separating electric assist from pedal power, but they add a bit of cabling to the rear wheel which could get bent if the bike tips
• I feel like this ebike offers great value for the price, but it does compromise a bit by going with mechanical disc brakes which have larger levers and require more hand effort to pull… but the levers themselves are some of my favorite because they have motor inhibitors and an integrated bell on the left side