Blix Komfort+ Review

The 2016 Blix Komfort+ builds on the beautiful design aesthetic of the 2015 model while keeping the price constant at $1990 now offering paint-matched plastic fenders, integrated LED lights and a bright sturdy carry rack standard! There are two frame sizes to choose from and each has includes a different wheel diameter to further raise or lower the bike making it easier to approach and more comfortable to handle. The one gripe I have about city style electric bikes like this (at least at first glance) is the lack of suspension forks or seat post shocks. People tend to ride faster and for longer periods of time with ebikes and this transfers stress to the body (hands, arms and back). Blix has addressed this by making the Komfort+ a more upright bike with an angled stem and swept back handle bars. The grips are upgraded to a fatter ergonomic style which reduces hand fatigue and the saddle is fully sprung. Depending on terrain and how high your saddle is there may be some bouncing on the spring saddle but that’s much better than absorbing hits with your lower back. For neighborhood riding or even commuting the bike would perform well on smooth surfaces and allows you to focus on terrain and surroundings by empowering you with both pedal assist and throttle on demand.

To activate the bike you first charge the battery pack (on or off the frame) then press a rubber button on the top… the second step is to press a second power button above the display panel then arrow up or down between four levels of assist or zero mode. I like that the menu loops around going from four back to zero or zero up to four so you don’t have to move your thumb to a different button. Four levels felt like enough incriments given the standard top speed of 20 mph on this ebike and basic seven speed gear range. The derailleur is Shimano Acera (two steps up from the lowest) and the shifter mechanism is also a slight upgrade. One question mark here is the choice of putting the display and trigger throttle on the left. Most ebikes I test ride in America put throttles on the right but the upgraded shifters here block that area and I think they opted for a trigger vs. twist due to the upgraded ergonomic grips. I got used to it quickly enough but the trigger also slides up or forward vs. down so keep that in mind if you plan to use the throttle more than pedal assist and aren’t coordinated with your left hand/thumb. It’s jut a huge deal, just different.

The planetary geared 350 watt motor is compact and zippy but produces a pronounced whir when starting or struggling at low speed (as shown when I do some climb tests in the video review). The battery pack is a big upgrade with Panasonic cells and 11 amp hours of capacity (with options to pay $100 to $200 extra for the larger capacity packs). Even though the battery isn’t integrated into the frame, it looks nice on this bike and matches the bound cables up front and black hub motor in the back. I believe the controller box is just below the battery mounting point and while the square blocky design isn’t my favorite look, it mostly disappears with the fenders, rack, bright saddle and grips and curved frame presented so well. The frame did feel sturdy even with the deep step-thru design and I believe that’s due to most of the weight being positioned towards the rear plus the second little tube connecting the downtube to the seat tube. All things considered, for ~$2k this is a beautiful and well-outfitted electric bike. I especially like the reflective tire strips, integrated and high-quality LED lights and the plastic fenders. It’s not especially light weight but given the removable battery pack (which weighs 6.6+ lbs) you can probably make due.

Pros:

• Available in two frame sizes, 16.5″ and 18″ with different wheel diameters to further elevate and enlarge the bike, 26″ x 1.75″ and 28″ x 1.75″ respectively
• I was surprised that the fenders are plastic because they are paint matched to the frame… plastic tends to be lighter than metal (Aluminum or Steel) and doesn’t get bent as easily, more durable
• The frame felt solid, I wasn’t experiencing much flex along the downtube and that may be due to where they mounted the battery pack (behind the seat tube) and also the extra support bar going from the downtube to the seat tube
• Both lights are wired in and run off the main battery pack, the headlight is mounted to the left arm of the fork and points where you steer which is neat
• I like all of the silver accents including the rear rack (which holds up to 55 lbs worth of cargo), the solid aluminum pedals, kickstand, crank arms and chainring with bash guard that should keep your pants or dress clear of the greasy chain, and the handle bars and upgraded Tektro brake levers
• The LCD display panel is pretty nice looking and fairly easy to reach even across the trigger throttle (which is mounted in front of it nearest the grip), I like that you can easily enter the settings by holding the up and down buttons and adjust display brightness
• The brake cable, shifter wires and electronic wires are all integrated through the tubing of the bike keeping it clean and snag-free, up front they used a plastic wrap to reduce clutter and keep the wires together and I like the spiral style chosen vs. the mesh wrap I sometimes see on other ebikes
• Great visual presence thanks to integrated front and rear LED lights that run off the main battery pack… convenient and more reliable, as well as reflective tape on the sides of the tires
• I’m a huge fan of the optional battery upgrades going from standard 11 ah to 14.5 and 17.4 for $100 and $200 extra respectively, great for extending range and they all fit in the same spot… also they are using high quality Panasonic cells
• Efficient hybrid tires should extend range and smooth out cracks given their medium diameter but aren’t so thin that you miss out on some cushion at 1.75″ wide
• Blix electric bikes have been available now in the US for a couple of years and they offer a pretty good warranty and seem to work well with shops
• Relaxed upright position with swept back “gull wing” handle bars, ergonomic grips and sprung saddle that reduce vibration and jar even though there’s no suspension fork
• Both brake levers are higher quality and include rubberized comfort surface and motor cutoff switches that put you in control, the 12 magnet cadence sensor is also very responsive
• 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

Cons:

• Neither wheel has a quick release skewer which means you’ll need tools to fix a flat on the go but the upside is that maybe they won’t be stolen or tampered with as easily when parked in public
• The quick release lever on the seat tube protrudes into the slide path of the battery so you almost have to open it to get the battery off, also, the key should be removed from the battery before taking it off so it doesn’t collide with the left seat stay tube and get bent
• It’s great to have pedal assist and throttle mode on this ebike but I’m more used to the throttle being on the right side and pushing down vs. up (this bike has the trigger on the left and you push forward for juice)
• Lack of suspension fork or seat post shock can make the ride a little stiff, the sprung saddle and padded grips help
• 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 use a trunk bag on the rear rack
• The motor produces a bit more noise and high pitched whirring, especially at low speeds and when starting from rest

Resources:

• Official Site: http://blixbike.com/collections/bikes/products/komfortplus
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/rKnYQL6PKRbSYxJn9