Enlarge / The 2021 Blix Vika+ foldable ebike, as posed in a neighbor’s fancypants garden. Thanks, neighbor. (credit: Sam Machkovech)
As the ebike universe explodes with options and brands all vying for a piece of the burgeoning market, I keep coming back to a company that I have liked but rarely heard much about: Blix. My first brush with the California e-bike manufacturer came in 2018 when I was offered a test ride of its then-$1, 599 Vika folding ebike model. I enjoyed my time with the particular Vika, but as a relatively new ebike tester, I opted not to write up a novice review.
Since then, however , Ars’ bike-savviest staffers have been testing and reviewing a number of high-quality e-bikes. In my case, I’ve had the few e-bike tests come and go, sometimes with vehicles not quite meriting Ars coverage. Most recently I reviewed the handsome VanMoof X3 in 2020 , and I both appreciated its best aspects plus wondered why it didn’t fit some potential ebike use cases.
When the time came for me to buy a new bike this year, I opted for an ebike, largely because I want typically the freedom to ride farther within a single day without feeling worn out or sweaty—especially in a new hilly city like Seattle. We soon circled back to Blix— that was a good bike at a good price , I kept thinking, and I actually found a used Blix cruiser (the 2018 Aveny) for an even better price. It became my daily rider at the outset of this summer.
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