Blix Aveny Skyline Review

Are you looking to buy an electric bike to make your daily commutes a little easier? Are you interested in having a bike that runs well, is comfortable but also looks great too? It may be that the Aveny Skyline electric bike by the renowned brand Blix is the one for you.

Founded in 2014 in Santa Cruz, California, Blix has been designing and manufacturing high quality electric bikes that combine performance, utility, and style for a reasonable price. The Aveny Skyline is one of the latest additions to their esteemed collection of e-bikes. Taking a lot of its styling cues from European bikes, simple elegance is the name of the game with all Blix bikes and this model is no different.

Is it really worth investing in? Find out as I delve a little bit deeper and give my view on many of the key aspects and features of the Blix Aveny Skyline electric bike.

The Frame

Blix have used a similar swooping frame shape that is heavily inspired by Dutch city bikes. One thing you will notice straight away, if you have any familiarity with electric bikes is that this does not try to hide the fact that it’s an e-bike. Some models by other manufacturers conceal the battery and other components in larger and wider tubing around the bike. That’s not the case with this bike.

The Skyline has a mid-step layout that makes getting on and off easy enough. However, one of the best things about the bike’s frame is, like any other bike in the Blix collection – it’s paintwork. It just looks better than the average bike for the same price point.

Although you may have read that the frame is a little on the small side and may not be best, out of the box, for taller riders. This issue can be solved with a bigger seat post.

The Speed and Acceleration

Among the many different bikes, I have had the pleasure of testing out over the years, Blix ones are among the quickest. With a 500W motor, the Blix Aveny Skyline is another great example. Okay, so Blix capped the top speed on this bike at the legal 20mph. It doesn’t, however, take a long time getting there and once you are cruising along at 20mph, it will maintain it without requiring much physical exertion from your legs.

There were a few moments where the motor was strained, and the bike rode slower. Unsurprisingly, though, this was when I took on anything but an average hill. I’ll look at its handling on hills a little later when I am discussing riding it.

Overall, it provides great acceleration and speed that makes it a joy to ride.

Battery, Motor and Pedal Assist

The reason the Aveny Skyline has no trouble achieving its top speed of 20mph is down to the battery and motor combination and the addition of the pedal assist. The battery is an externally mounted 48v, 12.8h unit that provides 614w to the motor. Along with the fact that it is incredibly efficient, I managed to enjoy some range with it.

Speaking of the motor, the Skyline has a 500w hub motor that has been laced into its rear wheel. I was most impressed with the acceleration offered by the motor. There was never any point riding this bike where I had any difficulty maintaining that 20mph speed. Although it has a noisy motor, it was barely audible during times where hard acceleration was required or I struggled to make steep hills.

If I have to point out one issue with the motor that many other people have pointed out too it’s the fact it does not take on hills with as much aggression as others in the price range. I want to be clear about something, though, that while it didn’t take on jills with great aplomb, it rarely struggled. It just took its sweet time.

When it comes to the pedal assist, I was also very impressed. I’ve heard different opinions about how many pedal assist levels should be included in e-bikes. The industry standard at the moment is 5, and many feel that is too many.

Even if that were the case, on the Blix Aveny Skyline, it feels like just the right amount of power assist levels. The speed is divided up fairly evenly between each of those settings. Like so many other e-bikes, the only power assist level that was a bit flimsy was PAS 1.

With the thumb throttle engaged, the Aveny Skyline delivered a responsive and very balanced stream of high power to its rear wheel. What I really appreciated was the amount of modulation the throttle offered and how easy it was to tune just how much power I needed by the amount I pressed the trigger.

The Ride

Riding the Aveny Skyline is incredibly fun. While it has not been built with taking on hard cornering or razor-sharp handling, it does offer a ride that is comfortable and poised. On well maintained and more or less smooth surfaces, it rides like a dream, but while it’s not designed to take on the most challenging of hills, it does not breakdown when faced with a steady and steep incline.

There is a balanced weight distribution thanks to the low mounting point of the battery and if you are looking for the type of handling you don’t really need to worry about, then this is the bike for you. The perfect commuter ride.

Geometry and Ride Comfort

Following nicely from what I said above, this bike has been designed with the commuter in mind. It’s rigid and lacks suspension. However, its steel fork and aluminum frame do a marvelous job of absorbing and softening vibrations and bumps.

The upright riding position also makes for a pleasant ride as the weight is kept out of your hands and you benefit from a neutral center of gravity.

One important downside that is worth drawing attention to, especially for any taller riders reading this, is that while Blix have stated that riders up to the height of 6’2” will find the bike comfortable enough, I have known people around the 6’ mark that have struggled. For many, the issue lies in the height of the seat. The maximum setting for the seat post may leave you with 2 or 3 inches of leg room missing, that means you won’t be able to extend your legs properly.

Then there’s the slight issue with the swept-back handlebars that shorten the space offered in the cockpit, making it more cramped for my arms.

That’s not to say this should put you off buying this bike. It is affordable enough and offers more than enough in features and specifications that it is worth investing in and then take it to your local bike store to swap the seat post for a longer one. Then some simple adjustments to the stem will likely solve the issue.

LCD Display

Considering its price tag, I felt that the LCD display featured on the Blix Aveny Skyline was a little on the simple side. It has a very clear and easy to read white and black screen with a dash-style readout. This provides the standard metrics you’d expect like speed and how much battery life is left.

I have spoken before about battery indicators and there are some that I am just not a fan of, especially those that show battery life in the form of bars. It’s just not accurate enough, in my opinion. I much prefer it when battery life is represented as a percentage. That gives you a better idea of how much is left.

On the Aveny Skyline, Blix has provided a rather good battery indicator. In a chart at the top of the LCD display there are dashes similar to those on a ruler. These dashes disappear the more you use the battery.

Summary – Is the Blix Aveny Skyline Electric Bike for You?

I know I say the same thing in most reviews, but it’s still true. The best bike for you is the one that suits your own particular set of needs and lifestyle. If you are looking for a rough and tumble, fun, recreational electric bike, though, I would not recommend the Skyline as it has not been designed for such activities. Rather, if you are looking for an elegant, quick, and safe way to get around town in comfort, while doing your bit for the planet, then the Skyline might suit you down to a tee. Remember, if you are taller than 6’, you will struggle to fit in with the standard setup.

I enjoyed my time spent with the Aveny Skyline and it did nothing to make me change my opinion of Blix as a bike manufacturer. In my mind, the Cali-based team are still one of the leaders in producing high powered, safe, and comfortable bikes at very reasonable prices and they look set to remain as one of the leaders.