Blix Aveny Skyline Review: A Stylish E-Bike

Looking for an electric bike that combines style, functionality, and affordability? Look no further than the Blix Aveny Skyline!

This Dutch-style e-bike boasts a feminine aesthetic and is perfect for hauling your gear around town. With a 500w hub-drive motor, it provides adequate assistance at a reasonable price.

Read on to learn more about my experience with the Blix Aveny Skyline, and why it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a stylish and practical e-bike.

Review In A Nutshell

Pros:

• Stylish, feminine aesthetic
• Ability to mount baskets on both the front and rear of the bike
• Affordable
• Brand name components (mostly)
• Lighter weight than most

Cons:

• Took some fine-tuning to get it in good shape out of the box
• Noisy
• Seat isn’t comfortable

Price & Where To Buy:

• $1,999 List
• Buy at BlixBike.com*

A Stylish Dutch Style E-Bike

The Blix Aveny Skyline is one of the cuter electric bikes I’ve tested and reviewed. In fact, I’ve spoken with quite a few women who chose this e-bike specifically because of the way it looks!

Unlike most commuter e-bikes that are bulky and dorky looking, the Aveny is quite fashionable. It also comes in stylish, feminine colors.

The only other e-bike we’ve tested that looks as nice as the as the Blix Aveny is the BlueJay. At first glance, the two bikes look nearly identical. The BlueJay, however, is significantly more expensive.

The Blix Aveny Skyline (left) and the Bluejay (right) look very similar but the Blix is significantly cheaper.

Ability To Add Front And Rear Baskets

Chances are that if you’re biking around town with an e-bike, you’re hauling stuff as well–your groceries, a picnic, library books, etc. That’s why we appreciate that the Blix Aveny makes it easy to carry gear both front and rear.

On the back end, the bike comes with a rack (so much easier than installing one after the fact). The rack has a 50 pound carrying capacity and can be used for a child seat, basket, or panniers.

On the back, I mounted the Blix Large basket ($129). It took a bit of work to line up the holes in the basket to those on the rack, and in the end I couldn’t get all four bolts to align, so I only bolted it down with two.

Even once I had the basket on, I didn’t love it. While I’m sure it would work fine for some applications (a gym bag, or other non-breakables), the depth was quite shallow. You may want to consider a different third-party basket or even a milk crate instead–something with a little more depth–especially if you want to carry bulky or breakable items like groceries. It also only comes in black.

On the front, I installed the Blix Front basket ($89). This one seemed like a better investment to me. It bolted on easily, and was quite functional.

Although the front basket is also shallow, I didn’t mind it because of the type of cargo I usually carry up front. In a front basket, I tend to put my wallet, phone and other small items. It also has a cup-holder which I loved.

Having a place to put my coffee cup or to set my soda for the bike ride home after dinner is awesome! I intentionally biked around town with my Miir wine glass to see how it would fair since it’s not as leak-proof as a bottle, and it stayed stable and didn’t spill.

The front basket does come in more colors than black and theoretically should match your bike. That said, I had the “Nu Cream” basket and “Nu Cream” bike and the two paint colors did not perfectly match. I’m not too picky, but if you’re choosing this bike because of the aesthetics, you would expect them too!

500w Hub-Drive Motor Isn’t High End But Does The Job

The Blix Avey Skyline has a 500w hub-drive motor. It doesn’t have as high of torque as the RadPower RadCity, or the smooth engagement of the mid-drive motor on the Cero One, but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t do a pretty dang good job!

I live at the top of a steep hill and it’s my number one testing ground. Seeing how a bike makes it up that hill is the ultimate test, and the Blix Aveny Skyline did just fine!

Unless you’ve tested higher-end e-bikes you’re unlikely to notice any performance issues with the Blix. It provides adequate assistance at a reasonable price.

Class 2 E-Bike

The Blix Aveny Skyline is what we call a class 2 e-bike (same as the Radpower RadCity). This means that it is limited to a max speed of 20mph but is allowed to have a throttle that works independently of pedaling.

I, for one, LOVE having a Class 2 throttle. This means you can use it to get started from a complete stop. Getting a heavy e-bike going, particularly when it’s loaded with gear or on a hill, is hard. Being able to push down on the throttle to get going is a huge help.

The only thing worth noting on the Blix Aveny is that the throttle is a lever (rather than a twist throttle) and it’s made of what feels like fairly flimsy plastic. I worry that if the bike fell over, or with time, it could break or crack. This hasn’t happened, but I do worry about it’s durability. It seems less substantial than other throttles I’ve tested.

Power Levels And Display

The bike has five power modes. I turned the bike up to full power to make it up my hill, but most of the time cruising around town, I had it in power level 3 to save some battery life while still making a good pace.

You control the power levels via buttons mounted to the left side of the handlebar. They’re then displayed on the large center-mounted display. In addition to power level, the display shows battery life, speed, and odometer (total or trip).

The display did seem a little tricky to turn on.  It doesn’t turn on automatically when you power the battery on, you have to power it on separately. Once I pushed the button, it would take a minute to come to life and sometimes took a couple pushes. This might have been user error but seemed a little strange.

Battery

The 614 Wh battery provides up to 45 miles range per charge.  This will be less depending on how heavy you and your load are, how many hills you climb, and what power assist level you use. I would plan about 35 miles per charge to be safe.

The battery is external rather than being hidden in the frame.  Still, thanks to its placement behind the seat tube it’s not that obvious.

Charging time is advertised as 5 hours, but I never drained the battery all of the way. I would simply plug the bike in after an excursion and an hour or two later, it would be good to go again.

Unboxing And Assembly

The bike was not ready to ride straight out of the box.  My husband is an experienced mechanic and he built up the bike for me. 

He had to install both the front fender and the front wheel.  It also took some effort to get the shifting lined up and the brake from rubbing. 

Less mechanically inclined folks will likely need to get a bike mechanic to do the final tweaks.

Decent Components

No, the Blix Aveny Skyline does not have the same high-end components of a bike like the Cero One. It does, however, manage to offer mostly brand name components. This gives me a bit of peace of mind about the long-term durability of the bike compared to many cheaper e-bikes that are being sold with off-brand components.

Brand name components include a Shimano drivetrain and Tektro brakes. This means that they should be reliable for a good number of miles before needing to be replaced.

Other smaller parts, like the saddle and grips are off-brand, but those aren’t quite as important.

Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes

The Tektro brakes are mechanical disc brakes. These do a pretty good job of stopping (and are cheaper and easier to maintain than hydraulic disc brakes) but can be somewhat underpowered if you have your bike fully loaded.

If you’re planning on biking with a kid on the back, for example, I’d recommend looking for a bike with more expensive hydraulic disc brakes. If you’re just planning on cruising around town by yourself, these brakes will work just fine.

Shimano 7-Speed Drivetrain

The bike has a Shimano Acera 7-speed drivetrain. The grip shifter is easy and intuitive to operate. 

The bike is geared heavier than other e-bikes we’ve ridden.  It has a great big 48 tooth chainring up front.

This makes it great for flat areas–you shouldn’t ever get spun out–but you might want to think twice if you live in an area with a lot of hills.  (You’ll just end up using more battery life to help you up those hills when you’re over geared).

One Size Fits All

The Blix Aveny Skyline comes in one size only, and fits riders 5’1” to 6’2”.  This is nice as multiple family members can use the same bike, but is unlikely to get as good of a fit as you would from a bike with multiple frame size options.

At 5’5″ I was reasonably comfortable on the bike, but am more comfortable on a bike with a shorter reach. The stem does rotate so you can move the handlebar further in or further out. There is also a quick release seatpost collar so you can quickly raise or lower the seat without needing a tool.

The low step-over is also really nice on this bike. It makes it easy to get on and off the bike, and to stand over it at stops. Women might also appreciate the ability to wear a skirt on this bike.

Somewhat Noisy

My biggest complaint with the Blix Aveny Skyline was that it was pretty noisy! I got all kind of intermittent strange noises I couldn’t quite pinpoint. 

At one point the front fender was rubbing the tire.  Fixed that. At other times, the motor seemed to be making a high-pitched whine, but then would disappear on the next ride.

None of this was really a deal breaker, but it was a reminder that an e-bike at this pricepoint doesn’t have the same super smooth, quiet ride quality of a more expensive e-bike.

Tires

The wide, high volume CST tires do a good job of providing both traction and comfort.  The sidewall includes a reflective strip to help with visibility.

The tires are best suited to pavement but could handle short distances on dirt paths as well.

Other Stuff Worth Mentioning

• The saddle isn’t that comfortable, although most stock seats aren’t.  If it bothers you, you might want to consider replacing it with a nicer saddle (like one from Terry).
• A bell is included.   It’s small, unobtrusive, and simple. It’s nothing fancy but has a nice sound.
• The bike comes with a kickstand. It’s mounted to the rear triangle rather than underneath the bottom bracket which gives it extra stability.
• There are mounting points for a water bottle cage. A cage is not included but is a cheap and easy addition.
• Fenders are included. This is really nice if you plan on riding in the rain at all.
• There are integrated front and rear lights so you don’t ever have to worry about getting caught in the dark without lights! It’s worth mentioning, however, that with the front basket installed, the front light is somewhat obscured. 

Blix Aveny Skyline Vs The Competition

One of the closest competitors to the Blix Aveny Skyline is the Radpower Radcity. Both retail for $1,999 and come from direct-to-consumer brands.

Both come with similar features–a rear rack, step-thru frame, integrated lights, fenders, etc.

The Blix Aveny is lighter than the RadCity (by about 10 pounds), which makes it easier to handle, especially for more petite women. Much of this weight savings is thanks to the Aveny’s rigid fork vs the totally worthless suspension fork on the RadCity.

The RadCity has a higher watt motor (750 vs 500 watts) and higher torque. The twist throttle is also easier to operate than the thumb throttle and has more “get up and go.” In terms of power, the RadCity wins out.

Of course, if you’re looking for a cute e-bike, there’s really no comparison between the two. The RadCity is meh looking, and the Blix Aveny Skyline is adorable.

Another similarly priced e-bike (and one that’s also cute) is the Priority E-Coast*. Like the Blix, it has a 500 watt motor and is a similar weight.

Where the Priority E-Coast shines is that it has a belt drive rather than a chain which makes it better suited for riding in salty or humid conditions (like at the beach). It also has hydraulic disc brakes rather than mechanical disc brakes for better stopping power.

The tires on the E-Coast are wider and suited for riding on sand. The tires and geometry on the Blix Aveny Skyline are going to be better suited for around-town riding, so much of the decision between these two bikes is going to be based on where you’re planning to ride the bike.

Compared to the cheapest e-bikes on the market (like those from Buzz for instance), you’re certainly getting a nicer bike with the Blix Aveny Skyline. We’d argue that the $1,999 price point is a good entry-level point.

For even more options, check out our guide on the best e-bikes for women.

Video Review

Bottom-Line: A Pretty E-Bike That Will Get You Around Town In Style

If you’re looking for a pretty dutch-style e-bike but don’t want to kill your bank account, the Blix Aveny Skyline is a great option.

It’s reasonably lightweight, makes getting around town easy, and provides plenty of space for carrying all of your stuff.

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About The Reviewer