Blix Ultra

Do-it-all utility e-bikes can serve as car alternatives for many people, and the Blix Ultra is a good example of this style with its dual battery capacity, ample power, and comfortable ride.

In this review, we will put the Ultra through our standardized testing to see how it compares to the competition and whether it lives up to its “all-terrain, all-purpose” label.

What Is the Blix Ultra?

Blix is a California-based e-bike brand with a lineup of urban and fat-tire e-bikes. The Ultra is their all-terrain e-bike with 4″ tires, a powerful 750W motor, dual-battery capacity, and lots of mounting points.

Blix offers a wide selection of accessories for customizing the bike, but it only comes with a headlight as sold. Fenders, front and rear racks, baskets, kids’ seats, and pannier bags are available at Blix’s online store.

Blix also has a mobile app that connects to the bike via Bluetooth. This app allows users to update firmware, track rides, and toggle between Class 2 (20mph) and Class 3 (28mph) modes.

Pros

Battery Capacity

Blix offers the Ultra in a single or dual-battery build. The version we’re testing has two 672Wh batteries (1,344Wh total), which returned great results in both range tests.

The batteries (8lb each) are well-integrated, with one located in the down tube and the other mounted to the seat tube. The second battery is easy to remove to reduce the bike’s weight for shorter trips.

With a real-world range of almost 60 miles, the dual-battery Ultra has enough juice for almost any journey.

Cargo Capacity and Accessories

The Blix Ultra has ample mounting points and accessory options to match. Our test bike came with a rear rack with wheel guards, fenders, and a large rear basket, but these all cost extra.

The bike’s total payload capacity is 400lb: 250lb for the rider and 150lb on the rack. The extended rear rack and basket provide lots of carrying capacity. A passenger cushion can be added to convert the rack to a seat with rear wheel guards on the rack to protect clothing.

The rack attaches to the rear triangle using four bolts. It has several mounting points for positioning the basket in different places. The main triangle has six mounts for bottle cages or other items, such as a lock. Finally, the head tube has mounts for a front rack and cargo basket.

Overall, I was impressed by the number of mounting points and the accessories for light cargo duties, commuting, or adventures with your kid.

Gearing Range

The Blix Ultra has an 8-speed microSHIFT drivetrain. It’s common for high-speed e-bikes to experience ghost pedaling past 20mph, but the Ultra stood out with its 11-32t cassette and 48t crankset. It’s possible to cruise at speeds up to 28mph while maintaining a relatively comfortable cadence, an uncommon trait of e-bikes.

Cons

Issues Mounting the Rear Fender and Rack

Installing the rear fender and rack during initial assembly was challenging. After attaching both components, the rear fender consistently rubbed the wheel, no matter how I adjusted it. Adding to the frustration was the fact the rear rack had to be removed every time I wanted to adjust the fender.

Eventually, I used a zip tie to attach the fender to the rear rack, keeping it suspended away from the tire. I was frustrated by this issue and would be interested to hear if others have similar problems with the rear rack and fender.

Frame Flex

During testing, I discovered a worrying amount of flex in the Ultra’s frame, highlighted by an aggressive wobble (shimmy) when riding momentarily without hands on the bars. This problem was amplified by placing my weight further forward on the bike or going faster and lessened by adding weight to the rear rack.

This frame flex doesn’t inspire confidence in the Ultra’s build quality, especially given it’s not a step-through frame, which are usually prone to flex.

Large and Heavy

The Ultra is a large, heavy bike. With the rack, fenders, and basket installed, the dual-battery version weighs a hefty 88.6lb, and the large frame is made bulkier by the rack and basket. The weight and bulk make it challenging to lift, carry, or store the Ultra.

What Does It Do Best?

The Blix Ultra is a good-looking e-bike with lots of potential, but this hinges on the purchase of a rack, fenders, and a basket or bags. Most buyers will also want the extra battery version, which is significantly more expensive than the base model.

The Ultra has plenty of attachment points, and Blix sells a range of accessories to fit it. If I were to buy an e-bike to replace my car, I would look for something like Blix’s Ultra dual-battery build, which has enough range to cover long commutes or multiple journeys while hauling cargo.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

The considerable frame flex and finicky rear rack and fender setup tainted my overall experience with the Ultra.

The frame’s flex was the main drawback for me. While the bike is comfortable under most circumstances, you cannot release the bars for a second as the wobble is violent and could damage the frame over time. The wobble made me hesitant to try the front rack and basket, as having additional weight over the front wheel amplified the problem.

I would like to see an improvement to the design for mounting the rear fender and rack so that the fender doesn’t rub the tire and the rack’s holes are better aligned with the frame mount. Finally, the Ultra isn’t UL-certified.

Conclusion

Out of the box, our test bike seemed like the perfect utility-focused ride. It was equipped with wonderful accessories, massive battery capacity, and a powerful motor.

Unfortunately, issues with its frame flex and accessory installation let it down. These issues may not be deal-breakers for all buyers, but the build with two batteries and accessories isn’t cheap.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 2 (Class 3 unlock)
Warranty: 1-year limited (must register for warranty)
UL Certification Not certified
IP Rating IP65
Battery Weight: 8lb
Total Weight: Claimed: 76lb – Actual: 88.6lb (including accessories)
Motor Brand: Unknown
Motor Type: Geared rear hub motor
Motor Nominal Output: 750W
Max Torque: 90Nm
Controller: 48V
Sensor: Cadence sensor – 12-magnet
Battery: 2 X 48V – 14Ah (672Wh) Total: 48V – 28Ah (1,344Wh)
Range Claimed: Up to 80 miles
Range Tested: 57.87 mi – 1,394 ft. – 3h 15m – 17.8mph avg.
Speed: 20mph (unlockable 28mph)
Throttle: Thumb-style ⅓ push throttle
Pedal Assist: 5-level PAS
Charger: 48V – 2A output
Charge Time: 7 hours per battery
Display: ¾” B/W LCD
Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: Zoom 80mm coil suspension fork with lockout
Brake Levers: Zoom hydraulic aluminum lever
Brake Calipers: Zoom hydraulic 2-piston
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: KMC 8-speed
Crankset: 48t, 170mm
Derailleur: microSHIFT 8-speed
Shifter: microSHIFT 8-speed
Freewheel: 8-speed 11-32t
Rims: 26″ aluminum, double-wall
Tires: Chaoyang Big Daddy 26″ x 4″
Fenders: Included
Lights: 80-lux LED headlight, no taillight (included with rack)
Grips: TPR rubber lock-on grips
Saddle: Comfort, padded
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: 700mm, swept-back riser
Kickstand: Single-sided
Max. Total Capacity: 400lb (250lb rider, 150lb cargo)

Frame and Geometry

The Blix Ultra has a large aluminum step-over frame available in a single size, single or dual-battery builds, and three different colorways. The coil suspension fork has 80mm of travel.

The primary battery is integrated into the downtube; the optional second is mounted behind the seat tube. The frame has attachment points for fenders and a rear rack, six mounts in the main triangle, and mounts on the headtube for a front rack.

Again, the rack got in the way of the fender mounts. This prevented the rear fender from sitting in the correct position and caused it to rub the rear wheel. Even after reinstalling the rack and fender multiple times, I could not fix the issue. Eventually, I used a zip tie to hold the fender away from the rear tire, which fixed the rubbing.

The other issue with the frame is how much it flexes, resulting in a scary wobble. This was heightened by riding faster or shifting my weight forward over the front wheel.

Blix lists a height range of 5’2″ to 6’2″. Based on my experience, the high end of this range seems reasonable. At 6′ tall, I had lots of adjustment room left. However, riders at the lower end of this range may struggle with the 29.1″ standover height and the high weight.

Seat Tube: 16.14″ (410mm)
Reach: 14.92″ (379mm)
Stack: 27.75” (705mm)
Stand Over Height: 29.17″ (741mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 24.80″ (630mm)
Min Saddle Height: 33.75″ (857mm)
Max Saddle Height: 41″ (1041mm)
Wheelbase: 50.94″ (1294mm)
Recommended Rider Height: 5’2″ – 6’2″

Display and Control

The Blix Ultra has a small ¾-inch circular display with an integrated three-button touchpad. This display was disappointing.

The bike must be turned on with the battery power button. The small display only shows one metric at a time. Pressing the menu button cycles through current speed, battery level, assist level, and trip odometer.

Further information is available on the Blix app, which connects to the bike via Bluetooth. The Blix app is limited and not intuitive but offers GPS ride tracking and firmware updates and allows users to toggle between Class 2 (20mph) and Class 3 (28mph) speed limits.

Motor

The Blix Ultra has a 750W rear hub motor with a max torque output of 90Nm that provides powerful and consistent assistance. The Ultra easily maintains 20mph and can hit the 20mph top speed on flat terrain in PAS level 3 of 5.

It shoots up hills with little effort, achieving excellent results in both hill climbing tests, and accelerates quickly using throttle or pedal assist, as seen in our 0-20mph test.

The cadence sensor isn’t very precise, with the pedal assist taking almost a full pedal stroke to activate when starting from a stop.

Overall, this motor performance makes the Ultra an excellent choice for riders with long or hilly commutes.

Battery and Charger

The Blix Ultra has a 48V 14Ah battery and an optional second battery for a combined 1,344Wh. Unfortunately, these batteries are not UL-certified.

The batteries weigh 8lb, so owners of the dual-battery Ultra could remove the seat tube battery for shorter trips to save weight. Each battery takes seven hours to charge using the included 2A charger, meaning a lengthy charging time of 14 hours if both are close to empty. There are separate keys to unlock and remove each battery.

Our dual-battery test bike achieved excellent ranges in our PAS 3 and PAS 5 tests, meaning this bike will have more than enough for most riders. The bike’s ability to travel at 20mph in PAS 3 meant the final range in each test was similar.

Drivetrain

The Ultra has an 8-speed microSHIFT drivetrain with an 11-32t freewheel and 48t crank. The microSHIFT shifter is not very crisp, and the drivetrain is noisy with inconsistent shifting.

The highlight of the drivetrain is the wide gearing that allows you to maintain a good cadence at different speeds. I never experienced ghost pedaling, even at speeds above 20mph, which usually isn’t the case with the e-bikes we test.

Brakes

A large, heavy bike like the Ultra needs powerful brakes to stop quickly and consistently. The Ultra’s Zoom two-piston hydraulic brakes and 180mm rotors wouldn’t be my top pick (I prefer Tektro, SRAM, or Shimano), but they are a reasonable budget brake.

The hydraulic levers feel good, are easy to modulate, and are reach-adjustable. However, they are pretty soft and can easily bend if you drop the bike or hit the lever hard. The Ultra’s brakes performed well in our tests, taking an average of 18 feet to stop from 20mph.

Wheels, Tires

The Blix has 26″ x 4″ Big Daddy tires from Chaoyang on a set of basic aluminum double-walled rims. These tires have a fairly aggressive tread for all-terrain riding. These tires are not tubeless-ready and do not have puncture protection.

Accessories

Blix offers an impressive assortment of accessories for each bike. The Ultra has attachment points throughout its frame and can be equipped with racks for the front or rear that can be fitted with different baskets and bags. The rear rack fits a child seat, such as the Thule Yepp, or a padded passenger seat for larger passengers. The bike also has mounts for bottle cages and additional bags.

Our test model came with the rear rack, fenders, wheel protectors, and a large basket, but these aren’t included with the stock bike. Again, I had trouble installing the rear rack and fender. The basket easily fits a large backpack or cooler bag. Finally, the Ultra’s single-sided kickstand didn’t cause any trouble during testing.

Touchpoints

The Ultra has firm and pleasant rubber lock-on grips. The saddle is comfortable, with lots of padding and a good shape. It didn’t impact pedaling or become uncomfortable during our lengthy range tests.

Lastly, the aluminum platform pedals have small aluminum pegs for traction and didn’t cause any issues, though they are on the smaller side.

If you are in the market for a dual battery off-road-capable hauler, the Blix Ultra is definitely worth considering.

Overall, the Blix Ultra boasts an impressive degree of potential… I happily recommend the Ultra for anyone who really wants a bike that can do a little bit of everything…

Overall, this bike is just whatever and I personally would pass up on it… your boy is going to be selling this thing immediately after the video.

… this is probably going to kind of ruin my relationship with Blix, but I hope that they listen to this, and I hope they see… the trouble that I’ve had with this bike that is pretty expensive… Blix has got some work to do…

The Blix Ultra is a capable and comfortable electric bike… If you’re looking for an e-bike that can double as a grocery getter or kid carrier without feeling compromised when unloaded, the Ultra is a great choice.

It’s set up to be off-road capable, but really shines as a sport utility vehicle SUV doing trips around town.