VanMoof S5 review: distraction-free cycling

VanMoof was based in Amsterdam in 2009. Their mission: to get as many individuals as potential on bicycles, ideally a VanMoof bicycle. Greater than 190,000 individuals at the moment are driving round on a VanMoof S3 or X3, two bikes that had been extremely profitable in 2020. With the S5 and A5 VanMoof needs to enhance on that success story. The query, after all, is: did it succeed?

Design and building

It is exhausting to disclaim that VanMoof bikes are eye-catching. With thick straight tubes, huge tires and an absence of cables, it’s clear that the S5 is the successor to the S3 from 2020. Each bikes have a really smooth look and nearly the identical form, solely the aluminum body of the S5 is barely smaller – so the bike can also be snug for barely shorter individuals. Those that are between 1.65 m and a pair of.10 m tall will undoubtedly discover one thing to their liking on the VanMoof S5. For smaller cyclists from 1.55 m there’s the VanMoof A5, with a decrease entry.

An e-bike stays delicate to style, after all. Not everyone seems to be a fan of the huge welds that deliver a sturdy and industrial look to the S5. Moreover, the 5S is minimalistic: the entrance and rear gentle are built-in and don’t have any cables, the cabling of the hydraulic brakes has been neatly hid within the body, the motor cable is nearly invisible, the brake levers have been properly built-in into the handlebars… All issues that make sure that the minimalist S5 nonetheless will get a very premium really feel. It’s only a pity that there isn’t any belt hidden below the chain guard, as you usually see on different premium e-bikes.

Buttons and lights

New for this era of VanMoof bikes are two further buttons on the handlebars and two gentle rings, known as ‘halo rings’. These change the matrix show of the earlier bikes and serve to offer the bike owner with every kind of knowledge. The appropriate ring on the handlebar signifies how briskly you’re going. Are you able to attain 25 km/h? Then the sunshine ring is totally crammed. On the opposite facet of the steering wheel you may then seek the advice of the battery degree at a look. The tactic isn’t actually correct, however it’s usually ample to find out how far you may nonetheless drive. In case your bike’s battery is low, the left ring will even flip crimson to warn you. Those that need extra exact data can lock their telephone to the steering wheel with a SP Join-phone case. You shouldn’t be afraid to see the battery of your smartphone run out: a USB-C port is constructed into the steering wheel with which you’ll be able to merely cost it.

There are additionally two main and two secondary buttons on the steering wheel. On the left, they serve to warn different cyclists that you just’re coming: a main button rings your bell, whereas the secondary button flashes your entrance gentle. Useful for many who repeatedly need to take care of exhausting of listening to cyclists and driving headphones. A turbo button can once more be discovered on the proper facet. With the push of that button, the bike propels you at a velocity of 25 km/h, regardless of how exhausting you’re pedaling. Making a fast begin or passing different cyclists can subsequently merely be completed on the contact of a button. You’re then pushed ahead with a power of 68 Nm, which actually feels very nice.

On the street

In complete, we cycled nearly 300 kilometers with the VanMoof S5, as may be deduced from knowledge within the VanMoof app. Throughout these miles, the bike by no means actually allow us to down. At most, it took some time earlier than we may join the VanMoof app to the bike to unlock it. You lock the VanMoof 5S with a so-called ‘kick’ lock – a button on the rear axle of the bicycle that you would be able to give a small kick to.

Unlocking can then be completed in several methods: immediately within the app or by urgent one of many handlebar buttons when your telephone is related to the bike. When that works instantly, that is nice. Nonetheless, we regularly needed to wait some time earlier than the Bluetooth connection between smartphone and bicycle was established. Often we could not simply get the bike unfastened with the smartphone, however with the back-up unlock code that you would be able to set upfront within the app, it labored.

After a firmware replace, nevertheless, these issues appeared to have largely been resolved and it was a bit simpler to unlock the bike. As soon as we may get going, it turned out that the advertising and marketing division at VanMoof had completed its homework nicely. On the model itself, they market the S5 as the perfect bike for “lengthy relaxed rides” – not shocking, with a battery of 487 watt hours and a most vary of 150 km within the lowest setting, or 60 km with full help. Other than some saddle ache, we will actually agree. The truth that the S5 gives such a relaxed driving expertise is especially as a result of method wherein the entrance hub motor has been adjusted. Within the electrical bicycle world, such a entrance hub motor is commonly dismissed as an affordable and inferior answer. Those that ignore these feedback, nevertheless, should conclude that the driving expertise with this VanMoof doesn’t get any much less.

Turbo Enhance!

The entrance hub motor additionally gives as much as 68 Nm of torque. He would not at all times give that, however actually provided that you press the Turbo Enhance button on the steering wheel. In any other case, the bike is aware of how you can estimate how a lot the engine has to work. To do that, it takes data from the power sensor within the backside bracket. Are you pedaling tougher? Then the engine will work tougher. This contributes to a extra pure acceleration really feel and implies that the engine doesn’t simply begin or cease. Furthermore, this additionally makes it potential to trip subsequent to individuals with out an electrical bicycle with out consistently braking.

The VanMoof 5S comes into its personal on elements the place you may hold pedaling with out stopping. The explanation for this may be discovered within the gear mechanism, which is computerized on VanMoof bicycles. As an alternative of getting to shift gears your self, the hub gear adjusts in response to your velocity. Shift up and down settings can be found within the VanMoof app, the place you may select what speeds you want vitesse adjustments. Two modes can be found for this: ‘flat’ and ‘hilly’. Relying on the terrain, the bike can change between these two positions – so you may set the gears slightly decrease for uphill. Often switching between the three gears may be very easy, however there are occasions if you may be shocked by the bike. Luckily, the distinction between the three gear positions isn’t so nice that you just out of the blue lie on the bottom.

Footnote

The VanMoof 5S is, to prejudge the conclusion, a wonderful bike. However, VanMoof has been considered quite negatively in current months. The explanation for that? Many damaged bicycles, repairs that take a very long time and substitute bicycles that aren’t accessible. Virtually each a part of the 5S was specifically designed for this bike, so you may’t have it repaired all over the place. For this you need to go to an authorized bicycle restore store or make an appointment with VanMoof itself. Common bicycle restore outlets not often settle for bicycles that had been purchased elsewhere, in order that in itself isn’t some extent of criticism. In the intervening time, nevertheless, ready instances for ordering and repairing a bicycle are growing significantly – a state of affairs that, in response to VanMoof, is enhancing.

Conclusion

All in all, the VanMoof 5S is a really good bike. Particularly over longer distances or bicycle highways, it’s fantastic to drive quietly and comfortably from level a to level b. The truth that the pedal assist feels so pure helps rather a lot, though it’s nonetheless enjoyable to often race to the very best level of a bridge in turbo mode. With the rings on the handlebars, the bike additionally gives you all the data you may want, with out having to take the distraction of a smartphone or different show. This ends in a really nice driving expertise with out on-board computer systems and different devices that solely take your consideration off the street. It takes some time to get used to the automated shifting mechanism, however after that it is nearly a reduction to hit the street with the VanMoof 5S.

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