VanMoof's new S6 e-bikes fix everything but trust

The Verge

a day ago

VanMoof, the poster child of bikeaggedon, just launched the first e-bikes developed under new leadership following its 2023 bankruptcy sale to McLaren Applied. The bikes were supposed to be revealed tomorrow, but a link provided to an early access program has resulted in the details leaking early.
The new S6 Series — which I briefly rode just a few hours ago — makes an excellent first impression. The real trick will be convincing riders to pay €3,298 for the promise of longevity. That's why the company is covering the S6 and low-stepover S6 Open with an extended three-year warranty as it tries to regain the trust squandered by the company's departed co-founders.
I spent just 15 minutes riding a pre-production S6, but it already addresses almost every issue I've ever had with VanMoof e-bikes. It shifts smoothly and intuitively without any audible clinks; the light bars that show battery and power levels are bright and easy to understand; and the gimmicks and sounds (including startup and motion alerts) have been toned down to be less embarrassing and annoying. Overall, it's a very pleasant and relaxed ride.
On the outside, the new S6 series looks nearly identical to the existing S5 and A5 models, which were first announced in 2022 and re-released in 2024 by the new company. But it's what's inside that counts, especially when it comes to long-term serviceability. That includes new modular wiring to make each redesigned component easier to service, all benefiting from the engineering, analysis, and control expertise of McLaren Applied.
'We looked at every element of our line-up and made improvements,' says new co-CEO Eliott Wertheimer in a statement. 'This goes from security, reliability and connectivity, but also, and most notably, the overall riding experience. The moment you get on a bike from the S6 Series, you will immediately notice the difference: the entire ride is smoother, more responsive and more intuitive than anything we've released before. Combined with improved reliability and serviceability, this makes the S6 Series our ultimate bike.'
The S6 e-bikes see a return of VanMoof favorites like the Boost button, integrated Kick Lock, and front and rear lighting integrated into the iconic frame. I can't comment on the boost improvements yet as the power delivery from the 250W font-hub motor was still being tuned on my test bike, but the Kick Lock does have a larger sweet spot, making it easier to engage on the rear wheel.
New for the S6 is an 'extremely reliable' three-speed AutoShift hub that replaces the wonky three-speed e-shifter found in S5 and S3 series of VanMoofs. The hub uses angular momentum to automatically shift gears as rotational speed increases. That makes the automatic shifting 100 percent mechanical just like VanMoof's e-bikes from 2019 — no problematic electronics required.
Shifting gear on the S6 felt smooth, accurate, and intuitive in my limited testing, no matter how hard I mashed down on the pedals. I'll hold final judgement on the shifter for my review coming later this summer, but it sure seems like the new VanMoof has finally found a transmission that begins to compete with the likes of Enviolo. Unfortunately, there's still not option for a belt-drive.
The S6 series also feature a new integrated Slimlink phone mount co-designed with Peak Design. It's included in the box with every purchase but can be left off the final assembly since not everyone will want to buy a compatible case. Optionally, you can add a suspension seatpost with an adjustable 30mm of travel to help dampen rough city terrain. That comfy seatpost is also backward compatible with VanMoof S5 and A5 models.
VanMoof's anti-theft system is also returning with more granular location tracking to help the company's bike hunting service — they recover your stolen e-bike within 14 days or replace it for free. A full year of the service is included in the purchase price of the S6 series. After that you can pay up, or rely upon Apple's integrated Find My service and your own bike insurance.
And just like VanMoofs of old, the battery is still integrated with the frame. The custom-designed (and slightly larger) 487Wh Panasonic battery can be removed for service but otherwise has to remain in the bike, where it can be charged from 0 to 100 percent by the included 48V / 2A charger. The taller S6 is fitted with 27.5 inch wheels and weighs 23.5kg (51.8lbs), while the 22.5kg (49.6lbs) S6 Open with its 24-inch wheels is designed to fit smaller riders. Either way that's a lot of unwieldy weight to carry up and down stairs for charging.
VanMoof calls the S6 series its 'most reliable, intuitive, and fun ride so far.' I can vouch for two of the three points, but reliability is something that requires time to prove out.
The company is currently partnered with some 250 bikes shops for service (and 130 sales partners) in a network that covers 13 countries and continues to expand since launching in 2024. You'd be wise to check for local service availability before buying a VanMoof or any direct-to-consumer e-bike, for that matter. Service is an inevitability, how much and how easy are the variables, and VanMoof 2.0 seems to be taking the right steps to minimize unexpected trips to the bike shop.
The VanMoof S6 and S6 Open are available to reserve now with a fully-refundable €150 deposit. Some VanMoof partner bike shops will have S6 bikes available for test rides before deliveries begin to paying customers in August. The S6 series is available in 'electric blue,' black, and 'pearl mint' (my personal favorite) colors at launch in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium — Europe's largest e-bike markets — with UK sales starting 'later this year.' Once VanMoof's European operations are under control, it'll look to expand elsewhere, including a return to the US.