The Vanmoof Electrified 3 is a city style electric bike that’s super simple, elegant and stealth. It’s quiet, clean and fairly efficient combining a front mounted hub motor and rear mounted internal gearing system. The batteries live inside the top tube and aren’t removable like some bikes but also aren’t obvious (and they are replaceable with a bit of effort). Ultimately, you’ll need to take the bike inside to charge or use an extension cord. The aluminum frame is light and well balanced but a bit stiff for my liking, even with the larger Schwalbe Big Apple tires and bumper style seat. The bike is firm and best suited for urban riding on streets or smooth sidewalks. I love the integrated fenders, chain guard, lights, ergo grips and rear rack which add utility but match beautifully.
The motor powering the Vanmoof Electrified Three is a basic 250 watt geared hub design that’s popular in Europe. In the US I’d call this a weaker system but the benefit is efficiency and reduced noise. It will get you up to 20mph on the flats if the wind isn’t blowing and works well with the pedal assist design. There’s no throttle and only two modes to choose from (low or hi) for the motor. Complimenting this is a two speed automatically shifting rear hub that senses the speed of the bike and shifts for you. Ultimately, the front drive motor adds some weight for steering but isn’t bad and the internally geared rear hub works well for city riding… it’s not the best climber or a racer by any means but it is durable.
The battery pack on this bike is actually hidden inside the top tube. As mentioned before, it’s not designed to be taken out regularly but is replaceable. The cells use Lithium-ion which is light weight, long lasting and fairly stable. I believe you get 24 volts of power and 8.7 amp hours of capacity but the website doesn’t list the specs and I haven’t confirmed this with the manufacturer. I guessed based on the listed 209Wh capacity and what I’ve seen used with other 250 watt motors. It would have been nice to have the battery integrated into the downtube because that keeps weight lower for balance but all in all, I think this is a pretty nice design that looks good and keeps the image more bike than electric-bike.
To activate this bike you use a little remote key fob thing and then a touch sensitive display integrated right into the top tube (just behind the stem). A blue pulsing light lets you know the system is active and you get to choose from low or high power and on or off for the lights. It’s neat and appears to be very well sealed against water. There’s no speed, range or battery capacity listing which is kind of a bummer but it’s elegant and fits with the whole minimalism thing. The real bummer for me about the design is the lack of a water bottle cage mounting point.
While this isn’t my favorite electric bike I certainly appreciate the utility and beautiful aesthetic. People probably won’t even realize you’re on an ebike and I’m sure it will hold up well over the years given the integrated systems and simplistic drive system. It’s a well thought out city style bike that doesn’t weigh too much and is fairly custom (though expensive). If you like the way it looks and are okay with a more upright seating position that supports relaxed pedaling (remember, only two gears) then this could be a great choice. Other similar ebikes include the Faraday Porteur and Riide V1.
Max
7 years agoJust rode the electric Moof, and if you told me this would be my only bike, I would give up riding. At $2,500, it was a two speed, uncomfortable, and super stiff (read: unyielding). The motor makes noise when you pedal, so it groans with every pedal stroke. When it automatically shifts into the next gear (top gear), it cuts your cadence by about 30-40%, so you feel no real increase in speed, it is just harder to pedal. The lights are not bright enough and cannot be seen from the side. There is no computer to know your speed. There is no place for a water bottle. It is IMPOSSIBLE to change a flat without removing the chain guard (not convenient AT ALL!). I can’t believe people would pay $2500 for this bike. It looks like a sawhorse with wheels. Get a Specialized Turbo for the same price and you will get so much more for the money. I ride a Turbo – nothing compares to the ride quality. Designers should stick to designing furniture and clothes, not bikes.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoExtremely well put Max, I agree with your thoughts and appreciate the detailed perspective you shared. Thanks! Glad to hear you’re enjoying your Turbo :)
ReplyAndy
7 years agoAre you saying that your 7000 dollar bike is better than this 3000 dollar bike? That doesn’t surprise me for some reason, but I prefer the look of the Stromer bikes. A 17,000 dollar Zero motorcycle is probably a better ride than either of them… but it costs more. I want an electric bike for the spring AND a direct vent gas fireplace for this winter, so my budget is lower than yours. How does it compare to other bikes in its price range? Sorry for the sarcasm, you just got me jazzed to spring for a specialized turbo, and then my wallet said wtf.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHey Andy, I hear you on the pricing considerations… it’s important to stay warm ;) right now is a good time to get discounts on 2016 model electric bikes since it’s the end of the season. If you like the look of Specialized and want the Turbo try reaching out to shops that sell online, I found the model X (with suspension) for $4,000 here and I bet if you called and asked it might even be less.
Max
7 years agoAndy, If you look at the Specialized web site here, there is a ‘Turbo (45kph)’ in Dream Silver for $2500. THAT’S why I compared it to the $2500 Moof. Yes, the $7000 ‘Turbo S’ is out of most commuters’ reach, but there is a very nice lower-priced option that I ride that is Freaking Fabulous! When I rode the Moof, I really couldn’t believe how different two bikes could be (and how truly horrible the Van Moof is). Go ride one, Andy, while they are still available at this price. I promise you will have a huge smile on your face!!
Jonathan Zalesne
7 years agoIt looks like Vanmooth has come out with a new model in 2017. Does it address some of these complaints?
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoHi Jonathan! I haven’t seen the new one in person but I’m guessing that it will have improved somewhat. I may dig into this a bit and do a comparison at some point but you could also discuss the bike in the Vanmoof forums and see if anyone else has input. The dealer Motostrano carries them I believe, and may be able to chime in since they could have the latest in stock!
ReplyMichael
6 years agoWould LOVE to see a review on the newest Vanmoof electric bike!
Replycourt
6 years agoSweet! Thanks for pointing this out, Michael. I would like to review it and will be keeping an eye out this summer for sure. If you end up test riding or buying one, please share your own little review / photos / thoughts in the Vanmoof forums here.
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