VanMoof’s new S6 e-bikes fix everything but trust
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 …