Stuff Gadget Guide - UK - Issue 4 (2022-01)

VanMoof S3 Price £1798 / stuff.tv/VanMoofS3

BEST FOR

PEACE OF

MIND

GROUP TEST E-BIKES

83

Skull’s out
The 16-LED matrix
shows speed and
assistance levels
while riding, or a
terrifying skull if the
alarm is going off.

Shift me up

You can switch

assistance levels in

the app while riding,

and even fine-tune

at what speed the

gears shift.

What’s the story?

Most electric bikes have been a

bit weird so far. You only seem to

get two choices: an existing bike

with a battery pack squished in

somewhere odd, or a bespoke

design that doesn’t look like

a bicycle at all. The second-gen

VanMoof S3 (like the smaller

X3 on p70) doesn’t fit in either

category. It looks almost like a

normal bike, rides like a normal

bike and, crucially, doesn’t cost

a ridiculous amount.

Is it any good?

The chunky 50mm tyres, slightly

swooped bars and upright riding

position all combine to create

a super-comfy ride, whether

you’re crushing the commute

or cruising down to the beach,

and we found it was even nice

on canal towpaths.

At 19kg it’s not particularly

lightweight, but the four levels

of power make up for the

battery’s added bulk. Getting

the claimed full 90-mile range

would be a challenge with the

low-level partial assistance,

but 30 miles around a virtually

deserted London at level three

left us completely sweat-free

with 20% still in the tank.

The integrated lights, slightly

oversized tubing, hidden battery

and powder-coated frame are

undoubtedly stylish, and it’s

rare to get so many looks from

people who aren’t in Lycra.

Jamming down the boost button

as the light goes green turns

plenty of heads too.

Yet for such a looker, the S3

has a lot of tech hidden away to

make it a less than ideal target

for thieves. The rear wheel locks

with a kick of the button by the

axle, and tampering will set off

an onboard alarm. The app offers

location-tracking and the ability

to lock your bike down – and if

the worst comes to the worst,

VanMoof’s bike-hunters aim to

recover it within a fortnight.

Key specs

● 504Wh battery

● 37-93 miles

● 250W front-wheel motor

● 4hrs to charge

● Aluminium frame, 19kg

STUFF SAYS Great ride, great features and useful security smarts ★★★★★