What you need to know before buying an e-bike

I was able to spend 30 days with the Vanmoof S3. The futuristic e-bike is undoubtedly worth recommending – more for some, but less for some. What you should definitely know before buying.

I’ve been thinking about buying a new e-bike for a long time. When the opportunity arose to try out the Vanmoof S3 including the new power bank, of course I didn’t hesitate for long. Thanks to many YouTubers, the smart pedelec was in my shortlist anyway.

Why you should buy the Vanmoof S3

After about a month I can give a clear purchase recommendation for the Vanmoof S3, and this is mainly due to the following reasons:

• Light and slim: At 21 kilograms, the Vanmoof S3 is not only lighter than other e-bikes, it is also slimmer in terms of dimensions.
• Kicklock: A practical lock is integrated in the rear wheel hub, which locks the bike if you step on it for a moment.
• Matrix display: Vanmoof has placed a number of LEDs directly in the frame, which show, among other things, speed and charge status while driving.
• Boost button: On the right side of the handlebar is the so-called “Boost button” – a small button that takes you to the maximum support of 25 km / h at lightning speed.
• Chic, minimalist design: The Vanmoof S3 can hardly be recognized as an e-bike and is a real eye-catcher.
• Front wheel motor: The engine is housed in the front wheel, so you have a kind of “all-wheel drive.”

Taken alone, each point would not justify a purchase recommendation for the Vanmoof S3. All in all, however, they mean that cycling is simply fun! You really enjoy this e-bike.

But much more important: the Inhibition threshold for even using the pedelec is decreasing. I see that especially in comparison to my own e-bike. At almost 30 kilos, it is much more difficult to carry up the cellar stairs, it is also wider, which is why I often bump into my narrow cellar corridors. I didn’t have such problems with the Vanmoof S3.

My e-bike is also more complex to use: When I was out on the road with the Vanmoof S3 and wanted to sit down somewhere to have a coffee, it was done in no time: park it, step in front of the kicklock – done.

With my e-bike, I first have to find a suitable lantern to turn on, then take out the heavy chain lock and chain it up and, last but not least, of course, pull off the bike computer so that it is not stolen. That may all sound like petitessen – and for some they may be too – but it just annoys me.

The Vanmoof S3 is more comfortable in everyday use, it works without having to worry too much.

And: Pull off cars at the traffic lights thanks to the boost button – a really cool feeling! The Vanmoof is also a real eye-catcher, people very often ask about the bike and get into nice conversations.

Why you shouldn’t buy the Vanmoof S3

The Vanmoof S3 is not perfect either, which is due to these reasons:

• No suspension: Neither the front nor the rear of the e-bike has suspension, it is a purely city bike that feels most comfortable on flat ground.
• Non-removable battery: The battery in the Vanmoof S3 is permanently installed, owners cannot simply remove it for charging.
• Automatic switching: An automatic four-speed gearshift is integrated in the Pedelec. The switching modes can be set within the app.

The lack of suspension struck me most of the 30 days – and the road conditions in my hometown Düsseldorf are actually quite good. Sure, the thick Schwalbe tires that the Vanmoof S3 comes with take away a lot of the smaller and larger bumps. But they are not a substitute for real suspension.

Good to know: Vanmoof offers theft protection for an extra charge of around 350 euros. If the bike is stolen, Vanmoof employees try to find the e-bike again. If that is not possible in two weeks, you can get a spare wheel for free. In order to be able to use the service, you have to lock the Vanmoof S3 with a classic lock. The kicklock alone is not enough.

Vanmoof recently introduced the power bank for the non-removable battery. Depending on the level of support, it should offer up to 100 additional kilometers of range or supply an empty battery with juice again so that you don’t have to drag the e-bike up into the apartment. With this, the Dutch manufacturer has eliminated what is perhaps the biggest problem with the Vanmoof S3. The Vanmoof alone has a maximum range of 120 kilometers.

Indeed: The power bank, which is embedded in the frame and is amazingly easy to attach, something destroys the otherwise flawless look of the bike. If you buy a Vanmoof, you buy it because of the chic design and the power bank is really not an eye catcher.

You have to get used to the automatic gearshift. The corresponding levels, when upshifting and downshifting takes place, can also be set in the app. As a rule, this also works and at some point you have the individual stages in the back of your mind and know that a switching process is coming soon and can adapt to it.

But it often happened to me, especially at the beginning, that this E-bike switched and then I stepped into the void. It wasn’t pleasant and sometimes it could have ended badly with a fall.

The right mini caravan should not be missing for the e-bike. In this Video we show a model from MobyPlast:

Who should buy the Vanmoof S3?

In the end the question remains: to buy or not to buy? The answer mainly depends on how you want to use the e-bike. Anyone who not only wants to drive in the city, but also off-road or in the forest, will not be happy with the Vanmoof S3. The lack of suspension is a no-go. The same applies to all those who do not trust the automatic gearshift but want to gearshift themselves.

And of course there is also the question of longevity. Most of the S3’s components are custom-made for Vanmoof and not off the shelf. This is why the e-bike looks like it is made from one piece. But will the components and spare parts still be available in 5 years, in 7 or 10 years? For the “classic” e-bike riderwho sees his bike as a long-term investment and likes to have full control, the Vanmoof S3 is therefore rather nothing.

If, on the other hand, you want a smart city bike that is fun and easy to use, you can opt for the Vanmoof S3. It is that perfect e-bike for the smartphone generationthat doesn’t worry too much about longevity or the availability of spare parts, but lives in the here and now – and maybe buys a new pedelec in 4 or 5 years. At a comparatively low price of around 2,200 euros, you can do that too. A Vanmoof S3 is not significantly more expensive than the most expensive phones from Samsung and Co.