VanMoof S3 Review: No Sweat!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Van Moof S3 is a smart electric bike. It’s got pedal assist, an accelerator, a display, and a handful of anti-theft features. I really enjoyed my time with one here in New York City. www.vanmoof.com
VanMoof Bike Hunters video: • Bike Hunt Report - Jul...
I was one of the first to get the Van Moof 1 in the Netherlands. and now getting the S3 soon. I'm still running the van Moof 1 today after around 6/7 years. these are real quality and an perfect balance between quality and price
it actualy makes sense to me. if you want a moped, buy a moped
I'd say the first electrified S is garbage, and would never recommend this bike to anyone. (or any of their bikes because why would I after basically buying an expensive beta product that's absolutley not worth the money and problems I've had with it. Got myself a regular bike again after this... That bike is now reduced to be a back-up bike, and even then I'd rather not bother to much with it and rather pay money to use a bike share bike.
It did teach me a valuable lesson tho, something that should be repaired locally, should be bought locally. Vanmoof was nice enough to send a transportation company to get this bike back to Amsterdam in many failed attempts to fix the many issues I've had with it. But that's still a shittier solution then bringing your bike to any bike repair store, with them, probably having the parts ready to fix it within a few days. Took over a week to finally get the thing going to their store each time... And when I got it back, there was always something wrong with the repair way to soon again...
@@googleprofiel6814 which bike are you talking about? The s3??
@@googleprofiel6814 Good honest review, Ben - so right about repair proximity.
Cheers from London.
To me this just looks like a complete waste of ressources. Battery non replaceable and all the cables hidden in the frame. I mean think of it, we are now still using bikes from the 70ies and 80ies without any problem. Does anyone really think that this bike will be ridable in 50 years from now? Only riding in first gear because the electrics are not working anymore? Really a shame to see that
I love how am watching the video hear a word that I've never heard before and search it up the architecture of your vocabulary is amazing 👏
This e-bike is just a gem. I love this design!
This is a really fantastic review!! Thanks so much for making exactly what I was looking for!!
Some of the downsides are mandated by Dutch law.
If you would be able to engage the accelerator without pedalling this would be classified as a motorbike instead of a bicycle in the Netherlands.The same goes for the top speed of the bike. A motorbike requires the rider to have a driving license and in some cases ban the vehicle form cycling lanes.
Sure these restrictions could be modified in software for the US market but I bet at that point you'd want more out of the motor and battery.
This is probably also why the back light doesn't become brighter or blink while breaking. Although a great feature according to Dutch cycling law you can't have flashing lights on your bike.
Peter den Hartog I’m going out on a limb here and assume Dutch law is identical to German law. In Germany, bike lights that blink continuously are not allowed - but temporary blinking is, specifically to allow brake lights.
@@Halbmond Nope, Dutch law states: "de lampen mogen niet knipperen." which translates to: "Lights are not allowed to blink" I'd say that also excluded temporary blinking.
As this video was produced in NYC, this is about NYC rules. In NYC, you are now allowed to operate e-bikes with a throttle and the speed limit is 27 miles per hour.
Same in the uk
Became subscriber on first vid!
This is my first vid of your channel, and love your summary and thoughts, straight to point without small talks or advertising comments.
The Halo 3 shield recharge sound fx reference earned the thumbs up from me.
Great one. Missed your videos. Glad you are back.
Sick video Sam, very informative. Also, nice black cement 3s!
Thanks for another fantastic review Sam.
I've been watching Vanmoof reviews a lot as I prep to eventually buy one in a few months and I must say this is one of the best reviews of the S3 on youtube thus far!
Be prepared for months of waiting if you order one
@@googleaccountuser6976 I did and I love it!
@@vazo_3851 I'm a satisfied Vanmoof owner and I approve this message!
@@KNOWLEDGEISAWEAPON good to hear just placed my order - how many months did you wait? it said it should be here within a month which seems fine to me
@@jibblitswallower1931 if memory serves me correctly - I received my bike within 3 weeks!
Amazing review. You had me glued to the screen
Another unexpected but very welcome Sam sheffer video 👌🏼
thanks gotenks more to come
Another exceptional video! Keep it up Sam
Love these types of videos! We need more electric mobile transportation videos :)
Hey Sam Sheffer! Cool review vid! Not my type of ebike but I like to keep up with the tech in all genres of cycling and electric mobility! My only concern is the unique van moof hydraulic brakes might have one off pads and rotors that a regular bike shop won't be able to source quickly if you move away from the OEM dealer! Ride ride ride!
Great review Sam as always
i used to have a non electric bike and from all the bikes i have seen it looks so much better, no fake sport design / colours, no stickers.
I love it, hope they will ship to Greece soon.
Best bike review ever, great job.
Excellent review. I watched it all even though I am already a proud owner of the S3 😁
How does It keep up?
Dope intro sam really loved it
Awesome review full of details!
Best, most informative VanMooth review
this bike looks excellent and it's refreshing to see something so innovative. The only down side of course is all the non-standard parts.
Great review Sam!
Those are really good feature suggestions. The bike horn thing in particular should be a must; the party and ring sound don't match the aesthetic of the bike, but I'd be concerned about using the VanMoof sound for safety reasons because it seems to lack bass.
It's cool to see you ride a VanMoof. They are decently common here in Amsterdam and look very good.
Only drawbacks are law-restricted designs, like the boost not working whilst paddling or boosting much above 20 mph.
I personally would love this, but since I already get to almost 20 mph on a regular bike and cant go much faster with this, it's not really worth it for me.
Cool review though Sam, thanks for the vid
Hey Michel, You can boost as your heart desire's by activating the easter egg in the app / putting it in 'unlimited/developer mode'. Just tap then hold the 'speed limit' text in the app.
If you are physically fit and have no problem maintaining speed without breaking a sweat, sure. But ebikes generally are best in hills and such. Depends on where you ride the most. It is also about regulations. You can buy ebikes (pedelecs) that require a license to ride and have much higher top speed but they get close to scooter territory.
Fantastic review!
Great video, just test road one today, amazing bike
Love it, i'll get these bikes one day, I'm just too short for the S3 version, which I like it's shape better.. (:
I enjoyed how you say a bike stand and fenders are nice added bonuses. It's a bike :)
...and a rack should be standard.
Looks sweet. I think I'm going start riding again.
A very detailed review! Thank you
I bought a used Vanmoof in 2016 and it got stolen a couple of months later. I spent a lot of time back and forth with their support because their tracking features were buggy in the US; it kept saying my bike was in Amsterdam. They ended up sending me a refurbished replacement, which was very generous since I bought the initial one second hand. However, in the time I was waiting for it to be delivered I bought a Boosted v2 which just ended up being more practical in basically every way. So now my Vanmoof is only used when it's raining or on ~ 10+ mile trips. It looks like the S3 has some nice upgrades but I wish it could still have the built-in frame lock. There's no way that kick lock is enough in San Francisco.
I have the gen 1 Vanmoof and I have 4K miles on it! It's been the best bicycle I've ever owned.
Living in Belgium having ridden a bike my entire life some things you point out seem so obvious like riding without hands hahah. I guess in america most people use cars here everyone legit has 1-3 bikes
Yeah, cycling in Europe is way different to the states.
Some bikes are front heavy and have stiff brake and shifter cables to make it impossible to safely ride without hands, like I cannot do it with my mountain bike but with my city bike is fine. So it is nice to know that the VanMoof has a well balanced front wheel/fork setup.
Was thinking the same thing. Just like fenders on bikes like what thats a normal thing :D And wearing a helmet is also a American/outside the EU a must hahah
Ordered my S3 in June. Getting it in Sept. I'm super excited about it.
how is it going so far, did you meet your expectation or not ? thanks
@@selmaneferchane2849 It's not without its quirks but I absolutely love it. It's a blast to ride. I ran it out of battery about a mile shy of home and I'll never let that happen again.
@@rdbeyer Have you discovered the alternative Moofer app by Quinten Adema? It unlocks loads of cool features, such as support for far higher speed...
@@NicolasReid___1___ I have not but I will definitely check it out.
@@NicolasReid___1___ what's the app called and how much faster does it get, thanks
*Gotta appreciate the VANMOOF bikes as All other brands are basically Walmart/generic bikes with a common kit slapped on them. Actually engineering and design here!!*
Great review! The double O in VanMoof is pronounced like the OA in oatmeal. 😉
Indeed. Or as in Roosevelt.
I had my X2 stolen in San Francisco while at un an expectedly long meeting (hub lock/alarm was not engaged, secured with u-lock), and Van Moof called me before I knew it was gone to tell me they'd located it and were returning it. The bike hunter (of course on their own Van Moof) showed up like 30 mins later having towed my bike along through downtown SF, which is pretty impressive.
On thing to note is that while the tires/tubes are very durable (only 2 flats in a year vs about 7 on my hybrid), if you're not near a store (in SF, NYC, or Seattle) most bike shops do not carry the tire and many don't carry the tube.
Nice video! With Casey in California I miss seeing NYC .
Thank you this made me make my decision very informative review
👍👍 great review
just for future reviews, the 'diagonal pole' = the downtube
sorry if someone else already commented this
I like how the manufacturers kept the traditional diamond frame design.
Definitely brand I would only buy if Vanmoof retail store IS available in my city or near by as no other 'bike shops' will not be able to service technical side of things.
Cool idea for the stop light, Sam. I tried S2 (both the electric and the non-electric version) but I didn’t like the electric assist as much as on Uber’s (or now Lime’s) JUMP bikes.
Why's that? I ride jump bikes pretty often and just bought an S3...
Can you review the BMW Active Hybrid eBike? That was the best VanMoof bike review I have seen!
I took a test ride in London last week. It took ten minutes to fall in love with it. Mine is now on order. I can't wait.
epic
Great review.
Definitely one of the best reviews of this bike! I‘m quite to small to ride this beauty. :( However, what bag did you wear during riding the bike? What brand is it?
I have owned the VanMoof S3 since June. Fortunately (unlike many others) I received my bike on time. My new S3 already had an incredible number of problems from the first moment: defective left button (so no bell and unlocking without an app), problems with charging, sometimes even completely failing, not switching gears and often error messages. Customer service was already a drama in this process, but eventually being able to schedule a repair. The bike was so broken that I got a new one.
Unfortunately with the new bike again problems with the gears. At gear 1 the bike got stuck, which made cycling impossible. Of course tried to schedule a repair again, which was again an unbelievable task. Not responding to email, promising to call back three times (and not honoring it) and having to wait for 30 minutes several times. In the end I was able to schedule an accelerated repair by phone (threatening to get my money back).
Bicycle made, and you guessed it. Still problems: Creaking noise while cycling and gear problems. In the meantime, I have sent an email two weeks ago to which I don't get a response.
I feel like you just aren't taken seriously once the bike is bought. When ordering I had a number of questions and received a response within ten minutes. There is also something to be said about the quality of the bicycle. It is a pity that you cannot even enjoy the product after 2.5 months and 2000 euros. I was so enthusiastic about VanMoof, but now I would sincerely advise against it.
A solid honest review, now I’m on the fence!
This bike looks beautiful.
Nice! Please review the radrunner plus! I’m in San Francisco. It was my most viable option for traveling up hills and carrying cargo.
Thx!
The S3 struggles a bit on very steep hills.
@@markfox3083 duly noted. I think it’s motor is only 250W and tires are pretty large in diameter so makes sense.
I ended up actually just purchasing the Juiced Scrambler because it’s so customizable and not proprietary in its build.
Very cool bit of kit
Sam! Awesome video 😎
Imagine trying to repair this thing.
Imagine someone asks you to adjust the shifiting
According to the shop. Mechanically speaking, its no different from an ordinary bike. Anything electrical would have to go back to van moof
For the motor, they change the wheel. For the electronic, you can remove the electronic box easily and for the battery it's the same. Both are like a drawer .
Lee Smaling I am not sure about that. The parts look proprietary. I think even the saddle cannot be changed. It’s like an Apple, it has to go back to the service center. But to be fair there isn’t anything much to adjust, no derailleurs etc
@@arbjful to be even more fair, if something in the shift mechanism fails. Its fucked
A very cool ebike for the city. I wish it had a truck horn option.
That alarm system is dope asf
If the thief is quick, it doesn't even help
eBikes are the best! I've been riding both a Stromer ST2 and Riese & Müeller Load for years. By far the best transportation investments I have ever made. Cars are such a pain in the ass and look dumb in comparison. Getting around a city on eBike is THE BEST way to get around especially when you have a cargo eBike for groceries, kids, etc.
For anyone wondering about speed, the reason you can’t get it to go faster is due to bike speed laws. They’re not allowed to ship electric bikes that go over a certain speed.
We have ebikes shipped from taiwan and Canada that go at a top speed of 28mph. It's the class 3 regulation. I'm not 100% sure about dutch laws regarding ebike speeds.
thats not true
You mentioned picking up food. Where did you store it for the ride? It's certainly cool to have a sleek bike, but not having any rack for a bag would be a serious flaw for me and certainly limit the usefullness of such a vehicle. I did enjoy the video greatly especially because of all to see from NEW YORK; thanks!
Great review
Love Vanmoof bike since 2 years. The S3 is incredible. But: Guys just order this bike, if there’s a Vanmoof Store with Bike Doctors in your near.!!! Btw good review 😎👍🏻
What bike lock was that towards the end of the video? Great video by the way!
Nice intro Sam!
amazing review ❤❤
Nice review! Does it also come with a footpump?
The reason that the boost button only works while pedaling, is because it's illegal in the EU to have an independent control.
It's not illegal in EU, only in most EU countries. It's legal in Austria for example.
Can you tell me what helmet it is that you are using? I think it really looks cool, especially with the combination of the ski goggles! :D
Good shit fam. I’m completely off social so have no idea what you’ve been up to. Hopefully you get a Fold 2 to review I’m really curious on your thoughts on that.
Classic sheffer video ayeee
next video: [Onyx RCR Review: Too Fast!]
I love how sleek and cool they look. It would be a tough decision between this and a Super 73
I had 2 Super 73s - I’d say they are 2 different items. Commuting I’d go with this, goofing off and feeling like a kid in the 70’s with a mini-bike - nothing beats the 73!
@@dolbydarma Im in the same position, either the Super 73 or the Vanmoof, the Super 73 is double the price in the UK, would love to know a little more on your experience
any further thoughts ?
@@kr6262 it comes down to what you’re looking for. Long term I cose commuter e-bike over my 73’s but stil couldn’t go with the Vanmoof due to all their issues mechanically and electric. I wanted something that just worked (the 73’s were bulletproof btw) so I went a third option. I just bought the Specialized Turbo Vado SL - it’s amazing (not as good looking as the Vanmoof but a hundred times more reliable and serviceable).
@@dolbydarma thanks for the information
Dope kicks 🔥
When the batterie is empty for the motor it keeps a remain of 4% for the use of the light and the gears even if you don't have the motor anymore.
Battery.
@@stankatic8182 Yep, the other one is in French.
Great video - what's the name of the covered chain lock you used in the video?
Wish someone would review the X3. After you initially describe this bike as being a bit too big for your size, you still go ahead and review the larger S3! Can you do a review of the X3 as a comparison piece? Can't find any online. PS VanMoof rhymes with loaf ;)
Good video, greetings from Berlin👍🏽😊
Top notch vid 👏👏
Good review! What is the real range on the S3?
Sam, thank you so much for this review!
Please tell us how tall you are exactly?
That would help many with the purchase decision.
i’m about 5 feet 7 inches
@@samsheffer Thanks a lot for the quick reply and yes, it is very helpful!
@@samsheffer I am 5'7" - should I get this one- the other one looks small but I notice that you had the seat down all the way on this one which looked a little weird
The design language is fantastic
I really like that the bike has some security
Sam theres this Zooz ebike that is BMX styled. Just a bit like that mythic boosted 20 inch ebike
Great review!
This bike vs the Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0, what would be the right choice?
I believe the specialized is much better, but it is more expensive...
You should try a Stromer .. they also do the same but even more extreme! Speed acceleration range smart systems
Awesome review, awesome bike, price...
Great! Can you review the riese muller delite?
3:15 that‘s a weird argument. Your words highlight exactly why this is a problem (take a turn and the light won’t shine where you’re driving but where you aren’t) but you describe it as a plus.
it doesn't really make a difference either way unless you're going less than 10mph. The bars barely turn when you're turning at any significant speed.
petef15 You’re still missing the point. Sometimes you need to illuminate an area that you aren’t currently pointing towards, like around a corner -before- you turn.
The purpose of bike lights is to let other road users know you are there. If you are having difficulty seeing where you are biking, a strong headlamp is more useful.
HallowedManhattan a brighter light won’t help you if it’s not pointing in the direction you want to see. The problem with the frame light is that it will continue to point straight. Also the proprietary nature of the light means you are stuck with it. The purpose of lighting is not just for other road users, but also to avoid potholes, objects in your path
It’d be great if they put a stand in the package that props the bike up, and let users pedal and workout in door & charge the bike in the meantime. (Motor and generator are the same thing running in different directions I think?)
No. These types of motors cannot regenerate electricity.
@@sergeig685 too bad
Whoa thats a good idea!
This is a piece of art. What a nice bike
Keeping the boost button constantly pressed makes no sense as once going 20mph the boost button has no effect. In assist level "4" peddling to maintain 20mph on level ground is almost effortless. Anyway, I've had my S3 for about a month and it is all that. I'm 64 with bad knees and can go on 30+ miles rides with no problem.
Keith Keck i love how you are 64 and still riding!
@@thijssteigstra6458 What! I am almost 70 and still riding! 70 is the new 60 :)
@@thijssteigstra6458 Yikes. What is a 64-year-old supposed to do instead of riding?
very cool staff. Considering to buy
Try onyx RCR and review it please
60mph top speed ( no license required )
3 modes: ECO 20mph, NRML 35mph, SPORT 60mph!
75 mile range in eco
Highly customizable, saw someone making it go 70mph
getting this as my boosted board replacement
I just moved to the Netherlands and I spoke with a guy who owns one a couple days ago. I'm very interested in getting one of these. I would prefer the battery pack so I can charge it without lugging the bike upstairs though.
As an ex S2 owner, I can say that it is mostly a good experience. The plastics on the S2 though were very low quality and many people had to run back to the shop to get new ones. Things you have to consider:
- If you wanna sell it, VANMOOF doesn't allow passing the theft insurance to a new person. I guess the want to sell more new ones but it is not clearly advertised. A big disappointment.
- They lowered the price by a huge amount from S2 to S3. All the people that backed them up buying the super expensive S2, practically lost their money. Second hand market collapsed. All in all, one of the worst business decisions on their side. Imagine the new iPhone to be half the price/same features...
- About the speed. it need to comply with speed limits. I think the motor is capable of more but they would need to classify it as a motorbike.
Watching VanMoof V Intro -they said that bike adjust to local speed law, maybe S3 does exactly the same thing when you select the region/ capping you at certain speeds.
ive seen quite a people riding these bikes, on the streets of London. caught up with a gentleman on a traffic light last night and asked him a few questions regarding the bike
gotta say, people do zoom past me on these bikes. nice colour. nice design. amazing bike if you ask me. might be a bit pricey though
You know that there's a speed limit for e-bikes in the us at 20 mph? :D And also you don't need to hold the boost button all the time because it only works while you're accelerating.
This isn't quite right, as far as speed limits for e-bikes go. First of all, it's not a speed limit but a limit on the top speed a which assist is available. Second, that limit is generally 20 mph for class 1 and class 2 e-bikes, but 28 mph for class 3. In some places, class 3 bikes are not allowed on certain bike trails and paths. It seems as if there's no reason this bike couldn't be a class 3 if it provided assist to the higher speed. But a lighter e-bike makes a more practical class 3.