VanMoof, the Dutch makers of slick-looking electric bikes that proved too high-tech to succeed just two years ago, is back with two new models that help return the company to (some of) its former glory. The new VanMoof S6 and S6 Open (i.e. low-step) are here. But will riders return?
It’s been a whole two years since VanMoof filed for bankruptcy in 2023 after overrunning its financial supply lines with hard-to-produce and harder-to-service high-tech electric bicycles. In 2024, the company returned after being bought out of bankruptcy, at which point VanMoof relaunched its previous new models, the S5 and A5 e-bikes.
On the surface, the new S6 line looks quite similar, but the differences prove to be more than paint-deep. The bike is described as the culmination of VanMoof’s “5 generations and 11 years of e-bike innovation.”
The performance figures are the same well-known Euro-limited numbers we’re used to, with speed maxing out at 25 km/h (15 mph) and a supposed 250W of power from the front hub motor, even if the real wattage is likely slightly higher. VanMoof claims a max torque of 68 Nm.
The 487 Wh battery is rated for a range of between 60-150 km (37-93 miles), depending on ride style and power level.
To keep a better eye on the bike’s charge level, a brighter halo battery readout gives riders a more visible reminder of how much of their battery charge remains.
The battery isn’t removable by the user, so recharging needs to take place on the bike.
A 50% charge takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, while a full charge requires a lengthy 6 hours and 30 minutes.
While the bikes are pedal-assist-only affairs, there is the classic VanMoof extra power Boost Button for a brief period of additional amperage, and that feature is now refined to help riders blast off a bit more aggressively when the light turns green. Countering that extra kick in the pants is a pair of hydraulic disc brakes to help reign that power back in when it’s time to slow down.
The improved auto-shift rear hub takes care of the shifting for riders, predicting (hopefully successfully) when they need to upshift or downshift with mechanical (not electrical) automatic shifting between three different gears. Built-in Apple FindMy relies on the largest distributed network of trackers to help riders find their e-bike if it should go wandering off with a stranger.
Old favorites like the Kick Lock are still there, giving riders a quick way to immobilize their bike and forcing thieves to make their getaway on foot (or panel van) thanks to a locked rear wheel. It’s long been VanMoof’s futuristic take on the classic Dutch-style rear wheel lock, but with a slicker design, and now it supposedly works even better. And of course, it wouldn’t be a VanMoof if it didn’t offer frame-integrated smart lights, which are built right into the frame tubes.
While the 23 kg (50 lb) S6 line doesn’t offer native frame suspension, a 30mm (just over 1-inch) travel suspension seat post is available as an add-on option. The two frame styles are largely identical on the spec side, though offer different wheel sizes with 27.5″ wheels on the S6 and 24″ wheels on the S6 Open. The S6 can support riders up to 210 cm (6’10”, or what seems to be known as “average” in The Netherlands), while the S6 open can fit riders down to 150 cm (4’11”).
Reservations are now open for the new S6 models, starting at €150 to hold a spot in line to buy the €3,298 e-bikes (roughly US $3,750). Three colorways are available, allowing riders to choose between blue, light grey, and black. Deliveries are expected to begin in August.
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