Test-riding VanMoof’s new S5 and A5 e-bikes

V anMoof VanMoof just announced its latest premium electric bikes: the full-sized S5 with 27.5-inch wheels and the smaller A5 with 24 inch wheels and, in a first for the company, a step-through frame. As VanMoof tries to take advantage of surging demand for e-bikes from first-time buyers, it raises prices above the emotional $2,000 threshold.

The S3 and X3 are the only parts that remain from those models.

The company's new Amsterdam headquarters gave me a chance to ride the prototypes of the S5 and A5. At the time of the S3 launch in 2020, the company had about 250 people. Many of the new hires joined the support and engineering teams in order to meet VanMoof's goal of getting 10 million riders onto its e-bikes by 2026, avoiding a repeat of the mistakes that plagued the early days of the S3 / X3

One of the biggest changes coming to the S5 / A5 is the replacement of VanMoof's top-tube display with two lighted halo rings near the Bell and Boost buttons. The company says that the lights make you more visible on the road, and that the new handlebar interface conveys real-time information like battery life, speed, lock status, and more to the rider, all without having to take their eyes off the road ahead.

Image: VanMoof

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

The decision will be controversial. Carlier said during a Q&A with reporters last week that sometimes you have to kill your darlings.

Image: VanMoof

VanMoof added a new 5Vusb-C jack to the handlebars and designed an optional phone mount. You can keep your phone charged while the VanMoof app is open. The price and the official reveal of the mount are still unknown.

Both bikes feature a top speed of 20mph in the US and 25kph in Europe, with a boost button that now provides a bit more. A new three-speed automatic transmission is standard in all regions. The four-speed S3 and X3 e-bike are said to offer a better ride than the S5 and A5.

The S5 and A5 batteries have 487Wh and 463Wh capacities, respectively. The S5 has a slightly higher range than the A5 which has a range of 55 to 140 km. The non-removable batteries charge from 0 to full in a slow six hours and 30 minutes with a smaller and lighter 48V/2A charger that comes in the box, though an optional 48V/4A Speed Charger drops that to 4 hours and 30 minutes.

The S5 frame height has been lowered by 2 inches to accommodate taller riders, compared to the previous VanMoof S-series bikes, which were criticized for being too tall for many riders. The A5 caters to riders as small as 155 cm (5 feet, 1 inch) and uses a more rounded frame than the X3 it replaces, allowing for easier step through.

Image: VanMoof

Image: VanMoof

The Click-On battery will be extended in the summer, and the optional 463Wh add-on battery will nearly double the capacity. The VanMoof PowerBank can't power the motor without messy cabling and velcro, but it can charge the main battery. The mount doesn't fit older VanMoof e- bikes.

There are 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 The S5 and A5 both have a heavy duty rear rack that can carry up to 27 kilogrammes. The features of previous generations like the Find My network, theft recovery, and built-in alarm are still present.

At launch, the S5 and A5 are only available in gray.

• From left to right: Taco Carlier (VanMoof CEO and co-founder), Job Stehmann (Head of Product Design), Marjolein Duen (Industrial Design Lead), Shannon E. Thomas (Head of Experience Design). Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
• The redesigned front and rear lights are now more visible from the sides, while the Halo Rings add to nighttime visibility. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
• The black plastic box between the rear fender and crankset is a new controller to help manage power delivery when using the optional Click-On extended battery. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
• The new integrated Kick Lock bolt is bigger and retracts automatically now. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
• A look at the silent fifth gen front-hub motor that was overhauled again. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
• Another look at the Halo Ring. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

I can confirm that the S5's slightly smaller wheels and lower frame height make it easier to mount than the S-series bikes. Thanks to the new step-through design, the smaller A5 is much easier to get onto. Since I was testing non-production firmware on a short test track, I can't comment on the improved smoothness. I hope that the shipping bikes maintain the power, fluid shifting, and quick Torquey starts that I achieved when mashing the pedals on the prototypes.

The jury is still undecided on the advantages of the interface. I saw a ring of white lights on the left side, but the other ring was not related to what I was doing. When do I use the new secondary buttons below the bell and boost buttons? VanMoof tells me that the new multi-function buttons will be used to control the halo ring, enter a password to unlocks the bike, and change between the four pedal-assisted power levels. VanMoof hoped that first-time riders wouldn't need a manual. I only rode the bikes for five minutes and even the old interface required some education.

Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Like nearly every other e-bike maker, VanMoof has had to raise prices due to chip shortages and transportation costs. The S5 and A5 can be ordered today for $2,998 and will be delivered in July. Carlier said that the prices will go up in time.

Carlier says the company will produce 15 times more S5 and A5 bikes at its Taipei factory than it did before the economic downturn. While Carlier wouldn't give an exact number, he did say that it was less than 100,000 a month.

For those paying attention, VanMoof is skipping over the S4 generation of bikes. Job Stehmann, head of product design, will echo his CEO and say that the bike is such a major advancement over the S3 that it deserves to skip a number. During the Q&A, Carlier admitted that four is an unlucky number in Asia. In addition to smaller refinements made throughout 2020 without ever incrementing the model numbers, VanMoof released a number of updates to the S3 and X3 bikes in early 2021.

VanMoof has a good reputation for generating hype. The new S5 and A5 models will be reviewed as soon as possible. The brothers Carlier are hoping to apply the lessons learned over the past two years by shipping a better, defect-free product without support issues.