Reasonably priced and decreased to the naked fundamentals—that is how VanMoof marketed the brand new S4, launched in Might 2023. With this new mannequin, the producer stuffed a niche between the earlier S3 and the $3,998 VanMoof S5. However simply how a lot compromise was needed to provide this e-bike? Luckily, we had the chance to check out the brand new VanMoof in an Evergreen shade. Different out there colours embrace Purple Fog, Sunbeam Yellow, and Foam Inexperienced.
The VanMoof S4 in a nutshell
The VanMoof S4 is obtainable for pre-order along with the X4 since Might 9, 2023. The really helpful retail value of each two e-bikes are $2,498 and supply is scheduled for August 2023. If you wish to purchase the brand new bikes, you are able to do so instantly through the VanMoof homepage through the next hyperlink.
Design
At first look, the VanMoof S4 is hardly distinguishable from the producer’s present high mannequin. If you wish to inform the distinction between the 2 on the street, you need to take note of the thicker tires and the handlebars. With the S4, VanMoof omitted two buttons and did away with the optical shows on the bike.
What I appreciated:
- Thicker tires present extra driving consolation.
- New colours actually make a splash.
What I disliked:
- No Halo Ring show or LCD show.
- At 21.6 kg, it’s nonetheless too heavy.
After I visited the VanMoof retailer in Berlin, I attempted to establish the S4 amongst all the opposite VanMoof fashions at a look. A superb indicator for the brand new bike, aside from the brand new colours, is the brand new handlebar that dropped the Halo Ring show and now comes with only a pair of buttons as an alternative of a quartet. Since S5 riders are nonetheless ready for the required replace to configure the extra buttons, this isn’t actually an obstacle—for now.
What’s annoying, nonetheless, is the lacking show on the bike itself. Whereas I criticized the brand new Halo Rings in my evaluation of the VanMoof S5 for his or her considerably meager info content material, I did miss them when bringing the S4 out for a check journey. The Halo Rings have been particularly useful for displaying the remaining battery life and choosing completely different assist ranges.
If you wish to view info instantly on the bike, you’ll have to rely completely on attaching a smartphone to the handlebars on the S4. For this function, the S4 additionally comes geared up with a mount for SP Join sleeves.
In any other case, the S4 and S5 solely differ barely by way of design. Variations are most seen compared instantly, which is why I’ve pieced each bikes collectively from the aspect view only for you. The journey consolation modifications, nonetheless, on account of considerably thicker tires that act much more like a suspension on cobblestones and off-road routes. Extra on that later.
What VanMoof could not enhance on the S4 mannequin is the bike’s weight. With a completely put in battery, you continue to need to awkwardly carry the 21.6-kilogram S4, which is explicitly marketed as a “metropolis bike,” into your own home. Nevertheless, you continue to obtain a very high-quality e-bike for this, the place all screws match tightly with none rattling or wobbling.
The truth that now you can get the standard VanMoof high quality for beneath $2,500 makes it slightly enticing for a lot of cyclists for my part. At that value level, the disadvantages mainly disappear in on a regular basis use.
E-motor and driving consolation
The S4’s entrance tire is provided with a 250 W electrical motor, which may name upon an extra 59 Newton meters of torque on the push of a button. With thicker tires and a reasonably large wheelbase, the S4 additionally has the acquainted cruiser really feel. In contrast to the S5, the gearshift now not works electronically however through centrifugal drive with two as an alternative of three out there gears.
What I appreciated:
- Very excessive journey consolation because of the thicker 27.5-inch tires.
- The enhance button places a smile on the face even with 59 Nm of torque.
What I disliked:
- Handbook centrifugal clutch with two gears takes some getting used to.
- Entrance tire tends to spin out.
A novel promoting level of VanMoof bikes is the enhance button, which is definitely accessible with the proper thumb. If you happen to maintain it down and pedal, you may be propelled ahead with an extra 59 Nm of torque.
The 250 W electrical motor delivers this energy to the entrance tire. As with the Brompton Electrical (evaluation), this provides you the sensation of being pulled ahead along with your bike. This may be fairly enjoyable, however throughout my check journey, the entrance tire had an inclination to spin out.
One of many causes for that is how the middle of gravity shifts again a bit when accelerating, which interprets to having much less weight on the entrance fork. It affords respectable transition with the automated gear shifts, working otherwise right here than on the dearer VanMoof S5. Whereas this reacts electronically to your pedaling power in addition to the revolutions of the underside bracket, the S4 works with a centrifugal clutch.
The driving expertise is usually a bit uncommon at first, for the reason that clutch solely engages at a sure cadence. Because of this, you usually find yourself with zero propulsion while you cease pedaling briefly throughout the journey.
This is usually a bit jarring, however it is usually avoidable by protecting the pedals shifting always. Since VanMoof geared up the automated transmission with a really comfy gear ratio, shifting is kind of spectacular after getting used to it.
Though the S4 affords an oz. much less energy than the S5 and makes use of a distinct sort of gearshift, each driving pleasure and luxury ranges when cruising are very excessive.
Battery efficiency and good capabilities
In line with the producer, the vary of the VanMoof S4 lies between 60 and 150 km – which locations the cheaper bike on par with the highest mannequin. Consolation options like the everyday Kick-Lock, anti-theft system together with a staff of motorcycle hunters in case of theft, and the intelligent app connection are additionally out there. Nevertheless, it’s important to do with no few luxurious particulars discovered on the S4.
What I appreciated:
- The vary is on par with the VanMoof S5.
- Kick Lock is just ingenious.
What I disliked:
- Battery is completely put in.
- No automated gentle management and no environmental sensors.
For my check journey, I used to be in a position to journey the VanMoof S4 for about 45 minutes by way of the streets of Berlin. In the case of its vary, I merely need to belief the producer’s claims right here. The truth that VanMoof’s most cost-effective mannequin affords the identical vary as the highest mannequin is most welcome.
If you wish to harness the complete potential of the e-bike, nonetheless, the vary will in all probability lean extra towards 50 to 60 km, as with the S5. That is what I believe, which I’ll verify within the extra detailed evaluation of the VanMoof S4.
The Kick Lock within the S4, which lets you lock the rear tire with a agency kick, was developed particularly for the S4, based mostly on what the employees informed us. It really works in the identical method as within the S5, and you can even depend on the GPS positioning and monitoring by VanMoof’s “Bike Hunters” in case of theft. VanMoof is understood for its meticulousness right here, so it is good that you do not have to make any compromises right here.
The identical applies to many of the good capabilities, regardless that I couldn’t strive them out with out setting them up on my smartphone throughout the check journey. Nevertheless, I confirmed that the app primarily lacks the flexibility to set choices for the digital gear shift. Moreover, the S4 mannequin misses out on environmental sensors which can be put in within the body of the S5.
This implies you’ll miss out on info regarding the outdoors temperature displayed within the app, and neither are the lights activated robotically. In the long run, the S4 comes up brief on these few luxurious options.
Preliminary conclusion
So how do I charge VanMoof’s newest bike after the primary check journey? Nicely, it’s no less than on par with the S5, which I used to be in a position to check for every week this spring. VanMoof now affords the identical benefits and downsides as its most costly mannequin for round $2,500.
Therefore, by elevating the worth to only beneath $4,000, they’re positioning the S5 and A5 fashions as luxurious bikes during which they combine the most recent applied sciences discovered within the e-bike market.
And that is exactly why, in line with my first impression, the S4 is the higher bike to suggest. It’s because for $2,498, you get a driving expertise, a variety of capabilities, and high quality that’s 95 p.c on par with VanMoof’s present flagship. For my part, this makes it troublesome sophisticated to justify the practically $1,500 premium for the highest mannequin.
The brand new S4 and X4 fashions will definitely excite new prospects and annoy current prospects who not too long ago bought the S5 or A5. I’ll quickly discover out whether or not the S4 has some other weaknesses in on a regular basis use in a long-term evaluation. You might be welcome to share your questions and ideas within the feedback!
