Van Moof Gone Bang..

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120859355#Comment_120859355

are LED lights not capable of failing?

Cetyl Palmitate

So these bikes are totally locked without some interaction with an app?

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120859663#Comment_120859663

There is an open source work around for it but technically yes. The competitor is taking advantage of the fact that you can work around it.

tomasrojo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120859355#Comment_120859355

I had to replace the LED headlight on my bakfiets. It took over six years of constant use, but it went eventually.

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120859631#Comment_120859631

Yep, like an electrical component they have a shelf life and will eventually fail. The life span is usually very long though and will be dependent on use. I'd be more concerned with water ingress or something effecting it first.

tomasrojo

Just on the problem with bespoke parts (not a bespoke part, but a very particular part in this case). Brompton had a major crisis early on when the manufacturer of Sturmey-Archer hubs looked as if it was going under (can't remember whether it was S-A itself, or an Asian manufacturer that had taken over production), and they started trucking in as may of the hubs as they could find and hoarding them. It must have seemed an unlikely problem when they started, as those hubs had been ubiquitous in England for most of the 20th century.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861608#Comment_120861608

We've had a few in the house fail. Though I suspect it could be an inbuilt transformer rather than the bulb itself.

Londonirish72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120859716#Comment_120859716

Think the app is now live for iPhones with an Android version in the works.

Separately, my cc company has come good and has refunded me the full cost of the Van Moof that I no longer expect to receive.

I can't believe that I am asking this but any views on Cowboy bikes?

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862464#Comment_120862464

A good outcome

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862464#Comment_120862464

That's great news.

I know noting about cowboy bikes but looking at the clips on their website none of those riding the bike look comfortable on it. 🤣

They all look to be following a similar design model so I'd imagine more or less the same as VM. Must be the hipster in me but I think they'd look cool with a set of mag wheels 🤷‍♂️🤣

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862464#Comment_120862464

Cowboy get mixed feedback - they do have an odd riding position but others love how simple they are to ride with no gears etc, and some think they look cool. They also seem to have reliability issues, and I'd wonder where you would get to fix them in Ireland.

I would have the exact same concerns about them as I would about Van Moof though - reliance on an app, and non-standard parts. They are burning through cash so hard to tell if they will still be around in two years. Even if there are solutions to keep the app up and running, outside of the frame and steerer you have the battery, controller / electronics, lights & torque sensor which are all proprietary, and the motor seems to be some sort of customised Bafang. Any of these could go and if they do, if the company doesn't exist anymore there is a huge risk of a worthless single speed bike. When they first launched they were 1500 euro-ish, but they are no longer any cheaper than something with Shimano / Bosch parts.

Canyon Precede for example has a Bosch motor / battery and Shimano drivetrain for 1000 euro less. Canyon are also annoying for proprietary parts but I would be more confident in them sticking around for 5 years than Cowboy. Or you could pick up something like a Cube from a local bike store and have somewhere to bring it back to whenever anything goes wrong

magicbastarder

Vanmoof gone bangier

https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/18/23798584/vanmoof-e-bikes-is-bankrupt

Junior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865232#Comment_120865232

Gone from being dropped into the Broomwagon.. You'd wonder would someone buy the IP and fold it into an existing bike range, and use stuff that can be serviced.

munchkin_utd

Its a wonder they didnt go bust quicker.

Leaving aside their proprietary parts and issues with servicing, it seems that the motor was not terribly powerful so for anywhere with hills (so, places where a motor would be of use) you'd be better off with a proper electric bike with a bosch or similar motor.

And leaving that aside, how do you charge it ? The vast majority of city dwellers in Europe live in an apartment and you cannot simply bring a lump of a bike up the stairs into your gaff. You park it outside or if you are lucky in a bike cellar - neither of which have power available.

And leaving that aside, the cool looking version of the bike is FAR to flippin big, and the others look quite ugly.

So, if you own a house, and are 6foot or over, and dont have too many hills, and are prepared to over 3grand for a bike thats not as powerful as other options at the price point - you'd be the target market for a van moov - which was never a long term business case.

magicbastarder

You can't take the battery out to charge it? and i thought the motor was a standard 250W job, i.e. EU legal.

Londonirish72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865493#Comment_120865493

Battery is in the crossbar and is not removable for charging. Not an issue for me but when I was in Amsterdam recently there were dozens of VanMoofs locked up outside appt blocks and houses. I guess people charge them at work...

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862116#Comment_120862116

You need to look up a YouTuber named Big Clive, he does teardowns of electronics, including several LED bulbs

In general the LEDs should last years, but due to some....cost savings, the regulation of current through them isn't great

So they sort of get slow cooked in the cheap LED bulbs and fail after a few years

Ironically the best LED bulbs are only sold in Dubai, they're specifically made by Philips and were commissioned by the Sheikh. They're a much more robust design, and of course costs considerably more

As part of the deal, Philips were only allowed to sell the bulbs in Dubai for the first 5 years or something

Flinty997

I know a few owners. I has a spin on one. You don't really need a lot of power\torque if you are only commuting around the city.

Junior

https://www.theverge.com/24009091/vanmoof-scooter-next-steps-parts-service-e-bikes

Back from the brink, perhaps, or not. A kitesurfing Ceo isn't neccessarily an asset.