£3,098.00 GBP

VanMoof S6 Open

The S6 Open is the S6 with the top tube dropped — a step-through frame on smaller 24-inch wheels that you step onto rather than swing a leg over. It’s about a kilo lighter than the standard S6 and noticeably easier to get on and off, with a more upright, relaxed position. Everything that makes it a VanMoof is unchanged: the same 250-watt motor and 487 Wh battery, the same self-shifting hub, the same Kick Lock and Find My tracking. For most people coming to VanMoof for the first time, this is the easier bike to live with.

Who it’s for

The S6 Open suits anyone who values an easy step-through and an upright ride over a sportier stance — shorter riders (VanMoof puts the range at roughly 155 to 200 cm), anyone sharing a bike between people of different heights, or anyone who simply finds a high top tube a nuisance in everyday clothes. The lower frame and smaller wheels make it the more manageable of the two in traffic and easier to handle at a standstill, which is where a city bike spends a surprising amount of its life. If you want the original high-bar VanMoof look and a more planted feel, the standard S6 is the one.

Build & technology

Mechanically the S6 Open is the standard S6 in a different frame. The 250 W front-hub motor gives up to 68 Nm with four assist levels and the Boost Button, capped at 15.5 mph for UK roads. The 487 Wh battery is integrated and charges on the bike rather than lifting out, with a quoted range of roughly 37 to 93 miles. The three-speed AutoShift hub changes gear for you. You get the same Control Core electronics, the Halo lights in the frame, hydraulic disc brakes, and the full security set — waterproof Kick Lock, alarm, anti-theft fixings, location tracking and Apple Find My — plus the included Peak Design phone mount. The differences from the S6 are the step-through frame, the 24-inch wheels and roughly a kilo less weight.

VanMoof S6 Open electric city bike in Drift Blue

At Flying Dutchman

If you’re choosing between the S6 and the S6 Open, the honest answer is that it’s a frame-and-fit decision, and far easier to settle in person than on paper. We have them for test rides by appointment at our London shops, hold stock where we can, and can get one to you quickly if your preferred frame or colour isn’t in. Try both back to back and the right one usually becomes obvious within a few minutes.

Specifications

VanMoof S6 Open

Motor: 250 W front hub, 68 Nm
Battery: 487 Wh integrated (non-removable)
Gears: 3-speed automatic (AutoShift)
Display: Halo LED rings (no screen)
Weight: from 22.5 kg
Security: Kick Lock, GPS tracking, Apple Find My

FAQs

Frame and wheels. The S6 has a high straight top tube and 27.5-inch wheels for a sportier, more planted ride; the S6 Open has a lower step-through frame and 24-inch wheels, weighs about a kilo less, and is easier to mount and more upright. Motor, battery, gears, security and app are identical. Most first-time VanMoof riders find the Open easier to live with.

No — it’s a different frame shape, not a weaker one. The S6 Open is built to the same standard as the S6; the lower top tube simply makes it easier to get on and off.

No — as on the standard S6, the battery is built into the frame and charges on the bike. A full charge takes around six and a half hours. If your storage doesn’t have a socket nearby, it’s worth bearing in mind.