#HTE

This Crazy Keyless City Bike Could Bring Smart Tech To Cyclists

Never mind self-driving cars. Smart vehicles are coming… even to those of us who can’t afford (or trust) a Tesla. Dutch bike company VanMoof is making a bold move into data-driven rides for the rest of us. 

The brand’s newest release is the SmartBike, a city commuter with a tough sleek design and innovative digital insides. The first jump forward is a surprising one: if you could lock and track your bike with your smartphone, would you? 

While the video is a bit silly, the premise is intriguing. We’ve seen increasingly excellent remote and digital locking in cars, but the tech has yet to trickle down to the bike industry. The physical components and design on city bikes have improved slowly, but the core locking elements have remained predictable for well over fifteen years. 

Integrating the lock hasp into the frame adds testable toughness by making a weak link harder to reach. Making the lock digitally activated removes the keyhole, and thus another weak point, another key, and another clanky step when you arrive. You can unlock with the app or (if you’re brave) you can set up touch locking on the bike’s dashboard, letting the bike unlock if it recognizes your phone nearby via Bluetooth. A physical remote keyfob can back you up should you run out of juice.

Beyond making an integrated lock that doesn’t suck, VanMoof is working hard to update the rider’s relationship to the bike itself. The app can provide weather data, ride stats and route recommendations, but the biggest selling point is bigger than whether you should pack a poncho.

Each SmartBike is GPS trackable and guaranteed against theft through the company’s Peace of Mind Service. What this means is that any SmartBike stolen (not due to a user-opened lock) can be tracked using the company’s proprietary GSM system. If found within two weeks the bike will be returned to the rider. If not the user will receive a new bike of the same type for a small replacement fee.

In my Q+A with co-founder and designer Ties Carlier he discussed why they feel confident moving in this bold direction. 

“It’s a huge, crazy promise, but we truly believe it’s the right thing to do. Until bike companies are willing to carry the burden of bike theft, people will never be able to ride great bikes in their cities. We [at VanMoof] have a long track record on integrated locks, so it was a natural jump to add an electronic component to that system.”

While there are multiple traditional locks on the market with impeccable records for theft-deterrence, there’s something to be said for this level of security. Insurance programs and bike serial number registries both aim at providing this type of recompense for lost bikes, but without a firm guarantee. As Carlier points out, it can dramatically impact how and what people ride:

“Bike theft is one of the biggest reasons people have for not riding a great bike, and we hope by solving that problem once and for all, more people around the world will be able to invest in a bike they actually enjoy riding, rather than a cheap bike that falls apart after a few months.”

The SmartBike itself is a modern-classic commuter based on their prior bikes. It hosts internal 3-speed or 8-speed options, belt drive, disc brakes (low fuss and still great in wet conditions), fenders, front and back dynamo lights integrated into the frame. The bars and seat are attached with theft-proof bolts, adjusted using a proprietary tool included with the bike. It’s currently only offered in a single size (ostensibly for riders from 5'5" all the way to 6'5") though hopefully if it takes off they’ll expand the sizing. 

The bikes are available for presale starting at $1398, and as the company points out in their FAQ, they’re meant to last for many years without need for expensive repair or replacement. VanMoof flagship stores are located in Amsterdam, Taipei, Berlin, and Brooklyn, and the bikes are available online. 

With enough new tech, could a bike locked by smartphone feel trustworthy?