Bike thieves are terrible people – fact. Their lives could soon become a lot harder though thanks to a new urban bike from Dutch brand VanMoof, which comes with anti-theft parts and tracking technology that apparently makes it "terrifying" to bike thieves.
We suspect that may be a slight exaggeration, but there is one more intriguing promise for the SmartBike. If it’s stolen, VanMoof's Rescue Team promises to hunt it down and return it within two weeks. It’s called their Peace of Mind Service, and every SmartBike gets this for free for the first two years.
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Be afraid, bike thieves. Be very afraid
Integrated technology
The dedicated smartphone app enables keyless unlock and more
There’s lots of technology crammed into the SmartBike’s frame: an integrated bike lock that can be unlocked with the tap of a finger on the dedicated smartphone app, integrated LED lighting, smartphone weather notifications personalised to your commute, Bluetooth connectivity, and GSM anti-theft tracking.
The integrated bike lock hides neatly into the frame
Plus there are some very appealing features that are less high-tech, but welcome all the same, like front and rear disc brakes, high puncture-protection tyres, a fully enclosed anti-rust chain, and an internal gear hub with twist shifters.
VanMoof SmartBike: price and versions
The SmartBike comes in 3-speed and 8-speed variants, and two colours (grey and black). It weighs 14.3kg for the 3-speed version, and 14.9kg for the 8-speed version, which we think is a respectable weight for an urban bike, considering all the built-in extras.
Oh, and it's available from the end of today (31 May 2016) with prices starting at £840 and shipping free of charge. For more info visit Van Moof's website.