Two good issues have come from the 2023 chapter of VanMoof. The primary is the all-new VanMoof S6 e-bike that just lately launched below new possession. The second is a brand new commuter e-bike developed for Raleigh by VanMoof’s departed founders, Ties and Taco Carlier.
Like a VanMoof, the Raleigh One e-bike comes with anti-theft options like GPS monitoring and an alarm, cables routed by means of the aluminum body, huge tires, mudguards, built-in lighting, and hauling choices wanted for each day commutes throughout a metropolis. It additionally comes full of classes realized about lowered complexity and serviceability, together with a bevy of off-the-shelf components and a single-speed, belt-driven transmission related to a rear-hub motor with a battery that may be shortly eliminated for indoor charging. The bike additionally emits nice sounds when doing issues like powering on, enabling the lights, and arming safety with out being all hey, take a look at me and my fancy bike like VanMoofs of outdated.
It’s just about the less complicated VanMoof I at all times needed the corporate to construct. The one factor lacking is the increase button, which is a disgrace.
I’ve been testing the Raleigh One in flat Amsterdam for the previous couple of weeks. That’s vital to know as a result of this single-speed e-bike produces simply 35Nm of torque from its 250W motor with a max pace of 25km/h (16 mph). It actually suffers on hills with out the increase button discovered on VanMoofs and the Tenways CGO009 this e-bike resembles.
Nonetheless, it’s a superb e-bike priced at £2,399 / €2,699 (round $3,000 USD) for the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. That’s costly for a Raleigh, nevertheless it’s nonetheless near the €2,681 common for European e-bikes and cheaper than native opponents like Cowboy and VanMoof.
$3155
The Good
- Easy, single-speed belt drive
- Detachable battery
- Respectable vary, quick charging
- A really nice trip
The Dangerous
- Weak 35Nm of torque and no increase button
- Body too tall for shorter riders
- Software program is a piece in progress
- Subscription upsell
The Raleigh One is the primary premium, related e-bike from the British model established approach again in 1887. Sadly, in 2025, Raleigh is actually a emblem on prime of a advertising technique after a number of acquisitions and manufacturing facility closures. The model is presently owned by the Accell Group, an business behemoth liable for manufacturers like Batavus, Sparta, and Carqon’s electrical cargo bikes.
Most individuals that purchase a Raleigh One will take supply at a neighborhood bike store the place it’ll be assembled and prepped for handover. I requested to have mine shipped to my home to check the direct-to-customer route. I had it able to trip in half-hour with the assistance of fantastic illustrated directions and environment friendly packing. That’s quick for a DTC e-bike!
The practically silent Mivice motor, huge 27.5 x 2.2-inch Innova tires, and 21kg (46.3lbs) bike weight mix to supply a sturdy trip. The pedal help feels intuitive, with the Gates Carbon belt drive delivering energy commensurate with the drive exerted by my legs. The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes carry every part to a cease with confidence and management. Every thing feels very critical, missing the enjoyable felt on extra torquey e-bikes.
The Raleigh One carried out nice on slopes as much as about 5 p.c, permitting me to keep up the 25km/h prime pace with out an excessive amount of further effort on my half. The only-speed transmission was totally defeated by a ten p.c slope widespread in cities like Lisbon and San Francisco. Ranging from a useless cease on a 3 p.c slope was doable however required a powerful push from my quads. It was my testing on hills that made me actually miss that increase button.
I felt comfy driving in that single gear at speeds as much as 30km/h on the downhill aspect with out feeling like a clown. That’s good as a result of many single-speed belt-driven e-bikes could have your legs spinning wildly at speeds that top.
Raleigh claims a spread of as much as 80km within the lowest pedal-assist mode, or nearer to 50km in max energy. I did all my testing at degree 5 of 5 and managed 47.7km earlier than depleting the battery. Most of my vary take a look at was ridden into a ten to fifteen knot headwind, with an hour spent attempting to replace the e-bike’s firmware from a problematic model 1.8.0 to a way more secure model 1.9.0.
The battery recharged to 50 p.c in 55 minutes from the bike’s massive 5A / 42V charging brick, 80 p.c in 92 minutes, and full at 2 hours and 40 minutes — comparatively speedy numbers for a 360Wh battery.
The software program on a related e-bike must be as strong because the car itself and right here’s the place Raleigh presently falls just a little brief. My evaluation bike suffers from battery drain of about three p.c each 24 hours when parked in my lounge. Just a little drain is regular for related e-bikes that often verify in on proprietor proximity and use GSM/GPS to trace location, however three p.c (about 10.8Wh) is extreme. I additionally discovered the app to be a bit buggy, displaying the occasional “this operation can’t be accomplished” error or simply going unresponsive if left open too lengthy. These points are regarding for a corporation providing subscription companies extremely reliant on its mastery of software program. Accell Group is conscious of the problems and is addressing my considerations.
“Our engineers are presently refining the ability administration algorithms,” says Darren Smith, Senior Class Supervisor at Accell Group. “A firmware replace can be launched shortly to optimize this standby mode, considerably decreasing battery drain whereas the bike is idle with out compromising its security measures.” Likewise, the bugs I’m seeing within the app are attributed to its connection state. “Our app workforce is implementing a extra strong connection dealing with protocol to resolve these particular bugs and an replace addressing these stability factors can be launched very quickly,” says Smith.
To be clear: you completely don’t want a subscription to trip the Raleigh One or to use firmware updates, however you additionally gained’t be capable of observe your bike if it’s stolen. For that you simply’ll must pay €7.99 per thirty days which additionally will get you theft alerts despatched to your cellphone, fall detection to alert family members of a crash, and extra. You possibly can even pay €14.99 per thirty days so as to add theft insurance coverage for what Raleigh calls “peace of thoughts” — a line lifted from VanMoof — that allows you to file a declare with Raleigh to deal with alternative of your stolen bike. Arranging theft protection out of your e-bike firm is definitely the simple route, however you’ll possible avoid wasting cash with an AirBell and personal theft insurance coverage, as a substitute.
Subscriptions suck, however they’re more and more the norm for premium e-bikes. And with so many bike firms going below or posting dire losses, I’m not going to bemoan the Accell Group’s enterprise mannequin. For all its assets, the bicycle big isn’t proof against the forces of bikeaggedon that took down VanMoof and Cake, and practically worn out Cowboy, Ampler, and lots of extra European micromobility manufacturers.
- I like that the bike’s built-in entrance and tail lamps might be set to robotically activate when it’s darkish.
- The show ring subsequent to the left hand grip is helpful and stays principally seen in direct daylight. The 5 mild segments change coloration and animate to point out battery degree, present energy setting, alarm standing, firmware replace, and extra.
- The built-in SP-Join cellphone mount requires a suitable case you could purchase individually. I nonetheless want my Loop Micro.
- The Raleigh One is simply out there in a step-over body with a standover top of 83cm. I’m six ft tall and may barely straddle that prime body tube — this bike is for tall riders solely. Organize a take a look at trip in case you’re not sure.
1/17
Total I just like the £2,399 / €2,699 Raleigh One for European commuters dwelling in comparatively flat cities. Positive, I want the anti-theft options weren’t locked behind a subscription and the bike would profit from a lift button to make up for its anemic torque. The idle battery drain will definitely be annoying if it’s not fastened in a future firmware replace as promised, however at the very least you may take away the battery and cost it inside. I additionally like that every one these off-the-shelf components might be serviced at your native Raleigh store.
Sure, the Carlier brothers failed at VanMoof, but most of the classes realized appear to have been utilized to the Raleigh One. However I’ve solely had it for just a few weeks and most e-bikes carry out nicely when new. Let’s see the way it does after months of wear and tear and tear in crowded bike racks, rain, mud, sand, snow, and the occasional fall or tried theft. Ties and Taco’s try at redemption will take time, so let’s see how issues are stepping into a couple of yr, we could?
Images by Thomas Ricker / The Verge