I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
There’s a bit of a difference between using a self contained proprietary bit of kit, and using a bit of kit that needs to be connected to some one else’s computer to work. At least the self contained kit it will still work until it wears out regardless of the financial health of the manufacturer.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
Or pretty much any ebike or electronic gearing system.
There’s a bit of a difference between using a self contained proprietary bit of kit, and using a bit of kit that needs to be connected to some one else’s computer to work. At least the self contained kit it will still work until it wears out regardless of the financial health of the manufacturer.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
Or pretty much any ebike or electronic gearing system.
The Big Red S, obviously, does something similar already.(click to show/hide)
Spoiler tags so as not to give them ideas...
VanMoof has not made a profit since it was founded (in 2009) and posted a loss of €80 million, in line with 2021.
In September 2021, VanMoof titled itself “the most funded e-bike company in the world” after securing $182m (£132m) in investment from Tans, Hillhouse Investment, Norwest Venture Partners, Felix Capital, Balderton Capital and TriplePoint Capital.
Sounds like a bad case of Finance.
VanMoof titled itself “the most funded e-bike company in the world”
I think Rohloff is slightly different, for two reasons. First, if your Rohloff breaks in a post-Rohloff future, it's a mechanical object and someone can forge, cast, mill, etc, the necessary parts (though possibly at a prohibitive price). Second, more important, you can replace your Rohloff with any other hub gear or possibly derailleurs. Whereas Pinion, and it seems also Van Moof, the whole bike becomes unuseable -- the whole bike, frame and all, is built around that part.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
J
I think Rohloff is slightly different, for two reasons. First, if your Rohloff breaks in a post-Rohloff future, it's a mechanical object and someone can forge, cast, mill, etc, the necessary parts (though possibly at a prohibitive price). Second, more important, you can replace your Rohloff with any other hub gear or possibly derailleurs. Whereas Pinion, and it seems also Van Moof, the whole bike becomes unuseable -- the whole bike, frame and all, is built around that part.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
J
Do they just need a few more volts to restart or is it in Frankenstein territory?
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/07/dutch-bicycle-maker-vanmoof-goes-bust-curators-look-at-restart/
They've gone bust completely now.
J
I think Rohloff is slightly different, for two reasons. First, if your Rohloff breaks in a post-Rohloff future, it's a mechanical object and someone can forge, cast, mill, etc, the necessary parts (though possibly at a prohibitive price). Second, more important, you can replace your Rohloff with any other hub gear or possibly derailleurs. Whereas Pinion, and it seems also Van Moof, the whole bike becomes unuseable -- the whole bike, frame and all, is built around that part.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
J
Even mechanical things can get hard to find parts for. The long cage Campag rear mech for by 2004 Roberts was hunted down in Ebay from Canada, when it arrived it was Romanian boxed stock.Di2 10 speed is a bit of a 'mare if you break something. At least you can keep the frame.
Even mechanical things can get hard to find parts for. The long cage Campag rear mech for by 2004 Roberts was hunted down in Ebay from Canada, when it arrived it was Romanian boxed stock.I managed to get hold of a couple of Long Cage Campag rear mechs (after a bit of searching).
That was interesting. 14 years and never in profit, even for a tech start up that seems a long time, for a manufacturer the plug would have been pulled long before, someone must have had a lot of faith.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/07/dutch-bicycle-maker-vanmoof-goes-bust-curators-look-at-restart/
They've gone bust completely now.
J
A dummy gearbox? Clever idea! Though as you say, probably not really worth it.I think Rohloff is slightly different, for two reasons. First, if your Rohloff breaks in a post-Rohloff future, it's a mechanical object and someone can forge, cast, mill, etc, the necessary parts (though possibly at a prohibitive price). Second, more important, you can replace your Rohloff with any other hub gear or possibly derailleurs. Whereas Pinion, and it seems also Van Moof, the whole bike becomes unuseable -- the whole bike, frame and all, is built around that part.I would never have bought a Van Moof anyway cos I think they're ugly (your aesthetics might vary). But it's another reminder not to tie yourself into something which can only be serviced or repaired by one firm. I have similar feelings about the Pinion gearbox.
See also rohloff...
J
Not quite true - one consideration when I bought mine was that if the worst came to the worst I could get a dummy g'box made with a standard BB housing built into it. Although given that the 'box represents the majority of the frame value, I doubt if I'd bother. In fact, after 8 years' use on an MTB I reckon it's saved me enough in cassettes, derailleurs and (most importantly) time cleaning and maintaining the same, that it doesn't really owe me much. ;D
Can you tell I'm a fan? ;)