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Why would anybody ever want a bike to be associated to an app? What are the advantages? I already feel dirty because my bike has a nabendynamo. Cannot even im
by enriquto 3y ago
Why would anybody ever want a bike to be associated to an app? What are the advantages?
I already feel dirty because my bike has a nabendynamo. Cannot even imagine having an ebike; but I understand its purpose. But a bike connected to the phone? Makes no sense at all. Anybody can explain it to me in terms that I can understand?
- barefeg 3y agoIn the case of the VanMoof s3 and above the app is used to unlock the bike. It has a “kick lock” that basically locks the rear wheel. When the phone approaches the bike then they communicate via Bluetooth and allows the “kick lock” to release either by pressing the button on the handlebar or tapping on the app’s button (or watch app companion). Apart from that it allows to change some settings that are not configurable on the bike. The bike has only 2 buttons and an LED display. Useful settings are for example the speed profile for the automatic gear shifting.
- enriquto 3y agoThanks! This answers what the app does (unlock the bike) not why anybody would want that horrifying feature. So if the battery of your phone goes off, you cannot take your bike? Why whould anybody pay for that? I use a cheap D-lock that locks the rear wheel with a tiny key.
- cianmm 3y agoIf your phone battery dies you can unlock the bike by entering a PIN using a sequence of button presses. It takes about 10 seconds. I get that you might not see the value in the product, but please try empathise with those who might find it useful. Personally, it (along with a few other security features) caused the bike thieves who stole my VanMoof recently to give up on the bike and dump it where I was able to grab it thanks to a combination of VanMoof’s inbuilt tracker and the AirTag I stuck in the saddle.