ActiveCyclingBirdBike: this VanMoof-alike from Halfords is one of the best ebikes I’ve riddenThe build quality, price and riding experience are all spot on. It sure does look an awful lot like a VanMoof, but it’s cheaperWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveCyclingBirdBike: this VanMoof-alike from Halfords is one of the best ebikes I’ve riddenThe build quality, price and riding experience are all spot on. It sure does look an awful lot like a VanMoof, but it’s cheaperWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The build quality, price and riding experience are all spot on. It sure does look an awful lot like a VanMoof, but it’s cheaper
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Bird)
(Image credit: Bird)
When people ask me about buying ebikes, I always suggest they should view £2,000/$2,500 as the entry point. Yes, you can get some solid bikes for less than that, but it’s very hard to vouch for their longevity, and the ride experience is never going to be all that great. The BirdBike A Frame is anexcellentelectric bike, which proves my point very well. It costs £1,999/€1,999/$2,299 and it has a whole gamut of features that you won’t find as well implemented – or at all – on cheaper ebikes. It’s also a lot of fun to ride, it looks great, and you canpick one up from Halfords, so distribution and availability should be good too.
Despite that, I still rate the BirdBike as one of thebest electric bikesI’ve had the pleasure to try. For more on my views on what is a sensible price to pay for an ebike, readmistakes everyone makes with ebikes.We also havemistakes everyone makes with bikes(ie: non-electric ones), and they are largely also relevant to electric bikers. Alternatively, you can find out all about howApple wrecked my James Bond Omega watch. On purpose for all I know!
BirdBike (left) and VanMoof S3 (right): as you can see, they are rather similar in appearance. They also ride quite similarly(Image credit: Bird/VanMoof)
BirdBike (left) and VanMoof S3 (right): as you can see, they are rather similar in appearance. They also ride quite similarly
BirdBike (left) and VanMoof S3 (right): as you can see, they are rather similar in appearance. They also ride quite similarly
(Image credit: Bird/VanMoof)
The VanMoof also boasts hydraulic disk brakes, which should perform better than the mechanical ones on the A Frame. It’s slightly lighter too, although at 21kg and 23kg respectively, neither bike is able to claim to be lightweight. Finally, the VanMoof has, on paper at least, a longer battery life.
I don’t really mean all these comparisons to soundtoonegative, but it’s worth spelling out. America’s BirdBike A Frame is clearly intended to be a VanMoof rival, and yet its Dutch rival is a better specced bike in most respects. However, with its (slightly) lower price, and Halfords on board as retail partner in the UK, the BirdBike will likely gain a larger audience in the long run.
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The good news is that the BirdBike is easily a good enough ride to still be worth considering, despite the looming presence of the VanMoof.
For a heavy bike, the A Frame is quite nimble, and it has an excellent integrated screen(Image credit: Bird)
For a heavy bike, the A Frame is quite nimble, and it has an excellent integrated screen
For a heavy bike, the A Frame is quite nimble, and it has an excellent integrated screen
(Image credit: Bird)
Sure, they are only entry-level Shimano Tourney, but I would take a full range of gears, with a mechanical shifter, over the VanMoof’s 4-speed hub gears, which are set up to change automatically, which I find immensely irritating. Yes, you can turn off the auto-shifting, and the gearing system is technically superior, but I prefer the simplicity and familiarity of BirdBike’s cheapo gears.
Having an extra 3 speeds is also potentially handy although I have to admit, I don’t do a whole lot of gear changes on ebikes, since the motor takes the effort out of starting up in too high a gear, and is also able to conquer practically any hill I’m likely to encounter in central London. But still.
This bright and handy screen is integrated into the handlebars(Image credit: Bird)
This bright and handy screen is integrated into the handlebars
This bright and handy screen is integrated into the handlebars
(Image credit: Bird)
Another useful feature that VanMoof lacks is a built-in screen. Sure it doesn’t do much, but it’s good to see your speed, remaining battery life, distance travelled and current assistance level literally front and centre. The screen is nice and bright, too.
BirdBike A Frame: an ebike for thrusting urban hipster influencer types… but available at Halfords(Image credit: Bird)
BirdBike A Frame: an ebike for thrusting urban hipster influencer types… but available at Halfords
BirdBike A Frame: an ebike for thrusting urban hipster influencer types… but available at Halfords
(Image credit: Bird)
The most important thing about an ebike is what it rides like. That’s especially true for me, as I get sent plenty that ride like shit, which gets pretty tiresome, I can tell you. The BirdBike is a great ride. As soon as you mount up, everything feels right. The seated position is comfortable but not too laid back, and despite its bulk, I found the bike surprisingly nimble and enjoyable. It corners well, accelerates to the requisite 15.5mph legal speed limit pleasingly quickly, and while better brakes would be a welcome upgrade, they are adequate for anything except steep hill descent emergencies.
The key to the fun ride performance, as well the geometry of the bike, is the sensor that measures your pedal input and the road/gradient conditions, and converts it into motorised assistance. On cheaper ebikes this is like taking pot luck, with power applied seemingly at random. On the BirdBike, however, the electrical help feels perfectly natural. Pedal harder, take on a hill, or go from a standing start, and it powers up. Settle into a more gentle rhythm and it scales back the assistance, but without leaving you relying on pedal power only.
Of course, where itdoesleave you relying on your own efforts is after that 15.5mph speed limit is reached, but that is true of all ebikes. We really mustraise the ebike speed limitsometime soon.
Front and rear lights are built in, and the rear one doubles as a braking light, when you hit the brakes(Image credit: Bird)
Front and rear lights are built in, and the rear one doubles as a braking light, when you hit the brakes
Front and rear lights are built in, and the rear one doubles as a braking light, when you hit the brakes
(Image credit: Bird)
Overall, I was really impressed with the BirdBike A Frame. It would be very interesting to do a direct comparison of the ride with VanMoof’s bike but going from memory, I think I actually enjoyed riding the BirdBike even more – something subtle about the riding position possibly. Both bikes pull of the clever trick of feeling nippy despite being heavy, and of course they keep the benefit of a heavy bike, which is to say it feels extremely stable.
The BirdBike A Frame is the only ebike Bird currently makes, but the intention is obviously to bring out a step-through model at some point soon. I don’t have any info on when, but I would be surprised if it didn’t happen sooner or later.
BirdBike A Frame: price and availability
This BirdBike is on sale in the UK, USA and Europe, but not Australia as far as I can see. It’s available in black, grey or blue and the price is £1,999, $2,299 or €1,999.
Here are some more ebikes at great prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikes
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
$4,500View
$4,500
$4,500
See all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i
Gocycle G4i
$3,499View
$3,499
$3,499
See all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
$3,950View
$3,950
$3,950
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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$26.40ViewLow Stock$323.70View$1,099View
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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