VanMoof s3 vs. Wing Freedom 2

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What’s the difference between the VanMoof S3 and the Wing Freedom 2?

At first glance the VanMoof S3 and the Wing Freedom 2 seem like very similar e-bikes. They have a similar overall style and aesthetic — both super sleek. They also both use a hub-drive motor, and offer anti-theft and location tracking features. But when you really start to break it down, VanMoof makes the clearly superior bike with higher quality bike parts and a better security system. Below we’ve outlined the key differences between the VanMoof S3 and the Wing Freedom 2, and why we recommend the VanMoof S3 between the two.

Price

From a price perspective, VanMoof’s base price is $2,548, which is higher than Wing’s $1,898, but a lot of features that come standard for VanMoof are additional upsells for Wing so you need to take those into account when thinking about the overall price.

One thing to call out is that Wing will often have sales so you could potentially snag it for $500 or $600 off. VanMoof very rarely has sales on their bikes so if you see them having a sale don’t wait too long.

Here’s how they compare when you break down the cost, including the essential commuting accessories that you would likely need:

Battery Range

The Wing Freedom 2 has three battery options (8.8AH, 10.4AH, and 14AH). The largest (14AH) battery gives you a solid 60+ miles of range. Their middle option has a 45 miles range, which is most comparable to the VanMoof S3, which has at least a 37 mile range. VanMoof also offers a PowerBank ($348), which extends the bikes’ range by 60 miles, giving you a comfortable 100+ miles of range. Unless you have a commute that is longer than 30 miles I wouldn’t recommend getting this add on. It adds some bulky weight to the frame and you’ll have to futz about with charging it separately.

The Wing Freedom 2 comes with a removable battery, which is useful depending on your situation. For example, if you don’t have an outlet near where you store your e-bike.

The VanMoof S3 battery can’t be removed for charging, so you’ll need to ensure you have a wall outlet nearby. Not a deal breaker for most people.

Weight and Overall Size

There is a 7 lb difference between the two bikes. Wing is a mere 39 lbs, which is unusually light for an e-bike. The S3 is 46 lbs. Both bikes are a reasonable weight.

One important thing to note is about the overall size of the bikes. The VanMoof S3’s frame will not work for riders shorter than 5’8”. They recommend it for riders who are 5’8” – 6’8”. The Wing Freedom 2 has a smaller frame size and is recommended for riders 5’6″ – 6’4″

Quality of Bike Parts

The quality of bike parts is where you start to see the advantage for the VanMoof S3.

Shifting Gears

VanMoof did away with the traditional greasy chain and rear derailleur for gear changes. Instead it has a belt drive with an automatic electronic gear shifting hub. It automatically and seamlessly shifts between four gears depending on the terrain. Never again will you forget to downshift before coming to a stop and have a slow grinding start to get back up to speed.

In contrast, the Wing Freedom 2 has a traditional bike derailleur to change gears. A traditional bike derailleur requires a tuneup 1-2 times a year to ensure it doesn’t start skipping between gears. On the plus side, it is from a good quality bike components manufacturer, Shimano.

Brakes

The VanMoof S3 has hydraulic disc brakes versus Wing’s mechanical (aka cable) disc brakes. They both have their pros and cons, however in general hydraulic disc brakes are considered higher quality and will give you a better stopping experience.

One thing to consider with Wing’s mechanical disc breaks is that you’ll notice that the cables slowly stretch out with time and require you to pull the brake lever further before the brakes are applied. In contrast, for the VanMoof S3, the hydraulic brakes have very little delay from when the brake lever is pulled and the disc brakes are applied. That said, you will also need to get them drained and re-pressurized at least once a year.

Quality of Bike and Service

Overall the VanMoof S3 has a much higher build quality or overall quality of the bike. We’ve heard from some Wing customers that the Wing Freedom 2 has some quality control issues, such as the lights not working or a bent derailleur. In addition, there are mixed reports about Wing’s customer service. Some have said it’s inconsistent and frustrating, while others have said it was easy to work with them to get replacement parts.

Motor

Both the Wing Freedom 2 and the VanMoof S3 use a hub drive motor. VanMoof has slightly higher torque (59Nm vs 55N), meaning that it will give you a bit more oomf when it accelerates

The Wing motor has higher top end power (aka watts) so it will help you go faster. Wing’s 500 watt motor gets you up to 28mph, whereas VanMoof’s 250 watts only goes up to 20mph.

If you are a bigger rider, 250+ pounds. They both may feel underpowered on any hills you encounter.

Security

There are security (anti-theft and location tracking) features on both bikes, but again this is where the VanMoof S3 really differentiates itself from the Wing Freedom 2.

Here’s how it works for the Wing Freedom 2: Wing issues you a standard key fob with a lock & unlock button on it that enables you to lock your bike with a click of button. It uses an Apple’s Airtag technology for tracking the bike if stolen. Airtags require the tag to be in bluetooth proximity to an Apple device for a location to be sent back to you. This will work fine in a dense city where everyone has an iPhone or Apple Watch, but it won’t work as effectively in the suburbs or a rural town.

The system for the VanMoof S3 is overall more robust. VanMoof opted for using your bluetooth enabled phone as the lock. On the initial setup you pair your phone to the bike and then anytime you walk away from the bike it will automatically lock. Its tracking feature leverages GSM cellular information to provide the bike’s location. VanMoof can also remotely deactivate the bike’s electronics system if it’s reported stolen.

I also really like the “Kick Lock” that VanMoof offers. Near the rear hub there is an internal lock that you can trigger by tapping on a button with your foot that will immobilize the rear wheel. A great internal lock that stops a thief from just cutting your bike lock and riding off.

Kids’ Accessories

Both the VanMoof S3 and the Wing Freedom 2 are just okay when it comes to adding space for a kid’s seat. Both come with an optional rear rack that will allow you to then attach a kids’ seat to. However, the racks don’t support that much weight compared to e-bikes that have integrated rear racks (such as Rad Power’s RadCity or RadRunner).

VanMoof’s rear rack has a slightly higher weight capacity of 33 pounds. Wing’s weight capacity is list at 20 to 25 pounds. If average 3 year old is 30 pounds you are only going to get a year or two with your kid on the back of this bike.

If you have multiple kids, check out our post on the Best Cargo E-Bike for Families.

Other Considerations

Wing is a relatively new company (founded 2017) and took the design of their bike (and many of its features) directly from VanMoof (founded 2009). We’d like to see more innovation and uniqueness from Wing rather than copying everything from another brand.

What We’ve Heard Around Town

Vanmoof:

• “The range has been pretty impressive”
• “So many great features integrated into this e-bike!”
• “20 miles with plenty of hills and I still had 50% left on the battery”
• “It’s as if Apple decided to make an e-bike”
• “Well worth the investment”

Wing:

• “Sleek looking”
• “Not heavy, I can easily pick it up”
• “Alarm is shockingly loud”
• “The fenders, grips, computer, alarm, and lights feel cheap”
• “Detachable battery is a very nice feature”
• “The components are all very average”

Comparison Table of Bike Details