The VSF Fahrrad Manufaktur S-300 takes the traditional unisex Dutch step-through frame and makes it truly unisex, an ultra low-entry step through frame made for all ages and all genders, perfect for snug Japanese denim, above-the-knee skirts, the young and the old. Not only that the bike is fully equipped with every bell and whistle you could ever need for everyday city riding.

Want to keep your street-style clean? The Gates Belt drive runs for 30,000km (most chains are 3000km) and runs clean without requiring a drop of oil. Need a bike that can be as much at home in the city as at the cottage? The wide-range Shimano Nexus 8 hub is not only intuitive, but practically zero maintenance. Want a bike that can stop on a dime? The S-300's hydraulic disc brakes provide powerful consistency in all weather and won't freeze up in winter either. Do you ride year round? The belt drive, the hydraulic brakes, and the totally sealed internal gear hub - means everything works, all the time. Made for all people, all purposes, all conditions. And it looks nice too.

Peer below the surface and things get more interesting. Like all Fahrrad bikes, the S-300 has parts from no-compromise European manufacturers who are always pushing the limit on quality, use, and design. Want a frame that is lightweight and won't rust? The S-300 is made of strong lightweight aluminum, perfect for all-weather city use and longer distance recreational use. Tired of poor quality lights that get stolen or run out of batteries quickly (or require constant USB charging?) the S-300 comes stocked with a low-drag dynamo lighting system. Turn the wheel and it turns on. Stop at a stoplight and the lights keep running. The list continues, from the wide legged Swiss-made kickstand to the unbreakable German-made SKS fenders. You can't find a bike like this anywhere, except in Germany. Or at Curbside!

VSF FAHRRAD MANUFAKTUR S-300 LOW-STEP
FRAME	Lightweight Aluminum 6061 - Powdercoated
FORK	Lightweight Cro-moly Steel - Powdercoated
HEADSET	Ritchey Comp, Alloy
STEM	Adjustable Alloy Quill 25.4mm
HANDLEBAR	Humpert Ergotech Trekking, alloy 25.4
GRIPS	Herrmans DD37 lock-on - made in Finland
SEATPOST	Humpert Alloy 27.2 Two-pin micro-adjust
SEAT	Selle Royal Rio - made in Italy
BRAKES	Shimano BR-MT200 Hydraulic Disc
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Hydraulic
SHIFTER	Shimano Nexus 8
FRONT HUB	Shimano DH-3837 dynamo
REAR HUB	Shimano Nexus 8, internal
SPOKES	Niro 13G Stainless Steel, 36 Spokes
RIMS	Schürmann Yak 19 Double-wall alloy
TIRES	Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-622 - Puncture resistant
BOTTOM BRACKET	Gates CDN
CRANKS	Gates CDN 42T
CHAIN	Gates CDN Belt Drive
COGSET	Gates CDC 24T
PEDALS	Marwi, 9/16 Aluminim
KICKSTAND	Pletscher Zoom - made in Switzerland
FRONT LIGHT	B&M UPP 30 LUX - made in Germany
REAR LIGHT	B&M Toplight 2C - made in Germany
RACK	Racktime Eco 2.0 - made in Germany
FENDERS	SKS Plastic Fenderset - made in Germany
CHAIN GUARD	None required!

VSF FAHRRAD MANUFAKTUR S-300 LOW-STEP

FROM

TO

45CM

5' 0"

5' 4"

50CM

5' 5"

5' 9"

55CM

5' 10"

6' 2"

How is a city bike different from other types of bikes?

Behind each bike lies a designer, and within each designer lies assumptions. The assumption of most North American bike designers is that people ride bikes for recreation, which usually involves a bike path, a country road, and several hours of spare time. The bikes that result from this assumption are usually hunched-over, have exposed oily drivetrains that require tighter athletic clothes, feature anywhere from 21 to 33 speeds, and aren’t often made to be locked up to metal poles all day, especially in foul weather. A city bike is quite the opposite. Its position is gloriously upright, the chain is totally covered, you can wear whatever you want, you have all the gears you’d ever need (3-speeds for flatter terrain, 7 or 8-speeds for hills), and tough frames and sealed mechanisms to battle all kinds of weather.

What’s the difference between a brand like Fahrradmanufaktur and others you carry?

We’re just going to say it: Fahrradmanufaktur is the best city bike we’ve ever seen. Sure, it may not be as pretty as an Achielle, but it still beautiful, perhaps functionally so. And yeah, it’s functional. The frame is a rust-proof, strong and very lightweight aluminum – which is a bit disruptive to the traditional world of steel city bikes (but that’s just the point). The geometry is upright but still sporty enough to multitask city riding and longer weekend adventures. The parts are made in Europe and best-in-class: chaincovers from Hebie (Germany), kickstands from Pletscher (Switzerland), racks from Racktime (Germany), fenders from SKS (Germany), grips from Herrmans (Finland) and lights from Axa (Netherlands), Herrmans (Finland) and Busch & Muller (Germany). Durable for all weather, light enough to bring inside, great for the city, and great to bring up to the cottage too. Best of all, the prices are more than reasonable.

What does Fahrradmanufaktur mean?

It means “bike manufacturer,” because all of their bikes are literally made in Oldenburg, Germany. The company started by a group of urban retailers who were seeing the same increase in city cycling that we’ve seen here in North America, but weren’t seeing great options from the German bike industry – which is largely focused on recreational riding – or the Dutch and Scandinavian markets – which continue to produce heavier bikes for short-burst city commutes. Like North American brands like Simcoe, Fahrradmanufaktur took matters into their own hands, but unlike Simcoe, they had access to a wide breadth of well-designed European parts from purpose-built kickstands to lights to racks. Their bikes are almost… perfect.

What’s the difference between the T-50 and the T-100?

The T-50 is a slightly more economical variant of what the T-100 is. It's still built to the high standard of quality that Fahrrad offers, but manages to offer a whole lot of bike at a price point that is accessible to more people. The big difference is using an aluminum frame (T-50) instead of cromoly steel (T-100). Aluminum is super lightweight, which for some people is better, though doesn't have the comfort and durability of cromoly. Apart from that, the T-100 just goes the extra mile with providing higher quality components like brakes, lighting, chain guard and whatnot. For most people, if the cost of the T-100 doesn't seem too high, it's definitely well worth it, but you definitely don't need to feel like you're "settling" if you get a T-50!

What is dynamo lighting?

Cars come with lights and so should a city bike. Dynamo lightsets are an integrated system that generates electricity from the hub and blasts this into a bolted-on, theft-resistant light that projects more power than most battery systems so that you can see and be seen. Unlike the old days where the dynamo rubbed against the tire (slowing you down) the new systems are part of the front hub and are very low friction as well as very low maintenance. Most of the dynamo sets we carry feature a “standlight,” or capacitor which means they produce and store energy so that when you’re stopped the lights keep going.

Is a Step-thru for Women and a Roadster for Men?

Heck no! It’s the 21^stcentury and anyone can ride either a Step-thru or a Roadster. The difference between the two is not gender, but position. A Step-thru has a remarkably high head-tube that raises the handlebar up very high so the back is straight and the hips pointed forward. A Roadster has a much shorter headtube that positions the rider over the handlebars for more control, and the hips over the cranksets for more power. If you imagine yourself toodling through the bike lane at a stylish and efficient pace, choose a Step-thru. If you imagine a bit more zip and power then choose a Roadster.

How strong are the wheels and will I get a lot of punctures?

Wheels are always the first part to break on most bikes and these wheels are strong! All the city bikes we sell feature strong double-walled rims that are internally box-sectioned to handle streetcar tracks and potholes. They all feature strong stainless-steel spokes that can never rust. Bikes like the Fahrradmanufaktur also feature Schwalbe Citizen tires that are Kevlar-belted tires to drastically reduce punctures in the city.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Internal gear hubs are awesome. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.

How do I ensure my new bike won’t get stolen?

Research shows that very few bicycle thefts are related to a bicycles value and are best defined as low-risk/low-return. A good bicycle lock is expensive to break through and takes time, thus increasing the risk and lowering the return. Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and that makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good Abus U-lock or a chain and you’ll be fine. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

Ten year warranty for manufactures defects on frame and fork, one year on parts. Does not include wear and tear.

THINKING OF BUYING A FAHRRAD? READ OUR BLOG POST WHY VSF FAHRRAD MANUFAKTUR?

VSF FAHRRAD MANUFAKTUR

S-300 - LOW-STEP - NEXUS 8 - GATES

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