I Test Rode the Volkswagen-Licensed ‘World’s Safest E-Bike’ in Berlin

Gadgets I Test Rode the Volkswagen-Licensed ‘World’s Safest E-Bike’ in Berlin It costs several thousand dollars, and it’s a fun ride—even without a battery. 5, 2026, pm ET Reading time 4 minutes © Wes Davis / Gizmodo Read Later Read Later Comments (2) Electric bicycle maker N+ has partnered with Volkswagen to produce the N+ Volkswagen eBike, described in a press email to me as “the world’s safest e-bike.” The claim rests on a collection of tech that includes smart glasses with a heads-up display, a Bluetooth-connected helmet with integrated front and rear lights, a rear-facing camera, and a handlebar-integrated display. I was invited to test ride the bike while in Berlin at IFA 2026. Set up outside the mobility test track at IFA, N+ had brought the “Sport” model of its new bike. It features a typical-looking frame with a straight top tube, as opposed to the curved-down step-through frame of the “Crossover” the company also offers on its website. The e-bike sits on 27.5-inch wheels and features a middle-tier Shimano U4000 Cues 9-speed derailleur and Tektro brakes. © Wes Davis / Gizmodo One N+ representative told me the e-bike and its components are made with corrosion-resistant materials to withstand winters in places like Berlin, where salted roads after snow can easily corrode bicycle parts. You can tell it’s a Volkswagen-licensed bike , which light up in white and red, respectively, in addition to a separate brake light and headlight. There’s also a “Crossover” model that wasn’t present, but that is otherwise very similar, just with a step-through frame design. The e-bike itself uses a compact, 250W mid-drive Yamaha motor, with its battery integrated into the frame. According to the N+ website, it should be good for about 100 miles on a charge. Both e-bikes have built-in Find My support (Apple for now, but the rep I spoke with said N+ will add support for Android’s version of the same feature). © Wes Davis / Gizmodo That’s all pretty normal high-end e-bike stuff you might find on one of the nicer Aventon or Lectric bikes. What sets these apart is the tech I mentioned at the top. Unfortunately, when I showed up to test-ride the bike, multiple shipping delays meant N+ didn’t have the e-bikes’ battery packs, which go in the e-bike’s downtube (the slanted tube that connects the front of a bicycle to its bottom bracket). Despite that, the reps were able to give me a demo of the smart glasses, which it said weren’t yet ready for the test ride either way.