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Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB Review

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Electric Bike Review

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Monoshock Suspension Fork Schwalbe Energizer Tire

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Shimano 180 Mm Rotor Dual Piston Calipers

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Bosch Performance Line 3.0 Mid Drive Motor 170mm Miranda Crank Arms

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Plastic Full Chain Cover

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Shimano Deore Xt Derailleur 11 To 36 Tooth 10 Speed Cassette

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Axa Blueline Integrated Headlight With Side Cutouts

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Four Led Integrated Taillight Alloy Fender

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb 27 Kg Rear Rack Alloy Rear Fender

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Rear Rack Bungee Clamp

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Cockpit Swept Back Handlebars Ergonomic Locking Rubber Grips

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Ergonomic Locking Rubber Grips Bosch Purion Display

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Flick Bell Shimano Trigger Shifters

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Bosch Powertube 500 Battery Removed

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb 1.6lb 4amp Charger

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Stock Step Thru Champion Red

Gazelle Ultimate T10 Hmb Stock Step Thru Ivory White

A feature-rich and purpose-built trekking Ebike loaded with great accessories, highly adjustable and approachable step-thru design, engineered and assembled in the Netherlands and specifically designed to withstand salty and wet environments
The cycling experience is excellent thanks to quality craftsmanship and premium components such as Shimano's Deore XT groupset and hydraulic disc brakes, Bosch's more efficient and lighter third-generation Performance Line mid-drive motor is quiet, responsive, and powerful
Backed by a great warranty from a company known for high-quality craftsmanship, available in three sizes and two eye-catching glossy colors, and supported by a large network of dealers in the US and many European countries
Lack of a quick-release skewer for the seatpost prevents theft but makes for more time-consuming adjustments, short 30mm travel of the mono-shock suspension fork may not be enough comfort for riders with physical sensitivity, and the Bosch Purion display functions well but isn't removable or as feature-rich as the Intuvia

Make:

Gazelle

Model:

Ultimate T10 HMB

Price:

$3,799

Body Position:

Upright, Upright Relaxed, Forward

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting, Touring

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Comprehensive, 10 Year Frame

Availability:

United States, Canada, Europe, Australia

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

57.3 lbs (25.99 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.6 lbs (2.99 kg) (Including Plastic Cover)

Motor Weight:

7.1 lbs (3.22 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

18.1 in (45.97 cm)20.9 in (53.08 cm)22.4 in (56.89 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Large 57cm Measurements: 22.5" Seat Tube Length, 25" Reach, 18" Standover Height, 36" Minimum Saddle Height, 25" Width, 74" Length

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Champion Red Gloss, Ivory Gloss

Frame Fork Details:

Aluminum Alloy with Monoshock Spring Suspension, 30mm Travel, Preload Adjust, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

135mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Slotted Axle with Anti-Rotation Washers, Quick Release Skewer

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

10 Speed 1x10 Shimano Deore XT, 11-36T Steel Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano Deore XT Trigger Shifter on Right

Cranks:

Miranda Delta Forged Alloy, 170mm Length Crank Arms, 38 Tooth Chainring with Fully Enclosed Plastic Cover

Pedals:

Gazelle Linea Alloy Platform with Rubber Tread

Headset:

Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, Straight 1-1/8"

Stem:

Tool Adjustable Angle, 80mm Length, 60mm Height, 32mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Swept Back, 640mm Length

Brake Details:

Shimano BR-MT420 Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 180mm Front Rotor and 160mm Back Rotor, Dual Piston Calipers, Two Finger Levers with Tool Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Ergon GP1, Ergonomic Rubber, Black with Grey Accents, Locking

Saddle:

Selle Royal Essenza, Large Comfort, Black

Seat Post:

Gazelle Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

280 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Ryde Dutch Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 36 Hole, 19mm Outer Width

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 12 Gauge, Black with Silver Spoke Nuts

Tire Brand:

Schwalbe Energizer Plus, 28" x 1.75" (47-622)

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

ADDIX Rubber, G-Guard 5 Puncture Protection, Reflective Sidewall Stripe, 45 to 70 PSI, 3.0 to 5.0 BAR

Tube Details:

Presta

Accessories:

Aluminum Alloy Fenders with Plastic Flaps, Custom Alloy Rear Rack with Bungee Clip (27kg 59lb Max Load), AXA Defender Circle Lock (Keyed-Alike to Battery Lock), Plastic Chain Cover, Handlebar Integrated AXA Blueline 50-E LED Headlamp (50 LUX, Side Cutouts), Rack Integrated Hermans Rear Light (4-LED, Side Cutouts), Ursus Mooi Rear-Mount Tool-Free Adjustable Length Kickstand, Flick Bell on Left Grip

Other:

Locking Removable Donwtube-Integrated Bosch PowerTube 500 Battery Pack, 1.6lb 4 Amp Charger

Motor Brand:

Bosch Performance Line 3.0

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

450 watts

Motor Torque:

65 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Bosch PowerTube 500

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

13.4 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

482.4 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4 hours

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

70 miles (113 km)

Display Type:

Bosch Purion, Fixed, 1.75" Backlit Grayscale Display, Buttons: Walk, +, i, -, (Hold - to Cycle Through Readouts, Hold - and Press Power to Change Units, Hold + and - to Reset Trip, Hold + to Activate Lights)

Readouts:

Speed, Assist Level (Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo), Battery Level (1-5), Odometer, Trip Distance, Total Distance, Estimated Range, Lights

Display Accessories:

Micro-USB Port for Diagnostics and Software Updates Only

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Measures Wheel Speed, Pedal Cadence and Pedal Torque, Over 1,000 Readings Per Second, Power Output Relative to Pedal Input: Eco 55% 35nm, Tour 120% 45nm, Sport 200% 50nm, Turbo 300% 65nm)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Gazelle. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Gazelle products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Gazelle electric bike forums.

Observations:

Gazelle is a Dutch company and cycling is an integral part of the culture in the Netherlands, where bicycle ownership per capita is higher than anywhere else in the world! We talk about this in the video review, and I also found this article which has some fascinating statistics about cycling in the Netherlands: Dutch Cycling Figures.
The Ultimate bicycle was one of Gazelle’s more popular models in years past but it was only available as a non-electric bike, this is the first time they have produced an electrified version.

Pros:

Backed by a solid warranty from a solid company with two years of comprehensive coverage and ten years of coverage for the frame. Gazelle has been in business for over 125 years and has even received the “Royal” award from Princess Margriet in 1992, in recognition of Gazelle’s commitment to innovation and how much they have shaped the Dutch cycling industry.
Very approachable thanks to the step-thru design, upright riding position, highly adjustable stem and handlebars, and three frame sizes to choose from. For my review I used the large frame size, it was comfortable and I had no problem achieving full leg extensions – for reference, I am 6’3″, and I really appreciate having frame size options since one-size-fits-most bikes do not usually work for me.
Feature-rich and purpose-designed: The T10 is fully loaded with fenders, a rear rack, integrated lights, rear-mounted kickstand, bottle cage bosses, and a cafe lock. Nearly all of the components are also Ebike-specific, this is great to see especially for components like tires and the chain which are under significantly more stress on an Ebike than on an acoustic bike. Extra consideration is given for riding in humid and salty coastal environments which are uniquely rough on cycling components.
The fenders are large and provide great coverage, aluminum alloy construction keeps them light while also resisting rust and dings that can affect steel fenders, and they will also rattle less than plastic fenders. There is also a plastic toe strike guard on the bottom of the front fender to protect it from your foot while turning, and both fenders have sturdy mounting to prevent them from rattling or getting bumped askew.
I love the rear rack here, it is remarkably sturdy thanks to the custom design that has it mounted on top of the rear fender with an extra steel support connecting the rack and fender to the frame. The rack is rated for 27kg (about 55lbs), a little bit higher than the average rack rating of 25kg. That isn’t much of an increase, but every little bit counts! There is also a bungee clamp included on top which is great for strapping small things to the rack without having to carry around extra bungee cords, and there are lots of attachment points for securing larger payloads or panniers.
The integrated lights are top of the line in terms of safety and performance. Up front is the AXA Blueline headlamp, this light is very powerful with 50 LUX of output and it also has side cutouts that give great side visibility. In the back is a Hermans four-LED taillight, this is also quite bright and is very easy to see from a distance. Having quality lights is a must for riding in high-traffic areas, and the integration means easy operation from the control pad and no need to swap out or charge separate batteries.
The mono-shock suspension fork helps to smooth out bumps in the road and provides a more comfortable ride, this is a fairly basic suspension solution but I found that it performed well while test riding on some bumpy trails. The Selle Royale saddle is also fairly wide and soft, still comfortable for me to sit on after two hours of riding around in Santa Cruz. The rubberized ergonomic grips help out here as well, they are fairly soft and locking so they won’t twist around if you bear down on them.
This is an excellent mixe-use bike, something Gazelle refers to as a “trekking” bike and what others might call touring. The stem has a wide range of adjustability so you can set it for an upright relaxed riding position, or position it forward for a more aggressive style (as I did for my test rides). The many features make it excellent for commuting or running errands, and thanks to the suspension, great tires, and range you can also use it for longer trips or trails. It’s a great Ebike for adventuring!
The Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires are Ebike-specific and include excellent puncture protection as well as reflective striping on the sidewalls for more side visibility. The tread pattern less friction when riding in a straight line on hard surfaces, with the side of the tread being a bit more aggressive and providing better traction when turning or riding on dirt.
Great performance from the motor, this is the Bosch Performance Line 3.0 which is a big improvement over the previous generation. This motor is much lighter at just 7.1 pounds compared to the 8.8-pound predecessor, and it also features a full-size 32-tooth chainring which means none of the drag associated with reduction gearing in previous generations. For more details on reduction gearing and other differences between generations of Bosch motors you can check out this post on the EBR forums: Bosch Ebike Systems Motor Comparison. This motor is exceptionally quiet and provides up to 300% assistance with a maximum of 120rpm, and it has excellent climbing capabilities – check out the riding test in my video review where I tackle a huge incline riding with just one hand!
Other perks of having a Bosch-equipped bike are the battery and control system. The display on the Ultimate T10 is the Bosch Purion display, this is Bosch’s more minimalist display compared to their larger and more feature-rich Intuvia model. The Purion display is compact and easy to see in direct sunlight, with large buttons that are easy to press even when wearing gloves. The battery is a Bosch PowerTube 500, so named because of having close to 500 watt-hours of capacity (the actual figure is 482.4). The PowerTube battery also integrates nicely into the downtube and I appreciate that the charging port is positioned up high and away from the crank arms.
The frame is well built and surprisingly sturdy. Gazelle explained some of their manufacturing processes to me, the top and bottom brackets on the frame are single hydroformed pieces, and the downtube is double-walled for extra strength. Step-through frames like this are usually less stable and have a lot of frame flex, but I didn’t notice any on the Ultimate T10, not even when coasting downhill at upwards of 30mph… that’s impressive!
Sleek and beautiful visual appearance thanks to internally routed cabling, beautiful paint and accents, and the flawless integration of the PowerTube battery into the downtube. The two color options (Ivory White and Champion Red) are both very striking, I especially like the Ivory White for that extra visibility at night.
Braking is responsive and powerful thanks to Shimano hydraulic brakes, these are MT-420s that are often found on mountain bikes. The two-finger levers are fully adjustable for reach and easy to actuate thanks to being hydraulic, include motor inhibitors, and are connected to dual-piston calipers with 180/160mm rotors in the front and rear respectively.
The Shimano Deore XT groupset is a real treat, this is an excellent derailleur that performs well for a wide range of riding conditions. This is a 1×10 setup with a range of 11 to 36 teeth on the cassette, the chainring features narrow-wide teeth to help grip the chain better, and there is also a full plastic chain guard that protects both the chain and the right chainstay.
The charger is also better than average with 4amps of power, twice as much as the typical Ebike charger. I appreciate that despite this it is still fairly small and light at 1.6 pounds, still small enough to easily transport in a backpack.
High-value Ebikes such as this are often targets for theft, so I appreciate that Gazelle has taken some measures to help prevent it from happening. There is no quick-release skewer on the seatpost, and the rear wheel features the AXA Defender cafe lock. These locks function by sliding a steel bar through the rear spokes, preventing someone from riding off on your bike if you’re making a quick stop somewhere. AXA also has accessories such as chains that can connect to the side of this cafe lock and then wrap around a solid object for more security. As a bonus, the key for the cafe lock is the same key used to unlock and remove the battery from the downtube.

Cons:

The key for the cafe lock must be left in the lock when it is unlocked, which means that when you lock up and remove the key you have to either go through the hassle of putting it on and off a keychain or risk losing it by keeping it separate… a good solution to this is to attach a small carabineer to the key so that you can easily clip it to a keychain when removed.
The PowerTube battery isn’t as widely available or affordable as the PowerPack, The PowerPack is also interchangeable between different models of Ebikes that support it. Of course, the PowerTube integrates into the downtube much more cleanly, and it’s also a bit lighter thanks to Gazelle being allowed to design their own shield for it.
The lack of a quick-release skewer for the seatpost means that adjustments are more difficult and time-consuming, requiring you to keep some tools handy. This can be especially annoying if you share this bike with a differently-sized family member and need to adjust the seat and stem on a regular basis. Of course, the trade-off here is that the nice saddle is less of a theft risk, and the stem is a lot more durable than tool-free adjustable stems which will slowly loosen and require regular tightening.
Interestingly, there are quick-release skewers for both wheels, and I would consider them to be a higher theft risk than the saddle… of course, having quick-release on the wheels makes repairs much easier, but given how durable these Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires are I don’t foresee them needing a lot of repairs so I would prefer to forego the quick-release here to further reduce the chances of theft.
The Bosch Purion display is not removable and lacks a USB port for charging personal electronics, both of these and other features are found on Bosch’s upgraded Intuvia model. Fortunately, these displays are interchangeable, and while Gazelle doesn’t offer the Intuvia as an option you can get one installed at a bike shop that carries Bosch systems.
The limited 30mm of travel of the mono-shock suspension fork combined with the efficient tires (less cushion) means that your riding experience may not be comfortable if you ride on a lot of bumpy roads, or if you have any physical sensitivity due to injuries or health problems. I found the ride comfortable, but my opinion is biased by the fact that I spend a lot of time riding an old acoustic road bike that has no suspension at all… so it doesn’t take much for me to feel comfortable! If needed you can consider a 27.2mm suspension seatpost to add extra comfort and compliment the front shock.

Useful Resources:

Gazelle official website
Bosch Ebike Systems Motor Comparison on the EBR forums
Dutch cycling statistics
AXA Circle Lock cable accessory
Bosch drive comparison on the official Bosch website

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craig

5 years ago

Beautiful bike and nice review! A small error caught my eye though. You describe the headlight as a very bright 50 lumens, but it should be 50 lux. 50 lumens isn’t very bright at all for a headlight. The specs list it correctly though.
Cheers.

Tyson Roehrkasse

Thanks Craig! I appreciate the catch on the brightness, I’ve updated the review accordingly :)

Mark B

In general, I am not a fan of expensive class 1 bikes–I like my 750 watts, my throttle, and my enormous battery. However, if I were to ever get a class 1 bike–if I suddenly found my self in Europe or something–this would be the bike I would get. Wow. It’s absolutely beautiful, and everything is so well thought out. It’ll be easier to make a list of what I love about this bike:

1. It looks like it was sculpted, or like it’s alive and just grew into what it is. Nothing is out of place. Look at how few cables/hoses are exposed–just the front brake hose and the cables that go to the handlebar controls. There isn’t just a chain guard, but a chain guard that adds to the bike’s looks.

2. It uses high end components. Bosch. Shimano Deore XT. Schwalbe. Selle.

3. Riding position! Why, why WHY do so many ebike makers force riders into the “boiled shrimp” position, all bent over and curled up with their eyes pointing to the ground? Their choices of stems and handlebars are ridiculous. Ok, if you’re making a single purpose bike–a mountain bike–that’s understandable, but so many ebikes are not quite mountain bikes but at the same time not comfortable for just tooling around in the city. It’s as if these ebike makers are afraid to lose one segment of the buying public, so they make “hybrid” bikes that are sort of mountain bike-ish looking but that are not capable of actual mountain biking. Then you see Craigslist littered with used ebikes because the bikes just weren’t enjoyable after the initial “woo hoo, I’m on an electric bike” period.

The riding position of the Gazelle is as close to perfect as you’re gonna get on a bike that’s not custom made for a particular person.

4. It adds things that make sense and that make owning an ebike more pleasurable. It has a front shock, but an appropriate one for the purpose, not an overkill shock from the mountain bike world. It has a quality integrated lock. A heavy duty rack. Integrated lights. Fenders.

I guess it takes a company from a bike riding country to make one that makes sense from almost every angle. Now if they’d just make one with a 750 watt motor, a throttle and a 20ah battery…

Hi Mark, thanks for the great comment!

I agree with everything you said, it really is a remarkably well-crafted bike that shows just how much expertise Gazelle has in engineering bicycles. There is a notable difference between Ebikes made by a company with that sort of background, vs Ebikes made by a company that started with Ebikes (without making regular bicycles for years first).

Thanks, and excellent review, BTW.

Douglas Goodenough

Not a big fan of stepthru frames but this is a handsome bike. I think Gazelle and OHM are really making some good looking bikes.

Hi Douglas! I generally prefer high-step frames myself as well. I have heard that Gazelle has a high-step speed pedelec version of this bike in the works, if so we’ll definitely cover it!

Cody

I’ve never had a stepthru frame. I got my first bike at Leedsbikes.com, and its been fantastic however I’ve been looking for a second bike. I have a MetroCross which has been perfect for me because i ride it to work and it can fold down to make it convenient and compact. After looking at the specs for this bike I’m really interested.

Anne S.

I have been looking for my first e-bike for a few months. I live on a pretty steep hill, so I definitely need power. I had narrowed it down to a Specialized Como 4 or a Gazelle Arroyo Elite. I went to local bike shop and they recommended a take the Ultimate T10 out for a ride. SOLD!!! I was so impressed with this bike. It powered up my hill with no problems at all. The brakes are fantastic and the shifting is so smooth. I found the bike very comfortable and it is so quiet. I just really fell in love with this bike. The one I rode was spoken for (they had already sold three of the model) so I will get mine at the end of January. I got the white one, but both colors are nice.

Hi Anne, that’s awesome to hear! I was impressed by the hill climbing as well, definitely the best I’ve seen outside of a mountain bike.

Michael B. in SF

I purchased the Ultimate T10 in March, just as SIP order going into effect. Love the bike–agree especially with the 4 points made by Mark B above–it’s a great ride in the perfect riding position. My LBS has been great with minor adjustment. I have just one issue: I cannot reattach the battery plug cover after recharging. I’ve heard Bosch made a design change to keep moisture out of the battery tube. However, If I cannot connect o plug properly, MORE moisture could get into the battery tube/electrical system.

I agree overall with Tyson’s comment “well-crafted bike that shows just how much expertise Gazelle has in engineering bicycles”. I hope Gazelle with work with Bosch to fix this one flaw in design. It sounds minor, but not if water gets in! I’ve contacted the Gazelle USA rep, will let you know the response.

Will be happy to respond to any comments or suggestions.

Mike Chia

4 years ago

Does the Ultimate T10 HMB motor support emtb mode? What size is recommended for 5 foot 10 inch male with 32 inseam and long arms? Thanks.

Court

Hi Mike! I did some research and discovered that Bosch may offer eMTB mode for Performance and Performance CX motors, so it could work here. I’m not sure if it’s limited to specific generations of their drive system. If your dealer says they can do this upgrade via software, perhaps it is possible! As for size, you and I are very similar. I’m 5’9″ and can go either with medium or large from a lot of companies. While I have not tested the T10 myself, I think the 20.9″ 53cm model for myself. Ideally, it would be great if you could visit a local dealer and go for a test ride :)

Doug Curran

3 years ago

I bought my T10 after riding half a dozen bikes and then this one; everything about it conveyed a sense of completeness and care to detail. The step through is surprisingly rigid, in part due to the engineering of the frame tapering and hydroforming. I often find people eyeing the bike and several have remarked “…the most beautiful bike I’ve ever seen…”.

A month ago I had the misfortune of being run into by an idiot making a sudden turn into me from the middle lane and hit me square on the left crank. The bike suffered damage to both crank arms, derailleur, right brake, bars bent, rack bent over, but the frame remained straight and true. The selling dealer was amazed at how the bike frame and wheels held up. The bike is a class act.

Wow! I’m impressed with your writing and vocabulary Doug. You seem like a thoughtful and detailed person person, and the bike seems to match those values. So sorry to hear about the accident, I hope that you are okay! Thanks for taking a moment to shine a positive light on Gazelle and their products :)