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 in the Gazelle electric bike forums.
Observations:
- The Ultimate bicycle was one of Gazelle’s more popular non-electric bike models in years past, now they have produced an electrified version! A Class 1 version of this Ebike was released last year, you can check out that review of the Ultimate T10 HMB, or compare them head-to-head using our Comparison Tool.
- Gazelle hails from the Netherlands where cycling is an integral part of the culture, demonstrated by their bycicle ownership per capita – highest in the world! This article has some more details: Dutch Cycling Figures
- The dual-battery range extender option was not available to test at the time of filming which is why we don’t show it in the video… but it’s an official feature now! You can add a Dual Battery Kit which allows you to attach an additional PowerPack 500 to the frame, effectively doubling your range. To preserve your warranty this add-on should be installed by a Gazelle dealer, you can read more information in the Dual Battery Kit Ultimate Factsheet. This upgrade is only available for the high-step frame, not the mid-step!
Pros:
- The Ultimate T10+ is packed with features including a rear rack, full-size fenders, bright integrated lights, adjustable rear kickstand, bottle cage bosses, optional range extender, and a cafe lock! It was designed from the ground up as an Ebike with extra attention given to the strength of the frame, and many Ebike-specific components. This makes a big difference when it comes to long-term durability as Ebike components receive much higher levels of stress and wear than non-electric bike components do
- Supported by a vast dealer network which makes it easy to get fitted and take test rides, available in three sizes accross two frame types, and backed by an excellent warranty with two years of comprehensive coverage and ten years of frame coverage. Gazelle has been operating for over 125 years and has received numerous awards recognizing their quality and influence in the Dutch cycling industry
- Unlike the original Ultimate T10, the T10+ is a Class 3 electric bike capable of pedal-assisted speeds of 28mph, making the T10+ a compelling option for those with longer commutes. In addition to reducing travel time, higher speeds can actually help you to ride more safely by allowing you to “keep pace” with traffic instead of riding slowly off to the side
- The included charger is 4 amp which is twice as powerful as most Ebike chargers, allowing you can charge up much more rapidly. Faster chargers to tend to weigh more but this one is only at 1.6 pounds, still within reason for carrying easily in a backpack
- Smooth and capable shifting is provided by the Deore XT derailleur, this is an excellent top-tier setup from Shimano. The rear cassette has a reasonably wide range of 11 to 36 teeth across 10 speeds, narrow-wide teeth on the 42-tooth steel chainring help keep the chain from jumping, and the derailleur is equipped with Shadow Plus which helps provide cleaner shifting as well as limiting derailleur movement and helping to reduce the risk of damage. Rounding things out is the full plastic chain guard keeping the entire drivetrain safe and clean, and the chain itself is an Ebike-specific chain designed to handle higher levels of wear and tear
- Shimano hydraulic disk brakes with dual-piston calipers provide excellent stopping power, hydraulic brakes provide instant response and require very little force to actuate compared to mechanical brakes, and 180mm/160mm front/rear rotors provide good heat dissipation
- The frame is rock-solid sturdy, if you watch the video review you can see me coasting at 32mph downhill, completely stable with only one hand on the grips! I did only test the high-step frame so it’s possible that the mid-step version of this Ebike might have a bit more frame flex… although I would expect it to be just as sturdy, based on my experience with the low-step Ultimate T10 last year
- The integrated cafe lock is a great safety feature that is easy to engage and useful if you need to lock your bike for a short period, such as a quick run inside the store or just when running around at the park with friends. It runs a bolt through the rear wheel preventing anyone from just jumping on the bike and taking off, and AXA also offers a lot of accessories that connect into the cafe lock allowing you to then lock it to a rack or other solid object. The key for this cafe lock is keyed to like with the battery lock, allowing you to use just one key for both
- Seamless integration of the Bosch PowerTube 500 battery into the downtube, this is a nice perk of the PowerTube as it allows manufacturers to customize the fit and finish a bit more. I appreciate the two-step removal process that helps to keep the battery a bit more secure, as well as the placement of the charging port: high up on the frame where it is out of the crank arm “danger zone”
- Bosch has a variety of displays and they all have their tradeoffs, I am a big fan of the Purion because it’s less obtrusive, very easy to read in any light setting, and it keeps things simple! It does only show basic information but that does include a range estimate that I have found to be fairly accurate, much more useful than the five-bar battery meter which can be a bit frustrating when trying to estimate how much riding you have left
- Another Ebike-specific component is the Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires, a great fit for a speed pedelec like this. Reflective sidewalls for maximum side visibility, top-tier puncture protection, and a nifty hybrid tread pattern that is more efficient when riding on flat surfaces while providing more traction when turning
- The T10+ shares many components with the original T10… but not in the motor department! Here the T10+ is equipped with the fourth generation of the Bosch Performance Line Speed, capable of much higher speeds and higher levels of torque, assistance, and supported cadence. It is incredibly responsive, gathering over 1,000 readings per second while measures torque, cadence, and wheel speed, and it’s also lighter than ever before at just 6.6 pounds! For more details on how this motor stacks up against other Bosch motors, check out the Bosch Ebike Systems Motor Comparison on the EBR Forums
- The SR Suntour Mobie suspension fork is a nice upgrade from the mono-shock suspension on the original T10, this air suspension fork provides 80mm of travel with clicks for progressive lockout and preload adjust, it provides an excellent amount of cushion for riding on rougher roads at high speeds. I think it also looks great from a visual standpoint with the black anodized stanchions complimenting the frame primary color
- Ride comfort is further helped by the premium Selle Royale Essenza saddle and ergonomic rubber grips, the grips are also locking and won’t twist around if you bear down on them
- I loved the original Ultimate T10 for how it performed as a mixed-use bike, working well for riders ranging from casual to trekking. The T10+ tips the scale further in the trekking and touring direction with a more aggressive forward riding position and a dual-battery option, but it will still perform great for commuters and more casual riders, especially those that loved everything about the original T10 except for the slower Class 1 status
- Integrated lights are always a plus for convenience, and it’s even better when they’re high-quality like the ones we get here! The AXA Blueline headlamp has side cutouts for safety and is powerfully bright at 50 LUX, the rack-integrated taillight from Hermans has four LEDs and is visible even in daylight, I recommend riding with lights on even during the daytime to help make yourself more visible to traffic
- Full-length fenders are constructed from aluminum alloy which means none of the rattling that sometimes happens with plastic fenders, plus more durability than steel fenders which can ding and rust. The fenders are mounted securely and also have a toe-strike guard on the front
- The rack is mounted on top of the rear fender but surprisingly sturdy thanks to the steel supports that run along the inside of the fender and connect to the frame, this rack features a bungee clamp that comes in handy for securing smaller items without needing to carry extra tie-downs, plenty of mount points if you are using those other tie-downs, and a slightly higher-than-average weight limit of 27kg (55lb)
Cons:
- The saddle and handlebars don’t have quick-release and will require tools to adjust, this is especially missed on the saddle if you share this Ebike with someone else and need to adjust the saddle height frequently. Interestingly, there are quick-release skewers on the wheels, while this will help to make maintenance easier in the event of a flat tire… that isn’t going to be a frequent occurrence thanks to the durability of the Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires, and premium tire and wheel components like these can be a theft target when they are so easy to remove. To help discourage this I recommend always engaging the cafe lock and a chain or cable lock through your wheels in addition to your other locking components
- The Purion display is the most basic of Bosch’s displays, it is not removable which leaves it more exposed to weather or getting damaged at bike racks, there is no USB charging port for powering your phone or additional lights while riding, and it lacks some of the more enhanced features of other displays like the Intuvia or Kiox. These upgraded displays are interchangeable so a Gazelle dealer should be able to upgrade these for you, and you could also check out Bosch’s newer Smartphone Hub for even more features
- I love the cafe lock but I do wish that you didn’t have to leave the key in while it is unlocked, this makes it easier to lose the key since it’s not on your keychain. You could put it on your keychain, of course, but then you’d have your whole keychain rattling around in the cafe lock when riding… not a good solution! My recommendation is simply to get a small carabineer to leave on the cafe lock key so that you can easily attach and remove it from your keychain
- The lack of throttle and use of a Bosch mid-drive motor means this Ebike may not be a good fit for riders with knee sensitivity that need some extra help from the motor when starting out. Bosch’s motors are incredibly responsive and the assistance kicks in quickly, but it does require some effort when starting out, and the torque sensor means that in order to get extra assistance you have to press harder on the pedals, this is compared to a cadence-sensing system that only requires cycling the cranks around with minimal effort
- The range extension option is awesome to see… but it’s not available on the mid-step frame, which is a bummer for those who might want both the extra range and the approachability of the mid-step design
- No derailleur guard which would help protect it from damage in the event of bumps or a tip-over, although this is a minor issue since the derailleur has Shadow Plus – this limits the derailleur movement and keeps it positioned in closer to the bike, as opposed to protruding on the side and being more exposed the way most derailleurs are
Useful Resources:
- Gazelle Ebike Dealers Near You
- 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
Chris H says
1) The third bullet under Pros states that the bike is capable of 28 mph under THROTTLE assisted power.
2) E Life Cycles in Folsom, CA does not show Gazelle as one of their brands on their site.
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Hi Chris H, thanks for commenting! Good catch on the error in the bullet points, I’ve updated it to indicate pedal-assisted power.
For the E Life Cycles store in Folsom, you are correct that they don’t have the Gazelle brand on their website. However, they have told us that they carry Gazelle, and they are listed as an official Gazelle dealer on Gazelle’s website. The Gazelle dealer locator is here if you want to check that: Gazelle Dealer Locator
This is a struggle we have with some shops as they don’t always keep their websites up to date. Have you been to the E Life Cycles shop? Let us know if they don’t actually carry Gazelle so that we can get it corrected :)
Tina Butler says
Hi Chris,
Tina from Gazelle here. We got in touch with E Life Cycles after seeing your comment. They are in the process of updating their website, which is why our bikes didn’t show up. This is updated now (link below), and if you have any questions about our bikes or the Ultimate T10+, we’d be happy to answer them.
Cheers and thanks for the callout,
Tina
https://www.elifecycles.com/collections/vendors?q=GAZELLE
Tina Butler says
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment. We checked in with E Life Cycles and it turns out they were in the process of updating their website. Gazelle bikes are shown on the site and the shop owner would be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
Best,
Tina (from Gazelle)
Rick53 says
Tyson, I believe that’s the name you used? Since You have Ridden The Trek Verve + 2. Would You mind shedding some Comparison light on The geometry of The Gazzelle Ultimate VS the Trek Verve + 2. I understand the Motor difference: I am asking because you appear to be taller like I am. I appreciate it.
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Hi Rick53!
The geometry of the Ultimate T10+ and the Verve + 2 felt very similar to me, although I did feel a little better on the Verve+2, speaking purely from a “how well did it fit my body type” standpoint. The Verve frame is a little bit bigger, and (most noticeable for me) the handlebars are wider, I prefer a wide handlebar since I have long arms and fairly broad shoulders. Since the Verve + 2 is just a little bit taller of a frame it is easier to get those full leg extensions without having to max out the height of the seat post.
Raising the seatpost on the Ultimate T10+ all the way gave me full leg extensions and it felt great to ride, and it’s also possible to adjust the stem and handlebars up quite a bit if you want to keep a more upright riding position. The Ultimate feels more polished with a much smoother ride feel, it has such good components and that suspension fork, and the motor is significantly more powerful. Overall I would say that the experience on the Ultimate feels much more “premium”, everything on it is just top-notch. This isn’t to knock on the Verve, it’s also a great bike, just built for a different use case.
In the end, I would say that the frame geometries are similar enough that unless you’re taller than my 6ft 3in, they will both feel excellent, and I would look more at the other factors when deciding which one to get. You can see them head-to-head here.
I should also mention that it has been a long time since I rode the Ultimate! Even though we just published the review, I actually filmed the review way back in October of 2019. I would definitely recommend getting out and test riding both bikes if you’re able to do so, we have a Shop Directory to help track down dealers in your area. It might be tough to line up with quarantines… best of luck!
If you want to chat more about these two bikes or anything, feel free to message me on our forum, you’ll find me under the username “troehrkasse”. Take care!
Barry K says
Hi – Tyson, you mention In the video review you were on the larger 57cm vs the 53cm medium sized frame T10+. The specs show standover heights of 34 vs 35 inches for those frame sizes I think. How tall are you and was the large a good fit?
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Hi Barry! I am 6ft 3in and the large was a great fit for me. for some of the review I did ride with the seat lowered down a bit to help me get better angles for the camera, but I was able to raise it to full height and extend my legs fully. If you are around my height I would definitely go for the large frame!
Barry K says
Thanks Tyson. I’ve been researching online (test rides in these times are hard to setup) and for my height (6ft 2) Gazelle resellers are 50/50 on if I should go with 53cm vs 57cm size – they are v. focused on the standover height being somewhat higher on these bikes vs Trek and other e-bike models.
Tina Butler says
Hi Barry, Tina from Gazelle here :) I would recommend a 57 cm frame for you. I am 5’9.5 with a 33 inch inseam and can make a 57 cm “work” for me, although it is a bit sketchy. For people in the 6’0-6’1 range, I think they are on the cusp of either the 53 cm or 57 cm size, but at 6’2, I can confidently recommend for 57 cm for you.
Court says
Wow, thanks for chiming in on this, Tina! I’ve approved your comment, so hopefully it helps Barry make a decision about size :D
Mach says
Hello Tyson,
I believe the crank is 52T not 46T and also motor is MY20 not 19. But otherwise great review and great bike.
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Thanks Mach, good eye! I believe you are correct about the motor, I will confirm and get that updated.
The crank on my review bike was indeed 52T, but per Gazelle they decided to switch it to a 46T. The 52 was a bit too big – on the review bike you can actually see some cosmetic damage where it had come in contact with the frame.
Mach says
Ah yes, I did hear that on your video, rep said 48T, I guess it wasn’t final spec.
Exciting bike, wouldn’t mind to test ride it. Wondering if they already started shipping to the dealers here in Miami.
John C Ottinger says
since I am not an eBike expert, surprised that the charging line voltage is not specified in any of the reviews I have read – is it 110 VAC?
Court says
Hi John! Most of the ebikes I cover in North America use a grounded NEMA connector and operate on both 110V and 230V AC power outlets. I hope this helps, and I apologize that it’s not specified more clearly in each review.
Paul says
On the https://www.gazellebikes.com/en-us/gazelle-ultimate-t10plus-hmb#pim_itemgenderframe%5B%5D=Mid-step&pim_itemcolorcodeonergb%5B%5D=75%2C+79%2C+84 site site, the weight is listed at 50.7 lb. whereas it is 57.3 lb. in this review? Is this a typo?
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Great question! This is why we always weight the bike ourselves, there can be some discrepancies with the manufacturer spec for various reasons.
In this case, I think Gazelle has an accurate weight listed but it is probably the weight for one of the smaller frame sizes. I used a large frame bike for this review which could account for the extra weight.
Seth Benowitz says
Can anyone tell me the nearest Gazelle dealer to Bradford, NH 03221? Thanks.
Court says
Hi Seth! Well, you can try our ebike shop directory tool which I’ve pre-set to Gazelle for you. But I didn’t see any shops there. Next step is to try the official Gazelle website store locator tool or contact the company directly. Maybe theres a brand new shop that is carrying the bikes, but not yet listed :)
Alain says
Great review as always! I bought the 57cm version of the bike based on it, and had just couple comments to add… at 6’0” with a 33-inch inseam, the 57cm frame is a bit of a stretch… when Tina mentioned 6’0-6’1 is the “cusp” between the 53cm and the 57cm, she was spot on. But many bike shops think of the 53cm as “Medium” and the 57cm as “Large”, and also think that 6’0 is automatically and universally “Large”. You definitely want to try both if you’re in that range. The single-key AXA lock setup is great, but the chain that plugs into the café lock is impossible to find in the US. I got one from Spain. Finally, the way the battery is positioned makes it very difficult to get a bottle cage on the bosses that won’t interfere with inserting or removing the battery. This was an odd design choice, as having the battery inserted or removed from the side (as opposed to up and into the frame triangle) would prevent this problem. Other than these very minor points, a fantastic bike!
Court says
Hi Alain! Great feedback… yeah, I’ve noticed that some bags and lock cables that are designed to work with these bikes just cannot be found in North America. It’s too bad, but I’m glad you were able to figure something out from Spain! Is there a shop or website you can call out that made this work for you? I really appreciate your final input about the bottle cage mounting point making the battery difficult to remove… I’m going to pay extra attention to that in the future! This is probably not the only ebike with that issue. Perhaps it would work best with a folding lock instead, since those generally require less space. Bosch does have a side mount and bottom mount PowerTube design, so maybe Gazelle will move towards that with future bikes if they get the bottle cage feedback from people like you and comments like this. Thanks again!!
Alain says
Hi Court!
I got the AXA chain from deporvillage.net. They have a fantastic selection, prices that beat US options, and delivery via DHL in a few days. Worked out great. I had also ordered a (shorter) one from an online shop in South Korea (those were the only two I found), but that one was very, very slow – it took four weeks to arrive.
Getting the Bosch SmartphoneHub installed on the Gazelle today. Looking forward to it!
Court says
Sweet! Sounds like you’re really getting the bike dialed in. Thanks for the info on depoorvillage.net I’ll have to check that out.
Samer says
Where can I get this bike? I couldn’t find any store selling it in Canada.
Court says
Hi Samer! The shops that come to mind in BC are Cit-E-Cycles (chain of four shops), in Toronto you could try Amigo Electric Vehicles and Scooteretti. I think one of those shops should sell Gazelle! Hope that helps ;)
Michael Oberly says
I just got one of these when I had to return my previous ebike (under warranty) for a frame defect that couldn’t be remedied. I had been interested in these for a while, and I had watched Tyson’s review video about five times. I have a dealer in town, so it was easy to try out.
I am 6’3″, and got the 57cm version, which fits like a dream. I will echo Tyson’s comment above – ideally, I’d prefer slightly wider handlebars, but it’s not a large drawback, it’s more like, “this is amazing, it’d be even more amazing if the handlebars were slightly wider!”.
The ride itself is incredible. This bike is about $1500 more than my previous bike, so it should feel like an upgrade, but I was still blown away. Extremely comfortable, even on bumpy roads.
Thanks Tyson and Court, really appreciate your work.
Court says
Awesome! I’m excited for you, Michael. The good news is that handlebars are easy to replace. You could even get a carbon fiber one to cut down the weight and dampen vibration a bit if you really want to go nuts. Glad this review and site helped you, thanks for the comment :)
Augsburg says
Hi, I have over 1,000 miles on the Ultimate T10+ HMB, and have found it to be a very good e-bike. The bike handles well and the Performance Line Speed motor is very nice.
The Performance Line Speed Gen 4 motor is noisier than my other e-bike with a Gen 2 CX motor, but it gets a little quieter after a couple hundred miles. I’ve had no issues or problems over the past 6 months riding this bike as a “back-up” bike. I did upgrade the rear rotor to a 180mm, as I am a larger rider and the 160mm is too small.
The only gripe I have is the bike was was delivered (bike purchased in May, 2020) with a front fork that is a coil spring fork, not an air fork as noted in this review. It is unfortunate when bike manufacturers release bikes to YouTube reviewer that are specced differently than the bike they deliver. In the old days, bike manufacturers often reserved the “right” to make running changes to component specs on bikes, but with the price of an e-bike today, that does not go over so well with their customers.
Court says
Hmm, thanks for the feedback about these motors since you’ve got lots of ride time with both. Interesting to hear that the noise decreases over time as things “smooth out” inside. Yeah, I’ve noticed that companies will make changes mid-season sometimes… but some of my reviews are also getting out of date since there are so many new bikes to cover! I can’t keep up ;) in any case, perhaps they made the change to the fork based on hardware availability in 2019 with supply chains getting backed up? I’ve seen this with some crank arms, pedals, even derailleurs. I’ll ask a company “why did you suddenly switch from Shimano to another lesser known brand, and they have recently been saying “Shimano is backordered over 300 days on some parts, so we got the next best thing” so yeah, hard to say.
Huge Leg Biker 53X11 says
Yes, I was at a bike shop and the manager said Japan is in a factory slow down for Shimano parts due to the virus scare bother.
Paul Mei says
Tyson, thanks for the great review. I just purchased this bike and can’t wait to get out on it. I live in the Northeast and we have snow and ice on the ground now. I’m curious about a related issues. I love the helmet that you are wearing during your review. Can you share what brand it is? I’m looking for that style of helmet. Thank you.
Tyson Roehrkasse says
Hi Paul I’m excited for you! This is an awesome bike and I’m sure you’ll have a great time with it :)
A lot of people have asked about the helmet, it is a SERFAS Kilowatt and I got it at Fullerton Electric Bicycles in Fullerton, CA. You can find it online here.
Paul Mei says
Thanks Tyson for the tip about the helmet. I have an old helmet that I’m not really wild about, so I’m definitely going to check the Serfas out. I’m very excited because where I live in Massachusetts it’s going to be 72 degrees tomorrow, the first nice day after a long and cold Winter, so I’m going to take the Gazelle out for the very first time. Can’t wait!
Court says
That’s awesome Paul, perfect time to get back out there for some riding. It’s great that Tyson was able to help share some tips about his helmet :D
E Gil says
I have 250 miles on the red high step medium size and is the most comfortable bike I have ever owned. Commute to work 5 days a week and feels rock solid. It climbs hills without a sweat and fast and steady going downhill. I’m very happy with my purchase. Bought if from Mostly ebikes in Oceanside, CA.
Court says
Nice! It sounds like the bike is holding up really well for you, thanks for sharing with us E :)
Ted Bogart says
I went to my local bike shop intending to purchase the C380+, and after comparing it to the Ultimate T10+, I decided on bringing home the latter. Both bikes are excellent, but the Ultimate T10+ felt more responsive, and handled better. Overall, it felt more fun.
If simplicity of use, and minimal maintenance, is number one on your list, then I would go with a C380+; but if you prefer more performance, and sportiness, I would go with the Ultimate T10+.
Court says
Hi Ted! I’m totally with you on this, and I prefer the T10+ as well. The shifting is faster and tighter, the bike is lighter, it’s sportier just like you said! I hope it works very well for you and I appreciate the review and perspective you shared.
Bob Johnson says
Test road the Medeo T10+, but decided to go with the Ultimate 10T+ due to the upgrades many reviewers listed on these bikes (air shocks vs spring shocks, Deore XT components, better headlight, wheels, tires, saddle and grips). Imagine our surprise when our bikes came in and they did not have the upgraded components! Standard Deore groupset, Suntour spring forks (just like the Medeo).
I have been emailing back and forth with Gazelle to try to find out what components are actually shipping on the Ultimate models, with very little success. Until Gazelle gets this straightened out, I recommend caution when considering ordering one of these bikes. What Gazelle is shipping does not match what they sent to reviewers.
I have never encountered such vagueness with a bike manufacturer in over 30 years of buying, upgrading, and riding bikes! Their website lists “suspension forks” as the components shipping on their bikes! I understand where parts might need to be substituted due to supply chain issues, but the substituted parts should be of equal design/value, and this should be documented for the consumer. I am a big guy and was counting on the adjustable air shocks on their premium bike. Now I have a spring shock with no model number and no instructions on its capabilities or how to adjust it. This is not good!
Court says
Hi Bob, that sounds very frustrating… you’re being pretty reasonable and understanding about the supply chain issues that many companies are facing, but then the price should be lower or an equivalent part should be used. Yeah, it sucks that nobody is able or willing to step up and help you. Perhaps you could just return the bikes, but it sounds like you special ordered and waited for them to arrive already. Another option would be to get the nicer suspension fork aftermarket and ask them to install (more money and time). I appreciate you sharing the experience here with us, and am sorry you’ve had to go through this, I’m disappointed too, and it’s too bad that sometimes the bikes reviewers are given have different parts on them :(
Anonymous says
Thanks for the response Court. It does seem odd that Gazelle is still linking to reviews of these bikes that specifically call out the upgraded parts on the Ultimate series that are no longer available. At the least, Gazelle should update the website next to the links to these reviews to inform potential buyers clicking on these links that some of these parts may not be available or may be different from what the reviewers had.
I understand the supply chain issues. What I don’t understand though, is if a company is going to build different model bikes for different price points (common marketing practice), then the “upgraded” model bike should have upgraded components, and if those upgraded components are not available, then comparable components should be substituted, or the price should drop to match the “standard” model, or something similar. I can understand the challenges the manufacturers face, but what irks me is when I email them asking for information on the bike I purchased they go silent, possibly thinking they need to be careful to avoid lawsuits (lawsuit crazy people in the USA). When the manufacturer doesn’t step up to help their customers, we both lose.
Now I am struggling, trying to find the information I need to understand what I purchased (which forks, which shifters) and how to configure it and how to maintain it. Didn’t expect this with a premium bike from a well established manufacturer like Gazelle. That said, I really do like the bikes. I will just need to keep going until I can find out what forks I have, and what options I might have to configure the bike to work better for me down the road.
My main goal in posting this is to alert others who might find themselves in the same position as us. Until Gazelle can better address this issue, potential buyers might want to wait until Gazelle has enough confidence in their supply chain to post specifications again on their website for what they are selling. If I was 5’8″ and 140lbs, this might not be an issue, but since I am a big guy operating toward the limits of what these bikes are designed for, the specifications, configuration, and maintenance info is important to me.
Cheers!
Court says
Extremely well written, I agree on all points and am sorry that my information has not matched what is being delivered by Gazelle in some cases. It’s also an awkward position for me, because I often travel and invest many days to study and then film the bikes. I’m guessing that it’s uncomfortable for Gazelle (and others) who are having to change bike builds last minute because of the supply chain stuff… but it is ultimately up to them to add some notices on their website about how things are changing, or be more supportive to customers who have an issue. If I were in their position, I would want to help the few people, like yourself, who are greatly impacted by the different builds. Ultimately, I’m sorry for the position you are in… I do think that your comments will help others stay informed. Is there anything else I can do to help you? Perhaps I can connect you with a Gazelle rep if you want to email me through the website. Specifically ask for Court. I cannot contact you because it says anonymous and there is no email address associated with your comment.