November 4, 2020 - Royal Dutch Gazelle, established in 1892 in the cycling-entrenched Netherlands, has been producing bicycles for over 125 years, and their award-winning bikes are as much a part of the Dutch cultural landscape as windmills and wooden shoes.
Their newest addition, the Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB, is a no fuss, no muss commuter-ready e-bike. Just like the Dutch nation it comes from, this bike is practical and well-designed with just the right features needed to get you from A to B and back again in the most efficient and comfortable way.
The Ultimate T10 HMB sports an aluminum frame and comes in both a traditional and step-through design. It features a small, but extremely efficient 40 mm shock that is integrated into the head tube and is almost unnoticeable. All cables and wires are neatly integrated into the frame giving the bike a sleek and clean look, while the black and grey colour scheme with the splash of red makes for a sharp, yet not flashy, appearance.
Powered by a Bosch Performance Line e-drive system, the Gen 3.0 mid-mounted motor provides quiet, reliable pedal-assist along with 65 Nm of torque. Speed, distance, range and battery levels are displayed through the left side bar mounted Bosch Purion LCD – simplicity at its best. The 500 Wh battery lies concealed in the down tube and can provide over 100 km of ride time range. I especially liked the location of the charging port being up near the head tube making charging easier with less strain on my back.
Equipped with top quality Shimano Deore shifters and an XT rear derailleur, the Ultimate T10 HMB delivers dependable shifting and the 10-speed gearing made it easy to dial in the perfect cadence to maximize the efficiency of the pedal assist. The powerful and reliable 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes helped control speed and make quick stopping safe and easy. The 28-inch wheels with Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires nicely round out this package.
Out of the box, this e-bike is ready for your daily commute, no matter what the weather. The fenders and chain guard will help keep you and your drivetrain clean and the bell, rear light and Axa Blue Line 50 front light ensure that you’ll be seen and heard. The rear rack comes stock with bungy style cords, a nice addition for securing additional items with the large kick stand easily able to support the 50-pound bike. The AXA Defender rear wheel lock is a nice touch to secure the T10 HMB, with an optional plug-in cable lock available to attach the e-bike to a fixed object.
On the road, the Ultimate T10 HMB immediately showed its intentions. The frame geometry puts you in a comfortable upright position and when combined with the sway back bars and 28-inch wheels, you get the feeling of being very “tall” in the saddle. This riding position provides a great vantage to navigate traffic and along with the wider saddle you’ll experience a comfortable ride while commuting in your work attire.
The front shock unit was impressive as it nicely absorbed much of the road chatter including gravel paths that I encountered on my rides. It also allows the bike to “rail” corners at speed without any sag or squishy feel that can be noticeable with traditional suspension forks.
The big wheels really help to keep things moving forward, even with minimal assist. On a test ride with limited battery life it was a great benefit to get the bike moving at a comfortable speed then backing off to Eco mode, or even no-assist, to efficiently extend the battery life to get me to my destination. Whatever your daily commute this e-bike is up to the challenge.
Once again Gazelle has hit the mark with it’s Ultimate T10 HMB, winner of the iF Product Design Award, from a company with over a century of producing quality bikes. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a commuter-ready e-bike that can offer many years of reliable service.
The SRP is $5,199 and for more information visit here.
