Gazelle Ultimate T10 overview: The greatest commuter ebike
“The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is the ultimate electric bike for commuters.”
Award-winning design
Comfortable journey
Smooth energy supply
Excellent brakes
Includes lights, fenders, and extra
Modest LCD display screen
No good connectivity
Most electrical bikes look a multitude, however not the Gazelle Ultimate T10. It’s a stunner, and the very best commuter bike I’ve seen but.
Available in white or pink, the Ultimate T10 ebike takes an surprising street in direction of magnificence. Instead of obscuring bulk with elegant traces, as does the Specialized Como, Gazelle constructed a motorbike that turns warts into magnificence marks. Don’t simply take my phrase for it. The bike is a 2020 iF Design Award winner.
It begins with the form. Step-through frames don’t get hearts racing, however this bike makes use of its hefty, utilitarian downtube to floor the complete design. The blacked-out battery pack, smack within the heart of the bike, contrasts with the body’s vivid pink or white paint. It jogs my memory of the covers that gown up engine bays in trendy sports activities automobiles. The identical blacked-out look extends to the entrance fork, chain guard, and rear rack, tying the entire design collectively.
Still, it’s exhausting to argue with outcomes. The Ultimate T10’s retail worth of $3,799 is dear, however not fairly sufficient to ensure a stunning bike. Even probably the most premium Pedgeo City Commuter appears to be like a bore subsequent to the Ultimate T10, whereas worth aggressive bikes from Trek and Giant have battery bumps that seem like alien eggs rising from the body.
Only Specialized can hope to compete on appears to be like inside this funds, however I nonetheless give Gazelle’s new bike the sting.
Here’s the actual trick; the bike’s design is useful. The Ultimate T10 appears to be like superb but doesn’t ditch options important for a commuter. It comes commonplace with each lights and fenders entrance and rear, a rear rack, and a sequence guard. The gang’s all right here.
As a bonus, the Ultimate T10 has an built-in Axa Defender ring lock. It’s mounted to the body and can be utilized to lock out the rear wheel, making the bike unimaginable to journey. You’ll nonetheless need a lock that secures the bike to a rack or one other research object, however the built-in lock is a pleasant backup.
Great journey
The commonplace gear checklist, together with the step-through design, make this bike’s objective clear. The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is a commuter, and it makes no apologies for that.
That means a relaxed, upright seating posture. It’s so upright that I discovered it uncomfortable at first. My instincts instructed me to lean ahead, which meant the handlebars had been too shut. Eventually, I realized to lean again and benefit from the journey.
And it’s an excellent journey. Quite a lot of credit score goes to the entrance fork’s built-in suspension. The bike’s design hides it, but it surely’s there, lending some cushion between you and the street.
This isn’t mountain bike suspension, so it’s not going to avoid wasting your wrists in the event you drop off a curb. Still, it’s sufficient to soak up most bumps you’ll discover. My regular path to the Digital Trends workplace has a number of tracts of tough pavement that may ship bone-rattling impacts. The Ultimate T10 smoothed over these potholes with ease.
I even beloved the saddle, a phrase of reward I not often supply. It felt excellent for this bike. Wide sufficient to supply quite a lot of assist, however not extensive sufficient to intervene when it got here time to crank out some watts. It’s probably the most snug inventory saddle on any electrical bike I’ve reviewed.
Don’t crush it, simply cruise
A Bosch Performance Line Cruise motor powers the Gazelle Ultimate T10 as much as 20 miles per hour, after which it cuts out. It does certainly cruise. The motor’s energy supply is balanced and gradual even on the highest of three energy help ranges.
Want to go quick? This isn’t the bike for you. The motor isn’t for velocity freaks trying to combine it up with metropolis visitors, one thing that’s doable on a Specialized Como or Vado. It’s for commuters biking throughout city at an inexpensive tempo.
It works for that objective. I most well-liked Eco Mode, the least highly effective help setting. The energy’s simply sufficient to offer a lift, however not a lot that I didn’t get a exercise. Eco Mode additionally makes the many of the built-in PowerTube 500 battery which, in my expertise, lasted about 60 miles on a cost. Switching to Sport Mode, probably the most aggressive, dropped vary to about 35 miles.
Power is delivered by way of 10-speed Shimano XT {hardware}. It felt satisfactory to the duty. Shifts had been often clunky, however finally dependable. I had no drawback with missed shifts, or shifts occurring after I hadn’t requested for them.
The groupset additionally consists of entrance and rear hydraulic disc brakes that swiftly convey the bike to a cease. I used to be additionally impressed by the brake handles. They at all times felt proper underhand and actuated with nice tactile suggestions. It’s a small factor that made me extra snug bombing down Portland’s steepest hills.
I used to be much less impressed by the black-and-white LCD that shows velocity and battery life. It’s backlit, however not as giant as I’d like, an issue that’s all too widespread on trendy electrical bikes. There’s additionally no assist for an app to trace miles, velocity, or battery standing.
Our take
The $3,799 Gazelle Ultimate T10 is costly, however a strong worth. This is an entire, all-in-one answer to every day commuting, and the very best commuter ebike I’ve examined. Range, energy, journey, lights, fenders, rack, even an built-in lock – this bike has all of it proper out of the field. Plus, it appears to be like unbelievable, which helps justify the value to your folks.
Is there a greater various?
Every main model provides a competitor. Specialized has the Como, Trek provides the Quick E+, and Trek has the Super Commuter. All three are strong bikes you’d probably take pleasure in, however the Gazelle is probably the most full package deal for commuters.
How lengthy will it final?
Gazelle provides a powerful 10-year guarantee on the body, whereas the entrance fork is roofed by a five-year guarantee. There’s additionally a five-year guarantee on paint for the body and entrance fork. Other components are lined by a two-year guarantee.
Electric bikes require common upkeep, although that shouldn’t price greater than a pair hundred {dollars} per 12 months. The battery will finally degrade after three to 5 years, and a alternative will likely be your most vital price. Otherwise, the bike ought to final a decade or extra.
Should you purchase it?
Yes. The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is the last word commuter ebike.
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