The range of e-bikes is growing every year as fast as the number of types and flavors. There is literally an e-bike for everyone. Urban e-bikes are popular, mainly because of their sleek design. Then you have the accelerators: electric-assisted super-fast e-bikes that reach speeds of up to 45 km/h. Then there are electric cargo bikes, which, like urban e-bikes, are popular in the urban environment. However, the largest category is the regular e-bikes with pedal assist up to 25km/h.
Since the arrival of the e-bike in 2013, more than 3 million people have been riding an e-bike. Being popular is no longer an understatement. It is not easy to choose from a huge variety. What kind do you choose? With or without removable battery, any type of sitting position (design), chain or belt.. ? Then there is also the matter of how much money you want to spend on it.
Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB
We chose a very versatile bike from this huge selection of bikes: the Gazelle Ultimate T10 with a 625Wh battery. A bike for everyone. To experience it, we will take it on the road for a longer period of time, so that we can answer the question: is this really a multi-skilled with many options and an excellent level of equipment? To test this out, we’ll skip city rides for a while and research the limits of this sporty e-bike.
Final test: Will we climb the Keutenberg with the Gazelle Ultimate?
The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is equipped with the powerful Bosch Performance Line engine with 75 Nm of torque. This motor in combination with a 10-speed Shimano Deore gearset ensures that you can conquer almost any slope “effortlessly”. To prove it, we drove part of the Mergellandroute in the hilly landscape of Limburg with the Gazelle Ultimate T10. South Limburg remains a beautiful and well-suited area to get the most out of your e-bike. Respectively, we rolled Cauberg (8%), Party’s Gulpenerberg (14%) and the famous Keutenberg (maximum 24%). All of these “Dutch Mountains” are very steep with limited elevation difference. They were climbed without any problems. We can’t make it heavier in the Netherlands anyway.
Of course you have to pedal differently with a 27kg e-bike than with a lightweight race bike, but Ultimate had no problem with these Dutch “mountains”. It means Turbo mode, so it also affects the battery capacity. But it also means that the Ultimate is able to make you work your way up some effort in any landscape, no matter how blistering.
Long journeys in a challenging environment
The famous Limburg blisters are confirmation that the Ultimate is truly a sporty e-bike that turns out to be extremely suitable for long trips, even if you leave the familiar, flat Dutch landscapes behind. No longer cycling in the hilly landscapes of Limburg, but certainly also in the Belgian Ardennes, is reserved for the pure cyclists among us. This e-bike ensures that you will get up well in more challenging scenery
The nuance is that these heavy climbs (above 10%) are best avoided and you should only drive them if they are unavoidable on the road. Especially because it takes a lot of energy out of the battery capacity and thus also reduces the range of your e-bike. But if you really want to, you can ride Alpe d’Huez with this e-bike. However, our advice is: only do this if you’re trained and prefer not to use Turbo mode. This is not only good for your health but also makes the challenge more fun.
With a trained body and good condition, you can make cycling on this type of sport touring bike more enjoyable. You have to put in the effort yourself, but your e-bike ensures that you can still pedal uphill, even on trails where you’re a little heavier. This way you push your limits and have more fun riding sports bikes.
The derailleur gear makes all the difference
With a good condition, you can improve your performance, especially on an e-bike. A prerequisite is a derailleur with a large shift range. The Ultimate T10 is equipped with a Shimano Deore derailleur with 10 gears, so you can decide for yourself which gear to ride. Hard work that really makes the difference. It also gives you the opportunity to spin at a higher speed without pedaling.
The derailleur is truly a game-changer for e-bike use, and it removes the prejudice that one should do almost nothing on an e-bike. You can set the voltage level yourself. With a speed adjuster, you also ensure that the engine is not always running and that you can spin for longer distances.
The controls are great
Ultimate’s control is really very good. You’ll notice this best on sharp bends. Rarely have we ridden an e-bike with such tight steering. The adjustable stem gives you the option to sit a little straighter (suitable for city use) or lean slightly forward during sporting challenges.
What has gone up must come down
The nice thing about cycling in a mountainous landscape is, of course, the climb. But he who drives also reaches a point where the road goes downhill again. Enjoy going down. Perfect controls make everything more fun. Hydraulic disc brakes, which are indispensable on an e-bike, provide more than enough braking force, even if you want to be able to decelerate a bit more in all weathers.
Presentation of Bosch Kiox 300
In Gazelle they call connected cycling. This means your e-bike turns into a smart bike by integrating the Internet of Things, making it possible to send and receive data. This is almost always paired with a smartphone.
The Ultimate T10 is equipped with a Kiox 300 display for this purpose, operated by just a few buttons on the left side of the steering wheel. The screen is very clear, easy to operate and really gives you all the information imaginable. Because it connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone, you can read most of the information here, even when you’re not cycling. The link also ensures that software updates are performed automatically (over the air).
What do you think of the Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB?
If you’re looking for a sporty, comfortable e-bike preferably from a premium Dutch brand, the Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB is an excellent choice. The bike has a rather fancy look and is a mix of a city bike and a touring bike, especially if you like to go on longer bike rides.
The bike is equipped with the well-known Bosch mid-mounted motor that has proven its strength during our rides through the hills. The 10-speed Shimano Deore gearset also makes cycling significantly more sporty and ensures that you can ride the bike with ease even without support. Ultimate sends are really cool. You will experience it on your turn. The bike offers added comfort due to the front fork suspension and has an excellent set of well-dosed hydraulic disc brakes.
A tightly concealed 500Wh battery provides more than enough range. You can choose to replace it with a 625 Wh battery, which of course offers you more range: highly recommended for people who like to take long trips. The Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB is a multi-level device that delivers more than the cycling fun, both in the city and on long rides, that you can expect from a bike from the Dutch mainland. We are cycling country after all.
Main specifications
- Bike Type: Electric Bike (Hybrid)
- Model year: 2023
- Model: Ultimate
- Weight: 24.3 kg (excluding battery)
- Frame material: aluminium
- Front fork: spring
- Gears: Shimano Deore 10
- Payment system: chain
- Braking system: hydraulic disc brakes
- Lock type: Axa frame lock with plug-in option (certified security lock)
- Front/back lighting: via battery
- Saddle: Sealy Royal Essenza Plus
- Motor: Bosch 4.0 Performance Line (mid-engine)
- Motor power: 75 Nm
- Presentation: Bosch Kiox 300 Smart
- Ghazal Connect: Not found
- Battery: 500Wh or 625Wh centrally located in the frame
- Maximum range: 155 km (625 Wh battery)
- Sensors Type: Pedal Force Sensor
- Assist levels: 4 (Eco – Tour – Auto – Turbo)
Henk de Hoog
Henk is an internet entrepreneur, founder of DutchCowboys and also a tech and travel blogger, photographer, visual storyteller, and above all a digital nomad…
