E-Bike Overview
Available as a mid-step or classic-frame e-bike, the Gazelle Ultimate C380+ HMB has a range of high-grade components that make this a low-maintenance and fun bike to ride.
With most e-bikes on the market today you still have to perform regular maintenance on the chain and other drivetrain components. If not, the chain could get excessively dirty and make shifting balky and unpleasant – or it could even rust and break. Although the continuous variable transmission (CVT) hub in the rear wheel of the Ultimate C380+ is heavier than a derailleur/chain drive, it requires zero maintenance. This is because it lacks a chain but instead has a carbon belt drive that will last many years with virtually zero maintenance.
The electronics are made by Bosch, which has a reputation for being among the best in the e-bike market today. Though only 250W, the mid-drive motor puts out as much as 85Nm of torque and will take you all the way up to 28 mph without asking too much of the 500 Wh battery. Thanks to the Enviolo CVT transmission, you won’t be pedaling very hard at top speed either.
Four-piston Shimano hydraulic disc brakes provide strong stopping power even on steeper downhills and in wet weather.
Relatively lightweight at 55 lbs, this is a comfortable ride. Its SR Suntour suspension fork offers 80mm of travel and has a lockout lever for road use, so you can be comfortable on or off the road as you choose. Rounding out the machine are a rear rack, fenders, and lights.
Reasons to Buy the Ultimate C380+ HMB
Maintenance on most e-bikes can be a bit of a pain in the rump. The more you ride, the more maintenance is required. This isn’t so much the case with the Gazelle Ultimate C380+ HMB – with hydraulic disc brakes and its bomb-proof transmission system it is a very low-maintenance beast indeed. It’s a great fit for someone who doesn’t like worrying too much about their bike but wants to use it a lot.
Things to Consider
Could Gazelle have given this a better name? It sounds like a technician or a bureaucrat named it rather than someone who cared much for marketing. Cut through the garbled letters that name it and this is a very good high-end e-bike from tires to saddle!
