Gazelle

Medeo T10 Plus E-Bike

Some bikes tug at your heartstrings when you take them for a maiden ride around the block, and that's what happened when we took the Gazelle Medeo T10 Plus e-Bike for a casual spin. Our riders quickly fell in love with its high-gloss finish, faithful drivetrain, and disguised power that made it look and feel more versatile than your everyday commuter. Truth be told, it didn't take long for us to realize that this bike is in-fact more versatile than your everyday commuter, in more ways than one.

For starters, the Medeo's build quality is exceptional. Its aluminum frame is welded and sanded so cleanly that, upon first glance, we assumed it was a hydroformed piece of aluminum before closely inspecting the joints. Gazelle could have otped for low-cost components, but they chose to embrace a Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain that's undeniably reliable, and for those of us that commute beyond polished pavement, a front suspension fork with 63mm of travel that adds comfort on long and bumpy rides. The aluminum rims are mated with wider 28-inch tires to boost comfort as well, and the 15-millimiter quick-release thru-axle soaks up excess road chatter. The ride quality was so polished that a few of our riders began routing longer commutes to the office knowing the Medeo could withstand the wear and tear.

Perhaps the greatest feature of the Medeo, however, is its power. You wouldn't know it upon first glance, but the downtube of this stealthy commuter contains a powerful Bosch Performance Line Speed motor that's capable of producing up to 85Nm of torque for a ridiculous max speed of 28 miles per hour. Even if you only plan to engage the motor on daunting uphill climbs or standstill starts, its ready to go full-throttle at a moment's notice. A Bosch Purion LCD screen displays your current ride metrics, and allows you to switch between four different ride modes, one of which (eco mode) provides enough juice for up to 55 miles of travel.

Sometimes we purchase a commuter bike with the understanding that we'll have to add a few components here and there, but Gazelle went above and beyond to equip the Medeo with basic commuting necessities. A rear rack, front and rear lights, an integrated lock, and aluminum wheel fenders all come standard, so you're ready to ride as soon as you hop in the saddle.