I've compared this Avignon at my local Gazelle Experience Center to the Arroyo (called Grenoble over here). The Avignon is a tank and is most definitely the more modern and better looking bike of the two, it's a real beauty. But still the Arroyo won the comparison for me, the bike is lighter and because of that more agile in turns compared to the Avignon. But to be clear both are amazing. I bought two Grenoble's after testing them and been very pleased with my purchase. Top tip, if you buy a bike with the new Bosch smart system and it's equipped with the gray-scale Intuvia 100 display it's a relatively cheap upgrade to retrofit a Kiox 300 or 500 display that is way better. Next to being a much nicer color display that is completely configurable and much better to read in the dark, you also get navigation on it in combination with the flow app on your phone. Highly recommended.
Its such a pity we see youtube being flooded by fatbikes because of the direct giving away of these bikes to youtubers for a 'review' they first talk about how many watts it has and how easy it is to unlock it for 30,40,50 km/h ... I ride a reise and muller nevo3 gt automatic and will do about 9000km on it this year but gazelle is from the same line of thinking a relaxed (but fast) ride where its not about watts and speed but comfort and moving from a to b in a relaxed way lovely bicycle and living in Utrecht/Netherlands we see a lot more gazelle than r&m and thats fine. I do hope at some point people who only see reviews on youtube also find these more relaxed bicycles instead of really more fatbike wannabe scooters or motorcycles not because i don't think they have their place but people are missing out on some fantastic rides. Like always on your channel great review.
I tested the Avignon this week at our LBS. Its a really comfortable riding bike but its kind of like riding your grandfather's Cadillac. The long wheelbase frame is extremely heavy like a tank - well over 60lbs - which translates to a stable well handling ride. Unfortunately, the integrated handlebar and stem limit you for potential customization. You accurately indicated this bike is made for tall riders. Even at 5'5", I found the small size to still be a little big for me and although the handlebars can be brought back with the adjustable stem, they are then raised up to the point it feels like I'm driving a bus. The Rep indicated the Dutch style swept back integrated handlebar on the Avignon is something folks either really like or really hate. It has a very generous step through area which is ideal. Can I get used to the handlebars? Maybe, but at $5k, I'm not sure I want to take the chance. If you're looking for a zippy, fun ride, buy Gazelle's T10, which I also test road. If you're looking for a reliable, comfortable, leisure ride around the community or commute to work bike, this one is for you. Thank you so much for providing this review. There are next to no in depth reviews online of the Avignon in North America.
wanna build a similar rig w Novara Gotham and bbs02 . Wonder if the Gates belt and Nuvinci hub can handle 750watts . Gazelle has been around for a long time and they've eliminated the 'Whale Tail" wiggle on step thru frames pretty well .
Appreciate your calm, thoughtful, thorough review. You highlighted a belt-drive Gazelle I somehow overlooked. It combines a lot of features I like. An integrated stem & post suspension, plus wider tires, make the occasional rails-to-trails excursion sound doable. The build looks solid, with a low center of gravity and steady feel-an excellent point you make. Can’t think of much I don’t like, tho if I could add features they’d be: ability to adjust pedal cadence downward to half the typical rate, for cruising on the flat; a walk mode for loading; a throttle for self-rescue. Hope to be set straight if I missed something, or if there’s another bike I should consider. Thanks, appreciate this channel’s well-thought out reviews.
The bike does have a walk assist. As for pedal cadence, that is definitely adjustable; if you haven't tried a Bosch system you will see how dialed in it works and now with the ebike flow app from Bosch you can customize the ride feel even further
@@shawnvegavelez121 No throttle on Bosch bikes but really it's not necessary when you have a dialed in power systme like the Bosch Smart System. Have a look at this for some context on the different power systems: newwheel.net/pages/pedal-assist
Removing the wheel on an Enviolo equipped bike is not the simplest thing. Lucky the bike has fantastic tires. That being said, if you have a 15mm wrench it is a 15 minute job. Here's a video from our friends at R&M: th-cam.com/video/RQ8RjjkHZCs/w-d-xo.html
This video is not at all helpful because the belt tensioner on the Avignon is hidden behind a plastic cover…. which can only be accessed by first removing the crank arms!! (Per the mechanics at the bike shop that it came from) (You knew that this comment was coming.) Removing the back wheel is simply nightmare. I would also highly recommend adding a tannus liner in the rear wheel because nobody wants to remove the wheel more than twice in a lifetime. It’s like changing a shoe on a horses hoof with a popsicle stick and a potato peeler.
Is this similar to the C8 in 2019 and 2020? That's when I started to look into ebikes. It was the same year the NL was out. Not positive on the name. It had a rack on the front. I liked the Arroyo C8 but the motor was to small. Not enough power and speed. I have test ridden all the models back in 2019 through 2021. The Easy Flow was good but only went up to 20. Very comfortable.
Based on the tires and tire size you will have fantastic traction and control in wet conditions. Everything on the bike is completely sealed and can handle any weather.
@brett how tall are you? you say "it's great for guys like me at my height" but you never say how tall you are. I'm 6'5 so help me understand if you're close to that.
If I'm not being too intrusive, why would you buy this over the ultimate t10 +? Just asking because that is the bike I want to buy but I'm here in Canada so they are illegal. I have to settle on the ultimate t10 model. Peter
You always see videos of these bikes, where they riding off along the road , just like any other bike, BUT what we don't see that the bike starting off at the beginning , and that is what we all want to see, Im not convinced that this bike is any different to any other
@@thenewwheel If you do not have regen braking, you are using friction brakes. Brake pads wear out super fast. Brake pad costs add up. This is especially true with bicycle spec brake components. And doubly true if you pay someone else to service your brakes. Sitting on a tiny saddle is not comfortable at all and your junk goes numb.
Throttles are typically found on less expensive bikes that have less dialed in pedal amplification. With a good torque sensed pedal assist system, a throttle is not necessary.
It’ll have walk assist if you need to push it. It’s still a bike not a motorbike, so you’ve still got to pedal. Want a throttle get another ebike or moped.
I've compared this Avignon at my local Gazelle Experience Center to the Arroyo (called Grenoble over here). The Avignon is a tank and is most definitely the more modern and better looking bike of the two, it's a real beauty. But still the Arroyo won the comparison for me, the bike is lighter and because of that more agile in turns compared to the Avignon. But to be clear both are amazing. I bought two Grenoble's after testing them and been very pleased with my purchase. Top tip, if you buy a bike with the new Bosch smart system and it's equipped with the gray-scale Intuvia 100 display it's a relatively cheap upgrade to retrofit a Kiox 300 or 500 display that is way better. Next to being a much nicer color display that is completely configurable and much better to read in the dark, you also get navigation on it in combination with the flow app on your phone. Highly recommended.
Its such a pity we see youtube being flooded by fatbikes because of the direct giving away of these bikes to youtubers for a 'review' they first talk about how many watts it has and how easy it is to unlock it for 30,40,50 km/h ... I ride a reise and muller nevo3 gt automatic and will do about 9000km on it this year but gazelle is from the same line of thinking a relaxed (but fast) ride where its not about watts and speed but comfort and moving from a to b in a relaxed way lovely bicycle and living in Utrecht/Netherlands we see a lot more gazelle than r&m and thats fine. I do hope at some point people who only see reviews on youtube also find these more relaxed bicycles instead of really more fatbike wannabe scooters or motorcycles not because i don't think they have their place but people are missing out on some fantastic rides. Like always on your channel great review.
I live 2 km from the Dutch border. Gazelle has a very good reputation here. Today I looked at the Avignon. I will very likely buy it.
What🤷♂️
I tested the Avignon this week at our LBS. Its a really comfortable riding bike but its kind of like riding your grandfather's Cadillac. The long wheelbase frame is extremely heavy like a tank - well over 60lbs - which translates to a stable well handling ride. Unfortunately, the integrated handlebar and stem limit you for potential customization. You accurately indicated this bike is made for tall riders. Even at 5'5", I found the small size to still be a little big for me and although the handlebars can be brought back with the adjustable stem, they are then raised up to the point it feels like I'm driving a bus. The Rep indicated the Dutch style swept back integrated handlebar on the Avignon is something folks either really like or really hate. It has a very generous step through area which is ideal. Can I get used to the handlebars? Maybe, but at $5k, I'm not sure I want to take the chance. If you're looking for a zippy, fun ride, buy Gazelle's T10, which I also test road. If you're looking for a reliable, comfortable, leisure ride around the community or commute to work bike, this one is for you. Thank you so much for providing this review. There are next to no in depth reviews online of the Avignon in North America.
I would also highly recommend the Arroyo C5. We also did a video review of that one and it is great.
Great review as always! Fantastic footage riding the bike out in the wild too :)
This was really a fun one to shoot
Great review! I'm moving on from my Ultimate T10+ to a Tern S11, but I'll always be a Gazelle fanboy at heart ❤
wanna build a similar rig w Novara Gotham and bbs02 . Wonder if the Gates belt and Nuvinci hub can handle 750watts . Gazelle has been around for a long time and they've eliminated the 'Whale Tail" wiggle on step thru frames pretty well .
Thanks! I am looking into this bike as its little cheaper than Riese Muller bikes, but still high quality.
Come in for a test ride!
When I upgrade my current bike (Gazelle!) this is what I'll be getting.
Not a fan of the swept back handlebars. That is why I chose the ultimate 380 with the flatter sportier handlebars.
Appreciate your calm, thoughtful, thorough review. You highlighted a belt-drive Gazelle I somehow overlooked. It combines a lot of features I like. An integrated stem & post suspension, plus wider tires, make the occasional rails-to-trails excursion sound doable. The build looks solid, with a low center of gravity and steady feel-an excellent point you make. Can’t think of much I don’t like, tho if I could add features they’d be: ability to adjust pedal cadence downward to half the typical rate, for cruising on the flat; a walk mode for loading; a throttle for self-rescue. Hope to be set straight if I missed something, or if there’s another bike I should consider. Thanks, appreciate this channel’s well-thought out reviews.
The bike does have a walk assist. As for pedal cadence, that is definitely adjustable; if you haven't tried a Bosch system you will see how dialed in it works and now with the ebike flow app from Bosch you can customize the ride feel even further
@@thenewwheel That’s great to hear! Thank you for the additional info!
Great video- how much different is this vs the Gazelle Ultimate? thanks
It rides very differently. More comfort cruiser versus the Ultimate which is a bit sportier handling.
Favorite riding style. 🤩
Great review. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
This is a beautiful bike. Great informative review. It's definitely on my want list.
Thank you!
@TheNewWheelSanFrancisco is there a throttle version?
@@shawnvegavelez121 No throttle on Bosch bikes but really it's not necessary when you have a dialed in power systme like the Bosch Smart System. Have a look at this for some context on the different power systems: newwheel.net/pages/pedal-assist
@@thenewwheel Thank you, I'm still learning about e-bikes.
Please enlighten us on how to take the rear wheel off and on.
-Thank you.
Video please or I won’t believe you 😅
Removing the wheel on an Enviolo equipped bike is not the simplest thing. Lucky the bike has fantastic tires. That being said, if you have a 15mm wrench it is a 15 minute job. Here's a video from our friends at R&M: th-cam.com/video/RQ8RjjkHZCs/w-d-xo.html
This video is not at all helpful because the belt tensioner on the Avignon is hidden behind a plastic cover…. which can only be accessed by first removing the crank arms!!
(Per the mechanics at the bike shop that it came from)
(You knew that this comment was coming.)
Removing the back wheel is simply nightmare. I would also highly recommend adding a tannus liner in the rear wheel because nobody wants to remove the wheel more than twice in a lifetime.
It’s like changing a shoe on a horses hoof with a popsicle stick and a potato peeler.
Is this better than the Arroyo lineup? They look very similar.
They are similar in many ways. We have a new review of the Arroyo C5 which will answer this question of why one might choose one over the other.
Is this similar to the C8 in 2019 and 2020?
That's when I started to look into ebikes. It was the same year the NL was out. Not positive on the name. It had a rack on the front. I liked the Arroyo C8 but the motor was to small. Not enough power and speed. I have test ridden all the models back in 2019 through 2021.
The Easy Flow was good but only went up to 20. Very comfortable.
No it really isn't very similar at all.
How does it handle in wet conditions? and how damaging would rain be to it?
Based on the tires and tire size you will have fantastic traction and control in wet conditions. Everything on the bike is completely sealed and can handle any weather.
@@thenewwheel The advantage of a bike being designed in a wet and salty land. Superific. Gorgeous ride.
Does it only come in one size?
No. Three sizes in the USA.
thank you for your review
Thank you for watching!
@brett how tall are you? you say "it's great for guys like me at my height" but you never say how tall you are. I'm 6'5 so help me understand if you're close to that.
I’m 6’4”!
Gorgeous bike! Wish it came out last year. I probably would have bought this over the Ultimate T10+.
You've got an awesome bike in the Ultimate T10+!
If I'm not being too intrusive, why would you buy this over the ultimate t10 +? Just asking because that is the bike I want to buy but I'm here in Canada so they are illegal. I have to settle on the ultimate t10 model. Peter
You always see videos of these bikes, where they riding off along the road , just like any other bike, BUT what we don't see that the bike starting off at the beginning , and that is what we all want to see, Im not convinced that this bike is any different to any other
Not sure I understand…
What I mean is let's see the bike starting off from standing still ,then go up to full speed
🤡
noodle
no regen = high maintenance
upright = unergonomic
Not sure about that take...
@@thenewwheel If you do not have regen braking, you are using friction brakes. Brake pads wear out super fast. Brake pad costs add up. This is especially true with bicycle spec brake components. And doubly true if you pay someone else to service your brakes.
Sitting on a tiny saddle is not comfortable at all and your junk goes numb.
Some ppl love upright, so whatever...
@@CaptButtonMash Yes, if they want to load their mass on a smaller area and increase pressure. Otherwise no. It is not comfortable.
@@difflocktwo I'm a fairly heavy rider and my first set of pads has lasted over 3.5 years.
$5k and no throttle. No thanks
Throttles are typically found on less expensive bikes that have less dialed in pedal amplification. With a good torque sensed pedal assist system, a throttle is not necessary.
@TheNewWheelSanFrancisco I have a trek commuter 8, and I want a throttle. Lol
It’ll have walk assist if you need to push it. It’s still a bike not a motorbike, so you’ve still got to pedal. Want a throttle get another ebike or moped.