The Gazelle Medeo T9 City is the latest iteration of the brand’s urban electric bike. There are some interesting design changes this time around that make it more comfortable for a wider range of riders, and there’s improved ride quality thanks to the lower center of gravity.
On paper, these upgrades bring the Medeo T9 City into the same league as the best electric bikes, but in practice, I’m not so sure. I found it comfortable and stable, making it a potentially great option for new e-bike riders, but it missed the mark in a few key areas, making the $2,400 price tag a tough ask.
Gazelle Medeo T9 City review: price and availability
The Gazelle Medeo T9 City costs $2,229 and is listed on Gazelle’s website. There’s not a delivery option, so you’ll need to use Gazelle’s store finder to help you find a local option to check out the electric bike and take it home.
If you use the online customization options, there’s not a lot of configuration needed; you just need to choose a size — 40, 45, 50 or 55-inch frame. There are only two color options; Thyme Green and Caramel Khaki.
Gazelle Medeo T9 City review: design
The Medeo T9 City isn’t a minor update on the previous design; its a major redesign. The aim was to make it more accessible, and I think that the changes worked. The step-through frame makes it easier to get in the saddle, and the e-bike now comes in an extra small size for shorter riders.
There are smaller wheels and wider tires to improve stability, and the hydraulic disc breaks are more reliable in bad or wet weather. But the biggest change is the position of the battery, no longer mounted on the rear rack.
This updated version sees the battery moved to the down tube. It’s externally-mounted for convenience. This location frees up space on the rear rack, and also relocates weight to a lower point on the bike, which improves handling.
Locating the motor in the bottom bracket area (the area between your pedals) keeps the motor’s weight very low for improved ride feel and control. But mid-drive motors tend to be less powerful than hub-drive motors.
The handlebar-mounted LCD screen will even give you advice on when you should shift up or down to get the ideal pedaling cadence out of your bike. Plus, there are fenders, a rear rack, an integrated rear wheel lock, and a front suspension fork. The fork offers 75mm of travel to take the edge off small bumps.
The Medeo weighs 50.9 pounds, excluding the battery, which is on the heavy side compared to some of its immediate competitors. This won’t matter a whole lot while you’re riding it, but if you have to lift your bike frequently, it’s something to keep in mind.
Gazelle Medeo T9 City review: performance
I picked up the Medeo T9 City in downtown Denver and rode it home to the suburbs, about nine miles away. That meant zipping through city traffic before I got to really open it up on the mostly-empty bike path back to my town.
The Medeo T9 City feels pretty compact front to back, which makes it a fun and zippy ride. It’s clear Gazelle is trying to accommodate shorter riders here. The tradeoff is that taller riders might feel a bit cramped. The stem does adjust, so you can tailor the ride a bit, but this is limited and won’t help very tall riders over six feet tall.
It’s a comfortable, upright riding position. A comfy saddle, good grips, and an adjustable cockpit makes the Medeo a comfortable experience for riders who might be returning to the bike after years away, or who place a premium on comfort and ease of use.
On my ride from the bike shop to my home, I checked several times to make sure the assist was actually turned on. The Bosch motor operates silently, so you don’t get the tell-tale hum that lets you know the motor is running. But usually you can feel the tug of the motor; not so with the Bosch motor on the Medeo. The operation is super streamlined, so the assist is very subtle.
I often found it too subtle. In fact, after my first ride, I checked to make sure the rear wheel magnet was aligned correctly and I did some tests to make sure the motor was actually engaging. While that subtlety makes for a more natural bike riding experience, if you’re looking for a lot of assist to get you up steep pitches, this may not be the right bike for you.
The included front suspension fork takes the edge off small to medium sized hits. Like other suspension forks I’ve tested on commuter ebikes, this one feels a bit clunky. I think this bike would be just fine without the suspension fork; you could lower your tire pressure slightly and get plenty of compliance over everything except the largest hits.
I love that Gazelle included the integrated rear wheel lock. I often forget to bring a lock with me when I’m out and about, so integrating the lock takes away one complication.
Gazelle Medeo T9 City review: battery life
The 545Wh battery is an upgrade from the 400Wh battery the previous Medeo featured. That should give you a longer battery life and consequently more miles to ride. On a typical auto mode ride, you should get around 30-35 miles, but this will vary depending on how often the assist kicks in.
I charged it fully when I got home from my first ride. I then left it in the garage for five days while I went away on a trip. When I returned, the battery had drained almost 10 percent just sitting in the garage, which is unusual.
It’s possible that my battery is faulty or the bike is experiencing some parasitic drain, and it’s not likely that all of these bikes will experience the same issue. But if yours does, be sure to contact Gazelle.
Should you buy the Gazelle Medeo T9 City?
Gazelle’s Medeo T9 City is a smart upgrade to its previous iteration, with a better battery, wider size range, and comfortable, upright riding position. It’s an attractive bike, too, from a reputable brand that has put out numerous excellent ebikes.
The Medeo misses the mark in a few key areas, though. For starters, it’s quite expensive compared to bikes that offer similar power and features. And the motor feels very underpowered, and may not be suitable for riders who would be best served by this style of bike.
It’s a good bike, but it’s not the top choice for riders who need strong and assertive assist from the motor. It is, however, a great choice for short riders around five feet tall, who need a step-through design and a bike with a low center of gravity for easy handling.
Mid-drive motors aren’t common on commuter bikes, so it’s tough to compare the Medeo T9 City to other bikes in this class. But in terms of overall comfort and performance, the Medeo compares nicely to Ride1Up’s LMT’d V2.
Both bikes weigh around 55 pounds with the battery attached. And both feature a suspension fork — and both bikes would probably be better off without that suspension. Most importantly, however, the Ride1Up is almost $1,000 less expensive and offers many of the same amenities.
