I wanted the current Gazelle Ultimate C380 with the latest Bosch Smart System but didn't want to pay ~US$5,000 for one, I don't think that price represents good value. After spending some time searching the Internet, I found
The Bike Connection, a local bike shop in Palo Alto CA that sells the latest model Gazelle e-bikes online at substantial discounts way cheaper than I can find locally in my state.
I called them and they have an internet specialist who seemed knowledgeable and was able to answer my questions satisfactorily. So I took the plunge and placed an order with them for several hundred dollars less than I could find anywhere else.
I ordered the Gazelle Ultimate C380 on a Tuesday and it arrived via UPS the following Tuesday. I don't live in California and was not charged California sales tax.
The bike arrived in a big Diamondback box and was well wrapped, although on unpacking I found a few tiny scuff marks where parts had rubbed together during shipment over 500 miles. I had to attach the handlebars, insert the seatpost, attach the front wheel, the front mudguard, the front light and a rear reflector, pump up the tires and check all bolts for correct torque. It took me a while to do all this because no assembly instructions were provided and I have never done these steps before, but none of it was difficult. The only difficulty was that e-bikes like this one are heavy and not as easy for a small person like me to lift and align.
The one problem I encountered was that
The Bike Connection sent me the older model Bosch System 2 charger by mistake and it took me a while to figure out why it would not plug into the (fully charged) battery. I emailed them about my problem and they called me the next morning to apologize and send me the correct charger by next day UPS.
Despite this issue, I would order from them again to save several hundred dollars, as long as I knew exactly what I wanted. If you call them, ask for the Internet sales guy, he was the most helpful to me. Here's the link:
Find Bulls, Electra, Gazelle, Giant, Liv, Momentum, Scott, and Tern electric city, hybrid, and recreation bikes at The Bike Connection. Shop online or visit us today to select your new e-bike.
www.bikeconnection.net