IN BRIEF
Gazelle is the latest brand to adopt Bosch’s new hub motor, the Hub Line, on a city bike called the Curb. The motor sits in the rear wheel and the 360 Wh battery inside the frame: the result, a machine that “almost doesn’t look like an electric bike”. Two versions at the same price of €2,399 — one belt-driven and single-speed, the other with a nine-speed Shimano derailleur. The Curb has already won a Red Dot, but it will not be delivered until around mid-October 2026.
| Motor | Bosch Hub Line (rear hub motor), 45 Nm |
| Battery | 360 Wh integrated into the frame (+ 250 Wh “PowerMore” optional) |
| Versions | Curb C1 (Gates belt, single-speed) · Curb T9 (Shimano Cues, 9 speeds) |
| Brakes | Shimano MT200 hydraulic |
| Equipment | Integrated Supernova lighting, mudguards, frame lock |
| Award | Red Dot Design Award |
| Price | €2,399 (both versions) |
| Availability | Around mid-October 2026 |
A city bike that keeps its cards close to its chest: no bulky motor at the bottom bracket, no battery bolted onto the outside. On the Curb, Gazelle has tucked everything out of sight. The motor slips into the rear wheel, the battery disappears into the frame, and the whole thing could almost pass for an unassisted bike.
A motor in the wheel, a battery in the frame
The Curb is the first Gazelle to use the Hub Line, Bosch’s first hub motor, which sits at the rear and delivers 45 Nm of torque. That is less than the mid-drive of an electric mountain bike, but it fits the job: the city, the daily commute, the gentle drag. The 360 Wh battery slides into the frame, cables included; a 250 Wh “PowerMore” booster pack can be added for the days when you ride further.
The rest of the specification is aimed at a hassle-free ride: Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes, Supernova lighting built into the handlebar and the mudguard, and a frame lock fitted as standard. Enough to leave the bike outside a bakery for two minutes without giving it a second thought.
Belt or derailleur, at the same price
Gazelle offers the Curb in two versions, both priced at €2,399. The C1 goes for absolute simplicity: a Gates belt, with no maintenance and no grease, and a single gear. The T9 adds a nine-speed Shimano Cues derailleur, for riders who meet hills or want to stretch their rides out. Same price, two philosophies — it is up to the customer to choose between peace of mind and versatility.
Award-winning, but patient
The work on the bike’s lines has already earned the Curb a Red Dot Design Award, one of the most sought-after design prizes. Now for the wait: Gazelle is only announcing first deliveries for around mid-October 2026, which in practice makes it a next-season model.
Above all, the Curb illustrates a shift under way: Bosch’s very first hub motor, barely announced, is already reaching the catalogues of the big urban brands. The electric city bike keeps on blending into the background — and that is probably exactly what is asked of it.
