Gazelle Basic
 

Anyone own one? Or taken one for a test drive? What do you think?

I am building one up. I can't speak for the ride characteristics but Gazelle certainly has a following and they were fantastic at color combinations. There are threads aplenty here on gazelles. Check the Dutch bikes thread, plenty them there as well.

I ride a 1995 Gazelle A-Touren for transportation and love it. I've also test ridden the currently produced Gazelle Basic and Toer Populair, and they handle well.

You might find these posts helpful:
Gazelle Basic vs Linus Dutchie
Question of Favourites
Heavyweights, Midweights, Lightweights
My vintage Gazelle

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/...427c96bb_o.jpg

Veloria - I LOVE your blog. There isn't much out there in terms of bike blogs for people who have to adjust for joint problems and your posts about pain in the wrists have been very inspiring to me when I was biking with hip pain. That's where I got the idea of saving up for the Gazelle. The CCM Mixte I'm fixing/riding has helped with the saddle (butt and hip) pain. It has problems with its bottom bracket and I can't get parts. My LBS is AMAZING at repair work but... if I can ride it for a year or two and save up.... Maybe the Gazelle Basic is my target bike?

Erin B

Erin B! Ah, I should have known : )
Yes, if I had to buy a new bike for under $1,000 today, the Gazelle Basic would be the one. But you already know that.

My guess is that you are not likely to find many bikeforumers who own this bike - firstly, because there aren't many women here, and secondly because it is not sufficiently vintage. But you never know. I will also keep an eye on any used ones that come up, because even with shipping to Canada it can be a good deal.

Thank you so much! It is definitely classic bike no mans land out here.

I took a mid-90s (I think?) men's Gazelle 3 speed for a test ride last fall. It was a luxurious ride and if I was looking for a big, heavy commuter bike that glides over pot holes I would definitely try to hunt one of those down - based on the prices I've seen I think a second hand 90s Gazelle is probably good bang for your second hand bucks.
So no opinion on modern or women's Gazelle's but a second hand, semi-vintage one seems to be a good alternative to more expensive, modern three speeds bikes.

Thanks Chris!

Veloria is likely right about there being a shortage of women here, but I was secretly hoping someone would say "my wife/girlfriend/daughter is 5'5" (my height) and she loves her G51 Gazelle Basic!" Or "Don't do it! The whole rest of the line is great but this one is a stinker" Either way, it would be good to know.

It's a long shot, but who knows? There are a tonne of people who belong to bike forums.... I might get lucky.

I'm never sure where questions about current production Dutch (or English or German....) style bikes should go. I have a hard time even keeping track of all the names for this shape. They turn up as roasters or city bikes cruisers or even sometime as hybrids.

I'm disappointed the step through frames stop at G57 in the size chart even though they build diamond frames in H61 and H65. I'd buy a Basic step through in sized in what would be a G61 in a heart beat!

I think the Gazelle Basic or any other Dutch-style bike is a great concept, but Simplex, Fongers ...or Gazelle do not built them like 50yrs ago. Nearly nothing is made in house and there are more non metals used.

Atm I am using a 50s light weight for commuting, but I have a Dutch bike too. A decades old Union. Gents edition however. Nice comfy all purpose bike, but not as fast the sporty light weight of course.

I would be just fine with a vintage version of this bike.... But due to my locale..... that's just not going to happen. I posted a wanted ad for an omafiet (with a picture and a description and didn't just trust people to know what an omafiet was, I called it a Dutch style bike) a while back and I found one. The gal taunted me with how nice it was, then talked herself out of selling it. :( I would feel less bad about this, but it has been in her garage for 10+ years.... I hope she starts biking again, but after that long I kind of doubt it. That was my only response. Old bikes here generally go for scrap.

Hmm... maybe more luck next time when you put up a wanted for an 'omafiets'

I hope you find one.

Well, I've test ridden this bike enough times to know that this is not the case. It is a good bike and the same exact frame as the Toer Populair model, only with simpler paint and components. Also, if you are 5'5" then the smaller frame should fit you. (I am 5'7" and ride the larger frame.)