Gazelle Cabby Longtail Cargo Bike Review

In this review, we take a detailed look at the Gazelle Cabby, a stylish new addition to the world of electric longtail cargo bikes. Whether you’re tackling the school run, hauling the weekly shop, or heading out on weekend adventures with the kids, we put the Cabby through its paces to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your family. We’ll cover everything from ride feel to storage practicality, hear what the kids think, and compare it to other popular longtails to give you the full picture.

If you're still weighing up your options, take a look at our guide to the best cargo bikes for families, where we explain the differences between box bikes and longtails. And if you are still wondering if a cargo bike is right for your family? Take our quiz to find out!

Disclosure:  Cycle Sprog were sent the Gazelle Cabby to review. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links, so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

About our reviewers

Dan, Kate, Robyn (5), and Harry (3) are experienced family cyclists who regularly use their own electric longtail cargo bike for the school run, daily transport, and weekend trips. Their current ride is the Decathlon longtail, so they were able to directly compare its performance, handling, and features against the Gazelle Cabby.

The bike was also tested by Laura Moss, who has previously reviewed cargo bikes for Cycle Sprog. Laura provides a helpful comparison to her Tern GSD, which she rides daily in hilly Kendal.

About Gazelle Bikes

Royal Dutch Gazelle has been producing bicycles in the Netherlands for over 130 years. Renowned for their comfort, build quality and innovative design, Gazelle bikes are known across Europe for their reliable and stylish commuter and leisure bikes. Their range includes city bikes, trekking bikes, e-bikes, and increasingly, cargo bikes, a reflection of the growing demand for practical family transport solutions.

Gazelle’s cargo bike line-up focuses on high-quality electric models that combine traditional Dutch bike aesthetics with modern e-bike technology. All bikes are hand-assembled in the Netherlands and supported by a large dealer network. The Cabby is their latest entry into the longtail cargo category, offering a compact, nimble ride with family-friendly features.

First Impressions of the Gazelle Cabby

The Gazelle Cabby immediately impressed with its sleek design and high-quality finish. The blue paintwork is bold yet classy and drew compliments from others out and about. It’s a bike that stands out for the right reasons.

Robyn (age 5) quickly noticed how comfortable the rear seating looked, especially the padded backrest, something she was very enthusiastic about. The double-bar (caboose) system around the passenger area gave the impression of extra safety and structure, which reassured both parents and passers-by.

Adjusting the Cabby to different riders was intuitive and quick, the saddle adjusted easily, and the Bosch control panel was simple to navigate. From the first ride, it felt like everything was solidly built and well thought through.

Gazelle Cabby Specifications

The Gazelle Cabby is built to look and feel like a regular e-bike, making it especially attractive to those new to cargo bikes. It features a large 26” front wheel and a smaller 24” rear wheel, a thoughtful combination that contributes to both ride quality and stability. The larger front wheel smooths out uneven terrain, potholes and curbs, while the smaller rear wheel helps to keep the centre of mass lower when carrying weight at the back, improving balance and control. The upright riding position and confident, natural handling mean the Cabby feels more like a “normal” bike than a “bike bus”, a real plus for riders transitioning from a standard e-bike.

The Cabby is available in two frame sizes: L45 and L55 (55 cm). We tested the L45, which proved a bit on the small side for our taller rider (5ft 11in), yet still manageable between both parents. It’s fairly rare for family e‑cargo bikes to offer more than one size, since they’re often shared. Gazelle’s decision to offer two sizes helps the Cabby feel more like a ‘normal’ bike and allows a more comfortable riding position, as long as the size is right. The L45 fits people roughly between 1.60 m and 1.75 m (about 5ft3in – 5ft9in), while the L55 is recommended for riders from 1.75 m to 1.90 m (around 5ft9in – 6ft3in. 

There’s up to 80kg capacity on the rear rack, 15kg on the front, and a total system weight of 200kg including rider – ideal for carrying children, shopping, and gear.

The motor is a Bosch Performance Line CX, delivering up to 85Nm of torque, giving the Cabby a decent helping hand up hills, although we’ll go into more detail on that in the riding section. Three battery options are available (400Wh, 545Wh, and 800Wh), allowing families to choose the right range for their lifestyle. We rode the 545Wh battery.

Other key features include:

• Hydraulic Tektro disc brakes, which gave us real confidence, especially on Cumbria’s steep descents.
  
• Enviolo stepless hub gearing with a carbon belt drive, quiet, low-maintenance, and smooth. You do need to pause pedalling to change gear, which takes some practice, but this does allow you to shift while stationary, perfect for traffic lights or hill starts.
  
• SR Suntour front suspension: helpful for smoothing out gravel or bumps.
  
• Schwalbe tyres: grippy and puncture-resistant.
  
• Bright integrated lights: including a particularly powerful front Tektro light.
• Ergon grips and Selle Royal Orbis saddle: comfortable touchpoints for long rides.

Walk assist is present, but it’s a little slow to activate, something to bear in mind if you regularly need to push the bike up slopes.

One minor downside was the kickstand, which has a double ‘V’ design for great stability when parked, which we were really impressed by. Unfortunately, to remove the bike from the stand, it required a strong up-and-over pull, not a smooth roll forward. This movement had to be done from standing next to the bike and less possible while straddling it, ready to go. The stand also rattled and banged around a fair bit on rougher ground, such as speed bumps, curbs and potholes, which was the one element of the bike that didn’t feel premium.

Riding the Gazelle Cabby

Over three weeks, we used the Cabby for daily nursery and school runs, quick trips into town, and one short gravel track adventure.

On smooth terrain, the Cabby really shines. It’s lightweight and nimble, making it ideal for urban riding, weaving through traffic, and navigating cycle paths. Compared to our Decathlon longtail, the Cabby felt much shorter and easier to manoeuvre. Kate could even manoeuvre it with both kids loaded, something she can’t do with our own bike.

The stability while riding is a standout feature. The bike remained composed even with two kids on board, and the larger wheels helped roll over bumps without jarring. On tight corners and roundabouts, it handled much more like a traditional bike than a cargo one.

However, power on hills was a sticking point for us. Compared to our own hub motor bike with a cadence sensor, the Cabby was noticeably slower and required more pedalling input. On one steep hill (a 10% gradient Cumbrian hill), it dropped to 4mph, even on a relatively full battery. If your daily route includes big climbs, we’d recommend opting for the largest battery and being aware that the motor, while high quality, doesn’t have the same speed-feel as others.

In contrast, Laura found the power output comparable to her Tern GSD, which also has a Bosch mid-drive motor. So, your experience may depend on what you’re comparing it to.

Our children loved the rear caboose area, although the double bar system meant they couldn’t climb in themselves with their helmets on. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.

Without any passengers, the Cabby feels like a very normal e-bike, easy to ride, turn, and park.

We rode the L45 model, the smaller of the two sizes, and it worked well for both Dan and Kate, though Dan (5ft 11) occasionally felt it was slightly compact. The low step-through frame made it really easy to mount and dismount, something shorter riders or those with limited mobility will appreciate.

Gazelle Cabby Accessories

Gazelle offers a neat range of high-quality accessories for the Cabby, using the MIK system for easy click‑on/off compatibility. Available options include a long‑tail seat cushion (£55), Caboose/rear Monkey Bar safety rail (£43), footrests (£45), a back cushion (£35) and a front 20 L MIK cargo bag (£105)

These accessories are well-engineered and feel premium, cushions are durable, bags are water‑resistant, and the MIK rack system makes them surprisingly easy to change between parents or use cases. However, make sure you budget these additional accessories into your consideration when looking at this bike, as it comes as standard without any family carrying accessories.

Any child bike seat equipped with MIK HD is compatible with this bike.

If you already have panniers, these will likely fit the bike. Gazelle sell single and double cargo compatible panniers (£115), which we haven't seen in the flesh, but look well designed and able to carry lots!

We’d love to see a rain cover from Gazelle itself. As it stands, the range of seats and MIK accessories is excellent for everyday school run and shopping use, but families wanting full all‑weather cargo protection for a car replacement may still need to look elsewhere or consider DIY solutions.

Storing, Parking and Charging the Gazelle Cabby

The Cabby’s compact footprint (197/200cm) makes it one of the easier longtails to store. It fits neatly in our narrow shed and could be wheeled through a standard doorway (with care). While it doesn’t have a folding handlebar like some compact longtails, the shorter rear deck makes it less of a storage headache than box bikes or longer frames like the Decathlon Longtail.

The battery is easy to remove and can be charged either on or off the bike, taking around 5 to 7 hours for a full charge. The charging port is accessible and well protected from the weather. If you don’t have a garage or secure charging spot outside, being able to lift the battery out for indoor charging is a real plus.

Gazelle Warranty and Aftercare

Gazelle offers a five-year warranty on the frame and paintwork and two years on the suspension fork, motor, battery and other parts. Servicing should therefore be straightforward thanks to the widespread network of Gazelle dealers, and we would expect that the bike’s high-end, low-maintenance components (belt drive, Enviolo hub, integrated lights) should mean fewer headaches over time.

This long warranty and high level of service support really help justify the higher price tag compared to more budget cargo bikes, a serious consideration if you’re using your bike daily and want something built to last and easy to maintain

Built-in Security Features

Security is always a concern with e-bikes, and we were pleased to see that the Cabby comes with built-in GPS tracking via the Gazelle Connect app. It’s clearly marked on the frame, so it may act as a deterrent as well as offering peace of mind.

The setup was straightforward, and alerts are sent instantly if the bike moves unexpectedly. The first year of app use is included free (then costs £35 per year), making this a welcome feature, particularly for those in urban or high-theft areas.

Thoughts from the Sprogs

“I love the speedbike!”
“I like the big comfy cushions.”

The Gazelle Cabby compared to the Tern GSD

Laura, who rides a Tern GSD daily in Kendal, found the Cabby’s performance comparable in terms of motor feel and ride power. The Cabby is more compact, which makes it easier to manoeuvre and store, but it does mean there’s slightly less space for growing kids on the rear rack.

She also appreciated the Enviolo gears, and while she missed the thumb trigger to lift the stand (as found on the GSD) and ease of rocking the bike on and off the stand, the Cabby’s stand still offered stable parking.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• Best electric longtail cargo bikes to carry kids
• Best electric box bikes to carry kids
• How to start cycling with a small child in a bike seat, cargo bike or trailer
• 7 reasons to ride an electric cargo bike with your kids
• What type of cargo bike is best for my family?
• Top things to look out for when buying an electric cargo bike
• Cargo bike insurance: a comprehensive guide
• Best cargo bike locks