Riese & Müller Nevo5 vs Gazelle Avignon 2026: The Comparison
Gazelle has properly entered the premium e-bike space. The 2026 Avignon rolls out with the brand new Bosch PX motor, a Gates belt drive, Enviolo gearing, and pricing that puts it nose-to-nose with the Riese & Müller Nevo5. If you're spending £3,500 to £5,000 on a step-through e-bike in the UK this year, these two are probably on your shortlist.
Let's be upfront about something. We stock Riese & Müller. We don't stock Gazelle. We're adding the Nevo5 Silent CORE to our website right now and we think it's a brilliant bike. But this comparison is here because you deserve a straight answer, not a sales pitch. We've looked at the specs, ridden the motors, and we'll tell you honestly where each bike wins. And where it doesn't.
UK Pricing Compared
Here's what you're actually looking at in the UK:
Gazelle Avignon 2026
| Model | Price | Motor | Gearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| C5 | £3,899 | Bosch Performance Line (75 Nm) | Shimano Nexus 5 |
| C380 | £4,199 | Bosch Performance PX (85 Nm) | Enviolo Manual CVT |
| C380+ | £4,499 | Bosch Performance PX (85 Nm) | Enviolo Automatiq CVT |
Riese & Müller Nevo5
| Model | Price | Motor | Gearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent CORE | £3,699 | Bosch Performance Line (75 Nm) | Shimano Nexus 5 |
| Touring CORE | ~£4,539 | Bosch PX (85 Nm) | Shimano Cues 10-spd |
| Vario CORE | £4,719 | Bosch PX (85 Nm) | Enviolo Manual CVT |
| Touring | from £5,469 | Bosch CX (85 Nm) | Shimano XT 11-spd Linkglide |
| Automatic | £5,979 | Bosch CX (85 Nm) | Enviolo Automatiq |
| Rohloff | £7,889 | Bosch CX (85 Nm) | Rohloff E-14 |
One thing to flag straight away: the Gazelle C5 at £3,899 does not get the PX motor. It runs the standard Bosch Performance Line at 75 Nm. You need the C380 at £4,199 or the C380+ at £4,499 for the PX. The same applies on the R&M side: the Silent CORE at £3,699 also runs the standard Performance Line, not the PX. You need the Touring CORE or above for the PX motor. We're pleased to confirm the Silent CORE is available in the UK. We're adding it to the ebikeist website now.
The stand-out value comparison? The Gazelle Avignon C380+ gives you the PX motor and Enviolo Automatiq for £4,499. To get Automatiq on a Nevo5, you're looking at £5,979 on the CX-powered Automatic model. That's still a £1,480 gap, and for that extra money you're getting the more powerful CX motor, 100 mm of suspension, wider tyres, and Magura brakes.
Whether those upgrades justify the price depends on how you ride.
Motor: Bosch PX vs Bosch CX
This is the big one. Both ranges offer the new Bosch PX on their mid-tier models (Gazelle C380/C380+, Nevo5 Touring CORE and Vario CORE), while the entry-level bikes on each side (Gazelle C5, Nevo5 Silent CORE) use the standard Bosch Performance Line at 75 Nm.
The Nevo5 also offers the proven Bosch CX on its higher-end models, from the Touring upwards.
PX vs CX at a Glance
| Spec | Bosch PX | Bosch CX (Gen 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Torque (standard) | 85 Nm | 85 Nm |
| Torque (max via update) | 90 Nm | 100 Nm |
| Peak power (max) | 700 W | 750 W |
| Weight | ~2.9 kg | ~2.7 kg |
| Noise | Near silent | Quieter than before, still audible |
| Track record | Brand new (2025) | 10+ years proven |
In simple terms, the PX is the refined one, the CX is the powerful one.
The PX motor is genuinely quiet. That might sound like a minor thing until you ride it. On a calm towpath or through a residential street, there's almost no motor noise at all. Just you, the tyres, and the wind. It delivers smooth, even assistance that feels natural and unhurried. For daily commuting and relaxed weekend rides, it's superb.
The CX pushes harder. It tops out at 100 Nm with the free firmware update (vs 90 Nm for the PX) and has a decade of refinement behind it. If you're tackling steep hills regularly, riding loaded with panniers, or you just want that extra shove when you need it, the CX still leads. It also gets Bosch's eMTB mode, which dynamically adjusts support based on your pedalling input. The PX doesn't have that.
Our honest take: for 75% of UK riding, the PX gives you everything you need and does it more quietly. The CX earns its keep on properly hilly terrain and loaded touring. Both are excellent motors.
Gearing: Same Hub, Different Brain
Both bikes offer Enviolo's continuously variable hub with a 380% gear range. No clicks, no steps, just a smooth sweep from low to high. But the way you interact with it differs.
The Enviolo Manual (Gazelle C380, Nevo5 Vario CORE) uses a twist-grip on the bars. You turn it like a throttle, and the ratio changes instantly. Simple, reliable, tactile. You can shift while pedalling, while stopped, whenever you want. The trade-off is periodic cable adjustment as the cable stretches.
The Enviolo Automatiq (Gazelle C380+, Nevo5 Automatic) replaces the cable with an electronic servo. You set your preferred cadence in the app, and the system handles everything. It auto-downshifts to a start gear when you stop at traffic lights, which, once you've experienced it, you won't want to go back from. No cables to adjust. One power connector to unplug for a rear wheel removal. It also offers a manual electronic mode with nine virtual gears if you want more control.
The Nevo5 range goes further with Rohloff (526% range, 14 speeds, bulletproof) and Pinion gearbox options. These aren't cheap, but if you want the best mechanical gearing available, only R&M offers it in this segment. We're huge fans of the Rohloff if budget allows, here's why >>
Frame, Suspension, and Ride Quality
This is where the Nevo5 clearly pulls ahead on paper and in practice.
Key Differences
| Feature | Gazelle Avignon | R&M Nevo5 |
|---|---|---|
| Fork travel | ~40 mm (telescope spring, unconfirmed) | 100 mm (SR Suntour Mobie 34) |
| Tyres | 55 mm Schwalbe | 62 mm Schwalbe Super Moto-X |
| Brakes | Tektro hydraulic (180/160) | Magura MT4 hydraulic |
| Wheels | 28" | 27.5" (all sizes) |
| ABS option | No | Yes (£373 extra) |
| Headset damper | No | Cane Creek Viscoset Blocker |
The Nevo5 has more than double the suspension travel. On UK roads, that's not a luxury, it's a genuine comfort difference. Potholes, broken tarmac, gravel towpaths, speed bumps. The Suntour Mobie 34 fork soaks these up far more effectively than the Gazelle's lighter telescope design. Pair that with wider 62 mm tyres, and you've got a bike that handles rough surfaces with confidence.
The Gazelle rides well on smooth tarmac and well-maintained cycle paths. It's stable and comfortable, and the lighter fork keeps the front end feeling nimble. But if your daily commute involves anything rougher than fresh asphalt, the Nevo5 handles it better.
R&M also fits a Cane Creek Viscoset headset damper across the range, which prevents handlebar wobble on a loaded step-through frame. It's a small detail that shows the engineering thought behind this bike.
The Details That Matter
Beyond the headline specs, there are a few differences worth knowing about.
| Detail | Gazelle Avignon | R&M Nevo5 |
|---|---|---|
| Frame warranty | 10 years | 2 years |
| GPS tracker | Built-in (subscription) | RX Chip (optional extra) |
| Lock | AXA frame lock | ABUS Granit Xplus + 130 cm chain |
| Front light | 70 lux Fendervision 2 | Supernova Mini 3 Pro (Mini 2 on Silent CORE) |
| Smallest frame | S / 49 cm (~1.65 m+) | 40 cm (~1.55 m+) |
| Colour options | 1-2 per model | 4 across range |
Gazelle's 10-year frame warranty is genuinely impressive and considerably longer than R&M's two years. The built-in GPS tracker is a nice touch too, though it requires a yearly subscription of around €40.
On security, the Nevo5 wins clearly. The ABUS Granit Xplus frame lock with a 130 cm plug-in chain is included as standard. That's a serious deterrent. The Gazelle comes with a frame lock only.
If you're shorter than about 1.65 m, the Nevo5's 40 cm frame option is important. The Gazelle's smallest frame starts a bit taller.
The Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Gazelle Avignon C380+ if you want the quietest possible ride, automatic gearing without spending close to £6,000, a 10-year frame warranty, built-in GPS tracking, and easy access to a large dealer network. It's outstanding value at £4,499. For smooth urban commuting and light touring on good surfaces, it's a genuinely excellent bike that does almost everything well.
Buy the Riese & Müller Nevo5 if you want proper suspension for rough UK roads, wider tyres, better brakes, a stronger lock, the option to upgrade to CX power, and access to premium gearing like Rohloff or Pinion. The CORE range, starting at £3,699 (Silent CORE), makes the entry point more accessible than ever, and the build quality is best-in-class.
If you want our honest take: the Gazelle is a very good bike at a very competitive price. The Nevo5 costs more, and the extra money buys you tangible things. More suspension, more tyre, more security, more options as you move up the range. Whether those things matter depends entirely on how and where you ride.
