Based on certainly one of our twin boys, the Specialised Globe Haul LT is “a really proficient bike.” I’m inclined to agree. Testing cargo bikes is certainly one of my favorite assignments as a result of scientifically-speaking, they’re probably the most enjoyable sort of bike. How are you going to not find yourself with a smile whereas using round being serenaded by preschoolers? (Caveat: your mileage might fluctuate)
Cargo bikes usually are available in two varieties: bucket (bakfiets), with cargo in entrance, or lengthy tail with payload positioned behind the rider. Bucket bikes are sometimes costlier, however work nicely for heavier masses as the load is positioned nearer to the bottom the place it’s extra secure. Lengthy tail bikes are less complicated, and thus are normally cheaper, however could be tormented by dealing with difficulties with freight on board. Each sorts have advantages, relying on the place you trip and the way a lot weight or what number of passengers you recurrently carry.
Specialised’s Globe Haul ST got here out to a lot fanfare in 2023 as a well-designed do-it-all quick tail cargo e-bike. The Globe Haul LT is the longer, extra strong sibling of the Haul ST (the letters denote quick tail vs. lengthy tail). We put it by way of its paces using to and from college, to playgrounds, grocery shops and extra.
Design and building
The Haul LT options an aluminum body with a metal fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and a Microshift 9 pace drivetrain
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
The Haul LT options an aluminum body with a metal fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and a Microshift 9 pace drivetrain. The body is advanced, with a latticework of struts and tubing help to make for a really strong unit. The metal fork is equally stout, providing little in the way in which of consolation.
The Haul ST’s 20” wheels come geared up with Specialised’s personal 3.5 inch “Carless Whisper” tires. These large tires roll nicely, have some tread and, with cautious pressure-changes, can add some cushion. The hub-based motor places out 700 watts and the massive battery (772 wh) has a said vary of as much as 60 miles. Prime pace is a zippy 28 mph. MSRP for the whole bike is $3500.
The body is advanced, with a latticework of struts and tubing help to make for a really strong unit.
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
The bike doesn’t come inventory with a throttle, although Specialised sells one as an add-on. This permits for throttle help as much as 20 mph, and adjustments it from Class 3 to Class 2. I didn’t check this, however my understanding is that even with the addition of the throttle, the pedal help nonetheless works as much as 28 mph.
The Haul LT is available in one measurement and one coloration solely (“Gloss White Mountains”). The load restrict, together with the rider, is 440 lbs. The bike itself weighs roughly 90 lbs, with out equipment, and feels each little bit of that. Total bicycle size is somewhat underneath 7 toes (82 inches, to be exact).
Saddle top and handlebar top are each adjustable, making for comparatively straightforward swaps between totally different measurement riders. The low standover top additionally helps with rideability.
The backend of the “Faculty Bus Equipment”: padded seats, a cargo rail for passengers to carry on to, and working boards.
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
Specialised geared up my check bike with the “Faculty Bus Equipment,” which consists of padded seats and a cargo rail for passengers to carry on to, working boards, a entrance rack and basket and onerous shell entrance panniers. These panniers look a bit like waste paper baskets, however work nice for fast grocery retailer runs. They’ve drain holes within the backside, simply in case. Put in, the hampers carry the bike’s general width to about 27 inches.
Whole retail worth for this package comes out to roughly $1100, which bumps the general worth up considerably. The seats on the again are extraordinarily comfortable (sure, I examined them) and the cargo rail is suitably stout. The body has a lifetime guarantee and Specialised additionally affords a 2 12 months “e-system” guarantee along with this.
The Experience
The built-in 1500 lumen lights labored nice. They’re unobtrusive more often than not, however a lot vivid sufficient when wanted. And the tyres are glorious—I might say finest in school
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
One of many shortcomings of lengthy tail cargo bikes is that any minor body flex is magnified with weight—particularly wiggly children—on the rear of the bike, which may create steering issues. Of the bikes I’ve ridden on this class, the Specialised Haul LT avoids this subject the most effective. The bike is clearly very nicely constructed and is remarkably stiff, which interprets on to confidence whereas using.
The draw back is that, with a purpose to obtain this stiffness, the bike is heavy. The Haul ST, which is considerably shorter, is weighty for its measurement, and the LT has been each lengthened and strengthened in comparison with the ST.
This isn’t a lot of a difficulty whereas using, however does pose an issue whereas parking or maneuvering the bike on foot. Lifting this bike up a curb, or up a few steps simply isn’t possible. The dimensions and weight additionally make storage tough. You’ll want devoted space for storing on floor stage, and if for some motive it is advisable to transport the bike someplace, you’ll need a van to take action.
I additionally had a tough time partaking and disengaging the kickstand with children on the again, merely due to how heavy the bike was. For a smaller particular person, the Haul LT can be extraordinarily tough to maneuver with any sort of cargo on board.
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
If the scale and weight don’t pose a difficulty, and so they received’t for everybody, the Globe Haul LT does loads proper. It’s enjoyable to trip, and dealing with is spot on. The tyres are glorious—I might say finest in school. Brakes and drivetrain did every thing they wanted to and the gear vary (generally an afterthought on cargo bikes) was stable. One small miss was the shortage of chainguard. This can be a bike meant to be ridden in informal garments, and a sequence guard is a necessity. Have been I protecting this bike long run, that’s the very first thing I might repair.
The built-in 1500 lumen lights labored nice. They’re unobtrusive more often than not, however a lot vivid sufficient when wanted.
I primarily used the bike on the extent 5 (full ship) help setting, and appeared to get round 35 miles per battery cost, which is excellent for this class. The facility was fast to have interaction and supplied constant assist as wanted, as soon as I obtained the dangle of the torque sensor. I did expertise some “ghost help,” the place pedaling gently at pace induced the motor to have interaction. Each system has its quirks, and plainly it’s only a matter of familiarizing your self with every of them to finest extract efficiency.
Worth and conclusion
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
I believe it’s a excellent factor to see an organization like Specialised carry its appreciable assets and OEM buying energy into the cargo bike world. Although a motorbike constructed for puttering round city doesn’t appear to be it has a lot in widespread with one for racing the Tour de France, there are similarities: each bikes must work flawlessly and each have to be function constructed for the duty at hand. I hope we see extra massive bike corporations throw their hats within the ring on this class. The extra e-cargo bikes there are on the earth, the higher, I say
Specialised’s Globe Haul LT does loads proper. It rides nicely, carries weight very nicely and goes a good distance on a single cost. However, it’s massive. I might like to check out the identical bike however shortened by six inches and 15 lbs lighter, simply to see how a lot simpler that might be to work with. I perceive why Specialised went this route (presumably partly to distinguish the LT from the ST), however I believe the scale might be a difficulty for some folks.
Value-wise, it matches up very favorably towards choices just like the well-reviewed Tern’s GSD ($4,500) or Momentum’s PakYak E+ ($5,500) or numerous others with bigger wheel sizes. It’s an more and more populated market, with a number of good choices throughout worth factors. At $3500, the Specialised Globe Haul LT has few friends—at the very least for now.
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