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Already present in the segment of electrically assisted cargo bikes with the GSD and HSD, the Taiwanese manufacturer Tern adds a string to its bow with the Quick Haul, a compact cargo bike that is determined to find a place in our congested cities.
When we talk about cargo bikes, we often think of imposing bikes, including when it comes to simply extended bikes, the famous cargo bikes long tails such as the Riese & Müller Multicharger, the O2Feel Equo Cargo or the Decathlon R500 Elec Cargo. More and more manufacturers, however, are beginning to offer compact freighters, capable of supporting heavy loads, but with smaller wheels and a reduced wheelbase to better sneak around town and park more easily.
It is also such a format that Mustache Bikes chose for its first cargo bike, the Monday 20, which is no longer than a conventional bike. The Taiwanese manufacturer Tern has decided to go even further with its Quick Haul, a compact 20-inch wheeled cargo even shorter and yet capable of supporting 150 kg of load and carrying a child on its luggage rack.
Tern is not at his first attempt on this format, already offering the HSD, a small bike with 20-inch wheels and a central Bosch motor designed to sneak in everywhere and store easily thanks to its folding stem and a capacity to park in a vertical position — resting on the back of its luggage rack. With a price of more than 4000 €, it is not intended for all budgets. It is therefore to make the compact cargo more accessible that Tern launches its Quick Haul. Inspired by the HSD, it starts at 3000 € without making too many compromises on the equipment.
We find an aluminum frame with an open frame that is easy to step over, 20-inch wheels with wide Schwalbe Big Apple tires, as well as a central motorization still signed Bosch. The first Quick Haul D8 model thus benefits from a Bosch Active Line Plus motor delivering a maximum torque of 50 Nm and powered by a Bosch PowerPack 400 battery. A base hitherto similar to that of the Tern HSD P9, but which supports a little less load (150 kg against 170 kg), ignores the suspension fork and the folding stem, is satisfied with a slightly more entry-level transmission (Shimano Altus with eight speeds rather than Alivio with nine speeds) and employs a rigid, non-telescopic seatpost. These technical compromises however allow it to be displayed at 2999 €, against 4130 € for its elder.
For 300 € more (3299 €), the Quick Haul P9 adopts the nine-speed Alivio transmission of the HSD P9 and benefits from a more efficient motor, the Bosch Performance Line (65 Nm), to roll with more ease when the bike is very loaded and you have to climb steep hills. A Quick Haul P5i with Bosch Performance Line motor, Nexus 5 internal gear hub and belt, will be released in Europe later.
Although it is rather short and compact, the Quick Haul is intended for users measuring between 1.50 m and 1.95 m, according to its manufacturer. It also benefits from a long luggage rack capable of supporting up to 50 kg of load. A child can sit there after installing a seat, the manufacturer even offering accessories for their comfort, in particular a complete rain hood. Most Tern HSD and GSD freighter accessories are also Quick Haul compatible.
The availability of the first examples of Tern Quick Haul D8 and P9 is announced for June 2022, with orders already open.