Compact pedelecs are the new mini-bikes for daily trips through the city. Their 20-inch wheels, familiar from folding bikes, no longer stand for wobbly riding characteristics: The small frames of the non-folding compacts are super-stiff, and the wheels are also statically very stable due to their small diameter. Small everyday pedelecs such as the Tern Quick Haul can be parked to save space and can be used by riders of different sizes despite the universal frame.
Details of the Tern Quick Haul
The compact bikes can handle high payloads without complaint. Their permissible total weight can be set quite high without significant reinforcements. With the Tern Quick Haul, the manufacturer has utilised these characteristics and designed a mini transporter with an extended rear rack and a robust, frame-mounted rack at the front. Due to the long rear triangle, the wheelbase of the Tern is similar to that of a 28-inch bike, but because of its 20-inch wheels, the overall length is slightly shorter. This makes it very manoeuvrable when manoeuvring.
Base carrier for various accessories
Various accessories such as child seats in various designs, baskets, panniers or a loading area with a metal frame can be attached to the long base carrier - a child seat was fitted to our test bike. According to the manufacturer, the rear carrier can carry a load of up to 50 kilos, while up to 20 kilos can be stowed on the front carrier.
The Tern Quick Haul in practice
In the practical test, we experimented with different payloads. Due to the small wheels and the low battery, the centre of gravity of the Tern Quick Haul is low and central. The pedelec is therefore very stable without a load and requires little steering input despite the comparatively long wheelbase. The steering is playful and easy to control, even small radii are possible without the handlebars tending to collapse. Five kilos of luggage on the front carrier have no noticeable effect on the handling. With the maximum permitted 20 kilos on the frame-mounted front carrier, the Tern handles somewhat less precisely, but remains easy to control. However, it can no longer be safely parked on the side stand and tends to tip over. We therefore recommend loading the front rack with a maximum of 15 kilos.
The Tern Quick Haul reacts much more sensitively to luggage on the rear rack. A weight of 23 kilos instead of the permitted 50 kilos leads to noticeably unsteady and imprecise steering behaviour. If you increase the weight to 43 kilos, the bike will want to tighten small cornering radii even more. This is not critical, but can be surprising at first. If the steering angle remains within the usual range, the Tern is easy to control. Due to the lower centre of gravity, a heavy load in panniers attached to the side has much less of an effect on handling than our test load, which was initially placed on top of the "seat".
Uli Frieß, test editor: "The Quick Haul is a practical and robust everyday and family bike with appealing transport potential. The compact bike is stable and safe to ride, but a lot of weight on the rear carrier takes some getting used to."
Sensibly equipped
In the ride test, we also pushed the Tern Quick Haul's drive unit to almost the permissible limit of 150 kilos system weight. With a maximum torque of 65 Nm, the Bosch Performance motor copes well with the high weight. The drive responds sensitively to pedal pressure and runs almost inaudibly. Alternatively, the e-bike is also available with the slightly lower-torque Bosch Active Line, but the more powerful Performance version is better for high payloads. Shimano's Nexus 5 e-gear hub, which was developed for pedelecs, also performs well. It shifts its five gears precisely even under relatively high chain tension and requires very little maintenance. Overall, the equipment and workmanship of the Quick Haul are of a high standard.
Compromises for a versatile everyday runabout
The Tern is only available in one frame size. Long seat post extensions and the Speedlifter stem, which is height-adjustable without play, should make it suitable for riders between 160 and 195 centimetres tall. Tall riders sit very upright. However, the fact that the ergonomics are not perfect for all rider sizes is acceptable for short journeys. The fact that the mini transporter is not a comfort miracle due to the small wheels and stiff frame is one of the necessary compromises for such a versatile hybrid between a handy cargo bike and an urban everyday runabout. Its adjustability makes it the perfect family bike. However, the fact that it is not a pure cargo bike is evident in the steering behaviour, which takes some getting used to when the payload is exhausted.
The most important information about the e-bike at a glance
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line
- Torque: 65 Nm
- Display: Bosch Intuvia
- Battery size: 500 Wh
- Gear hub: Nexus Inter 5-E
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: Rigid fork, steel
- Brakes: Disc, Clarks hydraulic
- Tyres: Schwalbe Big Apple Reflex 55-406
- Lighting system: frontContec DLUX 50N++, 50 lux; backContec TL-335
- Weight: 29 kilos
- Permissible total weight: 150 kilogrammes
- Frame size: universal, one size
- Handlebar width: 680 mm
- Wheelbase: 1,160 mm
- Price: 3,499 Euro
Conclusion on the Tern Quick Haul
- Plus: Stiff frame, manoeuvrable and stable, low-maintenance
- Minus: Not very comfortable, riding characteristics with high weight on rear carrier
You can find more information about the pedelec at www.ternbicycles.com
