Test Tern GSD R14: The compact bike manufacturer's top cargo model impresses with its uncomplicated driving characteristics, high payload and a huge range of accessories.
The compact bike manufacturer Tern started 2011 with modest results folding bikes and is still strongly represented in this market segment. In addition, there is now a considerable range of compact cargo bikes, which have significantly increased the visibility of the brand. The Tern GSD R14 in particular is increasingly found in front of residential buildings, daycare centers and supermarkets; For small families there is the compact Quick Haul, which allows versatile transport of loads and children for just under 3.000 euros.
What all Tern cargo bikes have in common is the “long tail” principle: at the front the bikes look like normal 20-inch models, but behind the saddle it gets really long. The extreme advantage of this design lies in the steering properties, which hardly differ from conventional bicycles or compact e-bikes. The front wheel is not meters in front of the driver, which requires a completely new understanding of cornering and is not without problems. On the “Long John” with a transport area at the front, the front wheel, which is only lightly loaded, reacts sensitively to slippery surfaces when braking. When loaded, some models tend to sway and maneuvering is not that easy.
Uncomplicated cargo cycling thanks to the “Long Tail”
With the Tern, on the other hand, children and cones ride at the back with a good center of gravity, and the only disadvantage is that you can't keep an eye on the payload or offspring. In addition, of course, there are limits to the loading volume due to the design - the volume, mind you, not the weight of the load. The GSD is designed for a permissible total weight of 200 kilos; Minus the respective vehicle weight, it can handle just as much payload as many “Long John” bikes. However, when making this calculation you also have to take into account the weight of any necessary accessories.
A wide variety of accessories
And there is an incredible variety of that at Tern. Two child seats can be mounted on the long rear rack, or alternatively a “Captain's Chair” for a larger child or even an adult. For transporting loads, there are sturdy side bags in different sizes up to 52 liters each, which rest on the frame-mounted footrests. The bags can be combined with a 40×60 cm transport platform with a surrounding railing or with a metal frame called “Clubhouse”, which is even larger and provides stable support for beverage crates, for example. Different front carriers are also available, for which special bags are offered; Tern also offers a sedan-like all-round canopy called Storm Shield for comfortable child transport. However, the person in the saddle is exposed to the weather without any protection - unlike a cargo bike with a transport box and structure at the front, which keeps out wind and rain quite well.
Tern GSD R14 – top model with Rohloff hub
Cargo bikes that reach the five-figure range are not uncommon, and the Tern GSD R14 also belongs to this category. As added value compared to the basic model, it offers Rohloff's 14-speed gear hub plus toothed belt instead of ten-speed derailleur gears, the comfort of a parallelogram spring support as well as a brighter front light and a larger battery (500 instead of 400 watt hours).
Tern GSD R14 equipment
Apart from that, all three GSD models are very high-quality equipped: They offer suspension forks and four-piston brake systems, a folding handlebar mast and easy height adjustment of the saddle, puncture-proof Schwalbe tires with Big Ben Plus at the front and Super Moto-X at the rear, plus a completely covered one Drive train and a cover for the rear wheel, which is an important safety feature, especially when transporting children. And of course the GSD is powerfully motorized: the Bosch Cargo Line pushes the loaded bike powerfully with 85 Nm of torque; In addition to the 14 Wh battery installed as standard in the GSD R500, a second battery can be ordered, which is attached to the outside of the frame like the first. The double battery is of course useful for longer journeys with a lot of luggage, although the 500 Wh battery does not need to be recharged too often for everyday short and medium-distance journeys.
Handy steering with small wheels
Of course, the GSD doesn't ride quite like a conventional (compact) e-bike, but it takes a lot less getting used to than with a Long John. Despite the small wheels, getting around is comfortable thanks to the suspension components; the steering is handy, the sitting posture is compact and relaxed. The ring lock on the fork is practical as a security for short stops - there is no room for it on the rear of this e-bike, but you still want it with you.
Whether the Tern GSD has to be the expensive top model remains to be seen. The electronically operated Rohloff hub impresses with a large range of gear ratios and can be adjusted so that it switches down to a preselected gear when stationary. However, the basic model with derailleur gears is also suitable for everyday use. And the 3.500 euros you save with this bike can at least partly be put into accessories...
