The Specialized Globe Haul ST is the Best Bike Of The Year

The Specialized Globe Haul ST packs 419 pounds of cargo capacity into a surprisingly compact frame. With powerful brakes, dialed geometry, and well-thought-out features, it's ready to tackle commuting, grocery getting, neighborhood errands, or getting a kid to daycare.
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Read the full review: bit.ly/42X62VA
00:00 Intro
01:05 Why this is the Bike of the Year
02:00 How the Globe Haul rides like a normal bike
02:26 Very powerful brakes
02:45 Class 3 e-bike: pedal-assist up to 28 MPH
03:20 Hub motor benefits
04:23 Battery capacity
04:30 Factors affecting range
04:54 20" wheels with 3.5" tires
05:55 Reasonably priced compared to other e-bikes
06:04 Standard accessories
07:02 Testing setup priced at $3,400 with racks
07:17 Set up your Globe Haul to carry a child
07:33 Essential accessories we recommend
07:48 Why the Specialized Globe Haul is fun to ride
08:33 Downsides to the the Specialized Globe Haul ST
09:01 A well-balanced bike helps with lifting
09:26 "One size fits most"
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[@PersonaN007Grata]

Just picked this up. My first e-bike. Coming from a road background, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to sustain 20mph even on level 1! Just did a 35 mile ride on some flat roads, mostly on level 1 and 2 and 20-25mph. I’m 6’ and 190lbs. Got a decent work out. Had 39% battery left. If I’m doing the math right, I could’ve gone 57 miles. And it took 0.25kWh to charge back up. Again with the math, that’s 140 miles per kWh. Take that Tesla!

[@danchabanov4481]

I love this. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your Haul!

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

I bought one about a month ago and am enjoying it enormously.

[@billyrock8305]

This was the Car&Driver vehicle of the year 🏆

[@danchabanov4481]

Honestly, I wish.

[@maksymvinyarskyy2813]

Great review! I love the 3rd person shots of you riding it.

[@BicyclingMag]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@doates625]

I didn't look at any reviews before I bought my Haul ST. I walked into my local bike shop with a max of $3000 to spend and a list of requirements mostly around speed, power, and energy to make my work commute half as long. The mechanic said "This is the cheapest one you're going to get that fits your needs." Others were $10K. I left with exactly whay I needed for exaclty what I was willing to spend. Other than one issue with power cutouts that is covered under warranty, I absolutely love the bike. It is completely transforming my lifestyle in Boston. I was pleasantly surprised to look online and find out what a great deal I got and how widely esteemed this bike is.

[@WesternSpiritCyclingMoab]

Just got one last week and we're absolutely loving it! Not sure if we can shop for a 15 person Western Spirit trip with one, but our family of three, no problem.

[@ST-oq9wx]

This bike is awesome. Lack of suspension and heavy weight aside, I can’t flaw the thing. I’ve racked up close to a 1000 miles on mine. Ride it and I guarantee it’ll bring a huge ass grin to your face.

[@claymcclendon]

I live in Bentonville AR. With a Honda grom, 4runner, Road Bike, Gravel bike. They all have their uses in this town... But for commuting and with errands in this town (4 mile trip to work and Walmart) this is the bike I do touch every week.

[@burlingtonpark4136]

Great review.Thanks!Can you review REI's gen1.2 and 1.2? Also, Aventon's Abound? The first two are short tail cargo bikes.Tha Abound is a midtail with a torque sensor.

[@deeznutz8033]

Cant wait to get one! I have been commuting on my MTB, Road race bike, and Gravel bike recently. They're all great, however I am generally limited to what I can fit in my backpack. Which sucks when I'm going to the grocery store, or need to carry some extra stuff to work. I am hoping this makes the commute easier, and more fun. I am sure it will!!!

[@BicyclingMag]

Let us know how it works out for you.

[@deeznutz8033]

@@BicyclingMagso far so good! I haven’t driven my car and I’ve put 115 miles on it this week. It’s nice to save my legs for rides/ races that I WANT to do!

[@Freco1967]

Thanks for this helpful comprehensive review. Have you tried the Globe Haul LT? Just curious if you feel the same love for the longer frame.

[@Ctrey97]

Great review looks like a sweet bike. I like the color of it. I have the Lectric XPedition and have been absolutely loving using an ebike instead of a car. Have you tested the XPedition from Lectric? It's a cargo ebike with dual battery and its at least a $1000 cheaper than this ebike

[@Lxstking406]

Really nice looking bike, and good review. I just bought a wired ebike, and although I like this one, it is a bit out of my price range.

[@Enlightenmentnow]

EXCELLENT review! Would you recommend this for a heavier rider (250 lb.) too, or would another option be better in that situation? Thanks!

[@danchabanov4481]

I would. The frame and fork are very stiff compared to many other bikes in this price range. Meaning they would more likely handle better a larger rider. Our largest tester is not quite 250 but they are over 200 and it worked very well for them.

[@LiLDiddee]

Looks like a fun place to ride a bike.

[@danchabanov4481]

Philly is great for cycling.

[@mordenheim75]

Great Review Nice Bike, Shame is only for sell in the USA, im already ask to Specialized and no release date yet for selling it Global

[@backtofitzgerald00]

Looks awesome! How well/bad can it handle an adult on the back?

[@SolarizeYourLife]

You have the perfect bags for shopping...yeap that is the perfect cargo bike, that I am looking for...the only reason I like hub motor is the electric braking it provides... I do rather want a middrive, because of the torque sensor and not the overly full power to the bike, I just want some assistance...get rid of grip throttle... Sadly, they don't have sweaped back (45°) handlebars, I don't like straight bars...

[@no1TFKfan]

How does it behave in snow?

[@cyanginpedro]

Pro tip: sealant in your tubes helps avoid flats

[@biosfearmag]

I've definitely had my eye on this bike, especially being able to easily share with my partner who's 8 inches shorter than me. Just waiting to see what Oregon does with e-bike tax refunds.

[@jeffreyastjohn]

What city is this? Just curious. I like the Haul but I’m waiting for the LT to come out, which is apparently in the works.

[@danchabanov4481]

Should be launching soon :) This ride started in Philadelphia and went into the surrounding suburbs.

[@gavanconroy8453]

I think it’s pretty nice for it’s intended use. With ebikes being targets for theft, will it still be locked to the rack when you’ve finished your shopping?

[@ep1cg4m3r69]

that all depends on what lock you use.

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

@@ep1cg4m3r69 Locks -- plural.

[@danchabanov4481]

If you watch to the end, you can see that I bring the Haul into my house for storage. Which is not always feasible for everyone due to the bikes weight, one of the downsides of the Haul and e-cargo bikes in general.

[@wizard1399]

I noticed there was an issue with the headlight giving constant illumination. Seemed like the light would turn off every time you took a bump. Also, does the bike have a rear light and is it brake actuated?

[@danchabanov4481]

Can you point me to a time stamp of this happening, and I can give you a better answer. Potentially the light was set to daytime flash or maybe it was just the angle of the bump but either way I'll take a look. More generally, I have had zero issues with the lights on this bike. They are made by Lezyne and are very very good.

[@marisadamovics6186]

The light is on a flash function. The rider can switch between flash and constant illumination -with varying degrees of brightness.

[@jaderainhans9095]

you gonna love a anoiiki a177 or a8 and putting cargo on it it has a big cargo cart u can buy 4 it

[@fspinel]

Picked mine up and I have had a huge smile on my face every time I ride the darn thing. Goal is to never use my car again for city trips and perhaps some extended commutes. Btw, what brand are those orange straps?

[@BicyclingMag]

Couldn't agree more!

[@bigwheelsturning]

I was worried about "heel strike" on the rear pannier, but it looks like you didn't have any problems. When I went to do a demo, it wouldn't work and through error codes. The tech there couldn't figure it out, so I left. Think it was the "too much grease" on the battery terminals. The biggest draw back for me is that it isn't UL 2849 approved. I asked the Special Lies tech center about this and they told me " the battery is UL approved". When I did the demo, I had them pull out the battery and there were no UL markings of any kind on the battery. There won't be any in NYC after next month and it will be a $1000 fine if they try to sell one after that date.

[@danchabanov4481]

Supposedly it meets UL standards but hasn't passed the certification YET. Hopefully, this will happen shortly. I personally haven't had any issues with error codes, but I know of a few folks that have. In each situation, a Specialized shop was able to get them sorted at no charge. When I first started riding the bike, I did have some trouble with heel strike on the rear pannier, but it was easy enough to get used to. Just took a few rides with it.

[@cadriver2570]

It’s ridiculous that other cargo bikes are so expensive.

[@living4adrenaline]

I test rode one of these on "5" on flat and was impressed with the acceleration. Is it possible to get a chip or something to override the top speed? Is the bike still limited to 28mph when going downhill? Cheers

[@busyrob]

I got mine up to 30mph going downhill unloaded.

[@jimbo92107]

Wouldn't mind seeing this bike with a magnesium alloy frame. Lighter and stronger, and possibly a bit cheaper, too.

[@danchabanov4481]

That would be sick!

[@mohamadmansor2279]

Is this paddle power or using throttle

[@danchabanov4481]

It comes stock as a pedal-assist bike. Riders can add a throttle to it for an extra $50. But the throttle is limited to a lower speed than the paddle assist.

[@RikAhlberg]

Is this bike UL listed? That’s becoming really important for consumers as regulations kick in. Specialized doesn’t mention anything about that in their specs.

[@marisadamovics6186]

The battery is UL certified

[@chrisE815]

Cadence sensing or torque? Would be disappointed if it's cadence at that price

[@marisadamovics6186]

dual-sided torque sensor

[@difflocktwo]

What's wrong with cadence?

[@chrisE815]

@@difflocktwo its on off vs providing output based on rider's input. Less ghost pedaling... more natural pedal feeling

[@difflocktwo]

@@chrisE815 I have tried both. Cadence/on off works perfectly fine.

[@b_uppy]

How about an cargo e-trike?

[@danchabanov4481]

They're out there. Radpower makes a really affordable one. We'll hopefully test one at some point!

[@b_uppy]

@@danchabanov4481 I am wanting one that is van-like...

[@charlieburrows0827]

Who recommends this bike as an everyday transportation vehicle to and from work

[@bfranco1519]

Where are you riding ? What town?

[@BicyclingMag]

Philly, PA

[@hemaccabe4292]

Would be nice to have some suspension.

[@danchabanov4481]

The tires are so big that I honestly don't find it to be as big of an issue as I thought it would be initially.

[@difflocktwo]

It's already too expensive as is. Suspension would only increase costs.

[@cadriver2570]

@@difflocktwo$2800 is the low low end of premium cargo bikes.

[@difflocktwo]

@@cadriver2570 Yeah I can buy a brand new motorcycle for that price which is 1000x more capable. A bicycle should cost 10x less than a motorcycle as it is basically 100x less parts/technology/material.

[@JasonBrooksfuturelevel]

Are those Fjallraven pants?

[@danchabanov4481]

Haha no they're Topo.

[@chadrathbone]

KBO Ranger $1,200 It's hub drive.

[@atomicsmith]

That super short wheelbase and 20” wheels looks like it gives a harsh ride. I think tern has worked the Geometry better.

[@gsamsa]

Ride isn’t harsh. Riding around the roads of DC without any issues.

[@simong8670]

When are Specialized going to release this bike to the rest of the world?

[@mogulmayhem]

Does Eben Weiss think this bike is fun?

[@hemaccabe4292]

I want a mid drive and a throttle.

[@danchabanov4481]

You can add a throttle for 50 bucks. Mid drive is great, but the hub motor on this bike is actually quite good, and to me, it's a worthy trade to keep the lower price point.

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@danchabanov4481 Good to know about the throttle. You could put that info in the video. BTW, like your boots. Good luck with your future videos!

[@danchabanov4481]

@@hemaccabe4292 I definitely talked about it. Not sure why that bit got cut. Thank you for watching either way!

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@danchabanov4481 You'll get it next time. You're welcome and TY!

[@dsp4392]

77lbs is 35kg

[@trailblasing]

Great vid, we love our Globe Haul too! If anyone's wondering what it's like with kids, here's a review from that perspective: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5eUaYJrd5WhmJo

[@difflocktwo]

Some people like to ride bikes that can carry a lot of things, like groceries, toys, or even other people. These bikes are called cargo bikes and they are very big and heavy. They also cost a lot of money, sometimes more than $10,000! Other people like to ride motorcycles that can go very fast and far. These motorcycles are called dual-sport motorcycles and they are very light and powerful. They also cost less money than cargo bikes, sometimes as low as $4,000! For example, one motorcycle that is very good is the Honda XR150L. It can carry up to 330 lbs of things or people and it can go up to 75 mph. It only costs $3,199, which is much less than a cargo bike. So, some people think that cargo bikes are way too expensive and not very fun. They think that motorcycles are much better and cheaper and more fun. They would rather buy a motorcycle than a cargo bike.

[@jbpeconic]

This is just a Radrunner for twice the price

[@danchabanov4481]

I can totally see where you get this from looking at the two bikes on paper. If you get a chance to test ride both bikes, I would love to hear what you think. For me, the RadRunner rides far worse and is borderline unstable when initiating turns. Also, the current RadRunner is $2,300 making it only $500 cheaper than the Haul. While I understand that $500 is a nontrivial amount of money, I think it's worth it just for having dealer support. The fact that the bike actually rides well is an added bonus at that point.

[@jbpeconic]

Hi, thanks for the great reply, but we're talking about different bikes! The Radrunner 2 goes for $1350, so just about exactly half the price of the Globe. And like the Globe, the Radrunner 2 has a rigid fork. I haven't tried the Radrunner plus with its suspension fork, but I wonder if a soft fork setting is why it seemed to dive into corners. I've been riding the RR2 as a daily commuter/car replacement for almost 3 years and I can't see what Specialized brings to another company's already successful design. Except front panniers--those are cool.

[@danchabanov4481]

@@jbpeconic Hi, always happy to chat. So you're totally right that the Radrunner 2 is very affordable, and before I say anything else, I think it's awesome that it's allowed you to replace car trips for nearly three years. A big reason why I'm doing more coverage of these kinds of bikes is precisely to help promote what you are already doing. Having said that, I do have some really big problems with the Radrunner 2 (and honestly, the Radrunner 3 as well). In principle, I like what Rad is doing in terms of offering affordably priced e-bikes, but it, unfortunately, feels like they often cut a few corners to hit their price points. My major issue with the Radrunner 2 are the brakes(We've tested the 2 in the past). Mechanical disc brakes on a bike with a 300lb weight limit and a 28mph top speed are objectively bad, and I would never ever recommend an e-bike without hydraulic disc brakes (preferably 4-cylinder ones in combination with at least 180mm rotors front and rear). Lectric does just that on their Expedition cargo e-bike for around $1,400. So it's inexcusable to me that Rad still sells the Radrunner 2 with mechanical brakes. The Radrunner 3 addresses this but also adds other features and ends up at a higher price point because of this. As for the handling of the 3 that I tested recently, it did not so much dive into corners as suffered from front wheel flop. Likely a bad combination of head tube angle, fork rake, and wheelbase. I've tested enough cargo bikes with suspension forks that do not have this issue to know that it's not related to the fork. I'm honestly hoping that Rad fixes these issues because I think there is a space in the market for them, and I want to be able to recommend them as a cheaper alternative to the Haul. But right now, for me, if you're looking for a solid cargo e-bike in the price range of "half the Haul," then the Lectric Expedition is my pick. I also think there is space in the market for something a bit nicer and higher-end than these cheaper bikes. I think Specialized is aiming at these riders. Folks that want bike shop support, a lifetime frame warranty, and drive train parts from reputable brands. The Haul is not a revolutionary product, but it's the best-executed version of this kind of bike that I've tried and I think that's worthy of praise.

[@moremoola]

OVERPRICED

[@helix9268]

How much does specialized pay you for this review?

[@TKae421]

It’ll get stolen.

[@helix9268]

Bike has zero suspension cost three grand lol.

[@toddpacker7058]

You must be one of the poors.

[@helix9268]

@@toddpacker7058 yeah we're the majority and can't waste money on overpriced trash.

[@toddpacker7058]

@@helix9268 Have you ridden one? It’s awesome.

[@helix9268]

@@toddpacker7058 i own 3 ebikes and rented bunch of high end ones. For the price this bike has to have suspension or you can just get lectric XP or similar bike for a grand same quality. It's being shown as a grocery getter just imagine how much damage every bump on road etc will have on food without suspension.

[@Masondurlach]

Bros mad about a cargo bike having no suspension 😂

[@micklessard9964]

I’m autistic. Your hand movements are very annoying.

[@jcolt84]

For those who are ignorant enough with their money to buy a bike, that is $1200 over priced, I'm glad that this bike exists, because dudes like you are more than happy to throw away money if that's what it takes to impress your boyfriend.

[@MarkasTZM]

Great bike and I'd be all over it if it were 60-72volts with a 40amp controller. In it's factory form it is just too weak to consider. Wired Freedom gets the win.

[@MarkasTZM]

You lose ALL credibility when you say 750w is lot of power. It's fine to stay "legal" but it is NOT and NEVER will be a lot of power.