Tern Quick Haul P9 Review

This review was provided for free. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Tern products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Tern electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Tern is a leader in the folding bicycle space, and an early adopter of electric bike technology. They helped to pioneer compact electric cargo bikes known as “midtail” and “utility”. The Quick Haul models are their most affordable… the D8 is priced at roughly $3k and uses a lower power motor and 8-speed drivetrain while the P9 uses a high speed motor and 9-speed drivetrain.
• The P9 is available in two colors, but only one frame size. There is some adjustability in seat height and handlebar height, but there are no folding parts like some of their other models. Still, the bike can fit in tight spaces like elevators and closets because it can balance upright on the rear rack. Just be careful not to bump it in this position, as the bike weighs 52.5 pounds and could cause damage or injury.
• Tern is known for their wide range of racks, bags, and child seat accessories. Most of them are compatible with this model, and their website has a great filtering tool on the accessories page to help you narrow down exactly which parts will work.

Pros:

• Considering that this is one of the two most affordable models from Tern, it still comes feature complete. That means it has a rear rack, fenders, and integrated lights to help you ride in a variety of conditions. Furthermore, the tires are puncture resistant and have reflective sidewall stripes to enhance safety!
• I believe the fenders are made from a layer of aluminum alloy sandwiched between durable plastic. This design improves their strength and durability, while keeping them light and somewhat flexible. Notice how far the front fender extends to keep your shins and shoes dry, and it even has a flexible mud flap at the end which is more durable if kicked or bumped into obstacles. The chain cover follows a similar approach, using very little material but still offering protection for your pants or dress ends.
• Excellent touch points all across the bike. Full length crank arms, sturdy aluminum alloy pedals with rubber tread, a comfortable Velo saddle, and locking ergonomic grips. Although the bike does not come with suspension, the tire pressure can be lowered (recommended PSI was 30 to 55) which will help to absorb vibration. You could also swap the rigid seat post with a 31.6mm suspension post.
• Good hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano, the levers actuate easily and offer adjustable reach. For a more affordable model, I’m grateful for the hydraulic brakes because they require less hand effort. The rotors aren’t super big at 160mm, but that is offset by the smaller diameter 20″ wheels.
• Good drivetrain from Shimano, the 9-speed 11-34 tooth cassette provides enough options for low and high speed riding (since this is a speed pedelec). The large 52 tooth chainring offsets the small wheel size, making it comfortable to pedal at high speeds, and even uses a narrow-wide tooth pattern to lock onto the chain. Great Shimano Alivio derailleur that’s lighter and better shifting than Tourney, Altus, and Acera.
• Excellent lights from Herrmans that both run off of the rechargeable ebike battery. The headlight points where you steer and has side cutouts to keep you visible. The rear light uses two LEDs and is recessed into the rack to keep it from getting bumped.
• Although the bike only comes in one frame size, it offers good adjustability for seat height and the stem can telescope up and down to raise or lower the handlebar position. The mid-step frame should be approachable for most riders (stand-over height is just 19.5″). With the smaller wheels, both the frame and the rear rack are lower to the ground for easier access.
• Outstanding accessories that are custom made to fit this bike. Everything from front and rear baskets, bags, pet carriers, infant and child carriers. Some of my favorites include the tool pouch that fits between the top tube and downtube, and the child carrier canopy that protects from rain.
• Great overall attention to detail. Notice the pulley wheel that raises the chain near the middle of the frame. The adjustable length kickstand (and provisions for a mid-frame kickstand if you need more stability), the threaded eyelets on the fork for adding a cafe lock, and all of the other mounting points (fork lowers, steer tube, top tube, downtube, and rear rack area).
• Motor and battery weight are kept low and center on the frame, which improves balance. I love how the battery is recessed and protected by the seat stays, and is mounted to the frame instead of the rear rack. This way it doesn’t crowd your bags or take up weight capacity from the rack itself (which is rated to 110lbs 50kg).
• The motor is efficient and smart, Bosch is known for producing high quality electric bike systems. This is one of their newer drive systems that combines efficiency with higher top speeds. This Performance Sport motor offers up to 65 newton meters of torque (300%) vs. the Performance Speed which offers up to 85nm. For the time being, this is the only Class 3 model from Tern that I am aware of.
• The motor controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque over 1,000 times per second. It’s very responsive and natural feeling, and can keep pace with 120+ pedal cadence if you like to spin quickly. It also listens for shifting, and is designed to ease off so it won’t stress the chain or sprockets.
• Bosch electric bike systems are UL certified, which means they have been tested to nationally recognized safety and sustainability standards. Additionally, they have been found to be free from a reasonably foreseeable risk of fire, electric shock in a Division 2 environment. The electronics are also IP54 rated, meaning they are dust and splash resistant.
• Tern has an excellent warranty with up to 10 years, and Bosch has a two year comprehensive warranty for their ebike systems. Considering all of the Tern dealers and Bosch Certified dealers in North America, this bike should be easy to maintain, repair, and hold its resale value.
• Some of the full sized “longtail” electric cargo bikes can experience frame flex and feel a little wobbly. That’s not the case with Tern’s midtail and compact cargo bikes like the Quick Haul. Notice the additional cross bracing tube above the motor, and the extra supports around the rear rack. It feels very solid and stiff, and offers an impressive carrying capacity of 150kg (330.7lb) total and 50kg (110lb) for the rear rack.
• I appreciate that the battery pack can be charged on or off the bike because it’s convenient for those who commute to work and need to fill-up for a long ride home or errands along the way. I’ve been taught that it’s best to keep Lithium-ion battery packs from discharging completely, aim for 50% when not using for extended periods, and avoid extreme heat and cold to help it perform well and last for more charge cycles over its lifespan.
• The front rack design is excellent, note that the optional tray and basket mount directly to the head tube and won’t impact steering the way cheaper fork and handlebar mounted racks and baskets might. This is important for carrying heavy loads, and when parking due to the side-mount kickstand design as the front wheel might turn naturally to the left side.
• Although Tern does not appear to make an in-house trailer mount for the Quick Haul, they do have a guide that shows different options. Their website is so well done, here’s the link if you want to pull a trailer with kids, or pets, or extra gear! Here’s another link if you upgrade to the Tern GSD ebike (shown in the video review) which has even more trailer mount options.

Cons:

• Tern has a great selection of higher-specced models that include a fancier headlight, more fully adjustable stem, folding features, suspension forks, and even dual batteries! We showed the GSD model in the video review, and you can see what’s possible… but they all tend to weigh more and cost more. Just keep these in mind if you’re looking at the Quick Haul models, because it can be expensive to try to upgrade the fork or add a frame lock later vs. buying a model that already has it installed.
• this bike uses Ursus keys that aren’t as fancy as ABUS. I don’t think you can get them keyed to match an aftermarket frame lock or folding lock like ABUS. I mention this because many of the other Tern bikes come with ABUS and it adds some convenience.
• Although $3.3k is affordable by Tern standards, it can still feel expensive with all of the hub motor driven cargo bikes available on the market… especially when you consider the price of bags, racks, and other accessories. For this to be a speed pedelec with Bosch drive systems, I still think the price is great.
• Some of the ways they kept the price down include using the lowest capacity Bosch PowerPack 400 here, and going with the 2 amp compact charger vs. full sized 4 amp standard charger. Note that you can use a PowerPack 500 battery if you have one (or buy aftermarket), and the full sized charger is also compatible. This is great if your family already has another Bosch powered electric bike. These systems are not compatible with any of the new Smart Systems from Bosch, however, so avoid parts with those labels.
• The display is super basic with a small screen size, combined buttons vs. an independent pad, and limited readouts. There’s a micro-USB port on the side, but it isn’t usable for charging (just diagnostics), and there’s no wireless feature for heart rate monitors or smartphone apps. You could pay a shop to upgrade the display to the Bosch Kiox or Nyon if you want those features.
• The derailleur appears to be long cage, and it hangs down very close to the ground. This could be vulnerable if you get close to a curb or go off road. I appreciate the chain riser pulley system, and I guess this is always a bit of a challenge when you’ve got a bike that has smaller 20″ wheels.
• Smaller wheels can be less comfortable because they have a higher attack angle. I mentioned that you can lower the tire pressure to improve comfort, but that also impacts range and rolling efficiency. There is no suspension on this ebike by default, but you could add a 31.6mm suspension seatpost aftermarket if you wanted.
• Although the handlebar can be adjusted up and down to suit different sized riders, it does not fold down, nor does the frame fold. This means it could take up more space than some of the other Tern models.
• Because of the smaller wheels, the ground clearance on this electric bike is less than a full sized model. Be careful when parking near a curb or rolling over obstacles like rocks and logs so the bike doesn’t get high centered or have pedal and chainring strikes.
• Interestingly, a lot of the wires and cables on this ebike are not internally routed through the frame. This is atypical for such a premium purpose-built product, but may have been done to improve serviceability. As a result, the cables are more exposed and look a little messier, contrasting with the nice paint and other refined design elements.
• This is a very minor gripe, but the high lever for shifting can only be actuated by pulling with your index or middle finger, not your thumb. The low lever for shifting can only be actuated by pushing with your thumb. I wish both could be shifted with your thumb because I usually keep my index and middle fingers available for pulling the brake lever. Shimano does have a Deore groupset that offers two way high shifter actuation vs. Alivio here.

Useful Resources:

• Tern electric bike dealers.
• Official Tern website.