Tern GSD owners – how’s it going

On the wheelsize, the Radwagon, which I have, there are 22″ wheels with 3″ semi-slick tires, which I run quite low pressure. I think they made a good design decision here (although maybe the non-standard size will annoy me when I need to replace the tires). CoG is low-ish, grip is good, there’s some cushioning for my passengers, no punctures in first 3000 km, and the wheels seem strong – no broken spokes which I heard can be an issue for hub motors. If there was no motor I’d say the tires would seem draggy, but with motor it’s no issue.

To add to my previous post: I also changed the chainring when I did the cassette and chain at 3700 miles. I went down 2T from 20 to 18t and am pleased with doing it.

Got a tern gsd on loan for a while and looking at the Raleigh stride 2

It wouldn’t have been me yesterday on the Clyne path (the closest I rode yesterday was across Fairwood) but it could well have been my friend and colleague who lives in the Sketty area and rides an orange one all over the place too. If you see a bearded oaf on a blue GSD (often with a yellow bag on the front) give me a shout!

@gowerboy – was it you who passed me in Clyne yesterday, or did I shout “Hello Gowerboy” at a complete random? 😀

Ongoing thoughts on these very welcome. Seriously considering the GSD, or anything similar, as second/first car option so we don’t end up using our van for local trips/shopping etc. Only challenge is we need something that can get up a 1:5 hill with a full load to actually make it useful. Currently at the extensive browsing/researching stage. No children to carry – but do aspire to a 8 mile journey with a bag or two of peat-free compost.

So six months on… I am still enjoying my GSD (gen 1). It doesn’t do massive mileage: I’m on 7500 miles now, but it gets used nearly every day.

I live in a rural area, over 10 miles from town, at the top of a 20% hill and it climbs that no problem with all kinds of loads (a 5’10” daughter, a load of logs, loads of vegetables, etc). So I think you would be fine with a few bags of compost given that the Gen 2 is more ‘powerful’.

In short I think it’s a great bike and would recommend it. I’d love a box bike but they are much more cumbersome; harder to store, won’t fit on a train, get stuck in kissing gates, etc. The GSD (the Gen 1 at least) is also quite fun to ride around twisty roads and I find it very comfortable. I find that hilly terrain is most enjoyable… hammer up a steep hill and drop down the other side as fast as you can. Much better than flat rides where you hover around the cut off speed.

Things to be aware of: it wears chains out quite fast. I keep an eye on mine and change it regularly to avoid wearing the rest of the drive-train out. I changed the cassette and drive sprocket at 4000 miles. I get through brake pads quite quickly too – but I am riding up and down short sharp hills a lot.

I am not saying this GSD is the best long-tail bike; I think that there are now a few similar bikes on the market. I haven’t ridden the others to compare but they include the Benno Boost (I like the look of them), R&M Multitinker, a Moustache long tail and a few other bikes by smaller manufacturers.

Also… my daughter has a Tern Quick Haul. It’s much cheaper, quite a bit lighter but so far we are pretty impressed with it.

IdleJon

@gowerboy – was it you who passed me in Clyne yesterday, or did I shout “Hello Gowerboy” at a complete random? 😀

Sorry only just seen this! Yes! I was ambling up the path in a world of my own and I heard a shout: by the time I realised it was you we had passed each other!

I will try harder next time!

Recent GSD buyer here. Loving it so far. I’m yet to meet a GSD owner who regrets buying one.

They are quite hard to get hold of right now due to high demand. I got mine from Surge who give you 10% of the bike price to spend on accessories. Mine is the S00 in sage green, still in stock by the looks of it.

There are definitely other decent options out there (benno, bergamot etc), but the belt drive and small wheels swung it.

Thanks all. We have seen a couple of places with the GSD in stock, locally. However, have also seen a Benno Boost online at sub £4k (albeit with the step through frame) which is very tempting. @stwhannah review means it can’t be ignored, though we had been tempted by the Bosch Cargo motors on the Tern (but given Hannah can get the Benno round Calderdale, maybe not an issue!). We are very similar heights so adjusting between riders isn’t an issue. Though the belt drive is VERY tempting (though much more expensive!)

Do realistically need to work out where to store it though…! Not sure it’ll fit down the side of the van in the garage (which has to live in there, for parking logistics/reduced insurance cost). I was tempted to go Dutch and just lock it up outside (with a cover over it).

You have probably sussed this but just in case it’s of interest to you, the Benno with a step through frame doesn’t do the double battery thing. Carrying a second battery for long trips isn’t much of a problem; but I do like the range and simplicity of the double battery on my GSD.

Sorry only just seen this! Yes! I was ambling up the path in a world of my own and I heard a shout: by the time I realised it was you we had passed each other!

I will try harder next time!

😂. 6 months later!

My wife has a Tern Vectron 09 – it’s 9 speed and folds! Not the lightest machine but fitted with a good sturdy long rack and Schwalbe Big Apple tyres. We’ve taken it in the motorhome and I’ve taken it some good rides, it handle’s extremely well, you’d never realise the wheels are 20” and it’s a folder. Hope this helps.

Update…we collect a GSD S00 tomorrow! Super excited.

Yay! have fun, let us know how you get on.

Enjoy NBD tomorrow! Having ummed and arred for a while finally pulled the trigger on a Tern HSD through the work cycle scheme this afternoon. Good to hear positive feedback on Tern and looking forward to having an e-cargo lite bike soon! Sadly couldn’t get the GSD on the scheme.

So we’ve had ours a couple of days, one small shop and a trip for the recycling. Its brilliant so far.

I’ve just discovered  we can rent a trailer for it locally! Or if you want to demo one and your in/near Ilkley:

Electric Cargo Bikes

I see IG still can’t embed in the forum, but photos from NBD here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnaDPvKMkOI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Anyone with a GSD (or similar) had any success taking their bike on a train?

We’re vaguely considering a family holiday where the bike comes with us. May or may not be a crazy idea.

Before we got our own, we hired one in London and had a blast.

Ours has the clubhouse and stormbox which adds a fair bit of bulk, and maybe makes it too big for the bike storage compartment on a train

My normal bike is too big for some train compartments. I’m sure you’d manage but it’ll be a faff.

Not a chance of getting a gsd on a train

Ooof. If it was a bare gsd then you’d maybe have a chance on some of the cross country trains here, or the brought back into service locomotives with a proper guards van and huge bike space. Normal situation though I wouldn’t even try. The clubhouse is pretty bulky but the whole bike still goes in the back of my Subaru Outback ok. I’m reasonably sure that with the additional shelter you’ve got the guard will shake their head and point you towards the rules around tandems* not being allowed on trains. A friend with a LvH Bullitt has got that on the Yatton to Bristol train before when it was quiet.

Glad to hear others are having fun with theirs. I’d agree with @gowerboy about the rate of brake pad consumption. I’m waiting on a new pair of wheels for ours as the OE rear started to shed spokes. I’ve respoked where broken but never really liked the original wheels. 6,600 miles here.

Pic from Sunday’s ride out to the woods with the portable rope swing. And ride back with fallen branch for firewood

*yes I know it’s not technically a tandem.

Not a chance of getting a gsd on a train

Depends. It’s be OK on (eg) a Northern service where they have a wide open bit but on something like LNER or Avanti, no chance.

They’re cumbersome things to haul around as well, especially with attachments.

You’d need to look at the stations too, it’d need something with step free access and big lifts. Trying to hold it on escalators or drag it up steps will be a non-starter!

Cheers for the replies. I’d figured it would be awkward, just wondered if anyone had actually tried. It would open up so many more possible adventures.

Factoring in the shitness of UK trains and the high chance of some calamity happening on the way just isn’t worth it, especially with kids in tow.

Yeah I might try it on a short hop on a Northern train but no way I’d consider taking it long haul.

Got a birthday present of the captains chair yesterday and @p20 took me out for lunch. Haha.

We’ve bitten the bullet, a bright blue Benno Boost arrives tomorrow!