Big cargo: The Specialized Globe Haul LT reviewed

According to one of our twin boys, the Specialized Globe Haul LT is “a very talented bike.” I’m inclined to agree. Testing cargo bikes is one of my favourite assignments because scientifically-speaking, they’re the most fun kind of bike. How can you not end up with a smile while riding around being serenaded by preschoolers? (Caveat: your mileage may vary)

Cargo bikes typically come in two varieties: bucket (bakfiets), with cargo in front, or long tail with payload located behind the rider. Bucket bikes are often more expensive, but work well for heavier loads as the weight is placed closer to the ground where it’s more stable. Long tail bikes are simpler, and thus are usually cheaper, but can be plagued by handling difficulties with freight on board. Both types have benefits, depending on where you ride and how much weight or how many passengers you regularly carry.

Specialized’s Globe Haul ST came out to much fanfare in 2023 as a well-designed do-it-all short tail cargo e-bike. The Globe Haul LT is the longer, more robust sibling of the Haul ST (the letters denote short tail vs. long tail). We put it through its paces riding to and from school, to playgrounds, grocery stores and more.

Design and construction

The Haul LT features an aluminum frame with a steel fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and a Microshift 9 speed drivetrain. The frame is complex, with a latticework of struts and tubing support to make for a very robust unit. The steel fork is similarly stout, offering little in the way of comfort.

The Haul ST’s 20” wheels come equipped with Specialized’s own 3.5 inch “Carless Whisper” tires. These wide tires roll well, have some tread and, with careful pressure-changes, can add some cushion. The hub-based motor puts out 700 watts and the large battery (772 wh) has a stated range of up to 60 miles. Top speed is a zippy 28 mph. MSRP for the complete bike is $3500.

The bike does not come stock with a throttle, though Specialized sells one as an add-on. This allows for throttle assist up to 20 mph, and changes it from Class 3 to Class 2. I didn’t test this, but my understanding is that even with the addition of the throttle, the pedal assist still works up to 28 mph.

The Haul LT comes in one size and one color only (“Gloss White Mountains”). The weight limit, including the rider, is 440 lbs. The bike itself weighs approximately 90 lbs, without accessories, and feels every bit of that. Overall bicycle length is a little under 7 feet (82 inches, to be precise).

Saddle height and handlebar height are both adjustable, making for relatively easy swaps between different size riders. The low standover height also helps with rideability.

Specialized equipped my test bike with the “School Bus Kit,” which consists of padded seats and a cargo rail for passengers to hold on to, running boards, a front rack and basket and hard shell front panniers. These panniers look a bit like waste paper baskets, but work great for quick grocery store runs. They have drain holes in the bottom, just in case. Installed, the baskets bring the bike’s overall width to about 27 inches.

Total retail price for this kit comes out to roughly $1100, which bumps the overall price up substantially. The seats on the back are extremely cushy (yes, I tested them) and the cargo rail is suitably stout. The frame has a lifetime warranty and Specialized also offers a 2 year “e-system” warranty in addition to this.

The Ride

 One of the shortcomings of  long tail cargo bikes is that any minor frame flex is magnified with weight—especially wiggly kids—on the rear of the bike, which can create steering problems. Of the bikes I’ve ridden in this category, the Specialized Haul LT avoids this issue the best. The bike is clearly very well built and is remarkably stiff, which translates directly to confidence while riding. 

The downside is that, in order to achieve this stiffness, the bike is heavy. The Haul ST, which is significantly shorter, is weighty for its size, and the LT has been both lengthened and strengthened compared to the ST. 

This isn’t much of an issue while riding, but does pose a problem while parking or maneuvering the bike on foot. Lifting this bike up a curb, or up a couple of steps just isn’t feasible. The size and weight also make storage difficult. You’ll need dedicated storage space on ground level, and if for some reason you need to transport the bike somewhere, you’ll want a van to do so.

I also had a hard time engaging and disengaging the kickstand with kids on the back, simply because of how heavy the bike was. For a smaller person, the Haul LT would be extremely difficult to maneuver with any kind of cargo on board.

If the size and weight don’t pose an issue, and they won’t for everyone, the Globe Haul LT does a lot right. It’s fun to ride, and handling is spot on. The tyres are excellent—I would say best in class. Brakes and drivetrain did everything they needed to and the gear range (sometimes an afterthought on cargo bikes) was solid. One small miss was the lack of chainguard. This is a bike meant to be ridden in casual clothes, and a chain guard is a necessity. Were I keeping this bike long term, that is the first thing I would fix.

The integrated 1500 lumen lights worked great. They’re unobtrusive most of the time, but plenty bright enough when needed.

I primarily used the bike on the level 5 (full send) assist setting, and seemed to get around 35 miles per battery charge, which is very good for this category. The power was quick to engage and offered consistent help as needed, once I got the hang of the torque sensor. I did experience some “ghost assist,” where pedaling gently at speed caused the motor to engage. Every system has its quirks, and it seems that it’s just a matter of familiarizing yourself with each of them to best extract performance.

Value and conclusion

I think it is a very good thing to see a company like Specialized bring its considerable resources and OEM purchasing power into the cargo bike world. Though a bike built for puttering around town doesn’t seem like it has much in common with one for racing the Tour de France, there are similarities: both bikes need to work flawlessly and both need to be purpose built for the task at hand. I hope we see more big bike companies throw their hats in the ring in this category. The more e-cargo bikes there are in the world, the better, I say

Specialized’s Globe Haul LT does a lot right. It rides well, carries weight very well and goes a long way on a single charge. But, it’s big. I would love to try out the same bike but shortened by six inches and 15 lbs lighter, just to see how much easier that would be to work with. I understand why Specialized went this route (presumably in part to differentiate the LT from the ST), but I think the size will be an issue for some people.

Price-wise, it matches up very favorably against options like the well-reviewed Tern’s GSD ($4,500) or Momentum’s PakYak E+ ($5,500) or various others with larger wheel sizes. It’s an increasingly populated market, with lots of good options across price points. At $3500, the Specialized Globe Haul LT has few peers—at least for now.

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