The bicycle version of a mid-size SUV, the Tern HSD S11 is a cross between a small(ish) cargo bike and a high-speed commuter.
The HSD has the stature of a larger folding bike but doesn’t fold (though Tern has devised a creative way to store the bike in a compact space), a rear rack that can carry up to 132 lbs and, most importantly, extremely well balanced handling that makes this compact bike handle like a much larger machine. Tern built the bike around the Bosch Performance Sport motor that throws down 65Nm of torque and has a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph, placing it in the Class 3 super commuter category.
Electric Bike Report got to spend some time with the Tern HSD S11 during the Big Gear Show in Park City, Utah. We didn’t have the time to put the bike through our typical in-depth review process, but we were impressed with the HSD’s incredibly stable handling and the performance of the Bosch motor. The S11 is one model below the highest-end version of the HSD and retails for just shy of $5,000.
The HSD’s looks take a little getting used to. Tern is a company that prioritizes function over form (though the quirky style has quickly grown on us).
The HSD has one foot in the commuting category and the other in the cargo category. It’s the mid-size SUV of e-bikes; sporty enough to race traffic during the morning commute and roomy enough to take you kid to soccer practice in the evening. But, like all of Tern’s e-bikes, the HSD is so much more than just a simple commuter/cargo crossover — it’s built to meet the daily challenges of carless commuting.
