Heavy Duty: 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 favorite tasks because scientifically, they are the most fun type of bike. How can you not end up with a smile while riding being serenaded by preschoolers? (Note: your mileage may vary)

Cargo bikes usually come in two types: bucket (bakfiets), with a load in front, or long tail with a load placed 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 is more stable. Longtail bikes are simpler, and therefore usually cheaper, but can be weighed down by the difficulty of carrying goods on board. Both types have benefits, depending on where you ride and how much weight or passengers you regularly carry.

The specialist fitted my test bike with the School Bus Kit, which consists of padded seats and a cargo rail for passengers to hold onto, running boards, a front rack and basket, and sturdy front panniers. These pants look a bit like waste paper bins, but they work great for quick sales at the grocery store. They have drainage holes in the bottom, just in case. Installed, the baskets bring the bike’s overall width to about 27 inches.

One of the drawbacks of long-tail cargo bikes is that any small bends in the frame are magnified with weight – especially wobbly children – on the back 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 extremely stiff, which translates directly into confidence while riding.

If size and weight aren’t an issue and won’t be for everyone, the Globe Haul LT does very well. It’s fun to ride and the handling is precise. The tires are excellent – best in class I’d say. The brakes and drivetrain did everything they needed to and the gear range (sometimes an afterthought on cargo bikes) was solid. A small fault was the lack of chain guard. This is a bike meant to be ridden in casual clothes and a chain guard is a must. If I were to keep this bike for a long time, this is the first thing I would fix.

I mostly ran the bike on the level 5 assist setting (full transmission) and seemed to get about 35 miles per battery charge, which is pretty good for the category. The power engaged quickly and provided consistent assistance as needed once I got the torque sensor. I experienced a “phantom assist”, where gentle pedaling at speed caused the engine to engage. Each system has its own quirks and it seems it’s just a matter of familiarizing yourself with each one to get the best performance out of it.

I think it’s a very good thing to see a company like Specialized bring its considerable resources and OEM buying power to the world of cargo bikes. Although a bike built for commuting around town doesn’t seem to have much in common with one for the Tour de France, there are similarities: both bikes need to perform perfectly, and both need to be built for the task at hand. I hope to 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 very well. Rides well, holds weight very well and goes a long way on a single charge. But it’s big. I’d love to try the same bike, but shortened by six inches and 15 pounds lighter, just to see how much easier it would be to work with. I understand why Specialized went this route (probably in part to differentiate the LT from the ST), but I think the size will be an issue for some people.

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