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.
Specialized’s Globe Haul ST debuted with much fanfare in 2023 as a well-designed short-tail e-cargo bike. The Globe Haul LT is the Haul ST’s longer and sturdier sibling (letters indicate short tail vs. long tail). We put him through his paces riding to and from school, 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 9-speed Microshift drivetrain
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
The Haul LT features an aluminum frame with a steel fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and a 9-speed Microshift drivetrain. The frame is complex, with a slatted web and tubular support to create a very stable unit. The steel fork is just as strong, offering some comfort.
The Haul ST’s 20” wheels come equipped with specialized 3.5-inch “Carless Whisper” tires. These wide tires roll well, have little tread and, with careful pressure changes, can add some cushion. The hub-based motor delivers 700 watts and the large battery (772 wh) has a claimed range of up to 60 miles. Top speed is 28 mph. MSRP for the complete bike is $3,500.
The frame is complex, with a slatted web and tubular support to create a very stable unit.
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
The bike doesn’t come with a choke, although Specialized sells one as an extra. This allows throttle assist up to 20 mph and changes it from Class 3 to Class 2. I didn’t test this, but I understand that even with the throttle added, the pedal assist still works up to 28 mph.
The Haul LT only comes in one size and one color (“Glossy White Mountains”). Weight limit, including rider, is 440 lbs. The bike itself weighs roughly 90 lbs, without accessories, and feels every bit of that. The overall length of the bike is just under 7 feet (82 inches, to be exact).
Saddle height and handlebar height are both adjustable, making for relatively easy transitions between riders of different sizes. The low standover height also helps with transition.
The back of the School Bus Kit: padded seats, a cargo rail for passengers to hold onto and running boards.
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
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.
The total retail price for this kit is approximately $1,100, which significantly increases the overall price. The seats in the back are extremely soft (yes, I tested them) and the cargo rail is quite strong. The frame has a lifetime warranty and Specialized also offers a 2 year “e-system” warranty in addition.
Traveling
The built-in 1500 lumen lights worked great. They are modest most of the time, but bright enough when needed. And the tires are excellent – best in class I’d say
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
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.
The downside is that, to achieve this stiffness, the bike is heavy. The Haul ST, which is significantly shorter, has weight for its size, and the LT has been lengthened and strengthened compared to the ST.
This isn’t much of a problem when riding, but it does pose a problem when parking or maneuvering the bike while standing. Lifting this bike off a curb or a few steps is simply not feasible. The size and weight also make storage difficult. You’ll need dedicated ground-level storage space, and if for some reason you need to transport your bike somewhere, you’ll want a van to do so.
I also found it difficult to engage and disengage the kickstand with the kids on the back, simply due to the weight of the bike. For a smaller person, the Haul LT would be extremely difficult to maneuver with any kind of load on board.
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
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.
The built-in 1500 lumen lights worked great. They are modest most of the time, but bright enough when needed.
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.
Value and conclusion
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
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.
Price-wise, it matches up very favorably with options like Tern’s well-reviewed GSD ($4,500) or Momentum’s PakYak E+ ($5,500) or various others with larger wheel sizes. It’s an increasingly crowded market, with plenty of good options at all price points. At $3,500, the Specialized Globe Haul LT has few peers—at least for now.
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