Tern HSD P9 Review
- Price: $3,699
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 20″Aluminum
- Gear: 1 x 9
What we like about it: The motor adds up to a great practical e-bike with a practical design.
What we didn’t like about it: It’s more expensive and not friendly enough for riders on a limited budget.
Rating: (4.9/5)
The Tern HSD P9 is powerful but compact: easy to maneuver, very comfortable to ride, carries a lot of cargo, with a shorter, more compact design than a standard bike for easy stowage!
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components and specifications of the Tern HSD P9 and other versions.
At the end of the REVIEW, we have also compared several best bike models.
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Cycling Experience
The Tern HSD P9 has superb versatility as a utility e-bike.
With the Bosch Active Line Plus motor, it has a great power output and is smooth and supple.
I planned to go on a long distance camping trip with my friends on my Tern HSD P9.
We chose a park in the suburbs as the camping site and agreed on a meeting time, so I packed up my camping gear, mounted the Tern HSD P9 and set off without stopping.
The past route was flat and open, but there was a section of unpaved road in the middle, which was a bit bumpy.
Cargo Cycling
Since camping requires carrying gear and this Tern HSD P9 has great cargo capacity, I think it’s a very suitable bike for the Atlas H Frame™, which has a dedicated trailer bracket, easy for me to attach my camping gear to this bike.
When I rode this Tern HSD P9, the most intuitive feeling I got was that it was so comfortable.
The excellent geometry and soft saddle made my riding posture more upright, and even after a long ride I still felt relaxed and cozy.
Next, the Bosch Active Line Plus motor has a strong power output, giving the vehicle a strong cargo capacity with a total weight of 170 kg (374 lbs).
With the Shimano Alivio’s 1×9 speeds, the bike has a silky smooth shifting experience, which, combined with the motor’s power output, allowed me to save even more energy on hilly sections of the ride.
What I like about the Tern HSD P9 is that it came with a Suntour custom for Tern shock absorbing fork that absorbs more road vibration on unpaved roads, making my ride feel more comfortable.
Finally, on the downhill sections of the ride, Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes have a strong, reliable braking capacity that remains strong even when I had a small trailer attached. It made my ride safer and more secure.
Is that all?
The Tern HSD P9 is also a great e-bike for daily commuting, with a small, compact body that allowed me to be more nimble and maneuverable on my commute rides.
The Schwalbe Big Apple’s puncture-resistant tires allowed me to ride my commute without fear of sharp bumps in the road, reducing accidents.
The on-board lighting system directly connected to the main battery allowed me to ride at night to see the road ahead, thus making it safer as well.
And most importantly, it came with its own parking anti-loss lock, which gave me more peace of mind and more confidence that my bike was conveniently parked when I stopped at any time to go to the convenience store.
Specification
The Tern HSD P9 and frame are adjustable over a wide range. Suitable for riders 4’11” – 6’5″ in height, the bike has a wide range of crowd fit.
Aluminum alloy frame structure, very strong and durable, is a simple construction design, so that the bike is easy to maintain and can have a longer degree of durability.
With its longer wheelbase and ultra-low center of gravity, the Tern HSD P9 offers a smoother, more stable ride than any other e-bike in its range, and the Bosch Active Line Plus drive unit has a strong, smooth power delivery and runs extremely quietly.
Finally the custom Suntour shock fork absorbs all the bumps of everyday riding for a more stable, comfortable ride and handles the 170kg load weight that the Tern HSD P9 is rated for.
Video
Other Version
The Tern HSD P9 is a powerful and versatile utility e-bike for every family. But there are many more versions in the series to choose from!
For this reason we offer a higher-end version of the e-bike with the same frame and motor under the same brand, with a better riding experience and more powerful components.
Tern HSD S+
The Tern HSD S+ can be described as an upgraded version of the original bike.
The new Enviolo AUTOMATiQ system shifts gears automatically, so you can worry less and focus on the ride.
Simply set your desired pedal cadence on the integrated Bosch Intuvia controller and let Enviolo do the rest.
The Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes with front 180mm and rear 160mm discs have a strong and sensitive braking ability.
On top of that, with the new Bosch Performance motor series 500 Wh battery, it has a range of up to 118 kilometers and a smooth power drivertrain, while the noise of the motor is almost inaudible.
Below, we will list the specific parameters of the Tern HSD P9 in concrete detail and some other brands of utility e-bikes with similar prices for your reference.
What we like about it
- Tern HSD P9 is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes for all-weather braking power.
- The on-board lighting is connected to the main battery so there’s no need to worry about charging the lights, and the reflective tires and decals give you extra nighttime safety.
- Tern HSD P9 frames with load capacities up to 60 kg (132 lb) are custom forged and loaded with features.
- Customized Suntour shock fork that absorbs all the bumps of everyday riding and handles loads rated at 170kg.
- The new Easy-Step frame design provides a comfortable upright riding position for tall or small riders, as well as easy mounting and dismounting.
- Tern HSD P9 Flip for easy vertical parking. It requires just a little bit of floor space to accomplish parking.
What we don’t like about it
- Expensive and difficult for riders on a limited budget to make up their minds about purchasing.
FAQs
- What does it stand for?
Its bikes are designed for smaller people who live in tight spaces. Tern introduces the HSD (or ” Haul Stuff Daily”) bike.
- What is the weight of it?
Weight: 56.5 lbs (25.7 kg).
- How to choose the right size?
IT can be resized in seconds to fit riders from 150 to 195 cm (4’11” to 6’5″).
Tern HSD P9 Specs
Build
| Frame | Tern HSD, 6061-AL, patented design, Tern sliding dropouts, EFBE Tri-Test approved: 170 kg Colors: Dune; Red |
| Fork | Suntour custom for Tern, Chromoly steerer, 32 mm stanchions, Thru-axle, EFBE tested for 170 kg |
| Bottom Bracket | Motor integrated |
| Headset | Tern Flux, cartridge bearings, Physis integrated |
| Stem | Tern Andros (G2), adjustable, forged construction, patented technology |
| Handlebar | Tern Sweep, 6061-AL, Tern Andros adapted |
| Saddle | Tern HSD |
| Seatpost | Tern Telescope, 34.9/30.9 mm, 2014-AL |
| Pedals | Urban with non-slip surface |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Alivio Shadow |
| Crank | Tern HSD custom |
| Shifters | Shimano Alivio, 1 x 9 spd, trigger |
| Cassette | Shimano 11-32T, 9 spd |
| Chain | 9 spd, DHT for eBike, GST corrosion resistant coating |
| Chain Guide | SKS Chainblade |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano, hydraulic disc |
Wheels
| Rims | Tern Atlas H, wide 35 mm |
| Front Hub | Novatec, Thru-axle, sealed bearings |
| Rear Hub | Shimano disc |
| Tires | Schwalbe Big Apple, 55-406, puncture protection, Reflex |
Electric Components
| Motor | Class 1, Bosch Active Line Plus (Gen 3), max speed 25 kph (EU); max speed 20 mph (US) |
| Battery | Bosch PowerPack 400 |
Comparison Table
| Bike | Click View | Travel | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus | Click View | 140mm rear, 150mm front | Carbon | SRAM Code R 4-piston | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Tern Quick Haul D8 | Click View | 140mm rear, 150mm front | Carbon | SRAM Code R | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Co-op Generation e1.2 | Click View | 145mm rear, 150mm front | Carbon | SRAM CODE RSC | 1 × 12 |
| REID KADe eCargo Bike | Click View | 140mm rear, 150mm front | Carbon | SHIMANO XTR | 1 × 12 Electronic |
Tern HSD P9 VS Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus
The Tern HSD P9 is an excellent e-bike compared to the Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus, but the latter is more versatile and has more functions.
The former also has a much better load capacity, and my favorite part is that it has the ability to fold and stand up for storage. Whereas the latter comes with a pillion saddle to carry a passenger right out of the box.
In terms of drivetrain components, they both have Shimano’s shifting components, but the former has more speeds for more options, and in general, the ride can be more relaxed.
In addition, the Tern HSD P9 is even lighter than the Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus, and the former can be folded to fit inside some SUVs and other vehicles and taken away.
Finally, of the two e-bikes, I would recommend the Tern HSD P9 because indeed it has more features and more uses.
Learn More: Rad Power Bikes Radrover 6 Plus High Step Review
Tern HSD P9 vs Tern Quick Haul D8
The Tern HSD P9 and the Tern Quick Haul D8 are both e-bikes under the same brand name, but the former has a much more powerful feature set.
First of all, the former is equipped with Suntour custom for Tern’s shock-absorbing fork, which absorbs vibration bumps from the road surface while riding, thus ensuring a more stable and comfortable riding experience. The latter’s rigid fork is more bumpy to ride.
Then, in the saddle and handlebar set and other details of the component parts, also Tern HSD P9 used more high-end than the Tern Quick Haul D8, with a more comfortable riding ride experience.
To summarize, if your budget is sufficient then Tern HSD P9 is more suitable, if you don’t want to spend too much money then Tern Quick Haul D8 is also great.
Tern HSD P9 vs. Co-op Generation e1.2
Between the Tern HSD P9 and the Co-op Generation e1.2, the former has a Suntour custom for Tern shock absorbing fork that absorbs road vibrations on bumpy roads, making for a more comfortable ride than the latter with its rigid fork.
Tern HSD P9 goes deeper in the design of the details of use, with a stand-up parking that reduces the footprint, and the self-contained parking lock ensures that the bike will not be lost.
Co-op Generation e1.2 comes with a load rack, which will be more convenient.
In the end, for both e-bikes, I would still recommend the Tern HSD P9 for more versatility and a more comfortable ride.
Tern HSD P9 vs REID KADe eCargo Bike
The former has a shock absorbing fork, which will make the ride more comfortable than the latter’s rigid fork.
Next, the former is more compact and can be folded to save more floor space when stored than the latter, and can also be taken away in a car with more space.
Then, while both e-bikes have a rear cargo rack, the REID KADe eCargo Bike also comes with a front cargo rack, more user-friendly than the former.
But between these two ebikes, I would still recommend the Tern HSD P9 more, it’s much more functional and practical.
Summary
Above is my riding review of the Tern HSD P9. In our opinion. This is a versatile and practical e-bike with great performance, which is why we gave it a rating of 4.9.
Of course, if you want to know about other practical e-bikes, we also review a lot of interesting bikes at various price points, so feel free to take a look at our tests on that as well.
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