Tern Orox First Look: An Offroad Adventure E-Cargo Bike

Tern Orox S12 – First Look
RRP: $9,995.00 Excluding accessories
Available Through: Tern Australia

E-Cargo bikes seem to be the hot new thing in the cycling industry, and for good reason. The Tern Orox represents a category of bicycle once that was once rarely seen in the field, and is now becoming a common sight on any suburban bike path where I live in South East Queensland. The availability and adaptation of pedal assist motors to the category of cargo bike’s is to thank for the sudden surge in popularity, turning this once niche market into one which is now flourishing. Multi-passenger capabilities and family car replacement are the most common selling points for most users, with many cargo bike owners including myself using them for daycare drop offs, trips to the playground and runs to the grocery store.

You might be asking yourself why we here at AMB are reviewing a cargo bike, considering they usually have the offroad capacity akin to that of a lowered Toyota Hiace. That is because what I have had on test is something wildly more capable than a regular cargo bike, a bike which is the exact opposite of the near ubiquitous offering available for those who want a utilitarian bicycle for all-in family adventures.

It is safe to assume that most people reading this article are core mountain bikers, and may not be familiar with the Tern Bicycles brand – so here are the cliff notes. Started in 2011, Tern Bicycles typically focuses on bicycles developed for the urban environment. Think folding bikes, commuter bikes and E cargo bikes. The Tern Orox is their first, and as far as I am aware the first offroad specific e-bike designed to carry multiple passengers or cargo up to 100kg. A quick glance at the spec sheets gives good first impressions, with the market leading Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 725wh battery taking headlines. While there is a long list of different configurations available for the Tern Orox, we have been provided with the S12 model shod with 29×2.6” wheels and an ‘urban adventure’ configuration. This includes two Thule Yepp seats for my bike loving toddlers, along with panniers, wheel guards and a whole host of other add-ons. An XT drivetrain, Magura MT5 brakes and Ergon contact points are all familiar and should lead to a clean palette during testing, allowing me to really focus on the Tern Orox’s capability as an adventure bike, cargo bike, car replacement and everything in between. 

Arriving just in time for the Christmas holiday period, I have been able to get out on a half dozen rides on the Tern Orox before penning this first look article. These rides have included a fire road bash over Mt Coot Tha, daycare runs, and a quick trip to the hardware store among others. Initial impressions are those of comfort, confidence and weight. Unlike most cargo bikes, the Tern Orox is available in multiple sizes to suit riders up to 195cm. The Large I am testing fits like a glove and feels much more comfortable (and similar to a standard MTB) than any of the other cargo bikes I have ridden. A steep seat tube, wide bars and short stem all feel very familiar both on and off road. Similarly, the fit and finish of this bike has really taken me by surprise, making my own personal cargo bike feel like a bit of a cheap toy in comparison.

The Bosch motor is smooth and powerful, even when the Tern Orox is loaded to the gills with toddlers or zipping up a 20% grade fire road. Further to this, the accessories all work as advertised and have minimal rattle while in use, and the integrated lights are plenty bright enough to feel safe and confident riding at night. All of these features and potential use cases do however come at a cost, with the Tern Orox as currently configured tipping the scales at just over 50kg! While not all that noticeable while riding in normal conditions, the weight has already become an issue on a few occasions such as when I had had to manoeuvre the Tern Orox over a motorcycle barrier at the entrance to my local state forest. I am not sure my back can handle doing a manoeuvre like that too many times. 

While my first impressions are positive, I definitely still have more questions than answers when it comes to the Tern Orox. What is it like to live with? How do you transport it for maintenance? What are its limits offroad? What is the true battery range? All questions I am looking forward to answering over the next month. Stay tuned to AMB Issue # 212 and our YouTube page for the full review. 

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