Tern Orox E-Cargo Bike: Enjoy Nature instead of Urban Flair

The crackling of the campfire fills the night. A few marshmallows await their fate as dessert on a self-carved spit. They still have a little time left. We have only just finished the last few bites of fish. Before that, we take a few steps to digest and check on the horses. Except that the horses aren’t horses at all, but ebikes. Just as well. Nobody has to give them a good talking to when setting off bright and early tomorrow morning. Just press a button and they are ready to go for the next stage.

This is probably how Tern imagines the scenario for a trip with the Orox. Until now, the manufacturer wanted to guide us through the urban jungle as flexibly as possible with its cargo bikes. Now it’s going beyond the city limits. The latest model from the Taiwanese company proves its qualities especially off the beaten track. And you can still take plenty of cargo with you.

This approach is nothing new. Ebikes such as the Skid Loader from Surly have already tried to combine urban requirements such as transporting larger cargo and passengers with the adventurous fun that trekking tours or riding easier trails can offer. So far, however, hardly any bike has seemed as suitable for off-road use as the Orox.

Just wide or better fat?

E-mountainbikes usually score points here with the appropriate frame geometry and a suspension system with shock and suspension fork. In this respect, the Orox is somewhat simpler. The model’s enormous tyre clearance is primarily intended to ensure off-road riding fun. Unfortunately, Tern has not yet provided an exact geometry. However, the manufacturer writes in the corresponding press release that you can ride the Orox with tyres up to five inches wide. Such dimensions otherwise belong in the fatbike category. As a limitation, it should be mentioned that you could only ride such massive tyres with the smallest possible wheel size of 26 inches. The larger the tyres you choose, the narrower the footprint you leave behind:

• Wheel size 26 inches: maximum tyre width of 5 inches (127 mm)
• Wheel size 27.5 inches: maximum tyre width of 4 inches (101.6 mm)
• Wheel size 29 inch: maximum tyre width of 3 inches (76.2 mm)

Tern does not always utilise the maximum specified here in the equipment of the respective models. Johnny Watts tyres from Schwalbe are fitted ex works, which actually measure four inches in width on the 27.5 inch wheels. The Orox versions with 29-inch wheels measure a relatively slim 2.6 inches. Apparently, Schwalbe manufactures the extra-wide tyres exclusively for Tern. At least the tyres in Schwalbe’s online shop do not exceed 2.6 inches. You will look in vain for tyre widths of three, four or even five inches.

The giant tyres are mounted on correspondingly stable rims. The Atlas X Cargo wheels feature robust double wall rims. The thru axles with the Boost standard are also extra wide. Thick spokes complete the picture. According to Tern, an air pressure of at least 0.4 bar in the tyres is enough to make progress when a sea of mud, sand or other challenging terrain opens up in front of you. We have not yet been able to take a look at Tern’s new bike ourselves. So unfortunately, we can’t tell you what puncture protection the tyres offer. Even though the tyre size, tread and air pressure make a lot of things possible – you still need at least some air.

Think prime time

This level of robustness runs through the entire pedelec. The frame tubes tend to become frame profiles, especially at the rear triangle. Several smaller struts support the aluminium frame at selected sections. The fork is rigid and made of steel. Safety and reliability clearly beat weight or additional riding comfort at this point. All the more so as there is currently no suspension fork that Tern could have fitted with a clear conscience. After all, the Orox can be loaded up to a maximum total weight of 210 kilograms. No suspension fork can withstand such forces permanently. As soon as you ride off-road, the permitted total weight drops to 180 kilograms. However, due to the different riding conditions, a fork would have to withstand at least as much force there. That’s why it makes perfect sense to opt for a steel fork.

The rear carrier in particular has the dimensions to really push the weight limits mentioned. Its loading deck is sufficiently large. Plenty of luggage fits on and around it. You can load it with a maximum of 100 kilograms. There are a total of 14 mounting points on the fork for attaching a wide range of accessories. For example, Tern’s range includes a front rack that can carry 25 kilograms. A number of bags, baskets, handles, seats and rails that you may already be familiar with from other models can be attached to the bike. In terms of compatibility, the manufacturer has done a lot of things right. This way, the Orox benefits from everything that has already been tried and tested by Tern.

This can come along. That too. That too.

The large Cargo Hold 72 panniers are a good example of this. Waterproof. A huge 72 litres of storage space. Just what you need if you want to escape from everyday life for several days and don’t want to do without your fishing equipment, guitar or favourite cuddly toys. Alongside this, Tern is also showing new accessories such as the foldable side decks called Stow Decks. On the one hand, these can be locked at a right angle so that small and larger passengers can rest their feet on them while travelling. On the other hand, they can also be angled less steeply to support heavy panniers. Another new feature is a bag for the frame triangle between the top tube, down tube and seat tube. It accommodates the battery attached to the down tube. The bag protects it from dirt, cold and direct sunlight.

If you still can’t manage with all the storage space, you can attach a towbar to a frame part integrated into the rear triangle. You can load additional luggage into the attached trailer or take your four-legged friends with you on your adventures.

Speaking of the frame, Tern offers two different sizes. That is remarkable. Perhaps not for the bicycle world, but at least for the manufacturer. Until now, they have always designed all their cargo bikes in one size. Now you can choose between an M and an L.

• Frame size M: recommended for body heights from 155 centimetres to 185 centimetres
• Frame size L: recommended for body heights from 165 centimetres to 195 centimetres

Internationally harmonised portfolio

While this decision is self-evident, the next one probably requires more careful consideration. This is the question of which Orox model best suits you and your requirements. Tern actually has five in the race. However, this only applies in theory. In practice, the company looks very closely at where the different target groups are to be found. Only two models appear in the shop for the US market. Both roll on four-inch wide tyres. One features derailleur gears, the other hub gears. Both gear types are also available in Germany. However, they are divided into three different models here.

Tyre width and gear type as the main criteria

If you want to ride the Orox as a fat bike in Germany, you only have one option. This is the combination with a 12-speed derailleur from Shimano and a 27.5-inch wheel size. The Orox S12 (27.5″) is only available in the colour Satin Pine, a kind of olive green. For those for whom the tyre width is of secondary importance, the 29-inch wheel size opens up further possibilities. Firstly, you can also use derailleur gears, but switch from Satin Pine to Satin Highland Yellow. Together with larger but narrower tyres. Secondly, a model with a Rohloff hub gear is available. However, the Orox R14 (29″) is only available in the colour Satin Granite. Together with a surcharge of 2,200 euros compared to the starting price for the Orox S12, which is 6,799 euros.

As far as the gears are concerned, both variants have their pros and cons. Naturally, derailleur gears always require more maintenance than hub gears. Especially when the other is the E-14 from Rohloff, which only requires an oil change every 10,000 kilometres ridden. Not to mention the oil-free and wipeable carbon belt. On the other hand, many people like the feel of derailleur gears, the whirring of the chain and the noise when changing gears. In terms of the gear range and the size of the gear steps, the two are very similar and are at a very high level.

Cargo bike without a special cargo bike motor

Tern consistently pursues its concept of the adventurous cargo bike right through to the electric drive. For the Bosch Smart System, the manufacturer deliberately opted for the Bosch Performance Line CX motor. Theoretically, the Cargo Line motor would also have been conceivable. In terms of technical data such as torque and power, both are on a par. However, you would then have had to use the typical Cargo Line riding modes. And these do not include eMTB mode, for example. Even software updates such as the recent switch to version 1.18 of the eBike Flow app would not have allowed this to be added retrospectively.

In terms of range, Tern goes all in and relies on the new Bosch PowerPack 800, whose capacity can be doubled to 1,600 watt hours with an optional second frame battery. Under optimal conditions, this could be enough for a range of more than 300 kilometres. We deliberately put this sentence in the subjunctive mood. Because one of these conditions would be that you ride the Orox as lightly as possible. With a cargo bike, this intention completely contradicts the purpose of the bike. Therefore, it seems more appropriate to orientate yourself towards the minimum range. Especially if you really do ride mainly off-road. In this case, you can expect to cover around 90 kilometres with one battery and double that distance if you also use a second PowerPack 800.

The ebike system is completed by the LED Remote as the control unit, the Kiox 300 display and an integrated Bosch ConnectModule as standard. The GPS tracker proves useful, for example, if you have camouflaged your bike so well on a trip into the wilderness that you can’t find it again the next morning. Provided your smartphone still has enough power to call up the app’s localisation function. 😉

According to Tern, the Orox will be available in Germany and large parts of Europe from April.

Tern Orox at a glance

• Variants: Orox S12 (27.5″), Orox S12 (29″), Orox R14 (29″)
• Frame: 6061 aluminium
• Fork: CrMo steel
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
• Battery: Bosch PowerPack 800
• Control unit: Bosch LED Remote
• Display: Bosch Kiox 300
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT, Rohloff E-14
• Brakes: Magura MT5
• Weight: 33.2 kg (frame size M, wheel size 27.5 inches, derailleur gears) / 30.5 kg (frame size M, wheel size 29 inches, derailleur gears) / 31.2 kg (frame size M, wheel size 29 inches, hub gears)
• Maximum permitted total weight: 210 kg / 180 kg (off-road)
• Colours: Satin Pine, Satin Highland Yellow, Satin Granite
• Prices: from 6,799 euros for Orox S12 / from 8,999 euros for Orox R14

Pictures: Mobility Holdings, Ltd.