Specialized Globe Haul LT Review: A Sleek Cargo E-Bike For Hauling Kids and Everything Else
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I live in a small Southern California beach town where e-bikes are a main mode of transportation for adults, families, and even children. Teenagers zip to school on their e-bikes, much to many residentsโ dismay, and most parents I know own one or two e-bikes for schlepping kids to school, sporting events, around town, or down to the sand for beach days. So to say I was excited to finally try an e-bike when Specialized reached out about the Globe Haul LT is an understatement.
This stylish bike has room to haul my three children, plus all their belongings, with the addition of some smart accessories. Itโs powerful and easy to useโeven for a newbie like me. Despite its sizeโthe brakes are excellent with superior stopping power so I feel very safe with my children on the back. Itโs also just fun to ride. I appreciate all the power and speeds up to 28 mph, as itโs much needed for climbing steep hills in my area with nearly 100 pounds of kid on the back.
Iโve had the pleasure of cruising around town on this sleek, class 3 e-bike for a couple of months now, and itโs nearly replaced my car for local commutes.
As someone who writes a lot about fashion and generally appreciates good style, I noticed right off the bat how beautiful and sleek this electric cargo bike is. Itโs a looker, and the number of times Iโve been asked about it by friends and complete strangers, also admiring its style, is too many to count on two hands. It comes in a gorgeous โgloss white mountainโ color, which looks more like an earthy grayish-green, which is very much my vibe.
The e-bike was delivered fully assembled to my house by a local bike shop, and the guy who delivered it spent nearly an hour with me giving me the full rundown on all the features, which are easy to use, from the pedal and walk assist to the integrated lights, brakes, kickstand, and where and how to charge it. Initially, I was intimidated to test it out due to its overall weight and size, but it took me all of 10 seconds to get up and riding and feeling confident on it, which took even me by surprise.
That same day, I felt good enough to test it out with my two oldest kids on the back for a quick bike ride down to the baseball field for my oldest sonโs practice. We live on a steep hill, and I was immediately impressed with the braking power, which the rep from the bike shop mentioned was top of the line compared to many of the electric cargo bikes he sees people riding in our area. Unsafe brakes are a common complaint Iโve heard from friends and fellow cargo e-bike owners, with many opting to upgrade from the default brakes to better ones because they simply donโt feel safe cruising around a hilly area, across high-traffic streets, with their kids on the back. So suffice it to say Iโm very pleased with the brakes, which give me plenty of peace of mind toting my kids around town.
The bike seat is very comfortable and easy to adjust for riders of all sizes. The ride itself is also smooth, however, you do have to be careful going over bumps and potholes because thereโs no suspensionโsomething I quickly discovered after hitting a rough spot on our first ride. For a newbie like me, the interface is intuitive, and I like that the lights automatically turn on when you power the bike up, but if you just hold the pedal assist up arrow down for a few seconds they turn off. Because we live on a hill, I like to walk my bike up to the top on flat ground to load the kids on, which is where the walk assist is super helpful โ you just press and hold the pedal assist down button to turn it on and walking the bike is a breeze.
The bike is heavy at 88 pounds so youโll need some strength to lift this bad boy to engage the kickstand. That said, once engaged, the kickstand is super sturdy and my 50-pound 7-year-old and 45-pound 5-year-old can safely climb on without any fear of it tipping. This electric bike is powerful too, with a 700W rear hub motor and top speeds up to 28 mph so you can work smarter, not harder as you load the kiddos and all their crap, er sports bags and backpacks, for school drop and games.
My experience with the Specialized Globe Haul LT has been overwhelmingly positive. This is one of the best electric bikes for families, especially those looking for something with serious style, power (and stopping power), plus lots of extra cargo space. It stops on a dime, cruises at speeds up to 28 mph and has five levels of pedal assist and nine gears so you can put in as little or as much effort as you want to get where youโre going.
A couple of things to note: if you live in a pretty hilly area and plan on putting two or three kids on the back, I recommend adding a throttle, which I have on my bike and love using to climb big hills and not hold up traffic as much when Iโm taking the kids to and from schoolโor just to jet across busy intersections faster.
Another thing to note is this bike is really heavy (88 pounds) and long so youโll want to make sure youโre comfortable maneuvering it, with kids in tow especially. That said, Iโm brand new to e-bikes, about 5โ6โ and 130 pounds and I can handle it with 95 pounds of kid on the back combined. The only time Iโve had any problem is when I stopped on a fairly steep hill at a busy intersection taking the kids to school. It was tough for me to regain my balance and get going again (not being on flat ground) with my older kids on the back without tipping the bike over. Iโve also taken this route with one kid on the back and had no problems but the extra weight with a second kid was too much for me on a big hill, and Iโm too scared to add a third on the back for this reasonโmy husband can handle it though. The bike is also pretty big so youโll want to make sure you have a good place to store it and donโt need to take it up steps to do so.
Iโve been testing a class 2 cargo e-bike alongside this one and I love the extra power the Globe Haul LT offers, particularly since thereโs no shortage of hills where I live. Itโs also nice to just get to the park or the beach quicker since this bike can cruise up to 28 mph, though I often donโt go over 21 or 22 mph since Iโm carrying precious cargo.
As much as I love it, my older children (ages 5 and 7) are even more thrilled to hop on to ride to school, dance class, or the baseball field for games. My husband can handle our two oldest on the back plus a friend, but at 88 pounds the bike is already heavy for me with two on the back so Iโm hesitant to test it with three just from a safety perspective, though I know itโs quite capable.
My passengers (AKA my kids) would rate this bike a 10 out of 10. They have been begging us to get electric bikes since riding on one of their friendโs, and theyโre obsessed. Theyโd rather hop on the back of the Haul LT any day over taking the car, and as their mom, I feel safe transporting them. I used to pack all of our beach stuff up in a wagon to walk down to the water, but now weโve gotten in the habit of taking the e-bike and itโs motivated us to hit the beach more.
Iโm particularly wowed with all the accessory add-on options, including the Globe Pannier Adapters and Coolcave Panniers, which can hold up to 22 pounds to carry backpacks, beach towels, baseball bats, soccer balls, water bottles, snacks, and sand toys. We have the running boards, adjustable cargo rail, passenger seats, front rack, turbo basket, elastic cargo net with hooks, and the Globe + Kryptonite Evolution 1010 Chain Lock too, which Iโll detail more below but overall very pleased.
The range on this bike is impressive, up to 60 miles, though ours definitely died before this thanks to my husband forgetting to turn it off on stops or parked in our garage a few different times. Iโd say youโre likely to get closer to 30 to 40 miles though, and maybe less if youโre using pedal assist 4 or 5 and constantly carrying a couple of kids on the back and all their stuff, as the heavier the weight the shorter the range.
Electric bikes arenโt cheap, and while the Specialized Haul LT is on the pricier side at $3500 before accessories, Iโd say itโs worth it for the high quality and reliability, which is critical when youโll be carrying kids on the back. You can find long-tail e-cargo bikes for cheaper, and you can also find them for far more expensive, so this feels like a good sweet spot at a mid-range price that will offer tons of flexibility in terms of setup. Itโs important to note if youโll be carrying kids, youโll have to add running boards, a cargo rail, and passenger seats, which will bring the cost up more than $500, which is the case for a lot of electric cargo bikes.
If youโre wondering how fast electric bikes go, the Globe Haul LT tops out at 28 mph, which is pretty darn fast. The 700W rear hub motor is extra powerful, allowing me to zip down streets and zoom up hills faster and with far less effort than any of our friendsโ cargo e-bikes.
While the throttle doesnโt come standard on the Haul LT (or any class 3 e-bike), itโs only $50 to add on, which is worth it in my opinion if youโre hauling children and groceries and backpacks and all the other things up hills. I think itโs less of a must if you live in a relatively flat area, but for the price, you may as well add it on to give your legs a rest on hot days or after long distances. Mine is mounted on the left-hand side and is easy to press down for a little boost when I need it up hills.
The rear rack is long, 31-inches to be exact, and MIK-compatible so itโs easy to switch up your accessories for whatever the day has in store, whether thatโs hitting the beach, hauling the kids to school, or getting groceries. The rack can hold up to 176 pounds, so you can fit a couple of kids and cargo or three kids on the back. As I mentioned above though, for someone smaller like me, I wouldnโt feel comfortable loading the back up with more than two kids, especially if youโll be making stops on hills at stop signs or stop lights.
The LED screen on the Haul LT does the job, but itโs on the smaller side, dimly lit in black/white/gray colors and the power-on button can be a little hard to click. The buttons for the power assist are big though and easy to push up or down while youโre riding. I also appreciate that you can see how much range your bike has based on the pedal assist mode youโre in (lower for higher assist modes and higher for lower assist modes).
While the range on this electric cargo bike is up to 60 miles, thatโs almost never going to be the case if youโre consistently hauling kids on the back or any cargo. I tend to stay in a pedal assist level of 3, which gives me closer to a 30-ish mile range. The city I live in is only 1.4 square miles though so weโre never commuting far and this hasnโt been an issue for me yet. Charging the bike is super quick and easy, too.
The hydraulic disk brakes on the Globe Haul LT are worth raving about, especially if youโre a parent like me and ultra concerned about safety. Theyโre reasonably quiet (no loud squeaking) and stop on a dime, even when youโre carrying several kiddos and cargo down a steep hill, which we live on, so this is an absolute must for me. I feel very confident with my kids on the back, mainly because of the strong front and rear brakes and serious stopping power.
Overall, I really like the saddle on the Haul LT. Itโs made of specialized body geometry comfort gel and is quite comfortable to ride โ I have no complaints so far. The telescoping seatpost offers over 13 inches of adjustability, and the quill stem can extend nearly 6 inches. My 5โ9โ husband and I (5โ6โ) have no issue adjusting the seat between rides to suit our respective comfort levels.
The 20โ diameter wheels are stable, while the extra wide 3.5โ Carless Whisper tires provide great traction for a smooth, safe ride.
I havenโt taken the Haul for a spin past dark mainly because bedtime routine starts before itโs dark out during the summer, and we just use the bike for taking the kids places. However, the headlights and tail lights automatically turn on when you power the bike up. To turn off you simply hold the pedal assist up button down for a few seconds and they turn off. It does appear to put off a pretty good beam though so Iโd feel comfortable riding at night if needed and when it starts to get dark out earlier.
The extra-wide kickstand is sturdy and stable. My 7 and 5-year-old easily climb on, and the bike stays put โ I donโt worry about it tipping over. Because the bike is pretty heavy, it can take some muscle to lift it up to deploy the kickstand though.
Itโs worth pointing out the fenders on the Haul LT are excellent, keeping your bikeโs components well-protected and protecting you from spray on wet roads.
This great feature helps protect against theft. The bike comes with two keys and a locking battery compartment to ensure your battery stays where itโs supposed to. You can also remove the battery and charge it more easily inside if you donโt have an accessible power outlet in your garage or where you park your bike.
Iโve heard horror stories about e-bike apps but the Globe app is so simple and easy to use โ I really like it. From here, you can turn on and off the lights and lock the battery on the bike when itโs not in use. You can also view speed, battery charge, and mileage left until the battery dies.
The adapters and panniers are attached to the front of my bike, making it easy to pop the kids on the back and their backpacks and gear in the front. Youโll want to try to balance the weight on both sides though so you stay on balance when riding. Going anywhere with kids means bringing lots of stuff so I appreciate the ability to haul it all. Plus, the panniers clip on and off so easily that itโs no hassle to add or remove them as needed.
While I do think itโs a bit expensive, I appreciate the ability to completely customize the cargo rail to suit your familyโs needs. It can serve as a handlebar for the kids to hold on safely as you ride, which is our main purpose, or a place to strap on your cargo bags. There are three width options and four height settings so you can figure out what works best for your setup and adapt and adjust it as your kids grow.
Whether you have kiddos or just plan on carrying cargo on the back, running boards are a must for security and kidโs comfort. The Haul running boards offer solid support, are easy for my kiddos to use to climb on and off the bike, and provide a good resting spot for feet during transport. They also look really nice and high-end.
At $60 a piece, the Globe passenger seats can add up (the rear rack fits three) but theyโre necessary for safely hauling kids. So far, no complaints from my children. The seats are made of soft foam pads, and from the sheer joy on my kids' faces riding (and constantly asking to ride), I can assure you they are comfortable.
The Globe Front Rack mounts directly to the bike so you can carry heavy loads with less effort and without affecting the stability of the bike. It offers lots of flexibility in terms of use too, as itโs compatible with the front and rear pannier adapters so you can carry 5+ full grocery bags or bolt on additional accessories to the side to further customize your ride. It accepts MIK accessories too, like the Turbo Basket thatโs currently on ours.
I love the turbo basket for carrying my kids' snacks, a cell phone, water bottles, and even a backpack or two (weโve done it) that isnโt fully loaded up. Itโs great for essentials and can fit quite a bit with the addition of the elastic cargo net, which is a must to keep your stuff from flying out on rides.
Electric bike theft is big where we live, so I wanted to be sure I had a highly secure lock for when I take the bike to the beach, brunch, or baseball. The Globe + Kryptonite chain lock has an 8/10 rating for security and is backed by Kryptonite's lifetime warranty and Anti-theft Protection offer. Itโs a little over 39 inches in length, but with the sheer size of the Haul LT and with running boards and panniers attached it can still be a struggle to get the bike close enough to a rack to lock it. It can be done though, and I feel really at ease leaving the bike out of my site using this lock.
For families living in e-bike-friendly communities with young kids, Iโd absolutely recommend the Specialized Globe Haul LT for errands, school drop off, or just to zip to the local playground. Itโs big and long so youโll want to consider where youโll store it before purchasing, and ensure you have enough space for it to fit comfortably. This e-bike has a ton of power to tackle hills without moving at a snail's pace with a couple of kids on the back. That said, despite the extra power, Iโve never once not felt safe zooming down the street with my 5 and 7-year-old in tow.
The ability to easily swap accessories on and off is unparalleled and so convenient for parents like me who are always in a rush. I will say I would be careful purchasing this bike if you want to tote three kids on the back and arenโt super strong or confident. I can handle two, and my husband can manage three, but Iโd only feel safe doing so navigating mostly flat roads in areas without much traffic.
This electric cargo bike is really fun to ride! I did some digging around the internet and on Reddit for more reviews too, and it seems like Iโm not the only one who agrees that itโs honestly such a blast to cruise on this thing, so much so that youโll likely find yourself making excuses to use it in place of your car โ and so will your kids. The ride is super comfortable, smooth, stable, and the torque sensor makes the pedal assist feel natural, sensing how hard youโre pedaling so the motorโs power adjusts to match. Overall, itโs a joy to hop on the Haul LT, and my kids are safely contained, happy, and comfortable on the back, too.
As someone new to electric bikes, having only hopped on friendsโ bikes a handful of times to ride prior, I can say that this electric cargo bike is incredibly user-friendly. The LED display is straightforward, with a power-on button and up and down arrows to set your preferred pedal assist. These arrows can also be held down to turn off the bikeโs lights (up arrow) or to put the bike into walk mode (down arrow) so walking it up a hill or into your garage is a bit easier, since itโs pretty heavy.
Switching between gears can take a little getting used to, but thatโs mainly because Iโm used to my regular beach cruiserโs twist-grip gear shifters, so this may be a personal thing. The throttle, which Iโd highly recommend, is located on the left side and is super easy to push down with your thumb for a boost on hills or when your legs are just done.
The maintenance is minimal for the Globe Haul LT. The brand recommends regularly checking tire pressure and tire wear, cleaning and lubing the chain regularly with high-quality bike lube, and to be on the lookout for faster wear and tear on certain parts like the drivetrain, tires, and brake pads.
As for washing, they suggest always using a low-pressure hose โto clean sensitive parts like bearings, headset, and wheel hubs, etc.โ and to maintain a safe distance from the bike when cleaning. For stubborn dirt, they suggest using a โsoft brush and a bucket of high-quality bike cleaner to wash it off.โ
Specialized has a reputation for high-quality, well-designed, and engineered electric bikes, and the Globe Haul LT lives up to this reputation. Nothing about this bike looks or feels cheap, and the quality is quite obvious after taking it for a spin. The brakes are excellent, the pedal assist and torque sensor feel very natural, and at no point do you feel unsafe or wobbly while cruising, even at top speeds. The fenders are great and built to handle any kind of weather. Use a soft cloth to dry off after washing. Regular inspections and service by an Authorized Specialized Retailer will keep your Specialized bike in top condition.
After a couple of months of dashing to baseball practices and games, cruising down to the strand for impromptu beach play dates, and surprising the kids at school pickup on the Specialized Globe Haul LT, I can confidently say I love this e-bike. Itโs fashionable, functional, flexible (in terms of what you can haul!), and incredibly reliable and safe thanks to superior brakes and a rock-solid rear rack and adjustable cargo rail to contain the kiddos.
Weโve all had a blast riding, my husband and kids included. I wouldnโt hesitate to recommend this electric cargo bike to families with multiple children looking for a safe and fun way to schlep the kids around town and all their stuff. While it may be higher-priced than other cargo e-bikes, you get what you pay for with the Globe Haul LT, which will give you the peace of mind you need to put your kids on the back and go and feel good about it.
All in all, this is an excellent electric cargo bike from a highly-trusted brand. Iโd highly recommend it to busy families who live in an e-bike-friendly area and are looking for a solid, well-built bike with all the bells and whistlesโnot to mention the capability to haul (hence the name) multiple children and all of their things safely and swiftly.
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