Specialized Globe Haul ST Review 2024

Intro

Specialized is one of the largest bike companies in the world. Their heritage runs as wide as it is deep. Name a race and someone has won it aboard one of their bikes. As a source of innovation they have often left competitors struggling to distinguish themselves.

Specialized was one of the first of the big legacy brands to offer an e-bike, more than 10 years ago. Since then, they have diversified their offerings from that one e-bike to mountain, road, gravel, commuter, leisure and now cargo e-bikes. The Globe Haul ST represents a departure from their other e-bikes in a couple of significant ways.

Unlike Specialized’s other e-bikes, the Globe Haul ST is equipped with a hub motor, rather than one of the Brose-made motors used in their other models. Also, Specialized’s other e-bikes are generally offered in at least four sizes—their eMTBs come in six. These two concessions, along with a number of other strategic choices, allowed Specialized to retail the Globe Haul ST for less than $3000, a price threshold that most of the big legacy bike brands haven’t tried to cross.

At first glance, the Specialized Globe Haul ST looks like most other compact cargo e-bikes: It’s built with a 700W hub motor, a 772Wh battery, hydraulic disc brakes, 20-in wheels and a multi-speed drivetrain. The similarities mostly end there. We will probably run out of descriptors like upgrade, upscale and premium by the end of the review; at every turn, the Globe Haul ST features better parts and construction, a level of quality that one would expect for an e-bike that costs more than $2000, but far outstripping what we might have expected for an e-bike going for less than $3000, though.

There’s plenty to examine in our review, so let’s jump in.

E-Bike Category: Compact cargo

Who the Specialized Globe Haul ST Electric Bike Is for: This is perfect for the person who wants an e-bike that will allow them the flexibility to do all their daily errands without ever grabbing the key fob.

Aventon Level.2 ST E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 772Wh
• Expected Range:
• Charger: 48V
• Motor: 700W brushless, geared hub motor
• UL Certification: UL 2271 (battery only)
• Pedal Assist: 5 PAS levels
• Throttle: Not included, but available as accessory
• Display: Handlebar remote
• Headlight: 1500 Lumen
• Taillight: 50 Lumen
• Frame: 6061 Aircraft aluminum
• Fork: Steel
• Fenders: Included, w/headlight mount
• Kickstand: Dual-leg motorcycle-style
• Handlebars: Alloy, 12-degree sweep, 80mm rise, 700mm width
• Grips: Egonomic
• Drivetrain: 9-speed Shimano Alivio, 11-36t cassette
• Brakes: 4-piston Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 203mm rotors
• Pedals: Alloy, with reflectors
• Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry
• Tires: Specialized Carless Whisper 20 x 3.5-in., reflective stripe

In-Depth Specialized Globe Haul ST Review

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

The hot sub-category in e-bikes currently is the compact cargo e-bike. They are also referred to as utility e-bikes, and the Specialized Globe Haul ST falls into this category. The dividing line between compact cargo and full-size cargo is pretty straightforward: Compact cargo e-bikes can carry a child. One. They are no longer than other e-bikes, or maybe a bit longer, but their wheelbase is in keeping with most other e-bikes on the road, so the handling isn’t any different. Meanwhile, full-size cargo e-bikes are longer, much longer. They are designed to be able to carry up to two kids.

The frame is made from 6061 aircraft aluminum, while the fork is made from steel. With most step-thru frames, there is simply one massive down tube and no top tube. Specialized didn’t go that direction; they went with two tubes, both round, which pays a couple of dividends. First, the design is stiffer and makes the e-bike handle more predictably. This isn’t something many riders would be able to articulate, but in the saddle, it would register as greater confidence. The body knows. Also, by going with round tubes, they avoid some of the potential supply-chain issues that cropped up in the bike industry during the pandemic. Being able to buy tubing from multiple mills also gives them more ability to negotiate on pricing.

One of the choices Specialized made in order to keep this e-bike as affordable as possible was to go with a single size. We were surprised by this choice, but Specialized did it in a way that gives riders more flexibility in finding comfort on this e-bike than on their competitors’ e-bikes. First, they equipped it with a telescoping seatpost that will allow riders a saddle height (measured from the bottom bracket) of as little as 20.3 in., and as much as 33.5 in. Second, they went with a handlebar with 80mm of rise; it can be rolled backward or forward to help adjust the rider’s reach. Finally, in a stroke of genius, then went with a quill stem; this is a type of stem that fell out of favor with the industry, but makes sense because it can be raised and lowered, more adjustability for rider comfort. It’s safe to say there isn’t another one-size compact cargo e-bike that is more adjustable.

Specialized did not include a suspension fork on the Globe Haul ST, and that’s a good thing in our book. A suspension fork needs to be set up for the load it will be carrying. If you set it up for a rider who weighs 120 lbs., but a 220-lb. rider climbs on, the fork will be compressed to the point that there is no travel left. No bueno. And with cargo and utility e-bikes, the load changes constantly and a 20-lb. change in payload weight will change how the fork reacts. So, we like the steel fork.

To make up for the comfort that a suspension fork might otherwise offer, Specialized spec’d a new tire they designed, the Carless Whisper (a play on the Wham! song “Careless Whisper”). This is a 20 x 3.5-in.-wide tire that will provide a comfortable ride while maintaining relatively low rolling resistance (at least, for a tire this wide).

Specialized went with 20-in. wheels for a couple of reasons. First, smaller wheels increase maneuverability, making turning easier as well as helping to shorten the e-bike’s overall turn radius. Also, smaller wheels have shorter spokes, which makes the wheels stronger, which is important considering the Globe Haul ST is rated for a 419-lb. payload.

We’ve ridden plenty of e-bikes with 20-in. wheels that felt super nimble at 12 mph, but nervous as a shy kid on the first day of school at 20 mph. The Globe Haul ST was designed by industry veterans (truly, Specialized put an A-team on this e-bike, and it shows), who managed to balance the need for maneuverability against the need for stability at speed and came up with a winner.

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

Until now, all of Specialized’s e-bikes have featured Brose-made mid-drive motors for either Class 1 (20 mph max) or Class 3 (28 mph max) speeds. With the Globe line, we’re seeing Specialized’s first foray into e-bikes with hub motors. Honestly, knowing how relentlessly Specialized pursues ride quality, we were shocked … until we learned that this e-bike was equipped with a torque sensor. More on that in a second.

The Globe Haul ST is equipped with a 700W brushless, geared hub motor. The simple fact that this hub motor makes 700W nominally tells us that they didn’t simply source this from a maker supplying the same hub to multiple companies. It is tuned better than most and offers acceleration that is a notable departure from most of its competitors. Riders who want some giddyup will like this e-bike.

That Specialized chose to include a torque sensor on the Globe Haul ST says much about what they think the experience of riding an e-bike should be. With a cadence sensor, an e-bike’s motor works in a way that is coordinated with the rider’s pedaling, but that coordination is limited. There’s a delay, both in starting and in stopping pedaling, between the rider’s actions and what the motor does. A torque sensor not only eliminates that delay, it makes the motor respond in proportion to the rider’s effort. As the rider pedals harder, the motor increases its output. The PAS selector adjusts how high the motor’s output can be. The end result is a seamless experience that makes riding a more engaging and thrilling, not to mention more efficient. The motor responds to pedal force, not what PAS level was selected.

Specialized put a sizable battery in the Globe Haul ST, which makes sense considering this is an e-bike intended to carry loads greater than just the rider. They had a case designed to fit in the space between the top tube and down tube that fills up nearly the entire space, making great use of the space available.

Estimating range for an e-bike of this sort isn’t easy. Specialized says riders can get up to 60 mi., but as we know, these estimates can be optimistic. Our colleagues at Electric Bike Report tested the Globe Haul ST and rolled a solid 54 mi. in PAS 1, but that’s 10 percent shy of their estimate. In PAS 5, they covered nearly 38 mi., which is pretty impressive.

As we mentioned in the opening of our review, the Globe Haul ST comes in at a higher price point than many of the e-bikes we review. At nearly $3000, the Globe Haul ST is meant to be a more upscale response to the direct-to-consumer e-bikes that dominate the market. We have already seen that in the frame, motor and battery, but it’s also evident in the drivetrain. Shimano chose to spec a 9-speed Alivio drivetrain. This is a notable step up from the 8-speed drivetrains we see and substantially superior to the 7-speed drivetrains we see on the value-conscious e-bikes. The cassette not only offers nine gears, the range—11-36t—is 330 percent which will make a notable difference both when loaded and when climbing hills.

As manufacturers step up to groups like Shimano’s Alivio, riders get yet another benefit aside from more gears. The shifting is more precise and faster and the force needed to execute a shift drops. A rider will feel the superior quality every time their thumb touches the shifter.

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

Compact cargo bikes are meant to carry more than just a rider. Whether that’s a kid or a week’s-worth of groceries stopping 350 lbs. requires more braking power than stopping 175 lbs. For that reason, Specialized chose 4-piston Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and then paired them with 203mm rotors. Considering that it’s easier to stop 20-in. wheels than it is 27.5-in. wheels, the choice to go with 4-piston calipers is great, but then Specialied goes one step further with the choice to go with 203mm rotors. We can safely say that there isn’t a more powerful brake setup available on an e-bike with 20-in. wheels. It may be the single most powerful brake setup on any e-bike.

At every point where we might consider the rider’s safety, from the frame and fork to the motor and battery and on to the drivetrain and brakes, the Globe Haul ST is a cut above the majority of compact cargo e-bikes on the market. For the parent who wants to tote a kid to and from school, Specialized offers a passenger kit with a seat, handlebar, wheel skirt and foot pegs. The foot pegs are the only detail with this e-bike we can criticize, and we’re digging deep to do this.

Kids can be fidgety and for that reason running boards can make for easier foot placement. Finding room for them would be difficult, if not impossible on an e-bike with this frame length.

Because Specialzed is one of the biggest brands in the world, their warranty is a step up from most. They cover the frame and fork for the life of the e-bike. The electronics including battery and motor are covered for two years. Specialized-branded components are covered for two years; that includes essentially all the parts except for the drivetrain and brakes, which each receive a one-year warranty. It’s one of the most thorough warranties available.

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

Next to the creation of the e-bike itself, cargo e-bikes—both compact and full-size—are arguably the best development in the industry. An e-bike is a marvelously efficient form of transportation and utterly delightful as recreation. However, to be a capable substitute for a car, an e-bike needs to be ready to carry more than a rider. They also need to be adaptable to the individual rider’s needs.

With the Specialized Globe Haul ST we have an e-bike that, depending on how it is outfitted, can take a kid to school as mom or dad commutes to work. They can hit a grocery store on the way home for a few items. It’s got mounts enough that it can carry up to four large, plastic panniers which have capacity enough to carry a week’s-worth of groceries for a family of three. Indeed, no other compact cargo e-bike we’ve seen sports as many different accessory mounts as the Globe Haul ST.

We often caution those more diminutive or statuesque shoppers to carefully consider one-size-fits-some e-bikes before purchasing them. People between 5 feet 6 and 6 feet won’t have much trouble fitting on the majority of e-bikes out there, but extremes—in either direction—leg length and/or wingspan can make finding an e-bike that is comfortable for more than a few minutes a challenge. Specialized has done more to make the Globe Haul ST fit a broad range of rider heights than any other company we’ve seen. It’s not perfect, but it is a thoughtful approach to solving an inherently difficult problem.

Anyone who plans to keep an e-bike for more than two years is going to need to have it serviced. Parts like tires, tubes, brake pads, chains and cassettes all wear out, and in roughly that order. Hydraulic disc brakes need to be bled every year or two, depending on how much the e-bike is being ridden. One distinct benefit of buying an e-bike from Specialized is that few communities are without a Specialized dealer that will have the expertise and parts to service the Globe Haul. File that under peace of mind.

The question of who an e-bike is for is one we ask with each new model we review. Who is it meant to serve? Often, that answer is simple and straightforward, as with a commuter or an eMTB. With the Specialized Globe Haul ST, this e-bike’s versatility forces us to turn that question on its head: Who isn’t the Globe Haul ST for? The environmentally conscious person who wants an adaptable e-bike that will allow them to park or even sell their car is one person. So is the family with one kid. So is the restaurant that does neighborhood deliveries. The only possible buyer we would steer away from the Globe Haul ST is the family with two kids who wants to ferry both of them to school. The Globe Haul ST will fit two people, but not three. But don’t worry, Specialized has introduced a long-tail version, the Globe Haul LT. We will review it in an upcoming review.

Readers who had maybe budgeted up to $2000 for their e-bike purchase but can maybe stretch if they find sufficient justification, might want to cut another hole in their belt. The Globe Haul ST, once outfitted with the accessories to make it fully functional could run more than $3000. Yes, that’s a significantly greater investment than with a $2000 or less e-bike—but even those e-bikes need an additional investment in accessories, which may force someone above the $2000 threshold anyway. The question is: Is the Specialized Globe Haul ST worth the extra spend. The answer is yes. This is an e-bike that can meet any rider at the most important place of all: our needs.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Specialized Globe Haul ST. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!