The Globe Haul ST represents quite a few firsts for Specialized. It’s the first bike under the Globe name, first use of a rear-hub motor, and first utility e-bike for the brand. And yet despite a whole slew of firsts, they all gave the impression of a refined product as it avoided pitfalls other utility e-bikes have made on the initial attempt.
First off, let’s talk about the motor. There is a wave of hub motors with torque sensors this year (and I’m here for it, people!) but the Specialized-tuned 700W hub motor here is amongst the most responsive and powerful I’ve ridden.
Initially, I thought the motor was too dialed in. It seemed to adjust speed before I could get a full revolution of the pedals in making it feel inconsistent in terms of output. But after about 10 miles or so, with enough time to understand the way the drivetrain and PAS levels interact, it was easy to find the a good pedal cadence that gave me the amount of motor power and speed I was hoping for. This was especially useful on hills, it’s a rare bike that can help on steeper climbs from PAS 1-5, but holy cow does it make light work of things in PAS 4 and 5.
Many utility e-bikes have impressive motors, but they use cadence sensors. They check if the pedals are spinning, not how hard. This one just felt like you had more control at your feet than having to rely on your hands since most have you cycling through gears and PAS levels more depending on your terrain.
Second, let’s talk fit. While prepping for this particular Specialized e-bike review, we had a phone call with some of the Specialized team who explained the emphasis placed on making a bike that really could be “one-size-fits-all.” Careful consideration was made in the overall design using the Retül database to ensure the most amount of people possible could ride this bike comfortably. Our tallest (6’5″) and smallest (5’0″) testers alike all confirmed they felt right at home on the Globe Haul ST once adjusting the stem, saddle, and reach a little.
Most utility e-bikes aren’t what I’d call limited in size, but none that I know of go as far as to cover two feet of rider height differences. That’s pretty impressive.
Third, let’s talk function. In general, I love how easy it is to recommend a utility e-bike. They are wicked useful, and just pleasant to ride for fun, commuting and more. Utility e-bikes are essentially short cargo bikes, so many of them can be decked out with gear for hauling a lot of items. But the pack mounts on the fork combined with a payload of 419 lbs makes the Globe Haul ST more equipped than most, while handling like a dream.
