Search
Close this search box.
eBikes.org is supported by readers. When you buy with our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Tern HSD P9 Review

robb dorr
By
Robb Dorr,
Co-founder
Images from manufacturer's website

60 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

6 hrs

CHARGE TIME

57 lbs

WEIGHT

Mid-drive

MOTOR TYPE

Sponsors keep us charged up

Tern HSD P9 Review: Takeaway

A compact yet powerful and comfortable utility and cargo electric bike that’s suited for business or leisure use, the Tern HSD P9 can almost do it all!

We love the cargo capacity and a lot of the smaller details that went into the design that could make it just the e-bike for your needs.

If you need a big cargo bike for a busy delivery operation, this might not suit you, but for almost all other inner city/downtown use, this is a very good e-bike.

Ideal for...

Grocery stores/boutiques offering delivery
Smaller delivery businesses
Utility use instead of a second car
RVing with longer rides planned
Car replacement with optional child seat

E-Bike Overview

Want a compact cargo and utility e-bike that can carry a great load comfortably and pack away neatly? The Tern HSD P9 could be just the machine for you.

The HSD P9 can be folded flat to fit in a luggage compartment on a bus or train — or in the trunk of your SUV. This doesn’t make it a tiny folding e-bike, though — just compact. With a folded size of 64.2″ x 15.9″ x 33.9″, it would struggle to fit in a compact car trunk.

The rear rack can carry up to 132 lbs — ample for a small child in the optional child seat, but also more than adequate for a business’s local delivery runs to customers.

As an e-bike, it has a powerful Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor and a 400 Wh in-tube battery that is all you need for most daily use, delivering up to 60 miles of range.

Reasons to Buy

When it comes to this well-thought-out compact electric utility and cargo bike, we love its long range — perfect for a full-day trip out and about in the city. Its compact design is also good if you’re limited on storage at home. It can be parked on its rear rack in a vertical position in your living room or office, well out of the way.

The easy-step frame is also great for shorter or limited mobility riders. Add in the good cargo capacity, and this could be the perfect e-bike for someone who needs help getting the groceries home.

These aspects all go together to make for a great e-bike for business or personal use.

Things to Consider

On such an excellent machine, there are very few gripes to be had short of the range. It’s plenty for most people, but it could limit a busy delivery operation in a downtown area. There are better electric cargo bikes at a similar price that have a greater range, at the expense of size and compactness.

Additionally, its weight of 56.7 lbs is on the heftier side. That could make it hard to get the bike upstairs, especially if you have extra cargo strapped on.

Specs & Components

Motor
Bosch Active Line Plus
Battery
Bosch in-tube, 400 Wh
Controller
Bosch Purion LCD
Drivetrain
Shimano Alvio 9-speed, 11-32t cassette
Brakes
Hydraulic disc, 180mm front rotor, 160mm rear
Wheels
Tern Atlas H Cargo, balloon tires
Frame
Easy-step, partially folding
Accessories
Rack, fenders, lights, kickstand
Optional extras
Cargo basket, front basket, child seat

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power
4.5/5
4.5

The Bosch Active Line mid-drive motor offers a lot of torque to get quickly to a top speed of 20 mph. This is a Class 1 e-bike with pedal assist only and no throttle. The Schwalbe Big Apple road tires, if pumped to optimum pressure, will offer minimal rolling resistance.

Range
4/5
4

The Bosch PowerPack 400Wh battery can offer a realistic range of around 40-50 miles on most terrains. If it’s subjected to its maximum payload weight on hilly terrain, you’ll get far fewer miles per charge. This is decent when compared to bikes of a similar class, but if the range is your most important consideration, there are other bikes that go further.

Comfort
5/5
5

Sat in an upright, city position, you will be comfortable riding this even after a day of delivery runs around your downtown. Equipped with balloon tires and a custom Suntour suspension fork, the Tern HSD P9 is a great machine to ride even with a full payload. The adjustable seatpost also ensures you can find the perfect height for you.

Durability
5/5
5

Many of Tern’s customers are business customers who expect to put high mileage into their e-bikes from day one as minivan replacements. As such, these machines are built with that in mind, and if serviced regularly, could offer 10,000 or more miles of use.

Backing this up is Tern’s 10-year warranty on its e-bikes, though this doesn’t apply to the motor or battery (Bosch offers a one-year warranty on this). The warranty is subject to fair wear and tear policies.

Style
4.5/5
4.5

Offered in a taupe or red color scheme, the HSD P9 looks like a great utility and cargo electric bike from end to end. We love its H-frame rear rack that allows the bike to be stood on its rear without the risk of falling over. The motor is tucked neatly under the seat, nearly concealing the fact that you’re packing some assistance.

Our Research Methodology

We personally research and test every e-bike featured in our reviews and guides to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn how we review.

About Our Editorial Team

robb dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder
Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.

E-Bikes From the Same Brand

Tern GSD S10
Cargo, City
4.9/5
Rating
120 mi
Range
Mid-drive
Motor
These ads keep the power on

Reviews of E-Bikes for Similar Activities

AIMA Santa Monica
Commuter, Step-thru, Touring
4.2/5
Rating
40 mi
Range
Rear Hub
Motor
On Sale Now
TENWAYS CGO800S
City, Commuter, Step-thru
4.8/5
Rating
48 mi
Range
Rear Hub
Motor
On Sale Now
Blix Dubbel
Cargo, City, Commuter, Fat-tire, Step-thru
4.3/5
Rating
70 mi
Range
Rear Hub
Motor

Other E-Bike Reviews

On Sale Now
TENWAYS CGO800S
City, Commuter, Step-thru
4.8/5
Rating
48 mi
Range
Rear Hub
Motor
Aventon Ramblas eMTB
All Terrain, Mountain
4.5/5
Rating
80 mi
Range
Mid-drive
Motor
QuietKat Lynx
All Terrain, City, Fat-tire
4.1/5
Rating
35 mi
Range
Rear Hub
Motor

Be The First To Know

Sign up for eBikes.org emails to be the first to see reviews, news, and exclusive deals and discounts from e-bike brands.