How Many Riders Does Your Tern Need to Carry?

Manufacturer, retailer and public-agency sources · 2026-09-24 · no ratings, no road tests

Summary

Tern's own menu sorts its e-bikes by passengers, with the GSD Gen 3, Orox and Quick Haul Long under two, the HSD, Quick Haul and NBD under one, and the Vektron under folding. The GSD Gen 3 has the highest rated load at 210 kg (463 lb) and the Quick Haul the lowest of the cargo models at 150 kg (330 lb). The Vektron is the only one of these built to fold, and it is rated for 125 kg (275.6 lb) in total.

Rated loads, side by side

Model	Tern's passenger wording	Max gross vehicle weight	Rear rack	Length
GSD Gen 3	"Up to 2 kids," and "It'll even take an adult passenger"	210 kg (463 lb)	100 kg (220 lb)	192 cm (75.6 in), S10
Quick Haul Long D9	"Designed to safely carry 2 kids"	190 kg (419 lb)	90 kg (198 lb)	187 cm (73.6 in)
HSD Gen 3	"Fit an adult friend or partner comfortably in the back"	190 kg (419 lb)	80 kg (176 lb)	174 cm (68.5 in)
Quick Haul D8	Rear rack "fits a child seat or 'big kid' seating option"	150 kg (330 lb)	50 kg (110 lb)	172.5 cm (67.9 in)
Vektron P10	Folding, not a cargo bike	125 kg (275.6 lb)	27 kg	41 x 86 x 68 cm folded

In Tern's cargo guide for the earlier GSD Gen 2, maximum gross vehicle weight covers the bike and its batteries, accessories, rider, passengers and cargo, so the bike's own weight comes out of it first. Take the Quick Haul D8 at 22.8 kg with a 75 kg rider and a 20 kg child in a seat, and about 32 kg remains for bags and accessories within its 150 kg rating. The same rider and child on a GSD S10, which weighs 37.32 kg, leave about 78 kg.

GSD Gen 3 or Quick Haul Long for two children

Both are listed for two kids, and the Quick Haul Long is only 5 cm shorter than the GSD S10. The GSD rates 20 kg more in total and 10 kg more on the rack, and Tern says it "comfortably carries up to 2 kids," from toddlers to teens. Tern describes the GSD as "similar in length to a regular bike."

Their drive systems match. The GSD S10 and Quick Haul Long D9 both use a Bosch Cargo Line motor with up to 85 Nm and a 20 mph US top speed. The Quick Haul Long D9 has a 500Wh battery, for which Tern lists 26 to 53 miles, and weighs 29.3 kg (64.6 lb) against 37.32 kg (82.3 lb) for the GSD S10. Its rider limit is 120 kg (265 lb), below the GSD's 130 kg (287 lb).

HSD Gen 3, one passenger in a shorter bike

Tern's page title for the HSD reads "Our Best 1-Passenger Electric Cargo Bikes." At 174 cm it is 1.5 cm longer than the Quick Haul D8 and rated for 40 kg more in total, the same 190 kg as the Quick Haul Long, with a smaller 80 kg rack load.

Speed depends on the version. The HSD P5i uses a Bosch Performance motor with 75 Nm and a 20 mph US limit. The HSD S9i Sport has a Bosch Performance Sport motor with up to 90 Nm and a "max speed of 28 mph (Class 3)." The two also differ in rider height, 4'11" to 6'7" on the P5i and 5'0" to 6'9" on the S9i Sport.

Quick Haul D8, the lightest cargo option

At 22.8 kg (50.3 lb), the Quick Haul D8 is the lightest of the cargo models on this list. Its Bosch Active Line Plus motor provides up to 50 Nm, and Tern adds that the rear rack's 50 kg capacity can be supplemented with "an additional 20 kg with optional front rack." Tern lists no passenger count for it, only that the rack takes a child seat.

Vektron, when the bike has to fold

Tern calls the Vektron "our most compact electric bike." The P10 folds in 10 seconds to 41 x 86 x 68 cm (16.1 x 33.9 x 26.8 in), weighs 22.5 kg (49.6 lb), and uses a Bosch BES2 Performance motor with 65 Nm and a 400Wh battery. Its maximum rider weight is 105 kg (231.5 lb), and Tern lists a rider height range of 4'10" to 6'5".

What each page certifies

Tern names different standards on different pages. The GSD, HSD, Quick Haul and Vektron pages all state UL 2849 certification for the Bosch system or the complete e-bike. The HSD adds EN 17860, the European cargo-bike standard, at 190 kg. The GSD and Quick Haul Long D9 pages cite the German DIN 79010 cargo standard at their rated weights, and the Quick Haul Long D9 page does not mention UL 2849.

Sources

Data checked, sources, and what we did not test

Data checked: 2026-09-24. Figures and quotations were read on that date from the pages listed under Sources and can change without notice.

Sources: manufacturer, retailer and public-agency pages, listed above. No review sites, forums or retailer ratings were used.

What we did not test: ride quality, brake feel, real-world range, durability and customer service. We have not ridden these bikes and publish no ratings or rankings.