Tern Orox Spec Review: Bike Overview
Like almost all of their models, Tern makes two different versions of the Orox. There’s the S12, which retails for under $7,000, and the R14, which costs just under $9,000. Yes, they’re expensive, but the Orox is designed to shine where other off-road e-bikes fail.
The construction of the Tern Orox S12 and R14 is largely identical, but they differ in terms of the standard battery and drivetrain they are equipped with. Both versions use Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor, which limits the assist speed to a maximum of 20 miles per hour, making it a Class 1 e-bike. This is a selling point that we will discuss in more detail later.
An interesting feature of the Tern Orox frame is its ability to tow a trailer or another bicycle, giving it versatility beyond the load capacity of the frame.
Tern Orox Review: Specifications and Features
frame and fork
The Orox frame is made from heat-treated 6061 aluminum and features a long-tail design to allow the rider to carry loads or even a pillion. The fork is made of chromoly steel.
Tern produces the Orox in two different sizes: medium and large. They assume that the medium size is suitable for riders between 1.50m and 1.80m tall, while the large size should suit riders between 1.50m and 1.80m tall. In our experience, claiming that a design is suitable for a 12-inch range of height is rather optimistic. In our experience, most frames are suitable for 5 to 6 inches. Elevation differences, meaning riders on the edges of these areas may struggle to find comfort.
Both the frame and fork feature a variety of mounting points for everything from child seats to saddlebags and more.
The Atlas X luggage rack features an unusual design with six attachment points. This brings the buyer two advantages: First, the Atlas X comes weighing 220 pounds. weight class, making it one of the strongest luggage racks we’ve ever seen. Second, for a six-point rack to work, both the frame and rack must be perfectly aligned, otherwise the six bolts will not fit through the rack and into the frame threads, and good alignment always indicates that manufacturing standards were met high.
Not only that, the Atlas’s rear rack is on-road and 396 lbs. in off-road use.
On the back of the Orox frame is Tern’s TowBar. Tern says the TowBar will allow someone to tow most trailer designs. Adding Tern’s TailHitch XL allows you to tow a second bike, effectively turning the existing kid’s bike into a trail-a-bike.
Motor and battery
Tern chose the Bosch Performance Line CX mid-engine. This is one of Bosch’s most respected motors and is often chosen for high-performance e-MTBs. It delivers 250 W and a maximum torque of 85 Nm.
Thanks to its torque sensor, this engine is very responsive to driver inputs and can handle dramatic changes in terrain. It has some other notable features such as walking assist and hill start assist, as well as safety features that allow the owner to lock and unlock the engine using Bosch Smart System smartphone app.
The Tern Orox S12 comes with a 725Wh battery that can be upgraded to an 800Wh battery. The Tern Orox R14 comes standard with the 800Wh battery. Both models are ready to drive with double batteries. The first battery is mounted in the frame pocket in the front frame triangle. The second battery holder sits behind the seat tube; Thanks to the long-tail design, there is plenty of space for a full-sized battery.
The Bosch Performance Line CX system comes with the Kiox 300 display and is UL 2849 certified, which governs the entire system, not just the battery.
Tern estimates riders will travel between 52 and 91 miles. per charge with the 725 Wh battery. With the 800 Wh battery, riders can expect between 58 and 100 miles. Add a second battery and drivers can see up to 200 miles. per load.
Components
With the Orox, Tern has put some effort into making sure this e-bike is the heavyweight champion it’s meant to be. They have conducted extensive testing and even confirmed that the Ergon saddle and 800mm wide aluminum handlebars are suitable for riders weighing up to 286 pounds.
We were pleased to see that different stem sizes were specified for the medium and large frames. The Medium comes with a 45mm stem, while the Large gets a 65mm stem to increase reach for taller riders.
The Tern Orox is perfectly equipped for riding right from the moment it is unpacked. Both the S12 and R14 models come with the same accessory package. They start with a 700 lumen front light, a rear light that doubles as a brake light; the aforementioned Atlas X rack; a bash guard for the Bosch engine; a motorcycle-style two-legged stand; a brass bell; heavy-duty aluminum fenders; Tough Shield film on the top and down tube to protect the paint and a few tools.
Drive, brakes and wheels
One of the biggest differences between the Tern Orox S12 and R14 models is the drivetrain. They take two very different approaches to gear ratios.
With the Tern Orox S12, the buyer gets a 12-speed drive with a mix of Shimano Deore and Deore XT parts. The 10-51 tonne cassette offers the driver a whopping gear range of 510 percent; This is a cassette we usually see on mountain bikes and e-MTBs.
By choosing a Rohloff 14-speed hub gear, the Tern Orox R14 goes even higher. It’s like the old internal 3-speed transmission, but with an additional 11 gears. While it’s difficult to improve on the 510 percent range of the Shimano drivetrain, Rohloff’s 14-speed hub gives the rider 526 percent range, and with two more gears than the Shimano drivetrain, that means every step is a little smaller between the courses. And because the Rohloff hub has internal gearing, Tern was able to build the Orox R14 with a Gates belt instead of a chain. This virtually eliminates most maintenance work.
Both versions of the Tern Orox are equipped with Magura MT5 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. These are some of the most powerful disc brakes we’ve ever seen, and they come with 203mm rotors, the largest we’ve ever seen on an e-bike.
The Tern Orox is approximately 27.5 inches tall. wheels and 4 inch wide tires; Most fat tire e-bikes are based on 26 inches. Wheels. The Orox’s larger wheels mean it rolls over rocks and bumps a little easier, and riders can afford to run a little less pressure in the tires too. How low can a rider go under pressure? Tern suggests you can use the 27.5 x 4 inch size. Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires have a pressure of 5 psi.
Tern Orox First Look Review by EBR:
We see a lot of all-terrain and fat-tired e-bikes. Marketing always implies that they can go anywhere and conquer any terrain. Although we believe that most designs on the market offer a high-quality experience, it is also true that many of them outperform their capabilities. We know what it takes to climb steep fire and logging roads, and we don’t often see designs that are truly this capable. The Tern Orox is a notable offshoot. This e-bike can truly go almost anywhere someone wants to explore thanks to the high-quality drivetrains it has specified.
The Tern Orox is not without limitations. The people at Tern decided against suspension for good reason. In order for the suspension to work well, it must be adjusted to the weight of the driver and all the objects carried. Add another 40 pounds. And suddenly the suspension bottoms out instead of cushioning the rider, and since this is an e-bike intended to carry loads, it makes sense not to include suspension. However, without suspension, there will be a limit to where most drivers want to take the Orox. The combination of long-tail design and lack of suspension means some trails shouldn’t be on the menu.
By choosing a Bosch motor, battery and electronics, Tern has provided riders with solid performance. First, there is Bosch’s excellent reputation for reliability and performance. Since it is a Class 1 e-bike, it can go anywhere where e-bikes are permitted. Many trail networks do not allow e-bikes at all, and those that do typically only allow Class 1 e-bikes, out of consideration for other users and concerns about trail damage.
Of course, a cargo e-bike is only as versatile as the accessories that can be mounted. Tern has ensured that the Atlas X accepts a wide range of accessories. Would you like to bring a child (or two) with you? There are seats for that. Want to mount some of the biggest panniers we’ve ever seen? They have those too. Very few e-bike manufacturers offer as many accessories to equip an e-bike as Tern.
We at Electric Bike Report are e-bike nerds. We love e-bikes in general, but every now and then we come across a new e-bike that makes us dream about what we could do with a week off work and $5,000 for vacation. The Tern Orox is an e-bike with touring capabilities not often seen.
