Specialized Haul ST Review
Reviewed by Eddy Trier
Overview
Max Speed
28mph
Max Range
60 Miles
Motor Power
700W
Engine Type
Brushless Geared Hub Motor
Charge Time
4-6 Hours
Weight
80.5 lbs
Reasons to buy
I highly recommend considering the Specialized Haul ST e-bike for several reasons. First and foremost, Specialized is a renowned brand in the cycling world, known for its innovation and quality. Being one of the first legacy manufacturers to enter the e-bike market, they have brought their expertise to create a top-notch product. The Haul ST stands out with its powerful rear hub motor and robust 48v battery, providing a range of approximately 60 miles per charge. With hydraulic disc brakes and a 9-speed drivetrain, this bike offers excellent stopping power and versatile riding options.
Another aspect that impressed me is the bike’s adaptability to different riders. The step-thru frame design makes it easy to get on and off, and Specialized has incorporated thoughtful features to accommodate various heights. The telescoping seat post allows for a broad range of seat heights, catering to riders as short as 4’8″ to as tall as 6’2″. Additionally, the handlebar stem can be adjusted over a 5.5-inch range, enhancing comfort and customization. Moreover, the Haul ST’s utility aspect sets it apart from standard e-bikes. The frame and fork come with multiple mounting points, making it convenient to attach accessories like baskets, racks, bottle cages, and more. Specialized has even introduced a rear rack following the MIK standards, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of saddlebags, baskets, and child seats.
Reasons to Avoid
While the Specialized Haul ST e-bike offers impressive features, it may not be suitable for everyone, primarily due to its price point. Specialized bikes, known for their quality and reputation, often come with a higher price tag. Therefore, if you have budget constraints, this e-bike may not be the most affordable option available. Additionally, the design of the Haul ST, with its larger aluminum tubing, while easier to manufacture, might not be as sleek or visually appealing as some other models on the market.
Furthermore, although the microSHIFT 9-speed drivetrain performs well, it may not carry the same recognition as more prominent gear manufacturers like Shimano. While microSHIFT has made creative strides to overcome patent restrictions, some riders may prefer the familiarity and extensive product range offered by established brands. Lastly, the 20-inch wheels, while suitable for handling larger loads, may not provide the same smoothness and comfort as larger wheels when riding over rough terrain or uneven surfaces.
Specialized Haul ST Review
If you are interested in saving some money while helping to do your part for the planet, you may be looking at investing in an e-bike. What you may not have realized is quite how competitive the market is these days. There are a lot of manufacturers innovating and pushing the envelope with what an e-bike can be and what an e-bike can do. One that is perhaps the most ahead of its competition is Specialized.
Specialized is considered one of the biggest brands in the cycling world and is behind more innovation than others. Of all the big legacy manufacturers they were the first to bring an e-bike to market. Specialized is responsible for the Haul ST e-bike I am reviewing in this post.
Let’s take a closer look at it.
Specialized Haul ST E-Bike Overview
The Specialized Haul ST is a utility bike with a rear hub 700W motor and a step-thru frame. The battery that provides the motor with power operates at a robust 48v, which is more than enough current. Its battery offers a range of around 60miles per charge. With hydraulic disc brakes and 203mm rotors, it has enough stopping power and a 9-speed drivetrain that gives you enough versatility and flexibility with riding.
The Battery and Motor
The Specialized Haul ST comes with a 772Wh battery that has been installed inside the space that exists between the down tube and top tube and offers a maximum range of 60 miles. This battery provides power to the 700W geared and brushless, rear hub motor which has been touted a lot by the company for its climbing ability. Therefore, you know it will produce a lot of torque.
Along with the battery and the motor, there is a torque sensor. This is a great addition to any bike because a torque sensor is designed to engage the motor, so you get power in the bike the moment you start pedaling, depending on the pedal assist level you have it set to.
I love it when a bike has a torque sensor on board because it means the motor and pedal assist responds in proportion to the amount of effort and work you put in, which means you have greater control over how fast the bike travels at.
The Frame and Fork
The frame of the Specialized Haul ST has been built from a large-diameter, round of aluminum tubing. The reason for this is that the alternative, oversized hydroformed aluminum tubing that has space for the battery to be hidden inside, are a lot harder to manufacture than more simplistic round tubes. There is also the problem with current supply chain problems.
Therefore, simplistic round tubes are much easier to request and order and are less likely to run into production disruptions. As it is a step-thru frame, it is incredibly easy to get on and off the bike, and also allows accommodation to be larger than most range of heights.
An interesting part of the design of this bike is that it is not much longer than standard sized e-bikes and has a shorter wheelbase of 42.9-inches. This means the e-bike has greater maneuverability and is much easier to part and store away when not in use.
The reach offered by this bike is 13.5-inches, which is rather short by my own standards. Which makes it better suited to smaller riders. Don’t be dismayed, I do love this bike, and this is one of the many reasons why – Specialized have used a lot of ingenuity to make the Haul ST adapted for different riders of different heights. Its telescoping seat post offers perhaps one of the broadest ranges in seat heights that I have ever seen. With it you can have the saddle set to as low as 20.3-inches and high as 33.5-inches. This means that someone that is as short as 4’ 8” can ride this bike, as can someone who is 6’ 2”.
In addition to these flexible settings, Specialized have provided two crucial design features with tall riders in mind – the seat tube angle is set to 68-degrees. Therefore, as the saddle is lifted up, the reach is increased in a very helpful way. Then there is the fact that the handlebar stem has a special quill design similar to older 10-speed bike models that sit in the fork. Held in place with a bolt at the top that can be moved which means the handlebar can be lowered or raised over a full 5.5-inches range.
What Makes it a Utility Bike?
You may be wondering why all media and reviews and even in this review that this bike is referred to as utility e-bike rather than just a standard e-bike. Particularly as it is not any longer than most standard sized bikes. The frame and fork have been designed to feature a variety of mounting points that can be used for a variety of accessories.
There are two braze-ones welded onto the front of the head tube where a basket or rack can be mounted. There are also a further two, much smaller braze-ons at either side so that you can mount bottle cages there.
Its steel-made straight blade fork includes three braze-ons on each blade, giving further options for places to mount racks. On the dropouts the tabs include mounting points at the rear and front, where the front fender can be placed.
Specialized have also fitted a new rear rack onto the Haul ST that follows the MIK standards. MIK means Mounting is Key and gives rack and accessory manufacturers a standard to follow when they build so there is a greater and wider compatibility between racks and accessories from different brands.
This is a great move by the company as it makes their bike compatible with more than 12 different saddlebags, 9 baskets and various crates. The standard will also work for different child seats.
Its Wheels, Brakes and Drivetrain
Specialized have chosen to utilize the microSHIFT 9-speed drivetrain for the Haul ST. Although this brand isn’t widely known, they are a go-getter kind of manufacturer that are working nicely in the shadow of top gear guns Shimano and have been doing creative things to get past the many patents that Shimano hold for various components. It has a SunRace 9-speed cassette that uses cog profiles that have been officially licensed by Shimano that offers buttery smooth shifting even if you are pressing on with hard pedaling. While the 11-36 cassette offers a much broader range of gear changing than is seen on e-bikes that fall below the $3,000 mark.
When it comes to the brakes it is hydraulic disc brakes that have been paired with 203mm rotors. Although we don’t know the name of the brand behind the brakes, the fact that an e-bike with 20-inch wheels (smaller ones are easier to brake), with 203mm rotors and hydraulic disc brakes means it will be much easier to stop than alternatives. There is a reach adjustment with the brake levers, which is ideal for riders with smaller hands, as the levers can be moved closer to the handle grips to make them easier to use for short fingers.
Finally, the wheels, as they are 20-inches, with 36 spokes, they are perfect for handling large loads. With a width of 3.5-inches they are big enough to offer riding comfort as long as they haven’t been pumped up to the maximum of 100 psi.
Tires on these wheels feature a central section that is designed for quick rolling but has checkerboard knobs on each side to provide reliable traction for tight turns.
Features and Accessories
The Haul ST e-bike comes with a sturdy kickstand that is motorcycle style and has two legs to make it easy to keep the bike upright, while you load groceries, your kids and whatever else.
Looking at the bike’s cockpit, Specialized has integrated the controller with the display for a single unit. This is mounted onto the handlebar’s left side, and at the right there is a button for switching on and off the lights.
Summary – Is the Specialized Haul ST Right for You?
If you are looking at e-bikes and are a bit stuck for which might be the best for you, then I hope this review of the Specialized Haul ST has helped. Although I cannot direct you to buy it, I can say that I enjoyed the experience of testing out this bike. It handles well, offers enough adjustability that it will suit a wide range of riders, has a speedy and powerful motor and battery combination and is the perfect allrounder.
Specialized have a respected reputation within the industry and that is something that you should take not of, because they know their stuff. They have been at the forefront of the market for a long time and their bikes regularly get good reviews and ratings, which makes them hard to ignore. While it may not suit everyone’s budget, if you can afford one, I think you should consider it.
Specifications