Tern HSD S8i | 2 year review 

Thank you.

Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.

Thank you, I'm glad you found it useful. Enjoy your new HSD!

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment.

We (relatively) recently acquired a GSD gen 2 to complement our HSD (we have the belt drive option for both); but honest reflection is that the HSD is the better bike. The GSD is a beast, and it can do a *lot*, but the HSD is the smoother ride, it’s quieter, it’s easier to service the brakes, and it feels more like a “normal bike”. The GSD is a tank, and you can’t not know you’re riding it. Not a bad thing, either/both open up a car-free existence, but unless you know you need the capacity (as you do!) I’d always recommend the HSD.

@@aw_mckinley I can well imagine that, Andrew. I wonder how our routine will change as my lads get a bit older and the need for two seats reduces... an HSD would be perfect. Lots of other options popping up as well

Thank you. My first e-bike was stolen but I'd found it had opened up so many use possibilities that led me to the HSD as a replacement. A couple of years ago the only choice was between the HSD or the GSD ... now there are many more options!

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful.

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for commenting. I'm sticking with the S8i. I'm not too keen on the tech on the Gen 2 HSD's and the S5i has even longer gearing (33"to98" compared to the S8i's already long 31"-95").

Thanks for your comment. LOL ... I volunteer as a bike mechanic at a non-profit where we restore unwanted bikes and I get to use a GSD (S10) with a Carla Cargo trailer that we use to collect and deliver donated bikes!

Thanks. Good to know it's appreciated!

Thanks. Glad it was helpful!

Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing reviews of the 2nd Gen HSD but from what I've seen so far I reckon it'll be at least as good as the original.

Thank you! Whatever bike you think of going for, try to have a test ride first to be sure it's the bike for you. The HSD S8i is a near perfect match for me, and my use of it.

Thanks. Glad it helped.

Thanks! 👍 Glad to know it was helpful.

Well I now own one!!! May I ask what tyres yours is currently sporting? They look a little more suited to non tarmac surfaces- such as I will mostly be riding .

Congratulations! My tyres are Schwalbe Marathon GT365. Better traction on soft ground at the expense of more rolling resistance on tarmac. They've been fine for me over the winter but I'll be swapping them back to Big Ben soon for the summer.

Thank you! It's a very adaptable bike, especially with the range of accessories that Tern produce for it.

Thanks! Yep, a cargo bike with a single kick stand rated for 25 kg (less than the weight of the bike!) is never gonna cut it.

Thank you. The paint chipping seems to be a problem particularly with the mat black. colour.

@@lostinlivi how is the battery doing? I'm thinking about replacing my car with one but I worry that I might not last 5 years at least as far as battery goes. I plan on using it as far as you do I think, around 30 miles max and mostly around 6 miles daily. How much did you have to pay for a spare battery? Is it hard to ride when battery dies like a normal bike or is it harder then a normal bike? also thinks for the video, it was very helpful and fun to watch! also would it be pretty pricey to replace the fork if it goes out? you have any tips on keeping dirt out? Im normally not having to ride on dirt though so maybe it will be less of an issue for me if I got one. I also thought about the HSD +S but not sure about it yet. Did you test it?

@Goozzy the battery isn't showing any significant deterioration. Range drops about 20% in cold months, as would happen with any lithium battery. I bought a second battery (500W, can't recall how much, about £500-550) a a spare for longer rides but most of the time I just swap them around every few weeks. I have no worries with one battery for trips of 50+ miles. It's not a normal bike! So if the battery dies you have to overcome the significant increase in weight and some internal resistance from the motor. It's very difficult on an incline but otherwise once you've overcome the inertia and built up some momentum it's fine. The suspension fork might well be the determining factor in considering 'end-of-life'. Last time I looked, the cost of a replacement was getting on for £300 and for most owners that would have to be bought retail and professionally fitted so quite a bit more. I'm a trained bike mechanic and could replace it myself. I try to keep it clean and give it an occasional light spray with silicone lubricant (be very careful not to get overspray anywhere near brake pads or rotors or they'll be toast!). Riding in wet weather, salt spay in winter is what kills them. I never tried the S+ ... no interest in the complications of automatic gearing, and the Active Line Plus motor on the S8i was enough for my use.

@@lostinlivi do you think the automatic hub would cause issues as a bike mechanic? Thanks 👍

@@lostinlivi what maintenance should I do on it and how often? I want to learn myself so I can take care of it and last longer but also to save money. I'm new to bikes other then when I was a kid and would let the chain rust lol

Thanks. Glad you liked it. I hadn't realised but since I started the channel most of the out-of-town leisure rides that I've recorded have been on my Brompton rather than the Tern!

Thank you! Top tip is to make sure you take a test ride before you buy.

Thanks! I appreciate your comment.

Thanks for ypur comment and questions. I hope you enjoy your new HSD. It's a very adaptable means of transport. I live in one of Scotland's post-war new towns, Livingston, which was developed in such a way that old roads and paths were retained for what would now be called active travel shared use routes and were kept (almost) entirely free of interaction with motor traffic routes by way of underpasses and bridges. I can reach any part of town by bike using these routes. The NCN75 passes through the town and I can connect traffic free with NCN754 and other such routes in the wider area. The downside of the path network is that is doesn't always get the same attention as is given to the road network and consequently there are problems with broken glass. I don't keep a puncture tally but I'm pretty adept at fixing them! It's no more difficult to fix a puncture on the HSD than on any other bike (check my video on removing the back wheel of my S8i ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Yd0AuAs_S_k.html ). I'd always recommend being prepared, knowing in advance how to remove the wheels (practice!) and carrying patches, tools for the job and a pump as a minimum. My detours on the way to the supermarket are more to do with the enjoyment of cycling rather than feeling safe on the roads as around town I am easily able to avoid road traffic. As to feeling respected as a road user, a lot has changed since I cut my cycling teeth on Edinburgh's city centre roads in the 1960s. These days there's too much impatience and driver aggression on the roads and I actively seek out routes away from traffic. Take a look at my Campervan Bike Rides playlist for that ru-vid.com/group/PLxG2RtfXblzd5h4OmmUPB7Mbwv1sbF1eS

@@lostinlivi Many thanks for all your informative reply. I actually watched your Introducing Lost in Livi youtube this morning which partially answered my questions. I knew Livingstone is near Edinburgh and has a football team but I'd no idea about it's history. I'll be checking out the paths starting at A very soon.

Thanks! The bell is a Knog Oi Luxe.

Thanks for commenting. The dots don't have to be in perfect alignment. Your gear shift should be OK as long as they overlap. If they were perfectly aligned before you removed the rear wheel it's likely the cable has not settled fully when you reassembled it: 1. Check that the cable outer is fully seated in the gear control arm and that the nut on the end of the cable is fully into its slot. 2. shift the gears from 1 through to 8 and back a few times. 3. If adjustment is still needed turn the adjuster on the gear shifter (knurled knob where the cable enters the shifter) to the left to tension the cable or right to slacken it. Do this one notch at a time and keep count! On the hub, the outer yellow dot is fixed, the inner dot moves as you tension or loosen the cable. Make adjustments with the shifter set to gear 4. After each adjustment go through the gears 1-8-1 a few times to settle the cable. Repeat the adjustment until the dots line up. Hope this helps!

@@lostinlivi thanks so much. So helpful.

I've been trying Schwalbe Marathon GT365 over the winter for better traction on soft surfaces (mud, slushy snow). Swapped back to Big Ben Plus now. Punctures are just a fact of cycling and where you ride. In my experience, Big Ben, Big Ben Plus and GT365 are all equally as likely to puncture. I've had a couple of dozen over about 9500 km, mostly due to broken glass and a couple due to thorns. Just get used to swapping out inner tubes and repairing the punctured ones back home!

I reported a rubbery squeaking noise. The hub was examined by a Shimano specialist and the fault identified as a damaged seal fitted as part of the construction of the central spindle.

@@lostinlivi I too had my hub internals replaced under warranty by Shimano. Fourth gear would be quite noisy and skip. While it is normal to expect some gears to be noisier than others in an internally geared hub, this seemed excessive. These symptoms became worse as I continued to use the bike until I was told by my local bike shop to not use fourth gear until the internals could be replaced. It was explained to me that the rubber seal had failed and that water had compromised the hub internals. I bought my bike almost new (it had 77km put on it by a reviewer before I bought it). I'm assuming this was a defect from new.

It doesn't adjust like a regular A-head or quill stem. Two clamp-levers allow the stem to rotate around the top of the handlepost and the handlebars rotate with the same adjustment. It gives a combined adjustment of height and reach but how high the bars feel will depend on the rider's height and saddle position. If you're thinking of buying one, it's best to try it out first.

Great review, thank you. I invested in this bike last year after scrapping my car. I love it. The belt drive is lovely. I have got used to the brakes and the stem fitted front rack (I have the larger transporteur rack). I also decided on a Basil crate fitted with a MIK system for the rear. Totally agree about the need for Tern to include the duo stand. It was the first addition I made.

Thanks for commenting!. It's a great all-round useful bike. Glad to hear that you're enjoying it. You're channel looks interesting too ... keep posting!

You're welcome. I'm quite happy to keep my Gen 1 HSD until it can't be maintained any more, although I doubt it will last as long as some bikes I've owned in the past. Even if I was at the stage of replacing it, the new generation are too dependent on electronics and smartphone apps for my liking.

Hi! Thanks for commenting. The Shortbed Tray was originally designed for the GSD but when the HSD was introduced it was specified as an HSD accessory too. The instruction 'manual' that came with mine showed installation on the GSD where the tray can be mounted either way. As the mounting holes on the HSD are the same the tray can be mounted either way. It certainly doesn't interfere with pedalling however it's fitted. Lengthways on the HSD the rider's saddle position might restrict the height of stuff that can be loaded on the tray. Widthways restricts access to panniers if mounted (as it would on the GSD). I've only ever seen it mounted lengthways. The tray comes in two parts: the frame and an aluminium plate that provides a 'solid' base. The plate serves no purpose if the tray is used with a crate or box (I almost never have my plate mounted). If the plate is fitted, unless Tern have altered the design to better fit the HSD, the cutout to give access to the battery needs about 5mm removed. I hope this helps. Enjoy your S8i

@@lostinlivi Thanks very much for your detailed reply. Edinburgh bike co-op are discounting the S8i quite a bit at the moment so I’ll nip in over the weekend. Happy cycling ! 👍

I don’t ride an electric Brompton so I can’t help you, sorry.

You cannot change assist levels while riding an eBrompton.

These days I'm using my HSD mainly for local journeys that need stuff carried - grocery shopping and the like.current mileage is around 12,000 km and I'm not noticing any battery degradation. In the review I mention my doubts about the suspension forks and sure enough they have since seized solid. I prefer riding one of my lighter non-assisted bikes for longer leisure rides.

@@lostinlivi I can agree with wanting to ride longer rides on a n acoustic bike. At some point, the length of the ride will make an ebike impractical. I've been very curious about getting a Tern for grocery runs and other "large" hauls. I like the compact frame versus a full length bakfiets. Too bad about the forks. Do you live near the sea by chance?

@@salad_gold_rancher The HSD is great for hauling stuff and Tern's range of accessories make it easy to set the bike up to best match your needs. My bike is in use all year round and in all weather. I mostly ride on tarmac or gravel paths but I'm not near the sea. I'm just very disappointed that the fork has failed so soon - I dry it off and apply light oil when it gets wet/muddy but the exposed parts are right next to the wheels and dust, grit and wet are obviously getting rubbed past the seals when riding. I've tried without success to obtain a replacement but even SR Suntour's website lists it as 'unavailable'. Mt local Tern dealer reckons all stock is going into new bike manufacture. I could risk disassembling it and attempting to repair it but I'm concerned that if that goes wrong I'd be without a bike. At least as it is the bike is rideable, albeit with a very heavy rigid fork!

@@lostinlivi I'm sure you tried the lockout to see if it's just locked out?

About 173 cm

Why not? ... any bike is good for a leisure ride! Plenty Brompton leisure ride videos on my channel