Tern Orox Review – Big Power, Big Range, Big Capability

Hayden put the Tern Orox S12 through its paces across a range of real-world conditions, from city commutes to gravel tracks and beyond, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of its handling, power, and cargo capability.

• Tester | Hayden Wright
• Photography & Video | G
• Riding Experience | A little bit of everything since the days of 26” wheels
• Go-To Bikes | Specialized Stumpjumper Evo, Commencal Absolut
• Height & Weight | 192cm, 76kg
• Test Locations | A mix of trails and urban environments across Brisbane

Meet the Tern Orox S12

E-cargo bikes seem to be the hot new thing in the cycling industry, and for good reason. A category of bicycle once rarely seen on the road is now becoming a common sight on suburban bike paths where I live in South East Queensland. The availability and adaptation of pedal-assist motors to this category of bike are responsible for this seemingly sudden surge in popularity, transforming what was once a niche market into one that is now flourishing.

Multi-passenger capabilities and family car replacement are the most common selling points for most users, with many cargo bike owners – including myself – using them for daycare drop-offs, trips to the playground, and runs to the grocery store. You might be asking yourself why we here at AMB are reviewing a cargo bike, considering they usually have an off-road capacity akin to that of a lowered Toyota Hiace. That’s because what I’ve had on test is something far more capable than the typical cargo bike – something that stands in stark contrast to the near-ubiquitous offering for those seeking a utilitarian bicycle for family adventures. Enter the Tern Orox.

It’s safe to assume that most people reading this article are core mountain bikers and may not be familiar with the Tern brand, so here’s the quick rundown. Founded in 2011, Tern primarily focuses on bicycles developed for the urban environment, including folding bikes, commuter bikes, and e-cargo bikes. The Tern Orox is their first off-road-specific model designed to carry multiple passengers or up to 100kg of cargo. Whether it’s kiddy joyrides, cargo-laden rail trail adventures, or overland touring with your trail bike in tow, the options are seemingly endless. Tern claims the Orox is a new kind of ‘quiver killer’ the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

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Tern Orox S12 Price & Specs

On test, we have the Tern Orox S12 (29”), the top-spec model in Tern’s rugged new cargo e-bike lineup, retailing for $9,995 AUD (excluding accessories). In return, you get a heavy-duty yet adventure-ready build, featuring a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, a 725Wh battery, and a massive cargo capacity that makes this bike a true car replacement. Weighing 34.5kg (medium, without accessories) and 52kg (large, fully loaded), it’s built to handle serious loads without compromising handling. Spoiler alert—this bike feels just as at home on gravel as it does on the city streets!

Tern Orox S12 Specifications

• Frame | Tern Orox, 6061 alloy
• Fork | Atlas X, chromoly steel
• Motor | Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4
• Battery | Bosch 750Wh, with optional 800Wh range extender
• Drivetrain | Shimano XT 12-speed with Tern 175mm crankset & 32T chainring
• Cassette | Shimano XT 12-speed, 10-51T
• Chain | KMC 12-speed, 144 links
• Wheels | Tern Atlas X, 29”, boost hubs, stainless steel spokes, 32H rims
• Tyres | Schwalbe Johnny Watts, 29×2.6”
• Brakes | Magura MT5 4-piston with 203mm Magura rotors
• Cockpit | Level Nine 800mm aluminium handlebars, 65mm stem
• Seatpost | Syntace P6, 34.9mm
• Saddle | Ergon SM E-Mountain Sport
• Available Sizes | Medium, Large (tested)
• Weight | 34.5kg (Medium, no accessories), 52kg (Large, with accessories)
• RRP | $9,995 AUD (excluding accessories)

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Initial Impressions riding the Tern Orox

Based around an alloy frame, a rigid steel fork, and the Bosch CX Gen 4 drive unit, the Tern Orox is available in two models and two wheel configurations, all of which are interchangeable. Traditionalists will appreciate the Shimano XT drivetrain on the S12 model we have on test, while those who prefer something a little more robust might be more inclined to look at the Rohloff-equipped S14 model. Both the Tern Orox S12 and Tern Orox S14 are available with either 27.5×4” or 29×2.6” wheels and tires, with our ‘urban assault’ configured bike featuring the 29” wheels throughout the testing period. The longtail frame is designed for a maximum gross vehicle weight (MGVW) of 210kg on the road and 180kg off-road, meaning you could tackle everything from daycare drop-offs to a fully loaded backwoods trail-building session on this genre-bending cargo bike.

To further enhance the versatility of the Tern Orox, Tern has designed a wide array of accessories to help you dial in the setup to your specific needs. Similar to selecting options on a brand-new car, you can roll out of the dealership with the standard configuration or fully trick it out with accessories from the complete catalogue. Standard features include the Bosch Kiox display and Connect Module, frame bag, mudguards, kickstand, a 700-lumen integrated front light, and a 100 kg capacity rear rack. A 725Wh battery is also included as standard on the Tern Orox S12, with an optional second 800Wh battery available as an accessory. All these bells and whistles add up, with a standard medium Tern Orox (excluding battery) weighing in at 34.4 kg. Our fully optioned, dual-battery rig tipped the scales at 52kg. While this is on the weighty side, it would be remiss not to note that we were testing a large frame, with all the bells and whistles, so weights really vary with the additional options available.

You’ll notice our test Tern Orox has two child seats attached, and for good reason. Outside of my time on the mountain bike, I also have my own personal cargo bike, which is primarily used to ferry my two toddlers to and from daycare. As such, I was excited to compare the on-road capability of the Tern Orox with that of my more traditional rig. Furthermore, the Tern Orox is rated to carry one passenger (over 26kg) on gravel roads and can also be ridden off-road sans passengers. I was particularly curious to explore this off-road capacity, given the dichotomy between the aggressive tire setup, powerful motor, and 4-piston Magura brakes, in contrast to the super long wheelbase and high system weight.

On the Road & Trail with the Tern Orox

I threw the Tern Orox straight in the deep end, with my first ride being fully loaded with two toddlers as I completed the routine daycare drop off. Comfort was the first thing that came to mind, as I was pleasantly surprised with the spacious feel of the rider triangle. While the reach length and seat tube angle aren’t made available by Tern, I can report that the cockpit on our large test bike felt comfortable and familiar. A short 65mm stem and 800mm wide bar further add to the familiarity, something that is a welcome change from the typical cargo bikes set-up that’s aimed towards use in an urban environment. 

The on-road handling was fairly intuitive once I became accustomed to the extended wheelbase and high centre of gravity – something which was particularly apparent at low speeds but quickly dissipated as I powered up towards the 25km/h assist limit. Of particular note was the fantastic roll-over thanks to the 29×2.6” wheels. While I wasn’t hopping gutters and smashing down stairs with my two daughters strapped into the rear seats, the way the big wheels smoothed out potholes and traffic islands was very apparent. 

Soon use of our Subaru Forester family car had seriously atrophied for any errand or kid-related journey close to home, as the Tern Orox quickly became a favourite mode of transport for my twin daughters. Trips that were once mundane exercises in driving and parking our family car were replaced with fun, mini adventures on the path less travelled, with my daughters excitedly pointing out every dog, bird and cat we saw on our way. I even began to tow my own dirt jumper to the local pump track on the back of the Tern Orox; a 10km journey each way. Tern’s optional tow kit is a really well thought out product and did a great job of helping me drag my Commencal Absolut to my much loved Tuesday night riding session. 

Once I had a bit of time to myself during the summer holidays, I began to take the Tern Orox on some solo offroad missions in a quest to see how it handled on the dirt. I found that it was an absolute machine on smooth fire roads, regardless of the gradient. The powerful Bosch CX motor and 1370mm long wheelbase worked in beautiful harmony as the Tern Orox hummed up and down any graded fire road I put before it. Steep ascents and descents were a breeze, although a little more foresight was required to modulate downhill momentum to keep the 50+kg rig from becoming a runaway freight train of sorts. 

Traction was plentiful, as the Schwalbe Johnny Watts tyres scratched and clawed their way through the hardpack soil I have near home. In one instance I did lose traction on a steep climb, but fortunately the Bosch CX motor has fantastic hill hold and walk mode functionality which saved my bacon in this instance. 

As my confidence in the Tern Orox’s off-road ability grew I began to take some less manicured gravel roads and fire trails, where I quickly found its limit. Due to the high weight and extensive wheelbase you as the rider have very little influence on the weight bias between the front and rear wheels. This rears its head when crossing erosion channels, for example, as you are entirely at the mercy of the terrain with no suspension or even the ability to effectively lift the front wheel at your disposal. As a result the ride can become very rough very quickly. 

If you do encounter rough terrain it’s best to approach it like you are in a 4×4. Go slow, lean on the traction and torque at your disposal and pick the smoothest line possible. Another unexpected but frustrating hurdle I had to overcome with the Tern Orox was motorcycle barriers (pardon the pun). My local state forest has low horizontal bars at most entrances, designed to stop motorcycles from entering. These are no issue on a normal bicycle, but were a nightmare on the Tern Orox. 

Getting the Tern Orox over these bars was achievable on my own but took a huge amount of effort to the point where I was actively seeking out routes which I knew would avoid such barriers. Hitting the singletrack, while mild rock gardens and bermed turns are manageable, you really need to pick your battles and avoid anything with roll-over style features or any tight transitions, but if you’re looking at an Tern Orox it’s likely you know that singletrack finesse isn’t this bike’s key strength.

Throughout testing the componentry and motor performed beautifully, with not a single glitch from any of the systems. The Magura brakes were powerful and quiet, with the 12-speed Hyperglide XT drivetrain providing smooth shifts and plenty of gearing range when paired with the 32T front chainring. 

Similarly all of the Tern accessories were near flawless, with only the kickstand clapping up and down against the frame being of annoyance, something Tern themselves are aware of and are in the process of fixing. The estimated range calculations provided by Bosch’s clever flow app were all fairly accurate, with my own hand calculations confirming what it was displaying. 

On a steep fire road bash with the Tern Orox fully loaded I averaged around 14wh/km in boost mode, meaning you would get 50-60 km from one 725wh battery riding in this manner. For most urban and mixed-terrain use, however, the dual-option battery Tern Orox has a range of around 120km. This assumes the bike is working in Turbo mode at max weight with cargo, but the range would vary from around 60km to over 250kms with less load, using the range of drive unit modes and a variety of terrain. Regardless, this represents fabulous range not just for the urban daycare warrior, but for the dedicated adventurer or bikepacker with cargo.

Bosch’s flow app was also a fantastic ride companion when paired with the optional smartphone grip, allowing me to use my phone as a head unit while riding. This gives fantastic visibility to range statistics, and also has an integrated maps feature all of which is based around a mount which charges your phone as you ride, neat! Once subscribed to the free app you can also track your bike’s location and remotely lock the battery into being off, two fantastic anti-theft features that I wish every high end e-bike had. 

Living with the Tern Orox

While out and about on the Tern Orox I was surprised how often people asked me what it was like to work on, and if I had given any consideration on how I would transport it should the need arise. 

Simply put, it’s like owning a dirt bike. Trail side maintenance is possible, however you will likely need to remove a few parts to get to the source of the issue. Fortunately there is plenty of space for tools storage so there is no excuse for getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat tyre or snapped chain. In my personal tool kit were two multi tools (including a nifty one Tern themselves produce), OneUp EDC pump, shifter, tube, tyre levers and some zip ties. Note that there are multiple Tern dealerships in each capital city which offer mobile servicing to some degree should you need it. 

If you were to do some more serious damage to the point that a component needs replacing, Tern Australia holds a full catalogue of spare parts right down to spokes and idler pulleys. As for the question of transporting the Tern Orox I can again make the dirt bike comparison. Given its weight and size you either need a single cab ute or van to get it from A to B within a vehicle, with a loading ramp also being very useful. Alternatively, I would suggest purchasing and modifying a dirt bike hitch carrier. With the Tern Orox having a similar total length as a 450cc motocross bike it will easily fit on one with some minor modifications and be well under the weight limit. 

Our Take

Gravel bike? Tourer? Car replacement? Family adventure rig? Yes. The Tern Orox can be all of them. Across our testing period I have been really pleased with this cargo bike’s ability to be a tool to improve day to day life as much as something to get out on and enjoy. While its off-road capacity isn’t as much as I had hoped due to its size and weight, being able to smash over some steep fire roads on the most direct way to work, after dropping my kids off to daycare, without range anxiety at all is something I really grew to love. While the price of entry is high, you have to consider the quality of the componentry and motor and the fact that you are getting a few bikes rolled into one for your money, and could even replace the car in the right scenarios. For those who are considering a do-it-all urban assault machine, the Tern Orox is a no-brainer. 

Pros & Cons of the Tern Orox S12

Pros – What the Tern Orox S12 Does Best

• The car replacement cargo bike for any mountain biker
• Comfortable ergonomics and intuitive handling
• Huge battery and cargo capacity for all-day adventures
• Quality accessory options to suit your personal needs

Cons – Where the Tern Orox S12 Falls Short

• Size and weight limits off-road ability
• Trickier than a standard mountain bike to transport and work on

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