Weird Specialized discovery....

[sc00ter]

So my wife and I are ready to move up in the run-about ebike category. It was decided to replace our Xpedition with a Globe Haul LT. But I discovered a weird issue. The nearest Specialized dealer is now 100 miles away! That's to far should it need servicing or warranty help. We set a local distance on motor scooters awhile back and our next ebike has to be fully serviced locally as well. While I don't forsee a reason to discount a Globe because of the distance I still get the feeling I should consider something with local support. The Globe shines in every requirement for our needs, except the sudden lack of convenient servicing and warranty help (Again, if needed). Opinions on the following:
Order one blind and hope it does what it says ( would love to test ride one first)?
Deal with the 100 mile inconvenience and hope i don't need warranty help?
Buy/consider another brand? That Globe looks perfect on paper!
Upgrade to the new current Xpedition? Has local support.
Just weird that the nearest Specialized dealership is now 100 miles away.

 

[stompandgo]

Cannondale Cargowagen Neo
Velotric Packer 1
Aventon Abound

 

[DaveMatthews]

Trek Fetch?
Giant/Momentum Pakyak?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Globe is not Specialized Turbo

 

[Marcela]

I looked at the Globe and Aventon side by side, that Aventon looked pretty good. Both looked good though.

 

[jabberwocky]

Globe is not Specialized Turbo

Presumably its a sub brand? In the US, they are literally listed on the Specialized web site.

Just weird that the nearest Specialized dealership is now 100 miles away.

That does seem odd. All Specialized dealers or maybe just ones that handle Globe? I do think their move to more of a factory store system has reduced the number of dealers over the past few years. A few local shops have stopped carrying Spec, probably so they can remain independent.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Globe is a Specialized cheap sub-brand, similar to Electra for Trek or Momentum for Giant.

Meanwhile, Specialized makes a Turbo Porto for Europe, the Turbo division. A mid-drive and the Turbo electronics.

The reason is the United States wants it cheap and with a throttle. The premium product is sold in a very different market.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Presumably its a sub brand? In the US, they are literally listed on the Specialized web site.



That does seem odd. All Specialized dealers or maybe just ones that handle Globe? I do think their move to more of a factory store system has reduced the number of dealers over the past few years. A few local shops have stopped carrying Spec, probably so they can remain independent.

Globe is definitely a Specialized line of ebikes. But as hub-drives, they don't use the proprietary mid-drive operating system (OS) Specialized calls "Turbo". So no such thing as a Turbo Globe.

When you see "Turbo Vado" or "Turbo Como" or the like, the "Turbo" part is telling you (a) that the bike's a mid-drive, and (b) that it runs on the Turbo OS. Not aware of any current Specialized mid-drives that don't run on Turbo, but that may not have been the case in the past.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In other words, there's no reason to go after the Globe. It is not a Turbo, and there are so many cheap throttle hub-drive motor cargo e-bikes in the United States...

P.S. It is not called Specialized. It is called Globe Just to spare Specialized riders shame

 

[sc00ter]

I don't care if it said Huffy! Hub drives are squirrel proof, has a optional "T" word, no flexi folding stem and 4 piston calipers with thicker rotors. Oh, and those Cool Cave fork mount trash cans. Oh well....
Might look into some of the others mentioned. I have a good Trek dealership locally. Plus a shop that carries most of the popular DTC brands, so test rides are possible.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Opinions on the following:
Order one blind and hope it does what it says ( would love to test ride one first)?
Deal with the 100 mile inconvenience and hope i don't need warranty help?
Buy/consider another brand? That Globe looks perfect on paper!
Upgrade to the new current Xpedition? Has local support.

My 2 cents:
No.
No.
Yes.
No experience but betting you could do better.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I don't care if it said Huffy! Hub drives are squirrel proof, has a optional "T" word, no flexi folding stem and 4 piston calipers with thicker rotors. Oh, and those Cool Cave fork mount trash cans. Oh well....
Might look into some of the others mentioned. I have a good Trek dealership locally. Plus a shop that carries most of the popular DTC brands, so test rides are possible.

You definitely have multiple better options than the long distance Specialized you're considering.
Just reading this thread why would anyone want to be associated with the typical d_bag that buys them anyway

 

[DaveMatthews]

Globe is a Specialized cheap sub-brand, similar to Electra for Trek or Momentum for Giant.

Meanwhile, Specialized makes a Turbo Porto for Europe, the Turbo division. A mid-drive and the Turbo electronics.

View attachment 201585

The reason is the United States wants it cheap and with a throttle. The premium product is sold in a very different market.

Pakyak is a Yamaha mid drive, just like all the rest. Momentum is just a sub brand like Liv which uses same quality as other Giant bikes.

 

[jabberwocky]

Hub drives make some sense for a cargo bike. Simpler and less expensive, and pedaling feel is likely much less important on a bike thats purely utilitarian. I do get why people don't want to spend several thousand dollars on a cargo bike (again, they are generally utilitarian bikes for people).

The Pakyak looks nice if you have a local Giant dealer. It is a mid drive. Surly Big Easy maybe? Any shop with a QBP account can order, though its fairly pricey for a cargo bike IMO.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Momentum is just a sub brand like Liv which uses same quality as other Giant bikes.

Liv is Giant, only for women (marketing!) Momentum is the cheap sub-brand.