The E-Cargo Mountain Bike You Didn’t Know You Needed for Trail Building: The Tern Orox
Within trail building and mountain biking, there are hot topics that are rife with controversy. That is code for people having REALLY strong opinions on different subjects. One of the ongoing topics of conflict is e-MTBs. Some love them. Some think of them as abominations from the depths of a fiery abyss. However, there is such an e-MTB that is bound to unite trail builders … the Tern Orox.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to test drive the Tern Orox and not only take it out on the trail a number of times but actually put it to use for hauling stuff around. As what happens here at Trail Builder Mag, someone reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in checking out the Orox and writing a review. All I know is that it was a really busy season for me because while I did agree, I honestly didn’t pay much attention to what I was agreeing to. Plus, writing a review fits since one of the types of content I’m working on ramping up for the magazine is reviews.
So I said “yes” and didn’t think about it much afterward. It wasn’t until the day the Orox was delivered to Clever Cycles in Portland that I suddenly realized I had an e-MTB to pick up and ride. I was pretty stoked. However, since it was a busy season, as I mentioned, I didn’t really look into what I was picking up. I knew it was an e-MTB and that it might possibly be a fat bike? I wasn’t sure.
I wasn’t fully prepared when I picked up the Orox. It was not only an e-MTB but also a fat bike—more than that, it is an e-MTB (fat) cargo bike. Yeah, it wasn’t going to fit on my two-bike Yakima trailer hitch bike rack. Luckily, I had my van, so I was able to struggle and hoist it into the side door of my 11-passenger van (it does weigh over 80lbs). Wow … the Orox is a BEAST (observation #1).
Being such a massive bike, I was a little skeptical about how it’d perform, let alone out on the trail and carrying stuff. However, after I got home and took it on a quick spin in the neighborhood, I knew I was mistaken about the Orox. Obviously, no one will confuse the Orox with a lightweight XC bike, but once you get going, you forget that you’re riding a cargo bike.
So, why the Orox? In particular, why is the Orox made for trail building?
Far starters, it was built to carry stuff. According to Tern’s website, the off-road gross carrying capacity is right at about 400 lbs. The racks themselves can carry up to 220 lbs. That’s a lot! Thinking about the applications for trail building all of a sudden, our imagination begins taking off as we think about not only all of the types of tools and equipment we can carry but also accessing job sites. Like you, I’ve seen many e-MTBs used for trail-building work parties. Most of the time, people carry equipment on their backs or in a trailer. But with the Orox being a cargo bike, whether you’re using the massive saddle bags or not, you can carry A LOT of equipment on the bike itself.
Early in the summer, our local trail org hosted a shuttle day as a fundraiser. Since I was taking photos, I knew this would be a great opportunity to bring out the Orox. The trail system, Sandy Ridge, has a 3-mile paved road that you have to pedal up to access the top of the trail network. I joke with people that e-MTBs are made for Sandy Ridge …. but now I had one to ride. While everyone else took turns getting shuttled to the top, I zipped up on the Orox. “Zip” is an understatement. I put it in “Turbo” mode and ripped up the hill.
Even though I had one of the saddlebags loaded with a good bit of camera gear, I still wanted to take the Orox out on the trail to see how it would do. I chose a couple of blue trails and had an absolute blast. Sure, it didn’t handle like my regular mountain bike, but it didn’t stop me from having a great time on it. Yes, it does have a long wheelbase, so there’s that. However, it proved agile enough to overcome roots, rocks, and other obstacles out on the trail.
One of the dynamics I didn’t anticipate was how so many people were intrigued by the Orox. It was definitely a conversation starter. Whether I was at a big event or a small work party, a steady stream of people asked me about it. First, it is a cool-looking bike. However, as we talked about its application for trail building, more people got excited. I have heard of a few organizations purchasing e-MTBs for trail building crews. Is the Orox the ultimate do-it-all “pickup truck” for trail building?
With a $6,499 price tag, the Orox is more “affordable” than other e-MTBs. As an example, the Transition Relay ranges from $6,799 to $12,499, the Pivot Shuttle LT will set you back $7,499, and the Santa Cruz Heckler goes for $6,999 (all of these are presale prices). Obviously, the applications or uses for the Orox differ significantly from the others. However, we’re talking about it in terms of use for trail building. Sure, you’re not going to shred the Orox after a work party like you would other e-MTBs.
The question, then, is… is it worth it? It’s odd to admit that $6,499 is “affordable” in today’s world of mountain bike prices (the Pivot Firebird retails for $9,999, and it’s not an e-MTB). However, we need to continue to revisit the purpose of cargo bikes. Cargo bikes are designed to … are you ready for this? … carry cargo. Stuff. Equipment. Tools. Yes, I used this to go to my office at the university and carry some stuff from home, but the Orox was designed for greater endeavors.
What is the typical distance you have to travel from the parking lot to work on trails? This applies to paid crews and volunteers alike. We’ve all hiked for miles before to get to a work site. Sure, some will pedal in while figuring out how to best carry a McLeod or Pulaski. With the Orox, you can have a designated person carrying equipment, depending on how many people are there. Then, everyone else would be free to pedal in without tools.
Obviously, e-MTB allowances in some areas are a point of contention. We know they are not allowed everywhere. With that said, I can’t help but contend that the Orox would be a great investment, whether you’re a for-profit company or a volunteer-driven non-profit organization. Good tools and equipment are an integral part of the work of building and maintaining trails.
If there is a con or drawback, it is that it is a beast. It’s heavy. 80 lbs. I am thinking of the practicality of moving it from job site to job site. Obviously, the weight is not a showstopper, especially if you’re accustomed to transporting mini-excavators or Canycoms. Then, it becomes simply another piece of equipment that you need to store, keep up, and move from location to location. Like a Canycom, the Orox can be a great tool for building and maintaining trails.
What is my final recommendation on the Orox? As I mentioned above, it has many uses since I put it squarely in the categories of “tool” or “equipment. " Again, I’m also viewing the Orox through the lens of trail building. Therefore, I think it would be incredibly valuable for trail builders, for-profit companies, and non-profit organizations alike. Those who spend time working on trails would appreciate it.
Words: Sean Benesh Photos: Sean Benesh
Use the discount code TBMag10 for 10% off at Camelot Tools.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
