Tern NBD S5i review | Urban Electric Bike of the Year contender

The Tern NBD (No Big Deal) is designed to be easy to ride for anyone – from beginners to the most experienced pedallers.

It’s intended as an urban electric bike with a very adaptable ride position, which Tern says can fit a wide range of riders. There are plentiful fixtures and fittings, with numerous accessories available.

I’ve been very impressed by the NBD S5i’s easy ride experience and versatile nature – the only fly in the ointment is the low ranges I've achieved, even accounting for the bike's smaller-capacity battery.

Tern NBD S5i frame details

The alloy frame features a super-low step-through design. At only 39cm tall, it’s designed to be as easy as possible to get on and off.

Tern has also made it easy to put a foot down flat on the ground when stopped, even with the saddle set at the ‘right’ height thanks to its positioning.

The brand says the NBD can be set up to fit riders from 4ft 10in / 147cm to 6ft 3in / 190cm tall, thanks to the adaptive design, which moves the saddle backwards as it gets higher, and the clever Andros stem, which can be adjusted for height and angle.

This means, in theory, the NBD can become a shared family or office run-around – you may only need one for a whole group of users.

It’s also a practical solution as an urban bike with carrying capacity.

The NBD can stand on its end when in storage, using the substantial rear rack for stability. You can also quickly fold down the bar and elongated steerer, which reduces the electric bike’s dimensions to 156x38x79cm.

That makes it able to fit into an estate car easily, while it could stand in a hallway or corner of a room without taking up too much floor space.

Tern NBD S5i specifications

Tern makes a plethora of add-ons and accessories for its ebikes. The NBD has no shortage of extras available, and thankfully a fair few that are included as standard.

In the standard build, you get front and rear mudguards, integrated front and rear lights, a rear pannier rack and an ABUS frame lock.

The bike lock uses the same key that locks the Bosch battery in place, thanks to the ABUS Keyed Alike system.

Tern’s suite of additional accessories includes a multitude of bags, two types of front rack, two mounting bags for the front, straps, bottle cages, baskets and more.

I opted for the large Transporter front rack on my test bike, which is said to provide enough carry space to hold a weekly grocery shop when combined with panniers at the rear.

The rear rack is certified to carry 27kg (60lb) and is compatible with most major child seats. The bike itself has a high gross vehicle weight limit of 140kg (309lb), so there’s not much you couldn’t transport.

The Bosch Performance Line mid-drive electric bike motor delivers up to 65Nm of torque and up to 300 per cent assistance.

It has four modes: Eco, Tour (the best setting for regular use), Sport (great for a good kick of assistance in stop-start traffic) and Turbo (maximum assistance for hills).

This is powered by a 500Wh battery, though my test bike came with a 400Wh unit.

The system is controlled by Bosch’s Intuvia head unit and bar-mounted controller.

The monochrome LCD display may look simple compared to the full colour delivered by Bosch’s Kiox or Shimano’s Steps displays, but it’s clear and holds all the information you need.

The display quick-releases from the bike easily too, which may deter thieves.

The Bosch remote sits within easy distance of your left thumb and the Shimano twist-shifter on the right is simple to use.

The drivetrain is a five-speed Shimano Nexus Inter SE hub gear, combined with a Gates belt drive – no oily chain here and next to no maintenance requirements.

The NBD also has a full drivetrain cover, so the chances of being sprayed or getting your trousers caught are very low.

Magura provides hydraulic disc brakes with long, ergonomic levers. The system is powerful and offers lots of modulation and control.

The front of the bike is very well thought-out: the backsweep of the bars towards you and the generous (but not overly wide) handlebar, combined with ergonomic grips, makes for a very comfortable ride experience.

Tern NBD S5i ride impressions

The Tern NBD S5i’s large-volume tyres combine with a well-shaped saddle and suspension seatpost to make cruising around on the Tern a very pleasant experience.

Accurate gearshifts, great brakes and the Bosch motor make the Tern feel well-polished, too.

What really sets the NBD apart, however, is the way it handles. Tern has kept the bike compact, but the wheelbase is longer than most similar small urban ebikes.

It has also kept the centre of gravity very low and central, so while the bike weighs in at 24kg, including the front rack, it doesn’t feel like a leviathan to ride.

Its low-slung weight means it's light to steer and remarkably nimble. The small wheels help it accelerate quickly off the line, making it great for keeping up with the stop-start flow of urban traffic.

Tern claims the NBD S5i can achieve a range of between 32 and 74 miles (51-118km), depending on modes, ride style, weather and topography.

While the upper limit may be technically feasible in favourable conditions, I experienced far less. Of course, I had a 400Wh battery instead of the usually specced 500Wh model, but this can only partly explain the short ranges I saw.

At worst, in cold weather (which can affect battery life), I got 14.38 miles / 23.2km with 1,211ft / 369 metres of ascent. At best, this stretched to 21.29miles / 34.3km with 1,293ft / 394 metres of ascent.

I doubt many riders of the NBD are going to use it for epic days out or long suburban commutes, but you do need to be mindful of the lower range the NBD S5i seems to give.

Charge time (with the 400Wh battery) was around 4 hours and 30 minutes from zero to 100 per cent. I’ve used the specified 500Wh battery before, which I’ve seen charge in 4 hours and 45 minutes. Both use the standard compact Bosch charger.

Tern NBD S5i bottom line

The Tern NBD S5i has everything a great urban run-around should have.

It’s supremely user-friendly and very easy to live with. The well-balanced handling won’t scare new riders, yet more experienced cyclists will revel in its composure on tarmac, towpaths, bike paths and light trails.

It’s very practical to boot – if it just had a little more range in its tank, I couldn’t see many urban commuters needing anything more.