Multi Tinker vs GSD

February 18, 2024

You’ve decided a small wheeled long, tail cargo e-bike is the best type for you. You now need to choose between the Tern GSD – and the stylish Riese & Müller Multitinker, the 2023 cargo newcomer which takes full advantage of the latest Bosch technologies. Both e-bikes have more in common than they have differences. They are both excellent at what they are designed to be: easy to ride car replacements for urban dwellers, capable of safely transporting up to two kids and/or carrying substantial cargo. You can be confident you will not have made a bad purchase if you buy either because in our assessment there are only marginal differences between them. Some of these differences may matter more to some people than others, for example battery size, ride feel, accessory range, colour choice or connectivity. This review highlights those differences for you.We strongly advise you to visit our store, if at all possible, to ride the Multitinker and the GSD back to back to judge for yourself. Call us on 1300 414 843 to arrange.

Review Summary

Kudos to Riese & Müller for creating a very fine small wheeled long tail cargo e-bike at their first attempt. The Multitinker is as good, if not better in some respects, than the established Tern GSD. We love its design, its classy looks, the ride feel, the updated Bosch Smart System and the large 625 watt hour battery hidden in the down tube. We think it’s going to be a big success in the long tail cargo bike category, having a strong appeal to non-cyclists who will love its practicality and ease of use. If we could offer some feedback to Riese & Müller, we’d like to quickly see a wider accessory range.

All said, however, the Tern GSD has not been knocked down by the newcomer. Whilst its Bosch electrical system is older, it is not obsolete and is still a perfectly suitable specification for an everyday cargo bike. The GSD does not look and feel as premium as the Multitinker, but compensates for this with an unequalled range of accessories that are well designed, practical and durable.

The Multitinker Vario is available from us from $9995

Enviolo and Gates Carbon Belt drive
Bosch 625 watt hour battery
Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85 Newton Metres
Bosch Smart System
Front & seat suspension systems

The GSD S00 is the most comparable with the Multi tinker Vario: $9495

Enviolo and Gates Carbon Belt drive
500 watt hours capacity Bosch battery
Bosch Cargo Line 85 Nm motor

The Tern GSD LX is available from us $8795

Shimano® Deore 1 × 10-speed hub
500 watt hours capacity Bosch battery
Bosch Cargo Line 85 Nm motor

What do the GSD and Multitinker have in common?

Let’s begin by recognising that both e-bikes share the same design principles and core features:

Both cargo e-bikes are easy for newcomers to ride, live with, and look after. Even more so if the belt and hub geared versions are purchased, ensuring low maintenance and fewer replacement chains and gear parts over the e-bike’s life cycle. You absolutely do not need to be a current cyclist to get the best out of these e-bikes.

There are multiple possible kid carrying and cargo options available. See appendix for details for each bike.
Low step frames with 20’’ wheels make for easy mounting/dismounting even when loaded with kids and shopping.
Low centres of gravity provide the rider with confidence and manoeuvrability despite bike weights of 35-36 kgs.
Adaptable riding positions so they can flex to fit riders from 4’11” to 6ft 5” with a combination of handlebar and seat adjustments.
Maximum “system” weights of 200 kg, meaning the total combined weight of the rider plus the e-bike plus their cargo.
Upright and comfortable seating positions for great rider visibility, with front suspension to soak up road bumps.
Motors that are powerful enough at 85 Nm maximum output to carry significant loads up hills, providing up to 400% additional assist to the rider’s pedalling.
Multiple safety features including child safety bar kits, strong and stable centre stands for when loading the bikes with its cargo, good quality lights, wide balloon tyres for extra comfort, and very powerful brakes.
A full range of branded cargo-carrying accessories and child seat compatibility.

Where the Multitinker wins out against the GSD

We first rode the Multitinker at Eurobike 2022 back to back with other long tail cargo e-bikes from other brands. It stood out immediately against the competition for its ride quality. We have since tested our demo Multitinker extensively here in Hampshire, and in our assessment the Multitinker overall rides a little lighter and sportier than a GSD.The Multitinker looks and feels classy and premium. Overall, the paint finish is of a higher quality than the GSD, and there are fewer welds as the frame structure is less complex.At the front end, its front forks and tyre are slightly wider than the GSD, and the suspension travel is 10mm further. This adds up to marginally more robustness for rougher road surfaces.The Multitinker has the advantage of a larger single 625Wh battery as standard. It is mounted internally in the top tube of the frame, but is still removeable with your lock key. This makes cargo bikes like the GSD with 400 watt hour or even 500 watt hour batteries look somewhat out of date in comparison. A lockable frame bag is a great additional feature that takes advantage of the extra space in the frame where an external battery would likely be positioned: it is perfect for storing locks, spares, snacks and clothing.This e-bike has the most up to date Bosch Smart System.

This gives the Multinker several advantages against the GSD:

The standard display is the newer Intuvia 100 display and, as an upgrade option, the Kiox 300 display that will enable turn by turn navigation to be shown on the screen in the bike’s cockpit.
The Multitinker can be connected to the Bosch Flow app through your phone, enabling far more ride features to be available, including ride statistics, the display of error codes, and creation of custom ride modes.
The Smart System has an automatic assist mode which is a helpful feature likely to be heavily used in practice.
A GX option is available for the Multitinker, consisting of all terrain tyres with better mudguard clearance that will allow you to include light off road sections in your ride, unlike the GSD.The overall level of warranty resolution & technical support from Riese & Müller is higher than that from Tern.

Where the GSD wins out against the Multitinker

The strength of the GSD derives from a rear carrier that is an integral part of the bike’s frame.
GSDs can be semi folded by dropping the steering tube and can be parked vertically on its rear rack so it can be more easily stored indoors if needed.
Rear brake lights on the GSD is a great safety feature which customers really love.
All GSD models have the capacity for dual Bosch 400 or 500 watt hour batteries which can deliver a huge range, although they have one battery as standard when bought.
To ride, the GSD feels slightly more planted on the road and a little more manoeuvrable as a result of bars that are 5mm wider than the Multitinker’s.
Tern continues to offer more branded accessory options for the GSD than Riese & Müller for the Multitinker, including their rain covers, different sized panniers and a choice of additional front and rear racks. However, Tern accessories do tend to be more expensive than the Riese & Müller alternatives.