Vvolt Centauri II vs Specialized Globe Haul LT

Buy the Vvolt Centauri II if you want a light, easy-to-live-with city bike: at 44 lbs it lifts onto a rack or up stairs, the belt drive and internal three-speed hub need almost no upkeep, and the mid-drive motor with 120Nm feels natural on hills. Buy the Specialized Globe Haul LT if you carry cargo or a passenger: its 441 lb limit, 31-inch MIK rack and 772Wh battery make it a small truck, but at 88 lbs and 53 inches of wheelbase it rides and parks like one. Owners of both praise the brakes and built-in lights; the Centauri II draws complaints about its rigid fork on rough pavement, and the Haul LT about its weight when unloaded.

• Choose the Vvolt Centauri II if you commute light, face stairs or a bike rack, and want a quiet belt-drive bike you rarely have to service.
• Choose the Specialized Globe Haul LT if you haul groceries, gear or a kid, or ride long distances where the bigger battery and 28 mph assist matter.