Using a Child Seat on the HSD Gen 2

To safely carry a very young child on your HSD, you’ll need a child seat. This article will help you learn more about compatible child seats, how to use them with panniers and other Tern bike accessories so you can bring along everything you need, our recommended add-ons for passenger safety and comfort, and more!
 

Contents

• Child seats we’ve tested
  • For other child seats, check compatibility
• Adding panniers and pannier baskets to your child seat setup
  • For the Cargo Hold 37 Panniers
  • For the Cargo Hold 28 Pannier
  • For the Kontti Basket
• Adding a double kickstand to your child seat setup
• Weather-proofing your child seat setup
• Other things you should know about when using child seats with the HSD 

Child seats we’ve tested

We’ve tested and found the following rear rack-mounted child seats to be compatible with the HSD:

Thule Yepp 2 Maxi

Thule Yepp Nexxt 2 Maxi

Bobike GO Maxi

Urban Iki rear seat (carrier mounting)

For other child seats, check compatibility

If you have a different child seat model you prefer, check the manufacturer’s guidelines and the HSD rear rack specs below for compatibility before purchasing. Whichever child seat you decide to purchase, ensure that it comes with the required elements for safe passenger carrying: seating, safety harness, foot support, and foot & leg protection.

But keep in mind, the fact that a child seat can be installed on the HSD does not guarantee that it’s compatible with Tern panniers and baskets. Read on to learn more.

Adding panniers and pannier baskets to your child seat setup

We’ve done a little in-house experimentation to determine which popular child seats can be used simultaneously with Tern panniers and pannier baskets that fit the HSD.
 

For the Cargo Hold 37 Panniers

The Cargo Hold 37 Panniers are a set of spacious bike bags that are great for hauling groceries and kid essentials along with your little passenger. The following child seats all play nicely with these panniers: 

• Thule Yepp 2 Maxi
• Thule Yepp Nexxt 2 Maxi
• Bobike GO Maxi
• Urban Iki rear seat
   

You'll need to use your panniers in Bucket Mode, and connect the straps of the panniers on either side of the bike before installing the child seat.

If the child seat you like isn’t on this list, it may still work. However, you might need the Pannier Adapter to make it happen.
 

For the Cargo Hold 28 Pannier

If you live in an area where the weather gets finicky and prefer to have your panniers closed in case of sudden showers, consider getting the Cargo Hold 28 Pannier (sold individually). It may be smaller than the Cargo Hold 37 Panniers, but still offers plenty of room for your essentials.

The Cargo Hold 28 Pannier tucks neatly behind any of the child seats we’ve tested, allowing you to roll down the pannier top to fully shield the contents against rain and dirt. 

One caveat—you’ll need to remove the pannier in order to store your bike vertically.

For the Kontti Basket

Another option for carrying rear cargo is the Kontti Basket. For one or more Kontti Baskets, we recommend using the Thule Yepp 2 Maxi. Other child seats we tested interfered with the HSD’s frame lock when paired with the Kontti Baskets. If you’re considering another seat, be sure to try it with the Kontti Baskets before purchasing, and check whether you can use the frame lock.

Adding a double kickstand to your child seat setup

For extra stability when loading and unloading your child, the DuoStand double kickstand is a must. This robust dual-leg kickstand has a wide stance that keeps the bike standing firmly on the ground for worry-free passenger transitions.
 

Weather-proofing your child seat setup

The Clubhouse Fort Mini is a great solution for carrying one kid in all kinds of weather. To build this weather-protected compartment over a compatible child seat, you’ll need the following accessories:

• Clubhouse Mini
• Storm Box Mini
• Storm Shield Mini
• DuoStand 
   

Once your little one outgrows his or her child seat, you can simply swap out the child seat for a Clubhouse Seat Pad and Clubhouse Backrest to continue using the Clubhouse Fort Mini for weather protection that’ll keep the big kid cozy and happy. 

Other things you should know about when using child seats with the HSD

• Check your local regulations to make sure carrying passengers on a bike is legal in your area.
• We don’t recommend using child seats that attach to places other than the rear rack (e.g., handlepost or seatpost-mounted seats). Please see this article for more information.
• We don’t recommend carrying two or more children on the HSD. The HSD is designed to carry one passenger and hasn’t been tested for two or more passengers.
• Ensure that the combined weight of the bike (including battery), rider, passenger, accessories, and cargo does not exceed the HSD’s maximum gross vehicle weight of 180 kg (397 lb).
• Do not exceed the HSD's 80 kg (176 lb) rear rack load capacity.
• Never leave a child unattended on the bike, even if the bike is on a kickstand.
• Helmets for everyone! This includes the rider and any rear passenger, whether in a child seat or not. 

For more information on how to safely carry passengers of all ages on the HSD Gen 2, check out our HSD Gen 2 passenger guide.