"Tern" brand folding bikes

[Arzosah]

I have a chance to buy one of these thats only been used twice - a commuter was made redundant, and is rethinking his life.

Don't know which model it is yet, but I've been told it was £900 new, and he wants £500. I've had a look at their website https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/
and they look pretty good, but the tech stuff might as well be "wibble wibble" to me

Can anybody look at this with a knowledgeable eye, and tell me if the range is generally respected, or should I run a mile? I'm going to be having a look at the weekend.

Thanks!

[Yorkshire Andy]

You could get a new one for less


http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/tern-link-a7- ... lsrc=aw.ds


Do you know what model it is?


I'm not a massive fan of folding bikes unless you need a folder eg regular rail commuter

Also this which looks better spec in terms of gear set

https://www.evanscycles.com/raleigh-sto ... 6kQAvD_BwE


Find an Evans and ride a few round the car park.....


Look into these they got a good write up a few years ago
https://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/gea ... iew-51424/



http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... -18-frames

[Arzosah]

Thanks for that, Andy. No, I don't know what model it is, I just heard about it today from a third party.

Normally, I'd agree with you about folding bikes - thing is, I'd be using it twice a week absolute max, just pootling around my little town. Where to store it at home is a real issue too. Brick shed needs me to go through two locked doors to get there, and knowing me I just won't do that. So a folding bike, I could store it in the porch.

The price sounds ott to me too - I was thinking much more around the price of the bikes you're linking to.

Still, due diligence and all that

[Yorkshire Andy]

They do do better bikes in their range

https://www.evanscycles.com/tern-verge- ... ccQAvD_BwE


But the spec isn't much better to justify the increase in price and the 1kg weight saving imo (I used to work in a bike shop and was into mountain biking in a big way)

[Arzosah]

So that's a Tern from Evans Cycles? Good one.

I think I'll be sticking to my original price idea - never really wanted to pay more than £300, at the very max. I have no obligation to buy, of course.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I included 2 links one in my earlier post....

They are like 2 cars. One a basic model one a all singing all dancing super dooper jobbies


https://www.evanscycles.com/tern_b/bikes-category



For ambling into town you really won't notice the difference in quality


When you consider one component take the gear changer aka rear mech or derailur


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod148579


Can cost what many will spend on a full bike....


Best thing you can do is test ride a few and see what fits you as bikes are like shoes as what I find comfy you might hate the reach between the seat and the handle bars or the saddle position against the cranks placement all make a big difference one you sit on about half a dozen you will see what I mean. That's before you get into crank length and brake lever reach and position and other fine tuning bits and bobs

I saved a woman in halfords from being sold a bike she didn't need (good old upselling ) as I asked by poking my neb in would she be wanting to fit a child seat (baby in pram with her) ... Yes she did ... So Mr halfords will a child seat fit this full suspension bike which your convincing her is a better bike to ride to the shops?????? I knew the answer was no ....
She thanked me and bought a normal bike in terms of frame design

[sniper 55]

They do do better bikes in their range

https://www.evanscycles.com/tern-verge- ... ccQAvD_BwE


But the spec isn't much better to justify the increase in price and the 1kg weight saving imo (I used to work in a bike shop and was into mountain biking in a big way)

When I was seriously into racing biking my mate went through a "save weight" effort, lighter brakes, lighter chainsets, pedals etc etc, we had the same frames but his bike ended up about 3lb lighter, trouble was it cost him about £2k (on top of a £1200 frame) he was chuffed until I pointed out at our level it made no difference.
Ok to a tour de france lad 3lbs is a lot, but to a few mates doing 30 miles a night it was bugger all, bearing in mind we stayed together anyway and stopped for a pint halfway around.

[Yorkshire Andy]

They do do better bikes in their range

https://www.evanscycles.com/tern-verge- ... ccQAvD_BwE


But the spec isn't much better to justify the increase in price and the 1kg weight saving imo (I used to work in a bike shop and was into mountain biking in a big way)

When I was seriously into racing biking my mate went through a "save weight" effort, lighter brakes, lighter chainsets, pedals etc etc, we had the same frames but his bike ended up about 3lb lighter, trouble was it cost him about £2k (on top of a £1200 frame) he was chuffed until I pointed out at our level it made no difference.
Ok to a tour de france lad 3lbs is a lot, but to a few mates doing 30 miles a night it was bugger all, bearing in mind we stayed together anyway and stopped for a pint halfway around.

Be cheaper to go on a diet and go to the toilet before going out then they add 3 bottle holders and clip 3kg of water to the frame plus a took kit in a wedge pack to rival a RAC van


The old saying

LIGHT, STRONG, CHEAP....pick two

[Arzosah]

That's great

Basically, I'm not going to buy this bike then I'd never spend £500 on anything else without doing a ton of research. When I asked the neighbour who told me about this, to look out for a 2nd hand bike for me, we'd been talking about ebay/facebook bargains for £50. Add another nought, and its a no-go.

Thanks chaps!

[jansman]

I am a folding bike fan.Great on public transport.I have a Brompton.They are pricey though. The Dahon is a good rival to it. .There are many types now.Here is a link to a site I subscribe to.https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/ ... ide-46903/