RSSLink P7i – First Looks at Tern Bikes
Feb 22
Tern Folding Bikes folding bike, Tern Bicycles, Tern folding bikes No Comments
When Josh Hon of Tern Bicycles offered to send me a preproduction Tern Link P7i folding bicycle to review, I was all over it. I had spent most of 2011 reading about the company; this would be my first chance to see what Tern Bicycles was working on all that time.
The Tern Link P7i folding bicycle is one of seven bikes in the 20-inch-wheeled Link family, which Tern describes as “transportation for the human race,” differentiating it from Tern’s racier Verge family of 20-inch-wheeled folding bicycles, which offers “performance to go.”
Link P7i Insight and Overview
Tern Link P7i Folding Bicycle
Visually, the shape of the frame distinguishes the two families. All Link model Tern folding bicycles are straight between the main hinge and the head tube; Verge bikes sport a continuous arched appearance from the rear dropouts all the way to the head tube.
Different alloys are used as well. The Tern Link P7i folding bicycle is built with 6061 aluminum, the same stuff that goes into crankarms, while the Verge family features 7005 aluminum, which is a little bit stronger, but harder to work during manufacturing.
Should you buy based on the frame material? Gosh, no. Base it on the test ride, and whether the bike is equipped for your needs. The Link P7i folding bicycle is rated for a maximum rider weight of 110 kg (240 lbs.), and, sadly for me, I can confirm that it’s more than capable of holding up under that entire load.
Accessories for the Link P7i folding bike
The Link P7i folding bicycle is ready for all-weather, all-hours commuting right out of the box. You get a sturdy rear rack bolted to the frame at four points, fenders, a rear battery-powered light that nestles under the rack for protection against bumps and dings, and a headlight similarly sheltered from damage within the embrace of a double-clamp handlebar stem.
The headlight is powered by a BioLogic Joule II dynamo hub that generates useful light at walking speeds. And a standlight feature provides continuous lighting even when you’re stopped by a traffic signal. A dynamo hub means light on demand, whenever you need it—no worries about dead batteries.
I’d prefer the dynamo also powered the rear light, but I bet that Tern decided a battery-powered rear light on a folding bicycle would be more reliable than one with a long and fragile wire.
Link P7i = Easy fit and setup
You’ll love the Andros handlebar stem on the Link P7i. All you do is slide a switch on the stem’s top plate to one side and lift the rear of the plate. This unlocks both the height and the rotation of the handlebars. Use one hand to move the handlebars to the desired height and rotation and the other hand to push the top plate back down. The locking switch snaps back automatically.
If I worked in the shop, I’d use the stem to sell the entire bike—it’s that great a design. Check out the Tern Link P7i more here.
