Tern Folding Cargo Bike on Kickstarter
09-01-15, 07:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Shanghai, China
Posts: 176
Bikes: Miyata 621 Touring, Dahon Smooth Hound (Demountable)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tern Folding Cargo Bike on Kickstarter
Thoughts on the Tern Cargo Node? Full sized folding cargo bike, coming soon on kickstarter:
Tern Cargo Node | Tern Folding Bike and Folding Bicycle Accessories | United States
Tern Cargo Node | Tern Folding Bike and Folding Bicycle Accessories | United States
Last edited by GTizzy; 09-03-15 at 09:06 PM.
09-01-15, 08:15 PM
#2
On yer bike
First thought is similar to one I had for the Helix, which is shameless marketing. Not only is this not the world's first folding cargo bike, but it's not even the first one by Tern! They already had the Cargo Joe. Otherwise, looks okay assuming they've managed to get their frame welding under control. Sure hope they have more trustworthy engineers than marketers.
09-01-15, 08:16 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I am impressed.
09-01-15, 08:16 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I sincerely hope they have the folding joint welding thoroughly sorted out. The extra long wheelbase will put much higher stress on that same welding joint.
04-12-16, 04:26 PM
#5
Señor Mambo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 1,406
Bikes: TST roadie, Cannondale CAAD 3, Surly Karate Stokemonkey Leap, Tern Cargo Node, Helix Alfine; 36er and 29er Triton Unicycles; a couple Bike Fridays; one Brompton; RadPower Radburro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times
in
12 Posts
One down, Helix to go:
04-16-16, 03:44 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I would be so scared riding that, assuming it exists as a product... The longer wheelbase put a lot more force on that welded frame joint... Maybe they killed the idea due to that.
04-16-16, 04:57 PM
#9
55+ Club,...
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in New York, NY
Posts: 4,326
Bikes: 9+,...
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1115 Post(s)
Liked 849 Times
in
593 Posts
__________________
If it wasn't for you meddling kids,...
04-16-16, 06:09 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Rafael, California
Posts: 2,097
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
Yup, accident waiting to happen.. do something clever like a solid main tube and then fold the front and rear if you need it to get to a smaller footprint.. Birdy tandem comes to mind..
Bike Friday's Haul-a-day is on the right track.. can you imagine the load on a folding center frame hinge with your kids on board.
Bike Friday's Haul-a-day is on the right track.. can you imagine the load on a folding center frame hinge with your kids on board.
04-16-16, 06:19 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,463
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
that's exactly what I was thinking. who is going to fold something like that anyway? much easier to stand it on end, like the haul a day. I'd be worried all the time about the hinge and $1800 isn't cheap. obviously, there is a market since it was funded; have to wait until it is out in the real world for a while to see how well it holds up. I went back read the tern page - they clearly state it is NOT for kids to ride, just for cargo. Curious as to why they would not make it so kids could ride, since they are showing xtracycle accessories.
Last edited by linberl; 04-16-16 at 06:23 PM.
04-16-16, 06:25 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Rafael, California
Posts: 2,097
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
Just read the disclaimer on the Tern.. pretty much says it all for me.. haha..
"TAKE NOTE! The Cargo Node is for cargo, not kids. While all Xtracycle family accessories are compatible with the Cargo Node, there are simply no established industry tests or standards we can use to confirm that it’s safe to carry kids on the Cargo Node."
"TAKE NOTE! The Cargo Node is for cargo, not kids. While all Xtracycle family accessories are compatible with the Cargo Node, there are simply no established industry tests or standards we can use to confirm that it’s safe to carry kids on the Cargo Node."
04-17-16, 03:05 PM
#13
Senior Member
A cargo bike with warnings not to carry certain types of cargo. Sure, let's get one of those...
04-17-16, 03:07 PM
#14
55+ Club,...
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in New York, NY
Posts: 4,326
Bikes: 9+,...
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1115 Post(s)
Liked 849 Times
in
593 Posts
Ugh,...a real winner, isn't it?
__________________
If it wasn't for you meddling kids,...
04-17-16, 03:12 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,463
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
Only two reasons I can think of for the limitation on carrying kids: either they are sure it will break and want to avoid liability to humans, or they aren't sure whether it will break but figure squirmy kids will put extra stress on the joint. Either way, eeeeekkkkk.....
