Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Washington and Ocean Shores, Washington, USA
Bikes: 2 - 2007 Custom Bike Fridays, 2 - 2009 Bike Friday Pocket 8's, Gravity 29'er SS, 2 - 8-spd Windsor City Bikes, 1973 Raleigh 20 & a 1964 Schwinn Tiger
Most of us have never seen a Tern in person - let alone ridden one. Given that, If you are tall or short, Bike Friday is the better bike, since even the stock one like your considering, comes in three frame sizes. (I'm 6'3" with long arms and legs and I have owned two Dahons - looks very similar to new Terns and are also related - and two Fridays.)
The 24 gear set-up is plenty for touring.
The other questions are: If you are out there for 1-2 weeks and something breaks, which bike is easier to get replacements for? Maybe Thor would FedEx parts Tern parts like Bike Friday does, or is Tern mostly standard parts?
Lou