Originally Posted by OndrejP_SK

Hi, I've got a Tern D8 which I "upgraded". Here's what I did:

- replace bottom bracket (sh*tty one) with a sealed bearing cartridge one, it's 116mm square taper.

- replace hub axles with hollow axles and add quick release to the wheels. On the front wheel it's complicated - you need to shorten the axle and have a QR skewer machined (make longer thread) because the hub is only 74mm O.L.D. (stupid Dahon/Tern)

- later replaced crankset with a road double Shimano Exage 300 40+52 crankset (107mm square taper BB). I shift by hand while stopped. This adds 2 more gears for climbing really steep hills. (52-32 gear = 30gearinches, 40-32 = 23gearinches). The (stupid) Neos derraileur can handle only the top 3 cogs with the 40t chainring. Also the key here is to keep the chainline of the big ring as close to the ideal 43,5mm because from this ring you'll be using all rear cogs.

The worst thing with Tern Link D8 is the lack of standard rear derraileur mount. I don't believe the Neos derraileur is that much better than a standard short road derrailleur. The new Tiagra can officially handle 28t cog, but in reality I'm sure it can handle even 32. (I've successfully used old Shimano 105 RD-1055 with 32t). But with Tern you are stuck with Neos derraileur or you can buy an adapter which adds the standard mount, but costs about 50 USD if you find it.

In this regard I think the best buy from Tern lineup is the new Link D16: it has standard rear derrailleur, double front chainrings, front derrailleur mount.