I regularly travel between California and Bangkok every few months and I'd like to find a versatile, strong and convenient folding bike that I can bring along.

I am looking for a multipurpose bike. Something that I can use to get around the city or go for a workout ride or something I can use load up to take a multi-day ride outside the city. But most importantly, something I can bring with me back and forth between San Francisco and Bangkok.

I've been researching for several weeks now. I considered the Montague Allston for a while but then I came across the Tern Joe and Tern Eclipse.

They both seem like great options but the eclipse seems like it's much more speed oriented while the Joe seems more on the beefy, rugged side. What considerations or compromises would be suggested?

Terns have proven to be unreliable. Check out the recall thread. I think it would be unwise to ride any Tern.

Run away, run fast, run far and don't look back.
Tern seem to well evidenced in the unscrupulous handling and covering up of manufacturing or design faults resulting in complete failure of their frames.
This applies to an unknown amount of bikes and models from several factories in different countries.
No ones been killed yet......

Look else where my friend is generally the feeling on the forum.
Also I would not want to give an immoral company any cash to endorse such behaviour. I wouldn't buy any Tern accessories. Hope they go bankrupt.

Wow. I didn't come across any of this at all until I specifically looked it up. From what it looks like, it was a lot of really awful welding jobs.

I'm back to square one. Any suggestions where to start with a full sized versatile foldie? Montague? Dahon? Looks like Dahon has had a lot of failures as well. There's still been a lot of positive feedback coming up and no negative . unless I do a very specific search.

I have a TernJoeP24, and after all the hubbub I'm afraid of riding it. I'd recommend, as an excellent alternative, looking at the Dahon full sized folders. There's the Jack & Espresso. Look 'em up,...

Would be nice to know your budget if there is one.
I would look at a Bike Friday, Birdy, or Moulton if you plan to hide it in a full size suitcase.
I don't see any benefit to a 24" folder as it's too bulky to put in most taxis and you might not be able to take it on a crowded train or will at least feel like a jerk if you can.
If you don't ever plan to use public transport then a full size bike will be more comfortable, lighter, and cheaper.
A full size with frame couplers might be worth a look too.

I looked at a the Dahon Jack and Espresso. There's also the cadenza which seems like a decent fit as well. Dahon also had a major recall with some models, and there has been a decent amount of catastrophic failures as well . But not to the same extent as Tern. How has the Tern Joe D24 worked for you so far?

Also, my budget is roughly 3K give or take a few hundred.

It's actually a solid, stable ride. I can't even tell it's a folder when I use it, because it doesn't flex, and it's like using a decently spec's non-folding bike. The frame/folding joint is solid as well,... I guess I'm just being paranoid.