Yourfriendmikem

Yesterday I picked up a beautiful mint condition Tern Verge S11i (confirmed with Tern that the frame is not the model effected by the recall). I've been looking around for a folding bike for a while and thought this deal was good, especially since it essentially came with a Dahon Mu XL for the wife.

Upon getting it home and inspecting it I'm feeling like it's not the right bike for me. My whole purpose for getting a folding bike was to be able to fly with it in a regulation suitcase, this will be nearly impossible with the verge without a TON of disassembly (fenders, integrated lights in bracket, etc...). In hindsight I'm feeling like I should have waited for a Brompton or a Bike Friday to appear. Now heres where I need help:

I'd be more than happy to trade the verge for a similarly valued Bike Friday or Brompton, but I don't know the best way to make that happen. I live in Connecticut and would be happy to hear from anyone with anything to offer. The benefits of this plan would be that I'd wind up with exactly the bike I want, the cons would be that I have no clue how long it would take and I really don't want to deal with craigslist.

OR

I could remove the fenders, remove all integrated lighting and the back rack and make it the bike I would like it to be. It seems like it would be easy enough, but it just feels wrong to remove some of the parts of the bike that make it special and extra cool. This is the quickest and easiest way to a suitcasable bike right now, although I am not on a time limit.

Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated!

BromptonINrio

Well, the resell price for any tern, even a verge, is bad. So if ypu expect that any brompton owner woult trade one for another thats not gonna happen. Just in very optmistic scenarios.
In more reallist aproach...the trade for these bikes you want you gonna need to add cash

capthindsight

Since it was just yesterday, will your bike shop let you take it back? Many will, especially if you can order the bike you really want from them. I think it would be worth going in and just explaining honestly exactly what you said here. Local bike shops really value repeat business, so if they can make you happy here, you'll be more likely to go back for accessories, tune-ups, etc. Never hurts to ask.

Yourfriendmikem

Yourfriendmikem

Joe Remi

Craigslist and the like are your choices. You're going to have to sell it and get a Brompton, which is definitely the way to go for suitcase travel. Or Bike Friday, but I don't think the lousy fold in day-to-day use is worth the trouble.

rishardh

If you are going to take a hit selling it as it is now might as well remove the parts to make it work for traveling and if you don't like it build it up again and put it on craigslist and get a Brompton or Bike Friday. If you really want the compact fold and dont want to mess around with the Tern then ride it until you get a Brompton/Bike Friday and then sell it. Maybe once you get the Brompton/Bike Friday you will feel the Tern rides better and prefer that. Or if you are like me will find an excuse to keep both

FolderBeholder

Yourfriendmikem

Mtroup

If I bought the Mona Lisa and decided to paint a moustache on it, I could give a flying fart what other people thought of the "ethics" of the situation. You bought it, it's yours. Do what you want.

BromptonINrio

Theyr value come from top tier frame(among terns) and very expensive components like wheels, groupset and many bits that cost a nice money in folding bike world.
the downside in value would be tern beeing subject to a hude recall some years ago and beein bombarded since as a cracking frame company. Newer frames most likely to fixed but when sell one of these you must be able to argue with buyer and show proff ypur bike is not the doomed ones.

avole

Such sensitivity, and such poor knowledge of economics !

blakcloud

You said it, "Make it the bike you want it to be". Take off the rear rack, that is all that is needed to fit into a suitcase. The fenders and lighting can stay. I think you need to try it for a while before you even start to think about selling it.

No it's not a Brompton, fold wise but none-the-less you have an excellent folding bike.

Enjoy your new purchase!

Pinigis 

In order to fit any 20" folder into a suitcase, there will be some disassembly required...assuming that you don't want to risk oversized-bag fees from the airline. Keep in mind that the Samsonite F'lite bag that Bike Friday uses is several inches larger than the 62" maximum that the airlines permit, so you are subject to an oversized-bag fee if they whip our the tape measure. If you want to minimize the effort of packing the bike, just leave the rack and fenders at home, they are time consuming to install.

Yourfriendmikem

Pinigis 

Ohhhh! That is a pain. Can you install an electrical connector into the line to make this easier?

linberl

If you're flying with it, you want it as light as possible. Take off the rack, the lighting, the fenders, etc. You might be able to sell those parts on ebay or craigslist. Even though those parts may be what makes the bike "special", it isn't what makes it work for you. What will make the bike special for you is if it fits your needs and your suitcase, lol. The main question is do you like how it rides? If yes, then make it fit. If, no or maybe, then consider other options.

Mtroup

ttakata73

Like most others I say keep it and mod it. Trading any used object is almost impossible. I recall a test ride on a Verge and it felt much better to ride quick than a Brompton. Anyway most enthusiasts of any hobby modify their stuff to suit them. Just keep the original parts for when you want to sell it, but you should at least try to enjoy it first. To ease packing there are quick release fenders and seatpost racks that can often be a rear fender too, but airline weight wise I would skip a heavy rack and just hang a backpack off the handlebars.

rishardh

I understand your dilemma. There are certain bikes I would not alter, especially if it's an older bike. In this case if you really like how it rides I would go for it and call it a Tern Verge S11i-E

Khb

https://www.downtube.com/downtube-fo...soft-suitcase/ works with a CL Dahon Speed 8. Technically the result isn't airline conformant; but I've used it for a couple of flights and while dinged for a checked bag fee, I escaped the oversized bag fee.

Yan said that's been his experience, and while mine isn't extensive it does match his.

Of course, these days, very little is consistent airline to airline, or even trip to trip on the same airline

avole

And there, vividly expressed, is the downside of your civilization, the total selfishness. Not talking about the folding bike, by the way, a bike is just a bike, but some of the great achievements of civilization such as the Mona Lisa.

Mtroup

LOL, I spent two decades working as an artist. Guess what, romantic? Art is a commodity, just like a car or a bike, with a lot less practicality and a lot more marketing.

Trakhak

Excellent definition. Or, as Andy Warhol said, "I know it's art when the check clears."

2_i 

I put a connector for the cable to rear light on Bike Friday and I began putting connectors for racks on other bikes. On occasions you take off racks on nonfolding bikes for one reason or another and the connector makes life so much easier - it is a good practice with any long cable anywhere.