Tern Link snapped in two.
#26
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The hinge is pivot is also changed, if you compare the two.
If not already in the old bike, hopefully the new bike has stronger weld filler material and the whole frame post-weld heat-treated to bring back up to T-6 temper strength, if it's 6061-T6 and not 7005, the latter of which was designed specificially for bikes to not require heat treat after welding.
At least now you have disc brakes.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 08-28-25 at 11:27 PM.
#27
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Its more a manufacturing problem than a design problem that was solved on more recent Tern frames.
BTW., even if it would help to avoid broken frames like this one, the Deltec cable is meant to reduce the constraints on the hinge and increase the hinge life, not to solve bad welding/bad manufacturing.
The safest is to find out the manufacturing date of the broken frame and of the replacement frame and see if there is a Tern recall for any of those two frames.
#28
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It’s a later frame - about 3 years old and hardly used - and the welds/gusset area is different. Hopefully I won’t Darwin myself.
Cheers all.
Cheers all.
#29
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Sounds good. Most folders don't get used much, so bargains on the used market (except Brompton); unlike mine which has been my 100% use for 10 years now, after low use for 9 years (but on second frame).
#30
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The mechanical disc brakes are bloody awful but I will sort them out with better cables and housing when I get back to Frankfurt. The V brakes on its dead predecessor were perfect.
#31
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Yeah the mechanical calipers on Dahons with disc brakes were awful too; Piston only extends on one side, and the mechanical cam and ball mechanism has no seals to keep from dirt contamination, which happens almost instantly when riding in rain. Problem is, Dahon "innovated" by offsetting the discs 15mm inboard, ostensibly to reduce incidence of damage, but that means, that to replace the calipers with good ones, you need to replace the hubs, for standard disc spacing.
#32
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you might want some compression-less housing and if you can be bothered, some TRP spyre calipers. The "budget" mechanical caliper fitted on these tern by default are useless...
#33
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the tern picture shows what looks like a std post mound on 100mm hub

#34
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Last edited by Duragrouch; 08-29-25 at 03:26 AM.
#35
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That member's post to ask how to swap calipers was due to terrible performance of the mechanical calipers and pulled one apart and posted photos, and the problems were obvious, a simple mechanism with no seals against contamination, plus piston only extends on one side. IIRC, that member was in an area with almost no rain, but a whole LOT of sand, as far as the eye can see, contamination issues even riding purely on paved road.
#36
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I remember the post with poor quality dahon caliper (housing casting full of flashes and the poorly machined ball bearing locations). Hence, my suggestion to OP to fit some spyre if 100€ cost is acceptable to him. The spyres are reliable and have descent braking power. They are the "go to" for unsupported remote applications and do work well in CX racing
And as long as it doesn't have the 15mm inboard offset (I don't think applies to anyone except some Dahon models), a swap to anything else should be easy.
I'd be interested in hydraulic, heard great things, but that's an area where I would only go with a known and quality brand, as cheap brand hydraulic stuff leaks and is not durable, as a rule. I've read great things on here about Shimano (Deore?) hydraulic calipers.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 08-29-25 at 03:33 AM.
#37
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I've generally heard good things about those. I'd be curious about the mechanism; If they have dual pistons (the mech calipers I see at my LBS do, they might even be spyres), how it operates (cam or helix/screw), and how well that is sealed.
And as long as it doesn't have the 15mm inboard offset (I don't think applies to anyone except some Dahon models), a swap to anything else should be easy.
I'd be interested in hydraulic, heard great things, but that's an area where I would only go with a known and quality brand, as cheap brand hydraulic stuff leaks and is not durable, as a rule. I've read great things on here about Shimano (Deore?) hydraulic calipers.
And as long as it doesn't have the 15mm inboard offset (I don't think applies to anyone except some Dahon models), a swap to anything else should be easy.
I'd be interested in hydraulic, heard great things, but that's an area where I would only go with a known and quality brand, as cheap brand hydraulic stuff leaks and is not durable, as a rule. I've read great things on here about Shimano (Deore?) hydraulic calipers.
My daughter runs trp HY/RD caliper and they work well. only issue is the big hydrau reservoir makes the caliper adjustment a bit fiddly because the hex driver does not fit well (need a cut down one)
My son runs clark clout junior which is a copy of the cheaper shimano hydrau and it works well; you can see it was re-engineered and manufactured to be inexpensive but they are fine if you are not after the lightest strongest setup with all bells and whistles.
Actually these clark clout could be another good option for OP. ~50€ per kit so 100€ total and you can offset cable housing cost
I run sram rival and they work well; I boiled them once but I was using them on a steep offroad downhill (solution was to go for 180 rotor on front)
I now run hope RX4+ 4 pots calipers which are very strong and sometime "overbraked" but I prefer to be able to lock the wheel and adjust braking technique to tyre grip rather than running out of brake (motorsport old habit).
#38
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^^ Absolutely. I always have preferred to have a car/aircraft/sailboat/bike with more capability than me. I want brakes capable of standing the bike on its nose and put wrinkles in the asphalt. I need better brakes on my folder, but have waited in order to hopefully get a disc bike.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 08-29-25 at 04:35 AM.
#39
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Thanks all for the options.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
#40
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Thanks all for the options.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 08-29-25 at 08:19 PM.
#41
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Great advice. Thanks; I will be sure to check that too.
#42
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Thanks all for the options.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
My first port of call will be a cable and housing upgrade. I have Jagwire cables and housing on the broken bike so will swap those in, assuming the front is long enough.
I wondered if an upgrade to hydro would be a future option but I will see what the braking is like once they’ve had a little love.
at the moment the levers are super stifff and modulation isn’t great, but they do stop the bike. It’s just unpleasant.
#43
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#44
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Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
I have bought a similar if much later model and yeah, I guess I am taking a risk. I am a bigger rider, and will be careful to regularly inspect the area round the hinge on this bike.
I am hoping that the bigger tyres will reduce vibration/shocks on the frame and stress on that weld area.
Cheers all. Let’s remain friendly, civil and courteous to each other on this excellent forum.
#45
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The question was directed at me; I didn’t take offence. It was perhaps clumsily worded but the sentiment was fair.
I have bought a similar if much later model and yeah, I guess I am taking a risk. I am a bigger rider, and will be careful to regularly inspect the area round the hinge on this bike.
I am hoping that the bigger tyres will reduce vibration/shocks on the frame and stress on that weld area.
Cheers all. Let’s remain friendly, civil and courteous to each other on this excellent forum.
I have bought a similar if much later model and yeah, I guess I am taking a risk. I am a bigger rider, and will be careful to regularly inspect the area round the hinge on this bike.
I am hoping that the bigger tyres will reduce vibration/shocks on the frame and stress on that weld area.
Cheers all. Let’s remain friendly, civil and courteous to each other on this excellent forum.
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#48
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Bikes: Tern Link D8, Fargo, Karate Monkey
Hi. The only references i could find to Tern Link D8 frame recall was to 2011 - 2014 frames where the frame number starts with AI. Wondering if the snapped frame here was such a frame or if the problem is wider? Our frames numbers start with BC and am feeling nervous ...
#49
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Hi. The only references i could find to Tern Link D8 frame recall was to 2011 - 2014 frames where the frame number starts with AI. Wondering if the snapped frame here was such a frame or if the problem is wider? Our frames numbers start with BC and am feeling nervous ...
The recall appears to affect frame manufacturer up to 2012 https://www.ternbicycles.com/en/fram...ement-notice-0
However, from bicycle magazines, it appears these frames equiped bike sold until 2014.
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