my tern link has a 30mm mounting bracket on the head tube.

What could you suggest I use it for? Front rack? Is there a bag option? Should I get an adapter plate from AliExpress for the Brompton stuff?

thanks in advance for all and any ideas!

I by far prefer the Brompton block because there is a wide range of bags and racks compatible with it and it accepts up to 10kg.

There are on Ali blocks made to mounted directly on the Tern mounting points without adapter (the other solution is an adapter placed between the Tern mounting points and a standard Brompton block).

Tern's luggage truss has a higher weight rating than Brompton luggage blocks, and since the weight rating is already pretty low, go for Tern's Luggage Truss rather than adapting to Brompton.

I bought Tern's Luggage Truss and their Go-To bag.

There's also their HQ Bag, which is a bit smaller, (not big enough for a 15" laptop) Hold-Em Basket, and Kanga Rack.

The Kanga Rack can have any bag bungeed to it, which is handy, but the bungeeing and un-bungeeing takes extra time. The Basket is perfect for small grocery shopping trips, as it has a handle just for this purpose, just like the store baskets. No need to re-pack when you get out to your bike.

I have a Brompton luggage block on my ZiZZO Forte and it's not as easy to get hooked & unhooked. Vincita and Tern luggage are good quality, but if you're more worried about price, then a Brompton block and a ZiZZO Shopping Bag is also an option.

Here's my Vektron with the truss and Go-To Bag, and a Vincita Big Nash back on the back:

The link above says "Load Capacity 7 kg (15.4 lb)" which is the Klickfix usual load capacity and is lower than the 10kg specified for the Brompton block.

Thanks for the correction.
I remember looking into this before and finding I had lower capacity, but looking again, I see that is with the ZiZZO "pignose" adapter, which has a 15 lb. limit and is compatible with Brompton:
https://zizzo.bike/products/zizzo-he...e-adapter-30mm

Apparently, the genuine Brompton one has a higher limit, but one has to also consider the capacity of the adapter that would go between the Brompton luggage block and the brazed-on mount on the head tube.

We can see that Tern's Luggage Truss cantilevers out further, which amplifies the stresses by adding leverage. Looking at the setup on my bike, we can see that the reason is to allow room for the brake & shift cables to move around without interfering with steering. With their Luggage Truss, Tern supplies a velcro strap for the cables to hold them out of the way. If the Brompton block + adapter has the bag closer to the steering tube, cable management can be an issue. If there's not room for the cables behind the luggage and it's tight to route them off to the side, they cables can bind while steering, causing a crash. It's just an example of how the OEM solution was well thought-out, while the DIY solution may not be.

You are right, adapters increase the leverage but not as much as the long Tern Luggage's Truss.

This is the reason why I recommend to use a Brompton bag and rack compatible front block that can be directly mounted on the Tern mounting points available from several vendors on Aliexpress,
I bought this one, it is directly mounted on the Tern mounting points of my old Vektron S10 and it works fine

Many thanks for taking the time to post such detailed replies.

For what it's worth, I've overloaded both the ZiZZO pignose adapter (not relevant here) and Tern's. No ill effects. If anything, I expect any problems if I overload it and when I'm riding in the freezing cold, where the plastic parts will get brittle.

In this case, I think I would trust the genuine Tern accessories over the AliExpress ones, despite any claims by the AliExpress vendor, as they will most likely not be held accountable in case of failure. ;-)

Hula Girl

I suspect that the weight limit for the Tern Luggage Truss is set by the Rixen and Kaul KlickFix system, as I seem to recall the same figures being set for their handlebar mounts.

I like the Luggage Trusses on our Terns for its adaptability and range of accessories. So far we have a couple of LowePro compact camera bags I’ve bolted KlickFix mounts to the backs of, a Carradice bar bag, a Rixen and Kaul basket and a Rixen and Kaul Vario Rack Sport, currently holding a Carradice saddle bag as shown.



The Tern Kanga Rack is a rebadged Rixen and Kaul Vario Rack - the Vario Rack Sport is a more horizontal version of it. I think it’s designed for bikepacking as it’s about the right dimensions for a drybag or a tent slung horizontally

I have both genuine Brompton front block and this copy adapted to be mounted on the mounting points of several Tern bikes.

The shape and type of plastic are identical, the only differences are the positions of the holes and the bolt diameter which is bigger. I do not see any strength issue with it that could make it less strong than the original mounting of Brompton.

BTW., many people have overloaded the Brompton block without any problem.

And, indeed, the weight limit comes from the Rixen Kaul Klickfix system, this 7kg weight limit exists for all Rixen Kaul Klickfix front bags.

I've used a "Kanga" front rack for over 10 years with no issues. I don't load it super-heavily though; the most is a fully-loaded "trunk pack".


A sort of off-market use of the trunk.



Well-used rack with "first-generation" Klik-Fix bracket.

It's quite simple. For the mount on the Tern bike shown in the image, get the Tern Luggage Truss. I've used it, version I and II, with the Kanga Rack around town and touring overseas, on and off road over nearly a decade, and it's solid, reliable. Ignore the chatter about the Brompton type mount (yes, I've used that one too) cuz it's irrelevant. You've got a Dahon-, not a Brompton-type mount on the head tube.

Hi Ron, good to see ya!

I think all the solutions above are viable, otherwise we'd hear about the mount or the headtube block or bolts breaking. That said...

Ron's cable routing above is like my bike, fairly "flat" and close to the handlepost. Thus, I think the closer-fit "Brompton-style" plastic mount for the Tern and Dahon headtube blocks, may still have a bag clear the cables (if your cables are the same), and closer in, the load has less moment-arm on the mount and block. Also, I like that style mount designed to have firm contact with the head tube on each side, on paper, that should give better lateral stability of any front load. But, at least all front blocks mean the load does not move with the steering. So perhaps not needed. It just looks better on paper.

But as related by others, all the mounts seem to hold up over many years, even those extended forward the most, and without lateral contact points with the headtube. So use whichever seems to float your boat.

Yes, both works, but the Brompton block is specified for a much higher load than the Rixen Kaul Klickfix, 10 vs. 7kg including the bag, so even with a lightweight 1kg bag, the Brompton block net load is 50% higher.

It sounds like all the mounts have some margin in terms of maximum weight. But all factors being equal, one would think that the one with the lower moment for a given cargo load would be stronger at the head tube, who knows about the bag/rack mount inself.

"All mounts are equal, but some are more equal than others."

OP here.

once again, many thanks for the helpful and informative responses. Lots of options for me.

I won’t be going over the 7kg weight limit.

My normal routine is two small panniers on the back and a rucksack, I think the bag up front will replace the rucksack.

Please post a pic when you've decided & installed it; I think we're all curious what you'll end up with!

Below a picture of the Tern compatible Brompton block mounted on a Tern Vektron S10:

Yeah, I'm liking the looks of that, I was wondering if it fits between the radii for the headset bearings, thanks. It would just barely clear my improvised deltech line which wraps around the head tube, I'd just loosen, install that adapter, then nestle the line at the bottom of the adapter and the lower radius. The line is skinny kevlar, it should fit fine. (This would be for a future bike, my current old Dahon has no pignose block.)

It's not chatter nor irrelevant, you just didn't bother to read what Jipe said. He was talking about adapting a Brompton-type block, or even buying one that's made for Dahon/Tern mounts.

One point was that the Brompton-type luggage block puts the load closer to the head tube, so it imparts less leverage to the mount itself for a given load weight.

The other is that there are many more luggage options available in Brompton mount than KlickFix.

I'm on the fence as to whether that's an advantage, as the Tern Luggage Truss is built very strong. (and heavy) I haven't tried it, as the Tern one works so well. It's a question of whether the brazing on the mount holds up under a heavier load.

I like the idea of being able to adapt any bag for it. Anyone got a link for the adapter plates to bolt to other bags? Do they come with a plate to stiffen up the back of other bags? Hopefully, they're not an AliExpress-only item...

The seller selling the front block for Tern I bought is also selling an adapter to make a bag compatible, but yes its from Aliexpress and you have to make yourself the plate to reinforce the back of the bag if needed.

I trust the block which is a copy of the one of Brompton, same shape, same material, only difference is the mounting points, but less the adapter: compared to the plastic part of the original Brompton bag frame (most Brompton bags use the same type of removable frame made of aluminum tubes inserted in two plastic parts, this frame exists in several sizes, with or without top handle), it seems much weaker

Its also possible to buy an original Brompton bag frame alone and use it to make a bag compatible (probably much more difficult to find in the US than in Europe) or a copy of such frame on Aliexpress which is like the front block a copy of the one of Brompton (and maybe manufactured by the same factory in China!).

For the Tern, I think I would go with the luggage truss. It is, I think, designed to help cope with cables, but it also elevates the bag. If you look at a Brompton 16" bike, the block has a larger clearance to the fender than the block of the Tern. You can place a headlight between the bag and the fender. On my 20" with a Brompton block, I mount the headlight to the handlebars.

If you think there’s a limited range of KlickFix bags and luggage, clearly you haven’t found the Rixen and Kaul range yet

They also make the plate you’re looking for - it comes with a backing plate that you bolt to, sandwiching the bag in place. Alternatively you can bolt it directly to the bag or box or basket that you plan to use. I’ve used them on a couple of conversions of camera bags and I’m sure I’ve got one spare kicking around somewhere. It’s been updated a bit since I last bought one, but looks like it does the same thing.

https://klickfix.com/en/products/detail/variants/0211AN

The Tern Vektron are factory equipped with a front light on the handlebar so a bag placed lower is better, less risk to mask this light with the top of the bag.