Tern Joe D24, a bit over a month with it.
10-09-12, 12:27 PM
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Tern Joe D24, a bit over a month with it.
Hi all,
I asked for some help regarding folding bikes a little over a month ago, and I thought I would post an update as a bit of thanks for the comments. In particular, I want to thank Hank (HGR3inOK) for his help at his local shop. Very friendly and knowledgable, and I'm about due to go see him for the first tune up. Also, there wasn't a whole lot in the way of impressions for the Joe bikes on the internet, so I figured I would add in my thoughts for the next person googling for a 26" folder.
Here are a couple of shots of the bike, my house doesn't have the best of lighting, but this is basically fresh from the shop (including warning pamphlet still attached!):
I'm no expert on bike reviews or anything, this being my first bike in over a decade, but I am very pleased with the Joe. I've been riding it to and from school pretty much every day (about 2 miles each way, a nice quick ride), as well as around the local streets for exercise. It feels solid, I don't feel any of the flexiness I've heard people who complain about folding bikes mention. The build quality just seems really nice. The hinge is nice and thick, and I haven't ever worried about it being loose. The Big Apple tires make most bumps not terrible, and it seems pretty quick to get going on the streets (although I am coming from a borrowed 40lb Huffy cruiser as a reference, so there's that to consider). The gears shift quickly and easily, and around Norman, OK I haven't had to really use much outside of gears 3-8 in the second front gear (if that makes sense, I'm not too up on the gearing terminology). According to Endomondo, my max speed so far was ~25mph, with the gears set to 2nd front/8th rear.
The hand grips are very nice, by the way. Comfortable and cushy, and they let your hands rest more perpendicular to the bars, which is easier on the wrists than the Huffy's grips that made me turn my wrists out.
It doesn't fold as small as the 20" folders, which I guess is a given, but it's been perfectly suitable for my needs. I stash it in my (small) lab space at school during the day, and carry it inside to leave it in the garage at night. When I'm running late for a lab I teach, I can just ride the bike there and take it inside with me. Very convenient, and the included t-tool makes folding it down to the narrowest size quick and easy (it also helped me make some brake adjustments once). I've also had pretty much everyone that sees it comment on how cool the folding feature is, and they mention that it looks very nice.
Really, I couldn't be more pleased. And best of all, I made it the entire month of September without getting gas (had to fill up in early October). Apparently my commute to school was the bulk of my driving time.
I asked for some help regarding folding bikes a little over a month ago, and I thought I would post an update as a bit of thanks for the comments. In particular, I want to thank Hank (HGR3inOK) for his help at his local shop. Very friendly and knowledgable, and I'm about due to go see him for the first tune up. Also, there wasn't a whole lot in the way of impressions for the Joe bikes on the internet, so I figured I would add in my thoughts for the next person googling for a 26" folder.
Here are a couple of shots of the bike, my house doesn't have the best of lighting, but this is basically fresh from the shop (including warning pamphlet still attached!):
I'm no expert on bike reviews or anything, this being my first bike in over a decade, but I am very pleased with the Joe. I've been riding it to and from school pretty much every day (about 2 miles each way, a nice quick ride), as well as around the local streets for exercise. It feels solid, I don't feel any of the flexiness I've heard people who complain about folding bikes mention. The build quality just seems really nice. The hinge is nice and thick, and I haven't ever worried about it being loose. The Big Apple tires make most bumps not terrible, and it seems pretty quick to get going on the streets (although I am coming from a borrowed 40lb Huffy cruiser as a reference, so there's that to consider). The gears shift quickly and easily, and around Norman, OK I haven't had to really use much outside of gears 3-8 in the second front gear (if that makes sense, I'm not too up on the gearing terminology). According to Endomondo, my max speed so far was ~25mph, with the gears set to 2nd front/8th rear.
The hand grips are very nice, by the way. Comfortable and cushy, and they let your hands rest more perpendicular to the bars, which is easier on the wrists than the Huffy's grips that made me turn my wrists out.
It doesn't fold as small as the 20" folders, which I guess is a given, but it's been perfectly suitable for my needs. I stash it in my (small) lab space at school during the day, and carry it inside to leave it in the garage at night. When I'm running late for a lab I teach, I can just ride the bike there and take it inside with me. Very convenient, and the included t-tool makes folding it down to the narrowest size quick and easy (it also helped me make some brake adjustments once). I've also had pretty much everyone that sees it comment on how cool the folding feature is, and they mention that it looks very nice.
Really, I couldn't be more pleased. And best of all, I made it the entire month of September without getting gas (had to fill up in early October). Apparently my commute to school was the bulk of my driving time.
10-10-12, 08:17 AM
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Nice! so in a year you'll find out that you've more than paid for that bike instead of paying for gas which just goes up in smoke. Also you'll find that you have more stamina and go even faster as you keep doing this daily. Full sized folders never have a problem with flex because their handlebars are connected to a shorter stem unlike those gangly longer ones on the smaller wheels bikes. Your bike probably feels exactly like a full sized bike and feels super stiff which is great for really putting the pedal down when you are late to class 
.
.
03-07-17, 03:47 PM
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Hi, congrats on the purchase. I've had my Joe D24 for just under a year, have had a chance to put it through its paces and customize it a bit. Here are my findings:
* Tyres - generally the Big Apples are nice, but I took them to a country road and quickly got a small crack in the rear tire. Lesson learned, these are city tires.
* For winter seasons I bought and installed Shwalbe Marathon Winter tyres, got them on right now. Very comfy on flat ice, but next to useless on uneven ice.
* Seatpost - I threw away the one that came with the bike and bought a Serfas Rx Cruiser instead. It's a comfy cruiser saddle, again, not cheap but probably the best choice for this kind of bike.
* Handlebars - I've tilted the handlebars up to almost the absolute vertical position, but now I purchased the NC-17 trekker handlebars which should be even more comfy. I decided not to get different grips though because then I'd lose the key in the right grip.
* Mudguards - still struggling to find ones that fit. Tern/Biologic (PremiumBikeGear) do not sell them for the Joe, only other 26" bikes, so you need to shop elsewhere. I'm thinking SKS Bluemells maybe. Currently using cheap $10 mudguards, they suck
* Hardtail bikes hurt. I spent $200 (!) on a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST under the saddle to take some pain away. Doesn't help the wrists though.
Overall, I'd say I've enjoyed this bike quite a bit, but realized it's too small for me: I'm 175/75 so 27.5" tires make a lot more sense for me. Bike feels tiny compared to my other ones. But for a folding bike, it's really awesome, though if I had to go for one now, I'd try avoiding a hardtail.
* Tyres - generally the Big Apples are nice, but I took them to a country road and quickly got a small crack in the rear tire. Lesson learned, these are city tires.
* For winter seasons I bought and installed Shwalbe Marathon Winter tyres, got them on right now. Very comfy on flat ice, but next to useless on uneven ice.
* Seatpost - I threw away the one that came with the bike and bought a Serfas Rx Cruiser instead. It's a comfy cruiser saddle, again, not cheap but probably the best choice for this kind of bike.
* Handlebars - I've tilted the handlebars up to almost the absolute vertical position, but now I purchased the NC-17 trekker handlebars which should be even more comfy. I decided not to get different grips though because then I'd lose the key in the right grip.
* Mudguards - still struggling to find ones that fit. Tern/Biologic (PremiumBikeGear) do not sell them for the Joe, only other 26" bikes, so you need to shop elsewhere. I'm thinking SKS Bluemells maybe. Currently using cheap $10 mudguards, they suck
* Hardtail bikes hurt. I spent $200 (!) on a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST under the saddle to take some pain away. Doesn't help the wrists though.
Overall, I'd say I've enjoyed this bike quite a bit, but realized it's too small for me: I'm 175/75 so 27.5" tires make a lot more sense for me. Bike feels tiny compared to my other ones. But for a folding bike, it's really awesome, though if I had to go for one now, I'd try avoiding a hardtail.
03-07-17, 04:31 PM
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Hi, congrats on the purchase. I've had my Joe D24 for just under a year, have had a chance to put it through its paces and customize it a bit. Here are my findings:
* Tyres - generally the Big Apples are nice, but I took them to a country road and quickly got a small crack in the rear tire. Lesson learned, these are city tires.
* For winter seasons I bought and installed Shwalbe Marathon Winter tyres, got them on right now. Very comfy on flat ice, but next to useless on uneven ice.
* Seatpost - I threw away the one that came with the bike and bought a Serfas Rx Cruiser instead. It's a comfy cruiser saddle, again, not cheap but probably the best choice for this kind of bike.
* Handlebars - I've tilted the handlebars up to almost the absolute vertical position, but now I purchased the NC-17 trekker handlebars which should be even more comfy. I decided not to get different grips though because then I'd lose the key in the right grip.
* Mudguards - still struggling to find ones that fit. Tern/Biologic (PremiumBikeGear) do not sell them for the Joe, only other 26" bikes, so you need to shop elsewhere. I'm thinking SKS Bluemells maybe. Currently using cheap $10 mudguards, they suck
* Hardtail bikes hurt. I spent $200 (!) on a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST under the saddle to take some pain away. Doesn't help the wrists though.
Overall, I'd say I've enjoyed this bike quite a bit, but realized it's too small for me: I'm 175/75 so 27.5" tires make a lot more sense for me. Bike feels tiny compared to my other ones. But for a folding bike, it's really awesome, though if I had to go for one now, I'd try avoiding a hardtail.
* Tyres - generally the Big Apples are nice, but I took them to a country road and quickly got a small crack in the rear tire. Lesson learned, these are city tires.
* For winter seasons I bought and installed Shwalbe Marathon Winter tyres, got them on right now. Very comfy on flat ice, but next to useless on uneven ice.
* Seatpost - I threw away the one that came with the bike and bought a Serfas Rx Cruiser instead. It's a comfy cruiser saddle, again, not cheap but probably the best choice for this kind of bike.
* Handlebars - I've tilted the handlebars up to almost the absolute vertical position, but now I purchased the NC-17 trekker handlebars which should be even more comfy. I decided not to get different grips though because then I'd lose the key in the right grip.
* Mudguards - still struggling to find ones that fit. Tern/Biologic (PremiumBikeGear) do not sell them for the Joe, only other 26" bikes, so you need to shop elsewhere. I'm thinking SKS Bluemells maybe. Currently using cheap $10 mudguards, they suck
* Hardtail bikes hurt. I spent $200 (!) on a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST under the saddle to take some pain away. Doesn't help the wrists though.
Overall, I'd say I've enjoyed this bike quite a bit, but realized it's too small for me: I'm 175/75 so 27.5" tires make a lot more sense for me. Bike feels tiny compared to my other ones. But for a folding bike, it's really awesome, though if I had to go for one now, I'd try avoiding a hardtail.
I've been thinking about getting a On-One Mary type of handlebar, but I'm not sure how it will look. Will check your other changes. Can you post some pictures?
Thanks again
03-07-17, 05:29 PM
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Looks like my reply didn't make it, here we go again.
I'll post some pics tomorrow.
The handlebar you mention — too extreme compared to NC-17 trekking. Makes your bike look too retro, imho. Check out the NC-17, it has more 'correct' geometry, and it will go very well with the riser stem of the Joe.
BTW I also got the cargo rack, very nice but structurally imperfect, will explain with pictures.
Honestly, feels like I've spent more kitting out this bike than on the bike itself. If I had to buy one right now and I had to have a folding one, I'd get a P27 because, in retrospect, 26" is too small, and also the bike frame is tiny.
I'll post some pics tomorrow.
The handlebar you mention — too extreme compared to NC-17 trekking. Makes your bike look too retro, imho. Check out the NC-17, it has more 'correct' geometry, and it will go very well with the riser stem of the Joe.
BTW I also got the cargo rack, very nice but structurally imperfect, will explain with pictures.
Honestly, feels like I've spent more kitting out this bike than on the bike itself. If I had to buy one right now and I had to have a folding one, I'd get a P27 because, in retrospect, 26" is too small, and also the bike frame is tiny.
03-07-17, 08:24 PM
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Looks like my reply didn't make it, here we go again.
I'll post some pics tomorrow.
The handlebar you mention — too extreme compared to NC-17 trekking. Makes your bike look too retro, imho. Check out the NC-17, it has more 'correct' geometry, and it will go very well with the riser stem of the Joe.
BTW I also got the cargo rack, very nice but structurally imperfect, will explain with pictures.
Honestly, feels like I've spent more kitting out this bike than on the bike itself. If I had to buy one right now and I had to have a folding one, I'd get a P27 because, in retrospect, 26" is too small, and also the bike frame is tiny.
I'll post some pics tomorrow.
The handlebar you mention — too extreme compared to NC-17 trekking. Makes your bike look too retro, imho. Check out the NC-17, it has more 'correct' geometry, and it will go very well with the riser stem of the Joe.
BTW I also got the cargo rack, very nice but structurally imperfect, will explain with pictures.
Honestly, feels like I've spent more kitting out this bike than on the bike itself. If I had to buy one right now and I had to have a folding one, I'd get a P27 because, in retrospect, 26" is too small, and also the bike frame is tiny.
Great advice on the handlebars - looking forward to take a look at your NC17 - I think there are raiser and non raiser versions, let's see yours installed.
BTW,I forgot to mention,I replaced the pedals with folding ones (which should be a standard really), some cheapo Sunlite, but I will probably get the black aluminum MKS FD7 unless someone has some advice.
Also the magnets are nowhere near strong enough to keep such a big bike folded. Finally, I also masked the tern logo with some black adhesive vinyl,Terns are kind of fashionable luxuries where I live.
Thanks again!
03-08-17, 02:05 PM
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Aww, this forum's rules is that I can only post links (this affect images) when I've got 10 posts overall. And I've only got 2. So here is a plain-text link: imgur.com/a/6oN9Z
03-08-17, 02:29 PM
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Oh and regarding the pedals: been thinking about this myself, but I'm likely to err on the huge side (i.e., going for Shimano MX80 Saints which I've been using on another bike). Folding pedals are an interesting concept, wonder how reliable they are.
03-08-17, 06:02 PM
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Thabks!
03-08-17, 06:03 PM
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I didn't have a choice. It wouldn't fit in my trunk. There are better informed people than me on this forum re:reliability, but the MKS cannot be bad!
03-09-17, 09:53 AM
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I have NC17 handlebars on my TernJoeP24, and I wouldn't want to ride it without them. It's perfect for me. I'll also see if I can take a pic or 2 of the quick release that I used to allow rotation of the handlebars when folded. It's a simple swap, and makes the bike easier to transport or store.
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Last edited by tds101; 03-09-17 at 02:37 PM.
03-09-17, 03:25 PM
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Let me know if I need to take a better picture of the quick release,...these don't show it well enough.
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03-09-17, 03:55 PM
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Well, the exact model I have is NC-17 Trekking Handlebar, 31.8mm diameter. Here's another plain-text link chainreactioncycles.com/ru/en/nc-17-trekking-handlebar/rp-prod105843
03-09-17, 05:01 PM
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The pictures I posted have the NC17 handlebar on the bike. I ordered it from the same place. If you would have looked at my posts you would have noticed.
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03-09-17, 07:19 PM
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I can get an idea of the quick releases from the pictures. Would you mind sharing the details of the quick releases? I searched on Amazon but there are many different models and sizes, which ones did you get?
Thanks again!
03-09-17, 10:44 PM
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Thanks, great pictures of the bike! And nice fenders too.
I can get an idea of the quick releases from the pictures. Would you mind sharing the details of the quick releases? I searched on Amazon but there are many different models and sizes, which ones did you get?
Thanks again!
I can get an idea of the quick releases from the pictures. Would you mind sharing the details of the quick releases? I searched on Amazon but there are many different models and sizes, which ones did you get?
Thanks again!
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03-10-17, 01:49 AM
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03-10-17, 09:55 AM
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You could have just gone to the site and viewed all the stuff there,...it's a playground.
Now, please ask @ThorUSA who is a member here on the site for assistance.
Now, please ask @ThorUSA who is a member here on the site for assistance.
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03-10-17, 11:03 AM
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forum rules are not permitting me to post any links or signatures to my business website
I guess I can say that we have those in different colors and that the cost is 12 dlr ( plus freight )
Thanks Thor
I guess I can say that we have those in different colors and that the cost is 12 dlr ( plus freight )
Thanks Thor
03-10-17, 04:21 PM
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By the way, has anyone managed to find mudguards that actually fit the Joe?
03-10-17, 10:16 PM
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03-10-17, 10:20 PM
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