rider70
Regular
Hello,
I purchased a Tern Verge P20 new (2017 leftover) in January 2022. Though I love the bike, I have one (two if counting no support) major problem with it.
When riding straight, I noticed that I must keep the front wheel turned a bit to the right. It's not the handlebar alignment. Checking the frame, it is clear that the folding hinge does not entirely close to unfold the bike, so the front half is a few degrees off centerline to the left. Turning the front wheel to the right keeps it straight, but the bike is puppywalking, with front and back tires out of line.
I also have an old Tern Link without that problem. (I own 5 bikes, all customized by me). The Link has adjustment screws to control the amount of unfolding. The Verge has these little wedges in the back half that fit into wedge cutouts on the front half. If I grind them down, I'll lose corrosion protection, and I don't even know if that will fix the problem. I guess they are there for stability, but they are improperly located.
I hadn't ridden it much until now because I do not like thumb shifters. I finally mounted good twist shifters and the bike flies. Of course the problem right now is that it is unstable (cannot ride with no hands for one thing) and it will probably wipe out the tires and maybe the bearings over time.
All I can think of is to replace the hinge pin with one of smaller diameter and put in an eccentric sleeve to bring the hinge side out as far as the clamp side. Sounds dangerous.
Does anyone have any experience here in massaging a Tern hinge to close completely?
I realize that many here cannot stand Tern, and many hate twist grip shifters. But it's all personal taste. I am a good mechanic, and I am also very comfortable with the sizing, weight and speed of this bike, so I want to make it safe.
I visited all the local Tern dealers that Tern recommends. All of them told me that they really don't handle folding bikes anymore, and don't even sell parts for Tern, but they never let Tern know that they cannot support their product.
Thanks for any mechanical suggestions.
I purchased a Tern Verge P20 new (2017 leftover) in January 2022. Though I love the bike, I have one (two if counting no support) major problem with it.
When riding straight, I noticed that I must keep the front wheel turned a bit to the right. It's not the handlebar alignment. Checking the frame, it is clear that the folding hinge does not entirely close to unfold the bike, so the front half is a few degrees off centerline to the left. Turning the front wheel to the right keeps it straight, but the bike is puppywalking, with front and back tires out of line.
I also have an old Tern Link without that problem. (I own 5 bikes, all customized by me). The Link has adjustment screws to control the amount of unfolding. The Verge has these little wedges in the back half that fit into wedge cutouts on the front half. If I grind them down, I'll lose corrosion protection, and I don't even know if that will fix the problem. I guess they are there for stability, but they are improperly located.
I hadn't ridden it much until now because I do not like thumb shifters. I finally mounted good twist shifters and the bike flies. Of course the problem right now is that it is unstable (cannot ride with no hands for one thing) and it will probably wipe out the tires and maybe the bearings over time.
All I can think of is to replace the hinge pin with one of smaller diameter and put in an eccentric sleeve to bring the hinge side out as far as the clamp side. Sounds dangerous.
Does anyone have any experience here in massaging a Tern hinge to close completely?
I realize that many here cannot stand Tern, and many hate twist grip shifters. But it's all personal taste. I am a good mechanic, and I am also very comfortable with the sizing, weight and speed of this bike, so I want to make it safe.
I visited all the local Tern dealers that Tern recommends. All of them told me that they really don't handle folding bikes anymore, and don't even sell parts for Tern, but they never let Tern know that they cannot support their product.
Thanks for any mechanical suggestions.