Back

Tern Link D8

I bought this used and it was my commuter bike for many years. Starting to use it again for a commute segment. I just redid all the brake and shifter cables, relubed the derailleur, and replaced the chain. I also added the v2 front luggage rack and a Kanga rack.

Tern Link D8 Review

The D8 is a great bike for short neighborhood trips and commutes. It's not small enough to bring on buses with narrow aisles or trains without bike areas, but it fits great in a car trunk, so I recommend it to people with small apartments, for park and ride when you need a last mile vehicle on the other side, as a vacation bike, etc.

A tern link d8 folding bike in black with blue accents, propped near a fence

There are compromises as with any bike and i'd say that the Link is not very fun on rough, poorly-maintained roads where you can feel the frame flexing, but running it with larger tires helps.

Modifications I've Made

Kool Stop Thinline Threaded brake pads (blue)
Kenda something 20x1.75" rear tire - the bike shop put this on without my asking as a replacement, a little too close to the fender
MKS FD-7 Folding pedals - after the original plastic pedals bearing failed, I looked for the most durable compact folding pedals I could find.
SRAM PC-830 x678 chain
Ergon GP1 BioKork Grips (Lock-On, Large, Rohloff/Nexus) - the stock Biologic grips got sticky with age.

Tern Link D8 Gen 2 (2014) specs

Frame: 6061 aluminum

Suspension: None

Fork: Hi-tensile steel

Crankset: 6061 aluminum, 46t

Bottom Bracket: Semi-cartridge sealed

Rear Cogs: Sunrace, 12-32, 8-speed

Rear Derailleur: Neos 8-speed

Brakes: Rim Linear-pull V-brake

Rims: Aluminum

Front Hub: Formula, 24h

Rear Hub: Shimano coaster, 24h

Wheel Size: 20"

Tires: Schwalbe Citizen, 20 x 1.5

Shifter: SRAM MRX Comp 8 Grip Shift

Handlebar: Tern flat bar

Grips: Biologic (Long L/Short R for grip shifter)

Stem: Tern Physis QR

Seat Post: SuperOversize

Saddle: Tern Sport

Pedals: Suntour folding

Headset: Tern Flux

Chain: Taya Octo

Weight: 26.7 pounds

Differences between Tern Link versions

Gen 1 - Gold metal folding releases. No QR hubs. Neos derailleur. Schwalbe Citizen tires. Old-style fenders.

Gen 2 - Red metal folding releases. QR hubs. Neos derailleur. Schwalbe Citizen tires. Fenders that mount into tubes with large flaps

Gen 3 - Andros stem adjustable handlebars, red plastic folding releases. QR hubs. Neos derailleur. Schwalbe Big Apple tires with black sidewalls. Same fenders as Gen 2

Gen 4 - Andros stem adjustable handlebars, red plastic folding releases. QR hubs. Shimano Claris derailleur. Magnetix 2.0. Schwalbe Big Apple tires with black sidewalls. Same fenders as Gen 2

Gen 5 - Andros stem adjustable handlebars, red plastic folding releases. QR hubs. Shimano Claris derailleur. Magnetix 2.0. Schwalbe Big Apple tires with black sidewalls. Integrated rear fender/rack.