If someone were to ask me what kind of bicycle is good for beginners, I’d usually recommend a folding bike. It’s basic, anyone can ride it, and you can easily store it. There are many brands out there, but you can’t go wrong with a reputable one like Tern.

We were given the opportunity to review the Tern Link D8 by Junni Industries. Here’s what you should know about this folding bike, especially if you’re someone who wants to start bike commuting.

What is the Tern Link D8?

The Tern Link D8 is what’s known as a bifold. This means it has hinges at two places: the frame and the stem. Other than that, it functions just like any other bike.

Tern has many folding bikes, and within its lineup, the Link is the model of basic commuter bikes. It’s named that way because it acts as a link that lets you combine biking with different modes of transport (also known as bimodal transportation).

The bikes are named using letters with A being the lowest and D being top of the line. The number that follows refers to the number of gears.

Basic specs

The Tern link D8 has an aluminum frame and steel fork. It rolls on a pair of 20-inch wheels wrapped with Schwalbe Big Apple Tires. The gears are changed via an eight-speed shifter mated to a Shimano Claris rear derailleur. Meanwhile, stopping power is provided by a pair of V-brakes.

Tern has buzzwords such as OCL+ Frame Joint and Physis 3D Handlepost. You don’t need to be intimidated as it just means that the brand invested in the hinge designs to ensure its durability. Although the stem isn’t telescopic, you can somewhat adjust the handlebar height and angle, tools-free, with the Andros Stem.

How to use

Riding the Tern Link D8 is easy but there are a few things you need to check before you start pedaling. Make sure you’re comfortable with the saddle height and the handlebar position. The beauty of folding bikes is that they’re usually one-size-fits-most, so your height won’t stop you from riding the Tern Link D8.

The controls consist of two brake levers, one for the front and another for the rear, and the gear shifter on the right side. There’s also a kickstand to keep the bike upright when stationary.

Ride Quality and Comfort

The Tern Link has decent ride quality for urban commuting. However, the experience is seriously let down by the uncomfortable cockpit.

There’s this notion that a suspension fork is a must-have for riding comfortably Metro Manila. That isn’t true because having the right tires is enough for city riding.

You won’t feel like you’re riding on clouds with the 20-inch by 2.0-inch Schwalbe Big Apples, but the tires do a good enough job soaking bumps and potholes—provided that you slow down if you can’t avoid them.

Just because the Tern Link D8 doesn’t have disc brakes doesn’t mean it’s lacking in stopping power. The 11-32T cassette should provide enough range. But if you live somewhere hilly, you might want to invest in wider gearing.

If there’s anything that needs to be improved, it’s the contact points. The pedals are slippery, even in dry conditions. Since the saddle is squishy, it’s kind of hard to stay comfortably in place when pedaling the bike. You don’t have to change things immediately, but investing in the cockpit will pay off the more you ride your bike.

How easy is folding the Tern Link D8?

Folding the Tern Link D8 can be done in three steps. First, lower the saddle all the way down since the seatpost is what keeps the bike balanced when folded. Next, unlock the frame hinge to fold the bike in half. Make sure to keep the front wheel pointed forward, so that the fork magnet aligns with the one in the rear, locking the bike together. Lastly, unlock the hinge at the stem and fold it downward.

Tern claims you can fold the Link D8 in under 10 seconds, but the time doesn’t actually matter in the real world. What does matter is how convenient it is to lug around once it’s folded. And that’s where things get clunky. The problem with the Tern Link D8 (as with other Link models) is that rolling it around when folded can be challenging.

Since the lowered seatpost acts as the stand, you can’t hold onto the saddle without bending down. This can be solved with a dual-leg stand, but the next challenge would be keeping the bike folded, since the magnets don’t do a very good job holding things together. Once they disengage, the bike has a tendency to unfold back into place.

Going bimodal

As mentioned before, one of the biggest advantages of a folding bike is that it gives you the option for bimodal transportation. You can store it in a car, or bring it with you inside public transportation. This sounds great on paper but the reality can be much different.

According to the MRT and LRT rules, folding bikes with 20” wheels and smaller are allowed in the train. One weekday afternoon, I rode the MRT-3 from Shaw to Buendia.

Going up stairs is always challenging at these stations, and having a folding bike with you doesn’t make it any easier. The Tern Link D8 isn’t particularly heavy but you’ll want to fold it at the last minute so that lifting it is less of a hassle. As much as possible, get assistance from the guard to use the wheelchair entrance because the folded bike will barely fit the narrow turnstiles.

It’s easy to think the worst will be over once you’re in the train, until the people start coming in. Every square inch matters when people are squeezed like sardines and this is where the folding bike sticks out like a sore thumb. The Tern Link D8 felt like it had double the footprint of a trifold like the Brompton C Line or Java Neo 3.

After getting off at my stop, I had to spend a moment to catch my breath and mentally prepare myself to go through the same ordeal while finding the right exit.

Say that you want to go out at night for drinks, the benefit of the Tern Link D8 is that you won’t have to bike on the way back. Book a Grab, wait for your ride, then store it in the trunk and get home safely. If the car is a sedan like a Vios or Mirage, make sure there isn’t anything else in the trunk or else you might have trouble loading the bike.

Going bimodal with the Tern Link D8 is doable, but you will have to be selective about when and where you do it.

Be prepared to spend on accessories

The advantage of owning a Tern is that the brand has an ecosystem of accessories specifically designed for its folding bikes. However, that means you’d also have to spend for them to maximize the convenience. Also, finding the right parts can be confusing when there’s so many, especially if you’re just a beginner.

The demo unit came outfitted with a Cargo Rack at the rear, and a Luggage Truss plus Kanga Rack at the front. The advantage of having racks is they let you won’t have to carry a bag on your body while biking, which makes things so much more comfortable.

For my setup, I put one pannier on the right side to hold my Uniqlo bag, which has my essentials and spare clothes inside. Although the rack can take a pannier on the other side, that isn’t advisable since you won’t be able to fold the bike.

The Luggage Truss attaches to the headtube and it has a KLICKfix mount for compatible accessories. I didn’t have much use for the Kanga Rack, so I used a Swift Industries Paloma instead.

If I had own the Tern Link D8, I’d immediately get a LitePro Dual Kickstand and a front carrier block for my Brompton-compatible accessories.

Bifold vs. trifold

Back when I started bike commuting in 2022, Tern and Dahon were the most recognized folding-bike brands around. However, the market is different now that there are Brompton clones such as the Java Neo 3.

How does the Tern Link D8 compare to these trifolds?

If you want maximum portability, then a Brompton-style trifold is the way to go. They’re much smaller when folded, and carrying them around is much easier.

However, if you only need to fold your bike occasionally, such as for storage, a bifold like the Tern Link D8 would be better. The larger 20-inch wheels are faster-rolling with better ride comfort, and you can carry more cargo on the bike.

Conclusion

To sum everything up, the Tern Link D8 is a great commuter bike for beginners. It’s easy to ride and it serves the needs of transport cyclists. But you’ll have to spend on parts and accessories to make the most out of it.

At P37,250, you’re better off going with the Tern Link D8 rather than a mountain bike or a road bike. However, there are other folding bikes out there that have much better value for money. Still, if this is the bicycle that gets you into bike commuting, then you can’t go wrong with it.