tern eclipse tour 24

Folding Touring: A Review Of The Tern Link P24h

Posted on 

Back in 2012 I visited Tern, the folding bike manufacturer, as part of a tour of Taiwan’s bike industry. I got in touch later to see if I could test their folding touring bike. Tern’s UK distributor loaned me a P24h for a few months in order that I could do so. (The bike has since been superseded; check out the current Tern Link range here . )

Over the years I’ve become less of a fundamentalist about cycle touring. 

And one principle I cut loose a while back was that these journeys should be conducted entirely by pedal power – the ‘cycle every inch’ mentality. 

After all, there are many reasons your might want to combine cycling with trains, buses, hitching and the like. Perhaps time is limited. Perhaps there’s an itinerary to keep to. Perhaps particular regions are more interesting than others. Whatever.

The problem is that every break from riding involves detatching panniers, unthreading pedals, removing wheels, getting covered in filth, arguing with drivers and conductors, nicking cardboard boxes from behind bike shops, and other such delights. The more developed the country, incidentally, the greater the fuss.

So what if it were possible to eliminate all this and happily skip around a continent, hopping on and off any kind of transport while simultaneously enjoying all that’s wonderful about cycle touring?

It’s been at the back of my mind for years, but I hadn’t experienced it until I got my hands on Tern Bicycles’ Link P24h .

Folding bikes have been around for decades, of course. Today’s Brompton is simply the current generation. But they were never really built for touring. Tiny little wheels make every crack and pothole feel like a trench. They’re twitchy. The handlebars flex. Gear ratios are fine on the flats, but try pottering up a steep country lane with a pair of panniers and a tent on the back. They simply don’t deliver quality of ride you’ll get from the most popular mainstream touring bikes .

What’s interesting about Tern’s bike is that, while acknowledging that every folding bike is a series of compromises, it was nevertheless built to be a tourer. It has the bigger 20-inch wheels, proper luggage racks, wide gearing, fenders and bottle cages, touring components, and plenty of other thoughtful inclusions.

But I wanted to see if the bike was as good in reality as it was on paper. So I took one around the UK with my storytelling events, seeing new cities, and getting as much touring done in between as possible.

Because of the scattered locations and dates of the events, I needed to hook into the public transport network regularly. This would have been as good as impossible with a full-size touring bike, what with the state of the rail system we’re blessed with in the UK (don’t get me started).

But, crucially, the Link P24h fitted the British rail operators’ definition of a folding bike (which is at least one thing they seem able to agree on). So no ‘cycle reservations’ to make. No cramped bicycle compartments to occupy. No travel bans on peak-time trains to work around. Nothing to think about at all, in fact, except for what British train passengers usually think about (in between asking themselves if a one-way second-class off-peak ticket across a small island nation should ever  really  cost over £200).

And when it came to taking a ferry over to the Isle of Arran for some wild-bivvying on a day off between gigs? Oh, hello there, foot passenger; that’ll just be a fiver…

Although I hadn’t considered it before, I also really liked the fact that I could carry the bike inside with me on the couple of occasions I was unceremoniously stuck in a hotel room for the night. If you’re regularly Couchsurfing or hostelling on a tour, this is an extremely convenient plus-point.

And, if you’re wondering it it fits inside a tent, here’s pictorial evidence of a time I took the Link P24h to bed:

(That’s the awning of a 1‑berth tent. Panniers, too.)

Riding the bike, obviously, is as important a consideration as carting it around. And I live in Cumbria, which features some of the most challenging road riding in England. The country’s steepest paved road is at the top of my neighbouring valley. (It’s a 32% grade. For comparison, San Francisco’s steepest is 34%.)

This is where compact folding bikes commonly suffer. Tiny 16″ wheels get you from A to B, but there’s a reason full-size wheels are almost twice the diameter: comfort and rolling ease. Engineering compromises mean narrow gear ratios in comparison with full-size bikes, which is OK in London, but not in Cumbria or Scotland or the Alps and with 20kg of luggage on board. And shorter wheelbases often mean problems with heel clearance when bigger panniers are involved.

So Tern’s designers got clever. First, they took a tried and tested (important) 3‑speed Sturmey Archer rear hub and stuck an 8‑speed cassette and derailleur on top of it, resulting in a 24-speed bike with a single front chainring. Then they fitted 20″ wheels instead of diddly 16″ ones (and you can feel the difference). They designed and fitted a rear rack, the Traveller Rack , specifically for putting full-size panniers on a folding bike, without your heels getting in the way and without affecting the fold. Finally, they added a front rack for small panniers and a KLICKfix bracket for any compatible basket or bar-bag you might wish to use.

Basically, they built a folding touring bike.

And so I pottered happily up and down the Lakeland lanes between Oxenholme and home-sweet-holme in comfort, with boxes of books and DVDs as well as my usual touring and camping gear, and without once climbing out of the saddle to push, nor breaking more of a sweat than I wanted to. Even light off-road was met with confidence-inspiring capability.

Tern’s designers also brought in innovations from their Biologic arm, which focuses on components and accessories. There’s a dynamo in the front hub (though you’d never know it from the effect it has on the ride), and it powers a built-in front light and optionally a rechargeable power pack, the ReeCharge, that’ll keep anything USB-compatible powered up all day. That includes your GPS-enabled smartphone.

According to Tern, their newest hub (called the Joule 3) is comparable to the industry-leading Schmidt in terms of efficiency, but at a fraction of the price. A big claim, but it appears to be well-founded, as my Reecharge unit has remained fully charged despite plenty of GPS (and MP3) use.

So if you’re silly enough to be touring at night, or you’re on your way into a big city at the end of a day, you’ll be seen and your batteries will never run out. More cleverly, you can run your smartphone or GPS all day on pedal power too. For short tours with pre-planned routes, that makes a lot of sense. (Personally, I prefer to pedal-power a pair of speakers and an MP3 player so I can have a soundtrack to my ride, but each to their own.)

I’ve also been using Biologic’s Tour Bag , which is an Ortlieb-esque bar-bag with a bit more room that attaches to a KLICKfix adapter on the frame (not the bars). The result adds 10kg extra capacity without affecting the steering — in fact, it neatly counterbalances a pair of rear panniers. It also has small pockets lining its interior for organising things more neatly; something I always missed with the Ortlieb Ultimate 5.

Other things I like about this bike include a multi-tool built into one end of the handlebars for quick adjustments, a very capable specially-designed multi-tool for every common adjustment on the bike (invaluable, as some of the moving parts do need occasional tightening), ergonomic grips which are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever used, a generous three bottle-cage mounts on the modest frame, a seat-post with a fricken’ tyre pump hidden inside it (genius), a solid choice of V‑brakes, proper fenders, and the perfect choice of touring tyres ( Schwalbe Marathon Supreme ).

Now I’ve had a bit of practice, I can fold and unfold it in about 15 seconds. And I can take it into coffee shops, rather than always choosing the window seat and glancing sideways in paranoia every couple of minutes.

And I do like the fact that I can take my bike packrafting (or, to use the technical term, FoldBikeRafting), though it probably wasn’t designed with that in mind.

The bike isn’t perfect. For one thing, it simply isn’t as comfortable to ride on bumpier roads as a full-size tourer, because big wheels always roll nicer. The long steerer tube and handlebars flex a little, whereas full-size frames respond with precision. And you’ll probably want to replace the harsh saddle and slightly flimsy folding pedals with your own preferred ones. But none of this is a deal-breaker for the kind of short-to-medium-term touring I’m imagining this bike being used for. In fact, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed riding it.

One thing I always arrange with manufacturers is to feedback on their stuff; partly to force myself to remain critical despite something being free or loaned, and partly because I prefer two-way relationships when working with companies on the commercial end of things. I want to help make Tern’s bike better, because I like riding good bikes and I assume lots of other people do too.

I was lent a 2012 model of the Link P24h, and after a month I wrote back to Tern about the type of kickstand, the rack size and position, the durability of the magnetic couplings when folded, suggested drop-bar or bar-end options, and raised some concerns about a slipping chain. I also mentioned conservativism amongst tourers when it came to new ideas such as the 3‑speed/8‑speed hub combo.

Tern’s CEO’s response was reassuring; many of the ideas were already incorporated for the 2013 model of the Link P24h, and others were on the drawing board for next season. The rear Traveller Rack is due to be upgraded again for stability under even heavier loads, bar-ends are on the way for a variety of hand positions, the kickstand will be replaced with one more effective under top-heavy loads, and the occasional chain-slipping (a perennial issue for many folders with short chainlines, apparently) is being tweaked. He also mentioned a secretive new folding touring offering for next year, which is a tiny bit exciting.

And so, in between events, I spent an unusually sunny February on the kind of off-the-cuff bike travel that it would be wonderful to spend a summer doing in, say, Europe, where there’s a very good case for picking a few areas to explore intimately rather than trying to blast across the continent in a single season.

I’m really impressed with the Tern team and their dedication to producing folding bikes for all niches, including touring. Given the raft of compromises inherent in any folding bike, I guess the acid test is whether I’d accept them and buy the P24h and its luggage options myself. Don’t get me wrong; if I wanted to cycle long-term across multiple continents, I’d stick with my OBW Expedition . But if I was heading off for a few weeks exploring Europe, for example, and I wanted ultimate flexibility with where I went and how, I wouldn’t hesitate to ride off atop a Tern Link P24h.

(With my Brooks on it, of course.)

Since this post was published, the Tern Link P24h has been superseded by the Link D8. Check it out on Tern’s website .

Save or share this post:

• Share Copied to clipboard

Also relevant to this post:

• How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
• Do I Really Need Ortliebs? A Buyer’s Guide To Panniers For Cycle Touring
• What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2024 Edition)

Comments ( skip to respond )

70 responses to “folding touring: a review of the tern link p24h”.

hi cycling lovers,

dr. jim parker from cruzbike has compiled some very revealing facts regarding health issues cyclists commonly are facing, i.e. genital numbness & e.d. besides the usual (wrist,back & neck). i do suffer from groin pains riding on my dawes upride racing bike within 30–45 min.

hence a “seat” for my upcoming uk & european (& car replacement) tour i am opting for an “atl-falter” from radnabel in tuebingen, germany. atl stands for “all tags lieger”(recumbent for everyday-all year/tasks); falter stands for folding. they are not well known outside of central europe, have been handbuild for over 30 years and are highly regarded for being – safe (long wheel base, low center of gravity), — nimble (sharp turning circle), — quick (ergonomic design & pushing against the backrest/very good uphills), — comfortable (no neck, groin or wrist pain, full suspension), — good load carrying capability [70kg total], — “protecting” (see: allwetterverkleidung/foldable fairing/poncho) allows cycling in the rain with normal clothes, — well engineered and sound workmanship. although dieter baumann (builder) speaks english, the webside is in german only. the atl-falter with rohloff, full chain cover, front & rear rack, pannier holders, twoleg stand weighs 17–18 kg (chromoly steel).

you get an better idea about radnabels atl’s watching these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgX6zIViBY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBEvBX_S4o

they have proved themselves also on long distance tours germany to china. happy cycling or as we say in bavaria: “frohes radln” regards reinhard

Having recently toured on the Tern Link P24H’s older cousin the Dahon Speed TR, there’s a couple of things I’d like to do better.. 

1. Reduce the hassle of hauling lots of stuff ( 4 panniers plus bike-in-a-bag) when changing trains, negotiating customs etc. This can be a major pain, especially when there are no luggage trolleys available. Also avoid taking a useless heavy bag for when its stipulated that the bike have protective covering. 

Next time I think I’ll wrap the bike in a light rip-stop tarp, which will pack down and be useful. As regards all the panniers…ideally everything would fit in a rucksack so there would be just 2 items, and arms would be free to carry the bike. This would mean you’d have a rucksack for side excursions off the bike as well as those annoying transits with bike in bag.. but that looks like maybe asking too much! 

2. Tire type / size — I went with Marathon Plus 1.75 and had 2 punctures and it felt like a lot of rolling resistance. 

Anyone any experience of 20″ wheels and thin tires for touring? No off-road stuff of course. I was using the thudbuster seatpost which was standard on the Dahon Speed TR, so think thinner tires wouldn’t mean too harsh a ride. One of the big advantages of the steel framed TR is the option of cheap frame repairs which happened to me — only 10 euro to weld up a cracked seatpost.

Dear Tom. What wheels did you use for the trip? I am making a 2.000km tour with my tern p24h and looking for wheels, thinking in big apple or similar at 20″ x 2,15, quite fat tire. Have you tried before? Thks 🙂 Adrian

Tom, I’m trying to get some information on the Tern Verge Tour and Eclipse Tour, have you ridden or /and reviewed these. I think the Eclipse is very new. My wife and I are in our 60’s and looking to travel with folders using buses and trains. Would the 24inch wheels be to large? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I’ve been pondering the same question. Had a chat with someone from Tern on Facebook. He has both an Eclipse and a Verge. Reckons that the E is noticably bigger when folded and that the V is generally more optimised for touring. Thinks that both are good bikes and that it would be best to test-ride both to decide. There’s also a bloke on Facebook who is touring S America on an E, plenty of pics at https://www.facebook.com/1727518854136641/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1730248740530319 . Cheers 🙂 d.

Nice one Tom 🙂 I have been following you blog now for a while, and I just came across this one, I have been commuting now on my folding bike for years, I never knew it was possible to go on a long ride with them, as mine is about 10 years old and you can literally feel every single bump, but my wife got me this for Christmas: http://www.foldingbikesguide.com/dahon-jetstream-p8-review/ and I am now planning a long bike ride, thanks John

I like those sidebags, are they waterproof and do u know how much those cost these days?

Some buddies of mine prefer riding Tern instead of other more popular brands. I think it’s because it’s pretty reliable and rides well. Your post greatly describes the experience.

Hi Tom, thanks for sharing all your knowledge and experience here! Just a note on Brompton. I have completed my second tour on it cycling 2000 miles down the Pacific Coast and found the Brompton to be exceptional and unbeatable for multi modal tours. Very reliable and only a flat tyre to talk about and the six (reduced ratios) gears are all you need unless you are planning to climb the Alps! It also rides amazing with the backpack sitting on the back rack and the T‑Bag at the front. I owned a Dahon in the past and could never tour with it due to never ending issues… Only limitation with a Brompton is weight you can carry ( must travel light! ) and you have to ride on decent surfaced roads otherwise it is just perfect.

Brilliant review Tom, thanks. I see that the P24h has been discontinued, is there a replacement model do you know? Or any other folding tourers worth considering?

Strangely enough I met Tern’s CEO at Eurobike on Saturday and asked him this exact question. He showed me the Verge S27h, which he said was a significantly improved replacement for the Link P24h with a longer wheelbase, a burlier rear rack, disc brakes, better hub dynamo and lighting, and lots of tweaks all round. Look out for a piece next week on the bike. I’ll also be reviewing it as soon as I can get my hands on one. Hope that’s a suitably informed answer to your question 😉

Brilliant, thanks Tom.

Looks like the new version will be considerably more expensive, I’m happy with my PH24.. bought I must say partly after reading your review. One thing though, and I don’t know if you may have a solution to this… the seat post is too short for my legs!. to get my favoured riding position it needs to be two or three cms longer, Or conversly the saddle needs to be two or three cms higher from the clamp.

Perhaps switch to another saddle with more height to it?

Have youheard the tern link recall 2014?

Thanks for the heads-up. Concerned owners of Tern bikes manufactured between August ’11 and April ’12 can find out more here .

Hi, This bike with a Alfine 11 speed gear would be perfect. I have a Dahon Vitesse equiped with a 7 speed Nexus.

THe 24h has a considerably bigger gear range than you get with an Alfine 11.

I have ridden a Dahon Speed TR for 4 years and recently purchased a Tern Link P24. At the age of 75 I still manage to cycle around 30 miles in a day — it’s quite hilly here in Kent, UK. Having a Senior Bus Pass means I can take my bike on any bus in England for free! It’s a great way of getting further afield when the legs can’t manage it. I reckon to have made about 1,000 bus journeys with my Dahon and Tern and never had any problem. I always use a slip cover though. The main advantage I find is that, here at least, buses go everywhere and, unlike trains, have frequent stopping places. Great review — I attempted to ride up to High Cup Nick and across to Cauldron Snout once but thought better of it when visibility was reduced so much I could hardly see my handlebars! Brian.

Impressive and motivating!

I never leave any comment on any site, your site is the first. Very good review and to a point, I went out and brought a P24H last Saturday. Used it 2 times on some 20+ miles rides. Runs great, little bit of strange sound that may come from the seat post or the head set. I am not a pro-rider. However, I started to ride a 2 wheelers since 3 yr old. With all the bikes I had over the years, this P24H will be a keeper among the other 2 I currently owned. Question: do you know if it is possible to put bar-end on it? Other than the Biologic Airporter, could I use a hard shell luggage to transport it? The most important question, I really hated the paddles. It it possible to put a clipped one on? Is there such a thing as folding clipped paddle? One very minor complain. The saddle is really bad. I need to use a better one. Never tour with a folder and I am going to do it this time. Thx, Danny

It should certainly be possible to add bar-ends; the bars are a standard diameter. I’ve changed the pedals and saddle on mine, though I’ve never seen folding SPD pedals (perhaps Brompton do them?). No idea about the luggage, though — sorry!

Let us know how you get on when touring…

MKS do a detachable clipless pedal though. See: http://www.fudgescyclestore.com/index.php?c=5248

Wow — that’s expensive! (Thanks for the link though!)

I’m a big time biketourist, having done 75 bike tours in my time. Current main touring bike is Thorn Raven Tour but I recently got a Link p24h because of its folding capability. I haven’t toured on it yet but have done some difficult terrain (very hilly) with a fair load while on photography trips. While the gearing is more “clunky” than a Rohloff, it does the business. I’ve been up 20% gradients without getting off and I’m a big man (6 2, 190lb. The handling is really good for a small bike, and a lot better than a Moulton APB, which I’ve had for 20 years. The handlepost creaked initially but I can prevent it with candlegrease or tape (both equally good). I found ordinary grease useless in this regard. I don’t know how durable the back wheel will be under load. I’d have preferred 36 spokes instead of 24. I’ve never touched the 36 hole APB wheels even with heavy load. The Link is a bit heavy, but it’s solid and on reasonable surfaces is a fine touring bike.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the Tern!

Loved reading this article, and your website in general! Wish I had read this before bike-touring a bit in the south of England this summer on Brompton folding bikes. Our chief difficulty was finding good routes to bike on, in advance. We found ourselves on many a ”traffic-free route” only to discover quite a bumpy surprise!

It worked out in the end; the English countryside is so beautiful– I envy anyone who lives there and owns a bike.

I agree wholeheartedly that touring on a folding bike is super-convenient and with the marathon tires on our Bromptons we didn’t get a flat tire during the two weeks we were there- not even on the routes meant for mountain bikes. Plus, as you say, it makes it quite easy to stay at hotels.

-Nava http://upsidownia.com/england-bike-tour-part/

Folders do suffer on unpaved roads, but it sounds like it was all part of your adventure. Thanks for the link to your site!

Hi Tom! Wow! I wish I had read this before i bought my Tern Link P9. I think tern is making great bicycles with great quality. I’m proud owner of a D8 and a P9 but i’m kind of needing more gear inches, at least, more space gap between them, specially on hilly roads or very long flat surface, you know, to have highest top speed with less effort. Thanks for a great review! Best regards from Venezuela!

I just finished a multimodal tour of the upper midwest US cities on my Brompton M6R. Just the standard 6‑speed gearing but a wide range, and I mounted a hiking backpack onto the rear rack in addition to the Brompton front bag. Full review on my site: http://www.criticaltransit.com/2013/04/16/bike-touring-in-the-winter-on-a-folding-bike/

I’m very happy with its performance; you don’t really notice the small size once you stop worrying about it. Most of my tour was in the winter so I dealt with plenty of snow, ice and sand, which it’s not meant for but didn’t let me down. Only once I rode it with a friend on a carbon fiber road bike and I as slower but not by much. I do have pretty strong legs though since I drive pedicabs and can skate city street marathons with ease. For me the only downside of riding 50 miles (on any bike) is the boredom. In the city, where I spend over 99% of my time, it’s rare that I go fast enough to notice any disadvantages of the Brompton. I also have a full-size bike which I use when I want the convenience of being able to park it.

[…] touring with folding bikes in our April reading list, we recommend looking at Tom Allen’s assessment of touring on the Tern Link P24h folding […]

Hi Tom, I use a Bike Friday Pocket Llama as my main touring bike, same size wheels as your Tern, but it has a steel frame. I find the flexing of the extra long Seat tube and steering tube add to the comfort of the ride soaking up bumps, though the first ride it is a bit disconcerting until you get used to it. I had a thud buster seat post, but changed to a Brooks Flyer which helps soak up the bumps, the thud bust is good off road, but i find makes the ride too soft on tarmac. My BF has a conventional front triple and rear 9 speed cassette so there is a very wide spread of gears, and with the small wheels you should never be short of low gears, it is getting a high enough top gear which is a bigger problem, though a Capreo rear cassette & hub would sort that out. I have fitted 2 Salsa Anything Cages which take our sleeping matts and fitted a Bikebuddy below the main tube for a fuel bottle. When the bike is fully loaded it really does use the space available much better than a full size bike and with the Marathon 47mm tyres fitted it will go anywhere. The only criticism I have is that braking is not as good as on larger wheels and I am hoping to upgrade my bike with a disk front brake. Was glad to hear you recommend a folder. Cheers John

Hey John, That’s a sweet setup, I really like the Brooks Flyers. If you’re feeling underwhelmed with your braking power, I think you are definitely on the right track with disc brakes. In the shop at NYCeWheels, the Dahon Formula S18 (nycewheels.com/dahon-folding-bike-formula.html) is one of my favorite bikes, in large part due to its awesome disc brakes. Granted, the Formula is an aluminum racer as opposed to your steel tourer, but I’d still emphatically recommend it. ‑Miles

I’ve had a dahon folding bike for a few years now. Not only did cycling become fun again but I had the most wonderful cycling holiday 3 years ago. I wanted to see as much of Europe as I could and to visit friends in Italy at the same time but only had 18 days in which to do this. Answer? Dahon plus euro rail global pass! The convenience of hopping from train to train together with seeing more by bike than by walking made for a memorable time. Paris, Nice, Turin, Verona, Innsbruck, Munich, Cologne, Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruge and Lille. Joined guided cycle tours of Paris and Brussels and saw so much more of these cities by using my wee bike. Also managed to fit in a couple of 30 mile excursions by between stations. Eg. Train to Waterloo battle field then the 32 mile ride back to Brussels. One important thing I learned when using high speed trains such as the TGV is to get on board as early as possible and find the large storage spots between seats which will accommodate the folded bike without having to stack it on its side on a shelf.

This shows how wonderful traveling can be and it doesn’t matter which bicycle you take! Develop a plan chose a bicycle and go. Enjoy! Wonderful solution to travel with the foldable bike and trains! (Inspiring!) For this reason: When you travel in Germany travel with slow trains for one whole day with “das shönes wochenend fahrshein” With 5 (!!!) persons you can travel the whole day (only in weekends) for only €42! Also you can travel with two for that same price. With a loaden bicycle it will be €6 for that same day (per person). Like Tom said, wrote if you look for it you’l find savings in travel which makes it even nicer. Some people around me (work) who don’t travel by train a lot (or at all) complain about waiting and the time train travel is taking. Well, I like it to see the landscape passing by and having a conversation with a complete stranger, or just read a book. Cycling isn’t going fast either!?

Hello Tom Thank you for your refreshing review! I think you are right that “The bike isn’t perfect”. In fact; No bike is perfect! Every bike is suited for a particular purpose. I therefore have 7 bikes. Next year I thought of going by my velomobile (Quest) from the Netherlands to Japan within 6 months. This plan has changed because of the uncertainty of visa regulations. Like a good friend said, “you only postpone this trip” because it can be done!

Now I will go by recumbent (Condor from Optimacycles) from Prudhoe Bay Alaska to Panama. A recumbent is also something not common for traveling. I experienced it to be a very reliable and comfortable bicycle during my trip in 2008 of 11.000 km in USA and Canada. I only walked twice (recumbent bicycles are supposed to be bad climbers, NOT TRUE. I would’t change this bicycle for these trips. On this trip in 2008 I did ride together for a while with two Bike friday bicycles (from Eugene Oregon). They did the TransAm with it, It seemed a good and comfortable bike with the box (suitcase) on wheels attached. The bicycle fitted in this suitcase (box) and was unique in it’s concept!

Whenever you come to Europe you are most welcome to stay with us in the (centre of) the Netherlands!

All the best and surprise us with more reviews!

I’d love to try a recumbent… mmm, ideas… thanks for fuelling the fires!

Hey Menno, Are any of your 7 bikes foldable? I know there are some really interesting folding recumbents out there, but I haven’t heard too much about anyone touring on them. ‑Miles

Hello, No one of my recumbent bicycles are foldable. There are a view that can be taken apart (foldable); The ancient Flevobike (not very suitable for long distance cycling ; frontwheel driven and front wheel steering, you lose traction going uphill) and one of the models of M5 (Middelburg the Netherlands) is foldable. I “only” have my Brompton who is foldable. There are several people who travel long distance with this bicycle. One of them is Luc, who cycled the Baja California with the brompton,( http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=314527&v=8P ) I think this one is very suitable, next to the bike friday with it’s suitcase as a trailer (Unique concept!) Do you have plans cycling long distance with a foldable bicycle?

Yes, I’m hoping to do a week or two on a Brompton in early autumn. In addition to being a social media coordinator at NYCeWheels, a specialty folding bike shop in NYC, I am a musician, and like to do music tours via bike with my equipment in tow on a Burley Travoy trailer. I have yet to do it on a folding bike though! I have ridden Bromptons a lot around New York, but not on a distance tour. Have you done any kind of distance on yours? I’m hoping to do this next tour up through New England, and then maybe take advantage of the Travoy and Brompton’s ability to fold, and take a train back. ‑Miles

Miles, I’m sure you are, but I wonder if you’re in touch with Pacific Cycles in Taiwan? They make a variety of folding bikes, including the iF, Reach, Birdy and CarryMe. There’s also the awesome British-designed Strida from Ming Cycles.

Actually yes, we carry several Pacific models and I am definitely a fan. In fact, I just wrote a review of the IF Reach for our website. It’s a really interesting bike–even though it’s aluminum and clearly oriented towards road and commute duty, it feels solid enough for some light touring as well. If you’re interested, you can check out the review here: http://www.nycewheels.com/if-reach-folding-bike-review.html

All pedal bikes are free on the Arran ferry 🙂

Very interesting article, a folder specifically designed for touring strikes me as a very handy way to get around. I’ve been living with a brompton for the past year, bought for commuting but now used for everything that doesnt need fat tyres. You get used to the twitchy steering very quickly — it makes a 26″ bike feel sluggish and damped, but I must agree with your comments on the gear ratios and the ride from the tiny wheels — but my biggest issue is the apparent reluctance to innovate. The brompton 6 speed is an ungodly thing, whereas the 8 and 14speed hubs that people retrofit apparently work well. I’ve had some custom clamps machined up to use conventional QRs, rather than bromptons screw-downs and it makes the fold so much less fiddly. But that said, I love it and it gets the most use out of any of the 7 or so bikes in the house. 

With regards to the 3‑speed hub/8speed casette — does it buy you much over a 1x8 setup? I would expect there to be a lot of overlap compared to a conventional 3x8. And whats the deal with the brooks?

It does make a significant difference — the difference between being able to climb a hill without getting out of the saddle, and not! (Very important for touring.)

The Brooks is mine. As far as I’m concerned, every new bike’s stock saddle is supposed to be replaced with your own…

It’s practically identical to the Dahon Speed TR. Great folding touring bike.

Unsurprisingly, since Tern was started up as a breakaway from Dahon 🙂 They share many of the same components and accessories via the Biologic sister company.

One big difference I can see is that the Dahon frame is a steel one, while the Tern is aluminium. The Tern’s tyres are also a better choice for touring, and the derailleur is a more compact and therefore less vulnerable model. Aside from that, they are indeed very similar.

I know. But I thought there would be less similarities. I guess the original design was so good all you can really do is tweak here and there.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

You are right about the tires–I do love the Big Apples for riding in, well, the Big Apple, but for any kind of multi-day tour I think they would feel awfully sluggish next to those Marathons. 

On the other hand, the Speed TR has an extra 14 gear inches above what the P24h manages…not essential for touring, but nice to have anyway, especially on those big descents. I will say that I would much rather have the flex of the Speed TR’s steel frame, at least on paper. Did you have any problems with the aluminum frame on the P24h being too stiff?

Now I want to do a side-by-side review of these two… 

I have an early Speed TR with 3 by 7 gearing, Marathon Plus tyres and, most importantly, a Thudbuster seat post. The latter is so good that I have one on each of my bikes now. The Klikfix front block is only rated at 5kg so I replaced it with a Brompton block and a Brompton Tour bag.

I have toured on a Brompton and it doesn’t compare with the Speed TR for comfort, luggage carrying and easy use gear range (no double shifts if you use the 3 by 7 as three separate gearboxes).

Thudbuster, eh? I’ll have to look into that…

I’v a speed TR too. How did you get a brompton carrier to fit your’s???

Brompton make some excellent luggage but I can’t get their carrier to fit..No’ I don’t have access to a workshop 🙂

Yes, I’d like to know how you accomplished that too. The front luggage block on the brompton is one of my favorite features that I’d like on my other bikes.

Wow. I want one of these! So much scope for adventure.

P.S. Bit of a tangent but you mentioned the lack of pockets for organising your Ortlieb Ultimate 5 handlebar bag. They sell a little foam insert which I use on mine and which is included on the Ultimate 5 Plus.

( http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/ortlieb-internal-divider-for-ultimate2—5/aid:288875?gclid=CPTXrtzFrLcCFabLtAod9BYAXA )

That’s a cool little piece of kit — thanks!

I run fodling bike shop in Prague and have tried a lot of mentioned bikes. I should also disagree with couple of statements. I found Brompton handlebars quite stiff and my Birdy bike with its 18inch (in England called 16inch 🙂 ) is really fine for any type of road. What I really like on Link P24 is wide range of gears. This option adding 3speed SA hub to bike is avaliable for most of common folders. Tern expedition racks and biologic accesories are avaliable also as retrofit which fits most common folders.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Great review! Tern has a few offerings with even larger wheels–the Eclipse line comes to mind, and they are even set up fairly similarly to the Link P24h. I am hoping to do some folding touring of my own sometime soon. I’ll send you a link to the blog when I do! ‑Miles

I rode the Eclipse in Taiwan too and it’s a great bike. You sacrifice a little portability for bigger easier-rolling wheels, and it wouldn’t be so easy to chuck onto trains (in the UK at least), which is why I went for the Link line. But you’re right to point it out.

Here’s the link for anyone else interested in a 24″ wheel version of the bike I’ve reviewed (with disc brakes!)

Yeah, definitely a fine line to tread as far as portability versus wheel size. I do think the 24″ wheels could make for a much more comfortable ride over a long-term tour. The Eclipse S11i is probably the smoothest ride in our shop, and the disc brakes are amazing…but 32lbs is a lot for a tourer! It would be fun to try a few days on the Eclipse X20, though ideally it would have a few more spokes… ‑Miles

16 inch tires aren’t that bad for road touring. You still can go quite fast and far. The benefit of 16 inch tires are that the bike is more likely to fit easily into a suitcase for flying. 

Gear ratios also aren’t always narrow. If you don’t overlap them and leave small gaps between gears, the gear coverage can be fairly wide and quite usable. 

If you get a chance ride a Brompton M6R (or H6R depending on your size) with the reduced gearing. Even though it’s not designed for touring it does great on them. My latest one was 400 miles in 6 days down the California coast while camping along the way.

I’ll definitely try one if I get the chance — thanks for the recommendation! But I still think the Tern beats it on paper, being specifically designed for touring (not to mention half the price)…

Tom, I’ve also toured through Oregon on a rented Brompton and it did just great. In fact it did so well i bought one just after the trip and my cycling partner did too. I think the Tern ( I also have an old Dahon which I’ve toured on) could do just as well but if the point is to be able to get on buses, in taxis, trains, boats etc. let me tell you from experience that NOTHING beats the convenience and small pack down of the Brompton. As far as the ride quality goes the size of the wheels on my bikes does NOT make much of a difference. I expected it would but it didn’t, It’s actually the tires that make the difference. The Tern bikes look great for the money and have an advatage of being able to use standard parts and better brakes.

Hey Steve, That sounds like an awesome trip! I’m from Oregon originally and miss touring around the state. Where did you go? I absolutely agree on your points about the Brompton’s versatility when it comes to catching mass transit and what have you. Again, I really would like to both the Brompton and Link P24h for some extended tours side by side and see how they fair. ‑Miles

I’ve ridden the Tern and the Brompton side by side now. As you pointed out, one of the big advantages for touring is indeed that the Tern’s parts are pretty much standard, whereas the Brompton is for the most part proprietary. The Tern feels much more like a normal bike with a folding frame, whereas the Brompton just feels like a Brompton. The Tern definitely doesn’t fold down so small, but it’s still a ‘folding bike’ when you’re taking public transport.

Cheers for your input!

Hey Tom, Yeah, I hear you! I think I’d prefer the Tern for a longer-distance trip, but I do love the idea of short multi-modal travel with the Brompton…just can’t beat that fold! ‑Miles

Something to add? Cancel reply

Review: Tern Eclipse X22 – It Holds its Own in a Paceline

All-new for 2021, the Tern Bicycles X22 is designed to pack a big ride into a foldable package. Thanks to its 26-inch wheels the X22 feels and handles like a “standard” bicycle. That’s something that the best tiny-wheeled folders approach, but never quite attain. The Eclipse is also more adept at rolling over uneven pavement, crossing railroad tracks, or grinding through gravel than smaller-wheeled bikes.

The Eclipse X22 is Speed

Tern designed the X22 for speed. Clues are the slick Schwalbe Kojak tires and the racy paired-spoke wheels. The 22-speed Shimano drivetrain has a huge gear range. When needed, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes keep the speedy X22 in check—with plenty of power and mucho modulation.

Throwing a leg over the saddle and grabbing the Ergon grips, I found myself in an athletic, heads-up riding position. The cockpit is roomy and comfy. I was more “over the pedals” than on my personal bikes—so I slid the Ergon SMC30 Pro saddle all the way back and felt more at home.

The Eclipse X22 is Comfort

After reeling off a number of multi-hour rides, I came away impressed with the comfort of both the riding position and the contact points. The Eclipse X22 feels energetic, and it’s a lot of fun to ride. Agile handling makes it a breeze to thread through crowded confines with a flick of the wrist or dodge potholes with a wiggle of the hips. It’s a lot of fun zipping around town on this responsive, but a never twitchy, bike.

The frame and fork have mounts for racks and fenders (offered by Tern, as well as aftermarket brands)—just the ticket for transforming this speedy steed into a workhorse, or packhorse. All-weather daily driver? Check. Light-duty tourer? Go for it.

At a folded size of 16.5 x, 35 x 31.9 inches the X22 is not as compact as its smaller-wheeled siblings—something to keep in mind if size and space are a major consideration. The fold/unfold operation is quick and easy via cam-actuated levers on the frame and handle post. The closure force is adjustable, and the levers feature Tern’s AutoLoc that automatically locks the levers in place to prevent accidental opening (e.g., if the closure force is improperly set too low, or something snags the lever while riding).

To open the lever, you must first slide back the red AutoLoc button, which releases an internal catch. Which brings me to my one negative experience: I failed to fully release the AutoLoc button the first time I opened the frame lever and managed to break the plastic catch. Tern told me it is considering switching the frame’s AutoLoc design to an aluminum catch at some point in the future. It has already switched to aluminum on the handle post AutoLoc.

The Eclipse X22 is Solid and Secure

Despite morphing like a Transformer, the bike feels solid and secure. There’s no undesirable play in the main folding joint or the handlebars . Both the Tern Physis 3D-forged handle post and Syntace VRO adjustable, double-clamp stem are solidly built. While the VRO stem provides less height adjustment than the telescopic systems on some folders, I had no problem finding a comfortable stem position.

I’ve ridden a number of folding bikes over the years, but none that has had the chops to deftly dispatch the daily grind, and hold its own in a paceline with pals, as well as the Tern Eclipse X22. I’d love to have this horse in my barn.

Pricing and Other Details – Tern Eclipse X22

• Price: $2,500
• Weight: 24.5 pounds
• Size: One size fits riders from 4’10” to 6’5”
• Choosing the Perfect Bike: Road, Mountain & Hybrid Guide
• Optimize Your Ride: Enhancing Your Cycling Experience
• Macfox X1: The Best Commuting Electric Bike
• The Cycling Gear Science: Behind the Success of Cyclists
• Legends of the Cycling Track: Profiles of Famous Cyclists

View all results

• Accessories
• Biking Gear
• Electronics
• Exercise Bikes
• Hoverboards
• Mountain Biking
• Skateboards
• Tires and Wheels
• Home & Garden
• Kitchen & Dining

• Best Whiskey
• Best Gym Shoes
• Best Pocket Knives
• Best Apple Watch
• Porsche Models

The Tern Eclipse S18 Gets the Folding Bike Right

Meet the folding commuter bike that will steamroll your fixie.

By Andrew Connor

8 original photos

The commuter bicycle market is jammed with about a million different options for getting from point A to point B. Arguably the most practical of them is the folding bike; and nothing screams “my bookcase is in alphabetical order and I have a steady job” like a folding bike. But deciding to break the mold and fold still leads to many, many options, and they all ride differently. The easiest way to boil it down is that you get a trade-off: a very compact, easy-to-carry, small-wheeled and nearly toy-like folder, or a heavy, thick-wheeled but more traditional bike that just happens to fold. The Tern Eclipse S18 ($2,100) is the latter, and after testing it out in New York City, it turns out it’s a damn good bike to commute on.

MORE HANDS-ON REVIEWS: Bontrager Aura 5 Wheelset | Patagonia R1 Wetsuit | Sportcrafters Omnium Bicycle Trainer

The first thing you notice about the Eclipse S18, at least if you’ve been around other folding bikes, is that it’s quite big. No dinky 16-inch wheels here; the S18 gets straight-up pimp 24s with beefy tires on a hefty (35 pound) aluminum build. You would be hard pressed to notice the heft when you’re riding the bike, but the second you fold it, lift it up and carry it that weight becomes very apparent. You might even begin to wish you picked up something smaller — but once you actually ride the S18, the weight and awkward size is worth it.

The problem with many folding bikes, especially smaller ones, is that you wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time on one; the small wheels can’t always handle rough roads, and some lighter folding bikes sport flimsy frames. The Eclipse doesn’t have these problems. Its Schwalbe Ballon “Big Apple” tires are great for long rides and were more than willing to eat up rough cobblestone streets, dirt roads and gravely paths. The Eclipse’s DoubleTruss frame and Physis 3D handle post are both incredibly stiff and make for a sturdy, confident ride, just like a regular bike.

No dinky 16-inch wheels here; the S18 gets straight-up pimp 24s with beefy tires on a hefty aluminum build.

The Eclipse is also feature rich. It uses Avid BB7 mechanical disk brakes, which, apart from being easier to maintain than hydraulic brakes, are extremely quick to stop, particularly useful for avoiding the cab that just cut in front of you or the occasional wayward bystander in Central Park. The Eclipse S18 also has 18 speeds for a huge range of usability — perhaps too much for a city like New York, but just right if you live and work in San Francisco.

Also useful for commuters are the VALO 2 headlight and Biologic Joule 3 Dynamo Hub. The hub uses the movement of your front wheel to power the headlight and — though it wasn’t configured on our test bike — a charger for your phone. Another handy feature is the adjustable Andros stem system: simply unlock the bars and move them around until they meet your desired position. This allows that Eclipse’s geometry to better fit any number of riders; the entire process takes seconds. Finally, if all this adjustability and gadgetry isn’t enough for you, the seat post is a Biologic PostPump unit — an integrated, full-sized bike pump, built right into the seat.

Of course the key feature here is the folding, which is incredibly handy. Tern claims that the time it takes to fold the bike is about 10 seconds, though with practice it can be broken down in half that. Once it is collapsed it stows away pretty neatly, so you can bring it into the home or office (or a quick stop at a store) without worrying about your $2,100 bicycle being violated out on the sidewalk. For city dwellers who decide to take public transit when it rains or are too exhausted to ride home, the folding mechanism is a godsend on buses and subways, sparing you many dirty looks from aggravated commuters as they try to cram themselves aboard.

Overall the Eclipse proved an excellent way to get around the for the duration of the test. At $2,100 it isn’t exactly cheap, and it could be a bit easier to carry around when folded, but that’s the price you pay for a folding bike with the amenities of a mobile home. While folding and traditional bikes have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s clear that Tern has built a thoughtful city machine that can handle anything you can throw at it.

Related Topics

• Mountain Bikes
• Gravel Bikes
• Hybrid Bikes
• Electric Bikes
• Commuter Bikes
• Exercise Bikes
• Women’s Bikes
• Kids’ Bikes
• All Best Bike Brands
• Mountain Bike Brands
• Electric Bike Brands
• Bike Rack Brands
• Brand Review: Rad Power Bikes
• Brand Review: Ride1UP Bikes

Disclaimer: Bikexchange is reader-supported . We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links on our site.

Tern Bicycles Review — Best High-End Folding Bikes?

Tern Cycles is a world-renowned manufacturer of folding bicycles, with a focus on producing bicycles that support a sustainable future.

The name Tern was inspired by the small, lightweight bird of the same name that holds the world record for the longest migration. Using this inspiration, Tern Cycles creates small, lightweight bikes that can take you around the world.

The relatively young company was founded in 2010 by a collection of cycle enthusiasts from Los Angeles, California. They wanted to create a brand that promotes cycling as a healthier, greener mode of transport and encourages more people to take up the sport.

To ensure less waste, they build Tern bicycles from stronger, longer-lasting materials that are intended to last a lifetime. They use a minimum of 10% recycled materials in all their bikes and avoid the use of toxins or harmful chemicals during production.

How to choose a Tern bike?

For those that need a bit of extra speed, Tern offers bikes with large 27.5″ or 700c wheels, while those that need a portable bike can choose one with smaller 20″ or 24″ wheels. Tern’s GSD range of cargo bikes is ideal for retail deliveries or families with children.

Tern electric bikes are made with some of the finest components for extra durability and versatility.

Tern Bicycles Model Range

Tern offers a huge range of foldable cargo electric bikes that you can choose from. No matter if you are looking for a daily commuter or a powerful two-wheeler that will support your business, you’re likely to find something in Tern’s lineup.

Find out more about the top models below!

Longtail cargo bikes with a fold-in handlebar

GSD is Tern’s range of electric longtail cargo bikes designed with an extra-large, built-in rear rack that can haul a lot of cargo. They have proven extremely popular with parents since they can fit two child seats on the back and have a powerful Bosch motor to assist with pedaling.  

Because GSD bikes have a solid frame, they aren’t quite as portable as some other folding bikes. However, with the seat and handlebars folded down, they still fit in the rear of an SUV or station wagon. Tern designed the GSD to stand vertically on its rack, making it easy to fit in an elevator and store indoors.

Tern GSD S10

MSRP: $4,999

The GSD S10 is a one-size-fits-all electric Tern cargo bike built with families in mind.

Despite its large rack, the compact GSD S10 is no longer than a standard bicycle, plus the folding handlebars make it even smaller for easy transportation and storage.

The 400Wh removable Li-Ion battery can provide you with a full day of cycling, helping you to cover up to 68 miles (110km) on a single charge. The pedal-assist motor is driven by a 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset, which includes 4-piston Magura hydraulic disc brakes for instant stopping power in any weather conditions.

The extra-long rear rack can accommodate two child seats comfortably, and the powerful 250W Bosch Performance Line motor makes pedaling a breeze.

The GSD S10 is fitted with thick 20″ Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires that include Green Guard puncture protection so you won’t have to worry about getting stranded on the roadside with a flat tire. Although compact, the bike is still quite heavy with a total weight of about 60 lbs (27kg) including the battery pack.

Tern GSD Frame Size is suitable for riders between 4’11” and 6’5″ tall.

Buy on REI.com

or Buy on TernBicycles.com

Compact cargo bikes with a fold-in handlebar

Tern’s HSD range of compact electric bicycles is perfect for commuting around town or enjoying weekend rides in the countryside. They include a small rear rack big enough for a single child seat, basket, or pannier bags.

Despite a shorter wheelbase than a standard bicycle, the Tern HSD can carry a lot of equipment, with a gross vehicle weight of 374lbs (170kg). Plus, the seat and handlebars fold down so it can be stored standing vertically on its rear rack, taking up very little space.

Tern HSD P9

MSRP: $3,199

The compact HSD P9 is the ideal Tern electric folding bike for city commuting, retail deliveries, or single-child families.

The strong rear rack fits multiple attachments including baskets, boxes, panniers, and Thule or BoBike seats. To help you along, the HSD P9 has a 250W Bosch Performance motor powered by a 400Wh removable battery that provides up to 69 miles (111km) of pedal-assisted cycling at 20mph.

This is supported by a 9-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes for quick, reliable stopping power.

The 2.2″ puncture-resistant Schwalbe Big Apple tires will take on the meanest of city streets with no trouble, plus you get a front suspension for those particularly bumpy sections. For storage or transportation, simply fold down the handlebars and seat to make the P9 even smaller! It can be stored standing vertically and the total weight is 56 lbs (25kg).

Tern HSD series foldable electric bike frame size is suitable for riders in-between the range of 4’11” to 6’5″.

Buy on TernBicycles.com

Tern Vektron

The Vektron is an electric Tern folding bike that makes the perfect addition to your city commute. Quickly fold the Vektron up for easy access to buses or trains and shorten the walk between home and work. The 250W Bosch motor will power you along at 20mph (25kph), making light work of hills and getting you to work sweat-free. 

Despite its diminutive size, the removable Bosch PowerPack battery provides up to 80 miles (130km) of range on a single charge, more than enough to last a few days. Use the convenient rear rack to carry a change of clothes or any accessories you may need – it even fits a child seat!  All-weather stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes for added safety in any conditions.

Tern Vektron is suitable for riders 4’10” – 6’5″ / 145 – 195cm

BYB stands for B ring Y our B ike and refers to the compact, foldable nature of this versatile Tern bike. With two frame hinges plus folding handlebars and a telescopic seat post, the BYB practically disappears into itself.

Easily slip it into a cupboard, suitcase, or under the bed for easy storage and quickly fold it up to take on any train, bus, or vehicle.

The BYB is 30% smaller than traditional folding bikes, with small spinner wheels so you can easily wheel it along once folded. Front and rear rack attachments mean you can easily transport goods and equipment on the BYB, making it the perfect vehicle for grocery shopping or deliveries.

With a DoubleDeck frame, an anchor bolt for secure locking, tool-free adjustable stem, TFL joints, and Kinetix Pro X wheels, the BYB is one of the most advanced folding bikes available.

Tern BYB is suitable for riders in between 4’10” – 6’5″ / 147 – 195cm.

MSRP $900 – $1,500

Tern’s Verge range of folding bikes are a careful mix of speed and portability, mixing 22″ wheels with a single-hinge folding frame. Verge bikes make it easier to access public transport or store indoors without sacrificing comfort and efficiency.

The Verge range comprises the X11 with a wide gear ratio, the S81 with extra rack space, the aerodynamic P10, and the performance-enhanced D9. Each bike benefits from the same T-Tuned frame geometry, hydraulic disc brakes, and 10-second folding time.

The Verge S81 includes an Alfine 8-speed internal hub and Gates Carbon Drive while the other models have standard Shimano or SRAM drivetrains with 1x setups.

Tern recommends the Verge model frame size for riders in-between the heigh range of 4’8″ – 6’3″.

Urban performance

MSRP $450 – $800

Tern’s range of affordable Link bikes uses a traditional single-hinge, straight bar frame for quick and easy folding and storage. They have 20″ wheels and 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrains, making them compact and efficient for urban cycling.

The trademark foldable Andros handlebar stem allows for tool-free adjustments while riding and the Magnetix 2.0 lock keeps everything secure when folded. Puncture-resistant Schwalbe tires keep you safe from glass and other street hazards and braking is supplied by standard aluminum V-brakes.

Tern Link C8 Folding bike is one of the best-selling folding bikes by having the best durability, geometry, and level of components.

The Tern Link frame is suitable for riders between 4’8″ and 6’3″.

Tern Eclipse

The Eclipse range comprises three different Tern folding bikes with 26″ wheels, designed to provide the feel of a real bicycle with the benefits of portability. Naturally, they don’t fold as small as other Tern bikes but still, allow for easier transportation on trains and buses.

The Eclipse X22 features a top-quality Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with 22 gears and SLX hydraulic disc brakes. The P20 has a 20-speed Tiagra drivetrain with Tektro brakes and the D16 has an 18-speed Sora groupset. All bikes feature Schwalbe puncture-resistant tires on Kinetix rims.

Tern Eclipse is suggested for riders between the height range of 4’10” to 6’5″ (148-195cm)

The Node range of Tern folding bikes runs on mid-size 24″ wheels, making them reasonably compact while maintaining decent traveling speed. They come in three different models all with a single-hinge folding frame, folding handlebars, 2″ puncture-resistant tires, and V-brakes. 

The leading Node D8 model has an 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, the D7i has a 7-speed Shimano Nexus, and the C8 an 8-speed Shimano Tourney. Other than the C8, the Tern Node comes with a rear rack included and can hold up to 230lbs (105kg) in total weight.

Tern Node suggested rider height: 4’10” – 6’5″ (148-195cm)

Tern Cycles Gear

To spruce up your Tern folding bike you can choose from a range of Tern-specific add-ons and cycling gear. Select a variety of seating options and footrests, rear racks, front baskets, pannier bags, and storage packs. 

You can also get useful extras like lights, fenders, bottle cages, frame locks, park tools, and even an airhorn. Upgrade your bike with a telescopic seat post, Tarsus fork, Andros handlebar stem, or Atlas kickstand.

Shop on TernBicycles.com

Tern Bike Dealers

Currently sold in 65 countries

The United States hosts several dealers across the East and West coasts, with a large number in California, Oregon, Colorado, New York, Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

You will find a Tern dealer in almost every country in Europe , particularly in the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

In Australia and New Zealand , there are several dealers near major cities like Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, and Wellington. Throughout Asia, you’ll find hundreds of Tern dealers in Japan and several in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

South America hosts Tern dealers in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. There are also a few dealers in South Africa, India, Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey.

Tern Bike Manuals

Tern provides an extensive supply of freely downloadable user manuals for each and every bike it sells, offering clear folding instructions, repair advice, part installations, and other useful information. It also hosts individual guides for all Tern bicycle parts, from ABUS frame locks and AirPorter bags to Sidekick footrest and Vizy lights.

Tern Cycles Bike Frame Size

• 4’8″ – 6’3″ – Tern Verge , Tern Link
• 4’10” – 6’5″ – Tern Node , Tern Eclipse , Tern BYB , Tern Vektron
• 4’11” – 6’5″ – Tern HSD , Tern GSD

Just like most other foldable bike brands – Tern Cycles bikes are suitable for a large height range of cyclists!

Are Tern bicycles good? Tern bikes are considered as high-end due to their level of components and genuine folding solutions. The brand has produced a wide range of bikes for such a limited niche – folding, and foldable electric bikes. Compared to a ‘regular’ folding bike brand – Tern has is above average when it comes to quality!

Dahon vs. Tern Dahon bikes have quite a similar range compared to Tern Cycles, although Tern has a wider variety of higher-end, electric and cargo bikes on their listings.

Where are Tern bikes made? Tern Bicycles are made in Taipei, Taiwan.

Where to Buy Tern bikes online?

Buy Tern Bikes on REI.com Shop on TernBicycles.com

Share this on:

About the Author

Mark Hartley

• Carry Stuff
• Accessories

Tern Eclipse X20 Review

We review the Eclipse X20, Tern’s “Pirate Ninja” folding bike.

PRICE  $2,200 USD

FIND IT AT  tern.com

TELL YOUR FRIENDS  Folding bikes come with a certain image – not with the Eclipse. Even your first glance tells you this is different, serious, daring you to try it. Its two tone black (yes, that’s right) cloaks a well-proportioned folding bike. The team at Tern then added a top flight class of components to reinforce the performance capabilities of the bike.

This bike is not just looks and components – it performs. The Eclipse can be easily adjusted for a rider to attack hills or flats, the downtown core, or long stretches of open road. I had no trouble pulling over 40km/h on a flat road, and over 50km/h on flats. Then, with the flip of a couple of quick releases, you can ease to a cantor as you explore your surroundings – at night of course.

The Eclipse is a bike that provides a great riding experience, period. While the look is what jumps out at you first, it’s the ride that sells you on the bike. The bike is easy to set up to fit your size and riding style, allowing you to ride endlessly and effortlessly. The bike’s premium components deliver an exceptional experience, from accelerating through shifting and braking. The Schwable Kojak tires look, create, and provide the right balance of road contact and grip. As you would expect from a Tern, folding is a snap and the bike’s weight is a non-issue.

WISH LIST   It’s hard to define any other features needed on this bike, with the exception of a fender option if you want them, given the unique sizing and configuration of the bike.

SUMMARY  The ideal rider is an urban charger, someone who loves the dense urban jungle and wants to attack it with vigour by day or night. No space is too daunting on this bike. The Tern Eclipse is an incredible bike. While the outward identity is muted by the sheer fact of being a foldable, make no mistake – this bike means business, and it’s exhilarating to try it.

More from Momentum Mag

You call this a review, really? No substance at all. 🙁

• Pingback: Tern Roji Bikes Go Global | Momentum Mag

Comments are closed.

Autumn Gear Guide

Find inspiration in our Gear Guide that will keep you out on your bike through wind or rain.

Signup to Weekly Newsletter

Cargo bike delivery is much faster than polluting vans and trucks with massive benefits

You're Never Too Old for a Balance Bike

Arc'teryx a2b ls men's shirt review, are cargo bikes harder to ride, a city councillor just referred to a local…, story of 89-year-old cyclist who rode 600 kilometers…, how to get your bike ready for spring.

• Guide & Gears
• Privacy statement (US)
• Cookie policy (EU)
• Privacy statement (EU)
• Cookie policy (CA)
• Privacy statement (CA)
• Cookie Policy (US)
• Privacy statement (UK)
• Cookie policy (UK)

Tern Eclipse P20 vs Tern Eclipse X22 Folding Bike

Tern has announced the two new folding bikes in the Eclipse family, the Eclipse X22 and Eclipse P20 . They are claimed to be the fastest folding bikes in the world.

Both of them are full-size road bikes featuring 26-inch wheels, race-tuned hydroformed 7005-Al frame, Tarsus fork, Physis 3D handlepost, stealth black finish, adjustable VRO handlebar stem, disc brakes and high-performance Kojak road tires. However, the Tern Eclipse P20 is much more affordable than the Eclipse X22. So, what are the differences between the two folders? Let’s check them out.

Disclosure : I might earn commission from qualifying purchases. We use the commission to maintain the website, buy new products and create content for free, so thank you!

The visual comparison shows a Xaris fork on the P20. As listed correctly earlier, both bikes utilize the higher spec Tarsus hydroformed aluminum fork.

Would it be possible to upgrade P20 to more or less the same level as X22 over time? I bought mine a year ago and while I barely used it due to an injury, after my recovery, I would like to put Ultegra groupset as well as SLX or XT brakes. Is this possible and how much would such an upgrade cost approximately?

Pas de conclusion de l’article, mais l’auteur nous a presque donné sa réponse : ” voyez-vous des différences entre les 2 modèles ?” Réponse : NON. Pas ce qui justifie le prix du simple au double, sauf si le X22 était en carbone.. En fait, je m’intéresse à ce velo pour l’electrifier ( bosh gen 3 500w ou yamaha). Car les règlements imbéciles, français et européens, m’invitent à le faire, et ceci malgré des nouvelles aides à l’achat d’un ebike en France ( sur le papier, mais e fait, trop restrictifs pour l’appliquer). Autre chose : il y a sur le net autant de site d’arnaques qu’il y a de vélos. Enfin, impossible d’acheter des produits américains, même à 250w de puissance, donc la solution c’est DIY. Salut! (J’ai vu le P20 à 2890e sur un site, l’autre à 1100e sur un autre..) Si quelqu’un à une solution pour l’achat du Montague M-01, Radmini 4..

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Recent reviews.

Dahon Vybe D7 Folding Bike Review – The Ultimate Urban Bike?

Retrospec Judd Single-Speed Folding Bike Review – Lightweight and Convenient

Swagtron EB12 City Commuter Electric Bike Review

Heybike Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire E-Bike Review

• Folding Bikes

Review: Tern Eclipse P18 Folding Bike (2/2)

Table of Contents

The Tern Eclipse had passed a few thousand kilometres of testing at home , but the real test for this folding bike was how it would perform on an overseas tour. I hopped on a plane with my half-sized bike box and flew to Bangkok, where I was able to swiftly throw the box in the back of a taxi and shoot down the expressway to my hotel.

The next day I woke up to find folding bikes everywhere. Folding bikes are the ‘norm’ in Bangkok, with Bromptons, Dahons and all kinds of cheap folding bikes weaving through the heavy traffic. Every bike shop has an extensive range of folders in all shapes, (wheel)sizes and colours.

I decided on Thailand as my destination to find out how capable the Tern is as a travel bike. My testing ground is the Mae Hong Son (MHS) loop in the north-west of the country, a well-known scenic ride for motorcyclists and cyclists alike. It’s also one of the hardest road loops in the world, a perfect challenge for a folding bike which normally thrives in cities. At 660km in length, with 4000 bends and 13000m of climbing – this was shaping up to be the ultimate folding bike test!

My  PART ONE  Review Covers: – A general overview of the bike – How it rides – How it folds – How you can carry luggage – How you can make it fit someone really tall

My Bike Setup for Thailand

As I am almost 200cm tall, fitting the Tern Eclipse was never going to be perfect. For whatever reason, folding bikes only come in one size, optimised for someone of average height. You can’t really make much of an adjustment to the reach or height of the front end either. To make the Tern comfortable I installed the longest bar ends I could find. When I’m at the tip of the bar ends my reach is closer to what I’m familiar with, but it’s still very frustrating that I can’t get to the same position as any of my other bikes.

I fitted my SPD pedals to the bike as I can’t imagine travelling without them. I also swapped out the saddle for one that is far more comfortable on longer rides. I found the stock saddle good without lycra for up to 50km, but on anything longer, it chafes my derrieres.

To carry my luggage I’m using the Tern Kanga rack in combination with an Ortlieb pannier that’s been flipped on its side. This setup is super easy to take on/off the bike, is secure and is 100% waterproof. See PART ONE of this review for more details.

How Does the Tern Eclipse P18 Ride?

The Tern Eclipse instantly exceeded all my expectations of how a folding bike would ride. Unlike many other folding bikes, the Tern feels stiff like a regular bike. The stiffness gives you the confidence to ride hard, both up and down hills. There were times when I exceeded 80km/h with all my gear and the bike still felt stable and capable of more. I found that the front load actually damped the steering, enhancing the way the bike handled mid-to-high speeds. The front-load also stopped the front wheel lifting on steep climbs.

The frames’ handling is good at low speeds too. The steering is light enough to effortlessly squeeze in and around cars while riding through traffic. With a front load, it requires just a little more rider input to make the turns.

In order to increase the comfort for folding bike touring, I’d suggest using nice wide tyres (2.0”+) with supple sidewalls, and a saddle which offers a lot of flex (perhaps a Brooks if they work well for you).

The frame and handlepost clamps started creaking after a few thousand kilometres. In order to stop the creaking I ended up simply tightening the clamps. The only issue now is that it’s harder to undo the clamps for a fold, and anything less tight still results in a creak. This could be problematic for people with limited strength in their hands, but it’s ok for me.

Seatpost and Collar

If you’re riding in all weather conditions, you’ll find that grit works its way into the seat tube making the seatpost difficult to drop. It’s essential to clean out the seat tube regularly to ensure that you can fold your bike (or adjust your saddle height quickly). I also found that the quick release collar assembly must be regularly cleaned to maintain its function – it can be really hard to undo if you are lazy!

Although the Tern’s v-brakes had enough stopping power on the MHS loop, we went through brake pads really quick due to the combination of wet conditions and steep mountain roads! If I was on a longer tour I’d definitely choose a model with disc brakes because they stop quicker in all-weather conditions and the brake pads simply last longer. The only issue is that Tern’s disc models are less sporty than the P18, making them 3-4kg heavier (you do get stronger and more durable components).

It’s all about gear ratios on a folding bike! You can have just as high and low gears as a standard touring bike with the right cogs, taking you up and down any mountain. For the MHS, I was geared almost perfectly for my strength, but for other riders looking to do a similarly challenging ride, you may want to change the rear cassette to something with a bit more range. The smallest gear on the Tern Eclipse is 26 gear inches, which is higher than I’d recommend for a super hilly tour.

Choosing a Wheel Size

Tern makes folding bikes with two wheels sizes: you can choose 20” on the Verge series or 24” on the Eclipse series. The reason that I am not on a 20” is that the seat can’t extend high enough for me. If I had the choice, I’d probably take the smaller/lighter pack size of a folding bike with 20” wheels. In this case, the Verge packs 12% shorter in length and 5% smaller in width/height than the Tern Eclipse.

It’s hard to say whether the Tern Eclipse with it’s bigger wheels is faster than the Verge. You tend to ride at slower speeds on a bike tour, so the difference between the models really is negligible – on smooth tarmac, both bikes roll along fast enough. If you were planning adventures on rough roads, you’d be better off with 24″ wheels because they roll better over holes and depressions. If you’re on smooth roads, the 20” will cruise along fine.

Travelling on a Folding Bike

This is the best part about folding bikes – they are a dream if you’re putting them in cars, buses, trains and boats. Folding bikes allow you to travel in a completely different way because you simply don’t have to plan anything around the bike.

For a folding bike to be worth the sizing/comfort compromises, I’d want to fold it at least 5x on a trip. If I was doing a point-to-point or loop tour, I’d definitely prefer to ride my regular touring bike.

Pros of the Tern Folding Bike

– Excellent for taking on any transport or storing – The frame is stiff enough to feel like a regular bike; it’s surprisingly capable – Well-made frame and components – Wide range of gears (26-111 gear inches) – Great at carrying a light loads on the front

Cons of the Tern Folding Bike

– One size fits all: you’ve got to be lucky to fit one perfectly! – Less comfortable than an ordinary bike – Not as good on rough roads due to the small wheel diameter – Sometimes harder to obtain good quality tyres/tubes – Frame/handlepost clamps are sometimes hard to undo

Tern has set a high benchmark for how folding bikes should ride and feel – the Eclipse is stiff, capable and fast. If I was buying a folding bike for a multi-week trip in the mountains, I’d definitely opt for a model with disc brakes and perhaps an even smaller gear. For shorter trips in dry conditions, you can certainly get away with the P18 – as it comes it’s built to last.

The biggest limitation of folding bikes is sizing. I have no idea why folding bike manufacturers don’t offer a full-size range. If I could get a folding bike that put me in the same position as my standard touring bike I’d certainly use one for more of my travel.

• folding bike

Hi Alee…nice post. I’ve got a Montague Navigator full size 700 wheel fold up which, with a few tweaks here and there could make a reasonable touring bike and folds into a neat size. Thanks…I might play around with it.

I don’t know what you are talking about “folding bikes only come in one size”. I love my bike friday and it was custom sized to match the fit of my singles. https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bikes/

I tour a lot with folding bikes, in fact my whole family (4 of us) tour on just about every trip or vacation with our folding bikes, carrying all our gear with us wherever we go. For example, last summer we did a bike-camping tour from Prague to Berlin, last winter in the Anza-Borrego desert, and a couple weeks ago the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Although our kids ride smaller 20″-wheel Dahons, we ride full-size Dahons, which for me are as good as any other bikes I’ve ever ridden. I have two Dahon Zero-G folding mountain bikes and a Dahon Flo (Ritchey breakaway) that I built from just the frame, with a SRAM GX 1×11 setup, a DT Swiss Tricon wheelset, a Rockshox Revelation RCT3 and Shimano XT disc brakes. Who says you can’t have it all with a folding bike? You can do it if you want to! And you can take it just about anywhere.

Hi, Montague offers full size folding bicycles.

if you swap the stem to a Tern Andros you’ll get 20mm more reach than the VRO stem on your bike. And adjustment is tool-less

His Alee, have you ever get hold of Montague Paratrooper pro bike?

No, I’ve never tried one.

Comments are closed.

• Specialized
• Bridge Bikeworks
• Brooklyn Bicycle Co.
• Bunch Bikes
• CYCLE OF GOOD
• DALLINGRIDGE
• Diamondback
• Eddy Merckx
• Electric Bike Company
• EVO Bicycles
• Fahrradmanufaktur
• Flyer by Radio Flyer
• iGO Electric
• Intense 951
• JupiterBike
• Lectric eBikes
• LeMond Bicycles
• Lightweight
• View all brands
• Pivot Cycles
• Qualisports
• Quintana Roo
• Rad Power Bikes
• Raleigh Electric
• Riese & Müller
• Rocky Mountain
• Schindelhauer
• State Bicycle Co.
• Surface 604
• Urban Arrow
• Van Nicholas
• VELO DE VILLE
• Vintage Electric
• Yeti Cycles
• YT Industries

Tern Eclipse D16

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

At a glance

Where to buy, specifications.

• Frame Tern Eclipse, hydroformed aluminum, 3 patented technologies
• Fork Integrated, hi-tensile steel
• Hubs Shimano , Centerlock disc
• Wheels Doublewall aluminum, disc only
• Wheel Size 26
• Tires Schwalbe Spicer, 40-559, puncture protection, Reflex
• Chain KMC 8 spd
• Crank Forged 6061 aluminum crank, 50/34T
• Bottom Bracket Cartridge, sealed bearings
• Front Derailleur Shimano Altus
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Claris
• Shifters Shimano , trigger, 2 x 8 spd
• Brakeset Hydraulic Disc
• Handlebar Flat bar, 6061-Al
• Saddle Tern Porter, patented GripPad design
• Seatpost SuperOversize, 6061-Al, micro-adjust clamp
• Stem Tern Andros, adjustable, forged construction, patented technology
• Headset Flux, cartridge bearings, Physis integrated

Q: How much is a 2022 Tern Eclipse D16?

A 2022 Tern Eclipse D16 is typically priced around $1,199 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2022 Tern Eclipse D16?

The 2022 Tern Eclipse D16 may be purchased directly from Tern .

Q: What size wheels does the 2022 Tern Eclipse D16 have?

The 2022 Tern Eclipse D16 has 26 wheels.

Q: What size 2022 Tern Eclipse D16 should I get?

No comments on this bike yet. Why not be the first?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want more road bikes in your mailbox?

The latest on road bikes delivered straight to your mailbox.

More Bikes in Range View All

Tern Eclipse P20

Tern Eclipse X22

More road bikes view all.

Litespeed Ultimate Gravel — Shimano GRX 810 2X

Polygon BEND R5

Specialized Remco's Reign Celebration Tarmac Frameset

Deals view all, view all deals, recent posts view all.

What is Road Bike Database?

Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or just starting out, choosing the right road bike can…

Send Feedback

Have a suggestion? Looking for a bike that's not on Road Bike Database? Or perhaps you've spotted an error?

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know with the form below.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Learn more.

About Road Bike Database

Explore, search and compare thousands of the world’s best road bikes here on Road Bike Database.

Compare prices, components, reviews, images and more on current and past road bikes. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on road bikes. View and compare a huge selection of bikes from brands such as Cervélo , BMC , Trek , Specialized and more .

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information for road bikes on Road Bike Database. If you’ve spotted any issues, please let us know . We also include helpful tools, such as our frame size calculator, to assist you in choosing the right road bike. Bear in mind that these tools serve as a guide and simply provide a general indication. Refer to information provided by your bike manufacturer for the most applicable information for your bike.

Bikes By Brand

Bikes by year, bikes by riding style.

• Electric Road
• folding-bike
• general-road
• general-urban
• long-tail-cargo

Bikes By Wheel Size

Popular bikes.

• 2022 Opus ORPHEO 4
• 2021 CUBE TOWN SPORT HYBRID ONE 500
• 2022 Electra Bali Cruiser Go! Step-Thru
• 2021 Pedego Element
• 2023 Obed Boundary GRX 820 12 Spd
• 2023 Cipollini AGO R30AR CAMPAGNOLO EKAR
• 2023 Cannondale Mavaro Neo 2 Low StepThru

Latest Bikes

• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT touring
• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT rohloff
• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT rohloff HS
• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT vario HS
• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT vario
• 2024 Riese & Müller Delite4 GT touring HS
• 2024 Riese & Müller Roadster4 Mixte vario HS

• Shop by Model
• GSD Cargo E-Bike
• Orox Adventure Cargo E-Bike
• Quick Haul E-Bike
• Vektron Folding E-Bike
• Shop by Category
• Urban Performance
• Around Town
• Shop by Gear Type
• Passenger Carrying
• Bags & Baskets
• Storage & Transport
• Lights & Power
• Parts & Components
• Tools & Repair
• Shop by Bike Family
• Spare Parts
• Carla Cargo

Eclipse X22

The Blackbird

Bike shipping details:.

All bike purchases will be shipped to the closest Tern dealer to your shipping address for assembly. If there is not a Tern dealer in your area, we will contact you to arrange to ship to a local bicycle retailer of your choice. If you have a preferred dealer please note it at checkout. -  FIND A SHOP

Eclipse X22 Overview

The Eclipse X22 is designed to be the fastest folding bike in the world. With hand-built 26” wheels and race-tuned geometry, it’s a full-sized road bike, but it folds down small in 10 seconds. It boasts an Ultegra drivetrain, and—just in time for the   UCI ’s new regulations—a set of Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. With a stealth black finish, hydroformed fork, red Syntace accents, and perfected engineering, the X22 inaugurates a new chapter in Tern design.

• Kinetix Pro X 26” wheels with straight-pull Sapim spokes for a blazingly fast ride
• Shimano Ultegra / 105 drivetrain for 22 speeds and Grand Tour gear inches
• Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for extreme stopping power
• Adjustable   VRO   handlebar stem to fine-tune your ride position
• High-performance Kojak road tires with puncture protection
• SR-71 matte finish
• Fold and store indoors for the best theft protection

Want to learn more before buying? Visit TernBicycles.com

Customer Reviews

Similar products.

Fahrer Bike Handlebar Cover (3 Sizes)

Fahrer AKKU E-Bike Battery Cover (6 sizes)

End Plug for Tern Rear Racks (each)

End Plug for Clubhouse or Vektron Frame Stand (Each)

Continue Shopping

•   AtranVelo
•   Tern
•   Castro
•   Eclipse
•   Eclipse P9
•   Eclipse P18
•   Eclipse P18L
•   Eclipse S11
•   Eclipse Tour
•   Eclipse X20
•   Eclipse X22
•   Link
•   Node
•   Universal
•   Vektron
•   Verge
•   Verge S11
•   Verge X10
•   Verge X20
•   Gepäckträger
•   Rahmen
•   Rahmenverschluss
•   gelb
•   schwarz
•   silber
•   weiß
•   Aluminium
•   Kunststoff
•   Nylon
•   Vorne
•   Starre Gabel
•   20 "
•   24 "
•   26 "
•   27 "
•   27,5 "
•   28 "
•   29 "
•   Felgenbremse
•   Scheibenbremse IS-Aufnahme

Total solar eclipse April 2024 livestream: Experience totality virtually

The next total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. won't be until August 2044.

"Eclipse Across America" will air live Monday, April 8, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+ and Hulu as well as network social media platforms.

The highly anticipated total solar eclipse is set to take place on Monday, April 8, casting a historic shadow across a path through the United States.

If you haven't traveled to the path of totality or a cloudy weather forecast is going to shield your view, you can watch NASA's live broadcast of the eclipse.

NASA has provided a livestream through its telescope live feeds.

The track of the moon's shadow across Earth's surface is called the path of totality and, to witness the April 8 total solar eclipse in totality, viewers must be within the 115-mile-wide path.

MORE: 'The sun has been eaten': Inside the history and mythology of total solar eclipses

To discover when to see the solar eclipse in totality or the partial eclipse in locations across the U.S. outside of the path, check out NASA's Eclipse Explorer tool.

MORE: Suspected space object crashes through roof of home in Naples, Florida

At the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts are anticipating a partial view of the solar eclipse from space.

Related Stories

Severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds

• Apr 13, 5:38 PM

AP PHOTOS: Total solar eclipse sweeps across North America

• Apr 8, 3:08 PM

JPMorgan Chase, Advanced Micro Devices fall; Progressive, State Street rise, 4/12/2024

• Apr 12, 12:26 PM

A deep partial eclipse will be visible from the ISS with 90% of the sun being covered by the moon at peak magnitude.

During totality, the ISS will be flying over southern Canada during this pass. The moon's shadow will be moving from New York state to Newfoundland during this period.

MORE: Why April's total solar eclipse will be a historic event in the US

To see the best locations, time and duration of Monday's total solar eclipse, check out ABC News' previous coverage here .

Related Topics

• Solar Eclipse

Project to shore up Pompeii yields stunning black banquet hall, with frescoes of Trojan War figures

• Apr 11, 8:44 AM

Exclusive 1st look at 'Bluey' special, 'The Sign'

• Apr 12, 9:12 AM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Solar eclipse, worried about eclipse damage to your eyes don't panic.

Geoff Brumfiel

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Junior Espejo looks through eclipse glasses being handed out by NASA in Houlton, Maine. Used correctly, eclipse glasses prevent eye damage. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

Junior Espejo looks through eclipse glasses being handed out by NASA in Houlton, Maine. Used correctly, eclipse glasses prevent eye damage.

Tens of millions of Americans will have spent the day staring at a total solar eclipse, and at least a few of them may become worried that they inadvertently damaged their eyes.

But experts say there's no need to panic — the vast majority of eclipse viewers are probably fine. And even if somebody did strain their eyes, the effects could be temporary.

During the 2017 total solar eclipse it's estimated that 150 million Americans viewed the event. There were around 100 documented cases of eye damage across all of America and Canada, according to Ralph Chou, an expert on eclipse eye safety with the University of Waterloo in Canada.

Far more people turned up in emergency rooms worried that they'd damaged their eyes. Many complained of watery eyes or blurred vision, but in most cases they were fine, according to Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, one of the largest eye hospitals in the nation.

The reason it's hard to do real damage is simple — the human eye has evolved to avoid staring directly at the sun.

"It's so bright that we're not actually capable of looking at it without either tearing or sort of not really feeling comfortable staring at this ball of light," Deobhakta says.

Shots - Health News

Here's what it looks like when you fry your eye in an eclipse.

In the rare case that someone does damage their eyes, that damage usually shows up as a blurry spot in the field of vision , hours or up to a day after watching the eclipse. In about half of cases, the problem fixes itself, but permanent damage can sometimes occur.

Anticipating the post-eclipse ocular anxiety, at least one eye clinic in Buffalo, N.Y., is offering free eye checks immediately after the eclipse on April 8.

It's always a good idea to get your eyes checked, whether or not there's an eclipse. So if you're worried at all, go ahead and use the opportunity to schedule your annual exam.

• eclipse eye damage
• 2024 eclipse

When is the next total solar eclipse in the US after 2024 and what is its path? What to know

The highly anticipated 2024 total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , giving millions of sky-gazers the chance to see a rare cosmic event that won't be viewable again for 20 years.

The eclipse's  path of totality  will travel over a portion of northern Mexico before entering the U.S. It then it will cross 13 states  from Texas to Maine, where the spectacle is expected to attract huge crowds.

If you aren't lucky enough to be in the path of totality this time around, you will have another chance - you'll just have to wait until the 2040s.

Here's what we know about the next total solar eclipse to cross over the U.S.

Eclipse playlist: Fans return to Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' ahead of total solar eclipse

When is the next total solar eclipse visible from the U.S.?

It will be 20 years before there's a chance to  witness a total solar eclipse  in the United States again.

According to NASA, after Monday's total solar  eclipse , the next one viewable from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

2044 total solar eclipse path of totality

Unfortunately, the 2044 total  solar eclipse  won't have the broad reach across the U.S. as the 2024 eclipse.

The path of totality during the 2044 eclipse will only touch three states, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach, and political space advocacy.

The eclipse will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada and end around sunset in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Pets and the eclipse: Will my pets be safe during the April 2024 solar eclipse? What experts say.

2045 solar eclipse

While the 2044 total eclipse will only touch three states, a 2045 eclipse will have a more robust path across the U.S.

Expected to occur on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2045, this solar eclipse will trace a path of totality over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

A partial solar eclipse will also be viewable in 35 other states, according to National Eclipse.com

What is a total solar eclipse?

Any celestial object like a moon or a planet that passes between two other bodies can create  an eclipse  by obscuring the view of objects like the sun.

In the event of a solar eclipse, the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching a small part of our planet. Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight to behold.

Total eclipses can lead to a period of darkness lasting for several minutes, during which time nocturnal animals stir while confused birds and insects may fall silent, NASA says.

When a solar eclipse reaches totality, people are able to see the sun’s outer atmosphere called the corona, which is usually obscured by the sun's bright surface. This offers scientists an uncommon opportunity  to study the corona .

Totality also offers spectators a chance to gaze upon the spectacular sight with the naked eye, though  proper  safety  glasses  are still required for the rest of the time.

What states are on the 2024 eclipse path of totality?

Mexico's Pacific coast will be the first location in continental North America to experience totality, which is expected to occur at about 11:07 a.m. PDT,  according to NASA .

As the moon's shadow will northeast, totality in the U.S. will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. The path will then cut diagonally across the country, traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

The eclipse's path is expected to end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT before visiting the maritime provinces of Canada, according to estimates.

See  interactive maps of the 2024 path .

Contributing: Doyle Rice, Ramon Padilla & Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY

• Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma
• April 9, 2024   •   30:48 How Tesla Planted the Seeds for Its Own Potential Downfall
• April 8, 2024   •   30:28 The Eclipse Chaser
• April 7, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’
• April 5, 2024   •   29:11 An Engineering Experiment to Cool the Earth
• April 4, 2024   •   32:37 Israel’s Deadly Airstrike on the World Central Kitchen
• April 3, 2024   •   27:42 The Accidental Tax Cutter in Chief
• April 2, 2024   •   29:32 Kids Are Missing School at an Alarming Rate
• April 1, 2024   •   36:14 Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem
• March 29, 2024   •   48:42 Hamas Took Her, and Still Has Her Husband

How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam

A mexican drug cartel is targeting seniors and their timeshares..

Hosted by Katrin Bennhold

Produced by Asthaa Chaturvedi and Will Reid

With Clare Toeniskoetter and Lynsea Garrison

Edited by Brendan Klinkenberg and Michael Benoist

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Rowan Niemisto ,  Dan Powell ,  Pat McCusker and Will Reid

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence.

A massive scam targeting older Americans who own timeshare properties has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars sent to Mexico.

Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent for The Times, tells the story of a victim who lost everything, and of the criminal group making the scam calls — Jalisco New Generation, one of Mexico’s most violent cartels.

On today’s episode

Maria Abi-Habib , an investigative correspondent for The New York Times based in Mexico City.

Background reading

How a brutal Mexican drug cartel came to target seniors and their timeshares .

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Katrin Bennhold is the Berlin bureau chief. A former Nieman fellow at Harvard University, she previously reported from London and Paris, covering a range of topics from the rise of populism to gender. More about Katrin Bennhold

Advertisement