Bicycles

Tern revamps its Vektron folding ebike range for Q3 2018

Tern revamps its Vektron folding ebike range for Q3 2018
Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
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Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
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Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
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Tern's Vektron folding ebikes get a thorough update for the second half of 2018.
All the new bikes get a beefed-up rear rack
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All the new bikes get a beefed-up rear rack
New Bosch Active Line and Active Line Plus mid-drive motors
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New Bosch Active Line and Active Line Plus mid-drive motors
The new Vektron bikes will stand up by themselves when folded
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The new Vektron bikes will stand up by themselves when folded
Bucketload panniers fold totally flat when empty
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Bucketload panniers fold totally flat when empty
Bucketload panniers fold out fat enough to store decent sized backpacks
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Bucketload panniers fold out fat enough to store decent sized backpacks
The new Vektron P7i, all folded up
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The new Vektron P7i, all folded up
The Vektron P7i, unfolded
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The Vektron P7i, unfolded
The Vektron Q9, folded up
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The Vektron Q9, folded up
The Vektron Q9 unfolded
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The Vektron Q9 unfolded
The Vektron S10, folded
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The Vektron S10, folded
The Vektron S10, unfolded
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The Vektron S10, unfolded
View gallery - 13 images

Taiwan-based Tern Bicycles has revamped its Vektron folding e-bike range, making these convenient commuters lighter, stronger, quieter, more comfortable and more practical than ever, with a modest price drop to boot.

Folding e-bikes make a fair bit of sense around town. Something like the Vektron line folds down quickly into its own kind of trolley that can be pushed onto a train, thrown in the trunk of a car or sat underneath a desk, making for clean, fun and convenient multi-mode commuting you can do in a shirt and tie without suffering the yellow armpit stains of doom.

Nearly two years after launching the Vektron bikes after a 2016 crowdfunding campaign, Tern has made a sweeping update with small but significant improvements all round.

New Bosch Active Line and Active Line Plus mid-drive motors
New Bosch Active Line and Active Line Plus mid-drive motors

It starts with the motor, which has been upgraded to the latest Bosch Active Line mid-drive. That makes it smaller and lighter than the previous model, as well as almost totally silent.

The frame has been re-engineered to provide extra strength as well as better comfort for a wider range of riders, especially the taller ones. The battery now tilts backwards to help side-to-side transition handling, and when it's folded up, the bike now stands up by itself, so it's easier to push about.

The Vektron Q9 unfolded
The Vektron Q9 unfolded

All the new bikes get a beefed-up rear rack as well, together with a set of expandable Bucketload panniers that fold flat, or expand big enough to take a decent sized backpack, and somehow stay out of the way when the bike's folded up or being rolled around.

The Vektron S10, folded
The Vektron S10, folded

Prices have been brought down in the update as well; the three new models will be the US$2995 Vektron Q9, the US$3195 Vektron P7i and the US$3595 Vektron S10.

Having said that, we don't have any further details at this point on battery size, range, power or any further specs for these new models – though as a guide, the outgoing S10 model has a claimed range of 40 – 80 miles. We do know they'll start shipping to the United States in the next few months.

Source: Tern

View gallery - 13 images
1 comment
1 comment
Daishi
The ebike market is in an odd place. Even the latest stuff from Bosch is falling further and further behind the less expensive Chinese made stuff. Most of the motors they sell are 250 watts and max out at 20mph (us) and 25 kph (EU) for compliance with European regulation. The 36 volt ~400 watt motors they use work out to around 11.6Ah. Voltbike out of Canada sells a 350 watt 36v and 11.6Ah "Voltbike Urban" for $1,130 with shipping. Rad Power Bikes sells a "Radmini folding fat bike" with a 750 watt motor and 48v 14Ah (672Wh) battery for $1500 that would probably crush this and both are well known decently respected brands. At this price range there are mad scientist creations at places like Luna Bikes who keep company like Luke Workman from Zero Motorcycles. You could get a Luna Sur-Ron with a 6,000 watt motor and 60v 33ah battery at that price point. All the interesting R&D is happening in brands that aren't Bosch or using Bosch. While Bosch sits on their hands selling 250 watt ebike motors and 400-500Wh batteries their early lead in the ebike space is getting completely squandered.