Should be a Taiping guy by this 15th March. Will try to ride with you !

It's not due to the chainring but rather the bigger minimum teeths in the rear. 7 speed means the rear cogs starts at 14 teeth till 28 teeth. Usual 8 speeds or above starts with 11 teeths only. So, you are missing the 11, 12 ans 13 teeth cogs on the high speed. Nothing you can do about it. Chainging a bigger chainring is one way but looks ugly and also you might need to lengthen the chain and also if yours is already the 52 teeth chainring, you need to get 58 or even 60 teeths which is hard to source and also expensive.

My guess is you don't really do hilly rides so chainging to road bike groupset will be ideal. But you might also need to change the hubs if yours are the regular 7 speed hubs. It's not going to be cheap though. Many riders have the idea that modifying costs must not exceed the price of the bike, while I think differently. I am more into the quality of the components. Means, I rather go for the top notch components on a lousy frame rather than a top notch frame with lousy components. That's why I can't comprehend paying 7K for a Birdy with a groupset that is not even entry level for a moutnain bike. I rather have a Trinx with a Di2 Ultegra groupset. So, it depends on which group you fit into. Hahahaa

So, the solution is mod till max or change a better spec-ed bike.

I will answer again in easier to understand terms. If yours is 52 teeth in front and on the highest gear (14 teeth) that means when you turn one time on your crank, the rear wheels turns 3.71 turns.

If you have the regular 11/28 or 11/30 teeth cassette at the rear, it means 52 teeth in the front and 11 at the rear, you turn the rear wheels 4.71 turns. That means on a 406 wheel, you are actually travelling an extra turn or 1.5 meters at each turn. Or in other words, if you want to chase the guy in front of you, you have to spin faster or what we called , increase your cadence which will tire you out faster or no problem if you are a strong rider.

On the other hand if you change the front chain ring to 60 teeth (which is riduculously stupid looking ), you will turn your rear 14 teeth, 4.28 times, still much slower than the using 11 teeth at the rear.

Your ultimate goal is to ride faster........meaning the present maximum high gear is insufficient. The biggest right now is 46T front and 14 at the rear. At this setting, usually you freewheel when you ride fast on a flat terrain and even worse, you can't ride at all when it is going slightly down hill. You will dog paddle. Adding a 52/39T double chain ring don't change much to the high gear ratios but it will help a lot going uphill. Just to give you an idea, modifying the front double chain ring will usually cost around RM400 to RM500 for even the cheapest component you can find. Items needed will be a (01) pair of shifters (they comes in pairs, regardless if you want only the left hand side), (02) one front derailleur , (03) FD adapter , (04) double chain ring crank and bottom bracket and finally (05) the gear cable and housing. With this, YOU STILL CAN'T RIDE FASTER than before, maybe a little bit faster as the chain ring has increase 6 teeth.

I suggest you go for a 10 speed setup or a 9 speed setup. I see from the picture, your bike use disc brakes and also uses 32 spokes so the front hubs are easily available and so are the rear. Any mountain bike hubs can be used.If you browse through Bicyclebuysell website, you can actually find good used ones for RM100 (normal cone bearing types like Formula or no series Shimanos) and if lucky, about RM150 or even less for sealed bearing types. Many mountain bikers (like myself) usually change to better hubs even when the original are good .

With that, you can lace your present rims onto the hubs and you can use 8,9 or 10 speed setups. This also can be found used on BBS. Good ones like Shimano Sora for 9 speed, Shimano Alivio, Accera or Altus. If you go for 10 speed , there are many. Try to go for 11/32T cassette, no more than that as most LBS can't adjust if more than 32T at the rear. After that, the chain has to be adjusted so most LBS don't do. Kimbell Jaya has done even 36T on 10 speed.

Look for used items like this.
http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/342584/shim...groupset-booked

This one even comes with front crank with double chain ring.
http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/339182/grou...or-folding-bike

Try to find one without the crank if you are looking for mountain bike setups as mountain bike cranks are not suitable. Only road bike cranks has 53/39T set ups. After getting the rear done up, RIDE and later if you want to take the hilly challenge, maybe then can add the front setup.

HAPPY RIDING.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 12 2016, 06:06 PM

Hahahaaa!

There's a saying in chinese, " Cheap things are never good, good things are never cheap ". I am sure you heard of this. It also all depends on what is your needs. If you just want to 'paktor2' and ride around the housing area or in a park, I am sure those listed as no.2 are enough. These are prone to repairs though, just like a car, if it is left idle for too long, many things will get jammed or rusted and once WD40 - ed and starts moving many rusted parts which are actually part of the steel originally. This makes it grinds smaller leaving a big intolerances and it won't last long. After that, if you buy it at RM300 to RM500, you can get probably 40 cents a kilo for it. But at the same token, by that time, you have realized, cycling is not my style ! So, not much loss !

Smaller wheels are easier to ride but also very twitchy when going fast. So, if you are a slow rider, it doesn't matter. In fact it is more ideal. If you are commuting like 3km to 5 km to the LRT station and then to the office, it is ideal. If you want it for this 'expedisi' and that 'expedisi' then you might have to consider hard.

A used good brands like Dahons, Terns will last you as long as a new one. As mentioned, many just buy for the sake of the peers and later wants to give up. This category bikes are good even if they are used as the frames are of good build.

As for a new ones, there's plenty in the market. Just visit a bike shop and let the boss do the convincing. My advice, give Kimbell Jaya a visit. Out of the 3 bigs ( now there are foldie 3 bigs, namely, Kimbell Jaya, USJ Cycles and My Bike Shop )in Klang Valley, Kimbell has the best price and range. USJ Cycles caters for the internet savvy and don't mind paying high prices without after sales service. MBS caters for the who's who in the folding fraternity. You must be a someone who don't mind buying things like the share market, then only the lone ranger mechanic cum boss in the shop treats you nicely and lastly Kimbell Jaya, always cheaper but boss is always occupied and you must insist on his service to get a good deal.

Trinx uses the 305 tires, hence also 305 wheelset. Bromptons uses the 349 tires and wheelsets. Pedegree mah! Makes it harder to find and only selected places can get them. Also market is small, tires makers either makes one or two different treads or totally don't manufacture it. So Brompton can bulk manufacture cheaply from another manufacturer under their brand and sells it at a higher price. It's actually a 17 inch wheelset but classified under the 16 inch group, just like the 451s are classified under the 20inch group.

It is definitely faster than walking, that's for sure on a flat road that is! Also if you visualize it in your mind, turn the crank once and you will imagine the rear wheels turning a few rounds and the distance is not too bad actually. Only fail point for me is....................it's ugly ! I always wants things that has aesthetic value as well, not only just functionality. That's why, if you give me a Moulton, I will sell it half the price and get another bike.......hahahaaaa.

My guess is you are using the original Tern's seat post which is slippery in nature. That was one of Tern Links' fault. Funny only one is behaving such a way out of the two. You can either change the seat post, since it is your wife's, the Lite Pro which are textured in nature should be good for a tight hold. It doesn't cost much nowadays anyway, also it's much lighter. If you don't want to do that, then mark the region where the seat post clamp are holding. Use masking tape to mark just 5 mm above the seat clamp. Then take out the seat post and measure 20mm from the masking tape and mark. Then sand this 20mm region all round. It will scratch the seat post but you need to create a friction part.

There is a special grease for seat post but nobody sells it.

Another way is take out the quick release of the seat post clamp and change it with a bolt. The usual allen key bolt. Then you can tighten even more but to adjust , you need to use allen key from your tool kit, if you have one. Or, change the seat clamp to a non quick release kind.

My best advice, change the seat post! It can be irritating when the seat goes lower and lower and to stop and re-adjust during the ride. Yes, I experienced it before and I got that Tern's seat post from a friend's Tern Link.

Bashguard measurements are more to the BCD (bolt circle diameter of the circle around the crank bolts) of the crank. As in this case is is 130mm BCD ( 5 bolts). 130 is for regular roadbike cranks and BCD 104 ( 4 bolts) for mountain bike cranks. So, 52 teeth and 53 teeth , the diameter of the chainring is negligible , it doesn't matter. But Shimano latest roadbike cranks are using 4 bolts nowadays.

So, go ahead and buy. I just moved house, sadly........... I threw away like 7 or 8 pieces of the bashguard. Usually the owners don't want them when they converted single chainring to double. The bigger chainring sits on the place of the bashguard while the smaller chainring onto the original chainring mounts. (get the idea )

Call the Tern specialist ! 016-632 2599 Mr. Johnny Ng.

Best visit Rodalink in Bandar Botanic Klang. If there's stock, they have it because they are also the importers to Malaysia. Can look for Sam there. Why only Tern? Can consider others too, you know.

If foldable with bigger wheelsets is your criteria, Dahon also ada mah. Dahon IOS is 24 inch wheels. Also Dahon is just half the price of the Tern Ninja of the same sized wheelsets. Also if you look very carefully, they are also the same frame, same factory or not, I don't know lah but design is the same. Just like an enlarge Tern Verge or actually the old Dahon Vectors (already discontinued but used by Tern). Dahon Vectors now have new design , same as the Dahon Vigor but the upper scale models with better wheelsets and components are still called Vectors. The only drawback according to Jimmy of Kimbell Jaya was the disc brakes but for one customer, he changed to a Shimano hydraulic setup for free! Maybe you can get the same deal. I think there is still available stock there.

From the looks, you can try tighten the big fastener . I think the fastener from any grinder can be used. Or else you can use a flat head screw driver and hammer softly until it tightens. Just make sure which part is wobbling. Also check the handle post extension part. See if it is really tighten. Also the headset bearings, are they OK. I can't really confirm because I can't see clearly.

The fastener works the same way as the newer Dahons. The newer ones has treads on the inside of the fork steerer and yours are with treads on the outside. Works the same way, they pull and hold the fork from falling off. The present handle post or Lite pro ones can be installed but needs some modifications. Then, you will lose the classic looks of the bike. Try to tighten all moving parts and see.

NO, the mods can be reversed, so not permanent. The bearings, I think it looks like this. If you can't find the exact size, maybe refurbish the bearing nest. Take out all the bearings and soak the nest into kerosene or diesel. Then clean it up and later , get the same size bearings from specialist bearing shops and replace the bearings. Clean up the bearing cones too. Happy refurbishing.

PS/ looking at the pictures, the bearings seems to be standard 1 1/8" headset bearings. Maybe can even fit in the standard sealed bearing ones. Not too sure though as I cannot physically see it.



This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 30 2016, 12:54 PM

If you read from the start , we have discussion in length about hi-tensile steel, aluminium and chromoly.

Can park at the Balik Pulau food court beside the Rapid Penang bus station. Many people around, quite safe.
Location 5.351289, 100.240932
After ride can enjoy fresh nutmeg juice at the food court :hyper The pasembor here is good also.



This post has been edited by etigge: Apr 11 2016, 11:10 AM

The best Kerosene. Use a hard brush ( use a scissors to cut short a normal brush ) and brush hard on the chains, cassettes and chain rings. Can brush the FD and RD also. Then after 5 minutes, wash away with water and then use soapy water clean everything up. Been using it since I started, better than citrus degreaser or any degreaser for that matter. Just make sure the kerosene don't go into the disc brakes if you are using disc brakes.

OK I am doing this for the love of folding bikes !

I saw a rare Dr.Hon Mu P24. It's for sale in Eng Hern Bike Shop in Taiping. Quite rare nowadays and those sold during that time are keeping them! SRAM 3 speed internal hub gear plus another 8 speed conventional RD gears. Some riders says they are good but I never owned one before. The Dahon Speed tourers uses the same gear system.

Suprise , suprise, Eng Hern willing to part for just RM1900 and it seems to be in good condition. Those in the hunt for a good foldies with nice specs, here's the chance. Maybe the shop will nego a bit as I just asked for the price without the intention of buying.

if you use WD 40 on the chains , the lube will not stick to it and it gets dry and will wear the components faster. WD 40 penetrates and leaves a sticking residue which will repel lubricants.

I just got another mini velo, another Performer actually and changing the groupset. The velo comes with a 3 x 9 speed set up. Any one interested, I am selling off the whole group. PM me

PS/If you can come to Taiping , I can mod it on for you. No extra charge, heheheheh !

This post has been edited by etigge: May 14 2016, 07:45 AM