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About Tern
Tern was founded in 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan by Florence Shen and Joshua Hon, the wife and son of Dahon founder David Hon. The split was contested. Dahon filed suit in 2012 alleging breach of fiduciary duty; the parties settled in 2013. Tern emerged as an independent company focused on compact, utility-first bicycles that take cars off urban roads. The name comes from the Arctic tern, the longest-migrating animal on Earth.
The engineering philosophy is small wheels, long lifespans, and serious load capacity. Tern’s Atlas T-Tuned cockpit, OCL joint, and Andros stem are designed for repeated folding and unfolding without play. The GSD and HSD longtail platforms are rated to 440 lb gross vehicle weight, with frames, brakes, and racks built to UL 2849 and EN 17860 standards rather than ISO 4210 alone. Bosch supplies the motor and battery system on the GSD and HSD; the Quick Haul and Vektron run smaller Bosch Active Line packages tuned for a lower price point.
Tern operates from Taipei with offices in the US, China, Finland, and the UK, distributing through dealers in 65 countries. The lineup spans longtail cargo (GSD, HSD), compact cargo (Quick Haul, Short Haul), step-thru urban (NBD), folding electric (Vektron), and folding analog (BYB). The brand has become a default choice for car-replacement riders, hauling kids and groceries on bikes that fit through standard doorways and into elevators.
Most popular Tern models
Tern’s lineup is engineered around one question: can this bike replace a car trip? Every model puts cargo capacity, fold or compact-storage geometry, and serious braking ahead of weight or sportiness, with Bosch motors and certified safety-tested frames across the e-bike range.
The GSD is the flagship longtail cargo e-bike, hauling two kids or 440 lb of total payload on 20-inch wheels with a Bosch Performance Line motor and dual battery option. The HSD is the shorter, lighter sibling for riders carrying one kid or a week of groceries. The Quick Haul drops the price by trimming the battery and motor spec while keeping the cargo geometry. The NBD is a step-thru urban commuter with a low standover and Bosch Active Line motor. The Vektron folds in 10 seconds with a Bosch mid-drive intact, and the BYB is the analog folder with the smallest folded footprint Tern makes. All are covered by electric bike insurance from Velosurance, protecting your Tern against theft, crash damage, and loss in transit.
Tern's flagship longtail cargo e-bike, rated to a 440 lb gross vehicle weight on 20-inch wheels. Bosch Performance Line motor, dual-battery capable, with hauling geometry that fits two kids or a week of groceries and still parks vertically in a hallway.
The compact sibling of the GSD. Shorter wheelbase, lower step-over, Bosch Performance Line CX power on the top trim. Carries one child or heavy daily cargo without the longtail footprint, and folds the bars for vertical storage.
Tern's entry-level e-cargo bike, built on the same 20-inch platform with a smaller Bosch Active Line motor and lighter rack to hit a sub-$3,000 price. Class 1, hauls 110 lb on the rear rack, fits riders 4'10" to 6'5" on a single frame size.
A step-thru urban commuter with a very low standover and 20-inch wheels. Bosch motor with integrated belt drive and an Enviolo continuously variable hub on the S5i trim. Designed to be the easiest e-bike to mount, ride, and park for new e-bike owners.
A fully folding e-bike with a Bosch mid-drive motor and a 10-second fold to a footprint that fits a car trunk or transit luggage rack. Aluminum frame rated for 230 lb rider plus cargo, with integrated lighting and full fenders.
Tern's analog folding bike with the smallest folded footprint in the lineup. Twin-frame design, 20-inch wheels, and a folded size that slides under a desk or into an overhead bin. P8 entry trim through the S11 11-speed top spec.
The compact cargo e-bike — shorter wheelbase than Quick Haul or HSD, 20-inch wheels, Bosch Active Line motor, and an integrated rear rack rated for 80 lb of cargo. Designed to fit in apartment storage and elevators.
Tern's all-road off-pavement adventure e-bike — Bosch Performance Line CX motor, 29-inch wheels with knobby tires, racing geometry tuned for gravel and bikepacking. Built for self-supported multi-day off-road touring.
The full-size 26-inch and 29-inch performance touring platform — analog and e-bike variants, drop bars or flat bars, designed for everyday transport and long-distance commuting at conventional adult bike geometry.
Why Velosurance is best for your Tern
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