Sav

Well a year on from being dumped in the road I still have the Vectron, Cannot say I am relaxed riding it as I never lean heavily on the bars now and check them regularly. The bars have not folded again. I keep looking at replacing it but cannot see even a premium hub drive pulling up the steep hills on the lanes in East Kent as well as the mid drive Vectron and I'm 76 now and unfit so need the assistance. Just thought I would give an update.

Yes you're right on that, I had not spotted how bad the stress marks on the bottom of the bars are until I put an LED light on it, there are no marks on the top, clearly show they broke in a downwards direction. As you say, still does not allocate responsibility.

I have the bars but a full report on the failure is going to cost £1k to give me concrete evidence to try to prove Tern produced a faulty product. Guess I have a decision to make. Did not feel confident last evening and ribs are still a bit sore, but I will be out Sunday weather permitting

Will be out this evening for the first time in nearly two months and won't be on the Tern. Will ride the older non folding kalkhoff for now.

Bike arrived back, handlebars replaced thankfully, but nothing else, even put the road scraped grips back on. Waiting for the bars to arrive.

Anyone know of a way to raise/replace the Andross stem/handlebars? I'm a well built 6ft 2" and find I lean fairly heavily on the bars and get numb wrists after a few miles?. May not have helped on the accident either with bumpy ;lanes around here.

Not too concerned about litigation, just want to be certain the failure was the bike's and not mine as next time could be more serious than a month of personal pain. I'll look at the handlebar replacements if I cannot find a premium folder I like thanks.

Thanks for the opinion. I sent the pictures to a metallurgist, but needless to say I picked the one that contracts for Tern! at least he declared an interest. I have followed his recommendation and contacted another company for an estimate on costs.

Things have moved on. I am told there is nothing wrong with the bars, but the bike is being repaired out of good will and is on its way back to me. I've asked for the bars back but they have not surfaced yet! I'm not sure I will ever ride the thing again after a month of unexplained pain. Problem is I cannot find another premium mid drive folder and doubt a hub drive will tackle the hills around Dover.

Just got back from Epsom Fudges where the bike is now, much scratching of heads over the unusual break. Tern will be collecting it for investigation.

Still have the bike! ParcelFarce have failed to collect on two separate days for various fictitious reasons!. Ribs are getting less painful at last so planning on taking the Tern in myself on Wednesday.

Thanks, Yes I am wondering what they will do with the bike. As mentioned there is surprisigly little damage to the paint work, but marks there are and they will need to be dealt with. I am just hoping there is no quibble over the cause, it looks clear enough to me, but obviously has me worried from more than one angle. Starting to be able to move a little easier but sleeping is still difficult and coughing is still agony. In the doctors surgery tomorrow for flu jab, will ask about stronger pain killers.

Colection being arranged

There's not much else to see, Attached shows the break which looks like it was bent downwards. What else did you want please?

Things seem to be moving OK with both Tern and Fudges Cycles involved, bike is to be collected, these things happen, I just hope its a one-off failure. Took some more photos, this one from the other side of the break, appears to me to have very little clean metal apart from where, I guess, it hit the road.

Nothing additional on the bars and nothing in the area of the break. Now heard from Fudge's as well as Tern UK, will try and enlist some help to take pictures tomorrow afternoon. Chris

Will do thanks, as soon as I can get down to the workshop.

Most helpful reply received immediately from the UK arm of Tern. Still waiting to hear from the 'sales' address at Fudges the retailers after 24 hours.

Have not posted for a while. Upgraded one of my Kalkhoffs to an S10 Tern a year ago and the little bike has been brilliant, much more oomph than the kalkhoff. I did it because of the increasing difficulty in taking a full size bike on the train down here. All was well until Thursday evening after dark when the Tern launched me into a swan dive going along a country lane without warning. It was not a black-out as it certainly hurt when I hit the deck on my front, fortunately not on my new hip! To my untrained eye it would appear the handlebar collapsed, gaving way! The stub end picture in correct orientation attached can be seen to have sheared from the top with the hanging hinge on the bottom. If the accident had caused the break the 'hinge' which would have been the final thing to give way would not have been at the bottom. I would not have expected a simple tumble to break the handlebar anyway. The wall of the (ally??) tube is only 1.6mm, pretty thin. Me? I'm in a lot of pain with gravel rash and I suspect a bunch of cracked ribs as I can hardly move, not good at any age leave alone 75! Have emailed the retailers awaiting a reply and will email Tern as the bar looks mighty thin walled! Anyone agree or disagree with my theory?

One pristine Impulse Ergo delivered from Dover to a happy new owner in Weymouth. Never seen so many bikes as on SW Trains from Waterloo. The guard was getting quite hissed off! New Tern S10 gen3 folder arrived whilst I was out so no more train problems! Chunky little beast. May now sell the Agattu C11 if anyone is interested (earlier less slated Impulse drive)

Sav submitted a new listing: [plain]Kalkhoff Impulse Ergo xxl i360[/plain] - [plain]Kalkhoff Impulse Ergo xxl i360[/plain] Learn more about this listing...

Finishes at 2050hrs this evening. Been a lot more interest than I anticipated even given that it is in good condition.

Hi Flecc, Also good to see you're still alive and peddling! I've finally fully retired now and learned to say no (not always!) when the phone rings so have a bit more time now. Yes the Batteryspace batteries have always worked very well on the Lafree which was so far ahead of its time.

Anyone interested in making an offer for my old trusty Lafree before I put it on FleaBay? Men's 2003 model enhanced with SRAM P5 gears and Marathon tyres a few years ago. Battery pack batteries were replaced about six years ago and I believe one cell has gone as the voltage is slightly low, so that will need dealing with, though it works and pulls OK, comes with charger. Motor works fine and I will happily ride it 2 miles to the local station and deliver to your nearest station for the prepaid cost of my discounted return rail fare (75% off the off peak fare). It's been sat in the garage for most of the last two years as 'erself occasionally used it (why the saddle is so low). Father Christmas has just brought her a Kalkhoff Ergo from that nice man at 50 Cycles to go with my C11 that replaced the Lafree so the Lafree is totally redundant. Here she is, needs a good clean,

Going back a bit as I've not been active on the board since it appeared that MP's expenses came before keeping my village Post Office open. I'm now back working in an office and it's too far for the bike. Last time I replaced my cells about two years ago I used these cells from USA. Still going strong on the six mile ride to the pub I do once a week. They also have these nowadays My apologies if this is not relevant Chris.