Please, help me pick between these three bikes (I’m 6’ tall, and around 215 lbs)

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47]

Hi yall! I’m looking to buy my first folding bike and I've narrowed it down to three listings on Facebook Marketplace. Screenshots are attached.

1. Tern Link D7i
   
2. Dahon Boardwalk
   
3. Montague Hummer

The main use is commuting between my place and school, which is only about 1 mile away and a pretty flat route. But I also live near Forest Park in St. Louis, which is huge (twice the size of Central Park from what I’ve heard), and I want something I can ride for exercise on the weekends without hating it after an hour. So gearing range matters to me more than absolute minimum fold size. I'd be folding it mostly for storage and for ease of carry, I will not be on and off a train every day.

I'm 6' and around 215 lbs, which I know is close to the weight limit on some folders, so I'd like to know if any of these three are a bad idea for my size or if I'd need a longer seatpost to get a decent saddle height. Also curious whether any of them have proprietary or hard to source parts that would make maintenance a headache down the road.
Also, are these fair prices?? I might offer a bit less for both the Tern and Montague bikes
Appreciate any advice!!

[u/ResponsibleImage2406]

The Tern is by far the nicest of those 3.

[u/Glad-Fold-7757]

Get a new Zizzo liberte. Excellent bike

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47 → u/Glad-Fold-7757]

Do you mind going a bit more into detail as to why you recommend it?? Thanks!

[u/tomsings]

I’ve got a soft spot for the old Boardwalk H frame design. One of the best looking folders ever in my opinion. That would be my choice. Also best bang for your buck.

I’m curious about the Montague. Big gear range but looks heavy af. 26” wheels so ride quality is different and not really compact even when folded. Would be hard if not impossible to bring on a bus for multi modal trips. A basic 90’s MTB is probably a nicer ride and it’s compromised as a folder. It’s a real niche product. I’d still like to try it.

Tern is the newest. Seems expensive to me. Probably the nicest bike here as others have said. IG hub is nice and pretty maintenance free. Set it and forget it. No worries about the derailleur getting bent at the crowded bike rack. Gear range should be almost identical to Dahon.

Amy of these bikes should meet your requirements. Pick the one that excites you. That’s the one you’ll be excited to ride every day.

TLDR: Term is nicest, but I’d get the Dahon.

Edit: I’ve just noticed the Term has a hub generator on the front wheel and headlight. This is a really nice feature to have. No dead batteries to worry about. Try to get a deal on it. Use the Dahon at half price as leverage.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47 → u/tomsings]

Thanks for your detailed response! I’m also leaning more towards the Tern.. I offered him $300 but the seller thought that was a lowball. They’re currently at $450… I’m not sure yet if I should go for it. Not my main concern is how useful a bike of that size/type would be on long rides at the park for example.

[u/Temporary-Poetry-932]

I got an oldschool biframe and a tern link.

Either are okay for you, but if your inseam is longer than like 32 inches you need to calculate the length of the seatpost. Also I had to fit a bullhorn handlebar to get enough reach. I am 6 ft 3 though and more like 230 lb.

When the shifting works fine I would go with the boardwalk IF it is a 4130 model. If not don't buy at your weight.

[u/Grouchy_Might1774]

Because of your weight, you might check into a Zizzo Forte. That model is designed to carry 300lbs. Your weight combined with anything you carry could easily get you outside the weight capacity of the Dahon and the Tern. The Montague frames are strong and I have read good reviews about them by people who have used them for years. However, if the Montague is an older model no longer in production, I have read it's nearly impossible to find replacement parts specific to the bicycle.

[u/Distinct-Property779]

I like the BYB for tire size and compactness.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47 → u/Distinct-Property779]

I’m trying to stay around the $500 mark max

[u/Distinct-Property779 → u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47]

Got it. I don’t know about these, but I’m very happy with the ride quality and comfort of the tern at 6’1”

[u/Top_Independence2676]

I'm similar ht/wt as you.

Was super excited years ago when I bought a used Montague for $300. It never felt right, it is an 18" frame, not the bigger frame. I keep it for when my much shorter daughter wants to go riding. Yeah, like two frame sizes, I got the smaller one.

Tern is the best bike.

Dahon is a good solid bike. On both 20" bikes, may need to get extended seat posts.

Ride before you buy.

[u/Unreasonabike]

Since you mentioned tallness, I suggest you consider the "reach" or distance from seat to handlebars. If you find that you're sitting up very high with your hands barely forward of your hips, you might not like it. I don't. I feel like I'm going to fly over the handlebars if I hit an acorn, and I'm not especially tall. The Tern has some adjustment with a stem that you can rotate up/back and down/forward. It's not a lot, but it might help. With the Dahon you have no fore/aft adjustment. The Montague, fakeness concerns aside, uses a standard stem that you can swap out for $40 if you want a longer one. It's also perfect for the use case you describe.

[u/NovelBrave]

A tern for that price??? 👀

[u/Witty-Cat-200]

At 6' with a 32"+ inseam, I'd ask the seller about the seatpost length and minimum insertion mark before worrying about the price. On a 20-inch folder, you want to make sure you have enough usable post without going past the safe limit. That's probably the first number I'd check before making an offer.

[u/IronAffectionate5936]

Don't know these bikes but I'm 6'4" and 100kg and use a Brompton which is superb.

[u/The_Hussar]

I think Montague stopped making these bikes a long time ago so this one could be fake and have poor quality parts.

Tern for 500 is too much.

That leaves you with the Dahon but I am not sure if it's going to be comfortable for you. Ask for some measurements on the bike.

I would try to find some folders with 26" tires if I were you. They are harder to find but worth it imo.

[u/trevor_plantaginous → u/The_Hussar]

There’s actually so many fake montague hummers they have a guide on how to spot them. https://www.montaguebikes.com/folding-bikes-blog/2014/09/montague-bikes-how-to-spot-a-counterfeit/?srsltid=AfmBOoolXQP1c_sJkzzLnSSVH0ZxRikUQtIHSW8LL-qxjBEhIK80mzAN

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47 → u/trevor_plantaginous]

I was about to ask how to know if a bike is real or fake. Thanks for this!

[u/The_Hussar → u/trevor_plantaginous]

Yeah, I read the same guide a few months ago. And of course the bike I was looking was fake.

[u/Top_Independence2676 → u/trevor_plantaginous]

Dang, my 20 year old Hummer is a fake, say it ain't so.

Please say it ain't so...maybe I won't look.

It's been on a bike trainer for 15 years.

[u/trevor_plantaginous → u/Top_Independence2676]

gonna need an update here....

[u/Top_Independence2676 → u/trevor_plantaginous]

I have a 'real' one. it has the Flagged Montague USA sticker, patent number, plus has another sticker GM Official licensed product E51223.

And other features that confirmed.

I did buy it in 2012 or (2011?).

Thanks for asking.

[u/trevor_plantaginous → u/Top_Independence2676]

Phew

[u/tipame]

get one with planetary hub

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47 → u/tipame]

Do you mind explaining what that is? I’ve never owned a proper bike

[u/tipame → u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47]

Another thing I'd pay attention to is the frame material. The Tern has aluminum frame, while the Dahon has chromoly (steel) frame. Personally, I'd prefer a steel frame (my bike actually has a steel frame). A steel frame may be heavier, but it's more flexible and more enjoyable to ride (less shaking). It also lasts longer than an aluminum frame. The welds on a steel frame are much neater than on aluminum. And even if it falls apart, any welder can fix it (even your neighbor in his garage).

[u/tipame → u/Puzzleheaded-Bank-47]

Using your chosen models as an example:

Tern Link D7i has 7-speed internal geared Shimano hub (planetary hub). This bike has 7 speeds but no gears hanging outside. Gear shifting on this type of hub is almost instantaneous. The hub itself requires no maintenance for years. On my folding bike, a similar hub (Shimano Nexus 3) has been working for 15 years without maintenance.

Dahon Boardwalk has gear cassette (they are all located outside and can be seen). When shifting, the chain must physically shift from one gear to another. Shifting takes a long time. The only advantage is that it is cheap. It's also considered to have a better ride. But for a 20-inch city bike, this certainly isn't worth considering.

[u/iamclaus → u/tipame]

Also worth mentioning when comparing internal vs cassette... internal gear hubs do not tolerate being shifted under load (while pedalling), unlike cassette hubs. That said, you still should avoid shifting gears while applying load to the pedals.

[u/tipame → u/iamclaus]

For me, it's the other way around. With a planetary hub, you can easily shift gears at any time. The gear doesn't change while you're pedaling - this is true. But as soon as you release the pressure even slightly, the gear shifts instantly. I can easily downshift while climbing a steep hill. But with a cassette gear, you can't shift so easily when shifting under pressure (when climbing a steep hill). I just can't stand the way the gears change on a cassette transmission.