What kinda made my eye pop was the Shimano Capreo hub on the bike's rear wheel.
Seeing as it is, I bet it's hard to maintain a competitive price-point if a better hub is used in place of the Capreo.
But don't get me wrong, this component which is meant for small bikes is as fast as it sounds. The Dahon Curve SL (now discontinued) uses a Shimano Capreo groupset (shifter, cogwheels & hub).
On my Facebook page, I made fun of the bike as a break-up present. Yeah, it's beautiful and definitely something a guy with mid-life crisis would go for.
Way I see it, the X-18 is a perfect training bike. But, seriously, if you want something that you can transport anywhere without a roof rack, you should consider this bike. And last but not least, it doesn't fold as compact as other Tern bikes because of the VRO steering system and the drop-bar.
Where to get it?
Head to My Bicycle Shop in BU4, Bandar Utama and call Johnny Ng 016-632 2599 or check it out at Rodalink's outlet in Taman Botanic in Klang.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Tern's award-winning entry for design and innovation at the Taipei Cycle 2015 show: The Verge X-18.
TOP LEFT: The strong OCL joint on the bike's frame.
TOP RIGHT: X-18, folded.
BOTTOM LEFT: The FSA dual crank.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Syntace steering system with a drop bar and Shimano SORA brakes and shifters.
LEFT: The Shimano ULTEGRA rear-derailleur on the Verge X-18.