TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Tern is now distributing its non-folding bike line, Roji, to markets outside of Japan.
The line of bikes with traditional diamond frames was originally sold only in Japan, but Tern said there was global demand for the bikes, which use 650c, 700c and 451 wheels. Select models will be available starting this spring in cities including New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Buenos Aires, the company said.
"At Tern, we're committed to building one of the world's leading urban cycling brands," said Joshua Hon, founder and team captain of Tern. "As we develop more product offerings in folding, electric and cargo, it's a natural progression to bring our design philosophy to classic city bikes as well. The Roji collection has been a runaway success in Japan, and we can't wait to bring it to the rest of the world."
The 2017 Roji lineup builds on last year's 650c and 700c offerings with two new 451 wheel models: the Tern Crest and the hydroform-framed Tern Surge. The small-wheeled bikes, called "mini velos," are a hybrid design combining traditional road frames and compact wheels and have become popular in Asian cities where space is at a premium.
"Our new Surge and Crest bikes are optimized for urban riding," Hon said. "What makes them great for Tokyo — size, performance, maneuverability and style — makes them perfect for Paris too."
Tern also is planning small-batch productions of some Roji designs, sporting radical styling and specs. For example, the Surge LTD features tri-spoke carbon fiber wheels, custom drop bars, and a global production run of only 50 units.
"Every time we post a teaser of the Surge LTD to our Facebook or Instagram accounts, it breaks the internet," Hon said. "The showpiece tri-spoke wheels are a bit of a flourish, but they shave grams off the stock model and offer a significant improvement in overall aerodynamics. They look pretty good too."
