Having used Shimano Internal Hubs for the past 12 years or so, the no fuss, no adjustment, no chain drops or parts replacement is well worth the small increase in weight. One caution though with the Nexus 7 speed, it isn't one of Shimano's best hubs. You will have a narrower gear range & it is important NOT to mash on the pedals when climbing any hills as the internal shift pawls are not that strong. Other than that, they are great for casual or city riding. You could also rebuild your rear wheel with the Alfine 11 hub for better gearing & still only be another $500. into your bike.
Check Priority Bycicles folding bike - $700 for belt drive, 7 hub gears, very similar design to Tern. My only bike is a 3 speed Brompton A line. I use it to bike to work 6 miles/day (10 km) and my apartment is only 325 sq. ft (30 sq. m), so I prefer a smaller bike.
I've always owned Bromptons and also have a Tern D8. I totally get why the P line would be disappointing gear wise, it's got less of a range than even the Brompton 3 speed. I have a 6 speed which I do enjoy but it can get a bit annoying with more complex combined hub and derailleur but I agree with you, I don't always need to have such a compact package. My Tern D8 feels more stable and comfortable on longer rides. It's 10 years old and still looks great and I've never even had a flat on it. I'm now upgrading the gears to an internal 11 speed Alfine. I love internal hub gears, the ability to shift while stationary and the low maintenance aspect and the range will be so much better than what I have on my Brompton.
In our part of the world, a B has become a status symbol rather than a real performer. I just can't justify it's price to performance value compared to a lesser priced Dahon, Tern or other noteworthy foldy less than a quarter of it's price with more gears , lighter , etc. You do look handsome riding a B though ...
Thanks for sharing your experiences as those two brands have been under consideration. Next time park before doing a video, hard to watch you on a busy road and repeatedly taking your hands off the wheel
