Vado SL 4.0 with a suspension fork?

[Allan47.7339]

A normal steerer tube.

I don't think that is a precise enough answer if it referencing a Vado SL. The steerer tube is customized for the future shock system. As far as I know it's not a standard diameter.
Example is to delete the future shock, you need a custom part.

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[Stefan Mikes]

The steerer tube is customized for the future shock system

Not in Vado SL 1 4.0. Only in 5.0: it is a carbon fork. I use Redshift on my Vado SL 1 4.0; it's a normal steerer.

 

[Allan47.7339]

OK. I thought you were referring to the steerer tube which is part of the fork assembly not the handlebar stem.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes I meant the steerer tube. Vado SL 4 and 5 have different forks.

 

[sandyman44]

collecting a 2nd hand vado 4.0 Sl this weekend. I'll frankenbike it with a suspension fork from an old hardtail mtb just to prove the concept, then work out what to actually fit.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

collecting a 2nd hand vado 4.0 Sl this weekend. I'll frankenbike it with a suspension fork from an old hardtail mtb just to prove the concept, then work out what to actually fit.

Good stuff! Was it via ebay or a local shop? Good deal?!

 

[sandyman44]

Good stuff! Was it via ebay or a local shop? Good deal?!

ebay. £1k, which is about right. My understanding to-date is that its will take a 1-1/8" straight tube fork. hoping that one of whats in the garage will fit that, for the test purpose.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

ebay. £1k, which is about right. My understanding to-date is that its will take a 1-1/8" straight tube fork. hoping that one of whats in the garage will fit that, for the test purpose.

Thats a very good price. Fingers crossed on the conversion. Really interested to see the result.

 

[sandyman44]

got it last night. morning of tinkering. starting point, I'd already taken the front wheel off

stock specialised fork removed

removed the city bike bits, swapped fork and front wheel from an old Giant Roam "trekking/city" bike. 60mm travel fork, made of lead. Bike's headset bearing doesn't sit quite right at the bottom for this older fork and steerer only long enough for 1 stem bolt to clamp... so not properly rideable yet... but.. frankenbike is born and doing baby crawling.

only ridden gently up and down the street as the headset and stem aren't safe for much more...but the new geometry feels good. stock steering setup felt "twitchy" , as you'd expect for a city bike. This now feels "about right for gravel". Bars will need to go up and forward for my posture. And, its massive frame triangle for a days worth of stuff.. takes my biggest frame bag with room to spare...happy so far.
For the record, there is nothing fancy going onside the headtube of this bike. not easy to photo - but its just a hollow tube. Couple of cables in there going to the TCU from the motor, but they are protected by a plastic cuff.
It's significantly larger internal diameter than that of my older non-e city bike that I pinched the fork from.
now I need to go learn about headset, headtube and fork sizes and types....not something I've been into deeply before.

 

[Chazmo]

Yeah, definitely don’t ride it for real until those bearings sit properly and snugly in the tube. I don’t know exactly what you’re dealing with, but you probably need a new race at the bottom of the tube to make the thing fit properly. Or, maybe there’s some kind of steerer tube sleeve that can be incorporated. Best of luck.

BTW, I’m not a Specialized wonk, but I think what you’ve got looks good!