FlatSix911
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Silicon Valley
Anyone add a suspension fork on Como?
- Thread starter Mr. Breeze
- Start date
Yamahonian
Active Member
I think the European como has a suspension fork, no?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I'm shocked. I was thinking to recommend a Como to a female friend of mine and have read the specs of the 2020 Como 5.0 EUR. That's so different e-bike from the North American version! Main differences (the U.S. version in parentheses):
- 700C wheels (650b)
- SR Suntour NCX E25 fork (rigid fork)
- Comfort Gel saddle ("The Cup" elastomer based saddle)
- Shimano Deore XT 180/160 mm brakes (same but 160/160 mm rotors)
- Nimbus Armadillo 700x50C tyres (Nimbus II Sport Reflex 650b x 2.3")
- Presta valves (Schrader valves)
- Rear rack (front pizza rack)
- Fender mounted tail-light (???)
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B
BarryS
Guest
Boy it must just be matter of opinion : I just spoke to another forum Member that told me Just the opposite of what you said.
Teddcl
Member
I'm very pleased with the added comfort this stem has provided. I'm prone to wrist and shoulder soreness while riding and it has helped a lot with minimizing that. Adding Ergon gp2 grips have been a helpful upgrade as well.
I wouldn't say that the rebound is dampened but it certainly doesn't have any jarring snap back.
Taylor57
Well-Known Member
Is that the 30 degree Redshift?
Teddcl
Member
Yes it is. I have an XL frame with the seat post at max height. The 30 degree stem keeps the handlebars at a comfortable level.
Taylor57
Well-Known Member
I just ordered it. Looking forward to feeling the difference to my stock stem...
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
US Como 3.0 has a saddle mount tail light, 4.0 and 5.0 are fender mount
Mr. Breeze
New Member
Well, rather than putting a suspension fork on the Como's, I just decided to buy her a full suspension Levo. Keeping the Como's for city/paved trails and the Levo's will be for everything else. A bit more expensive solution than a $300 fork, but no compromising when it comes to the single-track trails here in the desert mountains.
000
Member
Got this info and image from a Specialized Dealer Web Site/London:
This model includes smooth and fast-rolling 700C wheels have been paired with cushy 45mm tires
Fork – SR Suntour MOBIE30, steel steerer, 9mm open dropout, 50mm of travel
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bike...1-step-thru-electric-hybrid-bike-white_485542
And a couple of links:
https://www.srsuntour.com/products/fork/
https://www.srsuntour.us/collections/hybrid
Looks doable.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
European Comos are not North American ones. The Mobie forks are not available aftermarket - that's the point.
000
Member
It is not available aftermarket. I wouldn't replace the Como fork. It is hard to find a good and matching replacement fork for that e-bike. Not having the front shock also makes the bike more lightweight. The universal advice: inflate your Como tyres just to 50 psi (55 max) and you are well-off on the gravel. I know better as my specific Vado model came with the rigid fork and I can live with it easily.
You might replace the handlebars with the Baramind BAM Trek, the shock absorbing ones. Also, consider replacing the grips with Ergon GP3. The beauty of these grips is you can hold the bars by bar-ends as if you were driving a car. The hold can be very delicate and it makes the ride very easy on hands, arms, and head (hardly any vibration experienced). Since I ride long trips with such a configuration, you can trust me. (With speed bumps it is better to stand on pedals for awhile).
Stefan in Brwinów at the Podkowa Leśna border
https://www.srsuntour.com/products/fork/MOBIE-A32-6280.html from one of two North American SR Suntour dealers.
The point is; if one wants a suspension fork on a Como, a bit of critical/creative thinking will solve the problem. I'm not going to post a link to every shock that would work on a Como, research shows a lot of brands and a lot of levels and price points that will work. Yes, European Como's and North American Como's have different specs, but this doesn't affect interchangeability of parts.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I mean European Comos come with suspension fork.
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
Yep, that's going to be the hold up. I don't believe US dealers have access to the EU warranty parts, that'd be the only way to get a suspension EU Como fork I think.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I need to re-iterate on one important point: A cheap suspension fork is not a good solution. It is not giving as much comfort as one might believe but it contributes to the e-bike weight (and these are not lightweight even without the suspension fork). I demo rode Tero 3.0; that version is equipped with a cheap Suntour steel coil suspension fork (when I hear Suntour I get sick...) The e-bike itself is excellent. However, the heavy suspension fork was making the centre of gravity shifted far forward (lift the e-bike to walk over an obstacle; an otherwise lightweight e-bike -- that's how I perceived the Tero -- was heavy on the front side). While riding, I was disgusted with how little the fork was contributing to the ride comfort in rough terrain. (If I ever were to buy a Tero, that would be the version 5.0 with an air-fork).
Fixed fork Comos gain from pretty wide tyres. It is a sweet spot in the tyre inflation pressure where the ride becomes really comfortable without adding too much of rolling resistance. Let me give you an example:
My Vado is of the first release of the ST version, and it came with a rigid fork. Furthermore, it came with an unusual axle size, so no replacement suspension fork could be found. Even more: because of the specialized nature of the e-bike, the stem turned out to be irreplaceable! My solution? Baramind BAM Trek suspension handlebars for the front and Kinekt 2.1 suspension seat-post. I leave the rest to the 2" tyre pressure: when riding the pavement mostly, I inflate the tyres to 4-4.5 bar. If riding gravel/dirt, I reduce the pressure to 3.5 bar. Makes miracles!
Fixed fork Comos gain from pretty wide tyres. It is a sweet spot in the tyre inflation pressure where the ride becomes really comfortable without adding too much of rolling resistance. Let me give you an example:
My Vado is of the first release of the ST version, and it came with a rigid fork. Furthermore, it came with an unusual axle size, so no replacement suspension fork could be found. Even more: because of the specialized nature of the e-bike, the stem turned out to be irreplaceable! My solution? Baramind BAM Trek suspension handlebars for the front and Kinekt 2.1 suspension seat-post. I leave the rest to the 2" tyre pressure: when riding the pavement mostly, I inflate the tyres to 4-4.5 bar. If riding gravel/dirt, I reduce the pressure to 3.5 bar. Makes miracles!
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
Again, look at the geometry chart. The headtube length got significantly shorter thus allowing them to source a fork most likely. It's not uncommon for parts vendors to make OEM parts only and not offer them consumer direct.
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