Creo 2 Flat Bar Conversion

[VadoSL]

Looking at getting a Creo 2 but then undertaking Flat Bar conversion.

Anyone able to advise on the relevant Part Nos for the Vado SL Flat Bar, Grips, Levers ? Also is the fact that Creo has electronic gear change mean that this isn't feasible or is there a solution ?

Also any other tips or suggestions welcome ?

 

[zbikeman]

Here are the current specs for the Vado SL2 5.0 cockpit:

Stem:
Specialized Stealth Stem, Alloy, 31.8mm, Integrated Display And Light Mount, Size S/M : 60mm 17 Deg, L/XL : 75mm 15.5 Deg

Handlebars:
Specialized, alloy, 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm

Grips:
ERGON, GA30-S Custom, 134.8mm Length

You're not locked into this cockpit unless you want to duplicate it exactly. As long as you've got a 31.8 bar/stem combo, you're golden.

Creo 2 comes with etap shifters (brifters). You'd have to upgrade to Eagle AXS to get flat bar electronic shifting.

You'd also have to get a separate set of brake levers, as the etap levers control both shifting and braking.

It's doable, but you'll spend a lot of money and effort to get there.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You'd have to replace almost the whole drivetrain. The drop bar and flat bar drivetrains (electronic or mechanical) are incompatible.

Is is really that hard to ride the drop bar in the hoods?

 

[e-levity]

Be sure to consider the reach change going from a drop bars to a flat bar. Drop bar road bikes typically have a shorter reach dimension because they have longer stems plus the additional reach to the hoods and drops that will be lost with a flat bar. Body position and bike handling will be affected (though perhaps to your liking).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Shorter reach = more upright riding position = pain in the butt. Gravel bikes such as Creo 2 are intentionally designed the way they are to enable very long, comfortable rides. I'm probably the voice in the wilderness but for me converting a Creo 2 is simply crippling a wonderful machine, making it a mongrel... (I demo rode both drop bar Diverge and flat bar Diverge EVO. Both bikes had different geometry and felt differently).

 

[Nubnub]

Looking at getting a Creo 2 but then undertaking Flat Bar conversion.

Anyone able to advise on the relevant Part Nos for the Vado SL Flat Bar, Grips, Levers ? Also is the fact that Creo has electronic gear change mean that this isn't feasible or is there a solution ?

Also any other tips or suggestions welcome ?

Relatively straight forward conversion. Currently Facebook Creo group has several recent posts/photos showing other recent coversions. You will need a flat bar (obv), compatible brake levers and grips, an AXS shift pod, and a bleed kit/oil or lbs to do the brake bleeds. The F1/F2 bips and dropper control can be reused on the flat bar. I placed the bips just inside the grips and they are easy to get to.

But, since the Vado SL 2 is now available, you might want to look into those. If there is still a Forward 50 version in your size available in your area - that would likely be a cheaper and superior alternative to doing a conversion. Chief upgrades over converting are the Force drivetrain and carbon fiber wheels as well as assorted parts upgrades throughout. It will weigh about the same as a converted Creo 2 with range extender. An alloy SL2 could also be a viable alternative - it will be a bit heavier but also likely much less expensive than the Creo 2 + conversion. And if money is no option (and you don't need integrated lights) the new Race version is the top of the line option atm.

 

[Calcoaster]

If your reason for the flat bar conversion is a more upright position, you could consider riser drop bars like the redshift top shelf bars. They’ll raise the bars by 50 or 70mm and give you more hand positions than flat bars.

 

[VadoSL]

Thanks for all the responses - very much appreciated.

Ideally I would like to move up to a Vado SL 2 carbon but I totally dislike the styling. I think Specialized ruined a really good design when then went from Vado SL 1 to 2. Having the Seat Stay half way down the Top Tube looks like a gimmick rather than better design and is there anyone who thinks the front mudguard stays look good !!!

All this means that I am now looking at options - I really like the design of the Creo and the benefit of the 1.2 motor but much prefer Flat Bar.

 

[VadoSL]

..... compatible brake levers and grips, an AXS shift pod. The F1/F2 bips and dropper control can be reused on the flat bar. I placed the bips just inside the grips and they are easy to get to.

Hi, would you be able to share a few more details and specs, particularly around AXS shift pod ? Also I assume the F1/F2 bips and dropper are shifter related - again would you have some more detail on exactly what you did and what parts are needed ? Thanks

 

[mschwett]

I’d recommend you check out the Skitch. similar or lower price than you’ll end up spending, correct geometry for flat bar, same weight, really clean lines.

 

[EMGX]

This thread made me curious if same model flat bar bikes have a different geometry than drops and looked up the skitch. Same frame/geometry for both flat and drops. I've seen that for other brand bikes also so even premium manufacturers don't seem to think that flat bar instead of drop on same frame would transform it into a "mongrel".

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This thread made me curious if same model flat bar bikes have a different geometry than drops and looked up the skitch. Same frame/geometry for both flat and drops. I've seen that for other brand bikes also so even premium manufacturers don't seem to think that flat bar instead of drop on same frame would transform it into a "mongrel".

Some bike brands take care to make the things right... In either case, the white outline is the flat bar bike, and the black one is a corresponding drop bar model.


If you say Santa Cruz Skitch has the same geometry for flat/drop bar then it only tells me something about the company's culture. ("Nobody would notice, let's save the precious dollar").

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Ha snap Stefan! Was just thinking about the flats & drops difference. Though I wouldn't be derogatory about Santa Cruz, just because you are ignorant of their history - if it's correct, who knows why they decided this approach?

Anyway here's a comparison of the Vado SL 6 & The Creo 2. Both with 38mm tyres for simplicity. You can get an idea how longer the frames of flat bar bikes are compared to drops.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You can get an idea how longer the frames of flat bar bikes are compared to drops.

Indeed! Let me tell you my own story.

It was a Specialized Day when anyone could demo ride bikes and e-bikes, an hour per ride. The LBS is located near to a pretty big forest with hardpack and more MTB trails. Diverge EVO (flat bar) in my size was the first choice. I have long arms; despite the longer frame that the Diverge (drop bar), I felt like confined in a cage on the EVO, and was thinking a way longer stem would be the first mod I would do. Then, I tried Diverge (drop bar) in: 52 (I felt like in a cage again), 56 (I was literally stretched by the bike length), and 54 (a normal feeling). Those three drop bar attempts were just symbolic rides to make me understand the right geometry.

Now, I can visualise @VadoSL having done an expensive conversion to flat bar, and then him looking for a very long Future Shock compatible stem...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Learning a lot from this discussion of bars and frames. But seems to me that the real question from the OP's standpoint is this: Regardless of what bars it came with, how far from ideal is the actual Creo 2 frame for the flat bars he wants?

At the level of riding a bike in this class attracts, every design decision impacts every other. And that makes it impossible to optimize everything at once — even on a single-purpose bike, which the Creo 2 most definitely is not.

So there will always be trade-offs and room for decisions based on taste alone. Maybe a flat-bar Creo 2 will suit the OP's purposes just fine.

IIRC, at least two Creo 2 members have gone over to the dark side, and they seemed quite happy with their new flat bars.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

at least two Creo 2 members have gone over to the dark side, and they seemed quite happy with their new flat bars.

People do strangest things because they think it is right. I can remember a forum member asking what tyres he should use to replace his stock WTB on his premium e-bike and said Schwalbe. (Are you getting my point?)

As a noob, I was making many irrational decisions related to my e-bikes. For instance, I was extremely raising the bars "for more comfortable riding position", which ended up in my ruined butt In fact, I should have lowered the handlebars and move them far forward but it took me 3 years to understand. And yes, I reedited my earlier thread on handlebar raising with a clear statement "Never Do It". Now, when I read people who think they are smarter than the bike manufacturer, it makes me want weep. I could have bought a Creo 1. I haven't as I decided the drop bar was not for me but I wouldn't maim a perfect e-bike just because I didn't like the drop bar.

Nobody can stop a user to convert a Porsche into a "John Deere"

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

People do strangest things because they think it is right. I can remember a forum member asking what tyres he should use to replace his stock WTB on his premium e-bike and said Schwalbe. (Are you getting my point?)

As a noob, I was making many irrational decisions related to my e-bikes. For instance, I was extremely raising the bars "for more comfortable riding position", which ended up in my ruined butt In fact, I should have lowered the handlebars and move them far forward but it took me 3 years to understand. And yes, I reedited my earlier thread on handlebar raising with a clear statement "Never Do It". Now, when I read people who think they are smarter than the bike manufacturer, it makes me want weep. I could have bought a Creo 1. I haven't as I decided the drop bar was not for me but I wouldn't maim a perfect e-bike just because I didn't like the drop bar.

Nobody can stop a user to convert a Porsche into a "John Deere"

And perfect is the enemy of good. You should really remember that.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

And perfect is the enemy of good. You should really remember that.

The Polish version reads: "Better is the enemy of good".
In your version, "perfect" means there's no space for improvement. My version means it is often wrong to improve already good things.
None of these proverbs mentions "spoiling" a good thing though

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Though I wouldn't be derogatory about Santa Cruz, just because you are ignorant of their history - if it's correct, who knows why they decided this approach?

I wonder why Skitch cannot be bought in Europe Guess with me.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The Polish version reads: "Better is the enemy of good".
In your version, "perfect" means there's no space for improvement. My version means it is often wrong to improve already good things.
None of these proverbs mentions "spoiling" a good thing though

It also means that if you turn your nose up at everything you deem imperfect, you miss out on a lot of good stuff.