Touring Bike Update: Co-Motion Americano

After owning this bike for several months, riding it on multiple tours, and surpassing 2,500 miles of use, it's time to share my thoughts on how my new touring bike has performed.

Co-Motion: @co-motioncycles7269

Belt Drive and Internal Gear Box Info: @Cyclingabout

Industry 9 provided excellent Customer Service: @industrynine3931

[jasonm]

Thanks for a clear, well thought out review. Much appreciated.

[alexmorgan]

I have the tension of my bike’s Gates belt with Rohloff hub set quite low as like you I fear a tighter belt could cause premature bearing wear of my Rohloff hub. I have never ever experienced the belt slipping or coming off in the 3-4 years I have had it.

Your Americano is a lovely bike. The ultimate low maintenance touring bike.

Thank you for your update review.

[brentlillesand]

As a retired engineer with a lot of experience with bearings (and owner of a gates/pinion) - I believe that a high belt tension definitely would lead to a much accelerated failure rate.

[kimlaselle]

I'm on the verge of ordering one so Thank You for this review--I'm sold! I'm hoping your rear hub experience was due to belt over tensioning and a manufacturing flaw (it happens). Oh, I can't wait! And, although the prices have gone up, the wait time has gone down I've been told!

[alexmorgan]

I just re-watched this video. Re belt tension. I have my Gates belt not loose but not tight. I tension it to the degree that I can turn the middle of the belt with my thumb and forefinger, through almost 90 degrees, say 75-80 degrees. If I can only turn it 20, 30 or 45 degrees it is too tight, where as if can turn it more than 90 degrees then it is too loose. But be careful twisting it too far in case the risk of damage to the structure of the belt although Gates belts are very robust. This is how my father taught me to tension car cam belts when changing them. He never had a cam belt snap and neither have I, so I use the same rational. This app requiring so many hertz vibrations for correct belt tension just seems like a load of rubbish as from what I have seen the belt tension is far too high and it is highly inaccurate. I value my hub's bearings. I have never had a belt slip or indeed brake using this technique riding thousands of miles up and down hills fully loaded.

I hope you are still enjoying your Co-Motion Americano taking you lots of places making good memories. It's a great looking bike.

[AKay]

Here is what I did to add another bottle cage on the topside of the downtube above the existing cage. First, add a a Wolf Tooth B-Rad slotted mounting base to allow the existing bottle cage to be slid as far down towards the bottom bracket. This provides more room on the downtube to add another bottle cage bracket. To add another cage, use Velo Orange hinged water bottle cage clamps on the downtube between the existing bottle cage on the Wolf Tooth base and the headtube. You now have two water bottle cages on the topside of the downtube. You could also add a Wolf Tooth sliding base on the seat tube bottle cage to move it up which would allow the existing downtube cage to move further down. From the looks of your downtube, there is plenty of length to do this. I have used this setup for years and another advantage is that you don't have to reach as far down to grab the water bottle from the upper cage.

[james-p]

8:21 - A bottle of Cab for the win! lol. What is your height? I'm 6'4" / 193cm (in bare feet) and I'm looking into Co-Motion. I also prefer a bit more of an upright riding position, so your experience is helpful - thanks!

[sammycda]

Great review. I have 3 Rohloff bikes and maybe I should try a Pinion bike. I found that the belt squeaking can also be fixed by spraying the belt with silicone spray. It seems to stay on when the bike gets wet but I need to reapply every couple of days if I'm riding gravel trails. Looks like a great bike. Thanks for the video.

[hcurtis]

Great video. I am in the market for a bicycle just like yours. Actually, I could see me buying your exact bicycle, color and all. I do have some concern over the noise that you posted due to the pinion gear, so I will have to think about that more. Wonder if a Rohloff would be less noisy? I do sort of want the pinion. Very cool color.

[DJ-ppyg]

The geometry is of interest with the top tube position. Looks like it yields a more upright riding position which would benefit my neck issues?

[roberthunter]

Ali from cycling about runs his belt very loose. Not saying you should but certainly think you could run a little loose.

[GordoGambler]

Have you seen Flyscout Ryder 's newest videos? He had that setup on a Co-Mo Divide. Only went 1000 miles on the West Coast, till he got pissed at it and went back to his old bike. LOL. And his belt got broken trying to fix that hub. Ryan van Duzer broke his too. That rear hub is abysmal. Worse than 7th gear on my Rohloff14.

Your bike looks real nice. Find a better hub. R+E bikes make lots of bikes that shape too.
Rohloff14 is far superior, that's just a fact. Gets better all the time.
NO doubt you had the belt way too tight. One of the famous full time vloggers has his belt noodle loose.
Quit whining about the 36 lbs for that giant size frame. My custom is double that with my day ride load. LOL.
I have a 1/8" chain and DIY case. I finally got smart and I left the original grease on it. Still near zero wear in 2 years and maybe 4, 000 miles with 2 different wheels. Chain only gets wiped occasionally.
Lubes are the biggest FAIL in cycling, IMO.