Check out my updated long-term review of the Co-Motion Divide at https://johnnyisaak.com/co-motion-divide-rohloff-a-long-term-review/
I’ve been rolling on my Rohloff/Gate CDX equipped Co-Motion Divide for about two months now, logging in over 2,500+ kilometers, using the bike as my primary form of transportation and daily commuter to and from work. I’ve had the bike on several short and longer distance multi-day micro-adventures ranging from 200-500 kilometers. With the saddle, handlebars and other adjustments pretty much set, I’m now settling into the bike and getting to know the subtle nuances of life on the road with an internally geared hub and carbon belt drive.
A Capable Expedition Bike
The Co-Motion Divide Rohloff is an exceptional machine that continues to excel in all areas and is meeting or exceeding my expectations as an expeditionary bicycle. I’ve encountered no issues or concerns with the bike or its components up to this point.
Pretty much dialed in and through its initial break-in period, the Divide offers a comfortable, problem-free ride around town or loaded out on the highway. After hours in the saddle, it has yet to give me a set of numb hands or induce a raging case of monkey butt on my tender little tush and handles varying loads with ease.
Under a full touring load of four panniers and a rackpack tipping the scales at about 22 kilos, the bike is solid and predictable, with the frame seeming a little stiffer than my fully loaded Fargo. Loaded or unloaded the ride is a little stiff, as I run the tire pressure in the Schwalbe Mondials at around 60 psi to reduce rolling resistance. Cruising down the road, Gates CDX belt is virtually silent, with the only the sound of crunching of gravel under the Divide’s tires or the occasional rattle from loose kit in the front top bag. The frame is solid, with no blemishes or hickeys to be seen. Giving up my right arm and selling my first born has proved a worthwhile investment in this premium expedition bike. I can definitely see where my money went.
Rohloff Speedhub
The Rohloff Speedhub makes shifting a dream. Being able to add or drop a handful of gears at the twist of the wrist without pedaling so much as a single revolution adds a whole new dimension to riding. The initial gear reduction noise experienced in speeds 1-7 has all but subsided as Rohloff stated would occur during the initial 1000 kilometer break-in period, though I still notice a little gear reduction noise in the 7th speed, which isn’t enough to be overt or bothersome during long climbs in low gears. At 2,500 kilometers ridden, the Speedhub is half way to its first oil change at 5,000 km and running smooth.
If you own a Co-Motion Divide Rohloff and haven’t done so, you may want to pick up a 4mm shortie hex wrench to make getting at the lock screws on the eccentric bottom bracket on the drive side of the bracket a little easier. Co-Motion has them for $6.00 each (a little spendy, but effective).
Gates CDX Center Track Drive
The Gates CDX Center Track Drive is another boon for the Divide. Smooth and silent running, it’s had no binds, no noise, and most of all, it requires no oil, makes no mess, or requires weekly servicing other than to wash it with soap and water along with the rest of the bike. A lack of a chain and derailleurs greatly simplifies drivetrain maintenance and is a real pleasure for those like me who ride their bike everyday and chains tend to gum up with dirt quickly and require frequent cleaning and maintenance.
Under fully loaded conditions (22 kg), the Gates CDX gear ration (46×20) and coupled with the Rohloff Speedhub seems to have sufficient the low-end gear capacity sufficient for long, sustained climbing on 5-6% grades. If required, low-end capacity could be increased by swapping out the 20 tooth rear cog for a 22 or 24.
Based on last summer’s day long climbing experiences high in the mountains of western China, often ascending 1,500-2,500 meters in elevation on paved and gravel roads, I’ve been toying with the idea of increasing the bottom end capacity of the Divide, but want to do additional testing under fully loaded conditions before making a final decision.
Brooks Cambium C17
The aftermarket Brooks Cambium C17 continues to perform exceptionally well. It remains comfortable on long rides, and shows no signs of premature wear or potential failure under daily use. The saddle’s patina from perspiration and physical contact is presenting nicely as subtle darker areas on the cotton/textile surface much like its leather counterparts.
TRP Spyke Disc Brakes
The real unsung heroes of the Co-Motion Divide are the TRP Spyke cable actuated disc brakes mated to 160 mm discs, which are strong, predictable, and easy to modulate on long loaded descents, with the real surprise being how quiet they are — no squeaking or squawking when dusty or wet, so much so that I’ve forgone my initial intent of swapping the stock brakes out for a set of hydraulic Shimano XTR Trail Brakes, an idea I had when I first ordered the bike last spring.
Additionally, the Spyke calipers are compatible with Shimano M525/M515 disc pads, which are widely available in China, where I’m planning to do a significant amount of adventure cycling over the next couple of years.
The Jury’s Still Out
With winter closing in, it will be interesting to see how the Rohloff Speedhub performs in sub-freezing temperatures as the mercury plummets and the oil within the hub begins to thicken and may possibly interfere with shifting.
I’m also keeping an eye on the exposed Rohloff shifter and rear brake cables running along the frame’s down tube to see how they fare over time, being they are exposed to the elements and whatever the front tire can kick up from the road. More to follow in subsequent updates. I haven’t had a chance to perform a detailed evaluation of the Co-Pilot S&S couplings but will in the months to come when I resume overseas travel.
Final Thoughts
So far, so good. No issues or concerns, only smooth, trouble-free riding. The Co-Motion Divide Rohloff is performing like a dream. Adding Schwalbe Mondial tires, a Brooks C17 Cambium saddle, and a Jones Loop H-Bar have made exceptional expedition bike even better.
I’m looking forward to completing longer, more extended journeys on this capable bike during the months and years to come. The Divide is a burly long-range cruiser that carries a load well and instills the confidence necessary to point it for the horizon and pedal to the farthest reaches of your imagination.
If you have any tips or advice, please leave a comment or shoot me a line via my contact page. I’d like to hear any thoughts, ideas or recommendations you may have.
Strong tailwinds and long descents.
Johnny I.
Hey Johnny! I’ve really enjoyed reading your reviews on your Divide and hope soon to spring for the Rohloff hub. I do have a few questions about your setup. 1# How do you deal with attaching your front pannier with the fenders installed on the disc side? If you happen to have any pictures of this area could you please send them, currently i just have my front disc side pannier hanging with no way to attach it due to the mount for the fender sticking out too far.. #2 How wide is your Jones bar? #3 Do you have issues with your paint chipping on your Divide? Thanks so much for your time, happy trails!
Ryan,
Thank you for the inquires. Heres a quick rundown of what I’m using:
1# How do you deal with attaching your front pannier with the fenders installed on the disc side? If you happen to have any pictures of this area could you please send them, currently i just have my front disc side pannier hanging with no way to attach it due to the mount for the fender sticking out too far..
Reply: It all fits with out a problem. Gear: Surly Nice Racks. Planet Bike Cascadia fenders. Stainless steel hex screws, lock-washers and blue Loctite. Plenty of room for the disc and the stays on the front fender if mounted on the rack and not the fork. Please check out the pictures I emailed you for the details. All the bits went together nicely, are very functional, look decent, and don’t rattle.
#2 How wide is your Jones bar?
Reply: I use the aluminum 710mm wide Jones Loop H-Bar outfitted with ESI 8.25” Extra Chunky Grips, which are comfortable an provide a lot of gripping space.
#3 Do you have issues with your paint chipping on your Divide?
Reply: No paint chipping issues on the Co-Motion frame as of yet. The coats of paint appear thick and smoothly fill in all the nooks and crannies. Co-Motion’s fit and finish on Divide is top shelf without a detail being overlooked. I’m really pleased with the bike and Co-Motion’s work and service overall. I plan on having the Divide for a long time; so, it will be interesting to see how the it fares over time and distance traveled.
My goal is to set up a serious expedition bike that’s a rugged, durable multi-terrain vehicle that can take me and about 45 kg anywhere I want to go. I’ve deliberately sacrificed some weight savings for robust, dependable gear the can handle the rough stuff in remote locations and not fail. And I think I’ve done that with both the Divide Rohloff and my Salsa Fargo, both of which are exceptional bikes.
I like my Fargo very much and road it about 3,500 km across western and southwestern China last summer on and off road without a single issue. I only went to the Co-Motion to get the Rohloff Speedhub and Gates CDX Carbon Belt Drive. In fact, both bikes have very similar set ups in regards to handlebars, tires, racks, fender, etc., with the major difference being the drivetrains.
I consider the Speedhub and belt drive a huge plus for adventure cycling. The function exceptionally well in long distance cycling environments, are very dependable, require minimal maintenance, and are very durable. Local availability is really not an issue due to their reliability and the proliferation of worldwide shipping.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Cheers, Johnny
Hi Johnny:
I really enjoyed your evaluation about your Co-Motion Divide. Great article and photos. I am looking at getting one of the two bikes you already own (Fargo and Divide) and even want to get the Jones bars like yours. I also want to get the Rohloff setup.
Since you know the characteristics of both bikes and how they handle, I was wondering if you can provide me with your opinion on them. My problem is I can’t afford both of them. For the Fargo I’m looking at the Ti version with the steel fork. Therefore, the costs between the two bike will be very similar.
I will be using the bike for dirt, gravel, rails-to-trails self-supported tours in the U.S. for 1 to 3 weeks in duration. Also, I want to do a month long adventure something like your China trip. I’ll be carrying my camping and cooking gear, food, clothes, tools, etc. With a change of tires, I will also use this bike to commute to and from work, 36 miles round trip on paved roads in the city.
Questions:
1) For the Fargo, have you experienced any high/low speed wobbles with loaded front panniers? This is a concern I have from reading other web sites.
2) For the Rolhoff, why did you choose the belt drive instead of the chain? (I don’t know which way to go on this.)
3) If you could put the Rolhoff on the Fargo, what do you think would be a better bike for loaded touring on and off pavement? Why?
I know this is lengthy, but, you seem to be the perfect person for me to ask since you already own both of the bikes with the exact same setup I’m considering. And, you seem to be really enjoying life. My hat’s off to you sir.
Thank you,
Alan Eldridge
email address: aeldridgephoto@gmail.com
Alan,
Sorry for the late response. I’m on a road trip with my Divide, where I’ve crossed the Sierra Nevadas and got caught and forced to bivouac above 8000 ft in the snow and rain while riding from Carson City over Kit Carson Pass (8400 ft) to San Francisco. Now that I’m in San Francisco and out of the mountains, the fall weather is beautiful. The Divide is carrying about 22 kg of gear and doing very well on the hills and over the flats. Hell, I even pushed it up Hyde Street (18-19% grade) and rode it down Lombard Street just for kicks — fully loaded.
Bottom line up front: If you can get the Co-Motion Divide Rohloff, with Co-Pilot (S&S couplings), get it. It’s at the top of the expedition bike scale. Period. It’s a bike that you wherever you have the desire to ride it and will last you the rest of your life.
Both the Fargo and the Divide are very similar and excellent bikes, with being the premium model of the two. Both will take you anywhere you want to go. Highly recommend the Co-Motion Divide if you are going with a Rohloff Speedhub. With the vertical rear dropouts that will retain belt tension and the eccentric bottom bracket to make tensioning the belt a simple affair and bolted seat stay to simplify belt changing, the Divide was built around the Rohloff Speedhub and Gates CDX Carbon Drive. You can put a Rohloff on the Salsa Fargo with the Alternator dropouts you can set belt tension, but will have to have the right rear seat stay modified so you can use a Gates belt (install and change).
Both bikes are stable under speed (~40-50 kph) will loaded (~22 kg), but the Divide is noticeably stiffer, which I think is do to the larger diameter chromoly frame tubing. Workmanship on the Fargo is very good and superior on the Divide, which costs 2-3 times the Fargo, but you can see where you money went.
The Divide is specifically built extra beefy to haul heavy loads. It uses the same tubing Co-Motion uses on their tandem bikes, plus has a 40 spoke Velocity Cliffhanger on the front and 36 spoke (to fit the Speedhub 36) on the rear. The Divide is built to carry heavy loads, where the Fargo seems a littler more towards the lighter bikepacking end of the spectrum, or so I’ve noticed when trekking on them.
The Rohloff/Gates drive train is exception. I only wish I’d started using them five years ago. The Rohloff’s shifting is flawless and doesn’t require pedaling to change gears. The Gates CDX (Center Drive) Carbon Belt is silent. There is no oil, no mess. Maintenance consists of changing the oil in the Speedhub every 5000 km and washing and checking the tension on the belt — both pretty simple. There are how-to videos on YouTube.
I have Jones Loop H-Bars on both bikes. They are the perfect compromise between drop and flat top mountain bike bars, with several hand positions, plenty of restate to mount gear, but still maneuverable. I never used the drops on drop bars, was never sold on butterfly bars, and got numb hands from standard flat top bars when riding long distances. Mine are the aluminum 710mm Loop H-Bars with Extra Chunky ESI grips. I love’m.
I ride my bike on asphalt, dirt roads, trails, and single track, loaded and unloaded. I bought it for and use it as my primary travel and exploration vehicle. Recommend upgrading to Schwalbe Mondial (28 x 2.0) tires. They’re bulletproof — over 7000 km and zero flats. On average, I ride my Divide about 40 km/day on varied terrain and have had no issues.
Questions:
1) For the Fargo, have you experienced any high/low speed wobbles with loaded front panniers? This is a concern I have from reading other web sites. Answer: No wobbles. Stable at speed. Confident descending at speeds around 50 kph with a 22 kg payload (front and rear panniers and a rear rackpack). Just flexes a little more than the Divide.
2) For the Rolhoff, why did you choose the belt drive instead of the chain? (I don’t know which way to go on this.) Answer: The Divide Rohloff comes with the Gates CDX Carbon Drive. This is a huge plus. Virtually silent. Minimal maintenance. No chain noise. No oil mess. Nothing to lube. Belt lasts 2-3 times that of a quality chain. A quality Connex chain runs $78.00, about the same as a Gates carbon belt, but the belt lasts at least twice as long. If you get a Rohloff, highly recommend you get a Gates CDX Carbon Belt Drive. You won’t regret it.
3) If you could put the Rolhoff on the Fargo, what do you think would be a better bike for loaded touring on and off pavement? Why? Answer: Stiffer is better. My Fargo is a Fargo 2 that I upgraded to Shimano XTR components, Chris King, headset, bottom bracket and hubs and Mavic EM821 rims with Phil Wood spokes. It was about as beefy as I could go. I’m not that familiar with the Ti frame, but if it’s stiffer, you might consider it. But if you go that route, you’re almost to the cost of a Divide, which I think is superior on any account due to Co-Motion’s quality, strength of build, and that the Divide is complete built around the Rohloff/Gates drivetrain, where the Salsa is not.
The only other thing to consider is tire size: 26”, 29” or 27.5” or 600b. Co-Motion makes a bike in all three (with or without Rohloff). I like the 29er cause it rolls over anything, but in Asia where I’m headed, 27.5 is king. I’ll just have to have 29” tires and components shipped to me from the U.S.
Hope this helps, Alan. Please email me if there is anything else that I can be of assistance with. I went with what I thought was the less expensive, but good enough route when I built up the Fargo, but in the end, I got a Divide and never looked back. Cheap can be expensive in the long run. I I would have known then what I know now, I would have got the Divide first. Both are very good bikes, but the is in a whole other class of good.
Life is good. Get out there as soon and as much as you can. Your life is ending one day at a time and there will come a day when “it is too late.” When my wife and I married, we said retire at 55. That time is less than six months away and I am retiring now to spend time with my family and trek on my bike. I am “living the dream.” Just as Cortez did, I’ve burned my ships in the bay and have moved forward toward the horizon. Highly recommend you do the same.
Best regards,
Johnny
Hi Johnny,
Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your time and knowledge about this.
The reason I was considering the Fargo Ti is because of the non-corrosion factor, hence, less maintenance, and also the reason for the Rohloff. But, your objective opinion on the Divide has convinced me it’s better to go with a stable platform designed for the Rohloff belt drive (again, less maintenance). I guess I’ll need to keep the steel bike dry after it rains or snows. I’ve never ridden a week long trip without some type of wet coming down and splashing up.
Now I need to figure out how to purchase two of them without taking a second on the house. My wife and I need two to tango. Oh well, maybe the kids can pay their own way through college.
Again, thank you for your time and thoughts. Sounds like you’re living the dream while some of us only imagine it. Yup, gotta “just do it”.
Enjoy the ride!
Alan
Hi, thanks for the write-up. Regarding TRP Spyke, is it compatible with the Rohloff 4-bolt rotors or do you need different brand rotors?
I have a Rohloff and considering the Spyke vs BB7 for a new build.
Thank you
Ben,
Thanks for the question regrading the TRP Spyke brakes. I see no issue with the 4-bolt rotors. My Divide is set up with a 160mm 4-bolt Magura disc on the rear and it works fine. I think the TRP Spyke brakes are excellent. They provide more than enough stopping power while descending 6-8% grades under load conditions (me, the bike and about 25kg of kit) and nicest of all, they don’t squeal much when wet — unlike the BB7’s I initially had on my Salsa Fargo. When the BB7’s got wet, they tended to shriek and squawk like a flock of angry seagulls — not so with the Spyke’s. Highly recommend the TRP Spyke disc brakes.
On a similar note, I’ll be putting up an in-depth one-year on the Co-Motion Divide Rohloff next week, if you’re interested.
Shoot me a line if you have anymore questions.
Cheers, Johnny
Johnny, very interested in your follow-up review. I’m interested in two things:
1) what is your feeling about the Divide as a road bike? I’d hope to commute (this is a given) and go on club rides. I realize it’s not a 15-lb carbon bike, but then my current “road bike” is a surly LHT anway….
2) I have a rohloff-equipped thorn, and have never gotten over the feeling that it’s costing me energy. I have a friend who rode a belt-drive/rohloff Tout Terrain on a recent tour and was noticably slower than usual. The latter might have been because of geometry/rider position, but I’d be interested in your thoughts.
Cheers
Pete,
Thank you for your comments and questions. Much appreciated.
The Divide is an excellent road bike. Given that said, it’s not a 15 lb carbon fiber whippet build to go zipping around the city on local rides, but a burly 28 lb steel-framed mountain/expedition bike constructed to haul heavy loads over the roughest terrain to the farthest reaches of your imagination, and as such won’t be setting any land-speed records. However, unloaded as my commuter bike the Divide gets around just fine.
Where I tend to ride, speed scant carbon framed road bikes wouldn’t hold up. One of my buddies road his carbon road bike on a ride with us to Xitang last summer and ended up carrying his bike alongside the road because it could handle riding on broken up road surfaces and unpaved backcountry roads.
On occasion, I do have lycra-clad speed demons whizzing by me in the bike lane, but that’s not my gig. Unloaded, I have not problems holding a steady 25-30 kph on errands around Shanghai. Loaded carrying about 10 kg on flat ground and little to no wind, I can average around 20-25 kph throughout the day. Hauling 25 kg, I’m averaging 18-20 kph on level terrain, all of which is pretty average and fine by me.
I believe there is a little energy loss in the speed hub as opposed to a derailleur equipped rig, but to me, it seems negligible and the benefits far outweigh the slight loss in energy. Having a virtually silent drivetrain that’s impervious to weather, is almost maintenance free, and being able to shift without pedaling matters more to me than a slight energy loss.
Riding both short and long distances, I don’t feel any power loss though I did think about when I first got the bike. I have no problem keeping up with other who ride lighter aluminum mountain bikes outfitted with less tread aggressive touring tires and I have no problems keeping up or staying ahead of the pack. For me, increased cargo weight has the biggest effect on my average riding speed.
I agree with you, frame geometry and rider position is critical. With the Divide’s relaxed touring geometry, my Jones H-Loop Bar, and the Brooks C-17 saddle, I can ride comfortably all day, day in and day out, knocking out about 100-180 km per day.
I tend to think not keeping up has more to do with the rider and bike fit than it does with the bike or its drivetrain, provided all is function well.
It took me a month or so of daily riding to get the Divide dialed in, but not it’s right where I like it and I wouldn’t change a thing. After weeks on the road, I’m still feeling good while my partners are dealing with the painful effects of an ill-fitting bike.
I think the riding speeds mentioned above are pretty standard and I don’t feel the Rohloff hub is slowing me down. During my last summer’s 3200 km trek along the Silk Road, I came across, rode with, and passed numerous other riders on derailleur-equipped bikes. The Rohloff/Gates drivetrain is an awesome system.
I highly recommend both the Co-Motion Divide and the Rohloff Speedhub/Gates Carbon Belt drivetrain, if it fits your riding style.
I’ll put up a detailed long-term review on the Divide later in the week.
Have a good one, and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Johnny