The Aventon Ramblas is a Class 1 eMTB. This is Aventon’s first electric mountain bike and it uses their own mid drive motor. With 29″ wheels and a hardtail frame, the Ramblas has sure impressed us as to the capacity of what Aventon can do.
Featured in our Hardtail eMTB roundup the Aventon Ramblas was one of our Editor’s pick’s for Hardtil eMTB of the year.
After a few months of riding and still plenty of time left this year to see how it holds up, we felt it was necessary to make some upgrades. Our goal was to increase performance and comfort while keeping things affordable for people like yourself that are looking to make their already awesome bike that much better.
Here are the five parts we upgraded:
- SR Suntour Zeron 36: For better handling, control and stability.
- PNW Components Coast Dropper: A suspension seat post to add some comfort.
- ERGON SMC Core Saddle: Core 3D technology that’s more comfortable and ergonomic on the sit bones.
- PNW Components Loam Grips: A bike’s ride is only as good as your touch points, better grips for a better ride.
- PNW Components Range Composite Pedals: More then added flare, the Range pedals offer superior flat pedal grip.
Necessary Tools:
- Hex Wrenches (metric)
- High Pressure Shock Pump
- Hacksaw
- Clean Rag
SR Suntour Zeron 36:
With plenty of suspension forks to look at, we were keen to find one that could handle the wear and tear of riding the Ramblas all the while being mindful of our wallet to keep things comfortable enough for other Ramblas owners at their.
Naturally we turned to our friends at SR Suntour. This past year SR Suntour has released a number of new forks to their collection many of which are E rated and ready to take on anything you can throw at them.
The ZERON 36 is a perfect fit for the Ramblas. It has adjustments for rebound and compression as well as being an air fork to put the right amount of air pressure in for the rider.
This is a massive upgrade for the Ramblas and has already made riding more comfortable and more enjoyable.
When doing a fork swap on any bike be sure to have the correct tools for the job. If you do not have those tools we would encourage you to schedule time at your Local Bike Shop to have them lend a hand.
After removing the Rockshox fork from the Ramblas we took it and the new Zeron 36 down to our own Local Bike Shop to have them help us with three things.
- Remove and install the crown race
- Cut the fork steerer tube to the correct lenght
- Install new star nut
Come to find out, the Rockshox fork has a split crown race which made it easy to slide off, and on to the Zeron 36.
After measuring the Rockshox steerer tube, we scribed the Zeron 36 steerer tube before placing the fork in a vice to cut it to length. Your local bike shop will have a special tool that will hold the fork in place and offer a straight guide to cut the steerer tube perfectly straight. If you opt to do this yourself be mindful of your accuracy and keep things as straight as possible.
After cutting the steerer, we used a special tool to quickly ream the inner and outer edges of this fresh cut. Again if you do this yourself we would suggest a small round metal file to clean up the edges.
With a freshly cut Zeron 36 it was time to install the new star nut into the fork. There is, yet again, another specialty tool to install these. It threads onto a large handle and you then proceed to hammer it into the fork, this handle acts as a natural stop to only install the star nut so far. If the new star nut goes to far into the fork, there is a good chance your stem cap bolt will be too short and you will need a new one. Best to do things the right way the first time.
In our experience, the shop only charged a few dollars for their time. This is well worth it to have the job done right and to create a relationship with the mechanics. Knowing your bike mechanics is a great way to get personalized help and guidance in the future.
PNW Components Coast Dropper:
The Aventon Ramblas comes with a 150mm dropper post. This is a great option for many riders out there.
As a hardtail eMTB we were on the hunt for even more comfort. While the fork helps with a smoother more responsive ride overall, those long pedals on dirt roads don’t seem to feel any less rough a few miles in.
This is when we turned to PNW Components to try out their Coast dropper. This is a 120mm dopper seatpost with suspension.
Although we’re losing 30mm of travel in the dropper itself, we feel it worth the loss and gaining the win on a suspension seatpost that will be much more comfortable while riding seated.
ERGON SMC Core Saddle:
The saddle that comes on the Ramblas is fairly nice and something most owners would be very satisfied with. However for us, saddles are important and something we often consider when riding a bike.
Whether riding across the country, racing, or a commuting, a proper saddle will dramatically change the riding experience. Sit bones are different for everyone. Therefore a proper-fitting saddle with a proper design will relieve pressure and discomfort while riding.
The SMC Core Men’s Saddle was a perfect fit for our Ramblas. The CORE 3D® offers three main benefits. A pressure-free surface, the design supports your natural pelvic movements while pedaling. This minimizes or even eliminates pressure from the sit bones. All the while absorbing the bumps of the road or trail along the way.
In use, this eliminates numbness. Anatomically designed for either men or women, the relief channel (the groove seen from front to back on top) is positioned to relieve pressure, eliminating numbness on rides.
Lastly, Core 3D® allows free movement of the pelvis while pedaling which reduces stress and pain in the lower back.
All in all, the SMC Core saddle was a no-brainer when it came to picking a durable and comfortable saddle. With many options on the table, finding one that is designed to protect the rider and allow for more comfortable, pain free riding.
PNW Components Loam Grip:
We’ve been down this road a time or two, we like our grips a certain way. We’ve reviewed the Loam Grip in the past as the grip of choice for our Velotric T1 upgrade project.
PNW’s Happy Camper Compound is firm to the touch with squish in the right areas. This allows your hands to feel more relaxed, especially on unrelenting rough terrain.
The shape of the grip’s “fins” allows water to wick away on wet rides while absorbing vibrations. The Loam grips rubber compound is dubbed the Happy Camper Compound, this is PNW’s blend that’s soft enough to absorb those vibrations while firm enough to hold shape. In other words, it’s a tacky grip that has some flex but isn’t too spongy.
PNW Components Range Composite Pedals:
The Range Composite Pedal another one of our go-to’s. They are an excellent combination of affordability, grip, and durability.
The design of these pedals proves that you don’t have to compromise performance for a budget-friendly option. As a reliable and trustworthy pedal for mountain biking and being able to handle rough riding, it is even better around town.
Having adjustable pins is something we are starting to see more of on flat pedals. It has a very functional application when looking to get an optimum connection between pedals and shoes. Adjusting the height of the pins on day one for your shoes allows you to dial in the perfect fit for dependable grip.
At only $49 we couldn’t think of a better option to feel confident in our pedal platform and to bring a touch of color to the Ramblas.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.