Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

[Palmthree]

Hallo,
I need a front rack (and basket) for my Como but I don't need the (price of) the official one. Can you recommend something else ?

The seller told me it's possible to ride in the Off mode but...seriously ? It's possible but it's really, really hard ! Is it normal ? I know that the bike is heavy, but it's really difficult to pedal. I think that a pedal assist of at 15-20% gives a normal feeling but everything under that is like two or three times more difficult than the Eco mode !

 

[mfgrep]

Hallo,
I need a front rack (and basket) for my Como but I don't need the (price of) the official one. Can you recommend something else ?

The seller told me it's possible to ride in the Off mode but...seriously ? It's possible but it's really, really hard ! Is it normal ? I know that the bike is heavy, but it's really difficult to pedal. I think that a pedal assist of at 15-20% gives a normal feeling but everything under that is like two or three times more difficult than the Eco mode !

Someone else will be along to help with the front rack/basket.

Your Como is quite heavy and should be difficult to pedal without some level of assist. You are not atypically weak. Your bike is 40+lbs heavier when compared to the analog road bikes that you see zipping around your roadways. That 40lbs is substantial. I own the Vado SL1 which I often ride without motor assist and it weighs 35lbs which is approximately 25lbs less than your Como and 15lbs heavier than those zippy roadie analog bikes!! I also owned a Vado 4.0 which very nearly the same weight as your Como....and I almost NEVER rode that Vado 4.0 without at least some motor assist. Sure you COULD ride the bike without motor assist but you won't get very far!

We all ride bikes and bike models for differing reasons. I sold that Vado 4.0 because I didn't like its weight, feel (due to weight I suspect), and need for constant motor assistance. I do miss the fact that it was a powerful road-eating monster of a bike that I could carry any personal possessions with me that I wished. I just didn't really have the need for such a bike and thus sold it off.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The seller told me it's possible to ride in the Off mode but...seriously ? It's possible but it's really, really hard ! Is it normal ? I know that the bike is heavy, but it's really difficult to pedal. I think that a pedal assist of at 15-20% gives a normal feeling but everything under that is like two or three times more difficult than the Eco mode !

It is very hard to pedal a Como unassisted. Same with the full power Vado.

 

[mfgrep]

Jason, go to any bike/e-bike of your interest and explore "What's my size?" If you enter all measurements required by the procedure, you should get the recommended bike size (mine are 54, MD, S3) but also the estimated saddle height. I was getting the latter in the past. Now it has disappeared (probably because I didn't provide my shin length as of recent).

So Spesh says my seat height should be 28.15" while Faff and other calculators suggest 26.7" (measuring from the center of the crank to the top of the seat.
My current height has been placed closer to the 26.7" range FWIW.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So Spesh says my seat height should be 28.15" while Faff and other calculators suggest 26.7" (measuring from the center of the crank to the top of the seat.
My current height has been placed closer to the 26.7" range FWIW.

The Specialized calculator was not much off for me but I have found the proper saddle height by experimenting.

 

[Marcela]

Hallo,
I need a front rack (and basket) for my Como but I don't need the (price of) the official one. Can you recommend something else ?

The seller told me it's possible to ride in the Off mode but...seriously ? It's possible but it's really, really hard ! Is it normal ? I know that the bike is heavy, but it's really difficult to pedal. I think that a pedal assist of at 15-20% gives a normal feeling but everything under that is like two or three times more difficult than the Eco mode !

I pedal my Como quite a bit without assist. Find no problems, it is a heavy bike with fat heavy tires, so take that into consideration. Definitely takes more than a lighter bike with narrow tires. 25% assist I found useful to emulate normal bike action. I found the front rack on the Como useful to carry light stuff. Heavy stuff makes the steering feel wonky. fwiw.

 

[Marcela]

I found seat height recommendations a little conservative on the Spec site, but generally good. Prior the seats were higher.

 

[Palmthree]

Your Como is quite heavy and should be difficult to pedal without some level of assist. You are not atypically weak. Your bike is 40+lbs heavier when compared to the analog road bikes that you see zipping around your roadways. That 40lbs is substantial. I own the Vado SL1 which I often ride without motor assist and it weighs 35lbs which is approximately 25lbs less than your Como and 15lbs heavier than those zippy roadie analog bikes!! I also owned a Vado 4.0 which very nearly the same weight as your Como....and I almost NEVER rode that Vado 4.0 without at least some motor assist. Sure you COULD ride the bike without motor assist but you won't get very far!

So, the seller lied to me, kind of...

I found the front rack on the Como useful to carry light stuff. Heavy stuff makes the steering feel wonky.

Specialized advices 12kg max but I think it's a lot. Do you use the official one ? 150$ + 50$ for the basket ? I'm gonna 3D-print a MIK Adapter for a closable one.

I pedal my Como quite a bit without assist. Find no problems, it is a heavy bike with fat heavy tires, so take that into consideration.

Tires are not that large ? Sure, the bike is heavy, but the difference is less than carrying a child on a analog bike. Could be the belt ? The bike seems to slow down and really demand more power than necessary to move forward without assistance. I don't feel I'm averaging 120-150W. I'm exhausted after 5 or 6 kilometers like that.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So, the seller lied to me, kind of...



Specialized advices 12kg max but I think it's a lot. Do you use the official one ? 150$ + 50$ for the basket ? I'm gonna 3D-print a MIK Adapter for a closable one.



Tires are not that large ? Sure, the bike is heavy, but the difference is less than carrying a child on a analog bike. Could be the belt ? The bike seems to slow down and really demand more power than necessary to move forward without assistance. I don't feel I'm averaging 120-150W. I'm exhausted after 5 or 6 kilometers like that.

Do both of your wheels turn freely when off the ground? Had a hydraulic disk brake drag on its rotor once — not much, but enough that the lifted wheel would come to a stop in under a full turn. Could definitely feel it pedaling with the motor off.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Jeremy is right. Please check whether both wheels spin freely.

Otherwise, it is the weight, wide tyres, drive belt and the upright riding position. I think 15/25% assistance is the minimum allowing riding heavy Specialized e-bikes with a normal feel.

 

[Palmthree]

Do both of your wheels turn freely when off the ground? Had a hydraulic disk brake drag on its rotor once — not much, but enough that the lifted wheel would come to a stop in under a full turn. Could definitely feel it pedaling with the motor off.

Not really ; the rear wheel stops fairly quickly. The rear wheel stops quite quickly. The front one turns for 20-30 seconds while the back one turns for about 5-8 seconds when I turn them manually. I don't feel anything special about handling them, though...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The IGH may create some resistance.

 

[Palmthree]

I

The IGH may create some resistance.

So, it's normal, the bike is really not made to be ridden without assistance. Got it !

 

[OnEdge]

My Turbo Tero X5 is not easy to ride with no assistance. I try to never do it - lol

 

[Marcela]

There's my grocery getter. The front pizza rack had it's ears trimmed, and the basket was from wally world, holds gloves, coozy, pant ties, misc. stuff. The satchel around the steering neck holds the cable and padlock, they are heavy and don't ride the pizza rack because of. And then to the rear are the saddle bags to hold the groceries.

 

[Palmthree]

I'm going to 3D-Print a "thing" to hold my U-Lock ; I will fix it between the seat post and the rear wheel.

 

[mfgrep]

I'm going to 3D-Print a "thing" to hold my U-Lock ; I will fix it between the seat post and the rear wheel.

I just picked up a Foldylock Compact. I had been using the New York kryptonite long shackle which weighs nearly 6 lb.

For most of my regular rides and stops, this little lock will work just fine as a daytime deterrent. It has a nifty sheath that attaches to my frame and much to my glee it is completely silent while riding. No, it is not the ultimate secure lock.... But frankly, I don't need the ultimate secure lock most of the time. At 2 lb. This thing is an absolute pleasure

If I need a higher level of security, I'll carry the heavy lock.

 

[Palmthree]

If I need a higher level of security, I'll carry the heavy lock.

I let the bike almost daily in the same place for the same time...:O
I have a child seat and some stuffs in my "future basket" (it's in my backpack for the moment).^^

 

[Palmthree]

Hi,
Will there be a new Como SL soon ? I would like a Vado SL (because it's the lightest) but I prefer the aesthetics of the Como.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi,
Will there be a new Como SL soon ? I would like a Vado SL (because it's the lightest) but I prefer the aesthetics of the Como.

I personally doubt it. Como SL IGH was the heaviest of all SL e-bikes. If this is upgraded with the new heavier battery, the weight would be comparable to full power Turbo e-bikes. Who knows what future holds though.