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

[Stefan Mikes]

Gotcha. Didn't realise the same model & year would have different water bosses. That's strange. And yes the built in light under the stem is a pain to move to enable a handlebar bag to fit. The final incentive for me was the light mount broke and around the same time I saw the correct Lezyne model light with fork arch mount at half price online. Once the change was made it works well. Still have the saddle light also still going strong. In fact I don't have anything to tinker with this bike anymore which is a bit boring!

Except the big one of course. Drop bars! And that's neither cheap nor guaranteed successful.

On quiet days I keep researching options though.

I had a conversation with my friend Alfer who is an extremely strong competing cyclist. Whenever it is a gravel race, he rides a good hardtail XC bike. I know he owns a drop-bar gravel bike so why not to ride it on a race? He said he didn't feel comfortable with the drop bars in rough terrain. He prefers losing on asphalt to be winning off-road.

Also... There is nothing to tinker with my e-bikes, which is a little bit sad

 

[Lkpills]

Hello,
Well, I have finally put 10,000 miles on my Como 4 and everything is running fine. I've changed tires, tubes, chains and brakes. Its mostly been road and paved trails, a little gravel here and there and occasionally on the beach. No noises from the motor. Once in a while, maybe 3 times, the motor has just shut off, but just turning it off and on resets it and onward I go. So my question is, should I be worried about anything?
Thanks,
Lance

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So my question is, should I be worried about anything?

Just ride on!

 

[CLR]

Hello,
The pedals sometimes rub in some corners when I'm leaning a little too far. Is this normal? Exactly how long should the cranks be? (Turbo Como)

I have the same experience on my Vado. Solution: don’t pedal in the corners and place the inside pedal at the top-most position

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I have bought a new U1-600 battery for my Vado 6.0. Reasons:

• The original battery ended its life in May 2024
• I occasionally need three batteries for very long rides (over Imperial Century)
• My two other batteries are degraded well below 500 Wh. I need a single battery with a higher capacity
• Big manufacturers support their product for 7 years. The last official Vado Gen 1 model was MY 2019.

It is not possible to buy a battery cover anymore (at least not in Europe). I have found the role of the battery cover is purely aesthetic, and the battery can be used without the cover*.

The price was PLN4200 (USD1,150).

Upon the charging beginning, two green LEDs were flashing (charge > 20% but < 40%). I wonder what the actual battery capacity will be? I will report.
---------------

533 Wh per BLEvo. Same as the battery I bought several years ago. I wonder whether we haven't been lied to by Specialized through all these years... Or, BLEvo is wrong.
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*) Not completely correct. A long flap on the cover's rear protects the gap between the battery and the frame. I could find a cover in an online store in the Netherlands. Part number is S179900054.

 

[Marcela]

I see guys with knee replacement surgery and think the cost of bicycling is a small price to pay to avoid that path. Riding a bike does wonders for my knees, walking is good for the mind but does nothing for my knees.

 

[e-levity]

cycling is also good rehab AFTER knee replacement surgery

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Got a Specialized cover for MY17 Vado battery from Spain. Now, everything looks and behaves properly!

 

[Marcela]

Looking for a Como in medium size with chain drive in kansas city area. Mail me with any leads.

 

[Palmthree]

Hi,
I've just got a Turbo Como 5 (IGH). I need to get used to the Enviolo AutomatiQ.

 

[Mr. Breeze]

Looking for a Como in medium size with chain drive in kansas city area. Mail me with any leads.

Keep an eye on Upway.co
If not familiar with them, they started in the EU a few years ago and came to the states shortly after. They buy ebikes from both individuals and dealers - often you will see bikes with zero miles as dealers clear out inventory. Their service is superior. I'm not affiliated with them, but I have sold 4 ebikes through them and just purchased a new, zero mile Como 4.0 chain drive for about 1/2 the price of retail.

 

[Marcela]

Hi,
I've just got a Turbo Como 5 (IGH). I need to get used to the Enviolo AutomatiQ.

I've heard rumors the IGH doesn't freewheel as well pedaling unassisted reason I am wanting chain.

 

[Palmthree]

Looking for a Como in medium size with chain drive in kansas city area. Mail me with any leads.

I've paid 2000€ for my Como 5 IGH, 1400€ for my Como 3 IGH (after a little refund). A website similar to Upway.

I've heard rumors the IGH doesn't freewheel as well pedaling unassisted reason I am wanting chain.

I haven't been able to compare the chain and belt versions yet.
I haven't really had any problems with my Como 3, or with my Como 5. But I'm new to cycling, so I lack expertise!

 

[zbikeman]

The missus and I are new ebike owners, which I guess entitles us to membership in this exclusive club!

She just got a 2020 Vado 4.0.

I'm getting a 2022 Vado 4.0 SL.

Both are from Upway. We're in New Mexico and both bikes came from their Redondo Beach, California location.

Her bike was very well packed. Only breakage was a fender mount on the right fork stanchion. They shipped one as soon as I alerted them with a pic.

One other note. The pedals supplied with her bike had no flats. Only way to mount them to the crank is via an 8mm hex through the pedal hole.

Now I'm a mechanic and I had an 8mm on hand, but I bet the average customer does not, and finger tight is no good for pedals.

They did supply a pedal wrench, but it's a silly one about 3 inches long, and completely useless for mounting the pedals they supplied.

Other than that, the missus loves her Vado. We're on a hill, and the ride back home was always a struggle. Not anymore!

 

[Marcela]

Went to the bike store and drove a '23 como 5.0. I have to say it was nice. More power than my '20 vintage como 5. It had the front air shock that was really nice. The rear rack looked like a better version. Only down side that sticks in my mind is the handlebar setup. For some reason there is no way to buy an aftermarket piece and replace what it comes with, it is like a bespoke piece. And the backsweep feels like something along the lines of 30 degrees. I switched out a pair of vado handlebars on the old como and they worked perfectly, no can do on the new version. I see the charge port is still a version of the old style except down close to the ground. Other than the handlebar deal it looks and feels like a really nice bike. To try to configure a generic bike for all people and then put a handlebar like that on it, don't understand, and doesn't interchange with anything else.

Got to ride the Aventon long tail cargo hauler also while there. First time on a hub drive class 2. Have to say it was fun, and the build quality looked really good. Little slow on the departure but picked up speed pretty well, didn't get to test it on any hills. They are on sale now, at the regular price I'd say that was a good deal.

 

[Marcela]

I was looking at my bike status, bought the Como in Sept of '20, the Vado was bought prior to that sometime, one bike has 25 charge cycles, the other 26. The Como has 3k miles, the Vado 2.2k miles, both batteries still 100%. Keep batteries between 20 and 80% charge most all the time, few full charged when tender was forgotten. Not a lot of miles, surprised the batteries are still 100%. Wish my iphone would last like that.

 

[Palmthree]

I've heard rumors the IGH doesn't freewheel as well pedaling unassisted reason I am wanting chain.

I was thinking about this this morning, and maybe I started the rumor; I did test turning the rear wheel, and it stopped much faster than the front wheel. But I definitely had a brake problem at the time. When riding, I don't really feel any slowdown when the bike is freewheeling; it feels very natural.

I was looking at my bike status, bought the Como in Sept of '20, the Vado was bought prior to that sometime, one bike has 25 charge cycles, the other 26. The Como has 3k miles, the Vado 2.2k miles, both batteries still 100%. Keep batteries between 20 and 80% charge most all the time, few full charged when tender was forgotten. Not a lot of miles, surprised the batteries are still 100%. Wish my iphone would last like that.

Your iPhone definitely has a lot more battery charges.
But I'm using a 8 years old smartphone and I don't have any issue ? One charge per day.

I have a question about the settings :

My Como 3 is 35/35, 75/75 and 100/100 (I don't use micro-tune a lot).
My Como 5 is 35/35, 85/50 and 100/100. Is it normal ? What do you advice about that ?