Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)

[Jeremy McCreary]

Now, I might need your advice The rear wheel of my Vado SL (28", 12x148 mm, Thru-Axle, Centerlock, 21 mm internal width, 28 spokes) has almost given up. Yes, it might be trued but I know how it ends (it ends up badly soon!) The wheel was used for almost 5 years. I'm a heavy rider and often ride in rough terrain. I happen to take a pannier with me, which adds up to the weight as well.

One of the issues is the availability. Actually, I could narrow it down to only two available wheels:

• Shimano Deore XT M8200, 622 mm rim diameter, 25 mm internal rim width, 28 spokes, Centerlock, 12x148 mm Boost axle spacing, machine bearings, Microspline or
• DT Swiss HG 1800 SPLINE DB 25, 622 mm rim diameter, 24 mm internal rim width, 28 spokes, Centerlock, 12x148 Boost axle spacing, DT Swiss Road Freehub Body Shimano 11SP Forged Alu (ASF11) / for DT 370 LN. The product code: WHG1800TIDMSA24287

Now, it is all clear to me regarding the Shimano wheel. Yes, I would probably convert to 12-speed, especially as my new derailleur/shifter will work with it with no issues. I, however, have a big issue to understand the DT Swiss wheel. All the signs indicate it is a HG freehub body, so I could just reuse my 11-speed cassette and chain. Am I wrong?

I wouldn't mind to convert to 12 speeds. Is the 25 mm internal rim width appropriate for 42 mm tyres?
On the other hand, I trust DT Swiss. Selecting that specific wheel would allow me to retain my current 11-speed system* without extra expenses. So, is the freehub body here indeed the HG? Necessary to mention DT Swiss recommends the new LN 370 rear hub to be used with e-bikes.

Any useful input is greatly welcome!
------------
*) It is very practical when your both e-bikes operate on the same number of gears. Think of the replacement chain and master link compatibility!

Sorry about your rear wheel. I think you should go straight to the ENVE 45 mm deep-section carbon wheels I just saw at my LBS. Only $2,050 each!
;^}

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Sorry about your rear wheel. I think you should go straight to the ENVE 45 mm deep-section carbon wheels I just saw at my LBS. Only $2,050 each!
;^}

If the wheel choice were just the matter of price than I wouldn't hesitate for a moment! Why not Mavic or Zipp?

Something educating for you Ye Goode Olde Specialized chose the Road Boost hub size for our Vado SL, thus greatly limiting the replacement wheel choice. The same silly decision was made for Creo 1. Later, Creo 2 came with the proper hub sizes, making that e-bike a proper gravel one with a vast wheel selection.

I once was forced by our respected bike mechanic Jakub W. to learn about how bicycle wheels were built, so he told me to do my homework and come back with the parts; then he would build a wheel for me. He added: "A hint: you might have a look at the DT Swiss 350 rear hub first" Jeremy! That was a wonderful time to learn about the wheels! After some two weeks I visited his shop with a rim and a hub. I said to him: "Mr Jakub, I admit I was too stupid to choose the spokes!" His reply was: "A good choice. I will take care about the spokes myself!" I still have that wheel on my Vado 6.0! Ya, but building a custom wheel is pretty expensive.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Let me tell y'all my choices were I to order a wheel build

Rear Hub
12-speed version:

• Application: MTB
• Product name: Classic
• Axle system: 12 mm Thru-Axle
• Built-in dimension: 148 mm (Boost)
• Brake interface: Disc Center Lock
• Cassette interface: Shimano Micro Spline
• Freehub system: Ratchet DEG 72
• Number of holes: 32

DT Swiss Rear wheel 350 DBCL Boost for thru axle 12mm, H350TCD2R32SA5242S

11-speed version: Same as above but Cassette interface = Shimano MTB.
Model: DT Swiss Rear wheel 350 DBCL Boost for thru axle 12mm, H350TCDBR32SA5255S

Price for either model: EUR238 + shipment

Rim
DT Swiss: E 550 700c 30 mm DB VI, RDE055CDPW32SA2413

• Application: Road Enduro
• 622 rim diameter
• 32 spokes
• Rim inner width: 22 mm

Price: EUR46 + shipment

Spokes
No idea

If you add the price of the rear hub, the rim, the spokes, and labour, the wheel would greatly exceed the EUR235 for a complete DT Swiss wheel that I could just order. Only... I wouldn't have the 32 spokes but 28, which makes a difference in a long run.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[BlackHand]

I think for your weight, tire size, and usage the HG 1800 makes more sense.
- the 24mm inner rim width is more appropriate for 42mm tires. The 22mm of the E550 is more road/gravel width of several years ago.
- I believe the HG 1800 has a higher max system weight of 140kg. That's more important than spoke count.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you so much, Steve!

 

[stompandgo]

That DT Swiss freehub is HG spline (not HG Spline L2, 12 speed only), just by looking at it. Your 11 speed chain, cassette, and lockring should fit just fine. The 24mm internal width is probably wider than you already have. 40's should be ok on that rim. I run 40's on a 25mm internal Shimano carbon rim and they fit great.

I'm not finding an M8200 wheel with a 25mm internal width rim. The current WH-M8200-TL-R12-B-29 wheel with your hub spec has a 30mm internal width offset rim. 148x12 12 speed Microspline. I don't know how that offset rim would work in your frame. Supposedly, it reduces the dish, so it should fit fine, but I haven't seen one. With 40's on a 30mm internal rim, I would make sure that your tires will clear the frame, especially when you are riding gravel and mud and need clearance. If you have fenders, that's another consideration. I also checked the dealer manual, and could find no load spec on that wheel. Finally, it appears to be designed for a lever type of thru-axle. I don't know if that means that a standard threaded thru-axle would work.

My two cents, go with the DT Swiss. It's designed for e-bike loads and should be a drop-in replacement.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you, Chris!

 

[2wheelsgood]

Am i right to be confused about LBS and their booking systems? maybe there is something I am just not understanding here. Booked it in last week and was told to bring it in first thing today - I was the first person in the shop this morning:

"Any idea when I can come and pick it up?"
"Could be Tuesday or Wednesday"
"So why did you tell me to bring it in first thing this morning?
"Well it could be a busy day so can never really be sure we will have time"

They have 2 full time mechanics alongside customer facing staff - I live 10 mins away and work from home
I didn't press the issue as I probably do not need the bike.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Am i right to be confused about LBS and their booking systems? maybe there is something I am just not understanding here. Booked it in last week and was told to bring it in first thing today - I was the first person in the shop this morning:

"Any idea when I can come and pick it up?"
"Could be Tuesday or Wednesday"
"So why did you tell me to bring it in first thing this morning?
"Well it could be a busy day so can never really be sure we will have time"

They have 2 full time mechanics alongside customer facing staff - I live 10 mins away and work from home
I didn't press the issue as I probably do not need the bike.

Hard to say, but I imagine it's a bit like medical scheduling — something I'm painfully familiar with from both the provider and patient side.

We always had to allow for emergency add-ons and patients who ended up taking way longer than anyone expected. Of course, you can't treat people like bikes, but scheduling-wise, it would've been very helpful to bring patients in at the start of the day and just let them sit around till a suitable time slot opened up for them.

 

[zbikeman]

Most shops have an idea of how far out their service backlog needs to clear (typically days or weeks). It's perfectly OK to ask how far out they're working, as you probably won't get your bike back before then.

As far as the shop asking you to bring it in first thing in the morning, in reality, you can bring it in anytime they're open and it doesn't matter. Bringing it in earlier doesn't get it worked on any faster. It just means the shop has the bike available to work on instead of waiting for you to bring it in.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Most shops have an idea of how far out their service backlog needs to clear (typically days or weeks). It's perfectly OK to ask how far out they're working, as you probably won't get your bike back before then.

As far as the shop asking you to bring it in first thing in the morning, in reality, you can bring it in anytime they're open and it doesn't matter. Bringing it in earlier doesn't get it worked on any faster. It just means the shop has the bike available to work on instead of waiting for you to bring it in.

Honestly, I find it odd.

If I took my car in for a service and they told me to bring it in first thing on a certain day then I would expect it back the same day. I do not see why bike shops would be any different.

 

[zbikeman]

Every business seems different with regard to scheduling repair work.

I don't know if this is common in the UK, but I've been to at least a couple auto repair shops in the US that didn't schedule any work in advance.

If you wanted work done, you simply showed up with your vehicle. Get there early or right as they opened, and you'd be first served.

But this only works if they have enough work to fill out each day. If they don't, the no-schedule policy falls apart.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@BlackHand and @stompandgo: Thank you again for your advice! I'm out for up to 10 days (moving to Warsaw to meet my gf @Brix). After my return, I will order the wheel.

As I browsed the website of DT4you.com (the DT Swiss distributor in Poland), I could find this new model: HU 1900 SP 29 CL 25 12/148 SS, WHU1900TEDSSA19168. What is special about that wheel is the maximum system weight is 180 kg!

 

[stompandgo]

Honestly, I find it odd.

If I took my car in for a service and they told me to bring it in first thing on a certain day then I would expect it back the same day. I do not see why bike shops would be any different.

Here's my take as someone who works in a shop a couple of days a week.

Some shops have limited storage. Not enough to keep all of their workload onsite. We don't have that problem, but some smaller shops do. So they schedule their drop-offs to keep their storage areas rotating.

Some shops have a handle on their backlog, and other shops don't. I've spent the last 7 months transitioning our shop to a new Point of Sale system and Workshop Scheduler. We are just scratching the surface of it's capabilities, but the difference in even that short a period of time is amazing. When I started about a year ago, we had a six week backlog of work. Today we have zero jobs in the backlog. Better view of the workflow leads to better service.

If you drop your bike off and the mechanic cannot look at it right away, and it is subsequently booked in for service, other bikes being serviced that day get priority. Once the mechanic looks it over and determines the need, they should contact you with an estimate of both cost and pickup date. Remember that the initial scheduling usually does not take into account emergencies and post-service customer requests.

For example, a walk-in rental, flat fix, or simple repair will usually be done that day. This takes time away from scheduled repairs. Also, let's say that your bike is ready after a tuneup, and you see a rack in the store that you'd like to purchase and have installed. That's more time away from scheduled repairs. Shops try and leave some spare time, but it is never enough. It is also impossible to find every service need 100% the first time. Further investigation can discover further issues that require more time.

Hope this helps.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Service completed.

Assessment notes:
Standard service
Specialized Service carried out
Gears and drivetrain removed and degreased, re-lubricated.
Wheels trued and spoke tensions checked. Hubs inspected.
Tyres inflated to correct pressure (60psi).
Hanger aligned. Tuned gears and brakes.
Headset and bottom bracket checked.
Bicycle has been thoroughly assessed and all bolts have been checked & tightened.
Frame and wheels cleaned and detailed.
New chain installed sram nx 12
New rotors fitted front and rear .
New brake pads fitted front and rear.
Battery fully charged.
Test ridden.

328 UK Pounds including tax.

Bike does feel lovely and like new though, even though the tyres have been over inflated by a significant amount.
Annoying rattle has gone - loose cassette I think he said.
Brake screech is suspected to have been bike protect spray that went where it shouldn't, I try to be careful to not get any near the brakes but maybe I am not careful enough. I took the Roubaix out at the weekend for the first run of the year and that has the same issue so no more bike protect spray for me - I clearly can't be trusted

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Rear Wheel Matter Becomes Hot!

I also asked for an advice at a gravel cycling group. The same man who convinced me the Wheeltop derailleur was a good thing also convinced me to contact a wheel builder by name Lemon Bike. So I got an offer:

• DT Swiss U623 rim (29", e-MTB, 25 mm internal rim width, total system weight limit 180 kg, 32 spoke holes), RDU623CDAB32SA9807
• DT Swiss 350 Classic rear hub, 12x148 mm, 32 spoke flanges, Centerlock, Star Ratchet 24T, steel freehub (HG freehub), H350TCDSR32SA9853S
• Sapim Strong spokes with Sapim Polyax Double Square nipples, 32 pcs.

That should be a super strong wheel! The price is by a margin higher than the HU 1900 ready wheel I considered earlier.

I will ask for the shipment for after 16th April when I'm back home.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The wheel has been paid for and the delivery date has been set.
As the last minute consideration... I was told by the experienced friend DT aluminium freehub bodies were the subject to erosion while in contact with the cassette. I asked the builder if he could use a steel DT part, which is marginally more expensive. He said yes and he would swallow the price difference. Now I can't wait until the 17th of April!

(I have even measured my Vado SL to finally confirm it was a 12x148 mm thru-axle. Yes it was).

 

[Rás Cnoic]

The wheel has been paid for and the delivery date has been set.

I lucked out a few years back, spotted a Vado SL 5 rear wheel for sale on the bay. Possibly because of its unusual size nobody bid and I got it for £20, unused, the original owner was upgrading to carbon wheels. I missed out on the front wheel which was already sold. I have it on my bike ever since, DT Swiss rim and all. Plus the original SL 4 wheel is sitting in the garage as a back up, it's in good nick too. Happy days.

Did you check Chinese carbon wheels? Some like Elite have a great reputation.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Did you check Chinese carbon wheels? Some like Elite have a great reputation.

No carbon wheel has the system weight limit of 180 kg I'm heavy, my Vado SL is often heavily packed, and I ride rough terrain hard

2021

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2026

I could have bought a strong DT Swiss wheel. The guy in the cycling group has convinced me I would be well off with ordering a slightly more expensive custom wheel, which would be super strong but also one that would be free of various flaws like an eroding freehub body.

No, carbon is not for me. Only last Saturday, my Vado SL was tipped aside by a strong wind for three times when I had a rest!