Vado SL 2 Alloy version released

[mfgrep]

Thanks for this thoughtful response. One small niggle: isn’t the SL 1’s weight closer to 37 lbs than 35 (at least for the 5.0)?

And which bike shop has SL1’s in stock, and do they have any 5.0’s?

Yes they do....in silver anyway. What size are you looking for?
Weight: I was referring to manufacturer published weights....which usually refer to medium frame size. EQ vs. Non EQ....frame size....all will slightly alter the overall weight of each bike. That said....for purposes of comparing apples to apples.....the SL1 is lightest....that Trek is heavier....and the SL2 is heaviest among the three.

I'd have to check in person....but I know they have:
Silver SL 5.0 EQ in size XL
Yellow SL 4.0 in both L and XL
Smoke SL 4.0 EQ in both L and XL

 

[mfgrep]

Also, can you expand on why the 47mm tire doesn’t interest you much for this type of bike?

I am largely a suburban street rider and I largely ride for fitness and fun. The 38mm tires are just perfect for this in terms of rolling resistance, sturdiness, nimbleness, and longevity. They are sturdy enough to take a bit of abuse and provide a good road feel. They are not like the balloons that I ride on my full power Vado 4.0 that absorb most any 'feel'. This is ENTIRELY personal preference. I did try 42's once on my SL1 and didn't like it much at all.....went back to 38's. The bigger the tire....the more 'clubby' a bike typically feels/handles. I'm not knocking big tires at all....they serve their purpose....which is typically not my purpose.
The SL2's use of 47mm tires tells me that they are expecting riders to want to be on gravel or trails with the bike. While I might occasionally venture out on such terrain....I am predominantly on asphalt streets or paths and thus much prefer the 38's.

Bigger tires are great for their purpose. Bikes with big tires typically have a 'clubbier' feel when compared to narrower tires. The 38's on the SL1 feel sporty and 'right' to me on asphalt. They aren't like a racing/road bike tire.....nor are they big, thick, and clubby tires. If I were to be more of a gravel rider I would absolutely go to a wider tire.

Edit: I should also mention that with added weight....one would require a bigger tire. There is a reason that the big full power Vado 4.0 (58lbs) has those big balloon tires. And with added weight....typically....a bike loses its analog-like and nimble 'feel'. Part of this is simply the added weight and thus inevitable loss of 'feel' and nimbleness.....but it also has to do with the inevitably larger tire which accompanies the heavier bikes.....adding to the more 'clubby' character of its handling. Tire size can be a bit of a balancing act. The thinner tires typically are a more rigid ride feel. The big thick tires typically are less rigid and thus more comfortable. There is always a compromise between keeping the bike nimble and quick to handle vs. comfort. Also worth mentioning.....wide tires are HEAVY...there is no getting around this fact.

 

[BakedPringles]

Hope someone with experience with both bikes chimes in. And even then, how would you ever gauge this short of testing both yourself under intended conditions?

For me, the best thing about the SL 1 is how it feels in action — especially the responsiveness. Raw specs can be very misleading in that regard, but weight counts for a lot in all aspects of feel.

I have both and I think they are both awesome. I was initially looking to get an SL 2 but I didn't like how bloated it turned out to be. The FX+ ended up filling that gap for me.

Performance wise, they are about the same. I'd give the FX+ the edge in speed, but just by a hair. The SL is more efficient in its power consumption. They both perform about the same to me with no motor assist.

The SL has 12 speeds as opposed to 10 speeds on the FX+, which makes shifting gears more responsive. The jumps are larger with only 10 speeds so there is a bit more lag as the chain is shifting. It gets better in the higher gears.

I've been riding the FX+ quite a bit over the SL since it's still "the new bike", but it also has some characteristics I prefer, like the controllable headlight, better rack, nicer taillight, the super quiet motor, and quite frankly it's a very nice looking bike. I'm 400 miles in, giving the SL a well deserved break sitting at over 3000 miles. But my intent is to alternate between the two, and one can serve as a backup in case I run into trouble with the other one.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you have about the two bikes.

 

[mschwett]

… I might instead buy a sandbox in which I could bury my head for a few years.

best advice i’ve seen on this forum in quite a while!! if only….

on the topic of the bikes closest to the SL1 combo of traditional bike good looks, a mid-drive, flat bars, and fairly light weight, there are a couple out there with the TQ and Fazua motors that fit the bill, but most have carbon frames and are more expensive.

the flat bar rigid fork skitch is a really fun bike. i’ve only ridden one around the parking garage at the office (saw one in the bike room and chatted with the owner.) more aggressive geometry / riding position for sure. i’m not sure if the TQ HPR50 version of the scott silence is available in the US but it looks amazing, 32lb and very similar in mission to the vado sl. and, of course, one could buy an aluminum creo2 and do a flat bar conversion, if one knew the geometry would work for them.

maybe by the time we rremove our heads from the blissfully cool and quiet sand specialized will have re-entered the lightweight urban pleasure bike market

 

[Mike Tod]

New poster long time reader. January I upgraded from Vado SL4 after 4 years to a new Vado SL2 6 Carbon. Have ridden around 700km so far.

Plus points - its a joy to ride, far less crashing on my aged (70yr) wrists due to the FS 3.2 & the wider tyres. Better/grippier off road - I live in Sth France so plenty of vineyard routes around, yet with no penalty (that I've noticed) riding on tarmac. Due to more powerful motor I hit the 25kph cut-out much quicker than my 4 so find myself using motor-less power more often hence good exercise. Despite much bigger battery it only weighs approx half a kilo more than the 4 so is still very manageable. 12 gears vs 10 gives more control & with the bottom gear in Turbo you can almost climb vertically ! The new display is super & I've bought a Garmin rear radar which integrates really well. Front headlamp brighter, rear light the same.

Minus - well, the matt finish is a PITA to keep clean, it is far more obviously an e-bike given the large square section down tube, the front brake squeals awfully despite me cleaning/abrading the pads & rotor (LBS about to have it for inspection) & the carbon frame has a small flaw by charge point & (had) a small unpainted area around rear caliper mount. Obviously also the price, but as I've not changed my car for 10 years now....

Just seen there's a new aluminium version available but that weighs 20+kg - getting very similar to standard (i.e not "Super Light") e-bikes from many manufacturers - strange.
In closing, if you can afford it buy the Carbon one.

 

[Mr. Max]

I'm an avid e-bike rider/commuter, but haven't posted for a long time. I've got a 2020 Vado 4 with about 20,000 miles on it. I've replaced the motor and battery about 6000 miles ago. I love this bike, but I've been thinking that it's time to replace it. My local bike shop got some Vado SL 2's in and called me to come look. We both commented how big and heavy the Vado SL 2 is. It's about 10 pounds heavier than the old Vado SL. In many ways it's kind of like a current version Vado 3. Anyway, it's a cool bike, but I decided that it's not the bike for me. The bike shop said that sometime this summer a new belt drive Vado 5 is supposed to come out. I might wait for that. My only gripe about my 2020 Vado 4 is how often that I have to replace the chains. We'll see. I hear mixed reviews about Specialized belt drive bikes. Anyway, I just wanted to say that the Vado SL 2 is way bulkier, than Specialized's pictures show. They're mainly all side view images. Go check it out in person if you can. Cheers!!

 

[GAJ]

The Trek is more akin to the SL2 in my opinion....beefier frame than the SL1, slightly bigger battery than the SL1, and similar/same torque as the SL2.
The SL1 by comparison is lighter, less powerful, has a generally slimmer frame profile, and features (very) slightly less battery power.
The Trek is most competing with SL1 in terms of tire size at 40mm vs. the SL1's 38mm. SL2 jumps up to a 47mm which doesn't interest me much for this type of bike.
SL1 is 35lbs. Trek is 41lbs. SL2 is 44lbs.

THIS is precisely the 'problem' with the SL1. SL1 is a fantastic bike in all the ways that I desire....but ON PAPER it wreaks havoc for the marketing and sales departments. They are tasked to sell an expensive bike that on paper appears under-powered and with a small battery. I can't speak for other countries....but in the US....this imo made the SL1 a tough sell for the 'masses' when buyers are looking at options like Aventon for 60+% less money.
I didn't say that the buying public is necessarily 'smart' or well informed....and these manufacturers know this too. Manufacturers are producing bikes with specs that are expected to SELL....and often these bikes are purchased sight unseen via web-order.

It is akin to my car, very lightweight and on paper woefully underpowered.

I have a 1994 Miata and just like the SL1 it overperforms in the right environment.

The Miata is perfect for around here where bumpy tight twisty corners abound a long long sweepers are few and far between. It would be a terrible choice for Arizona buy perfect for here.

The SL1 is perfect for under 50 mile trips where nimbleness is rewarded and hills are not too common though it can handle the latter one would need the auxiliary battery if they were common.

Of course I assume that need is even moreso on the SL2 with the same standard battery and more power.

The SL1 should be kept around and marketed like a Miata but of course it won't.

Those of us who own them and hold onto them will be happy as are most owners of the original Miata.

 

[GAJ]

Thanks for this thoughtful response. One small niggle: isn’t the SL 1’s weight closer to 37 lbs than 35 (at least for the 5.0)?

And which bike shop has SL1’s in stock, and do they have any 5.0’s?

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0

Meet the Vado SL. This super-light e-bike was designed to take on anything from daily commutes through urban landscapes to clocking even faster workouts. Need to carry your bike? No sweat. Weighing...

www.cyclesport.com

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Only one way to get potential SL 1 buyers past the price tag and underwhelming motor and battery specs: Let them test it under intended conditions and see for themselves how well it performs and how nimble it feels.

But good luck getting a fair test. When I shopped lightweight ebikes last fall, few local dealers had models of interest in stock, and they wouldn't let the bikes out of their parking lots. Couldn't even find an SL 1 to rent locally. And all this in a SoCal metro area crawling with bike shops.

Well, I'm 76 with bird legs in a hilly area with grades commonly above 7%. And I wasn't about to plunk down over $5K for a low-power ebike that might or might not get me over those hills with reasonable effort. Certainly not based on a parking lot test.

Meanwhile back on EBR, trusted members with SL experience kept telling me that the bike greatly outperforms the specs, that the main battery could well be plenty for most of my rides, and that the SL 1 would probably work quite well for me despite the specs. (Turns out, right on all counts.)

So based on that encouragement, a flattish SL 1 4.0 parking lot test, and a salesperson's assurance that I'd have 30 days to return it risk-free, I took the chance and ordered my 5.0 EQ with a $500 deposit.

Well, when pick-up day came, the manager said that I'd been misinformed about the 30-day return: It was only for a bike returned in mint condition and only for store credit even then. At a store selling no other ebikes of interest.

He said I could test it in the parking lot again before paying. And I said, if that's the best test you can offer, you can keep it. Then he offered a 5-mile test on some representative hills nearby.

That went well enough to go ahead with the purchase, though still with some trepidation — especially about battery range. So glad now that I took the leap, but this is no way to sell a chancy bike like the SL 1.

 

[mschwett]

Only one way to get potential SL 1 buyers past the price tag and underwhelming motor and battery specs: Let them test it under intended conditions and see for themselves how well it performs and how nimble it feels.

But good luck getting a fair test. When I shopped lightweight ebikes last fall, few local dealers had models of interest in stock, and they wouldn't let the bikes out of their parking lots. Couldn't even find an SL 1 to rent locally. And all this in a SoCal metro area crawling with bike shops.

Well, I'm 76 with bird legs in a hilly area with grades commonly above 7%. And I wasn't about to plunk down over $5K for a low-power ebike that might or might not get me over those hills with reasonable effort. Certainly not based on a parking lot test.

Meanwhile back on EBR, trusted members with SL experience kept telling me that the bike greatly outperforms the specs, that the main battery could well be plenty for most of my rides, and that the SL 1 would probably work quite well for me despite the specs. (Turns out, right on all counts.)

So based on that encouragement, a flattish SL 1 4.0 parking lot test, and a salesperson's assurance that I'd have 30 days to return it risk-free, I took the chance and ordered my 5.0 EQ with a $500 deposit.

Well, when pick-up day came, the manager said that I'd been misinformed about the 30-day return: It was only for a bike returned in mint condition and only for store credit even then. At a store selling no other ebikes of interest.

He said I could test it in the parking lot again before paying. And I said, if that's the best test you can offer, you can keep it. Then he offered a 5-mile test on some representative hills nearby.

That went well enough to go ahead with the purchase, though still with some trepidation — especially about battery range. So glad now that I took the leap, but this is no way to sell a chancy bike like the SL 1.

obviously specialized is speaking with what they’ve done to the SL, but I believe the target market for the Vado SL was really people who’d have been fine with a regular bike, but want to go faster or further with less sweat. those people were more likely to be turned off by high weight or ugly looks than low power, and both of those things can be immediately ascertained without a long ride.

i see a LOT of Vado SLs around here, probably 75% ridden by men 30-50, 15% women 30-50, the rest outside of that age range. i always assumed it was selling well because i see so many, but maybe not!

 

[mfgrep]

obviously specialized is speaking with what they’ve done to the SL, but I believe the target market for the Vado SL was really people who’d have been fine with a regular bike, but want to go faster or further with less sweat. those people were more likely to be turned off by high weight or ugly looks than low power, and both of those things can be immediately ascertained without a long ride.

i see a LOT of Vado SLs around here, probably 75% ridden by men 30-50, 15% women 30-50, the rest outside of that age range. i always assumed it was selling well because i see so many, but maybe not!

I live in the Midwest US. I've seen one or two in the wild. I've seen many languish at the dealer showroom for literally years. I assumed the SL was stuck in a small niche market.

 

[PedalUma]

test it in the parking lotI

I wore sunscreen on my face today and am sunburned. Besides taking apart motors and repairing bikes, I did twelve miles of guided test rides in the hills. It is the only way. One can talk about a wine, or taste it. Every test ride resulted in a sale today. Sometimes two with couples. I work for an independent Specialized eBike dealer who also services all eBikes and who features many brands. The Velotrecs are currently the most popular sellers after road and trail tests of several bikes. Specialized buyers are different than most. They need years of pre-education an appreciation to feel the difference. Even then many go to a bike with a horizontal thumb to trigger-finger lever throttle with a smooth torque sensor and 750 Watts after a big climb. It is all in the real world testing. Not the stats, or myths. Yes, a larger battery has greater weight, but that is also like having a bigger Viking rowing your boat instead of PeeWee.

 

[SbSteve]

And which bike shop has SL1’s in stock, and do they have any 5.0’s?

You can still find a few available online. Prices are dropping now that the new model is out. Talk to your local dealer to see about having one shipped to them for assembly. Here is one:

https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/products/specialized-2023-turbo-vado-sl-5-0-eq-electric-bike-pr5a12693?variant=46161239507158

 

[BlackHand]

I don't think I've ever seen a Vado SL in the wild. My local shop(3 locations) still has quite a few SL 4.0's in multiple colors and model years listed as available tomorrow. They sold their last 5.0 a few months ago.

As far as the SL2 alloy, I agree it's not as distinctive looking as the last gen, but certainly more practical as a working bike for a lot more people.

44lbs is getting a little heavy, but I would surmise any loss in ride dynamics or feel would have more to do with the biggish tires and longer wheelbase than gross weight.

Would be interesting to try a test ride on a 35 or 38 lb SL to see how it feels compared to my 41lb Desert Falcon. Porky for road bike geometry, but still a smaller wheelbase and 32x700 to compensate.

 

[mschwett]

I live in the Midwest US. I've seen one or two in the wild. I've seen many languish at the dealer showroom for literally years. I assumed the SL was stuck in a small niche market.

i see a couple a day! but i can’t estimate how many bikes i see a day, thousands?

saw a very nice brushed silver one on the MUP today with my daughter. i wish the motor cover was body colored on the SL bikes.

 

[SbSteve]

I test rode the new SL2 5.0 today. I rode it for about 20 minutes in traffic, on the flat, up some hills, etc. I only noticed the weight of the bike when I tried to pick it up. Once I was riding, I never noticed the weight. It felt very nimble despite the weight and the longer wheelbase and I was able to do tight U-turns easily. I didn't mind the bigger tires. Along with the Future Shock 3.1, the tires help absorb bumps and rough spots in the road. Based on a test ride, the Trek FX+ 7 feels a bit lighter and more nimble, but somewhat harsher. That's to be expected given the smaller tires, the carbon forks with no suspension and the shorter wheelbase and trail on the Trek. Now I have to decide if the SL2 is worth $1000 more than the Trek for my purposes! I have to say, the Trek is better looking. But I'll hopefully spend more time riding than looking at the bike parked.

 

[spindoc]

Thanks for posting this comparison of your actual experience of riding both bikes. To me this is more valuable than speculation based on published specs, or promotional online “reviews”.

You’re wondering if the $1000 difference between the SL2 5.0 and the Trek is worth it to you. What about the SL2 4.0? The difference with that one would be $500. I don’t suppose your LBS has any 4.0’s in stock to compare do they?

 

[JustRiding]

Also, can you expand on why the 47mm tire doesn’t interest you much for this type of bike?

As you can see in my other post, I finally bought the carbon SL2 (coming from an old SL 4.0). I was slightly bothered by the wider tires too. Guess it depends on where you live. Here in Copenhagen, Denmark, we have good bicycle paths everywhere, so no need for a wide tire that slows you son more than an narrow one. I does however provide better flat tire protection.

 

[JustRiding]

The range would be shorter, no?

Same battery, the new bike is more powerful and heavier.

Nope, the battery on the Vado SL2 is larger than on the SL1, so you get same or even more coverage. That is where I suspect the added weight mainly comes from.
On the Creo SL2 however, they only changed the engine but kept the battery size.

 

[GAJ]

Nope, the battery on the Vado SL2 is larger than on the SL1, so you get same or even more coverage. That is where I suspect the added weight mainly comes from.
On the Creo SL2 however, they only changed the engine but kept the battery size.

Here in the US the SL1 5.0 and SL2 5.0 both have 320 watt batteries.

Turbo Vado SL 5.0

Meet the Vado SL. This super-light e-bike was designed to take on anything from daily commutes through urban landscapes to clocking even faster workouts...

www.specialized.com

Turbo Vado SL 2 5.0

Nothing delivers more power, speed, and range at such lightweight than Turbo Vado SL 2. It’s a high-performance machine carefully engineered to make fit...

www.specialized.com

Here in bicycle mad (for the US) Sonoma County I have yet to see another SL1 though I have seen a few Turbo Creos.