Vado SL 5.0 versus Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon - thoughts on upgrading

[John in CA]

Hi all,

I have a 2021 Turbo SL 5.0 which I am very happy with. However, the new Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon looks pretty damned good! If anyone here has upgraded from the 5.0 to the 6.0, I'd be interested in your comments. I know the newer motor is more powerful, and the newer battery is larger, but I'm curious about the ride and whether the 6.0 feels substantially different.

Turbo Vado SL 5.0

There's no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this, at a weight that's light enough to carry. The Turbo Vado SL 5.0 is best...

www.specialized.com

Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon

Nothing delivers more power, speed, and range at such lightweight than Turbo Vado SL 2 Carbon. It’s a premium, performance machine carefully engineered ...

www.specialized.com

Thanks for your thoughts.

John

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Interested to see what you get back now that the SL 2's been out in the wild for several months.

Meanwhile, some early SL 2 discussions in case you missed them...

Vado SL 2 Alloy version released

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/turbo-vado-sl-2-50/p/4278244?color=5356063-4278244 I was anticipating this release. It looks pretty good. I must say....I really appreciate my 35lb original Vado SL 4.0. This latest iteration adds about 10 lbs which causes me to seriously question the "SL"...

forums.electricbikereview.com

Vado SL 2 Carbon LTD premiered today!

'Calling it an ‘E-Bike’ is an Insult' https://www.specialized.com/us/en/turbo-vado-sl-2-carbon-ltd-forward-50-collection/p/4273892?color=5427635-4273892 Share your views!

forums.electricbikereview.com

NB: These links look like they're broken, but they're not.

 

[Nubnub]

Hi all,

I have a 2021 Turbo SL 5.0 which I am very happy with. However, the new Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon looks pretty damned good! If anyone here has upgraded from the 5.0 to the 6.0, I'd be interested in your comments. I know the newer motor is more powerful, and the newer battery is larger, but I'm curious about the ride and whether the 6.0 feels substantially different.

similarly I went from a 4 year old 4.0 SL with a 1.1 motor to the 1.2 on a creo 2. Nothing wrong with the 4.0 other than the motor had developed a noticeably higher pitch screechiness to it that I was finding annoying compared to the other e-bike I had which used a Brose motor. The Creo 2 was noticeably quieter as well as being more powerful, but still relatively frugal enough at lower assist settings. I soon made the Creo 2 a flat bar and swapped the wheels for carbon Roval C using tubeless s-works pathfinders. Unquestionably this bike was a better ride than my 4 year old 4.0. My first bike with AXS shifting turned out to be a bonus since I've come to prefer that.

Then later in the year, Specialized came out with the Forward 50 edition of the 6.0. As I was already thinking about swapping my drivetrain on the Creo to Force, it was a no-brainer for me to pick one of these up as well. Turns out the 1.2 motor on this one is screechier and noticeably noisier than my Creo but powerwise it is probably the same. I think there is just variance in how different 1.2 motors will sound so if you can test ride one, it might be good to listen to it closely.

Turns out because the Vado 6.0 has a lot of carbon bits as well as roval cl vs the c on my creo2, they weigh about the same if the Creo has a range extender - meaning the Creo is prob just about 2 lbs less than the Vado without the range extender.

Since you kept the 5.0 for 4 years, if I were you I would consider seeing if your bike shop could locate a forward 50 version of the 6.0 in your size. The extra 2k you spend gets the Roval CL wheels as well as AXS Force drivetrain. Then most of the other components are upgrades as well. Notably I found the saddle to be one of the more comfortable ones I've tried out and I spent the $300+ to upgrade my Creo to match. Of course you could get the 6.0 and upgrade as you choose, but for me there were enough desirable upgrades to justify the additional cost.

 

[John in CA]

Thanks Jeremy and Nubnub,

I'm sure the Forward 50 is a spectacular bike, but I think the "regular" 6.0 would be more than adequate for my needs. (Let's be honest, this isn't about "need" because my current bike is excellent.) One of my local dealers says the new motor is quieter than the SL 5.0 motor, but it sounds like Nub's experience is different. Of course the 6.0 motor is more powerful and the battery is larger. I like the bigger tires and the improved FutureShock. All in all, the 6.0 looks like a significant improvement on the SL 5.0.

Before commiting to the 6.0, I need to see if I can sell my SL 5.0. I'm in the San Francisco area, so if anyone knows someone who might be interested in a low-mileage, large size SL 5.0, please let them know.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

(Let's be honest, this isn't about "need" because my current bike is excellent.)

At some point, desire becomes indistinguishable from need. Doesn't seem to take much desire to get some of our members over the line. That was certainly the case with my SL purchase.

 

[Nubnub]

Thanks Jeremy and Nubnub,

I'm sure the Forward 50 is a spectacular bike, but I think the "regular" 6.0 would be more than adequate for my needs. (Let's be honest, this isn't about "need" because my current bike is excellent.) One of my local dealers says the new motor is quieter than the SL 5.0 motor, but it sounds like Nub's experience is different. Of course the 6.0 motor is more powerful and the battery is larger. I like the bigger tires and the improved FutureShock. All in all, the 6.0 looks like a significant improvement on the SL 5.0.

Before commiting to the 6.0, I need to see if I can sell my SL 5.0. I'm in the San Francisco area, so if anyone knows someone who might be interested in a low-mileage, large size SL 5.0, please let them know.

I've seen numerous reports of varying degrees in perceived noise from the 1.2 (and 1.1 for that matter). And my exp with my creo vs vado bear this out. Obviously perception is different from person to person. I am always amused that some people claim the 1.2 is silent. The good news is that the Vado 1.2 after a couple thousand miles became less obnoxious than it was intially - I had even considered returning it within the 30 day period. Still worse than my Creo - which is ...silent. LOL. I wouldn't be surprised if either or both become increasingly louder as the miles pile up as my original Vado 4.0 with the 1.1 did.

The other difference that may or may not matter to you is that the new Vado's no longer use boost wheels - so could increase flexibility in any future swaps/upgrades you want to do.

 

[Nubnub]

At some point, desire becomes indistinguishable from need. Doesn't seem to take much desire to get some of our members over the line. That was certainly the case with my SL purchase.

Haha. For sure. But having been in cycling for decades, I've accumulated the tools, clothing, gear etc needed to support the habit and cycling becomes a relatively cheap hobby. Riding is free. Well except for electricity now to recharge the bike. And the phone, varia, garmin, AXS ...

 

[mogulman]

You could always get the new S-Racing version. Only 30 lbs and so red!!!

 

[John in CA]

You could always get the new S-Racing version. Only 30 lbs and so red!!!

Good idea! Only $10,000! "Calling it an ‘e-bike’ is an Insult"

 

[stompandgo]

S-Works?

 

[John in CA]

S-Works?

Vado SL 2 LTD S-Racing

Nothing delivers more power, speed, and range at such lightweight than Turbo Vado SL 2 e-bike. So we took the top spec model, kitted it out with World T...

www.specialized.com

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Vado SL 2 LTD S-Racing

Nothing delivers more power, speed, and range at such lightweight than Turbo Vado SL 2 e-bike. So we took the top spec model, kitted it out with World T...

www.specialized.com

Can't deny feeling more than a little lust over that red beauty as an N+1. Not a word to my SL 1, though. She won't understand that my heart's big enough to love both of them.

Hmmm, wonder how polygamists solve this problem?

 

[Cycologist]

They claim it's the "lightest e-bike on the planet", except I was just looking at a Trek which is lighter at 26 lbs.

Domane+ SLR carbon electric road bikes – Trek Bikes

Domane+ SLR: category-redefining, lightweight carbon electric road bikes made with a natural-feeling electric assist for long, epic road rides.

www.trekbikes.com

 

[Stefan Mikes]

They claim it's the "lightest e-bike on the planet", except I was just looking at a Trek which is lighter at 26 lbs.

Domane+ SLR carbon electric road bikes – Trek Bikes

Domane+ SLR: category-redefining, lightweight carbon electric road bikes made with a natural-feeling electric assist for long, epic road rides.

www.trekbikes.com

You are comparing apples to oranges. A most modern road e-bike is obviously more lightweight than a commuter e-bike. Still 13.7 kg as for a non-road e-bike is ultra lightweight.

 

[GAJ]

$10,000 for that bike, not that much lighter than my SL1, has no draw on me unsurpisingly.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Just posted a model comparing the SL 1, carbon SL 2, and the carbon Creo 2 Comp on rider power requirements and battery consumption.

All I'll say here is that these lightweight ebikes differ less on these fronts than you might think. For some, differences in nimbleness, handling, and max tire width might be more important.

 

[Chazmo]

You are comparing apples to oranges. A most modern road e-bike is obviously more lightweight than a commuter e-bike. Still 13.7 kg as for a non-road e-bike is ultra lightweight.

Hey, Stefan… I’m confused by your comment mostly because of terminology. Are you saying one of these bikes that @Cycologist was comparing is not a road bike? I.e., is one of these a “commuter” bike? In what way? It seemed like a fair comparison if you’re looking strictly at weight.

 

[Cycologist]

I was just making the point that Specialized claimed their bike was "The Lightest E-Bike on the Planet" and it's clearly not.
I wasn't making a comparison on what type of e-bike.

Specialized didn't say that it was "The Lightest Gravel E-Bike on the Planet", they just said "E-Bike".

On another note, I really like that Vado SL LTD S-Racing, but $10K is a bit rich.
I bet it's an incredible ride though.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I was just making the point that Specialized claimed their bike was "The Lightest E-Bike on the Planet" and it's clearly not.
I wasn't making a comparison on what type of e-bike.

Specialized didn't say that it was "The Lightest Gravel E-Bike on the Planet", they just said "E-Bike".

On another note, I really like that Vado SL LTD S-Racing, but $10K is a bit rich.
I bet it's an incredible ride though.

Just looked at this - The S- Racing is kinda funny looking with that original 1980s Rockhopper bright red paint job and such slack & long geometry. For a bike with 'World Tour Components'? It seems a little confused for its use. I wonder how it rides on the road compared to a road bike.

And I'm not sure what they were thinking of when saying it's the lightest. Marketing I suppose.

 

[mschwett]

Just looked at this - The S- Racing is kinda funny looking with that original 1980s Rockhopper bright red paint job and such slack & long geometry. For a bike with 'World Tour Components'? It seems a little confused for its use. I wonder how it rides on the road compared to a road bike.

And I'm not sure what they were thinking of when saying it's the lightest. Marketing I suppose.

more than a little confused! and interesting that they didn’t call it an s-works

but it’s a cool thought experiment - how light could make the new vado and still have a fully functioning, rideable bike. and the answer is 30lb