Vado 3 X

[1234567890]

I have seen a couple of threads on the new Vado 3 EVO, but nothing on Vado 3 X, I believe it got announced a few days ago

Turbo Vado 3 X 4.0

When the ride demands more, Vado 3 X answers. From urban adventures to off-road trekking, this is effortless power, elevated by full-suspension confiden...

www.specialized.com

A bit heavy but this might otherwise be exactly what I was looking for, i.e. full suspension Vado with slightly more aggressive geometry

Thoughts?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I have seen a couple of threads on the new Vado 3 EVO, but nothing on Vado 3 X, I believe it got announced a few days ago

Turbo Vado 3 X 4.0

When the ride demands more, Vado 3 X answers. From urban adventures to off-road trekking, this is effortless power, elevated by full-suspension confiden...

www.specialized.com

View attachment 210553

A bit heavy but this might otherwise be exactly what I was looking for, i.e. full suspension Vado with slightly more aggressive geometry

Thoughts?

Welcome aboard. Interesting bike. From the official product page...

Here's what I don't get. California and other states limit legal ebikes to 750W of motor power. They haven't always done a good job of specifying what kind of watts (electrical, mechanical, continuous, peak, etc.)

But here we have yet another manufacturer introducing a new model that flaunts that 750W limit. No clarification of what kind of 810W. No statement that it's not a legal ebike in California and many other states.

This Wild West mentality among manufacturers and dealers is a big part of the problem we now face in many states and local jurisdictions: Overpowered machines deceptively sold as legal ebikes are put into the hands of children and teens in no way prepared to use them responsibly.

And now there's a nationwide backlash against all "ebikes", not just e-motos. If recently proposed laws across the country are any guide, this backlash is proving to be a serious threat to LEGAL ebike access to public streets and bikeways.

As a longtime Specialized fan, I find this very disappointing.

 

[Darth_Vado]

Not planning to buy one anytime soon, but I like it. Only wish they'd stop getting heavier

 

[Rás Cnoic]

It does sound heavy. I don't get why they need to be so heavy. Think that Tero X is also an elephant.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I cannot accept the weight. Vado 3 is not an E-MTB, it is a commuter ebike. Full suspension is a heavy overkill. I could ride a Tero (non X).

 

[CLR]

Here in the US we drive overly large, excessively capable vehicles for most mundane tasks. Why expect the bike market to be different?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Here in the US we drive overly large, excessively capable vehicles for most mundane tasks.

Even an American needs to lift the e-bike onto a bike carrier of the car.

Why expect the bike market to be different?

Because Specialized is a global brand with the primary market in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

 

[CLR]

Even an American needs to lift the e-bike onto a bike carrier of the car.

Mine has a ramp!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Buy a Vado 3 then.

 

[1234567890]

After much debating, decided after all that my next bike will be a Levo 4.
Coming from a Vado 4.0, living in a very hilly area with half my miles on easy trails, the Vado did the job but not getting that much enjoyment on the trails.
Thought the Vado 3X could be the answer to this, but after last weekend's ride, deciding that I don't want to compromise on the trail after all, I know I am trading one problem for another as now the road segments won't be as enjoyable as the Vado, but hoping this is the right tradeoff for me..

 

[Stefan Mikes]

After much debating, decided after all that my next bike will be a Levo 4.
Coming from a Vado 4.0, living in a very hilly area with half my miles on easy trails, the Vado did the job but not getting that much enjoyment on the trails.
Thought the Vado 3X could be the answer to this, but after last weekend's ride, deciding that I don't want to compromise on the trail after all, I know I am trading one problem for another as now the road segments won't be as enjoyable as the Vado, but hoping this is the right tradeoff for me..

I think it is the right decision. Vado 3X is as heavy as it is unsuitable for the trails. You are also right: riding asphalt on Levo will be painful.

 

[1234567890]

I think it is the right decision. Vado 3X is as heavy as it is unsuitable for the trails. You are also right: riding asphalt on Levo will be painful.

Yeah, hoping to mitigate some of that with better rolling tires; reviewing my rides, I also realized that >90% of my asphalt riding is ascending or descending hills, which I would expect to be less impacted than riding on the flat and running out of gears, we'll see..

 

[BioWheel]

The thing is a brick

 

[1234567890]

Reporting back in case this helps anyone in the same situation.
Received the Levo 4 and went for a few rides over the weekend, it was definitely the best choice in my situation (50/50 paved vs light trail, very hilly area).
Compared to my 2022 Vado 4.0, the Levo 4 is obviously a beast on the trail and a much better experience.

What surprised me quite a bit is how it performed on pavement:

• going uphill, it is actually a much easier ride than the Vado with equivalent assist mode (due to the much better motor obviously)
• going downhill, gravity does the job and comparable to the Vado (albeit more rolling resistance)
• on the flat is really the only time the Vado would feel significantly faster; I was expecting that to be a pain but in truth it hasn't been as the stronger motor makes up for some of the loss in rolling resistance. Because I live in a hilly area, riding on the flat represents 5% of my riding, so doesn't really matter to me, but if you live in a flat area, the calculus is different

Only downside to report is, given the relative inefficiency of knobby tires on pavement, battery usage was noticeably more important than on the 2022 Vado, but that's also a different motor, I'll need to tune some of the modes and report back.

So overall, I am sure the new Vado X is a great bike, but I should have ignored some of the dramatization of what riding a Levo on pavement would be like, not only is it fine, it actually performs better climbing the many hills in my area. I had ordered fast rolling tires in anticipation of the painful experience with the stock tires on pavement, it turns out it was not needed and they're being returned tomorrow.