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

[stompandgo]

Ditching the fenders is fine, as long as you like the look and won't miss the OEM rack. There is always a way to add an aftermarket rack and taillight/radar.

There's also nothing wrong with rotating your tires, but that kicks the can down the road. That's not a bad idea at this point in the season. Do that, and plan the endgame for later.

At any rate, good luck, and enjoy.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

There's also nothing wrong with rotating your tires, but that kicks the can down the road. That's not a bad idea at this point in the season. Do that, and plan the endgame for later.

Agree, at this point, I can temporize or do something radical for a long-term solution. No good middle ground.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Vittoria Terreno T10 700x37c.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Sanity check: New 40 mm Tracer in front, old 38 mm Pathfinder in rear?

Is this crazy? Got confirmation today that my SL 1 EQ will NOT accept a 40 mm Pathfinder in the rear with the fender in place. And that LBS says a 40 mm Tracer will be no better.

So to get the bike going again, my regular LBS suggested (a) rotating my good 38 mm Pathfinder Pro to the rear, and (b) trying a new 40 mm Tracer TLR up front to improve braking on steep offroad descents. Not unheard if, they said, and it has some appeal — at least as a temporizing measure till the rear Pathfinder quits.

What then? Don't really need fenders in this climate, so maybe ditch the EQ fenders and rack and find a new stand-alone rack and tail light. I know it's been done successfully — just not quite ready to take that step.

TIA for your thoughts.

Re the light. I have opposite problem with my non EQ version, I don't want to swap seat post (for dropper or carbon or suspension eg) because the light is attached to saddle frame and is a very good light! Wondering if your saddle and post are the same so you could simply purchase the light and run wiring up seat post instead of to rear fender? You'd have to buy the rear light as they are different shapes etc but if the saddle and post are designed for it then it would be straightforward.

Re fenders removal. Exactly how much rain do you get there in sunny south cal?! If you took that step you could fit 40s easily and with some brand/shape up to 44s, like my WTB Byways.

As for fenders, I've been using the SKS Speedrockers (designed for gravel bikes) for over 8 years and 6 of those on the Vado SL. Advantage is I can still have my 44s on, the fenders are Velcro so it takes 5 mins to take off, 10 to put back on. Cost about £45 so not breaking the bank. Racks, because yours is connected to fender, I have a Tortec Velocity narrow rack, alloy, again pretty cheap but a solid affair.

All is possible. But in short term swapping the tyres will be fine I'd say. A bit more rolling resistance with front tyre but no big deal and more grip on sketchy cornering.

 

[BEC111]

I did it. I’m trading in my Vado SL1 Model 4EQ for a new Vado SL2 5. Got a really good trade in value making the purchase a no brainer and as many can attest, that’s my normal state. It”ll take a week and a half or two for delivery and assembly. Very exciting for this old man.

I picked it up today. I just did a quick ride around my neighborhood to get a feel for it and to just ride it . (Spelling edit)

Some first impressions:

The SL2 is much smoother and quieter than the SL1. It also feels more powerful and stable. It appears to be faster at a given cadence and gearing but riding a hundred yards is not a good sample.

So far, happy.

It’s going to be dangerously hot the next few days so may not do a real ride until Friday or Saturday.

More news to come.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I picked it up today. I just did a quick ride around my neighborhood to get a feel for it and to just ride it . (Spelling edit)

Some first impressions:

The SL2 is much smoother and quieter than the SL1. It also feels more powerful and stable. It appears to be faster at a given cadence and gearing but riding a hundred yards is not a good sample.

So far, happy.

It’s going to be dangerously hot the next few days so may not do a real ride until Friday or Saturday.

More news to come.

Congrats! Looking forward to updates on the SL 2.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Sanity check: New 40 mm Tracer in front, old 38 mm Pathfinder in rear?

Is this crazy? Got confirmation today that my SL 1 EQ will NOT accept a 40 mm Pathfinder in the rear with the fender in place. And that LBS says a 40 mm Tracer will be no better.

So to get the bike going again, my regular LBS suggested (a) rotating my good 38 mm Pathfinder Pro to the rear, and (b) trying a new 40 mm Tracer TLR up front to improve braking on steep offroad descents. Not unheard if, they said, and it has some appeal — at least as a temporizing measure till the rear Pathfinder quits.

What then? Don't really need fenders in this climate, so maybe ditch the EQ fenders and rack and find a new stand-alone rack and tail light. I know it's been done successfully — just not quite ready to take that step.

TIA for your thoughts.

Follow-up: Well, I did it — new 40 mm Tracer up front, old front 38 mm Pathfinder to the rear, both stock EQ fenders still in place.

Verdict: Love the Tracer's performance! And when the rear Pathfinder finally goes, I'll do whatever it takes to get a 40 mm Tracer on back — even if that means ditching the fenders.

The Tracer absolutely revolutionizes hard braking on my most common offroad surface — loose-on-hard sandy hardpack. This is especially important given the greatly increased stopping power my recently upgraded brakes now provide.

The Tracer got its first sandy hardpack test today at 40 psi. Could NOT get it to slide with very heavy application of the front brake alone. The rear Pathfinder, in contrast, would easily slide out with even modest rear-only braking.

If the new Tracer's center lugs added rolling resistance, I couldn't feel it. The semi-slick Pathfinders were dead silent on pavement. I can hear the Tracer only if I listen hard in OFF. Otherwise, the infamous SL 1 motor noise drowns it out.

Just one minor complaint: The 40 mm Tracer comes only with a wide light tan sidewall. Much prefer the Pathfinder's narrow brown gumwall.

Thanks to everyone who helped me arrive at this temporary solution!

 

[stompandgo]

Looks great!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Follow-up: Well, I did it — new 40 mm Tracer up front, old front 38 mm Pathfinder to the rear, both stock EQ fenders still in place.

View attachment 211525
Verdict: Love the Tracer's performance! And when the rear Pathfinder finally goes, I'll do whatever it takes to get a 40 mm Tracer on back — even if that means ditching the fenders.

The Tracer absolutely revolutionizes hard braking on my most common offroad surface — loose-on-hard sandy hardpack. This is especially important given the greatly increased stopping power my recently upgraded brakes now provide.

The Tracer got its first sandy hardpack test today at 40 psi. Could NOT get it to slide with very heavy application of the front brake alone. The rear Pathfinder, in contrast, would easily slide out with even modest rear-only braking.

If the new Tracer's center lugs added rolling resistance, I couldn't feel it. The semi-slick Pathfinders were dead silent on pavement. I can hear the Tracer only if I listen hard in OFF. Otherwise, the infamous SL 1 motor noise drowns it out.

View attachment 211526View attachment 211527
Just one minor complaint: The 40 mm Tracer comes only with a wide light tan sidewall. Much prefer the Pathfinder's narrow brown gumwall.

Thanks to everyone who helped me arrive at this temporary solution!

Nicely done. I can just imagine the confidence of that tread up front.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I rode Tracers in size 42 mm on my Fearless for 1215 km. Then I decided I still needed something more aggressive, so I settled for Rhombus Pro in sizes 42 and 47 mm for my both e-bikes. (Unfortunately, Rhombus tyres have been discontinued). The Tracers found their way to my friend Tommy, who happily rides them to this day.

 

[Cycologist]

I recently mounted some 45 mm Pirelli Gravel RH tires on my Vado SL. It made a very noticeable difference in ride quality, which I would describe as more supple and compliant over bumps. They did change the handling dynamics a bit, so I needed some practice to become confident again during cornering. They tend to pull in the direction you're turning, so you must learn to expect that. It's different than the stock Pathfinders which had mostly neutral handling.

The verdict is still out on whether they have better cornering grip than the Pathfinders, but I think they're pretty close. I ride on mostly hardpack crushed limestone over dirt, so I figured I'd give these a try. They really don't do well in anything wet, such as a little bit of mud. I had a few close calls with them when cornering and hitting a patch of wet stuff. If I were to do it again, I'd probably just get the regular Gravel H tires or even consider the M's. I think I just need a little more tread depth than these RH's have. The Tracers posted above look like they might work well and also the Rhombus.

When I decided to get them, I was trying to find a wider tire with less rolling resistance which would give me more speed and these seem to deliver.

Yesterday I went for a ride and it was VERY windy, as in a steady 23 mph wind with 32 mph gusts. It was the kind of wind where if it's in your face, you don't need to use the brakes to stop. I used Turbo mode on the Vado for a bit, which is rare, to fight the wind. Then, when I had the wind at my back, I turned the motor off and was doing almost 30 mph without even trying. Thankfully, the tires managed to hang on in the corners, but I had a death grip on the handlebars.

This was me:

Pirelli Gravel RH:

Cinturato™ Gravel RH | Pirelli Cycling

www.pirelli.com

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I recently mounted some 45 mm Pirelli Gravel RH tires on my Vado SL. It made a very noticeable difference in ride quality, which I would describe as more supple and compliant over bumps. They did change the handling dynamics a bit, so I needed some practice to become confident again during cornering. They tend to pull in the direction you're turning, so you must learn to expect that. It's different than the stock Pathfinders which had mostly neutral handling.

The verdict is still out on whether they have better cornering grip than the Pathfinders, but I think they're pretty close. I ride on mostly hardpack crushed limestone over dirt, so I figured I'd give these a try. They really don't do well in anything wet, such as a little bit of mud. I had a few close calls with them when cornering and hitting a patch of wet stuff. If I were to do it again, I'd probably just get the regular Gravel H tires or even consider the M's. I think I just need a little more tread depth than these RH's have. The Tracers posted above look like they might work well and also the Rhombus.

When I decided to get them, I was trying to find a wider tire with less rolling resistance which would give me more speed and these seem to deliver.

Yesterday I went for a ride and it was VERY windy, as in a steady 23 mph wind with 32 mph gusts. It was the kind of wind where if it's in your face, you don't need to use the brakes to stop. I used Turbo mode on the Vado for a bit, which is rare, to fight the wind. Then, when I had the wind at my back, I turned the motor off and was doing almost 30 mph without even trying. Thankfully, the tires managed to hang on in the corners, but I had a death grip on the handlebars.

View attachment 211549

This was me:

Pirelli Gravel RH:

Cinturato™ Gravel RH | Pirelli Cycling

www.pirelli.com

Is yours an SL 1 or 2? Assuming no fenders (not an EQ model) if it's an SL 1, and you got 45 mm tires on it.

 

[Cycologist]

Is yours an SL 1 or 2? Assuming no fenders (not an EQ model) if it's an SL 1, and you got 45 mm tires on it.

It's an SL 1 (non EQ).

Here is a pic of the tires on my bike:

They fit with room to spare on both front and rear.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Then, when I had the wind at my back, I turned the motor off and was doing almost 30 mph without even trying. Thankfully, the tires managed to hang on in the corners, but I had a death grip on the handlebars.

I get the zoomies now and then, but 30-32 mph is plenty fast enough on good pavement (far less offroad) — provided I have reasonable control of the situation.

Sounds like that tailwind was more in control of your situation than you were. Death grip indeed!

 

[Cycologist]

It's definitely fun and scary pushing the limits, but thankfully I still have sense enough to slow down a bit for corners.

GPS data from that ride:

We've been having unusual weather here for the past week. Nasty storms with strong wind that blows all day and unseasonably cool.
I had some big tree limbs that got ripped off one of my trees and spent a good three hours cutting it all up with a chainsaw and stacking the wood.
I'm hoping things calm down and warm up so I can do some longer rides in more peaceful conditions.