2025 Vado

[Stefan Mikes]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned how high the seat post is I had to knock that down an inch or two.

We assumed you had exceptionally long legs Is it a size XL frame?

Cannot wait for your ride report mentioning how well the Future Shock softens your rides! Besides, please use the Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator and adjust the tyre inflation to the Soft setting!

 

[MartsEbike]

We assumed you had exceptionally long legs Is it a size XL frame?

Cannot wait for your ride report mentioning how well the Future Shock softens your rides! Besides, please use the Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator and adjust the tyre inflation to the Soft setting!

Haha

Yep XL frame! If I had chosen a large frame the seat post would have been pretty high (as in previous photo!) but the XL is about right. I am fairly tall... around 6'2/6'3'ish but also fairly long body/arms to match my long legs, so I need the reach of the XL so I'm not sitting too upright!

I'll definitely check out that Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator!

The Future Shock on first impressions is great - although I haven't tested it in earnest yet but my quick ride on flat tarmac felt really good. I can't wait to test it over bumpier ground.

It also came with a pack of 3 other springs of differing strengths, so I'll be testing them all out in due course to see what feels best. I'll definitely let you know how it goes!

 

[gromike]

Beautiful bike!

 

[2wheelsgood]

It also came with a pack of 3 other springs of differing strengths, so I'll be testing them all out in due course to see what feels best. I'll definitely let you know how it goes!

Damn, I don't remember getting those with mine

I also bought mine from Balfes by the way and had it delivered like yours. Mine was shockingly set up so I hope you had better luck than I did.

 

[MartsEbike]

Damn, I don't remember getting those with mine

I also bought mine from Balfes by the way and had it delivered like yours. Mine was shockingly set up so I hope you had better luck than I did.

Ah bugger that's annoying! Yeah mine came with these extra springs for the Future Shock... The only thing I had to change was the seat post height, which was set for someone about 7ft tall! I also had to adjust/tighten the front light but other than that it's been spot on. I done 36 miles on it earlier today and no complaints, all seemed to work OK. Gears changed well and brakes worked fine after bedding in..

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Technically speaking, the helper springs are out there to help the main suspension cartridge, and are not mandatory. These are to reduce the initial sag of the suspension and provide some more firmness, depending on the rider's weight on the bars and the terrain ridden.

 

[Allan47.7339]

I think a spring is mandatory for the Future Shock 1.5 stem, but using the preload washers is optional.

The shop is supposed to put all of the extra parts in the case with the manuals and deliver it with the bike. Sometimes the assembling mechanic thinks they are just leftovers and throws them in a drawer. Mine was missing the preload washers for the Future Shock 3.0 (same as 1.5) but I didn't really need them.

If you find it's too mushy or too stiff then change the springs. If you don't notice either way, leave it alone unless you just want to tinker with it. The Future Shock stems are not standard so make sure to read the manual before you mess with them.

 

[2wheelsgood]

@MartsEbike

Did you get a Vado SL manual along with the springs?

I rarely read manuals but just took a look at what came with the bike and it is a Vado manual not a Vado SL. No wonder it did not come with springs - looks as though I was given the wrong spares case

 

[MartsEbike]

@MartsEbike

Did you get a Vado SL manual along with the springs?

I rarely read manuals but just took a look at what came with the bike and it is a Vado manual not a Vado SL. No wonder it did not come with springs - looks as though I was given the wrong spares case

What a pain! I just checked myself as I had forgotten what it came with, I've been reading online for info, but it came with two manuals, one for the bike itself and the other covering the MasterMind TCU.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I think a spring is mandatory for the Future Shock 1.5 stem, but using the preload washers is optional.

The shop is supposed to put all of the extra parts in the case with the manuals and deliver it with the bike. Sometimes the assembling mechanic thinks they are just leftovers and throws them in a drawer. Mine was missing the preload washers for the Future Shock 3.0 (same as 1.5) but I didn't really need them.

If you find it's too mushy or too stiff then change the springs. If you don't notice either way, leave it alone unless you just want to tinker with it. The Future Shock stems are not standard so make sure to read the manual before you mess with them.

My SL 5.0 came with no booster (aka helper) spring installed and have yet to find a reason to try one 600 mi later.

Granted, the pavement around here's generally in good shape, but I do ride some pretty bumpy dirt on a regular basis. Not looking for any less front-end compliance there — even with tubeless tires at 30-40 psi. **

But I think less compliance is what I'd get with any of the boosters installed, as available Future Shock 1.5 cut-aways and disassembly videos suggest that the main and booster springs operate in parallel:

** Addendum: If I thought my Future Shock were bottoming out with any frequency, I'd have to change my tune here, but no clear evidence of that so far.