dynamic
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I finally took a vado SL for a spin. And, there is a lot to like. Really a lot. But it also definitely isn't the bike for everyone.
I saw the spring sale on the vado SL 5.0 and decided this might be the time to spring for a new couples bike (we just got disgustingly cute matching SUV's.... ). My wife and I still haven't found e-bikes we really want to ride. My LBS had a 4.0 in Large available to ride. So I did. I am theoretically a medium, but honestly had no issues on the large.
I live in a place that is very hilly. I can't really go on any ride unless I am prepared for 500-1,000 foot ascents with 8-15% grade, often worse. Most routes have far more elevation in addition to dirt roads and pot holes. To my surprise, I liked the Vado SL quite a bit on this terrain. Even without future shock or a suspension seat post. The bike feels almost effortless as you change direction. By contrast, the bigger options feel like they are lumbering by comparison. The SL is almost skittish in how quickly to responds to your control. For me it was both surprising and appreciated.
I found that I did not want to turn on the motor. The best part of riding this bike was absolutely keeping the motor off and relying on your own power only. I really needed to be presented with some hill in order to want the motor. The gearing was sufficient even on the 4.0. I never hit the extreme gears out of need in either direction (or if I did, I never asked for another one and got nothing).
Now, for the flaw: The motor just isn't enough for me on my terrain. This here, this is my "goal bike". In a year or two, I could see myself getting one because I will eventually be able to take this bike on the same routes I took the vado 5. They will take longer. And it will be hard work, but, at that point, the increased effort will feel good. Right now, the thought of tackling some of these 15-20 mile rides with 3-4k of elevation is not very appealing on this bike. The next thing: I still don't like going slow uphill. It was *not* as bad on this bike, and I can't say why. I didn't have my garmin/other stuff on the ride so I have zero idea how fast I was going (possibly going faster than I normally do grinding up a hill). But it wasn't soul crushingly slow. Just annoyingly slow. That's a pretty good step in the right direction. Whether it's due to bike feel, or I was able to go faster, I don't know. But I have encountered hills that make me go soul crushingly slow on the vado. Not much fun.
I am also a bit concerned about the terrain. I basically stayed away from any of the harder stuff. No dirt, dodged the pot holes... etc. What little problematic terrain I did encounter did not inspire me with confidence. I am not convinced this bike would be "fun" on the backroads of vermont. But, since I didn't try it, I could be very wrong on that one. I am also not sure future shock + kinect seat post wouldn't fix that problem.
I rode the bike home and let my wife try it. This particular model is not an option because her thighs were rubbing the frame. There is the step through model and she probably needed her position adjusted. But it is a thing. She also agreed the motor is probably *just* enough to get in and out of town but not really adventure worthy.
On the upside, I believe this bike has convinced me that a chain experience can be acceptable. I enjoyed the ride experience more than my FLX Blade 2.0 despite it being much harder to do the same route. I took the FLX down to the LBS, rode the SL back and swapped again. Since I didn't have to worry about battery, I unleashed the flx and flew up the hill. The SL riding style begs for moderation. The bike practically forces you into an endurance riding mode. The FLX begs for me to put more power into the pedals because the reward is so extreme. But this also highlights the lack of refinement in the flx. The SL just felt like I had more endurance than I would normally have on a regular bike. It felt natural. And switching gears is actually less invasive than the FLX ( the flx has a motor limiter, so the motor shuts off on gear changes to protect the rohloff hub).
Anywho, if I were more fit or lived in a less hilly area, I likely would be buying at least one of these. It is a genuinely fun bike. And I wouldn't hesitate if not for my fitness and terrain. Great bike!
Happy Riding!
I saw the spring sale on the vado SL 5.0 and decided this might be the time to spring for a new couples bike (we just got disgustingly cute matching SUV's.... ). My wife and I still haven't found e-bikes we really want to ride. My LBS had a 4.0 in Large available to ride. So I did. I am theoretically a medium, but honestly had no issues on the large.
I live in a place that is very hilly. I can't really go on any ride unless I am prepared for 500-1,000 foot ascents with 8-15% grade, often worse. Most routes have far more elevation in addition to dirt roads and pot holes. To my surprise, I liked the Vado SL quite a bit on this terrain. Even without future shock or a suspension seat post. The bike feels almost effortless as you change direction. By contrast, the bigger options feel like they are lumbering by comparison. The SL is almost skittish in how quickly to responds to your control. For me it was both surprising and appreciated.
I found that I did not want to turn on the motor. The best part of riding this bike was absolutely keeping the motor off and relying on your own power only. I really needed to be presented with some hill in order to want the motor. The gearing was sufficient even on the 4.0. I never hit the extreme gears out of need in either direction (or if I did, I never asked for another one and got nothing).
Now, for the flaw: The motor just isn't enough for me on my terrain. This here, this is my "goal bike". In a year or two, I could see myself getting one because I will eventually be able to take this bike on the same routes I took the vado 5. They will take longer. And it will be hard work, but, at that point, the increased effort will feel good. Right now, the thought of tackling some of these 15-20 mile rides with 3-4k of elevation is not very appealing on this bike. The next thing: I still don't like going slow uphill. It was *not* as bad on this bike, and I can't say why. I didn't have my garmin/other stuff on the ride so I have zero idea how fast I was going (possibly going faster than I normally do grinding up a hill). But it wasn't soul crushingly slow. Just annoyingly slow. That's a pretty good step in the right direction. Whether it's due to bike feel, or I was able to go faster, I don't know. But I have encountered hills that make me go soul crushingly slow on the vado. Not much fun.
I am also a bit concerned about the terrain. I basically stayed away from any of the harder stuff. No dirt, dodged the pot holes... etc. What little problematic terrain I did encounter did not inspire me with confidence. I am not convinced this bike would be "fun" on the backroads of vermont. But, since I didn't try it, I could be very wrong on that one. I am also not sure future shock + kinect seat post wouldn't fix that problem.
I rode the bike home and let my wife try it. This particular model is not an option because her thighs were rubbing the frame. There is the step through model and she probably needed her position adjusted. But it is a thing. She also agreed the motor is probably *just* enough to get in and out of town but not really adventure worthy.
On the upside, I believe this bike has convinced me that a chain experience can be acceptable. I enjoyed the ride experience more than my FLX Blade 2.0 despite it being much harder to do the same route. I took the FLX down to the LBS, rode the SL back and swapped again. Since I didn't have to worry about battery, I unleashed the flx and flew up the hill. The SL riding style begs for moderation. The bike practically forces you into an endurance riding mode. The FLX begs for me to put more power into the pedals because the reward is so extreme. But this also highlights the lack of refinement in the flx. The SL just felt like I had more endurance than I would normally have on a regular bike. It felt natural. And switching gears is actually less invasive than the FLX ( the flx has a motor limiter, so the motor shuts off on gear changes to protect the rohloff hub).
Anywho, if I were more fit or lived in a less hilly area, I likely would be buying at least one of these. It is a genuinely fun bike. And I wouldn't hesitate if not for my fitness and terrain. Great bike!
Happy Riding!
which as you pointed out, isn’t all that fun, but is more fun on a bike like the SL than most. i’m confident you can get there 
but hundreds of millions ride chain and derailleur bikes without mental illness! i don’t love it in concept, but in reality i don’t mind. i clean my chain on the bike and apply drip lube every couple hundred miles, takes 2-3 min. spray some degreaser on the cassette and scrub every so often or after a nasty ride. replacing the chain every 3k miles is the most obnoxious part to me.
