Alarm working? (Turbo Vado 4 2022)

DarrenM

New Member
Region
United Kingdom
Hi All,

Has anyone with a recent Turbo (with the latest mastermind and TCD-w Gen 2 head unit) been able to get the alarm to trigger/ sound?

I lock the bike using the Mastermind app, tick the box to activate the alarm sound... But when I then move the bike (without unlocking it via the app) it doesn't sound the alarm.

I've tried
  • immediately moving the bike
  • Leaving it 15 mins before moving (screen has turned off by then)
  • Repeated above, but having turned off Bluetooth on my phone so the bike cannot use Bluetooth to know that I am nearby.

It never sounds any alarm when I shake the bike or wheel it forward 2 m...

Does anyone know under what circumstances the bike is supposed to sound the alarm?

Thanks


Darren
 
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I don't think all models even have the alarm, even though they have the lock. My '22 Turbo Vado SL 5.0 doesn't make a noise either. I've only heard the alarm on the Specialized video and it didn't exactly sound loud.
 
Thanks FS.

It's definitely listed on the Specialized website as a feature of the Turbo Vado 4.0

"Turbo System Lock - Use the Mission Control app to disable your bike’s motor and activate the motion sensor alarm. Once locked, the motor cannot be enabled again except by the owner. "

I'll try to log an issue via the diagnostic menu on the app
 
I'll try to log an issue via the diagnostic menu on the app
I submitted a question via the diagnostic menu for my Vado SL 5.0 and never received a reply from Specialized. Please let us know if they respond to you. Thanks.
 
I've a tero with mastermind. Tried out locking with Mission Control. Moving the bike off its stand was enough to trigger the alarm. Not very loud but the beep is persistent until I unlocked the bike via the app. Could also unlock with the remote controls. I don't anticipate ever using the lock feature but I suppose it is better than nothing.
 
Thanks FS.

It's definitely listed on the Specialized website as a feature of the Turbo Vado 4.0

"Turbo System Lock - Use the Mission Control app to disable your bike’s motor and activate the motion sensor alarm. Once locked, the motor cannot be enabled again except by the owner. "

I'll try to log an issue via the diagnostic menu on the app
Have you tried taking your phone in the house and shutting off Bluetooth? If it picks up your phone close by it probably knows it’s you.
 
Have you tried taking your phone in the house and shutting off Bluetooth? If it picks up your phone close by it probably knows it’s you.
Hi,
thanks for suggestion. Yes, have tried that (and a few other things, see original post). Cheers.
 
I submitted a question via the diagnostic menu for my Vado SL 5.0 and never received a reply from Specialized. Please let us know if they respond to you. Thanks.
Since my SL 5.0 preceded this latest update, I'm sure that it simply doesn't have the hardware to sound an alarm.
 
Anybody hear back from Specialized on the alarm issue? I have a 2022 Turbo Como 3.0 and the description says it has an alarm system. I can lock it like mentioned above, but no alarm even with phone well away from the bike and not connected to bluetooth.
 
I submitted a question via the diagnostic menu for my Vado SL 5.0 and never received a reply from Specialized. Please let us know if they respond to you. Thanks.
"and never received a reply from Specialized"

Welcome to Rider I Don't Care
 
Hi ProjectMan

No, I have not received any reply since logging the issue (mine is a 2022 Turbo Vado 4)
 
I spoke with support at Specialized last evening about the alarm not working and basically couldn’t get a straight answer, even after their Turbo Como specialist got on the phone. They said I didn’t wait long enough after locking the bike for the alarm to kick in. Also, they mentioned that moving the bike back and forth, bouncing it on the tires, and shaking it somewhat violently wasn’t really enough to trigger the alarm. Perhaps it might work if I rolled it away from the area. Yes, let a thief roll it away, get frustrated because they can’t unlock the bike, and then they can ditch it in the woods somewhere. Bottom line they didn’t address the issue that the alarm doesn’t work. They said to take it to the dealer to see if there was a sensitivity adjustment they could make and additionally they mentioned they were looking into the alarm issue. Basically they didn’t have an answer.

The alarm is one of the features that was important to me. If it is important to you please reach out to Specialized so we can get attention to this.
 
Well the alarm works. I locked the bike, took it out of the garage and rode it for about 100’ and a very quiet alarm sounded from the display and a message appeared on the display with “Alarm” and to stop riding the bike. You couldn’t have heard the alarm 10’ away from the bike and while I had no power, I could easily ride the bike.

So I guess the Alarm system needs to detect motion of the bike itself. Not the kind of alarm I was used to on my other ebike where if you moved the bike a loud alarm would sound.
 
Update: on the back of projectman's update... I've been able to trigger the alarm on my TURBO VADO 4.0 (2022)!!!


As before, I activated the lock and deactivated Bluetooth on my phone so the bike wouldn't know I was nearby (I don't know if this is matters or not)

As before, shaking the bike, or pushing it a metre or so didn't trigger the alarm.

HOWEVER...
I rode the bike (under my own unassisted pedal power) and the alarm sounded after about 100metres / 30 seconds.

I repeated the test, this time just walking the bike and it sounded after 30 seconds of walking.

So it seems linked to movement (poss of wheels) rather than pedalling per se


The alarm sound is a repeated beep, which lasted for 30 seconds and then stopped.

I didnt test extensively after that, but it seems that the alarm will sound again if the bike is moved again (after 10-30 seconds of movement).

So.. alarm does sound... But downside is that thief will already be 30 seconds/100m away before it does... (Would be better if it was triggered by initial movement)

Photo attached (video not allowed by this website)
Screenshot_20220608-210822__01.jpg
 
I spoke with support at Specialized last evening about the alarm not working and basically couldn’t get a straight answer, even after their Turbo Como specialist got on the phone. They said I didn’t wait long enough after locking the bike for the alarm to kick in. Also, they mentioned that moving the bike back and forth, bouncing it on the tires, and shaking it somewhat violently wasn’t really enough to trigger the alarm. Perhaps it might work if I rolled it away from the area. Yes, let a thief roll it away, get frustrated because they can’t unlock the bike, and then they can ditch it in the woods somewhere. Bottom line they didn’t address the issue that the alarm doesn’t work. They said to take it to the dealer to see if there was a sensitivity adjustment they could make and additionally they mentioned they were looking into the alarm issue. Basically they didn’t have an answer.

The alarm is one of the features that was important to me. If it is important to you please reach out to Specialized so we can get attention to this.
These are the types of stupid answers from "Rider I Don't Care" that really irritate me. It's customer support at its worst!
If you don't get a knowledgable, seasoned person who knows the products, and they have to "open a chat window" to a higher level person (if available), the person answering the phone know diddly squat.
This is a common support process for lots of businesses.
I can attest to this simply because I am a support person and at time have to make similar types of calls to various entities (software, hardware, cars, anything).
So, when you say, "bottom line they didn’t address the issue that the alarm doesn’t work", and "and I basically couldn’t get a straight answer", and, "they said to take it to the dealer"....how is it that this is an acceptable means of supporting the purchasers of a several thousand dollar e-bikes?
My wife's Como 5.0 has had its front suspension fork removed and shipped to SRAM to "investigate" its non-functionality after a week or two of usage. When calling RC about expectations, got a bunch of double-talking BS answers, no solution other than excuses about inventory, etc., blah, blah, blah, and I expressed my dissatisfaction with their "process", especially since it was a recent purchase.
I know a lot of the fellow forum participants here are not thrilled with my expressions of dislike for the support at the Mother Ship, but they sure stack the BS on.
Sad shame....fantastic bikes, HORRIBLE support.
I can say from first-hand experience that I was thrilled with the level of support and professionalism, knowledge, and help from Trek (previous purchases).
We shall see in the long run if the Dyson Man can make it all work.
 
Also, they mentioned that moving the bike back and forth, bouncing it on the tires, and shaking it somewhat violently wasn’t really enough to trigger the alarm. Perhaps it might work if I rolled it away from the area.
This part of the Specialized advice seems to be broadly correct (see my other message where I tested this after your post). Thanks for the pointer
 
I was at the local Specialized dealer yesterday and asked them their thoughts on the alarm system and Specialized’s comments from my phone call with them saying to take my bike to the dealer to possibly adjust the sensitivity of the alarm trigger. The dealer didn’t have a clue about what to do about a “sensitivity” adjustment for the alarm. They also went on a rant about Specialized selling direct to the consumer. Sigh…still love the bike!
 
This forum is great. Thank you to all the members who commented here. The info really helped. Couldn't find info on getting the alarm to work on my Como 5.0. I searched extensively on Google, tried YouTube, heck even looked on Bing (nobody uses Bing, except Microsoft employees upon threat of job termination.)

After reading all the comment I did some brief tests.
- The alarm works but only if the bike is moved forward. In my case roughly 50 ft/15 meters. Makes no difference if my phone is close or not. I did not disconnect from Blue Tooth.
- The alarm times out after about 30 seconds. However, if the bike is still moving forward it will trigger again in roughly the same distance, 50 ft.
- It is not possible to shut off the alarm by trying to shut off the bike using the TCD display. As DarrenM showed above, the display shows alarm mode and to stop moving the bike.
- The alarm sound is pretty whimpy. Don't expect any ear-shattering blaring noise.
- The motor stayed off in the lock mode, as expected. However, this bike, even though it is not a lightweight ebike, is fairly easy to pedal unassisted. I was pleasantly surprised. Of course nothing like a carbon fiber road bike but definitely ridable.

The bottom line regarding the audible alarm: Get a butt-kicking lock!!
 
This forum is great. Thank you to all the members who commented here. The info really helped. Couldn't find info on getting the alarm to work on my Como 5.0. I searched extensively on Google, tried YouTube, heck even looked on Bing (nobody uses Bing, except Microsoft employees upon threat of job termination.)

After reading all the comment I did some brief tests.
- The alarm works but only if the bike is moved forward. In my case roughly 50 ft/15 meters. Makes no difference if my phone is close or not. I did not disconnect from Blue Tooth.
- The alarm times out after about 30 seconds. However, if the bike is still moving forward it will trigger again in roughly the same distance, 50 ft.
- It is not possible to shut off the alarm by trying to shut off the bike using the TCD display. As DarrenM showed above, the display shows alarm mode and to stop moving the bike.
- The alarm sound is pretty whimpy. Don't expect any ear-shattering blaring noise.
- The motor stayed off in the lock mode, as expected. However, this bike, even though it is not a lightweight ebike, is fairly easy to pedal unassisted. I was pleasantly surprised. Of course nothing like a carbon fiber road bike but definitely ridable.

The bottom line regarding the audible alarm: Get a butt-kicking lock!!
Damn. Maybe it was your alarm that blared this morning at about 5am (I refused to look at the clock). Closed my balcony door and it finally stopped. Stupid car alarms! o_O
 
Lol Kahn!
I would like the bike alarm to have the same volume as a car alarm, but a totally different noise. Heck, nobody even looks anymore when a car alarm goes off.
 
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