Brand new Vado 4.0 motor stops support at 20mph.

[lloose]

I'm not sure what's going on, but my brand new (purchased in Seattle USA) Vado 4.0 stops support at 20mph. The moment it hits 20mph, pedaling immediately becomes difficult. I've ridden a 2020 3.0 and could easily get that to 28mph, and a friend's 2019 Vado that I could get to 28mph easily. This bike just won't budget past 20mph.

I immediately thought of the worst-case scenario of someone swapping out a different motor or controller and returning the bike to the store. We are close to Canada after all and their limit is 20mph. I don't even know if this is possible but its just the first thing that came to mind. I spend the last 30 minutes trying to look up motor part numbers and I have a serial number of C91143, which from everything I can see on the internet is limited to 20mph. I registered the bike with Specialized and there is no indicator that its anything but a regular Vado 4.0

Any ideas? Anything else I can check?

 

[Asher]

What did the shop say?

 

[lloose]

What did the shop say?

I got home after they closed. I wont be able to call them until tomorrow.

 

[lloose]

The part number is 95020-5804
I did a search and that looks normal for the Vado 4.0. I'm going to ride it to my local shop tomorrow and see if they can check if its just a software thing.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@lloose: Your Vado is mistakenly set to Class 1. You LBS can and will set the speed limit to 28 mph.

 

[Art Deco]

Agreed. That is probably just software, but will need to go back to the LBS to correct.

 

[Amoto65]

You LBS can and will set the speed limit to 28 mph.

Is that done by software and would this be possible in a different region?

 

[Art Deco]

Is that done by software and would this be possible in a different region?

Probably. But your dealership would lose their Specialized franchise if they got caught.

 

[lloose]

Thanks. I’m going to take it up my local shop to have them set it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

would this be possible in a different region?

As Art has said. No sane dealer would do that.

 

[Art Deco]

However, you as a customer can buy a bike in another country and take it home. OK for the dealer that way, but might irritate the LBS. A lot.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

However, you as a customer can buy a bike in another country and take it home. OK for the dealer that way, but might irritate the LBS. A lot.

And then the e-bike breaks and who will honour the warranty?

 

[lloose]

I called my LBS and I'm going to take it in this afternoon. The first thing they mentioned is that it might be a class 1 Vado 4.0. I didn't even know that it existed and I hope they are mistaken. Otherwise, I'm heading back up to Seattle to get the 3.0 back or just return it and order (and wait X months) from my local shop. The shop I bought it from doesn't open for another 30 minutes, I'll give them a call too. I hope its just a simple software thing, its 3 hours to Seattle and not a trip I want to take a 3rd time in a week.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The first thing they mentioned is that it might be a class 1 Vado 4.0. I didn't even know that it existed and I hope they are mistaken

There is no "class" Vado 4.0. It can be EU, Canadian or U.S. (only different colours). The speed limit is a regional setting to be changed by LBS.
It is different for EU S-Pedelecs (Vado 6.0).

 

[lloose]

I just remembered that Specialized has a customer service line (and a REALLY GOOD one at that). I called them and got someone on the line like 20 seconds later. They checked the serial number and the software installed, they confirmed that it has the incorrect firmware install and that my local shop here can update it.

 

[Asher]

I got home after they closed. I wont be able to call them until tomorrow.

Is this a life threatening emergency with which forum members can aid you?

 

[lloose]

Is this a life threatening emergency with which forum members can aid you?

No, not at all. Just unexpected.

Just another update, I ran it over to my local shop and explained. They checked the bike and saw that it indeed had the wrong update on it. They corrected it and the bike rides exactly how I'd expect it to. Thanks everyone for the help

 

[Stefan Mikes]

they corrected it and the bike rides exactly how I'd expect it to.

Have you already joined our Turbo Vado/Como User Club? Welcome!

 

[Dallant]

Don’t forget to send the dues to Stefan!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Don’t forget to send the dues to Stefan!

What a shame you'll never become a member of our Club