Electronic shifting on Turbo Vado 5.0 (not SL)

[Stan de Vreese]

I own a Turbo vado 5.0 and am considering installing a "Wheeltop EDS 2.0" electronic rear derailleur and shifter. Has anyone any experience using this setup. Any input is welcome.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

How does it compare to something better known such as SRAM AXS?

 

[Stan de Vreese]

How does it compare to something better known such as SRAM AXS?

Honestly i donot know. I have at present a stock GX drivetrain - RD SRAM GX, long cage, 11-speed, SRAM PG-1130, 11-speed, 11-42t cassette, Praxis, 48T, 104BCD front chainring. As far i can tell and i am not an expert the SRAM AXS is a 12 speed drivetrain wherefore too big for my Vado 5.0 but maybe i am wrong.
Also the price tag for the AXS is too much especially if i also need to change to a 12 speed cassette. the wheeltop is currently priced at 399 euro and the specs are asfollows:

RD specs:

speed compatibility: 3-14s
min. cassette: 10-11T
max. cassette: 75mm RD: 46T
93mm RD: 52T
battery: 800 mAH (non removable)
mount type: normal RD hanger, available with UDH
Waterproof rated: IP67

Controller (Shifter) specs:

battery: CR2032
waterproof rated: IP65

The whole system is compatible with all ANT+ bike computers also all gears can be fine-tuned.

Wheeltop link: https://wheeltop.com/products/eds-o...5E56TV81x9rQ-OmT#gocOxPpecifications-boss-box

I know this is a chinese brand but according to the reviews i have seen it seems to be a decent product and i will not have to change anything else on bike other than the RD and the shifter.

Your feed is much appreciated.

 

[stompandgo]

So for less than the price of a Shimano Deore Di2 rear derailleur, you get the rear derailleur and shifter. The capacity, adjustability, and connectivity look good. I'm not a fan of the two button shifter, as I prefer the push pull arrangement, but that's just me. I also saw no way to connect the system to an e-bike battery.

OEM adoption will be the key to this manufacturer's success. I can't see them surviving on direct to user sales, even though they have a referral program (we will have to watch for referral pumping here on the forum). I also don't see SRAM and Shimano cutting prices until Wheeltop starts displacing them in the OEM space, but we can dream.

Good luck with it, and let us know how you like it.

 

[Stan de Vreese]

Honestly i donot know. I have at present a stock GX drivetrain - RD SRAM GX, long cage, 11-speed, SRAM PG-1130, 11-speed, 11-42t cassette, Praxis, 48T, 104BCD front chainring. As far i can tell and i am not an expert the SRAM AXS is a 12 speed drivetrain wherefore too big for my Vado 5.0 but maybe i am wrong.
Also the price tag for the AXS is too much especially if i also need to change to a 12 speed cassette. the wheeltop is currently priced at 399 euro and the specs are asfollows:

RD specs:

speed compatibility: 3-14s
min. cassette: 10-11T
max. cassette: 75mm RD: 46T
93mm RD: 52T
battery: 800 mAH (non removable)
mount type: normal RD hanger, available with UDH
Waterproof rated: IP67

Controller (Shifter) specs:

battery: CR2032
waterproof rated: IP65

The whole system is compatible with all ANT+ bike computers also all gears can be fine-tuned.

Wheeltop link: https://wheeltop.com/products/eds-o...5E56TV81x9rQ-OmT#gocOxPpecifications-boss-box

I know this is a chinese brand but according to the reviews i have seen it seems to be a decent product and i will not have to change anything else on bike other than the RD and the shifter.

Your feed is much appreciated.

So for less than the price of a Shimano Deore Di2 rear derailleur, you get the rear derailleur and shifter. The capacity, adjustability, and connectivity look good. I'm not a fan of the two button shifter, as I prefer the push pull arrangement, but that's just me. I also saw no way to connect the system to an e-bike battery.

OEM adoption will be the key to this manufacturer's success. I can't see them surviving on direct to user sales, even though they have a referral program (we will have to watch for referral pumping here on the forum). I also don't see SRAM and Shimano cutting prices until Wheeltop starts displacing them in the OEM space, but we can dream.

Good luck with it, and let us know how you like it.

@stompandgo tks and will let you know when i have made the decision.

@Stefan Mikes do you have any thoughts on this negative or positive. Should i go ahead with it?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Stefan Mikes do you have any thoughts on this negative or positive. Should i go ahead with it?

@Stan de Vreese: Let's start with the fact I am a very practical person. I ride a Vado 6.0 (a 45 km/h Euro S-Pedelec). It is equipped with a Deore XT SGS (long cage) derailleur, a 11-speed 11-46T cassette, and a mechanical shifter. While this e-bike was originally equipped with a 48T chainring, I use a 44T one as giving me a more practical gearing on the flat and allowing for a higher cadence. (Recently, I use a small 36T chainring to trade off the high speed for the climbing ability as sometimes I travel to the mountains).

Important to say the derailleur has been with me for five and half years with no single issue (I had to replace the shifter cable once due to the wear). It has been with me for 28000 km now, and the derailleur pulleys were replaced three times.

I have demo ridden a Specialized Epic 8 Expert that was equipped with the SRAM AXS and admired the silent and immediate shifting. However, that bike was equipped with the electronic drivetrain from the factory. If I ever bought an e-bike equipped with the electronic drivetrain then I would gladly embrace it.

However, I had to ask myself this question: "An electronic drivetrain? To what end? Does it work any better? Will it make me a better cyclist?" and the answer was: "I don't need it". Bear in mind, I have a Vado 6.0 and a Vado SL to maintain and haven't found it practical to replace the mechanical drivetrain with the electronics on any of these e-bikes.
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Replacing 11-speed drivetrain with a 12-speed one just requires replacing the freehub body for the proper one; and the whole rest of the drivetrain.
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You asked for my thoughts and the answer is: I don't need the electronic drivetrain. Do you? Go on. You will be an early adopter and we will ask you how the Chinese invention works

 

[stompandgo]

I've owned, ridden, and raced with Di2 from the original 7970 10 speed version to the 9150 11 speed version. IMO, it's a superior system to mechanical and I don't enjoy riding as much without it. Does it make me a better rider? No.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Please advise a Di2 XTR drivetrain that is available

 

[stompandgo]

Give them time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Whenever I come back from any longer Vado 6.0 ride, I need to recharge:

• The e-bike battery
• Wahoo
• Smartphone
• Heart rate monitor

If it is my Vado SL, I need to recharge:

• The main e-bike battery
• Range Extenders
• Tail light
• Wahoo
• Smartphone
• Heart rate monitor

Once a year, I may start worrying of replacing button batteries for both Vado and Vado SL (these are different and rare batteries).

With the electronic drivetrain, I would also need to think of occasional recharging the derailleur and also replacing the shifter CR232 once in a while.

Gains:

• One cable less
• Possibly the shifter lighter on the thumb
• Easy to adjust the derailleur (which is done once in years)

Losses:

• Need to recharge the derailleur
• Heavier than the mechanical derailleur
• In case of the damage, $$$

I cannot see any real advantage except owning the latest & greatest