Hello Turbo Vado friends everywhere / 2019 Range / Missing App!!

[Turbo Vado Pip]

Hi all.

Happy owner of a Vado 4.0

I see that Specialized has now updated their website (UK) introducing a new flagship model, the Vado 5.0

The changes made to the 2017/18 Vado 4.0 model including moving the rear light from the pannier to the rear mud guard are also now showing on the website. Mine came like this in spite of getting it earlier on in 2018 so I must have been lucky to get an advanced 2019 model.

But as far as getting our promised smartphone app, it goes from bad to worse. They have now removed all mention of any type of App from the website altogether. It seems to me like they have just given up. It’s been astonishing watching them duck and dive from questions on this. The App is essential, not only can you keep your bike loaded with the lastest software version, it’s also has self diagnostic capabilities so we could be causing our bikes damage and they have no way of reporting it back to us. It was also supposed to have “range anxiety” mode to help auto regulate the battery on a really long journey to ensure it didn’t run out. All useful stuff but it seems like we are never going to get it now.

You can even watch the Vado launch webinar on YouTube and they spend a whole pile of time talking about the upcoming App and it’s benefits.

How do we make sure that Specialized don’t get away with burying their heads in the sand over this?

 

[Douglas Ruby]

The app was dependent on firmware running in the BLOKS display. BLOKS has gone bankrupt (early July) and was clearly having problems delivering on their promises to Specialized. The longer term concern is not only no App support, but what is the longer term plan for support of the LCD and Color displays on the various levels of Vado?

 

[lewes5]

Well, that’s utterly depressing! Obviously Specialized has no contingency plans, i.e., a plan B. Rather bush league if you ask me.

 

[Turbo Vado Pip]

I think Specialized is big and rich enough to figure a way around this if they really tried. It’s hard to miss something we’ve never had but the fact that we SHOULD have had it and bought the bikes on the basis it would be available is unforgivable.

 

[lewes5]

One gets the impression that Specialized is sticking their collective heads in the sand hoping this issue will simply go away. A company committed to customer service would have corresponded with all of us Vado owners explaining the issue and their intended course of action to correct the problem. The company forgets customers have long memories. We all will b3 purchasing a replacement ebike eventially.

 

[surfinguru]

Have to say I have a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth regarding all this. We test rode the 2018 6.0 with the TFT screen, ordered the 2019 only to find out at delivery time that the LCD is now the only option. I feel like we got a bit of the bait-and-switch routine there.

Someone has to pick up the development on this though don't you think?

 

[eBikr]

Is there a practical difference between the 2018 & 2019 displays? They look the same in the photos on Specialized's site

 

[surfinguru]

Is there a practical difference between the 2018 & 2019 displays? They look the same in the photos on Specialized's site

Check the user manual that's still available. Scroll on down to section 8. Shows the various capabilities of each system. Significant downgrade to the plain LCD version.

 

[smitty]

Since we got little of what was promised for the TFT, the difference must be negligible....I have called and written Specialized any number of times about the lack of the app...still believe they should at the least provide a rebate for the lack thereof. I used the app on a Turbo Levo Fatty and it was a very pleasant experience, in general.










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[Unique]

Hi all.

Happy owner of a Vado 4.0

I see that Specialized has now updated their website (UK) introducing a new flagship model, the Vado 5.0

The changes made to the 2017/18 Vado 4.0 model including moving the rear light from the pannier to the rear mud guard are also now showing on the website. Mine came like this in spite of getting it earlier on in 2018 so I must have been lucky to get an advanced 2019 model.

But as far as getting our promised smartphone app, it goes from bad to worse. They have now removed all mention of any type of App from the website altogether. It seems to me like they have just given up. It’s been astonishing watching them duck and dive from questions on this. The App is essential, not only can you keep your bike loaded with the lastest software version, it’s also has self diagnostic capabilities so we could be causing our bikes damage and they have no way of reporting it back to us. It was also supposed to have “range anxiety” mode to help auto regulate the battery on a really long journey to ensure it didn’t run out. All useful stuff but it seems like we are never going to get it now.

You can even watch the Vado launch webinar on YouTube and they spend a whole pile of time talking about the upcoming App and it’s benefits.

How do we make sure that Specialized don’t get away with burying their heads in the sand over this?

Hi
I just got an answer from Specialized Nordic today. They will come up with more information about Mission Control App in end of february. Lets hope its positive.

 

[RonV]

In the Nederlands the same signal. In february the app available. But there must be made a modification on the bike to get it working.

 

[FancyPants]

Specialized has ZERO integrity - They have dumped all their Vado owners without an app, and there will never been an app for existing vado owners. Their communications has been appalling - a total lack of.

Instead they made this video: vimeo.com/314601195/9005b473a7 Skip to 1:50 - ceo has no idea bikes are being sold without the app. what BS.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/309870436 - the process for stripping out the wiring and replacing the display and controller.

Naysayers? Like existing owners still waiting for the app that never was delivered?

 

[MutinyGuy]

My Como 3.0 just got updated under warranty with the new display....the App now works on my Como...contact Specialized about the upgrade...

 

[Turbo Vado Pip]

Unique and RonV - I don't suppose you can share exactly what Specialized told you about the App coming out in February? As usual, Specialized UK have their fingers in their ears! Totally agree with you FancyPants, love my bike but their integrity is severely damaged!

 

[Drewtaylor]

Unique and RonV - I don't suppose you can share exactly what Specialized told you about the App coming out in February? As usual, Specialized UK have their fingers in their ears! Totally agree with you FancyPants, love my bike but their integrity is severely damaged!

I too have had my Vado 3 upgrade to TCD-W. Really good upgrade done free to me but at a cost to Specialised. My bike is registered with Specialised so it should have been easy for them to contact all owners and inform them of the offer. Never mind.

The actual display is clear and there are 5 different screens all of which are customisable. Two large display panels on each screen can be used for speed, distance, calories burnt (seemed a little on the low side to me), current I think it is rider power output, average speed and ride duration. One small window can be used for actual battery charge remaining, cadence or heart rate. You can easily flick from screen to screen using the buttons on the display set or the set button on the power select remote. The screen always has a battery graphic counting down in 10% blocks and also the current power selected.

The digits on the display look a bit outdated as are like dot matrix numbers and letters but are clear and easy to see. I preferred the bold graphics on the Books display but I'm not complaining.

On the road everything runs really smoothly and you get all the information you need.

The display syncs really easily to mission control which works well. You can really tell the difference when you retune the power settings for Eco, Sport and Turbo modes. Guess what. I think they were the best settings already although I have reduced the power a little for Eco and Sport as I am trying to improve range. The ride tracker works well and syncs rapidly to Strava after a ride. You can also see battery health etc.

My real disappointment is with smart control which is meant to get rid of range anxiety. It really reduces the power output of the motor. I am going to give it another try but I think sensible retuning of power outputs for Eco and Sport modes and toggling them on and off is a better way forward.

 

[2wheels]

Drewtaylor, Can you share any more about your experience with the TCD-W display and the smart phone app. I'm considering making the switch but would love to hear more about it form others first. Any improved service from Smart Control? Is there a display for motor and battery health?

 

[Drewtaylor]

Drewtaylor, Can you share any more about your experience with the TCD-W display and the smart phone app. I'm considering making the switch but would love to hear more about it form others first. Any improved service from Smart Control? Is there a display for motor and battery health?

I went out today and did a long ride of 70 miles. A significant part of that was without power as there was a strong tail wind so i was going 15.5 mph. The final leg was in re-tuned Sport mode as a strong headwind and hills. But i haven't really done a ride that i can compare it with yet. On the flat in factory settings Eco mode I get about 50 miles without wind etc. I weigh 210lb with all my gear. I will do a regular ride soon and see how my re-tune works and then post a report.

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Drewtaylor
New Member
Mar 25, 2019
#26
PaD said:
Please tell us how your reduction of power has worked out regarding mileage. I was thinking a little power reduction could have worked for my Vado 4.0 but on the other hand I was really happy with the power in Eco mode
Well the good news is that the Mission Control App really does work. Factory settings for Eco Sport and Turbo are 35%, 75% and 100% assist.
Reducing the power settings gives a completely different feel to the ride and a better work out. I'm not sure exactly how things work but I think the bike detects the power you are putting in and then adds power to pedals. Now if I reduce the power to the pedals, to keep the same average speed I have to put in more power myself. This will be detected and so the bike will increase power input so I'm not really convinced reducing the power setting will automatically increase range.

I went out today and did a 39mile loop. mainly flat with a couple of short steep bits. Miles 39.12, Elevation gain 968 feet, average speed13.2 mph. I adjusted settings to Eco 25%. Sport 50% and Turbo 100%. I kept to power on all the time and rode 95% Eco, 4% Sport and 1% Turbo (approximations). Battery charge left was 34%. My estimation is that with the changes to the power settings my total range would have been 60 miles. My usual total range estimation is 50 miles so that is a 20% increase with the reduction in power for Eco and Sport.

I will reset the powers to factory settings and do the same loop in the next few days to see if my assumptions are correct. It is difficult to be exact as although the bike weight and my weight remain constant the wind and temperature make a significant difference to range. Still I will give it a go.

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Drewtaylor
New Member
Mar 26, 2019
#27
PaD said:
Please tell us how your reduction of power has worked out regarding mileage. I was thinking a little power reduction could have worked for my Vado 4.0 but on the other hand I was really happy with the power in Eco mode
I went out today and did the same ride. The weather conditions were almost identical. I set the power setting back to factory settings of
Eco: 35, Sport : 75 and Turbo :100. The following shows the changes

Parameter 25.3.2019 26.3.2019 Change%
Settings (modified) (factory)
Average speed (mph) 13.2 14.1 +6.8
Time 177 166 -6.2
Power used % 66 77 +16.6
Power used (wh) 298 349 +17.1
Calories burned 668 600 -10.1
Average HR 110 103 -6.4
Support level% 148 189 +26.8
Nominal support level 25 35 +40.0
Estimated range 59 50 +18.0

So, dialling down power settings gives a harder workout, burns more calories and slows you down but gives a significant increase in range.
Moral of the tale. If you want a fun ride and know the route is easily achieved with factory settings power levels there is no need to fix what isn't broken. If you want a longer range and/or harder workout dial down the Eco and Sport power settings. If you still worry about getting there with power, use Smart Control (but I've no idea how this works). i know how to activate smart Control but it seems to give ridiculously low power support. Any information on Smart Control on Vado welcome.