Is a Specialized Turbo Vado overkill for an older guy?

[Catchlight]

I'm 76, in OK shape, and have been riding a Bike Friday, but want to move up to a full-sized e-bike for two to four-hour trips on pavement and gravel roads and easy trails in our semi-rural area.

I've taken a 2-hour test ride on a Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (Canadian model, like a slightly de-featured American Vado 5.0) and liked it quite well. I also tried a Rad City model--not as smooth a mover as the Vado, with lesser quality components, but half the price of the Vado 4.0.

My questions are:
1. Is there another bike similar to the Vado but not as pricey that I should try?
2. Is a cheaper bike like the Rad good enough for an older, non-commuter riding for fun and fitness?
3. Or should I go YOLO and enjoy the luxury of the Turbo Vado for as long as I can, since it's probably the last bike I'll buy?

Thanks for any suggestions. Happy riding!

Brent,
Vancouver Island, BC.

 

[Carterk]

1) I loved how the Vado rides but was uncomfortable with the frequency with which people on this forum were having problems, compounded by stories of less-than-responsive support from Specialized. I ended up buying the in-some-ways-similar Raleigh Redux IE, which I’m really enjoying. US$ for the Vado 3 is now $3500, the Raleigh $3000.

2) There’s been a fair amount of chatter on this site about the drastically discounted Haibike Urban Plus and its cousin, the Izip Protour. Both are $3500 bikes discounted to ~$1600, Both use the somewhat less respected Transx motor. I’d look at these, but especially the slightly more expensive version of the Haibike Urban Plus which has a Bosch motor- tho I don’t know if there are any left of those in inventory.

 

[rich c]

Number 3., but for that kind of money, I'd look for something with oversized tires and full suspension. Around me, crushed rock and gravel gets very spongy with a rain. Something like Schwalbe Super Moto tires in the 2.4" wide range are such a nice ride on rock. Also the full suspension can be adjusted for an incredibly smooth ride, easy on the back. I'm 65 with a mother in end stage dementia. YOLO has never rung more clearly to me during the last month. I'm riding everyday with the hopes of delaying any crippling mental disease like she is enduring. Why not ride the best you can afford at this stage of life! I have two 2016 Haibikes, Full Seven S RX, and Trekking S RX. 2,000 miles on each. I take the Full Seven on single mountain bike trails and crushed rock rail trails, the Trekking for pavement. The Full Seven was a demo, the Trekking was last model year sale. I have $5400 in the pair.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Brent ...

Will you be able to get on and off the Vado with ease? Ebikes tend to be big brutes. If you ever put a trunk bag on the rack (and why wouldn't you?), it will be mighty difficult to saddle up.

My suggestion is that you seriously question the need for traditional-looking bike with a top tube - it is quite possible to make a step-through frame that is just as strong and stiff, albeit a kilo or two heavier. Ride a R&M Nevo or Homage if you can arrange it - fabulous bikes and so very easy to get on or off. A dropper seat post is also a good idea.

No? If you want a Vado, please consider the so-called women's version which has a low top tube - very much the same design as my own ebike which you can see in EBR's Let's See Your Best Pic thread (post #597). Then scroll up to Richard's R&M Nevo (post #583). Both Richard's Nevo and my Kalkhoff Integrale have similar trunk bags; I think it's clear which is easier to mount.

... David

 

[Catchlight]

Brent -

Will you be able to get on and off the Vado with ease? Ebikes tend to be big brutes. If you ever put a trunk bag on the rack (and why wouldn't you?), it will be mighty difficult to saddle up.

My suggestion is that you seriously question the need for traditional-looking bike with a top tube - it is quite possible to make a step-through frame that is just as strong and stiff, albeit a kilo or two heavier. Ride a R&M Nevo or Homage if you can arrange it - fabulous bikes and so very easy to get on or off. A dropper seat post is also a good idea, too.

No? If you want a Vado, please consider the so-called women's version which has a low top tube - very much the same design as my own ebike which you can see in EBR's Let's See Your Best Pic thread (post #597). Then scroll up to Richard's R&M Nevo (post #583). Both Richard's Nevo and my Kalkhoff Integrale have similar trunk bags; I think it's easy to tell which is easier to mount.

Incidentally, my avatar photo shows what I looked like nine years ago when I was just two years younger than you - I still am.

David

Thanks for your on point suggestions, gentlemen. I will look into several of them, including reading the reviews of the bikes you mentioned and finding out about availability in our local area. (I've got to actually ride a bike before buying it).

If I sound partial to Specialized it's because that's what the best bike shop in our area sells and services.

My next move will be to take David's advice and get over my residual macho attitude and ride a women's Vado and the other one with the really low step-through. I've learned that once you reach 70 nobody else cares what you wear, drive, or ride, so get what works.

I can still sling a leg over a rear rack and high top tube, but a few years from now, who knows? Second, I had a near over-the-handle-bars experience recently on my Bike Friday when another rider cut me off abruptly at low speed. I was able to get my right leg over the low tube to the left side and land both feet on the ground to stop myself and the bike without needing an ambulance ride.

Again, thanks for the tips. Please keep them coming if you think of anything else.

Happy riding!

Brent.

 

[TrevorB]

Visit Citrus Cycles at Ladysmith on Vancouver Island they have huge range of excellent ebikes.

 

[Catchlight]

Thanks, TrevorB. I've been in touch with Citrus and will go down there next week to try a few.
Brent.

 

[Nelson37]

The last car my mother ever owned was a Corvette. She actually did not like it much, but she did enjoy owning a Corvette.

The last car my grandfather owned was a deluxe model with all the bells and whistles. He put less than 500 miles on it, but I was told he did enjoy just sitting in it and listening to the radio in the driveway.

It is your call. You earned it, do with it as you please. I might question whether or not a Ferrari is a good choice at your age, but that is your decision and not mine.

I will note that my mom's problem with the vette was difficulty getting in and out of the car.

 

[Quadracer]

I'm 76, in OK shape, and have been riding a Bike Friday, but want to move up to a full-sized e-bike for two to four-hour trips on pavement and gravel roads and easy trails in our semi-rural area.

I've taken a 2-hour test ride on a Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (Canadian model, like a slightly de-featured American Vado 5.0) and liked it quite well. I also tried a Rad City model--not as smooth a mover as the Vado, with lesser quality components, but half the price of the Vado 4.0.

My questions are:
1. Is there another bike similar to the Vado but not as pricey that I should try?
2. Is a cheaper bike like the Rad good enough for an older, non-commuter riding for fun and fitness?
3. Or should I go YOLO and enjoy the luxury of the Turbo Vado for as long as I can, since it's probably the last bike I'll buy?

Thanks for any suggestions. Happy riding!

Brent,
Vancouver Island, BC.

I have owned the Vado 3 for 8 months and absolutely loved the bike. My advice is if you dont have the ability to service whichever bike you decide on yourself make sure you choose a brand from your LBS as they would have to look after the servicing side. For me the Vado was a great choice.

 

[Nxkharra]

I have owned the Vado 3 for 8 months and absolutely loved the bike. My advice is if you dont have the ability to service whichever bike you decide on yourself make sure you choose a brand from your LBS as they would have to look after the servicing side. For me the Vado was a great choice.

 

[Nxkharra]

I just ordered Vado 5.0 and I am 67. I purchased a cheaper bike before but was having 2nd thoughts on why I didnt buy Vado in the first place as I had already test rode a Vado 6.0.
Selling eBike is not very easy. I was lucky that I moved quickly and sold mine when it was only one month old and almost new.
My recommendation is get something you realy enjoy riding, watching, owning on a daily basis. That is off course if money is not an issue. Money comes and goes. Whatever you do will be right and the “universe conspires”.
YOLO my friend