Is the Specialized SL 1.1 Motor As Loud As They Say?

[Stefan Mikes]

Well, that certainly requires a well controlled environment to come to the right conclusions but is the SL 1.1 motor that loud under a typical riding conditions? During the video, you can hear a car passing by. That's loud!

Listen to the wind, the shifter click, to the tyre noise...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The one in my Vado SL 1 is louder than I'd like, but the noise often goes unnoticed in normal riding. So I wouldn't call the noise obtrusive, but I definitely appreciate the silence when riding in OFF.

In fact, that's one of the many reasons i enjoy riding the SL in OFF. Luckily, the bike's well-suited to that.

 

[Calcoaster]

I had a creo 1 and a Vado sl before that and the motor whine, while not loud, was always noticeable and annoying. It increased with cadence and was an irritating sound that I never got used to. Now I have a TQ motor that is silent and I appreciated that lack of noise on every ride!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I'd like to hear something from Bosch, Yamaha, Fazua or Shimano riders as well. We SL riders cannot compare the motor noise if we didn't ride anything else (I believe the claim the TQ motor is silent).
My older Vado 6.0 1.2s motor is totally silent because Brose was using a carbon drive belt inside it. The consequence was the motor failure after a long mileage (or earlier!) Anyway, the 1.2s motor is totally silent, and a minimal noise can be only heard in TURBO mode in a very quiet surrounding

Once I made a video that compared the Yamaha motor noise against the 1.2s. The important part begins when the Giant e-MTB rides into the forest where the aggressive tyres get silenced.

 

[Base]

Most rides are done on a Bosch E-Bike, BDU makes as much noise as the Mahle DU, pitch is different. Same for the Yamaha DriveUnits we have around here, comparable db just a different pitch. the Carqo Line BDU's produce more noise in db and in a range which is more noticeable. Flyon TQ sample is gone from the office, that one also produces noise, less audible. Both bikes with the Brose DU are silent, till you hit Turbo. Bionx rearwheel motors are completely silent (till the stator losses a magnet...)

In my opinion, the pitch is more a problem than the actual db of the DU.

 

[stompandgo]

My System 2 Performance Speed BDU makes a sound like an electric vehicle with a manual transmission. The pitch varies with cadence, dropping down with every upshift, and spiking up with every downshift, as long as I'm pedaling. This was a common complaint from owners of this motor, which I knew before I bought it. It doesn't bother me at all. Other MUP users will notice me coming from behind. If I get a chance, I'll make a video.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

The SL motor is far louder than the Shimano EP6 motor which seems very quiet. The SL motor is ok in traffic on the flat the sound getting buried in street chatter but has a very high pitched squeal on hills. I think it's fairly obvious why- the much smaller and weaker motor (35nm) has to strain a lot on hills whereas the EP6(85nm) has more power to hand and it also has a lower pitch, much less squealing more drone and actually sounds relatively pleasant sounding and so isn't as noticeable as the SL1.1. The real like for like comparison would be motors of similar power output , size and weight and I think, a couple of year back, when they compared Fazua, TQ and SL motors the SL was much louder. That's why Spesh did a bit of a song and dance about how much quieter the newer SL motor was when they released it.

On Friday I was going up a long 20%+ hill and a woman was unloading her van by a farm gate and she grinned and without looking up said something like " Bet that really helps out on these hills doesn't it?" Referring to the loud noise which we could both easily hear. Though her comment was also a sign of increased acceptance of E Bikes which was nice & that she didn't say anything like "You're cheating!" that I often get.

 

[Base]

well we do tests for products, the actual DB's for the different drive units not that far apart, the tone/herz is further apart and that more "audible" parameter. Also the frame where it is tested in is a big factor in these cases. And yes, we test them at max torque output.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

well we do tests for products, the actual DB's for the different drive units not that far apart, the tone/herz is further apart and that more "audible" parameter. Also the frame where it is tested in is a big factor in these cases. And yes, we test them at max torque output.

Interesting about the frame contribution. Have you tested the Mahle 1.1 SL motor in the OP? Can you share some dB results?

 

[Base]

like all bigger brands we buy competitors products and test them to our own designs. We do, like others, design frames in such a way that the noise is not that audible for the rider.

I cannot disclose test methods and results for obvious reasons, I can only say that the DU's are not that far apart in DB, the Herz is another thing. And also most DU brands do some sort of sounds shielding in their designs.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Don't you ride a Vado SL yourself, Base?

 

[Base]

I do, but i would not put it on the test setup. Those benches run for 24 hours a day

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I do, but i would not put it on the test setup. Those benches run for 24 hours a day

So how would you personally rate the Vado SL 1's motor noise compared to the many other ebikes you've ridden?

Between your willingness to help and your clear technical knowledge and experience across brands, you're a great asset to the forum. I gather now that you work for an ebike manufacturer in some technical capacity — engineer, technician, etc. Can you tell us anything about that?

 

[Base]

My current role is rather diverse, partially I am supporting my support colleagues with technical knowledge, also hands-on when bikes are not diagnosed and solved for the end consumer. Could be in house or at the dealer. Most of the time I am focussing on compliance and quality related matters. And another part is writing an shooting manuals for our own mechanics and dealer support.

And yes I've a long history in working at dealers and working for different bike brands and worked with/at the three big marican brands. Currently working at the parrant company with a few different brands under the umbrealla. And yes my main passion lays in e-bikes.

My personal experience with the SL is that the noise pitch different to other bikes I rode, one with an SX (or Sprint) BDU makes a much more irritant noise, older Yamaha's are also known to be a bit louder than the current Bosch BES3 systems. Bosch Classic and BES1 could also be irritant in noise. Rear wheel motor system like ION, BionX, GoSwiss et al are known to be rather silent. The ones from dapu or Bafang could also be rather loud.

 

[BEC111]

Well, that certainly requires a well controlled environment to come to the right conclusions but is the SL 1.1 motor that loud under a typical riding conditions? During the video, you can hear a car passing by. That's loud!

Listen to the wind, the shifter click, to the tyre noise...

The motor noise on my SL 4 is definitely noticeable, but I usually don’t mind. The noise is often how I know the motor is assisting since the assist is so subtle.

 

[GAJ]

Never understood the complaints to be honest.

 

[BEC111]

Never understood the complaints to be honest.

I agree. Besides the variety of human natures it is also possible that different ind motor have slightly different noise profiles.

 

[GAJ]

I agree. Besides the variety of human natures it is also possible that different ind motor have slightly different noise profiles.

My friend had the same bike (RIP Jim) and his was a later model vs my earlier model but both could be heard, sure, but only by the rider and not really loud.

 

[Gionnirocket]

What do you expect from a scrap metal motor with the same specs as a coffee grinder?