Is there a strength between the Turbo Vado 5.0 step through and standard?

[SPeas]

DSGamer, I ride a 2022 Vado 4.0 with the medium-sized, standard frame and my wife has the 4.0 step thru. I'm going to agree with Stefan and the others who recommend the 5.0 model for you. I weigh about 235 lbs. I have not had the opportunity to test ride a 5.0 , but believe that the 4 piston brakes and the air shocks would be worthwhile upgrades. They would certainly be expensive parts to swap out later if you decided you need them. I also wouldn't have any hesitation in getting the step thru model. They are especially nice if you want to carry a larger trunk pack and don't want to have to hike your leg over it every time.

 

[Onimaru]

I am. In my experience the wheel is the most important part along with maybe the suspension fork.

I started bike commuting in 2000 at 400lbs and lost 170lbs in about a year and a half on an entry level Trek mountain bike that definitely wasn’t rated for my weight. I then spent the next 8 years riding a Trek 1000 road bike. Once again a hand-built wheel did the trick, even though I was never below 250 (I’m legitimately just a big guy that will never be that light, even when I’m eating perfect and cycling 35 miles a day) - the bike was great for me.

Unfortunately I was hit by a car a little over 10 years ago and that messed me up for quite a while. When I could finally get back on the bike regularly and not worry about getting hit, I’d gained some weight and started riding eBikes. Same drill. A well-built wheel and I don’t really have trouble. I didn’t have any trouble on my Trek Verve+ 3 (which I think has 2 piston brakes) and I don’t anticipate having trouble on the Vado once I get a wheel built.

I was just surprised by how insistent the salesperson was about the 4 piston brakes. My other bike is a Brompton with rim brakes. Maybe not advisable, but it can be done. And it’s not like I’m off-roading. I’m just running errands and getting around town.

All that said, since I’m starting fresh this time (I just sold my Tern) I may take this opportunity to spring for the lost stable and best braking Vado model I can (5.0, standard frame, non-SL), just to hedge my bets.

I’ve looked at the Riese and Mueller bikes, but it’s not clear to me what the geometry on the bikes is and I am trying to find a specific fit that the Vado meets.

I was similar. Somewhere between 305 and 320. I’m at 230 now. Same situation, wide frame built like a truck. I even need pedal extenders because my feet are too wide for standard pedal width. The 5.0 is nice and the brakes are fine. I even tow my daughter on a recumbent trailer. Probably another 80 lbs with her and the trailer. It stops just fine.

As for R&M, any of the Charger line (Charger, Supercharger, Multicharger) will give you a similar geometry/ride as the 2022 Vado. I’ve test rode them and the only thing that pushed me to Specialized (other than cost) was the IGH automatiq and my LBS was almost solely Specialized. They’ve just started branching into Bosch models, but I didn’t want to drive 2 hours for service on the R&M. Otherwise, it was an amazing bike.

 

[DSGamer]

Same here on the pedal spacers. I’ve used them since my first fit almost 20 years ago.

I was 175lbs and 6’1” as a 7th grader and hardly any fat. Played small college football. I doubt I could get skinnier than 250lbs. It is what it is. So I’ve mostly worked around the weight limits on bikes with success.

I am sympathetic to the idea that as I continue grocery shopping by bike I should be a little conservative, though.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Onimaru]

Same here on the pedal spacers. I’ve used them since my first fit almost 20 years ago.

I was 175lbs and 6’1” as a 7th grader and hardly any fat. Played small college football. I doubt I could get skinnier than 250lbs. It is what it is. So I’ve mostly worked around the weight limits on bikes with success.

I am sympathetic to the idea that as I continue grocery shopping by bike I should be a little conservative, though.

Thanks for all the advice.

Look up the Burley Coho. We got that for shopping at the farmers market or grocer. Because it is towed and has its own axel, it can help with weight distribution and getting it off your frame.

I’m about an inch shorter than you but very similar story. I was lineman but found out my shoulder likes to pop out so I stopped. Actually popped out for no particular reason in bed Friday night. Thought mountain biking Saturday was smart. Learning a new trail I was going too fast and clipped a small tree with my handlebar and popped it back out on the trail. So much fun.

 

[DSGamer]

Look up the Burley Coho. We got that for shopping at the farmers market or grocer. Because it is towed and has its own axel, it can help with weight distribution and getting it off your frame.

I’m about an inch shorter than you but very similar story. I was lineman but found out my shoulder likes to pop out so I stopped. Actually popped out for no particular reason in bed Friday night. Thought mountain biking Saturday was smart. Learning a new trail I was going too fast and clipped a small tree with my handlebar and popped it back out on the trail. So much fun.

How funny. That was me too. Played guard and tackle, but unfortunately my arm liked to go limp out of the blue. A stinger, maybe popping out, I didn’t know at the time. So I had to hang it up early too.

 

[DSGamer]

I was thinking about a Burley trailer. A big factor for me will be if the trailer lets me tilt the bike to get on as I don’t think I’ll actually go with the step through, so I’ll need to be able to tilt the bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

As for R&M, any of the Charger line (Charger, Supercharger, Multicharger) will give you a similar geometry/ride as the 2022 Vado.

Isn't it the Roadster that is similar to Vado? Just asking.

 

[Onimaru]

Isn't it the Roadster that is similar to Vado? Just asking.

Maybe? But I know I’ve ridden the Charger and it felt more forward than a cruiser / upright to me. I still think it’s their best non-cargo frame for my taste for a daily.

I was thinking about a Burley trailer. A big factor for me will be if the trailer lets me tilt the bike to get on as I don’t think I’ll actually go with the step through, so I’ll need to be able to tilt the bike.

Because it’s a single wheel it tilts with the bike. My wife has the small step through frame and still leans it a bit to get on because of her height.