Last place?

[Phyz]

What's our wisdom on this? It looks like Specialized has some work to do here. Experience tells me there will be a strong urge to shoot the messenger. I hope we can do better than that, as enlightened as we are.

Spring 2020 Ebike Reliability Survey Results

Here are the results of the first ever Ebike Test Lab Reliability Survey, which we plan to do every Spring and Fall moving forward. The rankings are based solely on the survey responses. An algorithm was developed to take into account the total number of miles, number of failures, severity of...

electricbikereview.com

 

[Feliz]

What I would want to know is how many reviews is it based on. Unless there's at least a ( approximately ) hundred or more bikes of each brand being reviewed the results are statistically meaningless. This survey is definitely a good start though and could become the consumers report of eBikes.

 

[rich c]

I haven't read about as many frames cracking as we did with Specialized for a while. And then there was the software not connecting for a period of time as well. Just from reading, doesn't surprise me they are on the bottom.

 

[ElRojo]

This type of survey will tend toward negative results. People eager to answer would have had a bad experience, people with a negative experience are usually the loudest, then if you add that more people with specialized bikes answered, well that will skew the results even more. I am not saying that Specialized is perfect, but in my own experience, my bikes have not been terrible either!

 

[Sierratim]

I think a big part of Specialized's ranking is the debacle they went through with the Bloks display. The manufacturer's closing forced Specialized to find and implement an immediate replacement. Buyers with Bloks displays were left pretty much hanging during the early stages of this process. Early buyers with the new TCD display waited as the new Mission Control app finally settled into something useful. During all of this dealers had to go through new training and install new software to sell and service the bikes. All in all, a very tough situation for a business, and high levels of frustration for the buyers.

 

[Phyz]

I appreciate the effort being made to collect and publish objective data. The N was over 500, with about 20-30 responses for each make.

I’m still keen to get a Vado soon, but refuse to second-guess the study in hopes of making Specialized seem better than the data would indicate.

I accept the data for what it is and hope the collection of it continues.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I appreciate the effort being made to collect and publish objective data. The N was over 500, with about 20-30 responses for each make.

I’m still keen to get a Vado soon, but refuse to second-guess the study in hopes of making Specialized seem better than the data would indicate.

I accept the data for what it is and hope the collection of it continues.

I think the Vado has had a rocky road, but I'm hoping Specialized has worked out all the bugs by now, since on my recommendation a neighbour bought a 4.0.

 

[Sierratim]

I think the Vado has had a rocky road, but I'm hoping Specialized has worked out all the bugs by now, since on my recommendation a neighbour bought a 4.0.

Of course, only time will tell. I know both of our Vados have settled into reliable bikes after a couple of warranty issues that led me to report lower reliability in this survey than I would now.

 

[Cyklefanatic]

What's our wisdom on this? It looks like Specialized has some work to do here. Experience tells me there will be a strong urge to shoot the messenger. I hope we can do better than that, as enlightened as we are.

Spring 2020 Ebike Reliability Survey Results

Here are the results of the first ever Ebike Test Lab Reliability Survey, which we plan to do every Spring and Fall moving forward. The rankings are based solely on the survey responses. An algorithm was developed to take into account the total number of miles, number of failures, severity of...

electricbikereview.com

I also think that the Vado battery mount issue helped downgrade the rating. My LBS says it is a common issue with no solution.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guys,

We, Vado/Como users own the best e-bikes in its class in the market. I could write a long essay but I will just tell you we are spoilt with our "e-bike Ferraris". I don't want to say a lot about other brands and models but I have been looking for even better e-bike in the class and found none.

The point is, our expectations are set very high and we tend to complain far more than the users of affordable e-bikes who just admire their vehicles because they don't know what they've missed.

Name a brand and a model of Vado/Como competitors and I will tell you why you wouldn't like to have them

 

[Cyklefanatic]

Guys,

We, Vado/Como users own the best e-bikes in its class in the market. I could write a long essay but I will just tell you we are spoilt with our "e-bike Ferraris". I don't want to say a lot about other brands and models but I have been looking for even better e-bike in the class and found none.

The point is, our expectations are set very high and we tend to complain far more than the users of affordable e-bikes who just admire their vehicles because they don't know what they've missed.

Name a brand and a model of Vado/Como competitors and I will tell you why you wouldn't like to have them

Stefan, how much did you enjoy the Kool-Aid?

 

[Marcela]

Maybe Specialized doesn't tithe?

 

[Phyz]

Maybe Specialized doesn't tithe?

I said it would hard to resist that urge. But giving in to it is not productive.

Begin with the presumption that the data is objective. If you think the statistical validity could benefit from a larger N, you can probably help with that.

But don’t begin with the presumption that if Specialized is last, the study must be wrong.

 

[jaizon]

"A man's worth is not measured by the cost of his bike, but his insecurity is reflected in how often he tells others about it." Ronin Semple from "The Male Ego in Its Infinite Variety", Random House - 2021,

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, how much did you enjoy the Kool-Aid?

Even don't know what it is...

 

[jaizon]

Even don't know what it is...

Cool-aid drinkers most often don't.

 

[TS25]

Begin with the presumption that the data is objective. If you think the statistical validity could benefit from a larger N, you can probably help with that.

And that is exactly what I have done right now. I contributed to the survey which I didn't know before.

Not one issue with my Vado since 2018. Not with the battery mount, not with the BLOKS display, not with anything else. Drive train works flawlessly and so does the Brose motor. And although I would be entitled for a cost-free change from the BLOKS display to the TCD-W and I do trust that my LBS could do that properly I have decided not to ask him.

The sign "bring me to the LBS for the regular check" popped up lately in my BLOKS display but I just drove by him to tell him to push it further. I check the usual stuff and even the chain is in perfect condition so there's nothing for him to do. Never change a running system and a firmware update could only make things worse.

 

[Phyz]

How was this research conducted?

Check the original post. If you need further details, ask @EbikeTestLab .

 

[Sierratim]

Even don't know what it is...

To be fair to our Polish friend, Kool Aid is a brand of powdered drink mix. It has been know to be consumed with 'additives' (physcidelics, posions,...). Phrases like "did you enjoy the Kool Aid?" refer to consuming the physcidelic laced version with an accompanying lapse in good judgement. It was all in fun and I'm just the messenger....

 

[Johnmj1]

Guys,

We, Vado/Como users own the best e-bikes in its class in the market. I could write a long essay but I will just tell you we are spoilt with our "e-bike Ferraris". I don't want to say a lot about other brands and models but I have been looking for even better e-bike in the class and found none.

The point is, our expectations are set very high and we tend to complain far more than the users of affordable e-bikes who just admire their vehicles because they don't know what they've missed.

Name a brand and a model of Vado/Como competitors and I will tell you why you wouldn't like to have them

What about the Trek Verve +3, compared to the Como?