Many posts while I was asleep, several of them requires a longer answer
To @Rich W.
thanks for another insightful and thought provoking post Stefan
Yes, provoking a little bit
(If there was any offender in this thread, I am fortunately unaware of it as I weeded out any trolls long time ago)
Between you and me: there is no greater joy to mount my Vado after a week of riding the Vado SL! Kilometres fade away quickly, the scenery is changing so fast, a headwind is of no issue! Only I feel the heavy mass of the e-bike under me, and the pedalling is so easy I often consider decreasing the assistance (using my own version of MicroTune). Vado is not Tero and it really feels shaky in more rough terrain, compared to Vado SL.
The heavy weight of Vado is especially depressing on my railway commutes to the group rides. In some railway stations here, you can find a lift so small you need to put the e-bike upright to fit in. Or, the lift is good for a wheelchair but would not fit any bike. Or, there is no lift or ramp only staircase. (Recently,
@Marquezdl has described his problems with a Vado and an elevator under another thread).
I’d like to try a light weight gravel e-bike and have fantasies about a lightweight road bike, but a gravel bike wouldn’t survive my type of riding (mix of paved roads, rough dirt/gravel, single track, and desert riding too rough for that design), and I think a nice road bike would just collect dust between occasional long rides in distant areas more favorable to that type of riding. The thought is appealing though.
I just want to mention Mr.
@e-levity who deeply customized a Vado SL of Ms. e-levity to the level (the e-bike named
Gravel Queen) they could make an exciting trip around the Death Valley CA.
Gravel Queen
Vado SL in Death Valley
I’m hoping technology improves over the next five years or so and weight comes down, but in the mean time I’ve invested over $6k in my bike ($4500 for the bike and $1500+ in mods/upgrades) and it will have to earn its keep before I buy another expensive toy.
I think you should use your Tero to the max and enjoy it as much as you can. Buying a Vado SL was my aware decision: I needed an e-bike I could keep in my apartment and easily carry it upstairs.
One nice thing about a heavy bike though is that having given up on weight-watching, I can freely load it up with whatever I want to bring along because weight saving is a lost cause.
Only please be careful with overloading your Tero. It's total weight limit is only 300 lbs! I was riding my Vado very close to that limit (rider + cargo + e-bike), and I have to build a new expensive rear wheel after 3+ years of riding the heavy e-bike.
The big limit is range. Realistically its a 35 mile bike with NO range extender option - another improvement they could make. I’ll probably end up buying a second battery, but the cost of those makes the idea rather unpalatable.
Hey, only 35 miles with the 710 Wh battery? Don't you use excessive assistance maybe?
Now I think of people who buy a dual battery e-bikes (such as Riese & Muller Superdelite) and the e-bike weight
starts at 31.5 kg (roughly 70 pounds)...