New Vado 5

I got pretty excited about the BH Atom X until I saw they don't make it in XL (I'm 6'4").

That yellow Vado color a couple years back was AWESOME! I definitely would have bought it. I'm not really a big fan of the gloss black on my bike. It looks okay, but I like Stefan's grey much better.

I hope I get a chance to ride a 9.9 one day, but with my height it's highly unlikely. I always have to buy bikes before riding them. Thus my months of obsessive research before purchasing...
 
I’m trying to decide between the Vado 5 and the Trek Allant9s...I have a Super Commuter7 and want to upgrade to class three. I need local LBS support. I read on here of problems and strengths of both. Why did you two pick the Vado?

If your whole purpose is to remove speed limit then using a dongle is an option, especially if you are near the end of the 2-year warranty period.

If you are going to go for Trek imo Allant 8 is a far better option, the carbon one is too pricey(and imo is not worth its price tag at all. Unlike the carbon offering 9, allant 8 is more adjustable and will accept a front fork suspension or stem suspension if you like to, while having the same motor etc. In this forum somehow people are acting like 9.9 is the only version of Allant.

Specialized Vado 5 looks like a great offering and there is a testimonial on the forum which suggests that the 2020 offering has the newer Brose motor that seems to be reliable.

You can also look at Giant's offerings, I recently saw a Fast Road E+ (And I think the owner used to have a SC 7 like you did). The bicycle looked good in person but haven't ridden it so I don't know how good it is. There is also Quick E+.

If you are ok with shopping online there are lots of options out there.

Good luck
 
Giant Quick E+ or FastRoad E+ are only available with high-step frame. Nothing low-step/high speed from Giant or Liv. I wonder why.
 
Giant FastRoad E+ looks awesome, and I would have bought it except for one huge problem - they only gave it a 375Wh battery. Which to me means I have to buy the 375Wh extender, which sort of defeats the purpose of having an in-tube battery. And adds maybe $800 to the cost.

For $3500, and with a 500Wh battery with the option to add the extender, it would have been a great buy.

@Stefan Mikes no, the Atom X is a hardtail MB, but I was looking to buy one of those and chip it so I could ride both trail (under 20MPH) and street (up to 28MPH).
 
I got pretty excited about the BH Atom X until I saw they don't make it in XL (I'm 6'4").

That yellow Vado color a couple years back was AWESOME! I definitely would have bought it. I'm not really a big fan of the gloss black on my bike. It looks okay, but I like Stefan's grey much better.

I hope I get a chance to ride a 9.9 one day, but with my height it's highly unlikely. I always have to buy bikes before riding them. Thus my months of obsessive research before purchasing...
I also loved the previous years yellow color Vado 6.0. But I wanted the latest model so I got black 5.0 which is the only Vado 5.0 they offer in 2020. Oh well....first world problem!
 
The 2020 class3 Vado 6.0 is Ferrari red in my locale... That’s flashy enough for my taste.

View attachment 43204
I like that.
It looks to be exactly the same colour as my 2018 Vado 4.0. For my present Vado 5.0 I would have choosen that colour again if given a choice but black was the only option for 2020 as we now know.
For 2020 Vado 6.0 they call it Flo Red w/Blue Ghost Pearl but I think it is what was called Nordic Red in 2018. I used to call it nail polish red and a friend (female) told me that there was a little bit of blue in it.
 
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I got pretty excited about the BH Atom X until I saw they don't make it in XL (I'm 6'4").

That yellow Vado color a couple years back was AWESOME! I definitely would have bought it. I'm not really a big fan of the gloss black on my bike. It looks okay, but I like Stefan's grey much better.

I hope I get a chance to ride a 9.9 one day, but with my height it's highly unlikely. I always have to buy bikes before riding them. Thus my months of obsessive research before purchasing...
I have a black 2020 but would have preferred red like my earlier Vado.
The black is ok. It’s classic black to me. Like e.g. an old BMW motorcycle or perhaps older cars and machines. No modern metallic paint, just black with a clear glossy surface. With some gold stripes it would have looked like a Lotus JPS race car.
I forget about the colour as soon as the wheels are turning:D
 
Yeah, I’m not thinking about color at 28MPH!

The matte black on the Levo comp might have been cool, though it’s probably more of a tough mountain bike color.

One thing I like about colors other than black is they make the down-tube look thinner, because of the black bottom piece. I’ve never liked that design - big and fat on the bottom to skinny on top. I think most other manufacturers are doing a better job on design around the motor and in-tube batteries.
 
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That yellow Vado color a couple years back was AWESOME! I definitely would have bought it....
Fixed
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;)
 
Great looking bike. I have one just like this also 2020 Vado 5.
I see your seat post and handlebar extension.
please provide info and your review on how they work.
I also see that you have removed the rear fenders and carrier. Reason?
Looks sporty and simply good.
Is this a 2020 model. Did you change location of front light?
Looks like my light is a Supernova V521s, which is what’s spec’d now. Is this new for 2020? Has anyone upgraded their front light? I was looking at the M99Pro and wondering if it’s plug n play.
 
I love the picture...no posing that...not even a mask...reminds me of something from a Danny McBride comedy
 
Hi all, new to the forum. I’ll be looking at an ebike this spring and Vado 5.0 is on my list. So new motor on the 2020 but what about the issue reported of wheel spokes that was breaking, anybody with feed back on that? I’m 6’1” and 230lbs, so concerned over that! Tks
 
Well, I‘m not far into it, only 150 miles, but I’m 6’4” and 240lbs. There is no hint of any issues. The bike is rock solid, tight, smooth and quiet. I think I didn’t need to agonize over it as long as I did. It’s really a fantastic machine (if a bit overpriced).
 
I have a 2020 Vado 5 with nearly 1,400 miles.
I never had spoke issue.
see my other post re “Vado 5 not responding”
LBS changed the control unit and trouble free since.
it is amazing bike. I have been riding every day (versus once a week with my conventional bike) Can’t get enough. Always smile on my face.
This is my second ebike. Sold the other one after one month after I test ride Vado.
 
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