New Vado?

[Bud in Denver]

I was going to send this to Rider Care but decided to post here as Rider Care is basically Rider Doesn't Care... Hopefully some fellow Vado riders can answer these questions.

So I've been riding this 2018 Vado 6 for several years. Have about 30,000 miles accumulated. Other than the occasional (and usually up hill) assist failures, Bloks display freezes, and other intermittent power issues, it's been a great bike for the most part. And sooo much fun in the mountains (but you never know when the "power issues" will occur).
So now I'm thinking of a new bike. Do I stay with Specialized or try a competing brand. Has Specialized figured out the "power issues"? Is the current Vado 5 a more "reliable" bike? What are the "issues/malfunctions" with the current model? Certainly Rider Care is positioned to answer these questions. Please give me some strong convincing reasons to stay with Specialized.

 

[Marcela]

I only have a combined 2k miles on both '20 vado and como 5 with no problems, nor do I see that there will be any in the future. I've never had to contact spec about anything so can't speak about that experience but would probably go through the lbs anyway. I see keeping the bikes out of wet weather as beneficial.

 

[PedalUma]

I was going to send this to Rider Care but decided to post here as Rider Care is basically Rider Doesn't Care... Hopefully some fellow Vado riders can answer these questions.

So I've been riding this 2018 Vado 6 for several years. Have about 30,000 miles accumulated. Other than the occasional (and usually up hill) assist failures, Bloks display freezes, and other intermittent power issues, it's been a great bike for the most part. And sooo much fun in the mountains (but you never know when the "power issues" will occur).
So now I'm thinking of a new bike. Do I stay with Specialized or try a competing brand. Has Specialized figured out the "power issues"? Is the current Vado 5 a more "reliable" bike? What are the "issues/malfunctions" with the current model? Certainly Rider Care is positioned to answer these questions. Please give me some strong convincing reasons to stay with Specialized.

The new ones are much better but you will still be stuck with a proprietary system.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I was going to send this to Rider Care but decided to post here as Rider Care is basically Rider Doesn't Care... Hopefully some fellow Vado riders can answer these questions.

So I've been riding this 2018 Vado 6 for several years. Have about 30,000 miles accumulated. Other than the occasional (and usually up hill) assist failures, Bloks display freezes, and other intermittent power issues, it's been a great bike for the most part. And sooo much fun in the mountains (but you never know when the "power issues" will occur).
So now I'm thinking of a new bike. Do I stay with Specialized or try a competing brand. Has Specialized figured out the "power issues"? Is the current Vado 5 a more "reliable" bike? What are the "issues/malfunctions" with the current model? Certainly Rider Care is positioned to answer these questions. Please give me some strong convincing reasons to stay with Specialized.

You can probably order the total upgrade of Vado electronics from BLOKS to the TCD-W at your Specialized LBS. Did you know Specialized had been offering the overhaul free under warranty? (I don't think "free" applies to you but I actually got such free overhaul in May 2020) and my Vado (similar to yours) still works perfectly as it were new.

Answering your question: since MY 2020 all Vados and Comos come with the TCD-W which is free of issues. Think twice: your Vado 6.0 can be upgraded. (The componentry on your Vado 6.0 is high-end and it surpasses what has been provided with later Vado 5.0 models).

 

[Bud in Denver]

Thanks Stefan I'll check with my lbs. Spec never notified me that there was warranty on this issue.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What About My Turbo Vado Or Como with a BLOKS display?
Due to the type of Bluetooth® connectivity on Turbo Vado/Como BLOKS displays, Mission Control cannot connect to these bikes. If you would still like to use the Mission Control App, please contact your local Specialized retailer to enquire about converting your bike to the App-compatible TCD-w.

Specialized Mission Control FAQ

I need to add the BLOKS -> TCD-W conversion indeed was a free programme until 2020.

 

[Art Deco]

What About My Turbo Vado Or Como with a BLOKS display?
Due to the type of Bluetooth® connectivity on Turbo Vado/Como BLOKS displays, Mission Control cannot connect to these bikes. If you would still like to use the Mission Control App, please contact your local Specialized retailer to enquire about converting your bike to the App-compatible TCD-w.

Specialized Mission Control FAQ

I need to add the BLOKS -> TCD-W conversion indeed was a free programme until 2020.

Does that mean the exchange program is over? Or there aren't many BLOKS left in the shops? My Como shows a 2019 date and came with a TCD display.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Does that mean the exchange program is over? Or there aren't many BLOKS left in the shops? My Como shows a 2019 date and came with a TCD display.

Art: The Specialized website was offering the overhaul programme until some time; now there's no word "free". In my case, I made a warranty claim in the early days of owning my Vado (November 2019). The LBS replied Specialized had promised the overhaul, yet because of the lack of "conversion sets" for Vado 6.0 in Europe at that time, I would need to wait. To my surprise, the LBS contacted me in May 2020 and offered the conversion. To my biggest surprise, I paid nothing for the upgrade (and bear in mind, part of the conversion set consisted of $500 Supernova M99 Pro headlight). Since the overhaul, my Vado feels like a new Vado 6.0, only the fork is rigid (Vado 6.0 comes with suspension fork).

Now, 2019 was a strange year, when some Vado/Como were coming with BLOKS and other with TCD-w, depending on many factors, geography included. 2020 was the TCD-w year for sure.

 

[Art Deco]

The new ones are much better but you will still be stuck with a proprietary system.

That is correct, AFAIK. Yes, the new stuff is good, but Specialized can't keep up with rapid technology change b/c of their installed base and dealers, so there will usually be something cool in the non-proprietary market that will be better than what Specialized offers, if you care to search it out. There will also be a lot of junk as well, so I will stay with a big name that works. YMMV.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Specialized e-bikes offer the best connectivity of all brands I know of. I hear Shimano is not bad, either. Yet, Shimano prefers to be stuck at Class 1.

 

[PedalUma]

The Specialized offerings are some of the very best on the market and a whole support and service network exists. If someone has money and wants a high quality ownership experience, I cannot think of a better brand.
I was just trying to help someone whose battery died after 70 miles of use. That brand is giving her the run around. They even asked her to take apart her battery on her kitchen table - that is playing with dynamite! Specialized supports their customers with service.