Should I buy an end of line Vado SL 4.0?

[kenem]

This is my first post, although I've lurked here for a while and learned a lot of useful stuff, of the kind not found elsewhere. So thanks to all of you and maybe you can help me with a decision about my first (maybe only?) e-bike.

For background: I'm 80, living in the UK, a lifelong cyclist and still riding a couple of all-terrain analogue bikes, which I love. Typical rides are around 20 miles on a mix of roads, byways and easy trails - mainly flat/undulating with occasional hills up to 12%. All done very slowly and often with a mate of similar age. I have a heart problem (sinus node dysfunction, if anyone is interested) which necessitates an implanted pacemaker. Apart from the ravages of time I have a problem with the inconsistency of help from my pacemaker. So I think it's time for me to buy an e-bike.

I've tried a rear motor hub conversion on one of my existing bikes but I really dislike the control of it - it's akin to a switch, far too abrupt and jerky. I also need to be able to lift the bike on to a camper van rack. So I think the key needs for me are a low powered motor with fine control, a smallish battery all in a lightish bike. I don't need bling and I want it to look, and ride, like a bike. All of your threads have directed me to a Specialized Turbo Vado SL of some kind.

Right now I can buy a Turbo Vado SL 4.0 step-thru for £1,200, which I feel is a snip. I'm capable of adding or swapping bike parts to meet my needs but the e-bike electrical parts and control need to be right.

So I'd appreciate your comments on the suitability of the above bike and anything else which would help or guide me.

 

[Amoto65]

Hi and welcome to another UK member, like yourself I to have heart problems ( 4 stents) I bought a Specialized Creo in 2020 (same motor) and it has been fantastic, I would have bought a Vado but there were non available at the time so I just did a flat bar conversion. Mine has never let me down over 7000 miles around the Peak District, at the price you're looking at I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[kenem]

Hi and welcome to another UK member, like yourself I to have heart problems ( 4 stents) I bought a Specialized Creo in 2020 (same motor) and it has been fantastic, I would have bought a Vado but there were non available at the time so I just did a flat bar conversion. Mine has never let me down over 7000 miles around the Peak District, at the price you're looking at I wouldn't hesitate.

Thanks very much for the response. We may not be very far apart as I live in Congleton, but it's a few years since I rode in the Peaks.

I've recently found myself riding with others again - friends ageing, helping newbies and probably people feeling pity for an old bloke. I'm very happy going slowly but I do need help at times, just not too much as I might outpace the others. So I'm hoping that the 1.1 motor, control and an app of some kind will allow me to do just that.

 

[MartsEbike]

I bought my Vado SL 5.0 two months ago for twice that price... As they say in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - "It's a deal, it's a steal, it's the sale of the f***ing century!"

 

[Extreme1]

My wife and I are 62 years old and both have Vado 3’s. They have been flawless and really make riding fun again. We’ve got 1500 miles on them and have done nothing but chain maintenance and fix a couple of flats.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Based on 3 months with an SL 5.0, I think an SL 4.0 would serve you well in that kind of topography given your apparent fitness at 80.

At 76, I had serious doubts that the SL motor would get me over much hillier terrain than yours. Totally unfounded. And such a sweet machine to ride with or without the motor!

Admire the engineering more and more every day. That includes the totally natural power delivery. Still, try before you buy if you can.

 

[Amoto65]

You're right we aren't far apart as I'm in Macclesfield.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I'm very happy going slowly but I do need help at times, just not too much as I might outpace the others. So I'm hoping that the 1.1 motor, control and an app of some kind will allow me to do just that.

The SL is amazingly easy to pedal without the motor, so you won't have any trouble keeping pace with slower riders.

Did the math: For a 190 lb rider like me, the SL's 15 lb of extra weight over a typical road bike costs you all of 2W on flat, smooth pavement. On a 5% grade, it'll cost you 24W. The SL motor can cover 10 times the latter by itself.

The free Specialized app gets mixed reviews, but it's working well for me.. All I need to record rides, all I need to see during rides, and it's very easy on my phone battery in dark mode.

Afterward, I export the ride to RideWithGPS for further analysis/graphing and addition to my RideWithGPS ride library. Strava also works well for that. The exporting step is quick either way.

 

[kenem]

The SL is amazingly easy to pedal without the motor, so you won't have any trouble keeping pace with slower riders.

Did the math: For a 190 lb rider like me, the SL's 15 lb of extra weight over a typical road bike costs you all of 2W on flat, smooth pavement. On a 5% grade, it'll cost you 24W. The SL motor can cover 10 times the latter by itself.

The free Specialized app gets mixed reviews, but it's working well for me.. All I need to record rides, all I need to see during rides, and it's very easy on my phone battery in dark mode.

Afterward, I export the ride to RideWithGPS for further analysis/graphing and addition to my RideWithGPS ride library. Strava also works well for that. The exporting step is quick either way.

Thanks Jeremy, for the reply and doing the math(s).

I have quite a heavy steel ATB and that was the bike that I fitted the rear hub motor conversion to. Most of the time I rode with the motor off, no problem but, when my heart/pacemaker played up and I switched on the motor, power delivery was very abrupt and too much for my, also slow, riding partner. It convinced me that, whilst motor assistance would be beneficial, it needs to be properly controlled. Accurate power (torque x cadence) measurement ought to enable that.

So I understand what you're saying and, from what you've all said, the Vado SL should give me that controlled assistance determined by my own pedalling. I've realised that the constant pedalling action at 80-90rpm is therapeutic - not racing round at 20+mph.

One question: will the TCU connect to an app such as BLEvo to allow me to adjust max.assistance/max.power at the various assistance levels?

Thanks again.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So I understand what you're saying and, from what you've all said, the Vado SL should give me that controlled assistance determined by my own pedalling.

Vado SL with Mastermind TCU allows you setting the assistance in 10% intervals as you ride (with the handlebar remote), making it possible for you to set your e-bike assistance to the speed of your riding mate.

I am only not sure if your Vado SL 4.0 has the TCU Gen 1 or Mastermind.

One question: will the TCU connect to an app such as BLEvo to allow me to adjust max.assistance/max.power at the various assistance levels?

Regardless the version of TCU, you can fine tune the motor from the Specialized App as much as you please. (BLEvo only works for TCU Gen 1).

 

[kenem]

Vado SL with Mastermind TCU allows you setting the assistance in 10% intervals as you ride (with the handlebar remote), making it possible for you to set your e-bike assistance to the speed of your riding mate.

I am only not sure if your Vado SL 4.0 has the TCU Gen 1 or Mastermind.


Regardless the version of TCU, you can fine tune the motor from the Specialized App as much as you please. (BLEvo only works for TCU Gen 1).

Thanks Stefan. You've all reassured me that this model will be able to do just what I want and I don't need more power, less weight or more techy bling.