Yea probably the low entry price for the aluminum models. The guy said he got it used for 3k, then did a gravel conversion including tubeless and GRX Di2 resulting in a 33lbs bike. It's probably still under the price of the lowest aluminum Creo model.
You have the US version mit 28 mph? It's difficult to compare this with a US road Creo or with my german Creo Comp Evo with 16 mph limit. But I had a 28 mph Bosch speed pedelec similar to the Creo (but 10kg heavier) and my way to office is similar, both ways together about 49-50 miles with only 365 hm/1200 feet with 40% good forest paths and 60%. With maximum support I needed about 1000 Wh of battery with an average of maybe 20 mph. When I used lowest support/Eco, it was about 18 mph and 500 Wh, so like you. I still have a strong swiss Stromer speed pedelec where I can do the tour with an average speed of 22 mph, but then I need about 1600 Wh...
Yes, we have a 28 mph (45kph) limit but that makes that ebike a Class 3 which has more riding location restrictions. To be able to ride many bike trails in California it must be a Class 1 or Class 2 ebike. Class 2 ebikes have a power assist limit of 20 mph and can have more than a 750W motor. Class 1 ebikes have the same 20 mph speed restriction as Class 2 but cannot have a throttle e.g. ride without pedaling. If the Creo was speed limited to 20 mph (like Canada/Europe), they would be a Class 1.
Interesting ... thanks to all for the good input. I seem to be falling into a pattern of riding 3-4 times a week @ 25-45 miles per ride. Slowing down to an average of 15-17mph seems to extend the range to 60 miles with my 150% battery (Range Extender) setup. I like (need) the assist from Sport mode to make this ride enjoyable and still get the workout I want. I love the 28mph assist limit of the US setup Creo, but could live with a 20mph assist limit. I think a16 mph assist limit would make the rides more of a grind and rule out the Creo for my use case.
I was thinking of the same, buying a Vado SL and changing it to drop bar, as in my opinion the Creo is too expensive (or the Vado SL too cheap, as you like it...). Many more experienced drop bar riders advised me, not to try it. It's more then just changing the handle bar and you don't know what you get afterwards. There's a good chance, that you get a bike that feels terrible for you and you wasted a lot of money and time for the conversion. It's fine to test such a conversion if you do it with an old bike that you already have and also the drop bar componets already at home. But no with a new expensive bike and new parts.
I am experienced, and I do not see any problem with converting a Vado SL to drop bars, other than cost. Will it ride the or handle same as a Creo? No, but so what? It is probably akin to the difference between a road bike and a gravel bike.
Interesting ... thanks to all for the good input. I seem to be falling into a pattern of riding 3-4 times a week @ 25-45 miles per ride. Slowing down to an average of 15-17mph seems to extend the range to 60 miles with my 150% battery (Range Extender) setup. I like (need) the assist from Sport mode to make this ride enjoyable and still get the workout I want. I love the 28mph assist limit of the US setup Creo, but could live with a 20mph assist limit. I think a16 mph assist limit would make the rides more of a grind and rule out the Creo for my use case.
Coming from putting 2500 miles (in 6 months) on a 500W cadence assist ebike, the relatively low power assist levels of the Creo was surprising. My friend who works at Specialized mentioned that the power differential would be noticeable and he tried to steer me toward a Turbo Vado. I test rode both and preferred both the fit, handling and looks of the Creo. If I had been riding an acoustic road bike for the past months, I'm sure I would have a very different much more positive take on the Creo's power output.
I'm in Northern California and the weather allows for a riding season of at least 300 days/year. Having the Creo plus another more powerful long range ebike for off road and cruising with the wife is an ideal situation. I believe that ebikes are here to stay and I have created a number of converts by demoing my ebikes. In my experience, almost everyone who actually rides an ebike loves the experience but here, I'm preaching to the choir ...
The weight difference between Creo to Vado SL is about the same as Vado SL to Vado.
So 300 rideable days a year on an ebike that's under 30 lb. My 50 lb Como with maybe 90 clear days a year makes me jealous. But not jealous enough to move to CA ...
As a California resident, I can't wait to get out of the state. Retirement can't come quick enough.
