As mentioned above, I test rode a Creo SL Comp. I currently have a Yamaha Wabash which is a drop bar gravel bike. I enjoy the Wabash as it gives me the option to ride dirt roads and poor sections of paved roads. I converted the stock 33mm tires to 38mm tubeless and run lower pressure (45-50psi) which smooths out the chip seal, road cracks, potholes, etc. That said, I discussed with the salesman the differences between the SL Comp (road bike) and the SL Comp EVO (gravel bike). Besides the color options, the EVO has a dropper post and wider gravel tires (38 vs 28). I put a dropper post on my Wabash and have only used it once on a steep downhill. I usually lower it when dismounting and mounting just so I don't have to swing my leg as high. I can do without it on the Creo. The dealer said if I bought the SL Comp he would swap out the 28 road tires for 38 gravel tires as both bikes use the same rims. Just for grins I asked him about the differences between the Comp and the Expert. Besides the color options and the $2,500 increased price, the only differences are carbon rims and SI2 shifting. While the SI2 is wonderful on a double chainring, I just don't see much advantage on the 1x11 setup. The shifting may be smoother and more responsive but without the cross chain situations with a double chainring that the DI2 automatically handles, I can't rationalize the added cost. I've talked myself into the SL Comp at $6,500. Now to start working on the wife. LOL
Specialized Turbo Creo 28mph Electric Road Bike
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
Captain Slow
Well-Known Member
Dave you already have a Wabash and you're getting a Creo? Wow, lucky guy. I'd love to have both, we can't even get the Wabash in Canada.
I don't love the limited colour offered for the aluminum Creo, but I've decided for this bike I want aluminum. I have a bike rack that clamps onto the top tube and I find it a pain because with carbon bikes like my Cervelo I won't use the rack for fear of crushing the carbon. Besides the aluminum is $2k Cdn. cheaper. With the $2k saved, I can get a less expensive commuter that I wouldn't care as much if it got stolen so would be better for running errands when I lock up my bike.
Ideally the Creo would be a 2X drivetrain and the wheels would be more standard. I'm not too fussed about the rear being 148 x 12 as that's common in the MTB world so lots of different hubs available. But why couldn't Specialized go with 110 x 15 in the front of which there is huge selection. They went with 110 x 12 which is really hard to find. I've love to get 2 sets of wheels for the bike and there just isn't going to be much selection.
I don't love the limited colour offered for the aluminum Creo, but I've decided for this bike I want aluminum. I have a bike rack that clamps onto the top tube and I find it a pain because with carbon bikes like my Cervelo I won't use the rack for fear of crushing the carbon. Besides the aluminum is $2k Cdn. cheaper. With the $2k saved, I can get a less expensive commuter that I wouldn't care as much if it got stolen so would be better for running errands when I lock up my bike.
Ideally the Creo would be a 2X drivetrain and the wheels would be more standard. I'm not too fussed about the rear being 148 x 12 as that's common in the MTB world so lots of different hubs available. But why couldn't Specialized go with 110 x 15 in the front of which there is huge selection. They went with 110 x 12 which is really hard to find. I've love to get 2 sets of wheels for the bike and there just isn't going to be much selection.
I'll be selling the Wabash to slightly offset the Creo's pain in the wallet. I'll be getting the SL Comp and the dealer will swap out the 28mm tires to 38mm. The Creo will replace the Wabash as my gravel bike. The only things missing will be the dropper post and the flared bars and I didn't really use either on the Wabash. This should be a nice light weight gravel bike, 17 lbs lighter than the Wabash.
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
So what was your overall assessment of the Wabash? Never seen one in the wild, but they look pretty appealing.
The Wabash is a wonderful ebike. Relatively light (43lbs) for it's fairly low price (list $3,500). It's well built, comfortable to ride (if you prefer drop bars), very good motor (except it's slightly noisy) and has a 3 year warranty. With the speed, cadence, and torque sensors it's extremely smooth. There is no jerkiness at all. It reads input from the three at something like 10 times per second so it has instant response. I tend to stand on the pedals when climbing and the bike picks up the added pedal torque and seamlessly adds power. It is a class 1 so the motor cuts out at 20 mph but it does so smoothly that I never know it happened unless I glance at the speedo. I almost exclusively ride in the lowest boost setting (+ECO) and I could do over 100 miles on the 500W battery. Today I rode 52 miles with 1,600ft elevation gain and only used 26% of the battery.
The only reason I'm going to sell it and move up to the Creo is the weight factor. The Wabash is riding a mountain bike and the Creo is riding a road bike. When I ride my acoustic road bike (21lbs) it's so nimble. I can feel the weight of the Wabash.
Captain Slow
Well-Known Member
I'm wondering if any Creo owners have replaced the chainring, and if so how large a chain ring fits? It looks pretty tight so I'm guessing if you could fit a bigger one, it wouldn't be too much bigger.
Put down a deposit on a Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon today. The color I want (Ghost Pearl/Rocket Red) isn't currently available but they're "In Transit". Mine should be here in 2-3 weeks. I negotiated about $400 in extras to be included in the $6,500 base price so I feel good about the decision.
Guitar dave
New Member
I bought a Turbo Creo Comp Carbon a month ago thinking I would put the Evo tires on the included DT wheels, and buy a $1200 set of the upgraded carbon c38 wheels found on the upper range Creos and put my original road tires on them, and disc's. Then I could just swap out wheels for gravel vs road. Good plan, right?
Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered Specialized does not yet offer these wheels as an upgrade, and that particular hub size is proprietary! I just want to buy a set of the c38's, and can't! At least yet...
Specialized, please make these available. This is not serving your customer...
Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered Specialized does not yet offer these wheels as an upgrade, and that particular hub size is proprietary! I just want to buy a set of the c38's, and can't! At least yet...
Specialized, please make these available. This is not serving your customer...
This is what I'm doing. The dealer is doing a straight across swap from the road 28s to the EVO's 38 gravel tires. I originally wanted some 33 gravel tires but he didn't have many choices so I'm going with the 38s.
I'm currently running the 38 gravel tires on my Vado. As a roady at heart, I think they are perfect road tires. The centre smooth patch is good for smooth roads while they are also great on rough stone chip roads. Around here, the stone chip roads are the majority so personally I would just stick with the 'gravel' tires unless the extra watt of reduction is worth it to you.
Guitar dave
New Member
Yes, these tires look like a great compromise. But I love the feeling of the super efficiency I get on my Roubaix with carbon Rovals and high pressure road tires. So I am trying to get that on my Creo.
For me, this is really the ultimate ebike (I assume, it has been snowy here in northern michigan since I got the bike) and I really want to max its performance. Had I known I could not upgrade the wheels I would have bought the $9k model.
BTW, if anyone knows of any carbon wheels which can be fit to this please post it. I am not stuck on Roval, especially now.
darlingbastard
New Member
Is the Creo motor louder than the Vado? I've never heard it in real life but on YouTube the motor seems louder than I expected for such a stealthy e-bike. Vado 5 vs. Aluminum Creo looks like a hard decision.
I took two test rides before I made the commitment. I really had to concentrate to hear the motor noise and even then it's just a soft hum. Much quieter than the motor on my Yamaha Wabash and the Yamaha motors are billed as being quiet. I can't compare it to the Vado.
I was told there would be a 2-3 week delivery on my Creo SL Comp. I stopped by the shop on Tuesday (1 week + 1 day) to ask if they had a shipping update and was told the bike was just delivered that morning. They would have to build it but would have me riding by the weekend. Then they called late Wednesday afternoon to say it was ready. I picked it up first thing Thursday morning so it was only 1.5 weeks from order to riding.
I ordered the SL Comp rather than the EVO as the Comp is lighter without the dropper seat post (and besides I love the Ghost Pearl color). The only changes I had the dealer make was to install the EVO 38 gravel tires and set them up tubeless, swap the carbon seat post for the S-Works CG-R post (18mm of vertical compliance with vibration dampening), and install the TCD wireless display.
I took it out for a short 12 mile loop before dinner yesterday and was very impressed with how fast, quiet, and smooth it is. Between the Future Shock 2.0, the S-Works seat post, and the carbon frame the ride became so much smoother than my aluminum Yamaha Wabash. There's no comparison.
Today and friend (strong rider) and I took a 30 mile loop ride with a 5 mile 1,150 ft climb in the middle. It sounds stupid but the Creo makes everything too easy. I rode the entire day in the stock Eco mode and constantly had to back off. I tried it in Sport mode going up the climb and 18 mph uphill was no problem. At the end of the ride I had used 29% of the battery so on a hilly ride I could easily meet or exceed their 80 mile battery estimate. When I got home I set up another Mission Control profile, reducing Eco from 35% to 25% and Sport from 60% to 50%. I'm not looking to leave everyone in the dust, I just don't want to be "that guy" at the back that everyone has to wait for. The next ride I'll see if the lower settings feel more like a normal bike with just a little boost for my 72 year old knees/legs.
I ordered the SL Comp rather than the EVO as the Comp is lighter without the dropper seat post (and besides I love the Ghost Pearl color). The only changes I had the dealer make was to install the EVO 38 gravel tires and set them up tubeless, swap the carbon seat post for the S-Works CG-R post (18mm of vertical compliance with vibration dampening), and install the TCD wireless display.
I took it out for a short 12 mile loop before dinner yesterday and was very impressed with how fast, quiet, and smooth it is. Between the Future Shock 2.0, the S-Works seat post, and the carbon frame the ride became so much smoother than my aluminum Yamaha Wabash. There's no comparison.
Today and friend (strong rider) and I took a 30 mile loop ride with a 5 mile 1,150 ft climb in the middle. It sounds stupid but the Creo makes everything too easy. I rode the entire day in the stock Eco mode and constantly had to back off. I tried it in Sport mode going up the climb and 18 mph uphill was no problem. At the end of the ride I had used 29% of the battery so on a hilly ride I could easily meet or exceed their 80 mile battery estimate. When I got home I set up another Mission Control profile, reducing Eco from 35% to 25% and Sport from 60% to 50%. I'm not looking to leave everyone in the dust, I just don't want to be "that guy" at the back that everyone has to wait for. The next ride I'll see if the lower settings feel more like a normal bike with just a little boost for my 72 year old knees/legs.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
And I was about to ask you about your age... Impressive!
Ebiker01
Well-Known Member
Just the regular battery not with the range extender right ? Are you planning to get the battery extender ?
Congratulations on one of the best investment someone can make for their fitness & happiness !!
Captain Slow
Well-Known Member
I also find the motor on the Creo to be fairly quiet, you can hear it but it's not that loud.
My Creo SL always boots up on level 2. Does anyone know if that can be changed to boot up to level 1? I haven't found any option in Mission Control that would control that. I can set up different boost profiles but I find nothing that controls the boot setting.
Similar threads
