Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

[gpburdell]

Yes, that's aluminium.
Smaller MTB chainrings like your 36T or my 38T (and of course even smaller ones) are often made of steel. The reason is the load is spread over fewer teeth, making the ring vulnerable to wear. Bigger rings are typically made of aluminium to save on their weight (and the load is being spread over more teeth).

Yes, but is aluminum stronger than aluminium or is it the other way round?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I insist on writing in British English! Interestingly, the British version for Al is the same as in Polish, although formally the element is named "glin" (made of clay) in Polish

Garbaruk 42T chainring installed! Since I had been swapping chainrings on my Vado before, it was a fairly easy work. Moreover, I didn't need to replace the chain! The one I have installed is 124 links; it was a tad too long for the old 38T ring, and is within acceptable limits for the 42T one!

I even could re-use the existing 8x8 mm steel chainring bolts. My Vado can still accelerate perfectly, it is still a great climber but it is easier for me to get on a higher speed now. I expect I would be riding in lower gears now, which is good for the cassette longevity.

 

[ReedM]

Ver 2.10 available on the mission control app. Don’t know what the update is.

I am still on version 2.9.0 build108. When did you get Ver. 2.10?

 

[ReedM]

I am still on version 2.9.0 build108. When did you get Ver. 2.10?

OK, now I am Ver. 2.10.0 Build 110. Had to do a manual update. Last time the update was automatic.

 

[kahn]

I insist on writing in British English! Interestingly, the British version for Al is the same as in Polish, although formally the element is named "glin" (made of clay) in Polish

Oh, here I thought you were talking about AI - artificial intelligence. Then, aha, although the way those Brits pronounce it - I don't know - they make it a five hundred syllable word.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

An interesting observation related to battery behaviour for both all SL and full power Vado e-bikes.

SL e-bikes:
If you use the Range Extender to be discharged first, the assistance drops very much between 6 and 5%, and eventually the system cuts the Range Extender off completely. In the battery % display on a Wahoo, it is like 100/5% to quickly change to 100/0%, and there the main battery kicks in. I could not determine what happens at low battery level if both batteries were used in parallel yet.

Full power Vado:
I've always thought the motor was cut off at 5% of the battery level. Recently, I needed to ride for a kilometre more after the apparent motor cut-off. What a surprise I got when I looked at the BLEvo data for that segment! Yes, the motor still assists you below the 5% battery level! It is only rather symbolic assistance of 60-70 W (electrical). Still good to ride a fully loaded heavy e-bike at 18 km/h!

 

[Marcela]

Maybe something has changed with one of the updates.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Maybe something has changed with one of the updates.

I think Marcela we all have been fooled by the perceived difference in the assistance between the "normal" and "weakened" assistance. If the battery pumps, say, 230 W into the motor and it suddenly becomes 69 W, we think the motor got cut off.

 

[BikeOn]

I think Marcela we all have been fooled by the perceived difference in the assistance between the "normal" and "weakened" assistance. If the battery pumps, say, 230 W into the motor and it suddenly becomes 69 W, we think the motor got cut off.

On my Vado 5 SL If I discharge RE first, power/assistance drops - at anywhere between 106%-103%. It continues to stay in that dropped spot - until it comes back on full at 96%-98%. Someone here explained why it happens. I hate it. But if you plan to use two RE it is the best way to ride. If you do not set it to discharge RE first, then there is no transitional drop. That part is great, but you do not get the full power from the RE's then, if you plan to change to a second RE. Yesterday I rode 45 miles, at 70% assistance (for about 90% of the ride), with 1850 feet of climb. I started the ride with 150%. Upon return home I had 27% left. For curiosity sake I put my other fully charged RE in and the power only went up to 67%. Thus 10% more of the main battery must have drained, leaving more charge on the used RE. (That's my conclusion). I have concluded the best way to ride, planning to use two RE's; - assuming access to charging is not an issue, is to Discharge RE first on the first RE. When you have that one fully drained - at about 98% power, pull it out, put in the 2nd RE and change the settings to turn OFF discharge RE first.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On my Vado 5 SL If I discharge RE first, power/assistance drops - at anywhere between 106%-103%. It continues to stay in that dropped spot - until it comes back on full at 96%-98%. Someone here explained why it happens. I hate it. But if you plan to use two RE it is the best way to ride. If you do not set it to discharge RE first, then there is no transitional drop. That part is great, but you do not get the full power from the RE's then, if you plan to change to a second RE. Yesterday I rode 45 miles, at 70% assistance (for about 90% of the ride), with 1850 feet of climb. I started the ride with 150%. Upon return home I had 27% left. For curiosity sake I put my other fully charged RE in and the power only went up to 67%. Thus 10% more of the main battery must have drained, leaving more charge on the used RE. (That's my conclusion). I have concluded the best way to ride, planning to use two RE's; - assuming access to charging is not an issue, is to Discharge RE first on the first RE. When you have that one fully drained - at about 98% power, pull it out, put in the 2nd RE and change the settings to turn OFF discharge RE first.

That is very interesting as I plan to add a second RE as soon as they become available at my LBS.
BikeOn, the way of reporting of the combined battery charge (as 150%) is the most confusing for me. Both Wahoo ELEMNT (and I think Garmin Edge too) as well as BLEvo app give individual charge for each battery. It is very clear and helps planning the battery strategy easier!

It is 5% for the Range Extender when the assistance drops, and it becomes 0 when the main battery kicks in.

 

[BikeOn]

That is very interesting as I plan to add a second RE as soon as they become available at my LBS.
BikeOn, the way of reporting of the combined battery charge (as 150%) is the most confusing for me. Both Wahoo ELEMNT (and I think Garmin Edge too) as well as BLEvo app give individual charge for each battery. It is very clear and helps planning the battery strategy easier!

View attachment 114843
It is 5% for the Range Extender when the assistance drops, and it becomes 0 when the main battery kicks in.

Thanks -- I use the on board bike computer, not a wahoo. It does not give separate battery reads - nor does my MC. Just reads it as one unit.

 

[kahn]

That is very interesting as I plan to add a second RE as soon as they become available at my LBS.
BikeOn, the way of reporting of the combined battery charge (as 150%) is the most confusing for me. Both Wahoo ELEMNT (and I think Garmin Edge too) as well as BLEvo app give individual charge for each battery. It is very clear and helps planning the battery strategy easier!

View attachment 114843
It is 5% for the Range Extender when the assistance drops, and it becomes 0 when the main battery kicks in.

I may not have the Creo paired correctly or fully with my Edge 1030+. I don't really see the battery info as clearly as I would like. Or do I need to install one of the 3rd party apps?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I may not have the Creo paired correctly or fully with my Edge 1030+. I don't really see the battery info as clearly as I would like. Or do I need to install one of the 3rd party apps?

@kahn, please:

1. Remove Cadence and Power Sensors from your Garmin if you have them there
2. Disable the Fake Channel in Mission Control (if it was enabled)
3. In Garmin, locate a Sensor called "E-bike" (or similar). Pair it to Garmin.
4. When selecting Data Fields to Data Page, select Cadence, Power, Speed, etc. You will also find Data Fields explicitly named LEV... LEV Battery is the Data Field you need.

 

[kahn]

@kahn, please:

1. Remove Cadence and Power Sensors from your Garmin if you have them there
2. Disable the Fake Channel in Mission Control (if it was enabled)
3. In Garmin, locate a Sensor called "E-bike" (or similar). Pair it to Garmin.
4. When selecting Data Fields to Data Page, select Cadence, Power, Speed, etc. You will also find Data Fields explicitly named LEV... LEV Battery is the Data Field you need.

Thanks

I just copied that and sent it as an email to myself so that I can read it when down with the bike.

 

[GenXrider]

In reference to the new 2022 models of the Vado, I see the new EBR review of the Vado 4.0 Step-Through says it has a 40T chainring. Court even states verbally that it's a 40T. Specialized's website confirms that. Yet, the Specialized website says the Vado 4.0 Step-Over has a 48T chainring, and the Vado 3.0 Step-Through has a 48T chainring. It doesn't make sense to me why that one model would be different than the other two, and the pictures don't look like the chainring in the 4.0 Step-Through is any smaller that those others with the 48T. It makes me wonder if this 40T info is incorrect. Anyone know for sure?

 

[mschwett]

that is odd. there are a number of differences in those bikes; the 5.0 models having a 48t makes some sense since they have a 20nM torque advantage, roughly proportional to the 40/48 difference. the 4.0 step over being 48t is mysterious, and the 3.0 is a 9 speed alivio drivetrain, even less torque (50nM) so no idea why that one wouldn’t have the 40t. perhaps the expectation of not doing any heavy duty climbing?

or, it’s a mistake and they’re all 48t. the photos (or are they renderings?) on the specialized site clearly show the same size chainring (or within a very small margin, not as much as an 8t diff) for the 2022 4.0 step through and step over.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In reference to the new 2022 models of the Vado, I see the new EBR review of the Vado 4.0 Step-Through says it has a 40T chainring. Court even states verbally that it's a 40T. Specialized's website confirms that.

Which is amusing, as the Polish Spec website gives this information:

I have checked it carefully: it is the 2022 model with Mastermind.
And Court shows the same e-bike (U.S.) and confirms it is a 40T chainring there.

If someone's not wrong, I would attribute this oddity to the known phrase "*Specifications are subject to change without notice" What is especially interesting there is the Euro version should come with a smaller chainring than the U.S. variety. The reason is, Euro e-bikes are restricted at 25 km/h and simply do not need a large chainring; a smaller chainring would improve the climbing properties of Vado in turn.

Strange.

 

[GenXrider]

I think Court didn't check and was going by the spec sheet. Here's what it shows on the U.S. Specialized site for the three 2022 Vado bikes mentioned:

Factoring in the comparisons in the pictures of the bikes and the Polish site specs saying 48T for the 4.0 ST, I think the U.S. site is in error and that it's actually a 48T on the 4.0 Step-Through. But I can't be certain.

 

[Marcela]

Mission control app ver 2.11.0 is out.

 

[kahn]

Mission control app ver 2.11.0 is out.

That's not really a change, is it?