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

[WIVado]

Mine's the Flatbed trailer.

Hi Escaped Ape-
I bought an axle for my 2022 Vado through the Roberts Axle Project website, to pull a little Schwinn cargo trailer.

Their website has a pretty thorough listing of various bikes and the axle specs associated
with them.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That's When You Need To Replace A Derailleur Cable In Your Vado...

The derailleur cable in my Vado got worn. That is, it started to tear at the derailleur attachment point. The original cable housing might be reused (or not). Replacing the cable with its housing requires dismantling the e-bike to re-route the cable inside the frame!

 

[Tazzman]

That's When You Need To Replace A Derailleur Cable In Your Vado...

View attachment 121658
The derailleur cable in my Vado got worn. That is, it started to tear at the derailleur attachment point. The original cable housing might be reused (or not). Replacing the cable with its housing requires dismantling the e-bike to re-route the cable inside the frame!

 

[Tazzman]

I hope it works out for you and by the way how are things going in your area
Also in you experience would the IGH system on Vado 5 work for some trail riding I can’t travel with 2 bikes so thinking the Vado is best choice for multiple uses

 

[Gionnirocket]

That's When You Need To Replace A Derailleur Cable In Your Vado...

View attachment 121658
The derailleur cable in my Vado got worn. That is, it started to tear at the derailleur attachment point. The original cable housing might be reused (or not). Replacing the cable with its housing requires dismantling the e-bike to re-route the cable inside the frame!

How much is that costing you?
Isn't this a relatively new bike?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

how are things going in your area

Business as usual although slower.

Also in you experience would the IGH system on Vado 5 work for some trail riding I can’t travel with 2 bikes so thinking the Vado is best choice for multiple uses

I do not want to give advices, so only my personal thoughts here:
If you look to proper MTBs, all of them are chain/derailleur. IGH is less efficient and it is heavy. A field repair of a tyre with the IGH is more complicated as well. In my opinion, IGH e-bikes excel in the urban environment, especially as commuters (no dirt, no maintenance).

Now, riding a heavy (and little suspended) e-bike is doable on easy trails. I ride forest fire-roads with my Vado pretty often. As long as the trail is really easy, no issues. It it becomes more difficult (like, tree-roots, sand, damaged trails) then I regret I rode into the forest... Meet a fallen tree blocking your route and you're done!

I was so irritated with that obstacle I used my superpowers to lift the Vado and carry it over the tree! (Not recommended).

To be absolutely honest: My Vado SL 4.0 with Redshift ShockStop suspension and removed front fender fares 100x better in the forest than the heavy Vado! (And you can lift the SL easily). Currently, I try to limit my "big" Vado rides to sealed roads and gravel only.

How much is that costing you?

A "thank you".

Isn't this a relatively new bike?

30 months, 13,000 kilometres.

 

[Tazzman]

Business as usual although slower.


I do not want to give advices, so only my personal thoughts here:
If you look to proper MTBs, all of them are chain/derailleur. IGH is less efficient and it is heavy. A field repair of a tyre with the IGH is more complicated as well. In my opinion, IGH e-bikes excel in the urban environment, especially as commuters (no dirt, no maintenance).

Now, riding a heavy (and little suspended) e-bike is doable on easy trails. I ride forest fire-roads with my Vado pretty often. As long as the trail is really easy, no issues. It it becomes more difficult (like, tree-roots, sand, damaged trails) then I regret I rode into the forest... Meet a fallen tree blocking your route and you're done!

View attachment 121666
I was so irritated with that obstacle I used my superpowers to lift the Vado and carry it over the tree! (Not recommended).

To be absolutely honest: My Vado SL 4.0 with Redshift ShockStop suspension and removed front fender fares 100x better in the forest than the heavy Vado! (And you can lift the SL easily). Currently, I try to limit my "big" Vado rides to sealed roads and gravel only.


A "thank you".


30 months, 13,000 kilometres.

Thanks my wife wants the como 5 but she won’t be doing anything other ten gravel bike trails at the most so just trying to decide which way to go for me

 

[Stefan Mikes]

gravel bike trails

That's OK!

 

[Onimaru]

Agree with Stefan. Currently have the IGH 5 and an analog MTB. I’m happier chain style off-road.

I’m braver than I am skilled on the MTB. I don’t need something heavier to manage. I fell sideways off an obstacle last weekend from about 5’ up and landed on my side and it deflected my knee inwards and sprained my knee. I don’t think I tore anything because it’s sore, not painful. And I can still walk fine (just using a brace anyway to help healing). I’d probably be having surgery right now instead if it was an eBike.

I digress. If I had to pick one bike for multiple uses, and you’re set on Specialized, I may do something like a Levo SL. Similar reason why Stefan prefers lifting the Vado SL (only 38 lbs). And much better suited for a trail.

 

[Onimaru]

Thanks my wife wants the como 5 but she won’t be doing anything other ten gravel bike trails at the most so just trying to decide which way to go for me

Oh. If it’s just Gravel that’s probably fine. You just have to be ok with the noise from the fenders.

Edit - I’ve ridden my Vado 5 through a gravel parking lot to get around a flooded spot on a paved trail (slow speed to not kick stones up into paint) but it rode just fine. I also have the Kinekt seat post, so the bumps weren’t bad at all.

 

[Tazzman]

Oh. If it’s just Gravel that’s probably fine. You just have to be ok with the noise from the fenders.

Edit - I’ve ridden my Vado 5 through a gravel parking lot to get around a flooded spot on a paved trail (slow speed to not kick stones up into paint) but it rode just fine. I also have the Kinekt seat post, so the bumps weren’t bad at all.

Thanks both of you for the information

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I’m braver than I am skilled on the MTB. I don’t need something heavier to manage. I fell sideways off an obstacle last weekend from about 5’ up and landed on my side and it deflected my knee inwards and sprained my knee. I don’t think I tore anything because it’s sore, not painful. And I can still walk fine (just using a brace anyway to help healing). I’d probably be having surgery right now instead if it was an eBike.

Sorry to hear about your accident! Get on well soon!

I was very lucky on one of my recent solo forest rides. My big Vado has no real suspension, and it is very easy to crash unexpectedly (it is easy to lose the traction). Fortunately, my fall was soft and well controlled! (Always wear the helmet!)

On the other hand, I have been participating in many gravel group rides and as long as it was not true off-road, my Vado fared very well there.

 

[Onimaru]

We have a place (city park) with groomed areas for cross country skiing and kids sledding in the winter and hiking + MTB in the Summer. Both single and two track. It was a pump track style hilly ramp in the single track. I landed in the mud (it rained the day before) but not enough apparently, to soften the blow. I stalled in the middle and when I tried to restart I lost my balance and tipped sideways. At least I didn’t really have forward momentum.

Tomorrow is a Vado ride to the Biergarten and back. Should be much more enjoyable!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Gionnirocket:
Just FYI, my other brother took the Vado rear rack to his work to professionally repaint it and wrap it for further protection.
A "thank you very much bro!" again. There are things a DIYer cannot simply do. The keyword is "the family"

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Your other brother??? Holy cow, there’s three of you now?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Your other brother??? Holy cow, there’s three of you now?

Jacek and Piotr are brothers. Both are my first cousins. However, we grew together with Jacek in the same homestead. That's why all we three address each other "a brother".

 

[ReedM]

Jacek and Piotr are brothers. Both are my first cousins. However, we grew together with Jacek in the same homestead. That's why all we three address each other "a brother".

@Stefan Mikes : Does Piotr ride a bike also?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Stefan Mikes : Does Piotr ride a bike also?

Yes he does. However he is fascinated more with the automotive things (he's 11 years younger than I am). He owns a pretty lightweight traditional XC bike, and only rides on weekends in the nearby Kampinos National Park, and only during fair weather. He's not the type of Jacek, the latter commuting all year long on an e-bike. Piotr prefers a light motorcycle for the purpose.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

 

[CodyDog]

Just sold my 2021 Specialized Turbo Levo Comp, great bike but after a few bad crashes it's time to ride more reasonable terrain. Broke a rib again three weeks ago. Getting too old for big rocky trails.

With that being said, I'm looking at the new Vado, Vado SL and Tero mainly for chip seal and dirt roads as well as light (smooth) trails which will be the majority of my riding. Although most of our time is spent in The Hill Country (Fredericksburg, TX), there aren't a lot of steep hills here (at least where I ride). We spend three months out of the year in Salida (CO.) which offers me gravel and trails. Some may ask why didn't I just keep the Levo Comp? I know if I did , I wouldn't be able to resist the more advanced MTB trails.

My wife has a class three Specialized Como which leans me more toward the Vado or Tero to keep up while were riding. The SL model just looks so appealing to me but not sure if I'll miss the 4X assist that my Levo Comp offered. My first ebike was a Rad Rover so at least I'm a little familiar with bikes (did not like hub motor).

I'm looking forward to testing the three I have chosen and fortunately have found a few dealers in the area that have some inventory. I forgot how much fun it is to shop for a new bike!