Yes. Additionally, there's only one 45 km/h Specialized e-bike now (Vado 6.0) that is Gen 1 too, the main difference is a suspension fork. The trouble is, Euro 45 km/h e-bikes are treated as motorized vehicles. Every single 45 km/h Vado comes with an individual Certificate of Compliance, etc. To deregister my old Vado would require making "the protocol of destruction" etc.
The News After The Failure of my MY2017 45 km/h Vado 5.0 (2019-2022)
My Vado 5.0 lasted for three years. The first ride on 1st of November 2019, and the major failure on 18th of October 2022. (I delivered the warranty card and the proof of purchase on 3rd of November this year to Specialized Warsaw).
Firstly, it turned out the carbon drive belt inside the Specialized 1.2s motor broke (the e-bike was out-of-warranty). Next, the Spec people discovered a frame crack around the motor area (a known design flaw for that e-bike series). The frame was on a lifetime warranty as I:
(Be aware your Specialized frame would have its warranty limited to 2 years if you do not do the [1] as above).
- Duly registered my Vado on specialized.com post the purchase
- I allowed Specialized do the "obligatory 1st service" after the first 200 km ridden.
I was worried. My Vado is registered and insured (technically speaking, it is a "moped" here). In any case I would need to complete the formalities such as deregistering the e-bike and terminating the insurance policy.
On 29th of November, I got the call from Specialized WAW: My frame warranty was accepted by Specialized. Unfortunately, the choice of the new frame colour was limited to beige-brown or red. I chose the red, as the fasterestest colourI will have to pay for the new motor, as agreed before.
There will be many formalities to complete. The new frame will come with the new VIN, so I will need to properly update the registration... Cannot wait to get my Highway Star again!
It's the belt within the drive unit. The actual drivetrain doesn't suffer anything typically, but the drive unit is toast.
So the belt takes a dump and the motor with it?
We are talking about the internal drive belt of the Specialized/Brose motor. That belt is responsible for the silent operation of older motors such as 1.2e, 1.2, 1.2s, 1.3 or 2.1.
Are there any third party motor repair/recondition companies you could take the motor to? Like Rab did with his Giant motor in Scotland? Possibly save you several hundred euros...
Okay, I see what is happening then. There is a shop in UK that rebuilds the Brose that I have watched before on youtube. They do kind of a bullet proof version for the emtb crowd you might want to check out. It is titled Ebike Motor Centre (Performance Line Bearings).
As long as your warranty is valid, you should get a satisfactory solution from Spec. Only pity you have been deprived of your favoured way of transportation. Good luck!
Sorry to hear that Coleworld hope that they get it fixed or replace it for you soon good luck
Any updates on your bike?
Yes. There are issues with the MY2017 45 km/h Vado 5.0 as it was not only produced for a year but it is also a European L1e-B moped with a lot of regulations around.
That is a bummer, Stefan, and I am sorry to hear your beloved Vado is no more. I hope you are able to make the replacement work for you just as well as the original did.
Ugggh...maybe, just maybe, they could offer an offset to apply to a new 2022 or 2023 Vado? It might be worth the effort.
I own as many as three 604 Wh batteries in the older format.
Just be careful you don't spend too much trying to use those old style batteries. I'm listening to an Amazon Audiobook - Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior. It has examples of people making small rational decisions to prevent loss that added up to an irrational decision. I am lucky because the motor on my old Turbo S is no longer made or even serviced. I know I will only be able to ride it until the motor breaks even though I have two good batteries.
These three batteries I own are worth the same today as my Vado alone when I bought it in 2019...
