Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My experienced riding buddy says the small pump is the only item fitting that place as the frame bag located there would chafe the rider's thighs.
Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club
- Thread starter Stefan Mikes
- Start date
Rich W.
Active Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- The Farm, Grass Valley, Ca
On my Tero there is just enough slack in the system that by turning the bars to the right I can remove the dropper and access/remove the cable end. So no internal work necessary. Easy! I also like the wireless dropper idea but the cost seems disproportionate to the value. I guess if there was no other way?
I came across an interesting discussion on motorcycle drive chain and gearing that could relate to the ebike world.
The idea is that the number of gear teeth and chain link matches per revolution should be kept to a minimum to reduce chain wear. This wouldn't work with the cassette as the number of gear teeth is not constant, but the front chain ring and chain link matchup could be manipulated. I put a 48 tooth chain ring and 120 link chain in the equation and every 2 chain revolutions there is a matchup, about the worst relationship available.
The idea is that the lower number of match ups moves the chain and gearing around to even wear amongst all the participants.
Here is the link to play with the calculator. Wether it effects chain and gear wear will go down the rabbit hole with chain lube, suspension seats, and wearing helmets.
www.gearingcommander.com
The idea is that the number of gear teeth and chain link matches per revolution should be kept to a minimum to reduce chain wear. This wouldn't work with the cassette as the number of gear teeth is not constant, but the front chain ring and chain link matchup could be manipulated. I put a 48 tooth chain ring and 120 link chain in the equation and every 2 chain revolutions there is a matchup, about the worst relationship available.
The idea is that the lower number of match ups moves the chain and gearing around to even wear amongst all the participants.
Here is the link to play with the calculator. Wether it effects chain and gear wear will go down the rabbit hole with chain lube, suspension seats, and wearing helmets.
Gearing Commander - Motorcycle Speed and Drive Train Calculator v7
Motorcycle speed and sprocket calculator with bike database for gearing, sprockets, tires and chains of over 1750 bikes. Request yours to be added as well.
www.gearingcommander.com
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
You need to find an e-bike yet in which a 120-link chain would be long enough for a 48T chainring, and a regular cassette.
That was just an example, not cast in stone.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It only happened to me once, after I forgot to re-torque the axle after the wheel removal the night before.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Entering The Wheel Building World
The rear wheel of my Vado has had enough. Being trued several weeks ago, it went out of alignment again, and the spokes feel loose. I had a long talk with the experienced (and Cannondale & DT Swiss certified) mechanic at the nearest LBS. He said the spokes got worn out, and he thought the rim got enough of beating, too. Well, the bike, I and cargo together can weigh 130 kg sometimes. I ride off-road a lot, and carry a heavy pannier. It is only a 28-spoke wheel. The Vado 6.0 wheels belong to MTB class: 35 mm outer width, 27 mm inner width, MTB Boost hub.
We discussed building a new, strong wheel to match my demands and fit my Vado:
DT Swiss H 552 29×30 DB P SE 32 BL 01P STD VI, RDH055CDPS32SA5221 rim. It is good for the system weight up to 150 kg, has 32 spoke holes, is of Enduro ASTM rating, and the rim ends are joined with a sleeve insert. Width 35x30 mm.
DT Swiss 350 148/12 IS ASL R32 BM ASM W, H350TDDBR32SA0482S hub. It is 12x148 mm (Boost standard), is equipped with Star Ratchet 32t, has 32 spoke holes, and is good for Shimano 9/10/11-speed cassettes.
There will be DT spokes and nipples, too. The thing won't be cheap for sure! Still, I need to be secure on my long demanding rides in pretty rough terrain!
I shall get the wheel built in a few weeks.
The rear wheel of my Vado has had enough. Being trued several weeks ago, it went out of alignment again, and the spokes feel loose. I had a long talk with the experienced (and Cannondale & DT Swiss certified) mechanic at the nearest LBS. He said the spokes got worn out, and he thought the rim got enough of beating, too. Well, the bike, I and cargo together can weigh 130 kg sometimes. I ride off-road a lot, and carry a heavy pannier. It is only a 28-spoke wheel. The Vado 6.0 wheels belong to MTB class: 35 mm outer width, 27 mm inner width, MTB Boost hub.
We discussed building a new, strong wheel to match my demands and fit my Vado:
DT Swiss H 552 29×30 DB P SE 32 BL 01P STD VI, RDH055CDPS32SA5221 rim. It is good for the system weight up to 150 kg, has 32 spoke holes, is of Enduro ASTM rating, and the rim ends are joined with a sleeve insert. Width 35x30 mm.
DT Swiss 350 148/12 IS ASL R32 BM ASM W, H350TDDBR32SA0482S hub. It is 12x148 mm (Boost standard), is equipped with Star Ratchet 32t, has 32 spoke holes, and is good for Shimano 9/10/11-speed cassettes.
There will be DT spokes and nipples, too. The thing won't be cheap for sure! Still, I need to be secure on my long demanding rides in pretty rough terrain!
I shall get the wheel built in a few weeks.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
While I am totally good with my Vado SL (Redshift ShockStop front/rear, the stock Specialized saddle), there was something wrong with my Vado 6.0 after the e-bike rebuild & upgrade. I had sore butt after long rides, something what was not happening before the turning my Vado 5.0 into 6.0! First of all, my brother (who was together with me on one of my recent rides) noticed the Kinekt 2.1 springs must have been not properly preloaded, so the saddle was always in the "compressed" position because of my weight, and it did not work as a suspension. As my Vado is kept in the storage and I only use it on some weekend rides, I did not spot it immediately.
This is the perfect setup for me. Regarding the saddle angle, I feel no stress either in the perineal area or on the buttocks. The preload position "3" on the Kinekt 2.1 with the gray spring is enough to avoid pedal-bob but the suspension works properly on road bumps. It is noteworthy I tested that setup in winter trousers with no chamois! (The saddle is Specialized Phenom Expert).
I need to mention the new 420 mm Kinekt 2.1 suspension was provided by Specialized free as a part of the warranty service because they could only find the replacement frame with S, the size M being the original. The Spec guys looked carefully into the e-bike geometry, and found out the only significant change was the seat-tube shorter by 80 mm, and the reach was shortened by just -8 mm (the saddle setback compensates for that).
Regarding the preload on the Suntour Mobie suspension fork, I was trying the soft and firm preload position to find out the firmer preload was appropriate in my case (I am a pretty heavy person, and I ride my Vados in forward position, which balances my weight between my butt and arms). I was riding bumpy segments of a local gravel road for several times to make sure.
This part of the gravel road was mild compared to what I experienced before!
Riding this cracked and potty asphalt segment was an instant reward for me for the adjustments done! I was zooming it at 36 km/h (22.4 mph) and enjoyed the smoothness and silence of the ride!
Now, I'm waiting for a new, strong rear wheel made with DT Swiss components (I should receive it this week). The next upgrade will be replacing the derailleur and cassette with the Shimano M5100 components, 11-speed. The derailleur there has a very long cage, and the cassette is 11-51T (!!!) While it is of no meaning here in the plains, it will be important for my future holiday mountain road rides. Replacing the chainring with the 38T steel one I own will put me on par with my brother riding an e-MTB with the same gearing, only 12-speed!
This is the perfect setup for me. Regarding the saddle angle, I feel no stress either in the perineal area or on the buttocks. The preload position "3" on the Kinekt 2.1 with the gray spring is enough to avoid pedal-bob but the suspension works properly on road bumps. It is noteworthy I tested that setup in winter trousers with no chamois! (The saddle is Specialized Phenom Expert).
I need to mention the new 420 mm Kinekt 2.1 suspension was provided by Specialized free as a part of the warranty service because they could only find the replacement frame with S, the size M being the original. The Spec guys looked carefully into the e-bike geometry, and found out the only significant change was the seat-tube shorter by 80 mm, and the reach was shortened by just -8 mm (the saddle setback compensates for that).
Regarding the preload on the Suntour Mobie suspension fork, I was trying the soft and firm preload position to find out the firmer preload was appropriate in my case (I am a pretty heavy person, and I ride my Vados in forward position, which balances my weight between my butt and arms). I was riding bumpy segments of a local gravel road for several times to make sure.
This part of the gravel road was mild compared to what I experienced before!
Riding this cracked and potty asphalt segment was an instant reward for me for the adjustments done! I was zooming it at 36 km/h (22.4 mph) and enjoyed the smoothness and silence of the ride!
Now, I'm waiting for a new, strong rear wheel made with DT Swiss components (I should receive it this week). The next upgrade will be replacing the derailleur and cassette with the Shimano M5100 components, 11-speed. The derailleur there has a very long cage, and the cassette is 11-51T (!!!) While it is of no meaning here in the plains, it will be important for my future holiday mountain road rides. Replacing the chainring with the 38T steel one I own will put me on par with my brother riding an e-MTB with the same gearing, only 12-speed!
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The best range I ever had on a new main Vado SL battery in Turbo was 36 km (22.3 mi). I recommend you buy an inexpensive smartphone app BLEvo. It will tell you everything about your Vado SL. To the smallest detail ("Battery Monitor").
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Yes but it also matters how many recharge cycles you have had on your battery, and that's related to how many miles you have already ridden on your Vado SL 
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Not bad at all!
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