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

[Art Deco]

Any Vado or Como riders living in Canada, who wants motor assistance at a higher speed than 32kph, might find this video interesting:

Why just for Canada really? Lots of restricted ebikes in the US and Europe, too.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I mentioned Canada because I live in Canada. You're right, this would be a great install for anyone living in the EU or Australia. Don't most Vados in the US have a 28 mph speed limiter?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Why just for Canada really? Lots of restricted ebikes in the US and Europe, too.

Consider me fortunate. When I found a speed-Vado offer in Warsaw, I went for that immediately, even if it meant painful registration and insurance procedure. It is quite hard to buy an S-Pedelec in Poland because very few people want to buy them and very few importers want to carry them. The only two 45 km/h make/models to be found in Poland are Turbo Vado 6.0 and Haibike SDURO Trekking S 8.0. The latter comes with a 500 W motor, which is perfectly legal for an S-Pedelec.

 

[MayL]

New Thread....don't know where to park my questions so I’m adding them here. Sorry for not following.
Como vs Vado dilemma
3 or 4 for 50-60 k rides with hills and multi surface? Long ride up a steep hill to come home. Necessary to have more torque and Wh for this? Worth the $1000 diff?
Like the upright posture on Como but Vado seems easier to ride up the hills.
rigid fork vs suspension? Not riding any aggressive trails.
Any other comments welcome.
First e-bike so lots to learn.
thanks!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Vado seems easier to ride up the hills.

^^This. I respect the Como very much, yet everybody here confronted between Como and Vado made better choice with the Vado. You're in Canada so you can't have the Speed version but if you only can afford it, go for the version 5.0 because of:

• The latest 1.3 motor, which is powerful; you will thank me later when you have negotiated your first serious hill
• The 600 Wh battery and you'll safe for your 60 km trip including hills and adverse wind. (The hills eat the battery very fast).

The money spent will soon be forgotten!

You've asked about the torque (and you haven't asked for Peak Power). Yes, they are important. You'll notice that in the following situation: You are riding in the Eco mode at good speed and there's a steep hill in front of you. You downshift once or twice, then switch to the Turbo mode. It is as if you were driving your car uphill -- no speed loss at all! You feel as a superhuman!

The suspension fork is better than no suspension though it is a little heavier. The first curb you'll have to jump from and you'll know why. My fixed fork Vado 5.0 (older version) does alright but it is because it has 2" Electrak Armadillo tyres -- by the way they would fit any Vado. I also had to install a suspension handlebars to save my arms and head from vibration on gravel... Having the sus fork you save yourself a lot of future trouble.

I can only invite you to our Club. We all love our Vados. Comos, too!

 

[MAPC]

New Thread....don't know where to park my questions so I’m adding them here. Sorry for not following.
Como vs Vado dilemma
3 or 4 for 50-60 k rides with hills and multi surface? Long ride up a steep hill to come home. Necessary to have more torque and Wh for this? Worth the $1000 diff?
Like the upright posture on Como but Vado seems easier to ride up the hills.
rigid fork vs suspension? Not riding any aggressive trails.
Any other comments welcome.
First e-bike so lots to learn.
thanks!

You are exactly where I was about a month ago. Look up the forum that I started titled ‘HELP- Como vs Vado’. Lots of great responses there by other members.

I bought the Vado and love it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I bought the Vafo and love it.

Although it is not the Crimson Red

 

[MAPC]

Although it is not the Crimson Red

Yes..this is true. Yet somehow I survived the horror and humiliation.

 

[Art Deco]

I mentioned Canada because I live in Canada. You're right, this would be a great install for anyone living in the EU or Australia. Don't most Vados in the US have a 28 mph speed limiter?

Most Comos are 20mph limited. Assume the Vados are the same.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Most Comos are 20mph limited. Assume the Vados are the same.

All of them are in Canada.

 

[MAPC]

Most Comos are 20mph limited. Assume the Vados are the same.

Hail the US- where we get 28mph Comos and Vados (regardless of color!).

 

[Sierratim]

New Thread....don't know where to park my questions so I’m adding them here. Sorry for not following.
Como vs Vado dilemma
3 or 4 for 50-60 k rides with hills and multi surface? Long ride up a steep hill to come home. Necessary to have more torque and Wh for this? Worth the $1000 diff?
Like the upright posture on Como but Vado seems easier to ride up the hills.
rigid fork vs suspension? Not riding any aggressive trails.
Any other comments welcome.
First e-bike so lots to learn.
thanks!

How would you rate your cycling conditioning? Do you ride a mech bike regularly?

 

[Sierratim]

New Thread....don't know where to park my questions so I’m adding them here. Sorry for not following.
Como vs Vado dilemma
3 or 4 for 50-60 k rides with hills and multi surface? Long ride up a steep hill to come home. Necessary to have more torque and Wh for this? Worth the $1000 diff?
Like the upright posture on Como but Vado seems easier to ride up the hills.
rigid fork vs suspension? Not riding any aggressive trails.
Any other comments welcome.
First e-bike so lots to learn.
thanks!

The Como's upright posture is an important personal preference decision but looking at the Canadian specs I see that Como 3&4s are equipped with 48t chainrings whereas the Vado 3&4s have 40t rings giving th Vados an 'out of the gate' climbing advantage. If the upright position is important to you, you might be able to get your LBS to change the chainring for little or no cost.

Other than riding position, the Canadian Como 3 is sepc'd very close to the Vado 3 and similarly for the 4s. The 3s save money but you are giving up some higher spec components on the 4s; 9spd Alivio vs 10spd Deore, Alivio shadow derailleur vs Deroe Shadow+, 11-36t cassette vs 11-42t, 460Wh battery vs 500Wh, 2A vs 4A charger, etc.

The motors are also different; the 3s have the 1.2e motor vs the 1.2 for the 4s. The 1.2e is said to be designed for more electrical efficiency, i.e. less watts per mile. This graph helps illustrate the differnce;

The 1.2e motor will use less power, but it also provides less power to the rider; 400+W peak vs 500+W, a big difference on a hill. The peak power for both motors is developed at a candence ~80rpm but the 1.2 motor starts out higher and ramps up its output more quickly passing the 1.2e peak output by the time the candence hits ~45rpm.

Bottom line? Choose between the Como and Vado based on riding position. Test ride them both and compare.

Choose between a 3 vs a 4 based on the asst level you need, esp for hills. The 4s will have the advantage with the 1.2 motor, wider range cassette, extra gear, and smaller chain ring. Regardless of hill asst, the 4s also have an advantage with higher spec components that should help ease the pain of the extra $. More test rides...

Ride on...

 

[Art Deco]

The Como's upright posture is an important personal preference decision but looking at the Canadian specs I see that Como 3&4s are equipped with 48t chainrings whereas the Vado 3&4s have 40t rings giving th Vados an 'out of the gate' climbing advantage. If the upright position is important to you, you might be able to get your LBS to change the chainring for little or no cost.

Other than riding position, the Canadian Como 3 is sepc'd very close to the Vado 3 and similarly for the 4s. The 3s save money but you are giving up some higher spec components on the 4s; 9spd Alivio vs 10spd Deore, Alivio shadow derailleur vs Deroe Shadow+, 11-36t cassette vs 11-42t, 460Wh battery vs 500Wh, 2A vs 4A charger, etc.

The motors are also different; the 3s have the 1.2e motor vs the 1.2 for the 4s. The 1.2e is said to be designed for more electrical efficiency, i.e. less watts per mile. This graph helps illustrate the differnce;
View attachment 53361
The 1.2e motor will use less power, but it also provides less power to the rider; 400+W peak vs 500+W, a big difference on a hill. The peak power for both motors is developed at a candence ~80rpm but the 1.2 motor starts out higher and ramps up its output more quickly passing the 1.2e peak output by the time the candence hits ~45rpm.

Bottom line? Choose between the Como and Vado based on riding position. Test ride them both and compare.

Choose between a 3 vs a 4 based on the asst level you need, esp for hills. The 4s will have the advantage with the 1.2 motor, wider range cassette, extra gear, and smaller chain ring. Regardless of hill asst, the 4s also have an advantage with higher spec components that should help ease the pain of the extra $. More test rides...

Ride on...

Too late for the TMI stuff this time for me, Tim. I already bought the 3s. I figured out the battery difference but missed the motor difference that might have mattered. But maybe not. I'm cheap as I mentioned. And may end up with a delimiter when the warranty expires, anyway.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This graph helps illustrate the differnce;

@Sierratim and @FlatSix911: Can any of you find similar graphs for Yamaha/SyncDrive Motors?

And may end up with a delimiter when the warranty expires, anyway.

Art, you're complain on the 20 mph limiter? Try an EU 15.5 mph one...

 

[Art Deco]

@Sierratim and @FlatSix911: Can any of you find similar graphs for Yamaha/SyncDrive Motors?


Art, you're complain on the 20 mph limiter? Try an EU 15.5 mph one...

Not complaining, just dreaming ...

 

[Sierratim]

Too late for the TMI stuff this time for me, Tim. I already bought the 3s. I figured out the battery difference but missed the motor difference that might have mattered. But maybe not. I'm cheap as I mentioned. And may end up with a delimiter when the warranty expires, anyway.

I think it's all a function of what you want the bike to do for you. If hills or knees aren't an issue, then save the $.

 

[FlatSix911]

@Sierratim and @FlatSix911: Can any of you find similar graphs for Yamaha/SyncDrive Motors?

Art, you're complain on the 20 mph limiter? Try an EU 15.5 mph one...

I found this chart comparing the torque ratings (Nm) of the major brands... a more meaningful metric than the power curves (W).

The new Yamaha PW-X2 is not yet listed. Regarding the EU limiters... try a speed box when your warranty is up in 2 years.

 

[Sierratim]

@Sierratim and @FlatSix911: Can any of you find similar graphs for Yamaha/SyncDrive Motors?


Art, you're complain on the 20 mph limiter? Try an EU 15.5 mph one...

Stefan, do these help?

Torque vs Cadence

Power (watts) vs Cadence

These charts do reinforce @FlatSix911 's point about the torque curves being more relevant; the highest wattage motors are not necessairly the highest torque.

 

[Katysax]

The difference in posture between the Como and Vado is not going to make a marked difference in climbing a hill. A suspension fork on the Como is unnecessary as there is not that much weight on the front wheel. Better not to have it to save weight and simplicity. The Como does benefit from adding a suspension seatpost. The power and torque differences between the 3 and 4 won’t matter. Most people don’t ride in max power settings and none of these will last 60 km if you do the whole ride in turbo mode. I was planning to buy the 3 but bought the 4 on sale.

Most important consideration is how comfortable are you on the bike. That doesn’t necessarily mean sitting more upright; it has to do with what works for you. I love the Como geometry;it is really not an extreme upright position.