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

[Sierratim]

On my ride through a favorite park this morning I determined that the Vado is definitely not a trail bike, at least for these trails. The weight and long wheelbase make it feel slow to respond, and the OEM tires are tricky on loose gravel. Especially on a couple of downgrades (not that much of a hill), it was difficult to keep the front wheel from plowing due to the extra weight on it. Definitely not fun, but thankfully only a couple of short sections.

I think @Stefan Mikes has the right idea, an ebike for every use! Now if I can just get the boss to agree...

 

[Marcela]

Re the freewheel, I hadn't taken much notice til I rode the Sequoia, complete silence with this bike. One suggestion for Specialized if I was to make one, do away with the ratchet sound!

I've rode my 5.0 on a few trails. Find no problems with it. It is a blast to ride it uphill with the power, plenty available. It is a little long and heavy for the switchbacks and such, find no problems in the loose stuff though.

It is what it is. Do without or do with it

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Anyone else find that the freewheel ratchet on the Vado is a bit on the loud side?

If you mean the freewheel in the motor then yes, it is noisy.

I think @Stefan Mikes has the right idea, an ebike for every use! Now if I can just get the boss to agree...

Why d'you think I've bought an e-MTB?

@Sierratim and @TS25 , you're both wizards! See The Robert Axle Project LIG506 axle in action on my Vado... It's perfect! It's better than the original one! The head socket is properly shallow and it is for the 6 mm Allen key, not 5 mm.

 

[Sierratim]

If you mean the freewheel in the motor then yes, it is noisy.


Why d'you think I've bought an e-MTB?

@Sierratim and @TS25 , you're both wizards! See The Robert Axle Project LIG506 axle in action on my Vado... It's perfect! It's better than the original one! The head socket is properly shallow and it is for the 6 mm Allen key, not 5 mm.

View attachment 56106

Happy "it all came together" for you!

The original 5mm hex does strike me as under sized for the specified 15Nm torque. The 6mm should be much better, esp at the lower labeled torque of 12Nm.

 

[rochrunner]

@Stefan Mikes I didn't realize that the motor has its own freewheel. That's actually where the noise seemed to originate from, but I figured it had to be the wheel hub. Thanks for informing me.

 

[rochrunner]

What do you guys do about cleaning and lubing the chain if you can't spin it backwards? I'd hate to have to put it on the workstand for that.

 

[Sierratim]

What do you guys do about cleaning and lubing the chain if you can't spin it backwards? I'd hate to have to put it on the workstand for that.

Yep, I put it up on the stand. It's the best working height for me. Others suggest that you zip tie the chain ring to the crank and turn it backwards that way.

 

[rochrunner]

Yep, I put it up on the stand. It's the best working height for me. Others suggest that you zip tie the chain ring to the crank and turn it backwards that way.

Somehow I'm surprised that works but I might try it. Thanks.

 

[Sierratim]

Had a rear wheel blow out at mile 14 of a 22 mile ride today. I suspectvthe bead of the Trigger tire let loose; the tube was split may be 16 inches near a seam. Glad it wasn't the front tire!

Pulled over, walked to a bit of shade next to a fence and got to it. 17 minutes, a new tube, 1-1/2 CO2 cartridges, and a Grease Monkey Wipe and i was off again. Didn't need the tire levers as the blow out took one tire bead entirely off the rim. No rim damage, I think I came to a stop on the tube between the rim and the road. Glad I had the full flat repair kit though.

Enough excitement for the. It must be beer-30 some where...

 

[Marci jo]

Anyone else find that the freewheel ratchet on the Vado is a bit on the loud side? I sort of thought this and then a guy riding next to me commented on it (said he thought I had a playing card in the spokes ). This came home to me the other day when I took my Crosstrail out and found it almost silent when coasting. FWIW, I had a set of Mavic wheels on one of my road bikes a while back and they were also noted for having noisy freewheels.

Yep, the freewheel does make some significant clicking. I noticed it from day one.
I use it in place of the obnoxious horn the came with the Vado. First, I coast when coming up behind someone and I can tell they heard me when they slightly turn their head to the left. And I also call out "on your left" or "good morning" or "hi".
Never use that nasty horn.

 

[Marci jo]

Had a rear wheel blow out at mile 14 of a 22 mile ride today. I suspectvthe bead of the Trigger tire let loose; the tube was split may be 16 inches near a seam. Glad it wasn't the front tire!

View attachment 56139

Pulled over, walked to a bit of shade next to a fence and got to it. 17 minutes, a new tube, 1-1/2 CO2 cartridges, and a Grease Monkey Wipe and i was off again. Didn't need the tire levers as the blow out took one tire bead entirely off the rim. No rim damage, I think I came to a stop on the tube between the rim and the road. Glad I had the full flat repair kit though.

Enough excitement for the. It must be beer-30 some where...

Same here Sierratim!
Got a piece of glass jammed in the back Trigger tire. By the time I stopped to check, the hissing sound was pretty distinctive. Fortunately only a few block from home. Locked up the bike, walked home, got the car and off to my lbs. They fixed it in 10 minutes! Then off to the trail head and I still rode 38 miles.
I'm with you on that beer idea!!

 

[Sierratim]

Same here Sierratim!
Got a piece of glass jammed in the back Trigger tire. By the time I stopped to check, the hissing sound was pretty distinctive. Fortunately only a few block from home. Locked up the bike, walked home, got the car and off to my lbs. They fixed it in 10 minutes! Then off to the trail head and I still rode 38 miles.
I'm with you on that beer idea!!

Flats suck!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A funny story for you!

My brother Jacek currently rides my Vado for his daily commutes, (raining or not). There were several 50 cc scooters riding on a long road segment. Jacek got in the lead and left all the scooters behind! That's because a 50 cc scooter cannot ride faster than 45 km/h but an e-bike can... Jacek was actually riding 47 km/h uphill!

Then Jacek rode to a friendly MOT station.
-- Hey guys, will you do the MOT to my bike?
-- What's that?! It's got a number plate!
-- Oh yes, that's a moped!
-- No worries! We will do the MOT if you ask us. We do the MOT for 50 cc scooters so we'll of course do it for your e-bike!

 

[Marcela]

What do you guys do about cleaning and lubing the chain if you can't spin it backwards? I'd hate to have to put it on the workstand for that.

I use the Feedback Sports stand, set the bike on the cradle with a towel between the clamps and don't eve clamp the bike. It balances between the two water bottle bolt heads or whatever they are on the cross tube front of the seat. Rotate the tire backwards with one hand and drop lube on chain with the other. When pedal gets in the way rotate 180 degrees and keep going.

 

[TS25]

@Sierratim & @TS25, many many thanks again!

I'm happy with your happiness.

Sorry for reacting late but most of the the time I'm "miles out of reach" presently.
And I'm happy too, beachsailing of the finest and together

:

The area is a few square miles wide, and sunny and windy conditions. What else?

Ohh, and sometimes I let my wife catch up and overtake so the happiness remains

 

[Marcela]

Man, I've gotta try that sometime. I've sailed cats on water, never on ice or dry land. Looks like a blast!

 

[Terry317]

Had a rear wheel blow out at mile 14 of a 22 mile ride today. I suspectvthe bead of the Trigger tire let loose; the tube was split may be 16 inches near a seam. Glad it wasn't the front tire!

View attachment 56139

Pulled over, walked to a bit of shade next to a fence and got to it. 17 minutes, a new tube, 1-1/2 CO2 cartridges, and a Grease Monkey Wipe and i was off again. Didn't need the tire levers as the blow out took one tire bead entirely off the rim. No rim damage, I think I came to a stop on the tube between the rim and the road. Glad I had the full flat repair kit though.

Enough excitement for the. It must be beer-30 some where...

I guess I should get in practice of changing flats, my lazy side was going to rely on the cell phone call to my better half for a pickup. Then change flat at home with a beer in hand.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

And I'm happy too, beachsailing of the finest and together

"What motor does it have?" :-D

Just for fun: Questions of e-bike newbies to my brother:
Q: What is the real battery range? I and my wife can only ride for 70 km with our e-bikes on a single battery...
A: Oh, it could well be 150 kilometres, if you're really pedalling....

Q: Where is the throttle in this e-bike?
A: It's called "crankarms" here...

 

[Frank/Delaware]

I guess I should get in practice of changing flats, my lazy side was going to rely on the cell phone call to my better half for a pickup. Then change flat at home with a beer in hand.

AAA auto club will get you home- worth being a member

 

[TS25]

Man, I've gotta try that sometime. I've sailed cats on water, never on ice or dry land. Looks like a blast!

I've sailed various Hobie Cats and Topcats on the water.

Specialized would say to this: it's you, only much faster.

These are MiniYachts, the smallest class. Quite frequently they lift up a wheel, and you can capsize too. Everything is faster than with water sailing so your reaction needs to be fast too.

We can park the car on the beach, rigg it up and head straight for the waterline which is a run of app. 1,8 miles.
Top speed is around 60 km/h with normal wind and around 80 km/h with 7 bft wind (then including a free sand peeling of your face unless you wear a fullface helmet). And no brakes, no motor.

I'ts a blast.