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

[Sierratim]

Any idea when the 2021 Vado is coming out? When the new bikes come out does Specialized generally discount the leftovers?

Ebike demand has been running very high since the 'pest' arrived. Some models and sizes have been out of stock for sometime. These conditions aren't generally conducive to discounting.

 

[Kiwimac]

So here is an update from my saga earlier in this thread!

Took the bike over to the dealer (a 200km round trip) for the service and the computer replacement.

Left the bike with them overnight and headed back in at the appointed time only to discover that Specialized had sent them the incorrect parts for the computer replacement - despite them having the serial number. It turns out that my Vado - which was sold by a Specialized dealer here in NZ - is actually a US model. It has a motor that is 100W more powerful than the standard spec for NZ bikes, has brake lights and the built in horn - all of which are not usually on the NZ bikes!

So they ended up doing the non-electric service work (which was all fine) and are working with Specialized NZ to try and get the correct parts etc.

Whilst I was in the store, I took the opportunity to spend some time with the owner, who is qualified by Specialized to do the full on racing bike biomechanical fitting service etc and had him look at the fit of the bike for me. Having flat pedals rather than cleats helps of course - you can just move your foot a bit if need be to adjust position there. He decided the saddle height was incorrect (slightly) and then that, because I have broad shoulders, the standard bars were a bit too narrow to be ideal and produced a wider set for me to hold - som much more natural!

I replaced the standard bars then and there with wider carbon bars (to provide a little damping given there is no suspension fork) and new Ergon GP cork touring grips. I have only had one short ride since but it made what seemed to be a big difference. Today the weather was about 5 Centigrade and rainy, so I did not go out; tomorrow is sunny but cool so I hope to do an hour or so and see how the bars perform. We left them at factory width to start - as the man said, we can trim them but we can't add bits back on..!

So sort of a success but looks like I will have to make another trip if Specialized sort out the computer issue - the bike shop guys had never come across the issue before.

 

[rochrunner]

Did you mean UK instead of US? US Vados don't have brake lights and horns and have suspension forks.

 

[Marcela]

I have wide shoulders and long arms and find the bars are plenty long. Even thought of shortening them a few times.

 

[45srbest]

My dealer in the USA told me that about a week ago Specialized extended its warranty on electronics and battery to 4 years. I can’t find anything to verify this, has anybody else heard or read this?

 

[Brendon@OEB]

My dealer in the USA told me that about a week ago Specialized extended its warranty on electronics and battery to 4 years. I can’t find anything to verify this, has anybody else heard or read this?

Only on Levo 2.1 motor bikes, the early ones had motor and belt failures.

 

[Kiwimac]

Did you mean UK instead of US? US Vados don't have brake lights and horns and have suspension forks.

Perhaps. The bike store were a bit vague.

It seems to be exactly the same model and spec listed here

They did also say that they had never seen the Electrac tyres in NZ either. The suspension fork was not on the original 5.0 I do not think.

 

[Kiwimac]

I have wide shoulders and long arms and find the bars are plenty long. Even thought of shortening them a few times.

Handy for you. I find the wider bars better. Perhaps you would be surprised if you tried them? Bike fit is very individual.

 

[Marci jo]

Did you mean UK instead of US? US Vados don't have brake lights and horns and have suspension forks.

Rochrunner,

Is it the last few years that the US Vados don't have brake lights or horns?

My older 2018 has brake lights and the most horrible, nasty, obnoxious horn on the planet. Never press it, unless by accident, then other people stare at me.
Maybe that's why Specialized dropped it?

 

[Kiwimac]

Rochrunner,

Is it the last few years that the US Vados don't have brake lights or horns?

My older 2018 has brake lights and the most horrible, nasty, obnoxious horn on the planet. Never press it, unless by accident, then other people stare at me.
Maybe that's why Specialized dropped it?

I used the horn the other day when a lady decided to move her parked BMW straight out into my nearside...! She jumped in the seat. Would have been better if she had just bothered to shoulder-check her blind spot before moving but there we are...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So here is an update from my saga earlier in this thread!

Took the bike over to the dealer (a 200km round trip) for the service and the computer replacement.

Left the bike with them overnight and headed back in at the appointed time only to discover that Specialized had sent them the incorrect parts for the computer replacement - despite them having the serial number. It turns out that my Vado - which was sold by a Specialized dealer here in NZ - is actually a US model. It has a motor that is 100W more powerful than the standard spec for NZ bikes, has brake lights and the built in horn - all of which are not usually on the NZ bikes!

So they ended up doing the non-electric service work (which was all fine) and are working with Specialized NZ to try and get the correct parts etc.

Whilst I was in the store, I took the opportunity to spend some time with the owner, who is qualified by Specialized to do the full on racing bike biomechanical fitting service etc and had him look at the fit of the bike for me. Having flat pedals rather than cleats helps of course - you can just move your foot a bit if need be to adjust position there. He decided the saddle height was incorrect (slightly) and then that, because I have broad shoulders, the standard bars were a bit too narrow to be ideal and produced a wider set for me to hold - som much more natural!

I replaced the standard bars then and there with wider carbon bars (to provide a little damping given there is no suspension fork) and new Ergon GP cork touring grips. I have only had one short ride since but it made what seemed to be a big difference. Today the weather was about 5 Centigrade and rainy, so I did not go out; tomorrow is sunny but cool so I hope to do an hour or so and see how the bars perform. We left them at factory width to start - as the man said, we can trim them but we can't add bits back on..!

So sort of a success but looks like I will have to make another trip if Specialized sort out the computer issue - the bike shop guys had never come across the issue before.

As strange as it seems, it fits the description of my EU 2017 Vado 5.0 (45 km/h). Which, by the way, I perceive as one of the best specified Vados ever. The horn and the stop lights are an indication of a Euro S-Pedelec, and Electrak tyres combined with rigid fork were the 2017 feature.
Since such a Vado was sold to me as new in 2019 (and the battery was never activated before the purchase), I'd say you @Kiwimac can consider yourself very lucky. Only the electronics shall be overhauled to TCD-W.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Bend of Death

It has turned out Vado 5.0 was very very good on roads in real mountains (we're talking the Jizera range of the Sudety Mts in Poland and Czech Republic). I could ride up a 14% grade in Turbo mode and in the granny gear. I could also make a short 16% grade ascent when a traditional road cyclist had to give up.

The only weak point of the 5.0 is its 48t chainring (too large for such grades) but I could make the climbs anyway. The 180 mm TRP Zurich brakes were working as a dream on a 12 km, -518 m descent.

Approaching the Bend of Death near Szklarska Poręba.

The Bend of Death

Our new friend who had to give up at a 16% grade climb.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

The Bend of Death

It has turned out Vado 5.0 was very very good on roads in real mountains (we're talking the Jizera range of the Sudety Mts in Poland and Czech Republic). I could ride up a 14% grade in Turbo mode and in the granny gear. I could also make a short 16% grade ascent when a traditional road cyclist had to give up.

The only weak point of the 5.0 is its 48t chainring (too large for such grades) but I could make the climbs anyway. The 180 mm TRP Zurich brakes were working as a dream on a 12 km, -518 m descent.
View attachment 61686
Approaching the Bend of Death near Szklarska Poręba.

View attachment 61688
The Bend of Death

View attachment 61690
Our new friend who had to give up at a 16% grade climb.

Stefan, remind me, do you have the 1.3 motor?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, remind me, do you have the 1.3 motor?

No, it's the 1.2s with 520 W peak power, 90 Nm, and 3.2x max amplification.

Better yet what my brother did. He was riding Giant Trance E+ with 500 Wh battery. He was aware of the short battery range, so first of all he asked me to tune in the lowest possible assistance for any PAS level except of the POWER one. We made a 4900 ft elevation gain on 50+ mi ride. Jacek rode unpowered except significant climbs (where he used 0.50x leg power amplification), and his assistance was 1.25x on the 12% grade ascent. He covered 91% of the trip having 72% battery left.

Then, he went into the POWER mode. He was climbing 6% grade ascents at 19 mph and was overtaking cars on the flats, riding at 34 mph (while the cars moved at 30 mph) Jacek is my bike hero!

 

[Kiwimac]

As strange as it seems, it fits the description of my EU 2017 Vado 5.0 (45 km/h). Which, by the way, I perceive as one of the best specified Vados ever. The horn and the stop lights are an indication of a Euro S-Pedelec, and Electrak tyres combined with rigid fork were the 2017 feature.
Since such a Vado was sold to me as new in 2019 (and the battery was never activated before the purchase), I'd say you @Kiwimac can consider yourself very lucky. Only the electronics shall be overhauled to TCD-W.

Well hopefully next week they will manage to work out with Specialized what they need to do.

It is certainly a nicely specced bike and wonderful to ride. I plan on riding it for 3 years, by which time it will be 5 years old. The tech will probably have evolved enough by then to make a replacement noticeably better. I may get a set of wheels built for it and then put the factory wheels in the garage until I sell it because I do not think the rims that are on there now are tubeless ready and many of the tyres seem to be going tubeless here in NZ now.

 

[Sierratim]

Well hopefully next week they will manage to work out with Specialized what they need to do.

It is certainly a nicely specced bike and wonderful to ride. I plan on riding it for 3 years, by which time it will be 5 years old. The tech will probably have evolved enough by then to make a replacement noticeably better. I may get a set of wheels built for it and then put the factory wheels in the garage until I sell it because I do not think the rims that are on there now are tubeless ready and many of the tyres seem to be going tubeless here in NZ now.

Correct, the Vados are not equipped with tubeless ready rims.

One of my sons is an engineer for a bicycle component manufacturer that among other things designs and markets rims and wheels. He tells me that industry standatds require tubeless ready rims to be so labelled by the manufacturers.

 

[Charlotte]

Was that the Paint Creek Trail? I live in the Columbus area and rode part of it out of Washington Courthouse about 10 days ago. It was only a 20 mile ride because of trail closeures. Overall, we are blessed with hundreds of miles of paved trails here in Ohio. My wife and I have put close to 1000 miles on our Como's this summer and love them.

Hi there, So impressive all the riding you have done on your Comos! So I've been about to buy an ebike. I love the way the Como test drives. But it's always on concrete/asphalt. So how is the Como on gravel or dirt, like on a bike trail? My husband thinks the Vado is what I should buy...but I really like the position and the way the Como feels...Is the lack of suspension an issue? Thanks for u help!

 

[Art Deco]

Hi there, So impressive all the riding you have done on your Comos! So I've been about to buy an ebike. I love the way the Como test drives. But it's always on concrete/asphalt. So how is the Como on gravel or dirt, like on a bike trail? My husband thinks the Vado is what I should buy...but I really like the position and the way the Como feels...Is the lack of suspension an issue? Thanks for u help!

Can of worms opened ...Welcome to another
discussion at the Vado/Como thread.

 

[Sierratim]

Can of worms opened ...Welcome to another
discussion at the Vado/Como thread.

I put my $0.02 worth in HERE .

Ride On!

 

[Art Deco]

@Sierratim rides hard and climbs mountains on a top of the line Vado.I tool around town in an entry level Como. And many members fall in between and still find a Como or a Vado that fits them