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

[GuruUno]

Can anyone chime in and comment on why 'the motor drive belt is toast'?
I know each case is an individual issue, but given the history of the Brose motors having a high incidence of failures, one might want to know indicating signs of imminent failure, steps that have been taken by the manufacturer to address the continuous issues that seem to be discussed about from time to time, etc.
Just want to be prepared so in the event I'm 50+ miles from home in a far away place that I can prepare for a rescue team, if needed.

Poking around, I found these belts, in case anyone needs them or has no warranty. Uuuuugggggh!

Brose motor drive belts For Sale

Brose motor drive belts For sale on Pinkbike buysell

www.pinkbike.com

Additionally, not sure if this is relevant, but I also stumbled across this posting from a year ago and not sure if these problems have been addressed or resolved. Interesting part towards the end of the discussion about riding in Turbo all the time toasts the belts/motors....see:

2019 Turbo Levo S work Brose Mag S failure

Help! Second motor failure in less than 500 total miles Same symptoms twice, belt starts to slip on the splines between motor and crank spindle and drive loss within a few seconds. Specialized replaced the first motor not problem bike in shop waiting to hear. I had an original 2016 Turbo Levo...

www.emtbforums.com

(I know it's about another level of motor/bike, but the point is it's a Brose, and just putting it out there to see if it has been resolved with the latest products being sold now.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Can anyone chime in and comment on why 'the motor drive belt is toast'?
I know each case is an individual issue, but given the history of the Brose motors having a high incidence of failures, one might want to know indicating signs of imminent failure, steps that have been taken by the manufacturer to address the continuous issues that seem to be discussed about from time to time, etc.
Just want to be prepared so in the event I'm 50+ miles from home in a far away place that I can prepare for a rescue team, if needed.

Nothing like some loose internet conjecture to really clear things up...

 

[JeffC57]

I am a new member of this club. I got my Vado 5 SL EQ on Thursday. So far everything is working great and I am quickly getting the hang of this sweet ride. Last bike was a Sirrus Sport which has very similar geometry. This is my first e bike but I have rented them for bike tours while in Vegas (Red Rocks and River Mountain trails). I was reluctant to buy an e bike until I rode this one. The non-SL bikes although more powerful, seem too heavy and not as easy to navigate the winding bike trails that I like to ride. I am 63 and ride a bike for exercise and to just be outside so this lighter weight e bike was a great fit for my use cases. Even with no assistance, this bike handles much like my Sirrus and is almost as easy to pedal. So if I run out the battery, it’s basically just like being on my old bike.

Skimming through this thread I realized that my LBS hit it out of the park delivering my Vado 5 SL. I got an hour test ride which allowed me to see how the bike will perform on my local trails. After the test ride they put the bike on a free 24 hour hold so I could make a purchase decision. After I decided that I want to buy it, the LBS manager gave it a final mechanical tune up, updated the software and walked me through the connection process to Mission Control. The tire diameter is correct too. He also told me to come in at least once a year to check for software updates. His attention to these important details has made this a very positive purchase experience for me.

I am looking forward to watching this site so I can to continue learning about my e bike.

Everyone ride safely and stay healthy.

Jeff C

 

[Brendon@OEB]

I am a new member of this club. I got my Vado 5 SL EQ on Thursday. So far everything is working great and I am quickly getting the hang of this sweet ride. Last bike was a Sirrus Sport which has very similar geometry. This is my first e bike but I have rented them for bike tours while in Vegas (Red Rocks and River Mountain trails). I was reluctant to buy an e bike until I rode this one. The non-SL bikes although more powerful, seem too heavy and not as easy to navigate the winding bike trails that I like to ride. I am 63 and ride a bike for exercise and to just be outside so this lighter weight e bike was a great fit for my use cases. Even with no assistance, this bike handles much like my Sirrus and is almost as easy to pedal. So if I run out the battery, it’s basically just like being on my old bike.

Skimming through this thread I realized that my LBS hit it out of the park delivering my Vado 5 SL. I got an hour test ride which allowed me to see how the bike will perform on my local trails. After the test ride they put the bike on a free 24 hour hold so I could make a purchase decision. After I decided that I want to buy it, the LBS manager gave it a final mechanical tune up, updated the software and walked me through the connection process to Mission Control. The tire diameter is correct too. He also told me to come in at least once a year to check for software updates. His attention to these important details has made this a very positive purchase experience for me.

I am looking forward to watching this site so I can to continue learning about my e bike.

Everyone ride safely and stay healthy.

Jeff C

Heck yeah Jeff, you've got a great shop, make sure to let them know you're happy too! Those compliments and feedback do wonders on the other side of things.

 

[JeffC57]

Heck yeah Jeff, you've got a great shop, make sure to let them know you're happy too! Those compliments and feedback do wonders on the other side of things.

At the time I bought the Sirrus, I hadn’t been in a bike shop in 20 years. The LBS manager spent a lot of time with me explaining what the differences were in the bikes and why it was a good fit for my my desire to ride the local paved trails. When the Vado SL piqued my interest, I didn’t consider going anywhere else.

I know the LBS are swamped so I don’t go in there during busy times like the weekends. I am blessed to be retired now so I can go in during the slower times.

They have a local website so I can post a positive review there.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

At the time I bought the Sirrus, I hadn’t been in a bike shop in 20 years. The LBS manager spent a lot of time with me explaining what the differences were in the bikes and why it was a good fit for my my desire to ride the local paved trails. When the Vado SL piqued my interest, I didn’t consider going anywhere else.

I know the LBS are swamped so I don’t go in there during busy times like the weekends. I am blessed to be retired now so I can go in during the slower times.

They have a local website so I can post a positive review there.

Forgot to say congrats on the new bike! When you cruise through there make sure to tell their team you're stoked too! Thanks Jeff, keep us posted on your rides! Post a pic of the bike too!

 

[Marcela]

I am a proponent of more than one Christmas a year. So I obliged.

My Como 5.0 showed up today. What is not to like. I also have the Vado 5.0 btw. I was wanting more of a cruiser.

Like the position. Like the tires. Like the seat. Very nice setup. And the parts will interchange between the two, battery, etc.

Battery hasn't showed up yet, as it is going around the world in the other direction, but time will drop it on my doorstep. Riding the Como without the battery and extra weight is almost like riding any other non ebike. Pretty nice ride.

Seems my stable is growing.

And I did get the step through, again, what is not to like.

 

[ronr]

I am a proponent of more than one Christmas a year. So I obliged.

My Como 5.0 showed up today. What is not to like. I also have the Vado 5.0 btw. I was wanting more of a cruiser.

Like the position. Like the tires. Like the seat. Very nice setup. And the parts will interchange between the two, battery, etc.

Battery hasn't showed up yet, as it is going around the world in the other direction, but time will drop it on my doorstep. Riding the Como without the battery and extra weight is almost like riding any other non ebike. Pretty nice ride.

Seems my stable is growing.

And I did get the step through, again, what is not to like.

I found out how low I can let the battery go before it stops providing support: 5%. that’s a lot of bike to push home without the assist. Won’t be doing that again.

 

[Marcela]

I found out how low I can let the battery go before it stops providing support: 5%. that’s a lot of bike to push home without the assist. Won’t be doing that again.

Other than an extra 25# I find the bikes like any other bike. You dial 911 they'll give you a ride home.

Noticed on my display today, the bike came in from the west coast, the display was off 2 hrs which is correct, this morning the display showed correct time, I didn't reset it. It either reset through the iphone when I changed settings or the gps.

 

[Sierratim]

Other than an extra 25# I find the bikes like any other bike. You dial 911 they'll give you a ride home.

Noticed on my display today, the bike came in from the west coast, the display was off 2 hrs which is correct, this morning the display showed correct time, I didn't reset it. It either reset through the iphone when I changed settings or the gps.

I haven't read anything that indicates the bikes have gps so it must have updated when you connected through the MC app.

 

[reed scott]

Are there closer dealers that don't stock the Specialized e bikes? They can still perform the service side of things, should they desire.

Blows me away that you could have the Specialized line and not align with the ebike side of things. I get it if you're strictly a specialty shop, but why not have the ability to do the basic service??! It's not that hard!

It's the fastest growing market segment with solid demand and yet shops keep thumbing their nose. Amazing.

Making any real money with a bike shop is very tough. Just getting one to turn a profit is rare. The guy running it is not the owner even if he thinks he is. His money man is the owner. Who may or may not know beans about bikes or the market. Thus you get the problem you lament. If smart people were in control they wouldn't be in the bike biz.

 

[reed scott]

I am a proponent of more than one Christmas a year. So I obliged.

My Como 5.0 showed up today. What is not to like. I also have the Vado 5.0 btw. I was wanting more of a cruiser.

Like the position. Like the tires. Like the seat. Very nice setup. And the parts will interchange between the two, battery, etc.

Battery hasn't showed up yet, as it is going around the world in the other direction, but time will drop it on my doorstep. Riding the Como without the battery and extra weight is almost like riding any other non ebike. Pretty nice ride.

Seems my stable is growing.

And I did get the step through, again, what is not to like.

Any noticeable frame flex on your step throughs?

 

[Marcela]

Any noticeable frame flex on your step throughs?

i wondered about that, but if the frame does finally crack at the midpoint I'll deal with that then. I'm 185# also. The fork is an aluminum extrusion, I think I can see it flex going over cobblestone, similar to the spring fork on the Vado, The Vado spring fork has quite a bit of movement fore and aft, I like the Como fork better. But I don't think there is any frame flex at this point, it looks to be pretty stout. The tires provide quite a bit of cushion.

I do like the step through, no more leg hiking.

My Vado 5.0 size L weighs pretty much the same as the Como 5.0 size L step through btw.

 

[reed scott]

i wondered about that, but if the frame does finally crack at the midpoint I'll deal with that then. I'm 185# also. The fork is an aluminum extrusion, I think I can see it flex going over cobblestone, similar to the spring fork on the Vado, The Vado spring fork has quite a bit of movement fore and aft, I like the Como fork better. But I don't think there is any frame flex at this point, it looks to be pretty stout. The tires provide quite a bit of cushion.

I do like the step through, no more leg hiking.

Thank you.

 

[45srbest]

Just a quick question if anyone knows. I FINALLY got my Vado 5 delivered today. They say it’s a 2020.
My question is my headlight is attached to the fender, but I see most Vado 5s seem to be on the handlebars. Does anybody know why it’s one or the other?

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Making any real money with a bike shop is very tough. Just getting one to turn a profit is rare. The guy running it is not the owner even if he thinks he is. His money man is the owner. Who may or may not know beans about bikes or the market. Thus you get the problem you lament. If smart people were in control they wouldn't be in the bike biz.

I must be some kind of dumbass then...

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Just a quick question if anyone knows. I FINALLY got my Vado 5 delivered today. They say it’s a 2020.
My question is my headlight is attached to the fender, but I see most Vado 5s seem to be on the handlebars. Does anybody know why it’s one or the other?

No specific rhyme or reason, the fender mount is superior so as to make it easier to change out the stem down the road, at least that's been our experience. Plus with the light on the fender you can mount the Flux 1200 light on the bar for some serious illumination when riding at night. That combined with the Stix saddle mount and helmet mount make for plenty of lighting.

 

[reed scott]

I must be some kind of dumbass then...

Congratulations on being one of the good ones. Sorry if I offended.

 

[Sierratim]

Just a quick question if anyone knows. I FINALLY got my Vado 5 delivered today. They say it’s a 2020.
My question is my headlight is attached to the fender, but I see most Vado 5s seem to be on the handlebars. Does anybody know why it’s one or the other?

It seems that they went to the fender mount mid-model year. I have a 2020 V5 as well. It has the stem mount light that interferes with my handlebar bag. I've had to fab an extension to fix this.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Congratulations on being one of the good ones. Sorry if I offended.

Oh, I'm just giving you a hard time. What's the fastest way to get $100k in the bike business? Start with $1 million