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

[Deacon Blues]

I just bought a pair of handlebar jacks. It's much, much easier to work on an ebike, epecially if it's a hub drive, when the bike is upside down.

 

[Nxkharra]

I just bought a pair of handlebar jacks. It's much, much easier to work on an ebike, epecially if it's a hub drive, when the bike is upside down.

What are these called and where did you buy them. Might be a good thing to carry if you need to fix something like flat in the road without hurting the handlebar

 

[Nxkharra]

I just bought a pair of handlebar jacks. It's much, much easier to work on an ebike, epecially if it's a hub drive, when the bike is upside down.

I found it and ordered a pair. Thanks for the good idea.

 

[Nxkharra]

@Nxkharra, you do own a work stand, which will help a lot. Don't be worried, you can do the work yourself. Only disengage the Shadow clutch in the derailleur before you remove the rear wheel.

Completely unrelated to the wheel change:
I learned to love the torque wrench during the handlebars' swap. The stem and the brake/shifter levers required 6 Nm and other levers needed the 2 Nm torque. (The grips just need an Allen key and are fastened by feeling, same with the mirrors). The motor remote needs a T8 Torx wrench (I have got one in a form of a screwdriver). Incidentally, I was able to destroy the Knog Oi bell that requires minimum torque when fastening.... Arrrgh!

View attachment 48990

@Stefan Mikes I received the Pro Bike Tool yesterday. Seems like a quality product. I have checked the torque on various areas where I had just used my carry tool to tighten including the axles. All now meet the recommended Nm. Hope I am doing it correctly.
I have add d this tool set to the collection of bike STUFF that I have because I just like to have them and might not need them...haha
Thanks again for recommendation.
btw my son mentioned he has now ruined two carbon seat posts not using torque wrench. He wanted to adjust his carbon handlebar but was afraid to use the regular wrench based on his previous experience. The tool might come handy for him soon.

 

[Sierratim]

@Stefan Mikes I received the Pro Bike Tool yesterday. Seems like a quality product. I have checked the torque on various areas where I had just used my carry tool to tighten including the axles. All now meet the recommended Nm. Hope I am doing it correctly.
I have add d this tool set to the collection of bike STUFF that I have because I just like to have them and might not need them...haha
Thanks again for recommendation.
btw my son mentioned he has now ruined two carbon seat posts not using torque wrench. He wanted to adjust his carbon handlebar but was afraid to use the regular wrench based on his previous experience. The tool might come handy for him soon.

My sons had the same experience in their early MTB racing 'careers'. Saved up their $ and added a torque wrench to the tool set I had gotten them.

BTW - torque settings are most accurate if the fastener threads have minimum friction when assembled. An anti-sieze lube or quality grease is fine for some (pedals,...). Blue threadlock works for others (brake rotors,...). Assembling dry fasteners is at the mercy of the thread friction. You won't know the real torque at the mechanical joint.

 

[Kam1936]

I found it and ordered a pair. Thanks for the good idea.

@NxGharra Where did you buy handlebar jack and where did you buy Marathon e+ tires and what size?

 

[rochrunner]

My sons had the same experience in their early MTB racing 'careers'. Saved up their $ and added a torque wrench to the tool set I had gotten them.

I don't know how anyone works on things without a torque wrench! I have three: one higher-torque that I used to use for things like torquing cylinder head bolts and other automotive stuff; one lighter-duty, marked in in-lbs and newton-meters specifically for bikes; as well as a very old 1/2" drive "beam" torque wrench from a long time back.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I don't know how anyone works on things without a torque wrench!

However, don't try it on delicate accessories such as a bell Even 2 Nm is too much.

 

[Nxkharra]

Trigger vs Marathon E Plus
First let me be clear. I am not by all means expert in tires and reviewing them so this is just commentaries of a bike enthusiast who has owned few bikes in life with various types of tires.

The main reason I switched to Schwalbe Marathon E Plus, from Specialized Trigger which came on my Specialized Vado 5 was that I had a flat last week and am not a fan of fixing flat by the side of the road.
Marathon E Plus promises One of the better puncture resistance in the industry which attracted me. Will report on this later when I have ride them enough.
Today I rode 31 miles. Had variety of conditions. Wind behind and front, rain (although it doesn’t rain where I live in this part of California), sun, cloud.
The road was smooth black top, chopped asphalt, cement, and some debris from wind. No dirt or gravel.
I did have some climb and some downhill.
The main comment about this comparison can be summarized as the difference between riding a sedan with top of the line Michelin tire vs riding a Jeep with all weather good tire.
If this gives you the idea no need to read on...
With E Plus I could feel the bumps on the road.
Noticeably lazier than Trigger.
More solid ride. Feeling you are riding on tire vs air.
Good cornering. Good grip in all the conditions mentioned above.
The ride was 31 miles in Turbo mode with 29% battery remaining. Not in a position to compare miles per battery usage. But it seems a bit more battery usage??
There was no worrying going through everything.
My previous tires were 7 months old with 1,600 miles on them with only one flat last week. Not sure if this is normal.
The front tire was in great shape and rear tire had some signs of wear.
The option could have been to replace with the same tire and keep doing it at the same interval. But I decided to make the upgrade and not worry about having flats for many more miles to go.
I will update you as I ride these tires more for whatever worth. I am sure there are some experts out there who will give us much better review and comparison.
I will creat a new thread on this also so friends can comment.

 

[Nxkharra]

@NxGharra Where did you buy handlebar jack and where did you buy Marathon e+ tires and what size?

From their website. Will be few weeks before they ship.
purchased E Plus from Schwalbe website. Very fast shipping. See my review above. Make sure you type my name correctly so J see it @Nxkharra

 

[Deacon Blues]

Handlebar jacks website: https://www.handlebarjack.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-original-handlebar-jack

And they're on sale. Sad face is for me, since I bought them a month ago at the regular price.

 

[Nxkharra]

Handlebar jacks website: https://www.handlebarjack.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-original-handlebar-jack

And they're on sale. Sad face is for me, since I bought them a month ago at the regular price.

Only $5 off. Does not break the bank. I think he is getting them from China hence late shipping. We might never get them.

 

[Kam1936]

Only $5 off. Does not break the bank. I think he is getting them from China hence late shipping. We might never get them.

@Nxkharra . What size did you get E +? I checked their website. I was wondering if 2 inch tires would work instead of 28 × 1.75. I upgraded to regular MP on my other ebike. They pick up small rocks riding over gravel, whereas the Triggers don't. Almost 2000 miles no flats. Almost 700 miles on the Triggers no flats. I have puncture resistant tubes and liners for extra protection . Like yourself, I don't want to worry about flats on the road.

 

[Kam1936]

Handlebar jacks website: https://www.handlebarjack.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-original-handlebar-jack

And they're on sale. Sad face is for me, since I bought them a month ago at the regular price.

. Thanks for the link.

 

[Kam1936]

However, don't try it on delicate accessories such as a bell Even 2 Nm is too much.

@Stefan Mikes . Where can I get the Michelin tubes?

 

[Nxkharra]

@Nxkharra . What size did you get E +? I checked their website. I was wondering if 2 inch tires would work instead of 28 × 1.75. I upgraded to regular MP on my other ebike. They pick up small rocks riding over gravel, whereas the Triggers don't. Almost 2000 miles no flats. Almost 700 miles on the Triggers no flats. I have puncture resistant tubes and liners for extra protection . Like yourself, I don't want to worry about flats on the road.

See pics below for size

 

[Kam1936]

See pics below for size

Do you think if you went with 28 × 2 inch you would have a smoother ride?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Stefan Mikes . Where can I get the Michelin tubes?

No idea where you could get them in the United States...

 

[Nxkharra]

Not sure if the fender interfere. The rep at Schwalbe recommended same size replacement.
I am sure the more air the smoother ride.
with suspension fork and seat the vibration was not bothersome.
did you see my write up above?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My Vado came with the 51-622 tyres, that is, 29x2.0"
(Note: 28 or 29 doesn't matter. "622" matters).