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

[Marcela]

At least in the USA Good luck even finding an extra battery : Unless I am doing something wrong . I can't even locate Batteries on the Specialized Webpage for USA

It appears just like the Bike You can't order a Battery from a different state : Even if you pay the Hazmat Fee : That is Ludacris :: For cripe sake I talked to a Dealer who tells me he has batteries in Stock he hasn't moved : Yet can't ship one ??? That is Utterly Stupid :

I’m still waiting for the Como battery that got hijacked by usps.

Brendon has to figure out a way to get it from OR to KS.

 

[BarryS]

I’m still waiting for the Como battery that got hijacked by usps.

Brendon has to figure out a way to get it from OR to KS.

My season for riding will likely end in 6 weeks or less : Unless we have a snowless winter I won't really need a battery until Spring 2021 : if the world economies make it that far

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What a frustration! Find the right replacement chain for Vado 5.0... I counted the links in the existing chain and it turned out there were 132 links in total. A lot. It is the 11-speed cassette. Finally, I found the Shimano CN-E8000 11-sp with 138 links. Six links to be removed.

Next (@RandallS!), I needed a replacement chain for the Trance E+. 124 links needed for the 12-speed cassette. The only matching chain was Shimano CN-M8100 with 126 links. Two links to remove...

Tough luck to own an e-bike, eh?

 

[RandallS]

On your Trance, do you have the SRAM or the KMC?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On your Trance, do you have the SRAM or the KMC?

Shimano group, KMC chain.

 

[GuruUno]

What a frustration! Find the right replacement chain for Vado 5.0... I counted the links in the existing chain and it turned out there were 132 links in total. A lot. It is the 11-speed cassette. Finally, I found the Shimano CN-E8000 11-sp with 138 links. Six links to be removed.

Next (@RandallS!), I needed a replacement chain for the Trance E+. 124 links needed for the 12-speed cassette. The only matching chain was Shimano CN-M8100 with 126 links. Two links to remove...

Tough luck to own an e-bike, eh?

Shimano CN-E8000
Is that the 'preferred' replacement chain or is the OEM Shimano HG601?
For better or worse, opinion, reasoning for which is better or worse?
And those 'spare' quick links we should all have some of, are those chain specific or universal?

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Shimano CN-E8000
Is that the 'preferred' replacement chain or is the OEM Shimano HG601?
For better or worse, opinion, reasoning for which is better or worse?
And those 'spare' quick links we should all have some of, are those chain specific or universal?

Both the Shimano and KMC chains, the e bike specific ones, are both very good. I like KMC, I've had them on my race bikes for years.

Spare quick links can be specific but not really in 11s applications. Make sure it's not a "one time use" quick link though. They'll work fine but I like to use the reusable ones so I can remove the chain to clean it.

 

[GuruUno]

Both the Shimano and KMC chains, the e bike specific ones, are both very good. I like KMC, I've had them on my race bikes for years.

Spare quick links can be specific but not really in 11s applications. Make sure it's not a "one time use" quick link though. They'll work fine but I like to use the reusable ones so I can remove the chain to clean it.

Thanks Brendon

 

[Nxkharra]

Both the Shimano and KMC chains, the e bike specific ones, are both very good. I like KMC, I've had them on my race bikes for years.

Spare quick links can be specific but not really in 11s applications. Make sure it's not a "one time use" quick link though. They'll work fine but I like to use the reusable ones so I can remove the chain to clean it.

I also have KMC with rust proof.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Shimano CN-E8000
Is that the 'preferred' replacement chain or is the OEM Shimano HG601?
For better or worse, opinion, reasoning for which is better or worse?
And those 'spare' quick links we should all have some of, are those chain specific or universal?

It's simple: I cannot buy the CN-HG601 or a KMC chain that is long enough here. It is very hard to find anything that is good for 11-speed cassette and at least 132 links here. Not sure how it is in America.

That reminds me of the time when the Vado chain was being replaced by the LBS in May: The guys were overworked and the bike was waiting for two weeks in the line. Eventually, I got a phone call I could collect the Vado. When I came in the shop, the extremely irritated mechanic asked me to wait for a quarter more. It turned out the guy discovered late the cassette should be 46T at the wide end (not 42T) and it needed to be delivered from another store of the company. When the cassette was installed, the guy called me to come, and then he discovered the replacement chain had been too short... (next delivery necessary).

P.S. In order the troll @TForan could understand anything, the shop visit was related to upgrade the Vado electronics from 2017 to 2020 done under warranty, free, and which overhaul required dismantling half of the bike. The cassette and chain replacement were an addition.

 

[TS25]

Shimano CN-E8000 Is that the 'preferred' replacement chain or is the OEM Shimano HG601?

And those 'spare' quick links we should all have some of, are those chain specific or universal?

Shimano CN-HG601-11 or CN-HG701-11 do the job as well and cost less. Your choice.
Some more chain info here:

Chain ring tooth selection

@E-Wheels Here a couple of shots, and you can see just how tight everything is in there. Sorry the second one is a bit dark because of the sunlight, but you can see my US Postal water bottle - that will tell you who my hero used to be, but that is another story :). Looks to me like there will...

electricbikereview.com

Quick links aren't chain specific. I would choose a reusable one. Some need a special tool to remove.

I cannot buy the CN-HG601 or a KMC chain that is long enough here. It is very hard to find anything that is good for 11-speed cassette and at least 132 links here.

Lots of shops in Germany stock the Shimano HG601, HG701 or E8000 chain with 138 links and could send to PL for 10€ immediately.

Why not have a chain in your "spare parts department" ready at hand, together with other spare parts. Order parts in bulk to save postage.
That's my policy. And I think it's wise because parts tend to be out of stock from time to time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Lots of shops in Germany stock the Shimano HG601, HG701 or E8000 chain with 138 links and could send to PL for 10€ immediately.

Why not have a chain in your "spare parts department" ready at hand, together with other spare parts. Order parts in bulk to save postage.
That's my policy. And I think it's wise because parts tend to be out of stock from time to time.

I will certainly ask you next time, thank you! Finally, I bought from CentrumRowerowe.pl Some benefits are free shipment and next day delivery. Yet the availability is spotty. (Poland is somewhat backwards country compared to Germany, I admit that).

Regarding the chain model, I would certainly be well-off with the HG601-11-138. I don't think a more expensive chain would last much longer on a mid-drive motor e-bike...

 

[Eric B]

For sure. I rode 33.5 miles on my Como 4.0 last week using only about 25% of the battery. But....I had dialed down assist to 15% (was riding with a friend on an analog bike) with minimal climbing. Only 171Wh were used.

I enjoy riding my Vado in the 10-12 Wh/mile range. I adjust the power for enjoyment of the extra speed whenever I feel like it. This gives my Vado 5 a 50 mile range. My ‘Saturday ride‘ is approx 25 miles. Can’t fault the flexibility and power. This is in the US where I have a 28 mph support limit.

 

[45srbest]

Looking at the KMC site, the only ebike chains I see are both 126 links. I to am looking for a spare chain for my Vado 5.0 for when the inevitable comes.

 

[Nxkharra]

Shimano CN-HG601-11 or CN-HG701-11 do the job as well and cost less. Your choice.
Some more chain info here:

Chain ring tooth selection

@E-Wheels Here a couple of shots, and you can see just how tight everything is in there. Sorry the second one is a bit dark because of the sunlight, but you can see my US Postal water bottle - that will tell you who my hero used to be, but that is another story :). Looks to me like there will...

electricbikereview.com

Quick links aren't chain specific. I would choose a reusable one. Some need a special tool to remove.


Lots of shops in Germany stock the Shimano HG601, HG701 or E8000 chain with 138 links and could send to PL for 10€ immediately.

Why not have a chain in your "spare parts department" ready at hand, together with other spare parts. Order parts in bulk to save postage.
That's my policy. And I think it's wise because parts tend to be out of stock from time to time.

This is what I use:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This is what I use:

Hmm. I cannot understand it. 126-link chain good for the 48T chainring Vado that you ride? How comes mine needs 132 links?

 

[Nxkharra]

Hmm. I cannot understand it. 126-link chain good for the 48T chainring Vado that you ride? How comes mine needs 132 links?

Sorry @Stefan Mikes my bad. This is the type of chain I got last. Not exact size.
not sure what size LBS used.
I was reading about the specs and this is what I saw.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

so the e8000 works with the 2020 5.0?

Why shouldn't it?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I will tell you soon. I hope to get the chain today.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@TS25 or anyone who can answer that: Are these advanced chains directional? (I know what Wide-Narrow is but now I wonder about the rotation direction).