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

TS25 said:
I'm showing from German threads two Brose drive S motors opened due to a torn belt.
Both times the belt was torn again shortly after replacing the first belt with a new 'normal' Gates belt you can buy and which has the correct size.
Just as a warning because this happenend several times to riders who bought the 'normal' Gates belt for app. 10-12€ to save cost, Vado out of warranty.
So please don't try that. There is a set from Brose with a special Gates belt which is much stronger.
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Good to know... I understand that the belt drive is the Achilles heel of the Brose motor.

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RichM said:
Just bought the Como 4.0 OMG what a bike. I will need to up a trunk bike rack for 2 of these bikes any suggestions?
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A generic topeak rear rack fits my Como3 perfectly and there are lots of bags that fit topeak racks, if that's what you're asking. I use a frame bag in the triangle myself, not a trunk bag.

If you mean a rack on your car trunk to carry the bikes, it's complicated. Search for "Carry Como" thread, and expect to read a lot ...
 
Art Deco said:
A generic topeak rear rack fits my Como3 perfectly and there are lots of bags that fit topeak racks, if that's what you're asking. I use a frame bag in the triangle myself, not a trunk bag.

If you mean a rack on your car trunk to carry the bikes, it's complicated. Search for "Carry Como" thread, and expect to read a lot ...
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Good point. The question could go either way...😕
 
Just want to boast a little :) The rear-wheel of my Vado has been expertly trued by an LBS in my town. These guys are good even if they are arrogant a little bit (but many of them roadies are) :) Put new Michelin Protek Max tubes on and re-used the original Electrak tyres. This time, I used a lot of talcum to make the work easier, and surprised myself how easy the work had been :) After having the wheels cleaned, I'm surprised how little wear is on the tyres... How nicely and black they look like!

Can't wait for better weather to ride out!

A question: Do you think it would be reasonable to reduce tyre pressure for cold season conditions?
 
Stefan Mikes said:
Just want to boast a little :) The rear-wheel of my Vado has been expertly trued by an LBS in my town. These guys are good even if they are arrogant a little bit (but many of them roadies are) :) Put new Michelin Protek Max tubes on and re-used the original Electrak tyres. This time, I used a lot of talcum to make the work easier, and surprised myself how easy the work had been :) After having the wheels cleaned, I'm surprised how little wear is on the tyres... How nicely and black they look like!

Can't wait for better weather to ride out!

A question: Do you think it would be reasonable to reduce tyre pressure for cold season conditions?
Click to expand...
Tire pressures usually drop 1psi for every 10'F temp decrease in winter conditions. You may want to maintain your normal pressure. ;)
 
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Test Ride on Electrak 2.0

A standard test route, 2 x 800 m along our Hunters' Street. The street is full of mild speed humps :) I rode in 70/70 Sport mode. My Vado rode as a dream. Plush ride, and the Vado felt like a nimble steed ;) The rolling resistance of the Electrak 2.0 feels like non-existent... And Vado is a road animal!

1604563337754.png

RideWithGPS (original tracking) gave Avg Speed of 25.1 and Max Speed of 38.3 km/h :)

Electrak 2.0 Test (1 of 2).jpg

So happy!

Electrak 2.0 Test (2 of 2).jpg

All ordered brake pads for my TRP Zurich have just arrived. A set from Germany (thank you @TS25!), and a set from UK.
 
FlatSix911 said:
Good to know... I understand that the belt drive is the Achilles heel of the Brose motor.
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Well, it is both.
The sweet spot and the weak spot of the Brose motor.

The belt driven motor makes it the silent motor to be enjoyed. No other motor in the market is that silent.
But it seems that Brose is still struggling hard to figure out how to make it more reliable. That's why Brose asks all failed motors back during warranty and doesn't allow the LBS to open the motor before.

Brose says the belt should be exchanged after 15.000 km. But it is advised to change earlier. Trained LBS are allowed to belt exchange. The motor has to be taken off the bike for that, you need a special torque wrench for the tensioner (0,25 Nm only!), the little tensioning screw and the gasket should be changed. All this (but not the special wrench) is in the Brose belt replacement set.

Belt lifetime also depends on the stress the rider puts on the belt. Not shifting down before stopping so starting with high pressure shortens the life not only of the drivetrain components but of the belt too. So riders have reported torn belt after 4.000 km and others haven't had a belt problem until regular service (exchange).
 
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Marcela said:
I'd like to see a comparison of the two belts.
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Easy. Just get the Brose repair kit and buy a normal Gates belt same size for your comparison report. The people with the torn cheap belt replacements went for the Brose exchange kit afterwards and I doubt they'll buy another cheap belt just for the comparison.

Marcela said:
Might have been a misadjustment.
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I doubt that. The rider who exchanged the belt I showed in pic 2 reported that he tightend the grub screw correctly with 0,25 Nm.
Also these two are just examples of a lot more torn 'cheap' belt exchanges.
 
Billperry said:
Would you know if the stronger special gates belt is also stiffer or has greater resistance? I ask because my new Como 5.0 motor seems to not have the power to help get me up to the 28mph which I could do on the previous motor.
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I have a Vado 4 . 2 friends have Comos . One a 3.0 that is Class 3 the other is a New Como 5.0 . I haven't ridden either bike a lot. I experience getting to 28 on all 3 Bikes mentioned. However of the 3 the Newest Como 5 to me anyway. Feels like it's even more upright then the Older Model Como 3.
I've only ridden it twice and the Older 3.0 4 different times. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think the newer Como feels like the pedals are more out in from of you then below you as My Vado and the Older Como feel.
There's no specs to support my thoughts . I'm just telling you what I felt when riding the Como 5. The Older Como 3 wasn't available at the time to make a direct comparison. I can say for certain My Vado 4 is easier to get to 28 MPH then the Como 5 is. IMO IT'S BECAUSE you almost lay back in the Como. Just a Thought.
 
TS25 said:
Easy. Just get the Brose repair kit and buy a normal Gates belt same size for your comparison report. The people with the torn cheap belt replacements went for the Brose exchange kit afterwards and I doubt they'll buy another cheap belt just for the comparison.


I doubt that. The rider who exchanged the belt I showed in pic 2 reported that he tightend the grub screw correctly with 0,25 Nm.
Also these two are just examples of a lot more torn 'cheap' belt exchanges.
Click to expand...
Don't think I need a comparison at that cost.

Wonder if the adjusting screw provided with the kit has loctite preapplied, and if the reapplication of the used adjusting screw had some locking compound reapplied.
 
The grub screw has a thread lock and yes you should use Loctite which isn't preapplied.
 
I'm devistated! (as one of Forum members managed to write in excitement) :D The mechanic called me on Saturday to announce my new Vado chain was damaged... Nobody knows how it happened but the guy told me the chain not only broke but it was also badly bent. (Good all the cogs remained in good shape). I'm sure it was me doing something wrong... Ordered two new HG701-11-138 chains I would get my Vado back on the coming Wednesday. With my third e-bike at Jacek's, that left me with the Trance as the only e-bike I can use...

I and a female friend plan an off-road ride together for this morning, as it should be sunny and not terribly cold. She would be riding a decent traditional bike on 2.2" tyres, and she knows the Kampinos National Park as good as her own pocket :) Because of her being a traditional cyclist, I had to shorten the route plan to 66 km, allowing me a single battery ride. Good, I like it :)

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Dangerously close to Jacek's place but I know my brother has been very tired over last weeks of re-organising his own company.
 
Stefan Mikes said:
The mechanic called me on Saturday to announce my new Vado chain was damaged ... the guy told me the chain not only broke but it was also badly bent. (Good all the cogs remained in good shape).
Click to expand...
🙁 Ideas: due to noticing the worn cogs late and using them with the new chain? Or a not correctly mounted Shimano pin/quick lock?
 
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