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

Back in my motorcycling days, I always said that, especially since I did a lot of solo touring, I wouldn't want a bike that I couldn't pick up my myself if it fell over. I pretty well stuck to this until my BMW R1100RT which was heavy in itself and even moreso when loaded for touring. I think that my one incident with it when I needed the quick support of a motorist when it rolled off the sidestand at a gas station was one factor in it being the last motorcycle that I owned.

What I am now thinking in terms of e-bikes is that I don't want to own one that I can't load by myself onto my rack, and with my recent back flareup I'm finding the Vado to be at the edge of that limit. Fortunately, my rack these days is a Thule XT-2 that actually comes with a small fold-up ramp that I have not used up to now but may soon have to try. I never thought I'd get to this point, but age and reality can't be held off forever!

Looking at what's out there now, if I had it to do over I might look closely at the Vado SL simply for its significant weight savings over the regular Vado. But I knew that all it would take for them to come out with a better choice was to buy what was available at the time and wait a couple of months... :rolleyes:
 
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I've no problems with Mission Control. Every time I call they give me a release without delay:).

Almost 700 miles, no problems adjusting parameters or with anything, I'd say working as designed.
 
JayVee said:
I’ve been there many many times with some 30,000 kms. I can tell you that the chainring is such a critical part that I’ve ordered 3 in advance. It took 5 weeks to get them. It is not only noise you should be worrying about, but erratic shifting. Once your chain stretches it makes the teeth sharp and pointed and the profile becomes lower. Any new chain you put on will be misaligned with the teeth and this will cause your rear derailleur to skip systematically in the most extreme cases. I’ve been there... and had to put back on an old chain to keep using the bike at one point.

I’ve attached old and new chainrings for educational purposes. Hopefully it will help someone.

Old:
View attachment 52983
New:
View attachment 52984
Click to expand...
What is the normal time and mileage for this to happen?
I have approximately 2,500 miles.
thanks for good info.
what kind of bike do you have?
 
Marcela said:
I've no problems with Mission Control. Every time I call they give me a release without delay:).

Almost 700 miles, no problems adjusting parameters or with anything, I'd say working as designed.
Click to expand...
Works well. Except for Smart Assist function.
have you used this function?
 
JayVee said:
Once your chain stretches it makes the teeth sharp and pointed and the profile becomes lower. Any new chain you put on will be misaligned with the teeth and this will cause your rear derailleur to skip systematically in the most extreme cases. I’ve been there... and had to put back on an old chain to keep using the bike at one point.

Old:
View attachment 52983
New:
Click to expand...

Yep, the dreaded 'shark's tooth' pattern. We saw a lot of these at the local bicycle kitchen. As you say, a new chain won't fix the problems, it often just makes it worse. New chain ring(s) and a new chain is the only fix. New chains every Spring for our bikes.
 
Sierratim said:
Yep, the dreaded 'shark's tooth' pattern. We saw a lot of these at the local bicycle kitchen. As you say, a new chain won't fix the problems, it often just makes it worse. New chain ring(s) and a new chain is the only fix. New chains every Spring for our bikes.
Click to expand...
I am going to search the web to see if I can find a chain ring to be delivered faster than LBS (two weeks).
What part should I look for I know is 48T Custom Alloy but any specific size or part number?
Thanks for help.
 
Nxkharra said:
I am going to search the web to see if I can find a chain ring to be delivered faster than LBS (two weeks).
What part should I look for I know is 48T Custom Alloy but any specific size or part number?
Thanks for help.
Click to expand...
This thread has suggestions on replacement chain rings; https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/chain-ring-tooth-selection.33187/ . Deckas rings are suggested in several posts. You're looking for a wide-narrow 104 bcd 48t ring. The wide-narrow feature is very important to minimize chain drops.

Some posts reported long lead times on these rings.
 
My Trance is at the Giant LBS (installation of the RideControl EVO display, which to my surprise is a wired device). Meanwhile, I made a two mile ride to see how my Vado behaved after the display upgrade. The default assistance levels are lower than the previous defaults, no worries, Mission Control works fine! I especially like the Rider Power live display; it seems I'm not that weak as I thought before ;)

Now considering replacement (at least temporary) of my air-suspension dropper seat post with the Kinekt 2.1, which I've kept for better times :) Perhaps it is the right time for experiment?
 
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Sierratim said:
This thread has suggestions on replacement chain rings; https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/chain-ring-tooth-selection.33187/ . Deckas rings are suggested in several posts. You're looking for a wide-narrow 104 bcd 48t ring. The wide-narrow feature is very important to minimize chain drops.

Some posts reported long lead times on these rings.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Sierratim you are correct. Very difficult part to locate.
I might have to rely and hope that LBS can get the part in two weeks as they stated.
I contact Prixis Works who makes this and they don’t stock. Only Specialized.
Others don’t have either.
 
The Perfect Shape (No More Mods Anymore)

Kinekt 2.1 suspension seat-post and Ergon ST Core Prime saddle. "Second to full suspension" / @Alaskan / Truly!
If such e-bike were available in 2017, the model number would be 6.0 :)

1590081867332.png

1590082818654.png
 
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Nxkharra said:
Thanks @Sierratim you are correct. Very difficult part to locate.
I might have to rely and hope that LBS can get the part in two weeks as they stated.
I contact Prixis Works who makes this and they don’t stock. Only Specialized.
Others don’t have either.
Click to expand...
Specialized just responded about the chain ring. They carry it but has to be ordered by LBS as it is more involved according to them.
no one including the manufacturer (Praxis) have the chain ring.
Those of you who might need this in future should ask your LBS to order.
I don’t want to ride my bike due to this annoying sound until I get it repaired with new chain ring (at least not often).
 
Nxkharra said:
Specialized just responded about the chain ring. They carry it but has to be ordered by LBS as it is more involved according to them.
no one including the manufacturer (Praxis) have the chain ring.
Those of you who might need this in future should ask your LBS to order.
I don’t want to ride my bike due to this annoying sound until I get it repaired with new chain ring (at least not often).
Click to expand...
I'm a bit perplexed by the noise you have. The chain was worn and it worn the chain ring as well. Now a new chain is making a noise from the same chain ring. I would have expected looser tolerances that might cause a chain drop rather than tighter tolerances that generate noise. Did the LBS explain this to your satisfaction?

You might want to take a look at the chain on the chain ring and be sure the narrow teeth are in the narrow chain slots, etc. Normally you can't install the chain incorrectly but with a worn ring the new chain might have been fitted 1/2 link off with narrow slots over wide teeth and wide slots over narrow teeth. The narrow slots over wide teeth could be causing the noise. Worth a look...🤔
 
Sierratim said:
I'm a bit perplexed by the noise you have. The chain was worn and it worn the chain ring as well. Now a new chain is making a noise from the same chain ring. I would have expected looser tolerances that might cause a chain drop rather than tighter tolerances that generate noise. Did the LBS explain this to your satisfaction?

You might want to take a look at the chain on the chain ring and be sure the narrow teeth are in the narrow chain slots, etc. Normally you can't install the chain incorrectly but with a worn ring the new chain might have been fitted 1/2 link off with narrow slots over wide teeth and wide slots over narrow teeth. The narrow slots over wide teeth could be causing the noise. Worth a look...🤔
Click to expand...
Narrow slot is on the wide tooth. Please see the pic.
can I change this?
 

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I woke up in the middle of the night (it happens to me) so I can write something of interest to you, fellow riders of the Vado.

Sometimes, my Vado produces strange noise on the ride. As the bike has been completely silent so far, I took a closer look at the bike post-ride. It turned out the long front mudflap has deflected during the transport in the car, caught the front tyre and started rubbing it. Part of the flap was already "eaten" by friction, oh, the poor tyre... I have straightened the flap out with my hand but that might happen again... Ouch.
 
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