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

[Brendon@OEB]

The Bend of Death

It has turned out Vado 5.0 was very very good on roads in real mountains (we're talking the Jizera range of the Sudety Mts in Poland and Czech Republic). I could ride up a 14% grade in Turbo mode and in the granny gear. I could also make a short 16% grade ascent when a traditional road cyclist had to give up.

The only weak point of the 5.0 is its 48t chainring (too large for such grades) but I could make the climbs anyway. The 180 mm TRP Zurich brakes were working as a dream on a 12 km, -518 m descent.
View attachment 61686
Approaching the Bend of Death near Szklarska Poręba.

View attachment 61688
The Bend of Death

View attachment 61690
Our new friend who had to give up at a 16% grade climb.

Stefan, remind me, do you have the 1.3 motor?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, remind me, do you have the 1.3 motor?

No, it's the 1.2s with 520 W peak power, 90 Nm, and 3.2x max amplification.

Better yet what my brother did. He was riding Giant Trance E+ with 500 Wh battery. He was aware of the short battery range, so first of all he asked me to tune in the lowest possible assistance for any PAS level except of the POWER one. We made a 4900 ft elevation gain on 50+ mi ride. Jacek rode unpowered except significant climbs (where he used 0.50x leg power amplification), and his assistance was 1.25x on the 12% grade ascent. He covered 91% of the trip having 72% battery left.

Then, he went into the POWER mode. He was climbing 6% grade ascents at 19 mph and was overtaking cars on the flats, riding at 34 mph (while the cars moved at 30 mph) Jacek is my bike hero!

 

[Kiwimac]

As strange as it seems, it fits the description of my EU 2017 Vado 5.0 (45 km/h). Which, by the way, I perceive as one of the best specified Vados ever. The horn and the stop lights are an indication of a Euro S-Pedelec, and Electrak tyres combined with rigid fork were the 2017 feature.
Since such a Vado was sold to me as new in 2019 (and the battery was never activated before the purchase), I'd say you @Kiwimac can consider yourself very lucky. Only the electronics shall be overhauled to TCD-W.

Well hopefully next week they will manage to work out with Specialized what they need to do.

It is certainly a nicely specced bike and wonderful to ride. I plan on riding it for 3 years, by which time it will be 5 years old. The tech will probably have evolved enough by then to make a replacement noticeably better. I may get a set of wheels built for it and then put the factory wheels in the garage until I sell it because I do not think the rims that are on there now are tubeless ready and many of the tyres seem to be going tubeless here in NZ now.

 

[Sierratim]

Well hopefully next week they will manage to work out with Specialized what they need to do.

It is certainly a nicely specced bike and wonderful to ride. I plan on riding it for 3 years, by which time it will be 5 years old. The tech will probably have evolved enough by then to make a replacement noticeably better. I may get a set of wheels built for it and then put the factory wheels in the garage until I sell it because I do not think the rims that are on there now are tubeless ready and many of the tyres seem to be going tubeless here in NZ now.

Correct, the Vados are not equipped with tubeless ready rims.

One of my sons is an engineer for a bicycle component manufacturer that among other things designs and markets rims and wheels. He tells me that industry standatds require tubeless ready rims to be so labelled by the manufacturers.

 

[Charlotte]

Was that the Paint Creek Trail? I live in the Columbus area and rode part of it out of Washington Courthouse about 10 days ago. It was only a 20 mile ride because of trail closeures. Overall, we are blessed with hundreds of miles of paved trails here in Ohio. My wife and I have put close to 1000 miles on our Como's this summer and love them.

Hi there, So impressive all the riding you have done on your Comos! So I've been about to buy an ebike. I love the way the Como test drives. But it's always on concrete/asphalt. So how is the Como on gravel or dirt, like on a bike trail? My husband thinks the Vado is what I should buy...but I really like the position and the way the Como feels...Is the lack of suspension an issue? Thanks for u help!

 

[Art Deco]

Hi there, So impressive all the riding you have done on your Comos! So I've been about to buy an ebike. I love the way the Como test drives. But it's always on concrete/asphalt. So how is the Como on gravel or dirt, like on a bike trail? My husband thinks the Vado is what I should buy...but I really like the position and the way the Como feels...Is the lack of suspension an issue? Thanks for u help!

Can of worms opened ...Welcome to another
discussion at the Vado/Como thread.

 

[Sierratim]

Can of worms opened ...Welcome to another
discussion at the Vado/Como thread.

I put my $0.02 worth in HERE .

Ride On!

 

[Art Deco]

@Sierratim rides hard and climbs mountains on a top of the line Vado.I tool around town in an entry level Como. And many members fall in between and still find a Como or a Vado that fits them

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Hi there, So impressive all the riding you have done on your Comos! So I've been about to buy an ebike. I love the way the Como test drives. But it's always on concrete/asphalt. So how is the Como on gravel or dirt, like on a bike trail? My husband thinks the Vado is what I should buy...but I really like the position and the way the Como feels...Is the lack of suspension an issue? Thanks for u help!

We've had customers get Vado's and ride them only on road and Como's and use them on lots of trail (mild trail). The Como can run low tire pressure which really smooths things out, especially with a suspended stem and seatpost.

That said I run Como bars on my Vado because I prefer them. It's totally possible to make a Vado fit like a Como with a few mods. Worst case is you have to run longer brake hoses and shift cable/housing. The wiring for the computer is plenty long.

 

[Art Deco]

We've had customers get Vado's and ride them only on road and Como's and use them on lots of trail (mild trail). The Como can run low tire pressure which really smooths things out, especially with a suspended stem and seatpost.

That said I run Como bars on my Vado because I prefer them. It's totally possible to make a Vado fit like a Como with a few mods. Worst case is you have to run longer brake hoses and shift cable/housing. The wiring for the computer is plenty long.

More here https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/como-vs-vado-help.33169/
Even more https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/reason-s-for-the-harsh-vado-ride.34590/

 

[45srbest]

Easy question for the knowledgeable folks on this forum. Which bike would be better at climbing fairly steep hills on pavement?
Vado 5.0
11-42 11 speed
48 chainring
10 more nm torque
Or
Vado 4.0 11-42 10 speed
40 chainring
10 less nm of torque

It seems like it’s a question of gearing vs torque. I’m a 69 year old guy and will bow to your expertise in this area!
Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Sierratim]

Easy question for the knowledgeable folks on this forum. Which bike would be better at climbing fairly steep hills on pavement?
Vado 5.0
11-42 11 speed
48 chainring
10 more nm torque
Or
Vado 4.0 11-42 10 speed
40 chainring
10 less nm of torque

It seems like it’s a question of gearing vs torque. I’m a 69 year old guy and will bow to your expertise in this area!
Thank you in advance for your help!

The Vado 4 granny gear ratio is 42/40 = 1.05. Assuming 80Nm peak motor torque this equates to 1.05 x 80 = 84Nm at the hub. For the Vado 5 the granny gear ratio is 42/48 = 0.875 yielding 0.875 x 90Nm = 79Nm at the hub. From this perspective, the Vado 4 has an edge on climbing. You also need to look at peak motor power as torque, power and motor rpm are all ineterelated. Here the Vado 5 has an edge of ~5%. Hard to say if one ends up being a better climber than the other with all things considered.

With that said I can tell you that I have yet to find a hill my Vado 5 can't climb. I live in a very hilly little town and typically get 2,000' of climbing on every ride. My SAT ride had over 3,800'. I'm in my 70's so a young fella like yourself may get different results...

Vado 5 ride last Saturday.

Ride On!

 

[45srbest]

Great breakdown! Thank you. I think I was off, according to what I was looking at the Vado actually has 15nm more torque than the Vado 4.0. But even if it has it would seem the climbing ability is essentially the same between them.
So if this is true it would seem that what the 5.0 gets you over the 4.0 is the larger battery and an upgraded shifter, derailleur and brakes.
Tomorrow I have to make my decision!

 

[Art Deco]

Great breakdown! Thank you. I think I was off, according to what I was looking at the Vado actually has 15nm more torque than the Vado 4.0. But even if it has it would seem the climbing ability is essentially the same between them.
So if this is true it would seem that what the 5.0 gets you over the 4.0 is the larger battery and an upgraded shifter, derailleur and brakes.
Tomorrow I have to make my decision!

You have to mention the color

 

[Sierratim]

Great breakdown! Thank you. I think I was off, according to what I was looking at the Vado actually has 15nm more torque than the Vado 4.0. But even if it has it would seem the climbing ability is essentially the same between them.
So if this is true it would seem that what the 5.0 gets you over the 4.0 is the larger battery and an upgraded shifter, derailleur and brakes.
Tomorrow I have to make my decision!

The Vado 4 motor torque is quoted in different sources ranging from 72-80Nm. Feel free to adjust my calcs for a comparison with the Vado 5, but the wheel torques will still be close.

With similar wheel torques, what are the differences? They are both Class 3 bikes, though Vado 4 owners have posted that getting to the 28mph assist limit is difficult with the smaller chainring. Some have changed to a larger chainring with better top-end speed, but now less hill climbing ability.

There is a 20% difference in battery capacity which can be important, depending on your planned use. I often get home with 10% or less capacity remaining. The Vado 4 is a 10-spd drivetrain, the 5 is 11-spd with upgraded components. The 4 has Shimano BR MT200 hydraulic brakes, the 5 Shimano Deore XT MT8000.

Do the differences justify the $ difference? They did to us, I bought 2. Neither one of us has said, gee, I wish I had a smaller battery...YRMV

BTW - It has been 'well established' that the Vado 4 Rocket Red color is the fasterest color available, so plan accordingly.

 

[45srbest]

I did realize that the Rocket Red would be faster. I was going to take my new Vado and have it painted Mopar “Plum Crazy”. But then thought about all the weight the paint would add!

 

[Papa G]

The Vado 4 motor torque is quoted in different sources ranging from 72-80Nm. Feel free to adjust my calcs for a comparison with the Vado 5, but the wheel torques will still be close.

With similar wheel torques, what are the differences? They are both Class 3 bikes, though Vado 4 owners have posted that getting to the 28mph assist limit is difficult with the smaller chainring. Some have changed to a larger chainring with better top-end speed, but now less hill climbing ability.

There is a 20% difference in battery capacity which can be important, depending on your planned use. I often get home with 10% or less capacity remaining. The Vado 4 is a 10-spd drivetrain, the 5 is 11-spd with upgraded components. The 4 has Shimano BR MT200 hydraulic brakes, the 5 Shimano Deore XT MT8000.

Do the differences justify the $ difference? They did to us, I bought 2. Neither one of us has said, gee, I wish I had a smaller battery...YRMV

BTW - It has been 'well established' that the Vado 4 Rocket Red color is the fasterest color available, so plan accordingly.

The price difference is now +$850 for the 5.0 ($4,350 vs $3,500). When I bought a 4.0 it was on sale for ~$2,500 and at that time the 5.0 was $5,150, more than 2x the price of the 4.0. We then also got a 5.0 step thru for my wife when the price dropped to $4,350. Owning both, I can definitely say I would spend an extra $850 to get the better spec’d 5.0. My wife is lighter but gets about 30% more range out of the 604w battery on the 5.0 than the 500w battery on my 4.0. This has caused me to consider buying a 604w battery for my 4.0. The 604w battery, if you can find one, used to cost about $1,000 and now shows $1,300 on specialized website. That alone justifies paying an extra $850 for the 5.0.

 

[Art Deco]

Somewhat off topic... even for this thread...but an article from Bicycling Magazine.... it's just a puff article for boomers wondering about ebikes ...But it's in Bicycling Magazine.

An E-Bike Helps This Cyclist Stay Active and Sane During Coronavirus

“I’m really sold on biking, and I want others to get inspired to ride, too.”

www.bicycling.com

 

[Sierratim]

Somewhat off topic... even for this thread...but an article from Bicycling Magazine.... it's just a puff article for boomers wondering about ebikes ...But it's in Bicycling Magazine.

An E-Bike Helps This Cyclist Stay Active and Sane During Coronavirus

“I’m really sold on biking, and I want others to get inspired to ride, too.”

www.bicycling.com

Fun article, but where are the hills in Florida? The bridges to Key West were the closest thing to hills I've ridden in the Sunshine State...

 

[Art Deco]

Fun article, but where are the hills in Florida? The bridges to Key West were the closest thing to hills I've ridden in the Sunshine State...

Yep. When I think of Florida I think everglades flat , horse country flat, etc. I guess the coastal hills would count as rolling hills, but I doubt you would notice them @Sierratim .. none over a half mile high.