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

[Chargeride]

Im pretty sure it all started here, all comments to the contrary will be deleted.

Who Were The Aero Girls? - The History of Aero - Digital York Showcase (Library & Archives, University of York)

The History of Aero - the Milk Chocolate that's 'DIFFERENT'

digital.york.ac.uk

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Im pretty sure it all started here, all comments to the contrary will be deleted.

Who Were The Aero Girls? - The History of Aero - Digital York Showcase (Library & Archives, University of York)

The History of Aero - the Milk Chocolate that's 'DIFFERENT'

digital.york.ac.uk

In light of the above, the ‘aero bar’ found on road bikes must have a different meaning than I thought!

 

[e-levity]

I posted this on EMTB yesterday but thought folks here also might find it of interest:

“Hi, I’m levity, and I’m a bike-aholic. I have no intentions of recovering.”

Over the years I’ve owned several e-bikes (Levo, Levo SL, Vado, Vado SL, Creo SL, Fuel EX-e) and countless Amish pedal bikes. I was considering getting a Levo again but this time setting it up as a "road" bike with off-road capability by lowering and firming up the suspension and installing more street/gravel oriented tires. Looking around I stumbled on a bike we don't see much of locally: a used Tero X 6.0 for sale at half of the new price.* The shorter 130/120mm travel, longer reach and chainstays, and lower bottom bracket compared to a Levo clicked all the right boxes. With the same 90Nm motor and 710Wh battery would the Tero X6 be better than a modified Levo as a "hybrid bike"? I decided to find out.

* The original owner of the Tero X6 intended to use it for both commuting and mountain biking. After 700 miles and several crashes on the dirt he realized this monster SUV wasn't the best choice for trail riding, decided against bike commuting, and bought a new Kenevo SL!

The stock X6 comes pretty well set up with a quality fork, shock, Code RSC brakes, and XO components. In an effort to make it more trail worthy the original owner had put on Butcher and Eliminator tires, a shorter low-rise stem, a smaller chainring, and some nice Race Face 200mm disc rotors and pedals. Other than the tires these were all good for my intended use as well. I replaced the rubber with a 29x2.35 Fast Trak in front and a 27.5x2.35 Rekon Race in back. I removed the 3 tokens in the fork for easier travel. Being a fair weather rider here in Southern California I removed the fenders and rack to save some weight, bulk, and fugliness. I still need to shorten some cables as a result of the lower stack height. Finally, I added some goofy decals for color and personality.

I have about 250 miles of street and easy dirt riding on T-ReX and am a happy camper so far. On pavement the bike handles great, and moving it around doesn't feel at all heavy or cumbersome as I feared it might. It feels planted and loves to carve turns. Small bumps disappear under it giving a very smooth ride. As odd as the suspension linkage appears, it works - I suppose Specialized knows a thing or two about suspension - and even larger hits are absorbed pretty well. On pavement it's more fun than my previous Vado, and of course it's much more capable off-road. The weight and long wheelbase smooth out a lot of bumps and chatter off-road much like a heavy Levo does. I really like the power, tuning and responsiveness of the 2.2 motor. It's about twice as strong as the Mahle motor in my Levo SL2, and the big battery gives it more range than the SL + extender (480Wh) even when riding faster. The large handlebar display is also nice compared to the small Levo Mastermind TCU. Gotta love the 190mm dropper seatpost - 40 mph in a tuck downhill and flat-footed when stopped. And yes, the kickstand is too handy to take off.

So far so good. I intend to push it a bit more off-road to find its/my limits, but my Levo SL2 will remain for trail riding. We'll see how long the honeymoon lasts.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Congratulations Mr. @e-levity! What a smart choice!
Of newer Specialized e-bikes, Tero X 6.0 non-EQ, Tero 5.0 non-EQ and Vado SL 2 6.0 Carbon non-EQ are the most convincing if I ever needed a new e-bike!

 

[Marcela]

One thing I avoid now is anything with an air shock, unless I am convinced of the durability and lack of required attention, and availability of replacement parts.

 

[Marcela]

I think I'm tired of the fat tires. I ride my old style steel framed 10 spd with the skinny tires and it is so much easier to pedal. The SL tires need to be converted to the Como and Vado platform.

And the Haul ST looks to be on sale.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

One thing I avoid now is anything with an air shock, unless I am convinced of the durability and lack of required attention, and availability of replacement parts.

I cannot agree with you. The Giant Trance E+ I used to own has now 25 thousand kilometres sharp on the odometer and neither of air shocks (fork or damper) needed a service in five years (except occasional reinflation). The front fork needs servicing only now. Spare parts for good brand shocks are easily available, and there are many LBS to do the work.

It is different for singletrack riders who ride gnarly trails and jump a lot.

 

[ronaan]

Took the bikes to service today and had a chance to give the Tero X 5.0 a try on the parking lot. They had size L available, which according to the online calculators should fit me perfectly at 183cm, but it felt too small.

The XL was a) sold and b) green so

I know there are a few Tero X owners here. What‘s your size and bike size guys?

 

[e-levity]

@ronaan - I’m 181cm tall and find the Large X 6.0 perfect with a 50mm stem (instead of the stock 75mm stem). The XL has a 1.9cm longer reach that may suit you at 183cm better. Be aware that the headtube length on the XL is also 1.5cm taller than the Large and may put the stock bars too high.

Re availability: With the recent price drop (at least in the US) you might consider the 6 as it‘s only $500 more than the 5 and has some better components (especially the fork!).

BTW, in the US both the 5 and 6 are available in a nice dark blue color, “Deep Lake”, that I would have preferred If buying new.

 

[ronaan]

@ronaan - I’m 181cm tall and find the Large X 6.0 perfect with a 50mm stem (instead of the stock 75mm stem). The XL has a 1.9cm longer reach that may suit you at 183cm better. Be aware that the headtube length on the XL is also 1.5cm taller than the Large and may put the stock bars too high.

Re availability: With the recent price drop (at least in the US) you might consider the 6 as it‘s only $500 more than the 5 and has some better components (especially the fork!).

BTW, in the US both the 5 and 6 are available in a nice dark blue color, “Deep Lake”, that I would have preferred If buying new.

Thanks for the insight. I would love a 6.0 but they are quite rare currently and full price everywhere (6.200€ vs the 5.0 which you can get for 4k€). At a 500€ difference I wouldn‘t even blink and take the 6.0

Guy that gave me the test ride knew little about the bike so I might ask to have the seat post adjusted and try again when I pick up the bikes tomorrow. (He didnt‘t have tools on him like all the others usually do, and I never saw him there before, must be new)

 

[ronaan]

Got my test ride with the seatpost adjusted and another on the XL. Found out XL is my size not only for the Vado SL but also for the Tero X.

Still debating between Tero X and Vado SL 2 (both 5.0), I have a range extender from my Vado SL that would go unused

Time for another test ride some day.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If you take a Vado SL 2 Alloy then it would be good for gravel and easy forest trails. You will discover the mudgards are not the best for off-road. If you really need to explore some more difficult trails, it is a Tero or Tero X Having said the above: I'm going for a gravel group ride in a little difficult terrain; my Vado SL 1 de-equipped

 

[ronaan]

If you take a Vado SL 2 Alloy then it would be good for gravel and easy forest trails. You will discover the mudgards are not the best for off-road. If you really need to explore some more difficult trails, it is a Tero or Tero X Having said the above: I'm going for a gravel group ride in a little difficult terrain; my Vado SL 1 de-equipped

I don‘t really do „trails“ per se. The commute has some rough parts which I wouldn‘t even count as gravel though. Plus potholes etc.

The Tero X really felt nice.

Plus I haven‘t seen numbers on the Vado SL 2 weight limits, I‘m probably out anyway.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Plus I haven‘t seen numbers on the Vado SL 2 weight limits, I‘m probably out anyway.

I weigh 104 kg and ride my Vado SL 1 Alloy. So?
Vado SL 2 Carbon didn't collapse under me, either
Vado SL 2 Alloy has 28 spokes per wheel, it is enough.

 

[ronaan]

I weigh 104 kg and ride my Vado SL 1 Alloy. So?
Vado SL 2 Carbon didn't collapse under me, either
Vado SL 2 Alloy has 28 spokes per wheel, it is enough.

thanks but I am a bit heavier, that‘s why I even have second thoughts. I just barely fit into the SL1 weight limit (but that has a carbon fork).

Probably best to play it safe and get the Tero X.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@ronaan: the structural weight limit of Vado SL 2 Carbon is 125 kg.
I'm sure the Alloy version is 136 kg, same as Vado SL 1.
Any Specialized e-bike except the Turbo Porto (higher weight limit) and carbon e-bikes (lower weight limit) is designed for 136 kg (300 lbs). That includes Tero and Tero X, which are heavy e-bikes (take this into consideration!)
Hope that helps.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

If you take a Vado SL 2 Alloy then it would be good for gravel and easy forest trails. You will discover the mudgards are not the best for off-road. If you really need to explore some more difficult trails, it is a Tero or Tero X Having said the above: I'm going for a gravel group ride in a little difficult terrain; my Vado SL 1 de-equipped

You say this a lot about mudguards and yet the reality for me is different. Modern mudguards work fine off-road. I see more and more EMTB riders in muddy UK conditions with mudguards. Some just front but a lot now front and rear. After all, every single off-road motorbike has mudguards whether moto x, Enduro or even Trials. In wet countries it makes sense. Most now are the easy put on/whip off so in summer you can go without easily. I've never had a life threatening stick caught in the mudguard incident, occasionally the seat stay or chain stay area might get clogged with mulch and mud but a sharp stick clears it out. Thankfully we don't get the peanut butter mud they do in desert tracks when it rains that clog everything with or without guards. But to each their own!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Funny thing gravel bikes have no mudguards unless the user installs Speedrockers. You do not want to add weight to your 9 kg bike unless necessary.

However, i meant something different. The long mudflaps in Specialized mudguards are simply dangerous on the trail. One should detach them immediately before going off-road.

Have you ever considered why MTBs never had mudguards?

 

[Base]

Have you ever considered why MTBs never had mudguards?

All my (E)mtb's have fenders.... Really usefull on the trails with the fine Dutch weather and handy to keep the muck out your face and the one behind you. Mostly flowy XC traisl here.... Would not exactly call it "MountainBiking" althoug the've transformed a few landfills into big hills to ride on.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Funny thing gravel bikes have no mudguards unless the user installs Speedrockers. You do not want to add weight to your 9 kg bike unless necessary.

However, i meant something different. The long mudflaps in Specialized mudguards are simply dangerous on the trail. One should detach them immediately before going off-road.

Have you ever considered why MTBs never had mudguards?

I get you about the mudflaps, agreed and yes mtb mudguards are different to full road ones which tend to be tight fitting. But when you say gravel bikes, you are talking about racing gravel. Roadies and gravel racers in UK will often use mudguards over winter for training. Traditionally everyone has a 'winter training bike' for that purpose with full mudguards or with gravel the Speedrockers style. It's just practical, race bikes don't have any because - as you say - weight. But this is not really a forum about racing, nobody is racing on here, it's about e bikes for general use. If you need mudguards, fit them. Lucky enough to live somewhere dry? Don't bother - fit an extra bottle cage instead and buy some sunglasses.

Tried out a 2 inch front tyre on my new bike today to see how it rides (Down from 2.35 inch). I just notice in this pic the extra front mudguard clearance.