Specialized turbo vado SL 4.0 chainring information.

[mfgrep]

I'm so glad to hear it!

I rode approximately 40 miles this weekend and did not have any chain drops. Could be placebo effect, however, I feel more confident under load and during shifts while under motor power with this Garbaruk chain ring. I did pass through the route where I CONSISTENTLY (but not always) drop the chain and had no issues.
Again...looking at the chain fitment on the Garbaruk ring....the teeth extend beyond the chain seemingly making it FAR more difficult to lose the chain. Additionally....the chain seems more tightly attached to the ring teeth when compared to the OEM Praxis.

So far so good.

I did realize: Should the Garbaruk drop the chain and should that chain lodge between the motor and the inside of the chain ring as has been occurring with the Praxis....it would require a slightly more difficult surgery to re-attach the chain. The OEM Praxis required only a 5mm allen key to remove the chainring enabling the chain to be reattached. The Praxis uses the chain ring guard and bolts (without nuts) which attach to the Praxis chainring which features threaded holes. The Garbaruk holes are not threaded....so the 5mm bolt attaches to a 7mm nut (more standard chain ring hardware). In other words....should I have the same problem with the Garbaruk....it would be a major P in the A to reattach while out on a ride.

 

[pete H]

Great news! I dont think that chain will drop that's what the wide tooth does it locks the chain down. I'm 750 miles on new chainring without a hint of a drop

 

[Stefan Mikes]

With the current 44 tooth Praxis chainring, and a 12 speed 10-45 cassette, I feel like I spend most of my time around on the smallest cassette gear at 20mph at a cadence around 60. So far, I've worn out a chain and cassette every 600-800 miles, which seems like a lot, but I'm apparently not alone among Specialized 11 and 12-speed e-bikes. The wear is worst on the smallest gear on the cassette.

My question is, can I or should I upgrade the current 44t chainring to 48 or 50, and has anyone else tried it on the same or similar bike? I get that I'll need a longer chain, but I hope to spend more time off the smallest cassette gear, extending its life and letting me go faster at my preferred cadence.

A Vado SL? I cannot unfortunately answer your question right now (my SL is in the storage before a replacement crank is delivered) but I think you can go up to 48T (not more).
I could get a trusted answer within a week, OK?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I rode approximately 40 miles this weekend and did not have any chain drops. Could be placebo effect, however, I feel more confident under load and during shifts while under motor power with this Garbaruk chain ring. I did pass through the route where I CONSISTENTLY (but not always) drop the chain and had no issues.
Again...looking at the chain fitment on the Garbaruk ring....the teeth extend beyond the chain seemingly making it FAR more difficult to lose the chain. Additionally....the chain seems more tightly attached to the ring teeth when compared to the OEM Praxis.

So far so good.

I did realize: Should the Garbaruk drop the chain and should that chain lodge between the motor and the inside of the chain ring as has been occurring with the Praxis....it would require a slightly more difficult surgery to re-attach the chain. The OEM Praxis required only a 5mm allen key to remove the chainring enabling the chain to be reattached. The Praxis uses the chain ring guard and bolts (without nuts) which attach to the Praxis chainring which features threaded holes. The Garbaruk holes are not threaded....so the 5mm bolt attaches to a 7mm nut (more standard chain ring hardware). In other words....should I have the same problem with the Garbaruk....it would be a major P in the A to reattach while out on a ride.

Jason, I replaced a 32T Deckas chainring with a spare 42T Garbaruk one (and used a new longer chain) this week. I usually do the work with the e-bike inverted for better access. Now, I tried to place the KMC e11 chain on the chainring teeth the wrong way. Guess what. The chain just didn't want to be installed in the wrong orientation! The tooth pattern there is the chain links will snap onto the teeth only in the proper orientation! Therefore, I needed no diagram or whatever

FYI, my drivetrain is Shimano 5100 now, 11 speed, 11-51T cassette.

Besides (if anyone asked), a 48T chainring would fit a Vado SL frame just barely (and that might even depend on the frame size) so I do not recommend anything bigger than a 44T.