Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)

[BEC111]

After nearly 5 years my battery is starting to lose its fizz. I'm in Sport mode about 95% of the time. I used to get around 6 miles per bar and now I'm down to about 4. Trying to decide whether to replace it for $1000+ or get the extender for about half that and hope that it holds on for a while longer.My rides are usually 25-35 miles. When I've gone 40 I come home in the red.

I’m glad I traded in my SL1 for an SL2 before the battery health had really declined. It was at 90%. After trade in my SL2 cost $2600 so using wishful thinking math I can make believe the new bike actually cost $1600.

 

[Cycologist]

The most I've gotten out of my range extender on my SL1 is 36 miles. This was running on Eco mode at 40/40 most of the time.
I have the bike set to discharge the RE first.

It's very temperature dependent and it's crazy how much of a difference it makes. On a really cold day, I've only gotten about 20 miles out of it.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Expensive week for me.

I have ordered the XG-1275 cassette as my LBS did all the checks and confirmed the hub can take an xD hub so I will get this fitted in 2 weeks time.

I made the mistake of asking them if they could check and adjust the AXS in the mean time and they took off the cassette and I got it back just before they closed yesterday. What on earth have they done? horrible rattles over the first bump I encountered and the cassette is noticeably loose - need to take it back this morning

I took my sons old rusty bike in for a new chain the day before and it was uneconomical to fix as it needed a new cassette, chain ring, chain and pads and rotors and the bike is only worth 20 quid so I just asked them to scrap it - it was too small for him now anyway and I was uncomfortable with him riding it for safety reasons.

Looked online for an immediate second hand replacement maximum 200 pounds. But I was drawn to an immaculate looking Sirrus X 3.0 that was 4 years old just 2 mile away. I was not paying the asking price but offered 400 dependant on inspection as my thinking was that as it was similar to my Vado SL - same size, geometry etc it could be a backup ride for me as well. It was sold by a lovely elderly couple who had clearly bought the bike after Covid with the intention of getting out but sadly I think health had got in the way. It was stored covered and dry and had clearly never, ever been used - showroom condition.

And what a lovely thing it is! rides like a conventional 11kg version of the Vado SL but beautifully tight and smooth and a really lovely gear change with the Deore 10x setup that I am not sure my Eagle AXS could match at its best. Pathfinder Sport 42s as well. I was not intending to pay so much for a run around but I am glad I did on this occasion!

 

[Allan47.7339]

Since you are going for the XG-1275 cassette, I would also upgrade to the X01 Eagle Chain chain with hard coating. You don't really need the flat top version but SRAM is making the less expensive non-flat top harder to find. You don't want cheaper NX chain or poor chain maintenance eating up an expensive cassette.

 

[2wheelsgood]

XG-1275 fitted today and looks pretty cool to my eyes. Unfortunately they could not source a X01 chain so I had to settle for a GX Eagle chain. Shifting is noticeably better but that might be because it had a mini tune up. Looking forward to tomorrow morning when I can properly go through the new range.

 

[Allan47.7339]

Start shopping for your next chain now. The XG-1275 is my preferred cassette and I have it on both of my Creo's. Poor chain maintenance will eat up an expensive cassette in no time. I recommend the SRAM CN-EAGL-X01-A1. I personally wax my chains every two or three weeks depending on miles. Whichever lubrication system you use, keep up on it and don't just ride and forget about it. You will wonder why three months later your shifting is awful and the cassette needs replacing along with the chain.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Start shopping for your next chain now. The XG-1275 is my preferred cassette and I have it on both of my Creo's. Poor chain maintenance will eat up an expensive cassette in no time. I recommend the SRAM CN-EAGL-X01-A1. I personally wax my chains every two or three weeks depending on miles. Whichever lubrication system you use, keep up on it and don't just ride and forget about it. You will wonder why three months later your shifting is awful and the cassette needs replacing along with the chain.xxg-1275 xg

Yeah I am bit annoyed at the bike shop, I asked for an X01 chain and only noticed on the day of fitting that on top of the XG-1275 cassette box ready to fit was a packaged plain old GX chain . I questioned it and the guy spent 5 mins looking on the computer. He said the X01 is not available anymore and SRAM has the XX1 as a replacement at £90 pounds but that would take 2 days to get in.

I have done more research since and clearly that advice was incorrect. In the future I will do this minor maintenance stuff myself.