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

[MartsEbike]

Guys, I can only assume the production of the Vado SL 1 ended in 2022. My bike was advertised as a 2024 model when I bought it but it's not. As noted on a frame sticker it's actually 2022. Which ties in with what @Jeremy McCreary and @DaDitka have said.

Not a big issue, the bike works fine and the battery should be good, but I thought I was buying a newer bike than I realised. As others have mentioned the warranty starts from the date of sale rather than production so if any problems arise we're still covered.

 

[DaDitka]

Yes, it is torture! But, it is even colder today, so a ride probably wouldn't be all that great anyway right now.

I think Mart is right that all of the bikes being sold now were probably made in 2022. I think it's relatively normal for a "model year" to start production the year before. With cars, they start selling the model year the fall before, so it has to be that way there.

I'm guessing the mega sale on the SLs are too move the remaining stock to make space for the SL 2 4.0, 5.0, etc. that are presumably coming in the new year. Also seems like they might want to clear the warehouses of bikes with older build dates for the reason Mart was a little worried about an "older" bike.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yes, it is torture! But, it is even colder today, so a ride probably wouldn't be all that great anyway right now.

I'm sure your relatives wouldn't mind pulling their cars out of the garage to let you ride your new SL round and round in it.
;^}

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Thought you guys might like to know: On a recent group ride with many fancy road bikes, I found myself out-rolling many of them when we were all coasting downhill — even at rough parity in gross (rider+bike+cargo) weight, and despite my more upright posture (with my flat bars to their drops).

This was on 38 mm tubeless Pathfinder Pros at 37 psi with the SL weighing in at 38 lb.

As you know, gross weight is the only weight that counts WRT to both tire resistance and the component of gravitational force pushing you down a hill. So no more or less push than I got for a 20-pound heavier rider on a 20-pound lighter bike.

Leaving, in theory, only differences in coefficient of (tire) rolling resistance and bearing resistance to blame. But maybe I'm missing something. Thoughts?

 

[MartsEbike]

Thought you guys might like to know: On a recent group ride with many fancy road bikes, I found myself out-rolling many of them when were all coasting downhill — even at rough parity in gross (rider+bike+cargo) weight, and despite my more upright posture with my flat bars to their drops.

This was on 38 mm tubeless Pathfinder Pros at 37 psi with the SL weighing in at 38 lb.

As you know, gross weight is the only weight that counts WRT to both tire resistance and the component of gravitational force pushing you down a hill. So no more or less push than I got for a 20-pound heavier rider on a 20-pound lighter bike.

Leaving in theory only differences in coefficient of (tire) rolling resistance and bearing resistance to blame. But maybe I'm missing something. Thoughts?

Interesting, but I'm not sure what the answer is to that one, it seems to defy convention! I can only assume the hand of god has helped you... like it helped Diego Maradona during the 1986 football match against England.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Interesting, but I'm not sure what the answer is to that one, it seems to defy convention! I can only assume the hand of god has helped you... like it helped Diego Maradona during the 1986 football match against England.

Yes, makes no sense to me, either.

Which makes me think that Specialized has a huge fleet of low-orbit satellites with tractor beams to make their bikes seem to outperform their specs.

No other way to account for how easy the SL is to pedal with the motor ostensibly off. And it would explain their prices.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thought you guys might like to know: On a recent group ride with many fancy road bikes, I found myself out-rolling many of them when we were all coasting downhill — even at rough parity in gross (rider+bike+cargo) weight, and despite my more upright posture (with my flat bars to their drops).

This was on 38 mm tubeless Pathfinder Pros at 37 psi with the SL weighing in at 38 lb.

As you know, gross weight is the only weight that counts WRT to both tire resistance and the component of gravitational force pushing you down a hill. So no more or less push than I got for a 20-pound heavier rider on a 20-pound lighter bike.

Leaving, in theory, only differences in coefficient of (tire) rolling resistance and bearing resistance to blame. But maybe I'm missing something. Thoughts?

I have no explanation but your post has given me an opportunity to tell a story.

It is clear that the heaviest rider in the peloton climbs the slowest but the person is the fastest on the descents. There was a road cycling group with a BIG guy. Nobody wanted to ride behind him on the climbs! On the other hand, everybody was scared when the man was starting to accelerate on the descents, from the last position!

If I ride in a group, I make up my weight with the motor. On the descents, I am often the fastest even if I do not pedal at all!

 

[Ebikelife72]

I ordered the SL 5EQ, the current price was just too good. I prefer the looks of the SL1 over the SL2, but do really like the 2 and would buy one but the carbon version is too expensive and I believe the alloy version will likely be too heavy. I went with the 5 because I prefer the group set over the 4, the MCU on the the top tube is nicer, and I really like the Future Shock. I have the current Sirrus X5 and find the FS very effective. I was initially wanting the yellow finish. It looks cool in pics but I was a little put off that it was satin instead of gloss. I like satin but find that it doesn’t work for every color. I drove quite a ways to see the color in person and it wasn’t to my liking. However, the brushed aluminum looked much better in person than the pics so I went with that. There are other colors I would’ve preferred but of course they’re not offered. I can totally see why people like yellow, I wish I did, but I’m happy with my choice. I rode the SL 5 and found it to be a fantastic bike, as all of you already know.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I ordered the SL 5EQ, the current price was just too good. I prefer the looks of the SL1 over the SL2, but do really like the 2 and would buy one but the carbon version is too expensive and I believe the alloy version will likely be too heavy. I went with the 5 because I prefer the group set over the 4, the MCU on the the top tube is nicer, and I really like the Future Shock. I have the current Sirrus X5 and find the FS very effective. I was initially wanting the yellow finish. It looks cool in pics but I was a little put off that it was satin instead of gloss. I like satin but find that it doesn’t work for every color. I drove quite a ways to see the color in person and it wasn’t to my liking. However, the brushed aluminum looked much better in person than the pics so I went with that. There are other colors I would’ve preferred but of course they’re not offered. I can totally see why people like yellow, I wish I did, but I’m happy with my choice. I rode the SL 5 and found it to be a fantastic bike, as all of you already know.

Congrats! Color's a very personal thing. If you find a bike you love to ride in a finish you enjoy — well, it doesn't get much better than that!

We expect photos and a full report when you two get acquainted.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Ebikelife72: Congratulations! I am so happy to hear many people take the opportunity to get the excellent Vado SL (and especially the 5.0 EQ) because of Specializing "venting its warehouses"!

That would be my preferred colour but I have never had a chance to be offered that specific 2020 variant!

We talked with @MartsEbike about mudguards for Vado SL unequipped. (I say "mudguards" not "fenders" as we are talking the UK, haha)

For me, there is nothing better than SKS Speedrockers but there are two important points:

• The rear mudguard will only fit the 38 mm tyre on Vado SL. With a 42 mm tyre there is no clearance to install the mudguard! (The front fits OK).
• When used in wet weather, Speedrockers require re-tightening the straps quite often.

Since I went tubeless and 42 mm on my Vado SL, I had to resign from using the rear Speedrocker. Instead, I installed an SKS S-Guard, which is the SKS "Ass Saver". You just install the sheet of plastic underneath your saddle on the saddle rails (it is more secure if you complete the setup with a big zip-tie I don't have).

Now, the best. I was on a muddy gravel ride yesterday. All group ride participants riding unequipped XC bikes came back with the "skunk" on their backs. I had the S-Guard and could only find a single speck on the back my jacket, an no dirt on my bibs A good and inexpensive thing!

 

[MartsEbike]

@Ebikelife72: Congratulations! I am so happy to hear many people take the opportunity to get the excellent Vado SL (and especially the 5.0 EQ) because of Specializing "venting its warehouses"!

View attachment 186938
That would be my preferred colour but I have never had a chance to be offered that specific 2020 variant!

We talked with @MartsEbike about mudguards for Vado SL unequipped. (I say "mudguards" not "fenders" as we are talking the UK, haha)

For me, there is nothing better than SKS Speedrockers but there are two important points:

• The rear mudguard will only fit the 38 mm tyre on Vado SL. With a 42 mm tyre there is no clearance to install the mudguard! (The front fits OK).
• When used in wet weather, Speedrockers require re-tightening the straps quite often.

Since I went tubeless and 42 mm on my Vado SL, I had to resign from using the rear Speedrocker. Instead, I installed an SKS S-Guard, which is the SKS "Ass Saver". You just install the sheet of plastic underneath your saddle on the saddle rails (it is more secure if you complete the setup with a big zip-tie I don't have).

View attachment 186939

Now, the best. I was on a muddy gravel ride yesterday. All group ride participants riding unequipped XC bikes came back with the "skunk" on their backs. I had the S-Guard and could only find a single speck on the back my jacket, an no dirt on my bibs A good and inexpensive thing!

SKS is German and they correctly call them mudguards! Fenders belong on boats! On British cars "Fenders" are called Wings, and the rear "Wing" is called a Spoiler - don't ask me about that, I don't make the rules...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Fenders belong on boats!

Fenders belong on guitars, especially the basses

 

[MartsEbike]

Fenders belong on guitars, especially the basses

That's true!... Some people say English is easy to learn... But they are so wrong. We have included tricks to test Britishness.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Some people say English is easy to learn... But they are so wrong.

I"ve even heard linguists say that. Yet, it's spoken all over the globe — including many places with native languages unrelated to English in every way. And generally well enough to be understood. Except in Scotland and New Zealand.
;^}

Gotta be an interesting story behind that, probably with the British Empire playing a central role.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Gotta be an interesting story behind that, probably with the British Empire playing a central role.

Well, we heard something about the country called the United States

 

[MartsEbike]

I"ve even heard linguists say that. Yet, it's spoken all over the globe — including many places with native languages unrelated to English in every way. And generally well enough to be understood.

Gotta be an interesting story behind that, probably with the British Empire playing a central role.

Chinglish is my favourite type of English!

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Well, we heard something about the country called the United States

Oh yeah, forgot about that one.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

There are many short vids about it on the internet I sometimes watch YT programmes from linguists (RobWords, LetThemTalkTV) and these guys have explained in detail why the English spelling is so weird! Interestingly, they say the American English is more archaic in some aspects than the modern British English. Regarding the American spelling, we can all be grateful to one Noah Webster who had a unique chance to really reform the English language but he rather spoilt/spoiled it even more

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

Wish they'd covered tomatoes and potatoes.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

P.S. Bobby Finn is the most consistent

His: "Noooo!", "Why would you think","You don't see how", and "That's why" went viral