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

[Allan47.7339]

So that would annually make it far more expensive than my car! Unbelievable and unnecessary. Ping the spokes, wiggle the headset and check chain wear. Plug in diagnostics. Can’t be more than 15mins work.

I just picked this comment to make a reply. I think you guys really went off the rails on this topic. The six months service is probably the only service some of the bikes will ever get. How many times do we see people posting on the forum to complain about the brand because they've basically ridden their bikes into the ground with no maintenance until they quit We are seeing really good local shops closing because it doesn't make financial sense to keep the doors open. The cost of service is location dependent and their meter is running 24/7 on their business expenses (rent, labor parts etc). Yes it might take 15 minutes to ping the spokes etc but the other 45 minutes or more to actually fix what they find. If it's not had any service the chain is probably crap along with the cassette.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes it might take 15 minutes to ping the spokes etc but the other 45 minutes or more to actually fix what they find. If it's not had any service the chain is probably crap along with the cassette.

It is not the rocket science to measure the chain stretch and replace the chain past the 0.5% mark. If someone is unable to replace the cassette or even individual cassette sprockets then let the shop do it but not for US$265. Adjusting the derailleur? There are YT videos how to do it. Replacing brake pads? About the easiest thing one can do.

I may sympathize with the owners of independent stores but it is why I am with Specialized owned shops after I paid the premium on their e-bikes. You may not realize it Allan as an American person but Specialized Europe has got rid of unprofitable dealers, at least judging by the example of Poland. Our province of Mazovia has 5 million inhabitants but Specialized left only 3 LBS in Warsaw/suburbs and one in Płock, the second largest city.

The world is changing.

Four dealerships in Mazovia, and one in Land of Łódź. But man, they do sell!

 

[Twowheelxtc]

I just picked this comment to make a reply. I think you guys really went off the rails on this topic. The six months service is probably the only service some of the bikes will ever get. How many times do we see people posting on the forum to complain about the brand because they've basically ridden their bikes into the ground with no maintenance until they quit We are seeing really good local shops closing because it doesn't make financial sense to keep the doors open. The cost of service is location dependent and their meter is running 24/7 on their business expenses (rent, labor parts etc). Yes it might take 15 minutes to ping the spokes etc but the other 45 minutes or more to actually fix what they find. If it's not had any service the chain is probably crap along with the cassette.

Hi Allan. I see your point but perhaps the contentious issue is that this is offered as a six month service I.e. giving the impression to those not too savvy that it should be carried out 6 monthly, which of course is somewhat misleading as most riders/bikes would not need that level of work. Also it doesn’t mention if any required parts are included….i suspect not. If it was just advertised as a ‘Premium Level Service’ maybe we wouldn’t be ‘off the rails’ .

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Not complaining, mind you, but still struggling to account for (a) how fast my SL and I roll vis-a-vis other rider+bike combos of similar gross weight, and (b) how easy it is to pedal in OFF — even on modest hills.

I know that (a) contributes directly to (b) but can't help feeling that there's more to it. What, I can't say, but it's also unlikely to be aerodynamic.

The bare SL may be slightly aero, and I've tried to keep mine that way. But the riding position is still pretty upright, and no one would describe me as aero.

After offsetting differences in drag area (CdA), gross mass (M), and coefficient of rolling resistance (Cr) from the scenario above, the SL and I probably still have a roughly 9 mph crossover speed (Vc) — at which air resistance reaches 50% of total on smooth flat pavement in still air. In the figure caption above, TR = total resistance and RR = rolling resistance.

is around 10-12 mph on flat, smooth pavement in still air, as drag area (CdA) is probably closer to 0.50 than the 0.63 used above, and the coefficient of rolling resistance (Cr) with 38 mm Pathfinder Pro tubeless tires at 35 psi is probably closer to 0.005.

At the higher ground speeds generally involved in the observations in question, rolling resistance quickly becomes a small fraction of total, and I just can't see a big aerodynamic advantage in my favor.

What manner of sorcery be this?

 

[Twowheelxtc]

Not complaining, mind you, but still struggling to account for (a) how fast my SL and I roll vis-a-vis other rider+bike combos of similar gross weight, and (b) how easy it is to pedal in OFF — even on modest hills.

I know that (a) contributes directly to (b) but can't help feeling that there's more to it. What, I can't say, but it's also unlikely to be aerodynamic.

View attachment 187930
The bare SL may be slightly aero, and I've tried to keep mine that way. But the riding position is still pretty upright, and no one would describe me as aero.

View attachment 187929
After offsetting differences in drag area (CdA), gross mass (M), and coefficient of rolling resistance (Cr) from the scenario above, the SL and I probably still have a roughly 9 mph crossover speed (Vc) — at which air resistance reaches 50% of total on smooth flat pavement in still air. In the figure caption above, TR = total resistance and RR = rolling resistance.

is around 10-12 mph on flat, smooth pavement in still air, as drag area (CdA) is probably closer to 0.50 than the 0.63 used above, and the coefficient of rolling resistance (Cr) with 38 mm Pathfinder Pro tubeless tires at 35 psi is probably closer to 0.005.

At the higher ground speeds generally involved in the observations in question, rolling resistance quickly becomes a small fraction of total, and I just can't see a big aerodynamic advantage in my favor.

What manner of sorcery be this?

No Sorcery involved. It’s obviously the colour. Everyone knows red is the fastest and your experience proves that yellow must run a pretty close second!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I just picked this comment to make a reply. I think you guys really went off the rails on this topic. The six months service is probably the only service some of the bikes will ever get. How many times do we see people posting on the forum to complain about the brand because they've basically ridden their bikes into the ground with no maintenance until they quit We are seeing really good local shops closing because it doesn't make financial sense to keep the doors open. The cost of service is location dependent and their meter is running 24/7 on their business expenses (rent, labor parts etc). Yes it might take 15 minutes to ping the spokes etc but the other 45 minutes or more to actually fix what they find. If it's not had any service the chain is probably crap along with the cassette.

I think the issue here is that the OP said the bike shop contacted him about this 6 month service - Having a price list for services is fine and when he outlined the amount of work it involved you could see that in time alone it was worth it. But initially it sounded like the bike shop was taking the piss, instead of the customary free bike check they were going to charge hundreds! If the bike needs that amount of work, then voluntarily getting this done is fine, but pressurising customers who might not know much about their bikes into feeling the must do this service wether the bike needs it or not. That's the issue.

You're right about service being important, in a world of Ali Express and other direct to consumer brands, bike shops are in danger of being pushed out like independent bookshops after Amazon arrived. Service is the one area you really need a good local bike shop. I'm seeing more and more sole traders who don't bother to sell bikes just service bikes keeping overheads low. My sister needed work done on her road bike last summer on holidays in a remote-ish part of Ireland and found a young guy who operates out of van and specialises in high end road bike/MTB repairs and will come to you! He was brilliant and reasonably priced too. Clever idea.

 

[MartsEbike]

I think you've all gone nuts... I've actually been in their stores, paid my money and used their services, and my impression couldn't have been more different. But alas we're on the internet where exaggeration wins and a single line written on a forum based on the contents of an automated email can ruin a reputation.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I think you've all gone nuts... I've actually been in their stores, paid my money and used their services, and my impression couldn't have been more different. But alas we're on the internet where exaggeration wins and a single line written on a forum based on the contents of an automated email can ruin a reputation.

?

 

[MartsEbike]

?

Do you need help?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I'm sure guys it has been some miscomprehension here.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Do you need help?

Ok I'll speak slowly for you - the poster 2wheelsgood said:

Expensive to maintain these things it seems.

Just got an email asking me to book in for my 6 month service on my SL and it is £210 ($264).

That's different from you rocking up needing a service for a well used bike. That's the point surely? The price for all the work & time isn't bad. It's just surprising they'd ask him to book this in. The Bicycle Chain as you pointed out has similar priced service rates. But in four years they've never emailed asking me to book my bike in for a service other then telling me on purchase that I get a free service the first time.

It's not a big deal. Just surprising, or at least phrased as such, is surprising. How the bike shop knows the bike will need all that work done from afar. 2Wheels could have been on his arse on the sofa the entire 6 months. Cobwebs on the bike. Light dusting required.

 

[MartsEbike]

Dickhead... Don't try and justify your bullshit question mark reply now, and without referencing a single thing I said... Get to f*ck.

I hope that helps.

 

[Twowheelxtc]

Come on guys. We can all have different views on things and stay polite! A friendly argument is healthy….anything more is not.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Jeremy McCreary: I can see the matter your Vado SL is so fast really bothers you.

See the Bike Calculator.

With your leg power of 160 W, you should be able to zoom at 28 km/h (17.4 mph) on the flat (windless) with no assistance. (The calculator also works in Imperial units).

I am very upset to see a boy riding at a pretty high speed on your typical "just a bike" while I need much assistance for the same!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

@Jeremy McCreary: I can see the matter your Vado SL is so fast really bothers you.

See the Bike Calculator.

View attachment 187942
With your leg power of 160 W, you should be able to zoom at 28 km/h (17.4 mph) on the flat (windless) with no assistance. (The calculator also works in Imperial units).

Not so much bothered as puzzled. I've developed my own power-from-speed and speed-from-power spreadsheets. But they're not that helpful in understanding why I'm consistently out-rolling roadies on high-end bikes on descents when our gross weights are ostensibly similar and I'm more upright.

I am very upset to see a boy riding at a pretty high speed on your typical "just a bike" while I need much assistance for the same!

Tell me about it. Unmotorized roadies fly by me all the time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Not so much bothered as puzzled. I've developed my own power-from-speed and speed-from-power spreadsheets. But they're not that helpful in understanding why I'm consistently out-rolling roadies on high-end bikes on descents when our gross weights are ostensibly similar and I'm more upright.

This calls out for an experiment. Could you ask one of your buddies of a similar weight coast down some well known hill, he in the drops, and both of you just coasting? That could be very interesting, as you cannot deny the laws of physics. Now, either the aero wins for your buddy, or your heavier e-bike makes you win!

Tell me about it. Roadies fly by me all the time.

I'm even not talking roadies but young men riding inexpensive XC bikes Regarding the roadie, there is a new story from me:

I was on a return segment of my Sunday ride. Just re-fuelled myself in Klimatyczna Cafe and was heading lazily home on my Vado 6.0. At some junction, I could spot a roadie riding a way faster than I. He joined "my" road and accelerated. I started pedalling hard, using TURBO to find myself some 25 metres behind the roadie, then reduced to 60%. I was following him but was not drafting (as that would be unfair). Just followed the guy. We both rode at 34-35 km/h (21-22 mph). I checked on the map later: it was an 8.65 km segment. As we rode in Umiastów (a place with some traffic), I clicked TURBO again, started slowly overtaking the man and shouted: 'Big thanks for the workout and motivation. Safe ride!' Not sure how he felt

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

This calls out for an experiment. Could you ask one of your buddies of a similar weight coast down some well known hill, he in the drops, and both of you just coasting? That could be very interesting, as you cannot deny the laws of physics. Now, either the aero wins for your buddy, or your heavier e-bike makes you win!

Will see if I can get a collaborator on this Wednesday's group ride. Mostly older unmotorized roadies on bikes likely to be 15-20 lb lighter than mine as outfitted. Some are clearly heavier riders than I am.

I've out-coasted several of these guys when they're on the hoods. Maybe I'm just lousy at eyeballing a heavier guy on a 20 lb lighter bike and guessing that his gross weight is about the same as mine.

Or maybe, as @Twowheelxtc suggested, it's the color. No other yellow bikes in this group so far.
;^}

 

[Twowheelxtc]

Jeremy. Whenever I see you post I’m reminded of a great tour my wife and I did a few years ago from Uk to Constanta on the Black Sea. Came across a town called Carlsbad (Karlova Vary) in the Czech Republic. I’m not too fond of towns but we stayed few days as it was a very beautiful old spa town and an UNESCO Heritage site. In the past it was a favourite of the wealthy and nobility of Europe apparently. I assume thats what your town was named after?

 

[Ebikelife72]

An update that I’m sure nobody cares about. I talked to the bike shop about my 5.0 that I returned. They also believe something was wrong with the motor. It was a very nice bike otherwise and I guess I didn’t get to experience it as it was designed.

However, this may have been a blessing. Since getting the used Diverge I’ve discovered that I’m totally a drop bar guy. My Sport Carbon is extremely comfortable. So the plan now is to get a Creo 2, probably the Comp carbon. I’d likely be happy with the alloy version as its geometry is identical to my Diverge. What I like about the comp is the electronic shifting and extra compliance from the carbon frame. Now I just need to wait for a 61 in deep metallic blue to get back in stock.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Jeremy. Whenever I see you post I’m reminded of a great tour my wife and I did a few years ago from Uk to Constanta on the Black Sea. Came across a town called Carlsbad (Karlova Vary) in the Czech Republic. I’m not too fond of towns but we stayed few days as it was a very beautiful old spa town and an UNESCO Heritage site. In the past it was a favourite of the wealthy and nobility of Europe apparently. I assume thats what your town was named after?

You nailed it! From our Wikipedia page:

In the 1880s a former sailor named John A. Frazier dug a well in the area. He began offering his water at the train station and soon the whistle-stop became known as Frazier's Station. A test done on a second fresh-water well discovered the water to be chemically similar to that found in some of the most renowned spas in the world, and the town was named after the famed spa in the Bohemian town of Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic).[13]

The famous well that started it all still sells the water for drinking and is now pushing it as natural "alkaline" water. Keep meaning to try it.

But wait, there's more — water, that is! We also have one of the largest water desalination plants in the US. Fills about 30% of Carlsbad's current needs with an expansion in the works.