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

[Cramer Long]

No need to worry as you warranty started before 1st of July 2021. Although it is nothing wrong with registering your Specialized e-bike.

Cramer,
The typical width of MTB bars is 780-800 mm, meaning "very wide". As long an MTB is used properly, that is, on a mountain trail or single-track, very wide handlebars are beneficial. First of all, these allow leaning forward, which helps during steep climbs (the rider does often not need to stand on the pedals). Wide bars make an MTB more maneuverable, too.

Vado and Vado SL handlebar width is 680 mm, and it is very proper for that kind of e-bikes, especially after the bars have been raised. I see no point in shortening these bars, although some people do it. Now: If you wanted to ride upright, you should have bought Como or Como SL. Vado/Vado SL with raised bars allow the Moderate riding position; normal riding position on these e-bikes is Forward, which helps riding fast because of less air drag. NB: I'm not raising the bars on my Vado SL, and ride Forward. I lost body mass and such riding position is acceptable for me now.

I Like the vado the way it is . I had ribs broken on both sides of my body roughly 7 weeks ago. I used a steering tube riser just to get me leaning slightly less forward . So I can ride . It's essential to ride because the Lung Specialist tells me I must push my lungs as much as possible for another 2 months at least. So that I don't develop a lung condition. So I'm all set .

I asked you about bar width because I noticed some guys have put riser bars on their Vados . Which even cut are 120MM wider minimum then Vado's stock handlebars . I just wondered what if anything that accomplished . Apparently nothing Thanks

 

[ActionJackson]

I was told by my local LBS the motor is covered for 4 years if you use the Mission Control app to register the bike. There's a code provided you should have received with the bike and need that number for Mission Control sign up.

I will look into that ! Thanks

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I will look into that ! Thanks

In case you have not received an appropriate sticker with the PIN code, please unscrew the TCU bolt on the top tube, and remove the Turbo Control Unit. The PIN code is on the sticker at the side of the unit. You'll need that code to pair your Mission Control app (or, the smartphone) with the bike.

 

[ActionJackson]

I was told that Specialized require that all Spesh bikes bought since July 1st, 2021 need to be registered at Specialized to keep the warranty valid.

They registered it for me on an iPad app at the store, plus did the required road sticker registration.

 

[ActionJackson]

In case you have not received an appropriate sticker with the PIN code, please unscrew the TCU bolt on the top tube, and remove the Turbo Control Unit. The PIN code is on the sticker at the side of the unit. You'll need that code to pair your Mission Control app (or, the smartphone) with the bike.

Yes thanks, it’s also in the owners book. I’m getting my old iPhone battery serviced at the moment so I can dedicate it to the bike. Once I install Mission Control I will go back to Specialized and she’ll explain it to me.

 

[ActionJackson]

Read the past three pages and didn't see an answer. Hoping for some help.

1. Has anyone managed to upgrade the rear rack to something that supports more weight? Huge problem for me because I like to take my kids on rides.
2. Do people pay MSRP for these? Yes, I know they're hot but I've never bought a bike from a local bike shop.
3. 5.0 worth the price bump? Seems great but 33% more money is a big ask. I get the future shock will smooth out the ride but what do the extra speeds practically do for a bike like this? Is it that big of a deal?

Thanks so much!

Hi, The MSRP I paid through Specialized was actually a bit cheaper than an LBS authorized dealer because Specialized picked up the tab for road sticker registration.

HUGE difference between 5.0 and 4.0!
FutureShock + Carbon Fork
12 speed vs 10 speed
Deore XT vs Deore Shifter and Derailleur
Higher grade cassette
Shimano Chain
Carbon seatpost (EQ only)
Better rims
Higher spec Tektro brakes
Higher spec headlight
Higher spec saddle

5 cassette is 10-45t vs 4 cassette at 11-42t. 5 is faster by a bit and a bit more torque on a given grade at a given cadence. Doesn’t seem like a huge difference until you’re passing up a rider on a 4

In my opinion it’s an entirely different bike and great value. You can compare side by side on the website:

Product Compare

www.specialized.com

There is a detailed document describing max loads on the bike, also one specific to child carriers. I will look today. Note the carrier is a bit special because it’s integrated with the fenders on the EQ version. I’m not sure you’d need to change the rack though - it’s racktime compatible btw. Also rear wheel cargo limit is 55lbs/25kg.

Update: @aj1 - OK I had a look at the child seat addendum. Basically it’s a few warnings and disclaimers saying legally the bike was designed for one person and you assume all the risk. Also apparently the carrier/rear rack can carry 25 kg max rated. So really it’s just a matter of how you would go about mounting the child carrier.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In my opinion it’s an entirely different bike and great value.

I agree Voltman. The thing is I already own the highest specced "big" Vado. Now, I have reached some state of modesty and started thinking what would be the best for me as the next e-bike. Vado SL 4.0 EQ was my choice, with the intention to upgrade it.

Having said the above, I'm not against someone buying the creme of the creme

 

[Calcoaster]

The (US) Specialized website says the Vado SL 5 has a carbon seatpost but the one I saw at the bike shop had an alloy post. I checked with Specialized and they said it was a mistake and they would edit it. Still says carbon after 2 weeks.

I’ve read very good reviews of the cannondale save seatpost. It flexes 20 mm but looks like a standard post.

 

[ActionJackson]

The (US) Specialized website says the Vado SL 5 has a carbon seatpost but the one I saw at the bike shop had an alloy post. I checked with Specialized and they said it was a mistake and they would edit it. Still says carbon after 2 weeks.

I’ve read very good reviews of the cannondale save seatpost. It flexes 20 mm but looks like a standard post.

Mine has carbon. Looking closely it looks like it’s only on the EQ.

 

[ActionJackson]

It's essential to ride because the Lung Specialist tells me I must push my lungs as much as possible for another 2 months at least.

Been there done that. Had to blow on a spirometer for 6 months. I think in the end my lung capacity was better than before my ribs problem, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.

 

[ActionJackson]

Still rainy season here so still bound into the garage with no bike outing yet. New bike waiting to roll:

BMX alloy bars I had installed to get fully upright:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Congratulations, Voltman!

 

[ActionJackson]

Frame size may also be a factor. I believe on the SL 5 non EQ only L and XL frames have the extra mounts.

My new SL 5 EQ (L) has bosses on top tube as well.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

News!

Dadelo, a Polish company that owns a large online bike store, has created their own brand EYEN. As I shop at Dadelo store often, I spotted an EYEN dual Garmin/GoPro mount there. Bought it, collected, installed. At last my Bike looks decent!

 

[Rincon]

Does anyone know if the BLEvo ( Mac) app and a Garmin 830 can be used simultaneously?

It works for me. What doesn’t work is BLEvo and Mission Control simultaneously.

 

[Cramer Long]

News!

View attachment 93177
Dadelo, a Polish company that owns a large online bike store, has created their own brand EYEN. As I shop at Dadelo store often, I spotted an EYEN dual Garmin/GoPro mount there. Bought it, collected, installed. At last my Bike looks decent!

What mount is that ? I'm a little confused : I thought I saw somewhere that the TCD has a permanent mount SO obviously that's wrong ? Also if you got a rokform Stem mount you could move your phone right below the other stuff . Maybe not for u ?

 

[Rincon]

Now I’m curious if augmenting the Futureshock on my Vado 5 SL with Redshift ShockStop would produce any benefit.

Augmenting it with a ShockStop seat post would be great. Adding a ShockStop stem on top of a Future Shock would not be great. It would be a hot mess. They would interfere with each other.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What mount is that ?

Eyen Mount Duo. Probably only available in Poland.

I'm a little confused : I thought I saw somewhere that the TCD has a permanent mount SO obviously that's wrong ?

There are two different displays by similar names.
TCD is an optional, portable, and wireless display for Levo, Kenevo, and all SL e-bikes;
TCD-w is the obligatory, fixed and wired display of Vado and Como.
While you can place the wireless TCD anywhere on the handlebars (or not use it at all), the wired TCD-w has to stay in the mount at the stem because of the way its cables are routed.

Also if you got a rokform Stem mount you could move your phone right below the other stuff . Maybe not for u ?

Not every product available in North America is available overseas. I'm happy with the Spigen MF-100 mount for smartphones (it is a distant cousin of Quadlock).

 

[ActionJackson]

Augmenting it with a ShockStop seat post would be great. Adding a ShockStop stem on top of a Future Shock would not be great. It would be a hot mess. They would interfere with each other.

Stems - Well, actually I don’t know. Mechanically it’s a bit complicated. FutureShock is an axial loaded spring with vertical travel, works to some extent even without your hands on the bars because it’s preloaded by the bolt and the weight of the bike + rider already. Whereas the ShockStop stem is a horizontal cantilever with radial movement and is only loaded according to how much weight is placed on the free ends. I don’t think anybody can definitely say how they’ll interoperate until it’s tried or modeled. It’s pretty cheap to get the stem combo with seatpost too . If I decide on the seat post I might try it!

 

[BioWheel]

I have to argue against all this shock absorption. I like to lift my bike front tire and drop it an inch to see it bounce a bit. That means it's light weight bike to me. And non-shock bikes are more like the bike I rode as a kid - nothing fancy, all arms. Heavy bikes are plushy. The SL is a stallion. Ride accordingly.