Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)
- Thread starter Stefan Mikes
- Start date
rochrunner
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Rochester Hills MI
What are the updates? Looks the same to me, but I'm in a location where it's hard to check it closely.
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
As far as I can see mainly it’s the MasterMind TCU, and 30.9mm seatpost. In real money it’s a +$1000 jump taking into account the discount I had + FX delta. Just yesterday I spent $1000 on Range Extender & cable, Kinekt seatpost, Brooks saddle, Varia radar, and a couple of tools.
rochrunner
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Rochester Hills MI
Where did you see this? My view of the Specialized site still shows the current models and prices.
Same.
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
Hello
www.specialized.com
I think you can see all of it if you set your region/country to Japan, language English. That will show you a lot more bikes I think then just the above Vado SL link.
Try here:
E-バイク - スペシャライズド
スペシャライズドのe-Bikeで自転車中心のライフスタイルを送りましょう。家族で楽しめるものから通勤を楽にするもの、さらには冒険の相棒になるものまで豊富に用意。今すぐオンラインで探してみましょう。
I think you can see all of it if you set your region/country to Japan, language English. That will show you a lot more bikes I think then just the above Vado SL link.
rochrunner
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Rochester Hills MI
Thanks. Is it possible that the FutureShock 1.5 is an upgrade?Hello
Try here:
E-バイク - スペシャライズド
スペシャライズドのe-Bikeで自転車中心のライフスタイルを送りましょう。家族で楽しめるものから通勤を楽にするもの、さらには冒険の相棒になるものまで豊富に用意。今すぐオンラインで探してみましょう。
I think you can see all of it if you set your region/country to Japan, language English. That will show you a lot more bikes I think then just the above Vado SL link.
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
Yeah it’s a huge jump. Look at all the things I could get for that $1000 and some change.
here’s a video of that mastermind TCU.
It looks basically like a better display, with more information. Maybe it replaces the TDU, or whatever that monochrome gadget hanging off my stem is called. However at this point it seems like you have to have a smart phone, the Specialized unit, a dedicated GPS, and God knows what else hanging off the handlebars. I like the current on off button / mode display / battery indicator just fine.
Last edited:
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
My 2021 has FutureShock 1.5 so at least in my case it’s not an upgrade. Also my seatpost is carbon as it was listed before. I was told that’s a temporary thing because they couldn’t get seatposts at the time. Alloy now.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
"The Triumph Of Technology Over The Common Sense".
As if you could look down at the TCU and focus on the road or trail at the same time.
My current TCU is always in Stealth mode. No need to watch that disco.
The very well thought monochrome thing I value very much is called TCD. I actually paid the premium to get it.
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
Maybe I should read the manual someday
I'm with Stephan-I liked TCD on my '21 Vado SL 5 EQ and bought another one when I got my Creo. The TCD gives me all the info I need when I'm pedaling. Yes, the manual for the TCD sucks, especially for us boomers (and those that are farsighted), but I eventually figured it out. It looks like they are not furnishing TCDs on the '22 Vado 5 SL EQ's and just supplying the upgraded TCU. That's not a even trade IMO.
That Grey/black color combo looks interesting on the '22s. Looking forward to seeing a picture of it.
This looks like a great upgrade, yeah. But the price increase doesn't justify it to me. I didn't even buy the stock display for my 2021 4.0. I have a Karoo 2, which is way more useful and connects to the bike without any modifications. It's such a massive upgrade compared to the OEM display that I'm thankful the OEM one was optional.
kahn
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- northWET washington
Looks like it may be too much input below the belly button. Of course, I have the Creo and, as yet, don't have the handlebar remote button system.
That is my first take on it, too. TOO much info, as I wrote, below the belly button. Of course, he needs that info as he flies across the gap in that cliff band.
I wonder if it even has a hidden 'Easter egg' mode that shows a fireworks display?
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
@aj1 - does Karoo 2 have a live tracking feature? Like Strava Beacon or Wahoo Live Track? They don’t sell into Japan yet, however I have an address in California as well. I’ve asked them about global map support, and they said no limitations.
ActionJackson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Asia
- City
- Tokyo
GuruUno
Well-Known Member
Stefan, I know you have a Vado 5/6 and now the SL.
I initially a year ago test rode the SL (4.0) and was not too impressed. It felt kinda cheap and I had conveyed that in these forums. Compared to a Vado 5 which I ultimately did get, the comparison is similar to driving a luxury Mercedes or BMW and a VW Golf (Polo). Although each has its merits one feels different from the other.
My question is now that I've reached the point where I can comfortably do 20-35 miles a day somewhat effortlessly on the Vado 5, and most times in ECO averaging 45-55% remaining on the battery do you think I'll be challenged or disappointed with a 5.0 SL EQ?
My biggest concern has always been 'range anxiety, and even though I did get a 2nd battery and made a special carrier, I never ever have had to use it.
The extender for the SL is a minimal contribution to the maximum range (my opinion), but again, I defer to your opinion.
I only ask because you seem to favor the SL and if you had to choose which one would you keep and which one would you give up (if you had to).
Because I put the Kinekt suspension seat post and stem it helps tremendously to absorb the miserable roads here in NJ and my past experience with a carbon fork (which is what is on the SL 5.0 EQ) on a Trek Allant 9 left my hands numb.
I think I saw in these forums someone retrofitted the SL with a Kinekt suspension stem and that might make the difference.
Additionally, I had put the Como handlebars which also helped the comfort level.
I was not too impressed with the Baramind handlebars.
Just kicking it around and thought your experience might guide me.
I initially a year ago test rode the SL (4.0) and was not too impressed. It felt kinda cheap and I had conveyed that in these forums. Compared to a Vado 5 which I ultimately did get, the comparison is similar to driving a luxury Mercedes or BMW and a VW Golf (Polo). Although each has its merits one feels different from the other.
My question is now that I've reached the point where I can comfortably do 20-35 miles a day somewhat effortlessly on the Vado 5, and most times in ECO averaging 45-55% remaining on the battery do you think I'll be challenged or disappointed with a 5.0 SL EQ?
My biggest concern has always been 'range anxiety, and even though I did get a 2nd battery and made a special carrier, I never ever have had to use it.
The extender for the SL is a minimal contribution to the maximum range (my opinion), but again, I defer to your opinion.
I only ask because you seem to favor the SL and if you had to choose which one would you keep and which one would you give up (if you had to).
Because I put the Kinekt suspension seat post and stem it helps tremendously to absorb the miserable roads here in NJ and my past experience with a carbon fork (which is what is on the SL 5.0 EQ) on a Trek Allant 9 left my hands numb.
I think I saw in these forums someone retrofitted the SL with a Kinekt suspension stem and that might make the difference.
Additionally, I had put the Como handlebars which also helped the comfort level.
I was not too impressed with the Baramind handlebars.
Just kicking it around and thought your experience might guide me.
Similar threads
