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

[rochrunner]

Two pairs of shoes I have bought in the last year (Scott and Shimano) have loops of elastic on the tongue to secure excess laces. I haven't used the loops as I am used to tying the laces with a double knot to minimise the excess and keep them secure.

My last two pairs of SPD bike shoes -- Louis Garneau and Shimano -- use the Boa lacing system, which I could not recommend more highly for both fit and convenience. It gives a very even pressure along the lacing area and is easily adjustable. You can even make adjustments without taking your feet off the pedals just by reaching down. They might look a bit fragile but have a lifetime warranty.

 

[coffeemaker]

Some quick thoughts on the 2022 Vado SL 4.0 EQ. It's a great bike and since there are many positive reviews, I'll focus on the nitpicky stuff.

• Very light. Almost as light as my hybrid commuter bike.
• The Tektro brakes bite well once bedded in.
• Walk mode engages immediately after pressing the button, unlike the 2 second delay in the non-SL Vado.
• The motor gives a loud high pitched whine while running. The belt driven non-SL Vado is quieter and has a lower pitch.
• 250W nominal and peak power means it's hard to go past 24mph let alone the 28mph limit on flats without significant rider power.
• The right-side brake and shifter cables get in the way of the front light.
• Front and rear lights cannot be turned off while the bike is on. Lights turn on when charging unless manually powered off every time.
• Strongly prefer the magnetic Rosenberger RoPD charging cable of the non-SL Vado.
  • Bumping into the SL's charging cable will break pins.
  • Moving the bike backwards with the charger plugged in will spin the cranks and break pins.
• The wireless TCD trip computer seems like an afterthought. Not worth the extra $90.
  • Needs to be powered on separately from the bike each ride.
  • Can not be controlled by the wired buttons on the left side of the handlebar, unlike the non-SL Vado.
  • Backlight stays on for only 5 seconds after a button press. No way to keep it on and is unreadable during the night.

I was able to get an extra internal battery. I'll be looking into running it in parallel with the internal battery like a range extender.

 

[coffeemaker]

I shift my Vado SL without pausing, as you should, and generally without even easing pressure on the pedals.

Doesn't that make a crunching sound as the chain climbs up and down the sprocket? That can't be good for the longevity of the drivetrain.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I'll focus on the nitpicky stuff.

Your observations are very true.

The right-side brake and shifter cables get in the way of the front light.

I have reorganized it by using a GoPro camera mount to move the headlight past the cables. A simpler solution here.

Front and rear lights cannot be turned off while the bike is on.

A ride safety feature (of which I am very fond).

Lights turn on when charging unless manually powered off every time.

True. As long as the e-bike is on, you can track the battery charging level on TCD, Mission Control, Wahoo, Garmin...

The wireless TCD trip computer seems like an afterthought. Not worth the extra $90

The capability is the same as of the TCD-w Gen 1, only it cannot be operated by the handlebar remote. I use a Wahoo ELEMNT as a universal display but Wahoos start at $300 (similarly to Garmin Edge) while the TCD is only $90.

I was able to get an extra internal battery. I'll be looking into running it in parallel with the internal battery like a range extender.

I wonder if that would work out. The SL system is very well "internally aware" and it can tell the difference between the internal battery and Range Extender. For instance, it is not possible to charge two REs with the SL Y-Cable. The advantage of the RE is it is only 2.2 lbs and may be (or may be not) taken for a ride (to save weight). Two Range Extenders are more practical than a single main battery. Just saying.

Doesn't that make a crunching sound as the chain climbs up and down the sprocket?

I apologize for asking trivial questions:

• Do you maintain the chain, by degreasing and oiling it?
• Has the derailleur been adjusted at least once?

 

[rochrunner]

Doesn't that make a crunching sound as the chain climbs up and down the sprocket? That can't be good for the longevity of the drivetrain.

Yeah - I ease up when shifting all my bikes, although it's difficult when I need to shift down (larger cog) when the going gets tough on a climb.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yeah - I ease up when shifting all my bikes, although it's difficult when I need to shift down (larger cog) when the going gets tough on a climb.

The key is to ensure enough of the e-bike momentum uphill. I typically downshift dramatically when I am in the beginning of the climb, and spin at some 90 rpm. When I see on the cadence meter I get down to 80, the bike still rides fast enough to stop pedalling for a short while, downshift again (Shimano allows as many as 3 gears down), and start spinning again.

 

[rochrunner]

The key is to ensure enough of the e-bike momentum uphill. I typically downshift dramatically when I am in the beginning of the climb, and spin at some 90 rpm. When I see on the cadence meter I get down to 80, the bike still rides fast enough to stop pedalling for a short while, downshift again (Shimano allows as many as 3 gears down), and start spinning again.

Yes, I'm well aware of all that (after all, I've been riding for 50 years!), and I was thinking more about my conventional bikes where you can't always call on some extra torque to make up for having failed to shift in time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes, I'm well aware of all that (after all, I've been riding for 50 years!), and I was thinking more about my conventional bikes where you can't always call on some extra torque to make up for having failed to shift in time.

I also had coffeemaker in my mind when I wrote my post
Doug, starting up a 19% grade (in the middle of it) was a thing! (with my full power Vado). First, I had to downshift all the way to the granny gear using the Walk Mode... (But you know the story!)

 

[coffeemaker]

The capability is the same as of the TCD-w Gen 1, only it cannot be operated by the handlebar remote.

I'm used to the wired TCD of the non-SL Vado, which I dearly miss. Backlight that was synced with the bike light power, controlled by the remote buttons, etc.

Two Range Extenders are more practical than a single main battery. Just saying.

I'd get the range extenders if they were cheaper. I got a brand new internal battery for a good deal from someone who was shipping their bike overseas without it. The system does indeed know the difference between the internal battery and a range extender. I may have to run the two internal batteries in parallel. I have some poking around to do.

Do you maintain the chain, by degreasing and oiling it?
Has the derailleur been adjusted at least once?

I degreased the chain and put RocknRoll dry lube on it. It works for me, but I may try thicker Muck Off Lube next. The shifter itself is perfect. On max assist, the motor is extremely sensitive and kicks in with the lightest of pedaling.
When downshifting, I'd stop pedaling for half a second, shift down, then start pedaling. On the non-SL Vado, the motor would kick in after the shifting has completed. Only my light pedal torque would be used to change gears. On the SL, the motor kicks in immediately and would crunch through the gears. I may need to change my shifting technique to stop chewing through the drivetrain.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On max assist

You've found the culprit! I do my shifting very instinctively (it has become my second nature). For instance, I use the Turbo mode rarely, and when I do, I do my shifts very carefully. When slowing down with an expected stop (in any assistance mode) I even do not notice my "three gear downshifting".

I degreased the chain and put RocknRoll dry lube on it. It works for me, but I may try thicker Muck Off Lube next.

My recommendation: use the dry lube for dry weeks and the "wet" one for rainy days. It is the chain rollers that require the lubing only: the rest of the chain should be dry and clean, or it would attract dirt.

Regarding the TCD vs TCD-w, I generally agree with you. If I, however, didn't buy the Wahoo, I would still be using the TCD. OTOH, some people complain they cannot remove the TCD-w from their e-bikes...

 

[Richard Stallard]

Doesn't that make a crunching sound as the chain climbs up and down the sprocket? That can't be good for the longevity of the drivetrain.

No. Shimano HG (Hyperglide) is designed so that the chain climbs smoothly up the sprockets while in continuous motion. It has worked that way since its introduction in 1989! See https://konstantin.shemyak.com/cycling/HG/hyperglide.html

 

[rochrunner]

No. Shimano HG (Hyperglide) is designed so that the chain climbs smoothly up the sprockets while in continuous motion. It has worked that way since its introduction in 1989! See https://konstantin.shemyak.com/cycling/HG/hyperglide.html

Continuous motion, yes, but I think it puts extra stress on it if it's under a heavy load at the time. On my regular road bike I can definitely feel (and hear) the difference. I believe that some ebikes detect a shift and momentarily cut the motor to shift more smoothly.

 

[Richard Stallard]

Continuous motion, yes, but I think it puts extra stress on it if it's under a heavy load at the time. On my regular road bike I can definitely feel (and hear) the difference. I believe that some ebikes detect a shift and momentarily cut the motor to shift more smoothly.

I probably don’t have enough strength to create put the system under “heavy load”.

 

[Calcoaster]

Yeah - I ease up when shifting all my bikes, although it's difficult when I need to shift down (larger cog) when the going gets tough on a climb.

I agree - My Vado SL 4.0 with the 10 speed clunked loudly when I shifted to a smaller sprocket. I tried to slow my cadence way down or even stop pedaling for a split second before shifting. Riding with assist off, it was a much quieter shift. My creo, with an 11 speed, has a noticeable but much quieter shift noise. I’m not sure if that’s just because of the closer spaced gears or a better derailleur. Probably both. With assist off, the creo is smooth and silent shifting. I ride mostly in eco or without assist, only occasionally in sport for short distances. I do think the shifting clunk is more noticeable in the higher assist levels.

I used rock n roll gold on my Vado sl and switched to the rock n roll red (”absolute dry”) for the creo, just to see if it’s even cleaner than the gold, which I was happy with. Because of the increased load on the drivetrain from the mid motor, I think chain cleaning and lubing is essential. I only had my Vado SL for 1700 miles but my Park chain gauge didn’t’t show any wear at that time. I’m lubing my Creo every 75 miles or so.

Living on the central California coast, I never ride in the rain. Quite a change from when I lived in the Pacific Northwest. Chains last way longer here and tires don’t flat nearly as often on dry roads.

 

[Pork Rind]

Living on the central California coast, I never ride in the rain. Quite a change from when I lived in the Pacific Northwest. Chains last way longer here and tires don’t flat nearly as often on dry roads.

I've had really good results from the Silca wax dip here in Santa Barbara. I had to change a tube mid-ride, and my hands were clean even after handling the chain and rear derailleur.

 

[rochrunner]

...and my hands were clean even after handling the chain and rear derailleur.

That would be a first if I ever experienced it! But ever since I had a road bike with white bar tape and changed a flat on the rear, I learned to carry a pair of disposable latex gloves in my toolkit.

 

[kahn]

That would be a first if I ever experienced it! But ever since I had a road bike with white bar tape and changed a flat on the rear, I learned to carry a pair of disposable latex gloves in my toolkit.

That reminds me of the folks who worn pink and yellow bike shorts as if they might never come in contact with anything DIRTY!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That reminds me of the folks who worn pink and yellow bike shorts as if they might never come in contact with anything DIRTY!

My brother taught me carrying a pair of cotton working-gloves in my car. Comes handy during unloading/loading my Vado, and with chores like field chain maintenance.

 

[mjh5]

Sage

I had never believed in the whole Specialized SL thing until I could ride an SL myself. My bad legs can deliver 70-80 W on average (with short burst of far more if I have to). I have got used to the "full power" modern e-bikes, the 24 kg (or heavier), mid-motor, and integrated removable battery machines that I can (yes) lift upstairs but never raise any of them to the shoulder level. Yes, full power e-bikes can travel fast (especially S-Pedelecs or derestricted ones), can climb very steep hills too but it is hardly possible to pedal them unassisted or past the limiter. And they eat the battery at the rate that forces me to carry a spare for any long (read: 80 km or above) trip. The Warsaw Specialized Brand Store signed a rental agreement with me on last Saturday, charged the rental fee (28 EUR or 34 US$ equivalent), and let me ride a Vado SL 4.0 non-EQ size L for a day.

Sizing
Vado SL Step-Over is a tall bike. My own "standover height" is 78 cm (30.7"). With the M frame, I could straddle the top tube with safe clearance but I was actually touching it with my private parts for size L. I'd love the reach of the size M; I was leaning over the handlebars a little too much to my liking but, interestingly, too large frame didn't compromise ride safety or comfort for me. I was genuinely surprised with that! (The store had the non-EQ size L Vado SL as the only available demo option for Saturday so I had to take it or leave it; the size M 4.0 EQ e-bike was on display for sale).

Motor Noise
As I hear some complaints of SL e-bikes related to the SL 1.1 motor noise, here is my observation:

• The SL 1.1 motor is indeed audible. In default Eco mode, the noise is very soft, chirpy. The more support is provided, the louder the motor gets but it never becomes annoying.
• By comparison, the Specialized 1.2e, 1.2, and 1.2s motors are virtually silent except 100% Turbo mode under very high load; still, that noise is barely audible. Heavily loaded 1.2 motors just want to whisper to you "Hey... I'm here!" I have never tried the 1.3 motor but it is reportedly barely louder under loading.
• SyncDrive Pro (Yamaha PW-X2) is noisy, with constant whining, still that noise is manageable.

I think the owners of Vado SL or Creo are simply unaware how quiet these motors are compared to other makes.

Riding Unassisted
Nothing different to any 15 kg (33 lb) traditional bike. No "motor drag". I would be able to pedal the Vado SL easily in flat battery situation without suffering (albeit rather slowly). I'm sure any healthy cyclist could ride the SL with the assistance OFF as the primary riding mode on flats and in absence of headwind. Vado SL feels a traditional bike in any aspect!

Riding Assisted
ECO mode feels the most logical assistance level to ride Vado SL, especially for the European 25 km/h version. It was just enough for me to feel a 25-yo again riding a traditional bike (I have never been a strong person). The feeling how lightweight the SL is, is incredible. The pedalling experience is so natural that you never even think you are on e-bike! There is excellent acceleration property: just push pedals stronger and you start moving fast! The SL was the first e-bike I could ride where staying in Eco mode on the flat felt fantastic, without the need of even thinking of going for more support. Also, I could use the derailleur sparingly. In full power heavier e-bikes, I utilize the derailleur in wide range from low gears to start the ride to high gears to move fast. Vado SL moves so easily from the cold start that I only used the derailleur to maintain my favourite cadence but not to make the cold start easier, for one.

Sport mode: Ideal to ride soft inclines, and to counter moderate headwind. I hardly ever used the Sport mode for the demo ride.

Turbo mode: Very useful! In urban environment, it allows climbing obstacles such us overpass without even increasing your heart-rate. I found the Turbo mode useful in countering storm headwind (very very strong!) I experienced on my route. Not sure how good the SL would be in real hilly environment though.

Full-power e-bikes give the edge when you really need tons of power; the SL is decidedly not as powerful. It is a very natural bike instead, helping you ride under circumstances that would turn your trip into nightmare on a traditional bike.

Riding past the speed limiter
That was a hilarious experience! If that's the 25 km/h limiter then you hit the speed limit very quickly. What happens next? Just pedal and ride faster on your leg power! On a full power e-bike, riding past the speed limiter means "hitting the wall". It is not so with Vado SL. Yes, you can feel it is harder to pedal (because you have lost good watts that had assisted you) but it is just like riding a traditional bike! Nothing different!

Anecdote: I was riding leisurely on a good straight asphalt road. Suddenly, a pack of three beautiful female roadies took me over at high speed. I instantly switched the Turbo mode on and started chasing the girls. What an experience! I broke past 25 km/h and pedalled unassisted with the maximum leg power burst I could manage. Strava tells me I reached 38 km/h (unassisted!) I couldn't catch up with the girls but got so close they must have heard my "WOOOOW! You're amazing, girls!" exclamation before I gave up

Battery consumption
The bike appears to not be eating the battery charge at all! Now I can believe Specialized marketing claim you could make 100 miles on a single charge (if no upwind and flat terrain). As long as I and friend rode slowly and leisurely, the 7th battery status bar with which I started the Eco mode ride didn't want to disappear for long kilometres. Of course, Sport and especially Turbo mode eat more but... I used 3 bars (of 10) for a 41 km trip, part of which was ridden in Turbo mode for emergency reasons.

Handling, comfort, brakes, gearing, equipment
Vado SL must have been designed by some geniuses. Almost every aspect of the e-bike is extremely well thought. Handling of the bike on the ride is just fantastic.

Despite of lack of any suspension on Vado SL, the e-bike is surprisingly comfortable even on surfaces far from ideal. If I bought an SL, I would probably only did these upgrades:

• Rear-view mirror
• TCD display, or a smartphone handlebar mount
• Pedals of my choice
• Better lighting. (that claim proved to be wrong)

Did you hear me saying: "suspension stem", "suspension seatpost", "better grips", "better saddle" or "better tyres"? No. I could live with stock components for a longer while. I especially liked the Specialized stock tyres, and even the saddle was not that bad!

Update (September 4th, 2021): I was carried off with my demo ride. In fact, Vado SL is a stiff e-bike that offers a little of compliance. When I actually bought the e-bike, I soon needed to upgrade it with RedShift ShockStop suspension stem and seatpost. I also replaced the stock tyres with Schwalbe Smart Sam 37-622.

Brakes: Reliable, performing excellently in torrential-like rain!
Gearing: Certainly ideal for flats. (Cannot say anything for riding an SL in really hilly conditions).

Lighting of Vado SL is laughable and can only serve as daily lights. The weakest point of that otherwise excellent e-bike.

EQ vs non-EQ. Step-Over vs. Step-Through
For the Poland's condition, the EQ version is the must, although one could think of fitting MTB mudguards, and the rear rack is not really necessary for fitness rides (because Vado SL is indeed a fitness e-bike). I would just feel better with proper fenders and a rack. If one plans no swapping the seat-post for a suspension one, the tail-light placement under the saddle in non-EQ is smart, and the tail-light of the non-EQ is indeed not bad!

The exciting news is the Step-Through Vado SL shall appear in our market sometime in August. I'm strongly interested in buying Vado SL 4.0 EQ ST size M, White Sage colour!

View attachment 90242
You can actually put the SL on your shoulder and carry it upstairs!

Battery charging
The only downside of the SL is the fact you have to charge the battery on the bike. Making it awkward for touring (staying in hotels).

Stefan,
Since you said you were "strongly interested in buying Vado SL 4.0 EQ ST size M, White Sage colour!" I thought I would post a comment since 3 days ago I had delivered to me a Vado Sl 4.0 EQ size M! Color, White Sage! I've taken two rides on it so I thought I would post a preliminary review. I like it. A lot. I'm 73, 5'8" ( ok, now after 4 minor back surgeries over 35 years I'm 5' 7 1/2"), and I weigh 160, hoping to get back down to 155. I had been riding a 20 year old Cannondale H-400 3x8 hybrid so the Vado feels a lot like my analogue bike. I am strictly a recreational, fair weather rider and the bike is for a vacation home in the Hudson Valley in NY so I'm never going to put a lot of miles on it. I only ride on paved country roads. I thought I wanted the Como SL and since March 2021 I had been waiting for them to come in to my local Specialized dealer. But he wasn't getting any bikes. Since I'm not very handy the thought of a bike with an internal gear hub was very appealing. Finally at the end of February I searched on the Specialized website and found a dealer within driving distance that had the Como SL and took it for a test ride. Suffice it to say I was disappointed as the bike felt heavy and was hard to shift. I've posted elsewhere on this site more about that. this past summer I had test ridden the Vado Sl at my local dealer and really liked it but was concerned about the maintenance given the added stress the motor might pose for the chain etc. The day after I tested the Como SL I found another dealer within driving distance who had a Vado Sl Eq step through. I liked the idea of a step through even though I can still swing my leg over the saddle. Just thought I would get ready for the future, and, in fact I had been riding my wife's step-through Cannondale hybrid in Central Park in NYC and found it very comfortable.
Where I am in the Hudson Valley we have rolling hills. My typical ride is 14 - 18 miles and I was finding although I could still get up the hills I was in my lowest gear and felt the need to stop and catch my break. The Vado Sl feels very much like my analogue bike and is only 5 lbs heavier. It handles great and the boost from the motor is just the right amount for me to feel that I am still getting a workout. My first ride two days ago was 14 miles. I decided to use the motor sparingly and not at all on the flats. Just to get me to the top of the hills ( which don't exceed 8% grade and are relatively short). On that ride I used 22% of the battery which implies a range of 67 miles. The next day I rode 18 miles and used the assist in sport and turbo probably more than I needed to. There was a good deal of wind as well. For that ride I used 38% of the battery which implies a range of 47 miles. I am unlikely to ride more than 25 miles so I don't think range will ever be an issue for me. On the second ride I realized that I was bypassing 3 or 4 spots where I normally had to take a break and get off of my analogue bike. With the assist I just kept going.
Noise: There has been a lot of talk online about the whiny noise of the SL motor. I would say that I am someone who is very sensitive to annoying noises. I did not find the noise of the motor annoying. In fact, it was somewhat comforting because it reminded me that the motor was doing its job. And the noise when coasting, which I would characterize as similar to the sound of cicadas was kind of pleasant. And if you don't want the noise just keep pedaling!
Step through: Certainly easier to get on. A bit tricky to get off. But as someone who learned as a child to get on a bike by standing on one pedal and swinging one's leg over I appreciate the step through especially when stopped before crossing a couple of busy two lane roads. I don't get off of the bike, just add some motor support and am able to move quickly across the road.
Gearing: The step through has 11 gears as opposed to the original Vado Sl with 10. It is more than sufficient. I was surprised at how low the lowest gears were, and, in fact, I never needed to go into the lowest gear or the highest gear. Going downhill I got to 31 mph and on the flat in turbo got to 26 mph. If I were in better shape I think I could have gotten to 28 mph.
EQ vs non-EQ: I wanted to use my own saddle so didn't want to have to deal with the light built into the non EQ saddle. And I wanted a rack. The fenders I don't really need, and in fact I had the dealer remove the extension to the fender in the front which people have reported causing twigs etc to get stuck.
TCD-W : I got it as a $90 add on and it is more than sufficient for my needs. For example I thought my normal cadence was about 60 per minute, but found using the TCD that it was actually in the 70 -75 range even without the motor. And by seeing the cadence in real time it reminds me when it drops below 70 to shift to a lower gear. More info on the TCD than I am likely to need and I'm glad I have it.

I can't finish without giving a shout out to my dealer, Bikeway in Wappingers Falls NY, and in particular, George who sold me the bike and Doug the store manager who delivered it. I put a deposit down at the end of February which they held until I was ready to have it delivered in April. In fact, the bike I bought was the Raspberry color as they didn't have the White Sage. Their inventory showed they had one in another store but when George called over it had just been sold and they didn't have any other. Nothing wrong with raspberry. An hour later I got a text that the person ( ok, a woman) who bought the white sage preferred the raspberry color and would I like to switch. So, serendipity and an win/win. I love the color. When Doug delivered the bike there was a brief problem pairing it with mission control until he remembered that he had replaced the TCU as he saw something about the one on the bike that didn't seem quite right so switched it out and it had a different set of numbers to pair to. To me that says something about attention to detail. In addition when I asked about future firmware updates Doug said he could come to me with his computer and do it at my home. I'm about a 45 minute drive from their shop. They also have a mobile service van that will come to your home to do routine maintenance or pick up a bike if it needs to go back to the shop. Finally, at the end of February the bike was listed on the Specialized site at $4000 and that was the price I saw from any dealer selling it. Bikeway gave me a $250 discount so I paid $3750 still at a time when bikes are hard to find.

Sorry for the long post but a few other comments. When I told a friend and his wife I had gotten a step-through his wife said, "You mean a girls bike." I guess all I can say is that I'm man enough to ride a "girls" bike with the added benefit that it is less likely to be stolen. Who wants to steal a "girls"bike. Anyway if a guy like Stefan, who can hold his bike over his head in one hand, is lusting after a step through it must be ok. Now I just want to see whether he can hold a step-through over his head. That would be a true symbol of manliness.

Attached a photo of my bike.

Marty

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you very much for an excellent write-up, Marty! Your observations are so similar to mine! Allow me several remarks:

And the noise when coasting, which I would characterize as similar to the sound of cicadas was kind of pleasant. And if you don't want the noise just keep pedaling!

When the SL1.1 motor does not deliver any assistance, it becomes silent. The "sound of cicadas" comes from the rear-hub freewheel. As you live in the United States, it is hard for you to ride past the speed limiter. Here, with the speed restricted to 25 km/h, the motor silence mostly means you ride faster than the speed restriction (just on your own leg power). I often forget pushing a button to derestrict my Vado SL. If I can feel my thighs stiffer and there is no noise whatsoever, it means I'm pedalling alone (without the motor assistance).

Noise: There has been a lot of talk online about the whiny noise of the SL motor. I would say that I am someone who is very sensitive to annoying noises. I did not find the noise of the motor annoying. In fact, it was somewhat comforting because it reminded me that the motor was doing its job.

I asked two different riding buddies of mine how they felt about the SL1.1 motor noise as we are riding side by side. Each of my mates said the motor noise was barely audible for them. One of them specifically remarked the SL motor noise felt pleasant to him, and he said himself he liked the fact the motor indicated it was working that way.

When I told a friend and his wife I had gotten a step-through his wife said, "You mean a girls bike."

Such thinking is obsolete nowadays. Many girls ride male bikes (road or gravel, for instance), and many men choose ST or Low-Step for practical reasons. (Very few females ride in long skirts nowadays, for one). While I have to accept the fact my SL is high-step (there was no other option at the time I was buying it), I am so happy riding my big Vado in ST! On my off-road Vado ride of yesterday, I had to stop for many times. How convenient it was to get on and off the ST! Besides, I dismount my ST the same way I mount it. Not complicated if you keep your brake lever depressed for safety and use the handlebar as a support.

Attached a photo of my bike.

It's lovely!

I am unlikely to ride more than 25 miles

Never say that! The appetite may grow the more you ride!