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

[rochrunner]

I am finding the 2022 VadoSL5 grips are really nice so didn't feel need to get Ergon GP1/GP2 yet.
However, those innerbarends that Stefan has; could work well for me given I tend to put my hands towards the middle of handlebar all the time when I get tired holding on the grips on wider side.

I discovered this as well today when I took a long ride on my road bike for the first time this year. My wrists and shoulders were much more comfortable than on my SL 5 and I realized that there were two factors at play: first off, the bars are a lot narrower, and when I'm riding with my hands on the brake hoods as I usually do, my wrists are turned toward the inside just like they'd be on inner bar ends! Since I'm having general issues with making some slight changes to my riding position on the SL, I'll definitely be looking at those bar ends in addition to whatever else I might decide to go with.

By the way, I guess I'd forgotten how much fun it is to ride that bike on a smooth asphalt bike trail! It weighs literally half what the SL does and is very responsive to changes in direction. I also liked getting back to a closer-ratio 2x11 drivetrain that lets me match speed to cadence a lot better. One change I might make soon is to move the Redshift Shockstop seat post from my old hybrid to the road bike since the SL looks like a complete replacement for the old trusty Crosstrail and I'll probably dispose of that bike.

 

[waghmare]

I find that 2022SL5 is ready to drive without any changes given it has lock+alarm, futureshock, pathfinders (road+gravel), good grips.
Just came from 35mile drive across the lake mostly in off, echo with one hill needing sport and has 25% battery left so I am sure I can do 45-50mile rides.

Tomorrow I am going to take it to gravel so wish me luck as this would be first test to see how much of mtb genes VadoSL has:
- Thrilla in Woodenvilla (17.8 Miles, 80%Singletrack, 551' High, 27'Low, 1,369'Up, 1,372'Down, 3%Avg Grade (2°), 18%Max Grade (10°))
- Map: https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/4057064/thrilla-in-woodinvilla
- Video:

The mods I have planned are:

1. [Needs] Topeak medium or large saddle bag with 700c spare, multitool, co2 cartrige/dispenser, mini pry bars and tire patches
2. [Needs] 2x Cageless water bottles
3. [Needs] Put phone mount adapter (male) on that garmin female mount in the center
4. [Wants] SQLab 411 innerbarends and possibly tape the middle portion of handlebar for resting
5. [Wants] Canecreek eeSilk or ST or Kinect suspension (want to preserve the rear lights on non-EQ)
6. [Wants] Brooks B17 saddle

 

[rochrunner]

Tomorrow I am going to take it to gravel so wish me luck as this would be first test to see how much of mtb genes VadoSL has:
- Thrilla in Woodenvilla (17.8 Miles, 80%Singletrack, 551' High, 27'Low, 1,369'Up, 1,372'Down, 3%Avg Grade (2°), 18%Max Grade (10°))

I think you're going to miss having more of a suspension. Remember, the FutureShock has only 20mm -- < 1 inch -- travel and the rear is solid. I tried something similar last week and quickly discovered the limits.

 

[mogulman]

I think you're going to miss having more of a suspension. Remember, the FutureShock has only 20mm -- < 1 inch -- travel and the rear is solid. I tried something similar last week and quickly discovered the limits.

Gravel or single track? Have tried some gravel and it seemed fine. Not as plush as my full suspension mtb, but seemed ok. Granted....I was only on gravel for 1/4 of the ride.

The Innerbarends intrigue me. Someone else try them, post a pic and I'll think about it I'd probably use them with the grips that come on the SL, or get all new.

I do have hand numbness issues. Carpel tunnel surgery on both wrists. Left probably needs a redo at some point.

I wonder too what the best position is for the grips. I currently have my grips so that flat part is angled in parallel with my hand/wrist position (45 degree) rather than flat. Supposedly carpel tunnel issues occur more often if you have your wrists bent when riding. Also trying to experiment with seat fore/after placement to reduce weight on arms vs seat.

 

[WIVado]

I enjoy the set I have very much.

 

[waghmare]

View attachment 126953
I enjoy the set I have very much.

Can I get a full pic to see how far apart the inner bar ends are?

 

[BioWheel]

I discovered this as well today when I took a long ride on my road bike for the first time this year. My wrists and shoulders were much more comfortable than on my SL 5 and I realized that there were two factors at play: first off, the bars are a lot narrower, and when I'm riding with my hands on the brake hoods as I usually do, my wrists are turned toward the inside just like they'd be on inner bar ends! Since I'm having general issues with making some slight changes to my riding position on the SL, I'll definitely be looking at those bar ends in addition to whatever else I might decide to go with.

By the way, I guess I'd forgotten how much fun it is to ride that bike on a smooth asphalt bike trail! It weighs literally half what the SL does and is very responsive to changes in direction. I also liked getting back to a closer-ratio 2x11 drivetrain that lets me match speed to cadence a lot better. One change I might make soon is to move the Redshift Shockstop seat post from my old hybrid to the road bike since the SL looks like a complete replacement for the old trusty Crosstrail and I'll probably dispose of that bike.

Agree Roch - there's a different feel to a lighter bike than the SL. I take out my regular bikes from time-to-time and still get plenty of fun with them. I would say - I like the 'beefy' feel of the SL too though - in it's own way. Yeah, heavier and not quite as reactive but I'm less nervous and the SL transmits a feeling of sturdiness that I'm starting to prefer on gravel, road or really - anything. Great to have options!

 

[WIVado]

The bar ends may look uneven in this picture; it’s just the angle of the camera.

Sorry for upside-down tape measure.

I like where I have the bar ends positioned, but I believe you will often see photos of the SQLabs inner bar ends positioned right next to the handlebar grips.

They are mounted on a carbon flat bar (no rise) so it is a somewhat different configuration than a stock Vado.

 

[TYJ]

You can pretty much set the innerbarends wherever you have space. I placed mine against the grips so I can easily operate the brakes while on the innerbarends. Sorry this is the only photo I have at the moment.

 

[Seasider]

A couple of new mods to the Vado SL. An S-Works carbon riser handlebar and Roval seat post. I've temporarily gone back to the stock saddle from the Brooks but will likely switch back. I'm hoping the bar will reduce the vibration a bit. The seat post is a nice bit of industrial design but perhaps overkill on the
Vado...still, I'm happy with it!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Stefan Mikes What mounting arrangement do you use? On my SL, the left side has the grip, then the remote, then the brake lever. On the right the sequence is grip, brake, shifter. Which side of the left-side remote do you put the bar end? On the right side, does it make it more difficult to reach the shifter when you're on the regular grip?

@rochrunner:
My left sequence: Mirrycle, SQlab grip 702, Innerbarend 402, brake lever, Specialized remote.
My right sequence: Grip, Innerbarend, brake lever, shifter, bell.

Tested & optimal

There is a rule about the Innerbarends: These need to be installed as close to the brake lever as possible because they are replacing drop-bar hoods and need to allow immediate braking. In my setup, the distance between the actual Innerbarend grips is 420 mm, or 16.5". The width of the drop-bar for road bike can be 380 mm, 400 mm, 420 mm or 440 mm. It is 420 mm with the innerbarends on my Vado SL. A perfect replacement for drop-bars. Who disagrees?

 

[WIVado]

I’ll run mine where I please, and really don’t care about Stefan’s HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE rules or anyone else’s.

 

[rochrunner]

Gravel or single track? Have tried some gravel and it seemed fine. Not as plush as my full suspension mtb, but seemed ok. Granted....I was only on gravel for 1/4 of the ride.

It was single track, but actually smoother than many of our unpaved roads around here. We've had this discussion here before, but the term "gravel" means different things to different areas around the world. Our gravel/dirt roads are best traversed with a full suspension MTB and any attempt on them with what they typically sell as a "gravel bike", i.e. a variation on a drop-bar road bike, would be a difficult proposition! My Vados have done OK on them, but only by going slow, picking my lines if possible, and preferably riding them soon (but not too soon!) after the periodic gradings.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I’ll run mine where I please, and really don’t care about Stefan’s HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE rules or anyone else’s.

You can do whatever you please (killing yourself is one of the options) but the Innerbarends are to mimic the drop-bar hoods, which are intended not only for comfortable riding but also for the immediate brake access.

SQlab Innerbarends 410 User Information (Page 21 of 52) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

 

[CodyDog]

I’ll run mine where I please, and really don’t care about Stefan’s HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE rules or anyone else’s.

We typically try to play nice on SL page. perhaps you were kind of joking.

 

[WIVado]

The constant pontificating gets a little tiresome.

Ironically I see I was posting in the SL section, a bike which I don’t own.

My mistake, apologies to all- carry on, please.

 

[waghmare]

Has anyone put tape to hold onto handlebar middle or close to middle spots? I tend to feel good holding hands could of inches away from stem/midpoint on handlebar all the times.

So far here are the hand spots:
- Default grips
- Bar ends GP2/3/4/5
- Innerbarends

 

[waghmare]

I think you're going to miss having more of a suspension. Remember, the FutureShock has only 20mm -- < 1 inch -- travel and the rear is solid. I tried something similar last week and quickly discovered the limits.

And I did miss suspension; mostly seatpost and a few times at the stem. However futureshock did wonders most of the times.

The route changed from road to gravel which wasn’t much noticeable except for speed and noise of those pesky gravels flying away from tires.

Lose accumulated gravel spots were a bit hard to maneuver safely without sliding especially downhill.

Gravel turned into small/medium rocks and I got worried. Mostly just slowing down helped and not much slip. But then rocks became large enough for me to just walk uphill.

Gravel turning into single track and bit of mud was smooth like butter on these 38c pathfinders with futureshock.

Twisting and turning inside Redmond watershed was tons of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the Vado SL visibility and control of flatbars. And the best part was rolling hills with multiple ups and downs of 15-20% grade kept me pedaling all the times at 70-90 cadence range. Serves my purpose for getting Vado SL than Vado. I am still going back n forth with Creo due to drops.

Climbing up on gravel went well at 300ft in 0.3mile climb (20% grade) using turbo/sport and low gears. Torque sensor and gears to the rescue but climb was way more natural than hub motors.

Downhill was scary on gravel as I felt like falling off over handlebars. So walked down a portion of steep downhill descend on lose gravel.

Overall Vado SL gets 8 of 10 on this Thrilla in Woodenvilla single track ride today! Given its within a mile from house I will be doing this again

 

[BlackHand]

Glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you went counterclockwise? Heart Attack Hill is a challenge either way though I think I'd rather go up it than down.

 

[rochrunner]

Downhill was scary on gravel as I felt like falling off over handlebars. So walked down a portion of steep downhill descend on lose gravel.

I don't blame you there. Uphills are easier since the worst is usually that you have to jump off and push if the rear tire can't get traction in the loose stuff, but downhill I often don't feel as in control as I'd like to be and braking the front tire can often make things worse.