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

[mogulman]

Is anyone using a handlebar bag with their Tubo Vado’s? If so, what are you using and what are you doing about the front light?

I have a leadoutgear mini burrito bag. Fits my phone, wallet, and a multi tool and a snack. It straps on the handlebars. There is a strap for the stem area too, but I don't use that part.

 

[Badders]

I have a leadoutgear mini burrito bag. Fits my phone, wallet, and a multi tool and a snack. It straps on the handlebars. There is a strap for the stem area too, but I don't use that part.

Thanks! I'll check it out!

 

[Kris Mason]

I did it! Shes getting a rack upgrade and will be ready next week! Thanks

everyone!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Congratulations!

 

[LiamD]

I've had my Vado SL since March, done 1750km. Dropped it into my LBS for a new chain, he says I need a new cassette too.
Seems a bit soon?

 

[CodyDog]

I did it! Shes getting a rack upgrade and will be ready next week! ThanksView attachment 129860View attachment 129861 everyone!

Congrats!

 

[kahn]

I did it! Shes getting a rack upgrade and will be ready next week! ThanksView attachment 129860View attachment 129861 everyone!

Now if only you learned to pedal on the correct side of the road!

Congrats.

 

[BioWheel]

I've had my Vado SL since March, done 1750km. Dropped it into my LBS for a new chain, he says I need a new cassette too.
Seems a bit soon?

Ask them why. I would say the chain, based on my own history, is a yes to replace. But I've got 3k miles on my SL and no issues with cassette.

 

[jodi2]

Not in the right order, the lower Vado came today, the upper one 2021, the Creo 2020.
At the moment our only bikes apart form two foldable ones for short distance to carry in our small car for vacations.

 

[Kris Mason]

Just thought I'd share what I picked up today - I'm very happy with it. Carrying my 16kg toddler up hills is a breeze, I've had the rear rack upgraded to a topeak (by my LBS) one to increase carrying capacity to 25kg, the size (L) is also much better than my old bike (unsure of size likely a M and different brand) the new bike gives us both more room.

Added some bottle cages, hid an Apple airtag under one the cages with a black plastic case (I got on Amazon) plus some security bolts and it blends in beautifully.

Thanks very much again to everyone for helping with my questions - actually looking forward to my Monday morning work commute!

Has anyone had issues with rear guard being out of alignment (photo attached) suspect it's possibly

because of the rack change? I've gently bent it overback to centre after taking the photo.

 

[Kris Mason]

I've also spotted this as an alternative way to upgrade the rack but don't know if it would work with our model and seat post dimensions

 

[mschwett]

Just thought I'd share what I picked up today - I'm very happy with it. Carrying my 16kg toddler up hills is a breeze, I've had the rear rack upgraded to a topeak (by my LBS) one to increase carrying capacity to 25kg, the size (L) is also much better than my old bike (unsure of size likely a M and different brand) the new bike gives us both more room.

Added some bottle cages, hid an airbag under one the cage with a black plastic case plus some security bolts and it blends in beautifully.

Thanks very much again to everyone for helping with my questions - actually looking forward to my Monday morning work commute!

Has anyone had issues with rear guard being out of alignment (photo attached) suspect it's possibly View attachment 130660because of the rack change? I've gently bent it overback to centre after taking the photo.

oooooh nice.

what is the weight limit for the rack mount version of that seat? i have the frame mount version, and my little one is getting a bit too big for it. i wonder if it would work up to the 25kg that the rack supports?

 

[Kris Mason]

Hey @mschwett

I got this rack https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/318-BABYSEAT-II-RACK-(DISC)

The extensions for the rack I'm not sure which ones they used id have to check with my LBS but happy to if you want - I can send you some more photos. It's not 100% perfect right up close but gets my kid on my bike safely!

This seat it weighs 3kg and can hold a kid up to 22kgs

Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi | Thule | Australia

Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi - Thule Yepp Nexxt child bike seats let you and your child enjoy everyday bike rides together – safely, easily, and in style.

www.thule.com

 

[Kris Mason]

Sooo I forgot to charge my battery after weekend riding with my daughter and had strong headwinds on the way to work (hoping for tailwinds on the way home) so I used turbo quite a bit this morning trying to speed up my commute.

I am already getting a quote for a charger to leave at work!

Looking for some guidance if I use smart control

I have 40% battery left - last 5kms of my ride are the hardest

I thought I can not use power most of the way and only use for the end of try smart assist

- set distance ride 20km (it’s about 17.5)
- set elevation to 100m (my highest)
- set climb response to 25m (it only goes 0 or the next iteration is 25m)
- battery to maybe 5% at the end - I have a big hill at the end want to make sure it doesn’t die before

Any suggestions? Or does this sound logical?

Also - wondered what happens if I hit power up and down buttons on the bike during the ride if I get stuck on a hill? Will this clash with smart control or do they work together? I haven’t found a good explication if you set smart assist and go or if you can set smart assist and go plus use some extra up and down adjust between low/sport/turbo as needed?

Thanks so much

Kris

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Kris,
Don't read. Just jump down to the asterisk*

I have 40% battery left - last 5kms of my ride are the hardest

I thought I can not use power most of the way and only use for the end of try smart assist

- set distance ride 20km (it’s about 17.5)
- set elevation to 100m (my highest)
- set climb response to 25m (it only goes 0 or the next iteration is 25m)
- battery to maybe 5% at the end - I have a big hill at the end want to make sure it doesn’t die before

Any suggestions? Or does this sound logical?

It sounds about right. Just notice the Elevation is actually the Elevation Gain. With several small hills on your route the Elevation Gain will accumulate. Regarding the Climb Response, please set it to 0. It means Smart Control will increase assist as soon as a climb has been detected (otherwise, you have to make the Elevation Gain of 25 m without extra assistance).

Also - wondered what happens if I hit power up and down buttons on the bike during the ride if I get stuck on a hill? Will this clash with smart control or do they work together? I haven’t found a good explication if you set smart assist and go or if you can set smart assist and go plus use some extra up and down adjust between low/sport/turbo as needed?

Hitting the + button on your remote will get you into Turbo immediately. Not sure how it works on the latest version of Vado. On the older versions, the Turbo boost in Smart Control is applied for a relatively short time (after several seconds it gets back to the Smart Control) and needs to be repeated until you have climbed to the top. Perhaps it works better on the Mastermind system!

Smart Control is conservative. It will initially offer you a little of assistance. When the system can see your battery charge is aplenty, the assistance will be gradually increased. You might be disappointed or delighted with the SC performance (it is yet to be seen in your case!) In the situation of riding out with 40% full battery, use of SC is reasonable though.

Let me do some math: Your battery is 710 Wh (right?) 5% is the unusable charge (36 Wh). Your 40% charge is 710 * 0.4 = 284 Wh, of which 284 - 36 = 248 Wh is usable. Your distance is 17.5 km, making the possible consumption figure of 14 Wh/km. Please be informed I was using only 12.6 Wh/km on my older Vado test ride in Turbo mode! I do not encourage you to try in Turbo but I can bet you would safely make your trip in the Sport mode
--------------
*) I have completely forgotten your Vado is a 25 km/h machine. Except steep hills, even low assistance will get you at 25 km/h. No need for Turbo! Meaning, your 40% of the big battery should last for eons... 17.5 km on the flat is nothing for a 25 km/h e-bike! (My Vado is a 45 km/h e-bike and uses far more of the battery juice!)

 

[Kris Mason]

@Stefan Mikes impressive as always.

Here is my stats from the commute in - I’m impressed by your math!! And anxious about my battery life haha

You will see the elevation increase that will be in reverse for the battery and also attached speed separately - still think I can make it the whole way in sport?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The Sport could be even too much but you will get at work dry, haha!

Notice that even low assistance such as Eco gets you on 25 km/h pretty easily. If the assistance is too high, you will be riding on a choking motor: assistance up to 25 km/h then the motor cuts off, etc. Your sweet point (for the future rides) would be adjusting the assistance/max motor power at the level it keeps you riding at 24.5 km/h. You can expect enormous range with that setting!

P.S. I edited my earlier post.

 

[mschwett]

@Stefan Mikes impressive as always.

Here is my stats from the commute in - I’m impressed by your math!! And anxious about my battery life haha

You will see the elevation increase that will be in reverse for the battery and also attached speed separately - still think I can make it the whole way in sport?


View attachment 130828

if i'm reading your chart correctly... there's a climb of about 85m over a distance of perhaps 8km for the second half of your ride home. although there are some ups and down, that's only an average grade of a percent or two. to go 25kph up a 2% grade on a vado SL doesn't take much more than 250 watts TOTAL, including your input. in a situation like the one you describe on a partially charged SL bike, i'd turn the assist off completely until i got to the hill, and then put it on eco or sport, get into a climbing gear, and take it at 20kph or so.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Oh no! I have overlooked the fact Kris was riding an SL e-bike (for some reason, I thought it was a big Vado)! The whole math I did was useless! Thank you Mark. It is still morning here.

 

[Kris Mason]

Thanks @mschwett and @Stefan Mikes I rode somewhat conservatively and came home with 2 bars of battery still! Interesting (black images are from Specialized app) and (white ones are from it being shared to Strava)

You’ll note 50km/h + max speed which isn’t in the ride app… strange…. Max speed on ride app is 36.7!

Either way great news is I made it home! Battery still with capacity and turbo used for the hills I needed it on!

Bike is currently on charge

@Stefan Mikes managed the average of 23.5 but did seem to hit 25 loads of time. Welcome to any suggestions to tune/improve anything… if only my bike cut out at 40 instead of 25