Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)
- Thread starter Stefan Mikes
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My 40 year old friend rode my Vado SL with the 25 km/h limiter on and averaged 27 km/h on a 61 km trip. He has no problem to ride above 25 km/h unassisted as he's a good traditional gravel cyclist.
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
very few of my rides average significantly less than 25kph - the range is 24-29 for the vast majority, no motor at all… but the interesting thing is that even if a bike was limited to 25, that average would still go way up as long as the bike rode well with the motor off (like your vado sL, or a creo sl) since the motor would essentially raise the MINIMUM speed to 25kph!!
what hills!
ispookie666
New Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
Finally swapped the tyres on my bike to 700x32c Gatorskins. Absolute b***h to get them on. Had to get smaller tubes, luckily had a few spares. The Gatorskins are a lot better than the native tyre - 700x38c (forgot to actually measure the width using calipers). I have heard some specialized tyres are wider than advertised.
The distance measurement error was 2.5%, I think I can live with it. Hopefully the puncture protection will be ok.
speed
I echo the sentiments of fellow riders, I'm mostly on the speed limit and can feel it cut in and out. I am slowly adapting my cycling style, especially using more assist when going uphill
The distance measurement error was 2.5%, I think I can live with it. Hopefully the puncture protection will be ok.
speed
I echo the sentiments of fellow riders, I'm mostly on the speed limit and can feel it cut in and out. I am slowly adapting my cycling style, especially using more assist when going uphill
Flannel Guy
Active Member
- Region
- USA
This checks out. I followed off the back of a pack of middle aged roadies on nice road bikes the other day just to see what pace they ride at. 20-25mph on undulating terrain- 35mph downhill. I had to put my Hydra in Eco 2 to keep up.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I could make an interesting test today. Went on a 35 km ride, and I needed to make it fast, so I rode in SL Turbo. The main battery was at 60% and the Range Extender was 100% charged (total charge in Specialized terms: 110%). The bike was set to discharge both batteries. Vado SL was first using the RE, and when the RE charge was some 10% higher than the main battery, both batteries were discharged by approximately the same percentage. At the end of the ride, the combined charge was 15% (8% for the main battery and 14% for the RE).
It looks that the system to discharge both batteries in a balanced way works very well. If we talk the absolute charge of both batteries, the amount of Wh left in each battery was almost equal!
It looks that the system to discharge both batteries in a balanced way works very well. If we talk the absolute charge of both batteries, the amount of Wh left in each battery was almost equal!
Did anybody ever saw a frame bag which could be attached to bolts on bottom of top tube?
I use one of these with my tools, spare tube. https://www.salsacycles.com/gear/anything_bracket_mini
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
So, I was on a Saturday ride on my Vado SL, 125 km. The main battery and a Range Extender still held 20% of the charge overall after 115 km with average assistance of 60/60%. However, when riding on such a low battery level (it is 12% of the main battery and 16% of the RE remaining), the assistance becomes very low. So I had to swap the RE for a fresh one. How fast the SL started riding afterwards!
Last edited:
Hi,
I follow topics, but due to lack of time I rarely comment.
However, to contribute to the community with my experience. Namely, I own two Vado SL & 6.0 and below I have put two identical routes with the stated parameters of STRAVA.
Data is collected by Apple Watch.
It's interesting to see that the heart rate is higher on the SL (and it feels like I'm using more effort), while the 6.0 burns more calories.
By the way, with the mentioned support, I pull it out of the battery; - SL 90 KM - 6.0 80KM
I follow topics, but due to lack of time I rarely comment.
However, to contribute to the community with my experience. Namely, I own two Vado SL & 6.0 and below I have put two identical routes with the stated parameters of STRAVA.
Data is collected by Apple Watch.
It's interesting to see that the heart rate is higher on the SL (and it feels like I'm using more effort), while the 6.0 burns more calories.
By the way, with the mentioned support, I pull it out of the battery; - SL 90 KM - 6.0 80KM
Attachments
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
that’s because strava is primarily using speed to determine the amount of work you’re doing - and riding faster takes much more energy. what strava doesn’t realize is that the bike is actually providing that extra energy.
unless you use the built-in power meter on the bike (which actually measures your energy contribution to the ride!) the calories figure in strava is completely meaningless!
.... but I think all data is transferred from the Apple Watch. ?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Igor: First of all -- long time no see, friend! It's good to have you back!
Now: You are relying on Apple Watch. If you had your data transferred from the e-bikes to Strava (for example, by the BLEvo app), and you had this support set for your e-bikes:
- 30/30% for Vado 6.0
- 60/60% for Vado SL
Then you would have noticed your own leg power, heart rate and calories would be about the same. Note: Both Specialized e-bikes have a leg power meter and calculate calories based on the energy you have input by pedalling.
If the assistance is 35/35% for Vado 6.0 and it is 45/45% for Vado SL, then Vado 6.0 has as much power as Vado SL would have at 70/70%. So your Vado 6.0:
- Is faster than Vado SL
- You heart rate is slower on Vado 6.0
- You burn less calories on Vado 6.0.
In order to use handlebar bag I successfully relocated light from stem to fork. I used mount piece from cheap ali expres light.
Vado 4 SL has alu fork with front facing mount with thred, so I needed just regular screw and 5 minutes work.
Vado 4 SL has alu fork with front facing mount with thred, so I needed just regular screw and 5 minutes work.
Attachments
Best regards, Stefan. you make an immense contribution to this topic.
Yes, the data is contrary to what I feel when riding these two bulls. Let's go like this, I make the same route with Vado SL, with the fact that I will transfer the data to Strava with MC (BIKE). I provide the data.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Also use the data of MC in Specialized "Ride" app (@mschwett can explain how to do it). For an experiment, use 35/35% assistance for Vado 6.0 and 70/70% for Vado SL. You might get surprised!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Saddles 
I have standardized on Selle Royal Respiro Moderate saddles on my both Specialized e-bikes. No bad word on these saddles!
However, I was curious what would have happened if I swapped a Respiro for the stock Specialized Bridge Sport saddle on my Vado SL. As I managed to lower the handlebars as low as possible for that e-bike and I typically wear chamois on my rides, it was an interesting experiment. Guess what?
The Bridge Sport is now as good as the Respiro! Or even better! It is because it is narrower and not chafing my thighs. Chamois and thick Respiro padding together used to put stress on my perineum, and that's not the case with the Bridge Sport! Yes, the Respiro is better for casual shorts or trousers. However, Bridge Sport is far better for chamois shorts or bibs because of less sweat/moisture accumulated!
What a surprise!
I have standardized on Selle Royal Respiro Moderate saddles on my both Specialized e-bikes. No bad word on these saddles!
However, I was curious what would have happened if I swapped a Respiro for the stock Specialized Bridge Sport saddle on my Vado SL. As I managed to lower the handlebars as low as possible for that e-bike and I typically wear chamois on my rides, it was an interesting experiment. Guess what?
The Bridge Sport is now as good as the Respiro! Or even better! It is because it is narrower and not chafing my thighs. Chamois and thick Respiro padding together used to put stress on my perineum, and that's not the case with the Bridge Sport! Yes, the Respiro is better for casual shorts or trousers. However, Bridge Sport is far better for chamois shorts or bibs because of less sweat/moisture accumulated!
What a surprise!
Last edited:
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
the watch can’t accurately determine how much work you’re doing since it has no idea how much work the bike is doing!
Richard Stallard
Active Member
- Region
- Australia
A few weeks ago, I adjusted the Eco mode on my Vado SL from the default 35% boost to 20%. The main aim was to make me work a little bit harder and, hopefully, get a bit fitter as I didn’t need the 35% boost most of the time. I have done several rides since up to 55 km, and only resorted to Sport mode on a couple of hills. Not surprisingly, the battery consumption has reduced and is consistently below 1% per kilometre compared to somewhat over 1% per kilometre previously. I am happy with the new setting but I can always go back if needed in the future, and the higher boost modes are available at the touch of a button.
Similar threads
