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

[MartsEbike]

I"ve even heard linguists say that. Yet, it's spoken all over the globe — including many places with native languages unrelated to English in every way. And generally well enough to be understood.

Gotta be an interesting story behind that, probably with the British Empire playing a central role.

Chinglish is my favourite type of English!

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Well, we heard something about the country called the United States

Oh yeah, forgot about that one.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

There are many short vids about it on the internet I sometimes watch YT programmes from linguists (RobWords, LetThemTalkTV) and these guys have explained in detail why the English spelling is so weird! Interestingly, they say the American English is more archaic in some aspects than the modern British English. Regarding the American spelling, we can all be grateful to one Noah Webster who had a unique chance to really reform the English language but he rather spoilt/spoiled it even more

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

This video tries to explain the intricacies.

Wish they'd covered tomatoes and potatoes.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

P.S. Bobby Finn is the most consistent

His: "Noooo!", "Why would you think","You don't see how", and "That's why" went viral

 

[Rás Cnoic]

For me, there is nothing better than SKS Speedrockers but there are two important points:

• The rear mudguard will only fit the 38 mm tyre on Vado SL. With a 42 mm tyre there is no clearance to install the mudguard! (The front fits OK).

er... cough, cough ....

or...

 

[MartsEbike]

For me, there is nothing better than SKS Speedrockers but there are two important points:

• The rear mudguard will only fit the 38 mm tyre on Vado SL. With a 42 mm tyre there is no clearance to install the mudguard! (The front fits OK).

er... cough, cough ....



View attachment 186948View attachment 186950

or...

View attachment 186951View attachment 186952

Glad to hear this Rás, I've just ordered the Speedrockers yesterday!... and a few days ago I ordered some Continental Terra Speed (40C) gravel tyres for extra grip on the muddy/gravel paths... Gives me some confidence that they might fit!

​

​

 

[Stefan Mikes]

er... cough, cough ....

Ras, as my brother explained to me, the tyre profile can be very different depending on the exact tyre model, inflation pressure (and the rim inner width, irrelevant here). He installed a 45 mm Schwalbe G-One 365 on his gravel bike, measured the width, and it was 42 mm.

The only thing I can confirm is: A Specialized Tracer Pro 42-622 tyre under 2.6 - 3.0 bar is too big to accommodate the rear Speedrocker. The tyre just rubs the mudguard. (The Tracer profile is high).

Glad to hear this Rás, I've just ordered the Speedrockers yesterday!... and a few days ago I ordered some Continental Terra Speed (40C) gravel tyres for extra grip on the muddy/gravel paths... Gives me some confidence that they might fit!

You might be lucky

 

[Stefan Mikes]

WTBs... as Jeremy can certainly remember well, there was a user who got WTBs as the stock tyres on his boutique e-bike and immediately started thinking of replacing those tyres with Schwalbe Johnny Watts The reason was the man had never heard of Wild Trail Bicycles I tried to save the guy effort and money, and also save excellent rubber but in turn I "crossed the line" and was "a bully"

(sigh)

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Ras, as my brother explained to me, the tyre profile can be very different depending on the exact tyre model, inflation pressure

Exactly - I've had the Speed Rockers about 7 years and for the last 4 they've been on the Vado SL & I've had a number of different tyres. On paper the Byways are the widest at 44 and fit no problem (at any pressure) and the Gravel King SKs although 43 are actually wider because of the knobs. No problem with those either, though up at the seat stays its pretty close, but in use seemed fine. To say anything over 38 just won't fit is incorrect. Most up to 42 seem to fit fine. Perhaps it's just the Tracer Pros - Did you ever have a pair of 42s Pathfinder Pros? Curious if they fit.

Marts you should be ok with 40s, though I've not tried the Terra Speeds, they look good!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Did you ever have a pair of 42s Pathfinder Pros? Curious if they fit.

The issue here is my wheels are now set up tubeless so no change until the rubber gets worn!

 

[MartsEbike]

Marts you should be ok with 40s, though I've not tried the Terra Speeds, they look good!

The reviews speak highly of them! Road.cc rated a 9 out of 10, so I have high hopes. Plus I purchased them during the Black Friday sales so they were 40% off!

My only issue was not considering this when I purchased the Speedrockers. I had a wet backside after last night's ride so the Speedrockers were a bit of an impulse buy!

I might be lucky though... But they do have nobbles. Hopefully, they'll still fit.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

The reviews speak highly of them! Road.cc rated a 9 out of 10, so I have high hopes. Plus I purchased them during the Black Friday sales so they were 40% off!

My only issue was not considering this when I purchased the Speedrockers. I had a wet backside after last night's ride so the Speedrockers were a bit of an impulse buy!

I might be lucky though... But they do have nobbles. Hopefully, they'll still fit.

Wet arse in cold weather not fun!! Fingers crossed they will fit.

 

[e-levity]

That would be my preferred colour but I have never had a chance to be offered that specific 2020 variant!

Here ya go Stefan, my 2020 in 2020 in EQ mode

and in 2024 in Southern California mode (no mudguards needed!)

It's for sale if you're interested

 

[Stefan Mikes]

and in 2024 in Southern California mode (no mudguards needed!)

A real beauty! How did you solve the tail light dilemma?

It's for sale if you're interested

If only it was that simple!

2021 Vado SL 4.0 EQ, 2024 gravel racing edition

Another impression from the Sunday gravel ride in cold, mud, puddles and deep potholes: The Redshift ShockStop suspension seat-post turned out to be invaluable! Because of my heavy body weight, the stiffness of the seat-post has been enhanced by a helper spring (everything 'by the book'). On my usual rides, I hardly think of the rear body contact point. However, the potholes (I would call the road profile 'wavy') on the last ride were as deep as I felt the seat-post working hard under me to the point of maxing out! I even do not want to think how I'd feel had I no rear suspension on that e-bike!

 

[MartsEbike]

Thought I'd just update this thread to say my Vado SL is going back to the bike shop... The issue I had with it not turning on has happened again, in fact this is the third time, so I'm going to let the Dealer/Specialized sort it out. Obviously something is amiss and I can't have this kind of unreliability. I've only had it 5 weeks. Doesn't bode well, but the dealer is going to check it. Depending on the issue they might fix or replace it.

So for the meantime I'll be back riding my Frey EX.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Thought I'd just update this thread to say my Vado SL is going back to the bike shop... The issue I had with it not turning on has happened again, in fact this is the third time, so I'm going to let the Dealer/Specialized sort it out. Obviously something is amiss and I can't have this kind of unreliability. I've only had it 5 weeks. Doesn't bode well, but the dealer is going to check it. Depending on the issue they might fix or replace it.

So for the meantime I'll be back riding my Frey EX.

It could be a faulty TCU, this happened to me. They'll run diagnostics nd report to Specialized and if it's the TCU, the wiring or the battery, then Spesh (in my experience) will just replace the faulty part straight away. If your bike shop has a lot of Spesh bikes especially EMTBs they'll be well used to this and have a good (and quick) relationship with Specialized. I have had 2 TCUs replaced- though I suspect the second time it was the fault of the bike mechanic who installed the replacement TCU, I reckon he left some wiring loose as the second failure happened quickly after the first time. In short, motor/Battery/TCU faults are not rare and hopefully will be dealt with efficiently.

 

[MartsEbike]

It could be a faulty TCU, this happened to me. They'll run diagnostics nd report to Specialized and if it's the TCU, the wiring or the battery, then Spesh (in my experience) will just replace the faulty part straight away. If your bike shop has a lot of Spesh bikes especially EMTBs they'll be well used to this and have a good (and quick) relationship with Specialized. I have had 2 TCUs replaced- though I suspect the second time it was the fault of the bike mechanic who installed the replacement TCU, I reckon he left some wiring loose as the second failure happened quickly after the first time. In short, motor/Battery/TCU faults are not rare and hopefully will be dealt with efficiently.

Thanks Rás! I think its the internal battery that's the fault - or perhaps wiring between it and the controller.

When I plug in my Range Extender the bike works as you'd expect. But disconnect the RE and nothing happens. This is an intermittent fault too. It started last week, but has now happened twice in past 5 days. This morning it was fine, but by this afternoon it wouldn't work again.... I have rode the bike in the rain/wet conditions so perhaps water/moisture has got somewhere it shouldn't! Very annoying though.

Hopefully they'll get it sorted out quickly.

 

[GAJ]

Hopefully some members in the US took advantage of the rock bottom pricing for the SL1 5.0 and 4.0 non EQ at $2249/$1749 for that 2 day period which just past.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Thanks Rás! I think its the internal battery that's the fault - or perhaps wiring between it and the controller.

When I plug in my Range Extender the bike works as you'd expect. But disconnect the RE and nothing happens. This is an intermittent fault too. It started last week, but has now happened twice in past 5 days. This morning it was fine, but by this afternoon it wouldn't work again.... I have rode the bike in the rain/wet conditions so perhaps water/moisture has got somewhere it shouldn't! Vey annoying though.

Hopefully they'll get it sorted out quickly.

It could well be water ingress at the motor area given all the flooding & rain. I got a warning about that when my TCU failed. And my bike shop (Bicycle Chain Taunton) said thats common in our climate and especially with EMTBs obviously due to all the mud and floods. Ive been cycling through loads of floods since the snow and each time I almost cross my fingers that nothing dies on me! Let us know what the bike shop tell you. The e bike repair (in UK) shop said most motors have inadequate weather seals!