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

[Jeremy McCreary]

I have also noticed on a couple of rides, coasting with other analog road bikes that I have been closing on them. I was very happy about this but could not rationalise it in my head. maybe my significant weight on the downhill is out-powering wind resistance of lighter riders on lighter bikes.

Interesting. Relative to a lighter rider on a lighter bike, you'd definitely have a higher gross weight and bigger downhill push from gravity.

Some of the riders I out-rolled definitely fell in that category. But some were probably pretty close to my gross weight. The latter are the ones I just don't understand. Neither does a sixty-something friend who's been a serious rider all his life.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There was something I could not understand myself way back in 1990

I was 29, and worked scientifically for a German chemical company in Duisburg. As I needed a bicycle for commuting, the Scientific Director lent me the family treasure: A 1953 bicycle, the first German bike with an IGH. A tiny gear lever resembled the stick of a car and was installed on the top tube (here: pictured with the Professor's son Klaus).

The bicycle was impeccably clean and perfectly lubed. It seemed to have no rolling resistance! I was successfully keeping up with German roadies! How was that possible? Some magic, I guess

On one afternoon, I parked the bike in a small square and went into a telephone booth to give my wife a call. Meanwhile, the bike was surrounded by a group of moustached German men, each of them holding a bottle of beer (a normal thing in Germany). As I returned, I could see the men forming a wide circle (maintaining a proper social distance), and pointing their fingers at different details of the bicycle (no one would even dare to touch a private property!) They were in awe! I explained the story of the bicycle to them in English. They were greatly impressed!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

700-mile follow-up
As recorded by the Specialized app, yesterday's 33 mi hill/river/coast loop brought the SL to exactly 700 mi in 84 days. Could be another 5 mi in unrecorded test rides.

The overall 43 vertical ft/mi reflects a roughly 2-to-1 mix of gently rolling coast and generally much steeper inland hill miles.

At 84 days, still loving everything about the bike itself. After some initial adjustments (probably an LBS setup issue), it's performed flawlessly. Occasional recording glitches in the Specialized app, which I like a lot otherwise.

Still debating the wisdom of springing for the EQ package but got a much-needed kickstand and a color I love out of it, so I should just get over it.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Easy way to track rider power (Pr) graphically over time?

Never had a Pr meter before and am now fascinated by the Pr data my SL 5.0 reports. Have no formal training aspirations whatsoever, but the SL's definitely making me a stronger rider, and I'd like to see how that plays out over time.

The most-used page by far on my Mastermind TCU is the one I made to show assist mode and real-time Pr and cadence. And I now eagerly look over my Pr stats in the Specialized app after every ride.

Would love to track my average and adjusted average (normalized?) Pr on a graph in some semi-automated way. Could always enter Specialized app data into a spreadsheet manually on a ride-by-ride basis. But with 60+ rides already recorded, that'd be way too much work.

I see that the Specialized app will upload ride data to a Strava or Komoot account automatically.

Q1. Will it upload past rides, too?

Q2. If yes to Q1, all past rides at once, or only one selected ride at a time?

Q3. Will Strava or Komoot plot Pr over time for me?

Q4. If yes to Q3, would I need a paid subscription for that?

Please bear in mind that I have no compelling use for Strava or Komoot beyond this one tracking and plotting task. Ditto for a Wahoo or Garmin computer.

Any other plotting options to consider? Thanks!

 

[MartsEbike]

Easy way to track rider power (Pr) graphically over time?

Never had a Pr meter before and am now fascinated by the Pr data my SL 5.0 reports. Have no formal training aspirations whatsoever, but the SL's definitely making me a stronger rider, and I'd like to see how that plays out over time.

View attachment 187129
The most-used page by far on my Mastermind TCU is the one I made to show assist mode and real-time Pr and cadence. And I now eagerly look over my Pr stats in the Specialized app after every ride.

Would love to track my average and adjusted average (normalized?) Pr on a graph in some semi-automated way. Could always enter Specialized app data into a spreadsheet manually on a ride-by-ride basis. But with 60+ rides already recorded, that'd be way too much work.

I see that the Specialized app will upload ride data to a Strava or Komoot account automatically.

Q1. Will it upload past rides, too?

Q2. If yes to Q1, all past rides at once, or only one selected ride at a time?

Q3. Will Strava or Komoot plot Pr over time for me?

Q4. If yes to Q3, would I need a paid subscription for that?

Please bear in mind that I have no compelling use for Strava or Komoot beyond this one tracking and plotting task. Ditto for a Wahoo or Garmin computer.

Any other plotting options to consider? Thanks!

Q1 - No, I believe it only uploads rides since you linked accounts. You would have to manually export past rides from the Specialized App and upload them to Strava. As you have 60+ rides this could be tedious.

(edit) Just noticed you can upload 25 rides in one go on Strava, which will make it easier!

Q3 - Strava does this.

Q4 - Yes you need a subscription

Another option is Garmin Connect. (I know you don't want one!!!! ) It's "free", and by that I mean you need a garmin device but there is no extra charge to use Garmin Connect. It offers quite extensive riding / health stats. I can't speak for Wahoo as I've never owned one, but I would imagine they offer much the same.

Cycling Stats in Garmin Connect

Some screenshots below.

ps. Keep in mind I've only just started paying for Strava and my SL is my first ebike with data!... And I only bought my garmin last month! So not the most extensive stats yet!

That said I think you would enjoy the stats provided by either Garmin or Wahoo.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Q1 - No, I believe it only uploads rides since you linked accounts. You would have to manually export past rides from the Specialized App and upload them to Strava. As you have 60+ rides this could be tedious.

(edit) Just noticed you can upload 25 rides in one go on Strava, which will make it easier!
View attachment 187138
Q3 - Strava does this.
View attachment 187137
Q4 - Yes you need a subscription

Another option is Garmin Connect. (I know you don't want one!!!! ) It's "free", and by that I mean you need a garmin device but there is no extra charge to use Garmin Connect. It offers quite extensive riding / health stats. I can't speak for Wahoo as I've never owned one, but I would imagine they offer much the same.

Cycling Stats in Garmin Connect
View attachment 187131
Some screenshots below.
View attachment 187133
View attachment 187136View attachment 187132
View attachment 187134
ps. Keep in mind I've only just started paying for Strava and my SL is my first ebike with data!... And I only bought my garmin last month! So not the most extensive stats yet!

Extremely helpful. That all sounds doable. The 3rd plot from the bottom — normalized power vs. date— is exactly what I'm looking for. Question is, how much is this idle curiosity worth?

That said I think you would enjoy the stats provided by either Garmin or Wahoo.

I'm sure I would, but this darned bike keeps costing me money I never saw coming going. Keep hiking up all of my regular shorts and pants now because the SL has reduced my waist by 2 inches. One Wahoo = 4 pairs of the Kuhl pants and shorts I wear.

And I just spent nearly $150 on form-fitting bike shorts and tights to keep my baggy regular pant and short seats from snagging on the SL's saddle nose when remounting after a stop. Alas, my long-standing resistance to lycra has become futile.

 

[MartsEbike]

Extremely helpful. That all sounds doable. The 3rd plot from the bottom — normalized power vs. date— is exactly what I'm looking for. Question is, how much is this idle curiosity worth?


I'm sure I would, but this darned bike keeps costing me money I never saw coming going. Keep hiking up all of my regular shorts and pants now because the SL has reduced my waist by 2 inches. One Wahoo = 4 pairs of the Kuhl pants and shorts I wear.

And I just spent nearly $150 on form-fitting bike shorts and tights to keep my baggy regular pant and short seats from snagging on the SL's saddle nose when remounting after a stop. Alas, my long-standing resistance to lycra has become futile.

Yep it's not cheap this hobby! I've spent a small fortune in the last couple of months... But thankfully I think I have pretty much everything I need now. I do have an aversion against buying cycling clothing though! Right next door to my LBS is a more general sports clothing shop, and the price differences between the two shops is stark, considering there isn't a huge difference between what's on offer. For example a pair of cycling socks in my LBS is about £12-15 for one pair. If I walk next door I can pick up a pack of 6 for £10! It's the same with cycling trousers and jackets too... You're talking about £80-120 each, but next door, around £30-50...

Sometimes the LBS has special offers, but usually I make a B-line for the other store. I also can't explain this aversion because I'll often overspend on gadgets without much thought about it!

 

[2wheelsgood]

Sometimes the LBS has special offers, but usually I make a B-line for the other store. I also can't explain this aversion because I'll often overspend on gadgets without much thought about it!

I know exactly what you mean.

Running shorts in the summer and tracksuit bottoms in the winter for me.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I do have an aversion against buying cycling clothing though!

I think I need cycling bibs with a membrane sewn in now. I stay warm on my rides only now my legs (but not feet!) get cold!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guys!
There were Specialized bike maintenance classes for women not a long ago (a very popular event as it turned out).

How do you answer this question of a female cyclist?
-- If the chain stretch is the issue, why not just shorten the chain?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yep it's not cheap this hobby! I've spent a small fortune in the last couple of months...

My wife's been very understanding so far. And that scares the hell out of me. It'll be her turn one day soon, and the cost of a new SL and all the trimmings will be nothing compared to the cost of a new kitchen.

I also can't explain this aversion because I'll often overspend on gadgets without much thought about it!

Not exactly rational on my part, either. Since I'm allowing no big bags on my SL, and the weather's turning cool, I've begrudgingly accepted that the solution is to wear a mid-weight long-sleeved cycling jersey with all those pockets in back under my high-vis wind shell.

Now I just have to find one that isn't cut for Pogi.

 

[RRCV]

Time for an update.

Still haven’t used the motor.

Agile, fun!

Brakes, excellent when dry. Pouring rain, everything soaked, brakes are noisy and not nearly as efficient as in dry conditions, however, proportionately, the dry/wet weather setting/calibration are perfect for the conditions.

Specialized sent me an email, 863km ridden in October.

Changed tyres to Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss ready 700 x 42, with tubes, in my opinion an improvement over standard. More comfortable and smoother ride, possibly improved rolling resistance?

For Jeremy, no noticeable degradation of braking performance on surfaces ridden, various conditions encountered, including, wet and dry sandy gravel, slippery oily impregnated bitumen, wet vegetation, muddy forest tracks, concrete, and man hole covers.

Removed mud guards rear rack and tail light. 700 x 42 PP did not fit with some of these items fitted.

A few rides in the rain on gravel revealed, seat has a swimming pool built in, fills with water gravel and sand, not so good! I may try to find a seat with a hole in it.

For Stefan, yes, riding gravel in heavy rain with no mud guards equals .

Chain rusts quickly when it rains, salty gravel roads/bike paths here, most steel items on the SL have rust spots the following day.

I think a 40 or 42 tooth chainring may be better suited to my preferred cadence (80-100) and terrain usually encountered on my rides.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I thought you had a hot summer in Australia?

How did you solve the tail light dilemma after removing the rear mudguard?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Chain rusts quickly when it rains, salty gravel roads/bike paths here, most steel items on the SL have rust spots the following day.

Thanks for the traction observations. At 700 mi, my chain's also begun to rust in this sandy, salty coastal environment. I really should be more fastidious about chain maintence. The 2 rides on damp beach sand probably haven't helped, but I gave the drivetrain a good rinse both times.

Still haven’t used the motor.

Agile, fun!

Totally agree with agile and fun! Astounded that you've been able to resist the motor this long.

Next time you have to be back by a certain time with battery to spare, give yourself a good excuse to use the motor by waiting too long to turn around. Then ramp up the assist with Micro Tune to get you home in record time.

Guilt-free excitement guaranteed! You may even get extra exercise via the Carrot Effect.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Time for an update.

Still haven’t used the motor.

Can I ask why you do not use the motor?

Seems odd to pay double the price and carry 5 kg of extra weight and complexity each ride.

 

[MartsEbike]

Let us know what the bike shop tell you.

So the mystery around my bike deepens. I decided to take it to Balfes shop in Gatwick. I explained the problem, and the shop tried to use the dealers diagnostics software on it - it wouldn't work. It didn't recognise the bike at all. No bother he said leave it with them and they'll sort it out. I left quietly confident that the next time I saw it all will be resolved.

Anyways, they sent me an e-mail yesterday to say it was fixed. They got the bike started and managed to use their diagnostics software, no faults logged and it showed a 100% healthy battery. I had no other plans today so I decided to drive there to pick it up. When I arrived the guy brought the bike out and tried to turn it on in front of me - and it wouldn't turn on. A very baffled look on the guys face, and he was very apologetic for wasting my time driving there to get it.

They couldn't understand why its not working. They tried it a number of times and everything appeared fine.... Now this wasn't such a surprise to me, it's an intermittent fault and the same thing has happened to me a few times now. As far as they could tell, everything is working, and the diagnostics suggests a completely healthy bike... But obviously it wasn't always turning on - and this time it happened to shop staff.

Further investigation is going to take place, and more calls to Specialized. All of the major components (Motor, Battery and TCU) are factory sealed, so they don't actually disassemble anything themselves to check further - they only replace suspected broken parts. They said Specialized may consider giving me another bike under warranty. We will have to wait and see. They're going to give me a call in a couple of days.

 

[2wheelsgood]

@MartsEbike

Ah that's rough, I would be tempted to ask for a new bike at this stage as my confidence in that particular one would be shot.

I can't be alone in wanting to know what the the actual cause of the issue is though.

 

[MartsEbike]

@MartsEbike

Ah that's rough, I would be tempted to ask for a new bike at this stage as my confidence in that particular one would be shot.

I can't be alone in wanting to know what the the actual cause of the issue is though.

Yeah it's annoying, I've been without my bike for a couple of weeks now, but saying that storm darragh would have stopped me riding anyway.

But in a way I'm kind of happy the bike didn't work today, because I would have always had that niggling doubt in the back of my mind about it not working again. Now that the bike shop staff have experienced the problem first hand they'll have to try resolve it properly. Intermittent faults are the worst to diagnose...

I can't fault the guys at Balfes, they've been extremely helpful, and even today, a Sunday, they had a good 6-7 guys working in their repair workshop. So I feel I've got the right people on the case.

I'm going to see what the plan is when they call me in a couple of days time, but I might push for a replacement bike if Specialized don't offer one.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Sad to hear that Martin. I guess it is a single rogue wire or connector that sometimes makes the contact and sometimes it doesn't.

Which reminds me of the inner tube I replaced on my Vado this morning. When the tube was installed, it was losing the air over a couple of hours. Removed, inflated: it stays inflated...

 

[Ebikelife72]

I picked up my new Vado SL 5 EQ yesterday and put 21 miles on it today. I currently own a Tero X 5 and a Sirrus X 5 with the current frame design. Both of these bikes are fantastic but I probably enjoy the Sirrus the most. I know the frame design is polarizing and I didn't like it when I first saw the pics of it. In person I found it to look very elegant and the ride is amazingly smooth with the Future Shock and compliance junction living up to the hype.

What I was wanting from the Vado was a similar ride to the Sirrus but with the added benefit of a motor. I'm not sure in that regard it's a success but the potential is possibly there. I was hoping with the motor off it would feel very similar to the Sirrus as they have similar gearing, the SL has a 44t chainring and my Sirrus has a 40t. The Sirrus is definitely faster and more nimble feeling which I believe comes down to the weight difference moreso than the chainring. Once rolling, I can ride the SL on paved flats with the motor off comfortably at 17-18mph. This is slightly slower than the Sirrus. The obvious difference is any sort of incline. I can definitely feel the weight and the 44t ring.

I wanted to tune Eco mode to make it respond more like the Sirrus on the flats and the climbs with the added benefit of going to sport or turbo to really outperform the Sirrus on the climbs. I started with 25/25 which is how I set my Tero X in eco. On the Tero with the much more powerful motor this tune works very well to remove the weight and make it feel like a normal full sus bike. With the SL set to 25/25 the motor just doesn't have enough power to offset the weight and in fact felt like it added some drag, which was strange. I landed on 30/30 but I'm sure this will change. Over the 21 miles I rode with the motor off, on the detuned Eco mode, and the factory setting Sport mode. In general I found the battery/motor performance to be very efficient. I used 18% of the battery.

I found the motor to be a little louder than I expected but it wasn't annoying or an issue. It's certainly not as quiet as the full power Brose on the Tero. Also, the fender have quite a bit of rattle to them on rough terrain. I have the same type of mudguards on my Sirrus and they make no noise other than when a rock gets pulled up by the tire. I really like mudguards and rear racks so they'll stay on for sure, I just might need to figure out how to better secure them.

The bike itself is very comfortable. I rode on some pretty rough trails and it did very well, I'm a fan of the future shock. I'm likely going to replace the tires with some Pathfinder Pros that I already have and go tubeless. I like the stock tires on pavement but they can get a little sketchy on anything that is less than smooth. To sum up, so far I really like this bike. I was initially going to add a rack to my Sirrus for panniers and use it for touring but I believe with the easy ability to ride without power, the SL will likely be used for touring and bike packing.