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

A customer came in today with a Vado SL. She said that the battery had a full charge but she could not start it. We replaced the coin batteries in the display and the Mastermind for $50, which she gladly paid. She doesn't like going to the "jewelry store" even though she bought the bike there.
 
Jeremy McCreary said:
I know exactly what she's talking about. Bought my SL at glitzy Specialized Carlsbad but soon switched to Cadence Cyclery, an even closer authorized Specialized dealer that feels way more like my kind of bike shop.
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I have the same issue. I bought my bike at a similarly glizty shop in a fancy town, where the "rich" folks go.
After bringing it in for service a couple times, I was not impressed with how they were trying to nickel and dime me to death for stuff I didn't need.
They also tried to charge me for warranty work. It felt like a used car dealership.

I'm now switching to a shop out in the country, which is closer and easier to get to for me anyway.
It seems most people there are off-road riders like me too. Bikes on bike racks with mud on them, also pickup trucks with horse trailers.
My kind of place.
 
My story is completely different. I bought my first Specialized from a totally hopeless dealer. So hopeless they eventually lost their dealership. I moved to Specialized Warsaw who always have time for me, treat me as a VIP, and always find a solution. Those people fought for me like lions with the distributor when it came to a total rebuild of my big Vado under the "lifetime frame warranty". Thanks to them, my Vado 6.0 is the latest version, and it is less than 3 years old (the original was built in 2017, sold in 2019). I need to mention the original LBS cheated me from the very start by telling me the 2017 Vado was a 2019 model!

No, nothing is cheap at Specialized. Take it or leave it. Still, whenever I visit that Specialized store, I try to buy something to reward the excellent work these men do!

Of course, I bought my Vado SL at Specialized Warsaw. I feel so confident with the people there! They also allowed me demo ride numerous e-bikes and bikes, often free of charge!

1760657656511.png

I wish I were younger and healthy! I would have bought that expensive Diverge Comp Carbon on the spot! :)
 
Stefan Mikes said:
My story is completely different. I bought my first Specialized from a totally hopeless dealer. So hopeless they eventually lost their dealership. I moved to Specialized Warsaw who always have time for me, treat me as a VIP, and always find a solution. Those people fought for me like lions with the distributor when it came to a total rebuild of my big Vado under the "lifetime frame warranty". Thanks to them, my Vado 6.0 is the latest version, and it is less than 3 years old (the original was built in 2017, sold in 2019). I need to mention the original LBS cheated me from the very start by telling me the 2017 Vado was a 2019 model!

No, nothing is cheap at Specialized. Take it or leave it. Still, whenever I visit that Specialized store, I try to buy something to reward the excellent work these men do!

Of course, I bought my Vado SL at Specialized Warsaw. I feel so confident with the people there! They also allowed me demo ride numerous e-bikes and bikes, often free of charge!

View attachment 200973
I wish I were younger and healthy! I would have bought that expensive Diverge Comp Carbon on the spot! :)
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I think it can go either way. The important thing is to end up with an authorized dealer you like and trust.

Good I started with Specialized Carlsbad, cuz the SL I had my sights on wasn't easy to find. They searched high and low and eventually found one languishing in a warehouse 3-4 states away. Kudos for that.

Since Cadence Cyclery also sells Pinarello, Colnago, Cervello, Factor, and the like, doubt they could've or would've done that. But for many good reasons, I like and trust them a lot more for maintenance, outfitting, and just hanging around talking bikes.
 
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I could not resist this week and did something I thought I would never do - I bought a second bike.

I do a lot of fitness rides where I switch off the motor and go for it and of course my data for those rides are hampered by a combination of flat bar aero, flat pedals and ~16kg weight.

I found a used S-Works Roubaix locally that was in spectacularly good condition and I could not resist at less than a quarter of its original price. barely 8kg with clipless pedals and getting down onto the bars you feel fast straight away. It will be interesting to compare times against the Vado SL. I have ridden it for two short rides now and it feels perfect, I was particularly surprised how comfortable it was on the rough roads around here.

This will be very much a dry weather speed machine only and will live an easy life - My Turbo Vado SL remains my main bike.

Now I just need some nice weather ...
 
2wheelsgood said:
I could not resist this week and did something I thought I would never do - I bought a second bike.

I do a lot of fitness rides where I switch off the motor and go for it and of course my data for those rides are hampered by a combination of flat bar aero, flat pedals and ~16kg weight.

I found a used S-Works Roubaix locally that was in spectacularly good condition and I could not resist at less than a quarter of its original price. barely 8kg with clipless pedals and getting down onto the bars you feel fast straight away. It will be interesting to compare times against the Vado SL. I have ridden it for two short rides now and it feels perfect, I was particularly surprised how comfortable it was on the rough roads around here.

This will be very much a dry weather speed machine only and will live an easy life - My Turbo Vado SL remains my main bike.

Now I just need some nice weather ...
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You lucky dog! I'd love to a ride a serious road bike like your new Roubaix now and then, though I doubt my creaky old neck would put up with it for long.

Of course, we'll need photos.
 
As I am over 60 and riding on some pretty rough roads it seems to be perfect for the kind of speed workouts I want to do. It has been upgraded with Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, S-Works Aero bars and a more aggressive Zipp Sprint SL stem. I put some SPD-SL pedals on it now but haven't ridden it for days now as the weather has been atrocious. I put the old Bridge Sport Saddle on the Roubaix as it was sitting around in a box. With all the other weight saving components this does feel a little incongruous so I might have to change that in the spring when it gets some serious use - I never got on with the Bridge Sport anyway.

Off to the gym this morning and will be taking my trusty Vado SL as usual. As part of thanking the bike shop for giving the Roubaix a once over I thought I would buy a quad lock bike mount and phone cover (I felt I had to buy something as they would not take any money for the check over)

Never used one of these before but I am quite impressed how sturdy and vibration free it initially seems - it will come in handy as I often have to stop, get my phone out and recheck my location when getting out and about in new areas.
 
Stefan Mikes said:
View attachment 201150
What bikes are used on Paris-Roubaix race, actually? Is an endurance road bike a racing bike?
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The top riders have had custom bikes made for P-R for years. Take a look at what the classic riders used. They were a lot like a touring bike, with longer top tubes, longer chain stays, and lots of trail. Custom builds have continued today. They get at least two custom P-R bikes for the race. They are not off the shelf comfort builds from their sponsor.
 
stompandgo said:
The top riders have had custom bikes made for P-R for years. Take a look at what the classic riders used. They were a lot like a touring bike, with longer top tubes, longer chain stays, and lots of trail. Custom builds have continued today. They get at least two custom P-R bikes for the race. They are not off the shelf comfort builds from their sponsor.
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Isn't it that any UCI certified bike should be commercially available?
 
Yes, the homologation rules. Their rider's frames are custom, but in order to get the stamp, they need to have a production run in standard sizes. The team can choose to buy some or all of them.
 
2wheelsgood said:
As part of thanking the bike shop for giving the Roubaix a once over I thought I would buy a quad lock bike mount and phone cover (I felt I had to buy something as they would not take any money for the check over)

Never used one of these before but I am quite impressed how sturdy and vibration free it initially seems - it will come in handy as I often have to stop, get my phone out and recheck my location when getting out and about in new areas.
Click to expand...
Controversial around here, but my Samsung Note20 phone is my bike computer, I like having it on my bars, and I now have ~3,000 mi on a QuadLock mount without mishap. That includes a good bit of rough hardpack and cobble.

Still a little fiddly to engage now and then, but I'm OK with that.

This big, heavy phone really put the QuadLock system to the test. Just replaced the case, as the mount receiver on back was starting to loosen from the repeated vibrational punishment. The bar mount is still fine.

What app will you be using on your rides?
 
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Jeremy McCreary said:
Controversial around here, but my Samsung Note20 phone is my bike computer, I like having it on my bars, and I now have ~3,000 mi on a QuadLock mount without mishap. That includes a good bit of rough hardpack and cobble.

Still a little fiddly to engage now and then, but I'm OK with that.

This big, heavy phone really put the QuadLock system to the test. Just replaced the case, as the mount receiver on back was starting to loosen from the repeated vibrational punishment. The bar mount is still fine.

What app will you be using on your rides?
Click to expand...
I am using Strava at the moment, I used it a few years ago but did not really get much use out of it. I am giving it another go and trialling the subscription.

I have it communicating with iPhone and Apple Watch and the plan is to use it on the Vado SL for navigation etc and then just use the Apple Watch for hard efforts on the Roubaix and upload to Strava after.

I have 3 weeks to see how if I get on with it and I will either cancel or subscribe at that point.
 
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