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

[mschwett]

…

I can see that next winter's project might be a drivetrain upgrade. Going with the higher-level components of the 5.0 would probably be the easiest, as I'm not looking for any changes regarding gear ratios. …

those sunrace cassettes are not great. very heavy and lacking the sophisticated ramping of the sram or shimano stuff.

personally i’d go with one of the AXS upgrade kits, reasonably priced and no more futzing with the cable, the cable getting stretched or worn or frayed. game changer for me. not sure if they have one with a cassette that matches the gearing you’ve got or if you’ll have to mix and match.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Rode up to the Calavera volcano overlook again with friend DW. He was on a Trek Verve+, not sure which one.

Beautiful day, great scenery intensely green from recent rain, good company, good workout, and best of all, an SL 1 to enjoy it all on.

Became aware of my motor noise on a steep climb in ECO. Came right alongside DW and couldn't hear his Bosch motor at all.

But here's the thing: After 17 months and 3200 mi, that motor noise is absolutely the ONLY thing I'd change about this bike. And most of the time, I don't even notice.

Otherwise, the SL 1's the perfect bike for me and my terrain. Very grateful to the many EBR members who encouraged me to take the lightweight, low-power, low-torque plunge.

 

[rochrunner]

those sunrace cassettes are not great. very heavy and lacking the sophisticated ramping of the sram or shimano stuff.

personally i’d go with one of the AXS upgrade kits, reasonably priced and no more futzing with the cable, the cable getting stretched or worn or frayed. game changer for me. not sure if they have one with a cassette that matches the gearing you’ve got or if you’ll have to mix and match.

What's your definition of "reasonably priced"? I think I'll have some other compatibility issues that I'd have to think through no matter what I do. The 4.0 is an 11-speed and, just as an example, I'm not sure about the availability of a compatible chainring that fits the OEM crankset with its 104mm BCD.

In any case, I think I need to get out there and ride what I've got for a while before overthinking everything.

 

[mschwett]

What's your definition of "reasonably priced"? I think I'll have some other compatibility issues that I'd have to think through no matter what I do. The 4.0 is an 11-speed and, just as an example, I'm not sure about the availability of a compatible chainring that fits the OEM crankset with its 104mm BCD.

In any case, I think I need to get out there and ride what I've got for a while before overthinking everything.

definitely get some miles on it before thinking too much about upgrades!

the 12 speed nx cassette (11-50) fits a standard shimano freehub, ought to be plug and play. heavy piece but solid and a great range. its around $90. chainrings are the same between 11 and 12 in this case, lots to choose from.

the shifter and rd kit are more than I remembered though - around $550 - so you may be right about “reasonably priced”

personally the difference between 11 and 12 speed never meant that much to me, but I do really like electronic shifting.

 

[Allan47.7339]

Electronic shifting becomes a necessity for a lot of riders as hand issues move from being an annoyance to a limitation.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Not used my Vado SL 5.0 since December as I damaged my leg quite badly and cycling and walking was out for long time. The bike was stored in the house for the cold snap and never left its hiding place till yesterday when I went for a gentle ride to the shops, I was glad of the motor that's for sure.

I mentioned a rattle last year that I never diagnosed, well now it is just horrible so I will have to book a service. Might have to be April though as replacing an aging Macbook is first priority and the SL service is likely to be costly - new tires and chain for sure but no doubt other components as well.

 

[2wheelsgood]

I am wondering if the new Pathfinder TLR in a 45 will fit?

AI tells me that it is pretty much the same size as the 2Bliss Pros in a 42 that I have now . I have no rack on my bike and the front tyre has about 3mm of clearance at the sides. The rear tyre has about 5mm of clearance - both inflated to 45psi

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I am wondering if the new Pathfinder TLR in a 45 will fit?

AI tells me that it is pretty much the same size as the 2Bliss Pros in a 42 that I have now . I have no rack on my bike and the front tyre has about 3mm of clearance at the sides. The rear tyre has about 5mm of clearance - both inflated to 45psi

I wouldn't recommend that. Even if the tyre fit (especially the rear), you might lose any clearance for the mud and debris removal.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I am wondering if the new Pathfinder TLR in a 45 will fit?

AI tells me that it is pretty much the same size as the 2Bliss Pros in a 42 that I have now . I have no rack on my bike and the front tyre has about 3mm of clearance at the sides. The rear tyre has about 5mm of clearance - both inflated to 45psi

Curious, what's your motivation for going from 42 to 45 mm tires?

I'm running the tubeless Pathfinder Pro 38s on my SL 1 5.0. Love riding gravel on this bike when I can, but most rides from home are on pavement.

The only reason I'd consider going wider than 38 mm would be for safer braking on hardpack descents. These tend to have a very thin veneer of loose sand in this coastal environment.

Result: Plenty of 10% or steeper hardpack trails here that I'm strong enough to climb but too chicken to descend.

 

[2wheelsgood]

It is just because they have changed their tire sizes and replaced the 38 with a 40 and the 42 with the 45.

I thought the 42 were so much better than the 38 standard tires but I guess that could have been down to the compound and that I went from tubed to tubeless.

I guess the 38s are the safer bet.