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

[Jeremy McCreary]

Now, I might need your advice The rear wheel of my Vado SL (28", 12x148 mm, Thru-Axle, Centerlock, 21 mm internal width, 28 spokes) has almost given up. Yes, it might be trued but I know how it ends (it ends up badly soon!) The wheel was used for almost 5 years. I'm a heavy rider and often ride in rough terrain. I happen to take a pannier with me, which adds up to the weight as well.

One of the issues is the availability. Actually, I could narrow it down to only two available wheels:

• Shimano Deore XT M8200, 622 mm rim diameter, 25 mm internal rim width, 28 spokes, Centerlock, 12x148 mm Boost axle spacing, machine bearings, Microspline or
• DT Swiss HG 1800 SPLINE DB 25, 622 mm rim diameter, 24 mm internal rim width, 28 spokes, Centerlock, 12x148 Boost axle spacing, DT Swiss Road Freehub Body Shimano 11SP Forged Alu (ASF11) / for DT 370 LN. The product code: WHG1800TIDMSA24287

Now, it is all clear to me regarding the Shimano wheel. Yes, I would probably convert to 12-speed, especially as my new derailleur/shifter will work with it with no issues. I, however, have a big issue to understand the DT Swiss wheel. All the signs indicate it is a HG freehub body, so I could just reuse my 11-speed cassette and chain. Am I wrong?

I wouldn't mind to convert to 12 speeds. Is the 25 mm internal rim width appropriate for 42 mm tyres?
On the other hand, I trust DT Swiss. Selecting that specific wheel would allow me to retain my current 11-speed system* without extra expenses. So, is the freehub body here indeed the HG? Necessary to mention DT Swiss recommends the new LN 370 rear hub to be used with e-bikes.

Any useful input is greatly welcome!
------------
*) It is very practical when your both e-bikes operate on the same number of gears. Think of the replacement chain and master link compatibility!

Sorry about your rear wheel. I think you should go straight to the ENVE 45 mm deep-section carbon wheels I just saw at my LBS. Only $2,050 each!
;^}

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Sorry about your rear wheel. I think you should go straight to the ENVE 45 mm deep-section carbon wheels I just saw at my LBS. Only $2,050 each!
;^}

If the wheel choice were just the matter of price than I wouldn't hesitate for a moment! Why not Mavic or Zipp?

Something educating for you Ye Goode Olde Specialized chose the Road Boost hub size for our Vado SL, thus greatly limiting the replacement wheel choice. The same silly decision was made for Creo 1. Later, Creo 2 came with the proper hub sizes, making that e-bike a proper gravel one with a vast wheel selection.

I once was forced by our respected bike mechanic Jakub W. to learn about how bicycle wheels were built, so he told me to do my homework and come back with the parts; then he would build a wheel for me. He added: "A hint: you might have a look at the DT Swiss 350 rear hub first" Jeremy! That was a wonderful time to learn about the wheels! After some two weeks I visited his shop with a rim and a hub. I said to him: "Mr Jakub, I admit I was too stupid to choose the spokes!" His reply was: "A good choice. I will take care about the spokes myself!" I still have that wheel on my Vado 6.0! Ya, but building a custom wheel is pretty expensive.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Let me tell y'all my choices were I to order a wheel build

Rear Hub
12-speed version:

• Application: MTB
• Product name: Classic
• Axle system: 12 mm Thru-Axle
• Built-in dimension: 148 mm (Boost)
• Brake interface: Disc Center Lock
• Cassette interface: Shimano Micro Spline
• Freehub system: Ratchet DEG 72
• Number of holes: 32

DT Swiss Rear wheel 350 DBCL Boost for thru axle 12mm, H350TCD2R32SA5242S

11-speed version: Same as above but Cassette interface = Shimano MTB.
Model: DT Swiss Rear wheel 350 DBCL Boost for thru axle 12mm, H350TCDBR32SA5255S

Price for either model: EUR238 + shipment

Rim
DT Swiss: E 550 700c 30 mm DB VI, RDE055CDPW32SA2413

• Application: Road Enduro
• 622 rim diameter
• 32 spokes
• Rim inner width: 22 mm

Price: EUR46 + shipment

Spokes
No idea

If you add the price of the rear hub, the rim, the spokes, and labour, the wheel would greatly exceed the EUR235 for a complete DT Swiss wheel that I could just order. Only... I wouldn't have the 32 spokes but 28, which makes a difference in a long run.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[BlackHand]

I think for your weight, tire size, and usage the HG 1800 makes more sense.
- the 24mm inner rim width is more appropriate for 42mm tires. The 22mm of the E550 is more road/gravel width of several years ago.
- I believe the HG 1800 has a higher max system weight of 140kg. That's more important than spoke count.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you so much, Steve!

 

[stompandgo]

That DT Swiss freehub is HG spline (not HG Spline L2, 12 speed only), just by looking at it. Your 11 speed chain, cassette, and lockring should fit just fine. The 24mm internal width is probably wider than you already have. 40's should be ok on that rim. I run 40's on a 25mm internal Shimano carbon rim and they fit great.

I'm not finding an M8200 wheel with a 25mm internal width rim. The current WH-M8200-TL-R12-B-29 wheel with your hub spec has a 30mm internal width offset rim. 148x12 12 speed Microspline. I don't know how that offset rim would work in your frame. Supposedly, it reduces the dish, so it should fit fine, but I haven't seen one. With 40's on a 30mm internal rim, I would make sure that your tires will clear the frame, especially when you are riding gravel and mud and need clearance. If you have fenders, that's another consideration. I also checked the dealer manual, and could find no load spec on that wheel. Finally, it appears to be designed for a lever type of thru-axle. I don't know if that means that a standard threaded thru-axle would work.

My two cents, go with the DT Swiss. It's designed for e-bike loads and should be a drop-in replacement.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you, Chris!

 

[2wheelsgood]

Am i right to be confused about LBS and their booking systems? maybe there is something I am just not understanding here. Booked it in last week and was told to bring it in first thing today - I was the first person in the shop this morning:

"Any idea when I can come and pick it up?"
"Could be Tuesday or Wednesday"
"So why did you tell me to bring it in first thing this morning?
"Well it could be a busy day so can never really be sure we will have time"

They have 2 full time mechanics alongside customer facing staff - I live 10 mins away and work from home
I didn't press the issue as I probably do not need the bike.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Am i right to be confused about LBS and their booking systems? maybe there is something I am just not understanding here. Booked it in last week and was told to bring it in first thing today - I was the first person in the shop this morning:

"Any idea when I can come and pick it up?"
"Could be Tuesday or Wednesday"
"So why did you tell me to bring it in first thing this morning?
"Well it could be a busy day so can never really be sure we will have time"

They have 2 full time mechanics alongside customer facing staff - I live 10 mins away and work from home
I didn't press the issue as I probably do not need the bike.

Hard to say, but I imagine it's a bit like medical scheduling — something I'm painfully familiar with from both the provider and patient side.

We always had to allow for emergency add-ons and patients who ended up taking way longer than anyone expected. Of course, you can't treat people like bikes, but scheduling-wise, it would've been very helpful to bring patients in at the start of the day and just let them sit around till a suitable time slot opened up for them.

 

[zbikeman]

Most shops have an idea of how far out their service backlog needs to clear (typically days or weeks). It's perfectly OK to ask how far out they're working, as you probably won't get your bike back before then.

As far as the shop asking you to bring it in first thing in the morning, in reality, you can bring it in anytime they're open and it doesn't matter. Bringing it in earlier doesn't get it worked on any faster. It just means the shop has the bike available to work on instead of waiting for you to bring it in.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Most shops have an idea of how far out their service backlog needs to clear (typically days or weeks). It's perfectly OK to ask how far out they're working, as you probably won't get your bike back before then.

As far as the shop asking you to bring it in first thing in the morning, in reality, you can bring it in anytime they're open and it doesn't matter. Bringing it in earlier doesn't get it worked on any faster. It just means the shop has the bike available to work on instead of waiting for you to bring it in.

Honestly, I find it odd.

If I took my car in for a service and they told me to bring it in first thing on a certain day then I would expect it back the same day. I do not see why bike shops would be any different.

 

[zbikeman]

Every business seems different with regard to scheduling repair work.

I don't know if this is common in the UK, but I've been to at least a couple auto repair shops in the US that didn't schedule any work in advance.

If you wanted work done, you simply showed up with your vehicle. Get there early or right as they opened, and you'd be first served.

But this only works if they have enough work to fill out each day. If they don't, the no-schedule policy falls apart.