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

[BEC111]

After nearly 5 years my battery is starting to lose its fizz. I'm in Sport mode about 95% of the time. I used to get around 6 miles per bar and now I'm down to about 4. Trying to decide whether to replace it for $1000+ or get the extender for about half that and hope that it holds on for a while longer.My rides are usually 25-35 miles. When I've gone 40 I come home in the red.

I’m glad I traded in my SL1 for an SL2 before the battery health had really declined. It was at 90%. After trade in my SL2 cost $2600 so using wishful thinking math I can make believe the new bike actually cost $1600.

 

[Cycologist]

The most I've gotten out of my range extender on my SL1 is 36 miles. This was running on Eco mode at 40/40 most of the time.
I have the bike set to discharge the RE first.

It's very temperature dependent and it's crazy how much of a difference it makes. On a really cold day, I've only gotten about 20 miles out of it.

 

[2wheelsgood]

Expensive week for me.

I have ordered the XG-1275 cassette as my LBS did all the checks and confirmed the hub can take an xD hub so I will get this fitted in 2 weeks time.

I made the mistake of asking them if they could check and adjust the AXS in the mean time and they took off the cassette and I got it back just before they closed yesterday. What on earth have they done? horrible rattles over the first bump I encountered and the cassette is noticeably loose - need to take it back this morning

I took my sons old rusty bike in for a new chain the day before and it was uneconomical to fix as it needed a new cassette, chain ring, chain and pads and rotors and the bike is only worth 20 quid so I just asked them to scrap it - it was too small for him now anyway and I was uncomfortable with him riding it for safety reasons.

Looked online for an immediate second hand replacement maximum 200 pounds. But I was drawn to an immaculate looking Sirrus X 3.0 that was 4 years old just 2 mile away. I was not paying the asking price but offered 400 dependant on inspection as my thinking was that as it was similar to my Vado SL - same size, geometry etc it could be a backup ride for me as well. It was sold by a lovely elderly couple who had clearly bought the bike after Covid with the intention of getting out but sadly I think health had got in the way. It was stored covered and dry and had clearly never, ever been used - showroom condition.

And what a lovely thing it is! rides like a conventional 11kg version of the Vado SL but beautifully tight and smooth and a really lovely gear change with the Deore 10x setup that I am not sure my Eagle AXS could match at its best. Pathfinder Sport 42s as well. I was not intending to pay so much for a run around but I am glad I did on this occasion!

 

[Allan47.7339]

Since you are going for the XG-1275 cassette, I would also upgrade to the X01 Eagle Chain chain with hard coating. You don't really need the flat top version but SRAM is making the less expensive non-flat top harder to find. You don't want cheaper NX chain or poor chain maintenance eating up an expensive cassette.