Specialized’s ultra-light 120-mile range e-bike - Turbo Vado SL

[Saratoga Dave]

Good story, seems like these are great bikes. Specialized is really knocking it out of the park.

My Schwinn Varsity was bright blue, I got it at 15 in the spring of 1967 and the first thing I did with it was go on a ten day American Youth Hostel trip through Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket with about 10 other kids and a youngish tour leader named Mark. Damn, what a great trip, and how cool was that Varsity! I still remember so many high points of that experience, like the day we rode forty miles to the ferry at Woods Hole to head for Nantucket.

So my ebike now says Giant on it, but no matter, these things are just about as much fun as an old guy can have when you get out on a ridge someplace and can feel just like a day many, many years ago riding across a field out there at the end of New England, with your parents and the rest of the world many, many miles away. Funny how desirable that feeling is especially these days.

 

[Marci jo]

Good story, seems like these are great bikes. Specialized is really knocking it out of the park.

My Schwinn Varsity was bright blue, I got it at 15 in the spring of 1967 and the first thing I did with it was go on a ten day American Youth Hostel trip through Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket with about 10 other kids and a youngish tour leader named Mark. Damn, what a great trip, and how cool was that Varsity! I still remember so many high points of that experience, like the day we rode forty miles to the ferry at Woods Hole to head for Nantucket.

So my ebike now says Giant on it, but no matter, these things are just about as much fun as an old guy can have when you get out on a ridge someplace and can feel just like a day many, many years ago riding across a field out there at the end of New England, with your parents and the rest of the world many, many miles away. Funny how desirable that feeling is especially these days.

Wow what a fabulous tour, Dave.
Those Varsities were wonderful bikes. Last summer I saw one on our local trail and had to do a double take. Steel frame, straight across top tube, friction shifters and Varsity written across it. This one was is great shape.

 

[Allan47.7339]

5.0 Turbo Vado SL EQ First Ride Impressions.

I agree you should copy your post and start your own thread. This will be hard to find in this thread for people looking for actual first hand user reports.

 

[Recontra]

I agree you should copy your post and start your own thread. This will be hard to find in this thread for people looking for actual first hand user reports.

 

[Recontra]

Thanks. I'm new to the Forum. Where would be the appropriate place to move and repost it?

 

[Allan47.7339]

Thanks. I'm new to the Forum. Where would be the appropriate place to move and repost it?

Stay in the Specialized forum. You will probably need to copy what you posted here rather than move it but in the Specialized forum topic list there is a "post thread" button in the upper right corner and you will start your own thread and repost your experience. Actually right up at the top of the Specialized forum topic list when you are logged in there is a spot for you to create a new topic. I must admit I have only replied to someone else's topic and not started one.

 

[Deenice]

Just seen Vado SL 4.0 standard Model with 2 bottle cages weight is 15.38.

 

[Deenice]

Just seen Vado SL 4.0 standard Model with 2 bottle cages weight is 15.38.

What are the best mods to make it lighter?(not including taking the battery out!)

 

[Deenice]

Buy the 5.0

All kidding aside if you want to start reducing the weight it's going to be expensive and you might as well put the money towards the carbon frame. Then later if you still have money I'd suggest consider something like the wheels, but again that's going to be expensive. The spacing on the wheels is Boost spacing for MTB, but the front uses a 12 mm thru axle instead of 15 mm, so it's hard to find and thus expensive.

So, I'm only half joking about buying the 5.0 if you want to reduce weight. Given it is electric and it's already pretty light, I'm not seeing much benefit to further reducing weight.

Soon as I saw the 4.0 in Black I couldn’t stop myself! Arriving next week ...my first Ebike.

 

[Jay12345]

Alright after a few more rides on my Vado SL 4.0 I have come to a conclusion regarding the drag I have been experiencing when the power is off. When I first start a ride without power I don’t notice anything, bikes rides smooth without any noticeable drag when I pedal. However if I turn the assist off after a longer ride with assist on I notice the drag or resistance right away when I peddle and it doesn’t go away until I turn off the bike and let it sit for an hour. Could I get anyone else out there with this bike to test this out and me know if you have having the same kind of issue, if then then I’ll most likely have to take my bike in for a checkup. I also thought I read somewhere that there would be some drag on these electric motors when they are being used due to the build up of magnetic currents?

 

[e-levity]

the build up of magnetic currents?

magnetic current build up??? Cue The Twilight Zone theme song

What you’re experiencing is purely psychosomatic.

 

[Jay12345]

Hahaha ya i most likely dreamed That part

 

[Sean McIllwain]

I just bought a Vado SL 4.0 (love it), but the front light wiggles just a little. How well is the light seated on other's Vado SL?

Here's a link to a video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dq387lc6jmm20ja/IMG_1109.mov?dl=0

 

[Deenice]

I just bought a Vado SL 4.0 (love it), but the front light wiggles just a little. How well is the light seated on other's Vado SL?

Here's a link to a video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dq387lc6jmm20ja/IMG_1109.mov?dl=0

We got his and hers SL 4.0 last week. My light was fine but my other half’s was wiggling about. I took it out and the plastic on the light was slightly torn. Superglued it ..it’s fine now. Great Bikes! ..so smooth!

 

[BEC111]

Haven’t noticed a problem with the light. Now I have to check!

I do hear the occasional rattle from the front fender, though I realized, yesterday, that the sounds were small pebbles, gravel, plant debris and the like. Wheel picks it up, and it rattles it’s way out of the fender.

 

[Deenice]

 

[FlatSix911]

View attachment 55629

That is a very nice pair... please post a short review after a few rides.

 

[Jay12345]

I was wondering if anyone knew which rack I can buy for my Vado SL 4.0 as I am unable to buy the official one in Canada right now and don’t mind a 3rd party rack?

 

[Over50]

I was wondering if anyone knew which rack I can buy for my Vado SL 4.0 as I am unable to buy the official one in Canada right now and don’t mind a 3rd party rack?

So no fenders correct? Watch @Court review because he provides some detail on how the rack is mounted on the EQ models and there are no rack bosses behind the seat tube. I'd check Tubus to see if they perhaps have something that might work. About 18:50 of the video:

 

[Allan47.7339]

I was wondering if anyone knew which rack I can buy for my Vado SL 4.0 as I am unable to buy the official one in Canada right now and don’t mind a 3rd party rack?

Someone asked this quesion in another topic https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/aftermarket-rack-and-fenders-for-turbo-vado-sl.34370/

If you can't get a Specialized kit you can use the Salsa seat post rack mount with a Tubus or Racktime rack. I think there is only one drop out eyelet so if you add fenders they will use the same bolt.

Salsa Post-Lock Rack Mount

A seatpost mount with two threaded eyelets for attaching a rear bike rack. (Not a seatpost collar.) Positioned along the exposed portion of a seatpost. Available for 27.2mm, 30.9mm and 31.6mm seatposts.

www.campfirecycling.com

This is the Salsa page where you may be able to find a local shop:

POST-LOCK | Salsa Cycles

The Post-Lock fits around a seatpost and is an alternative mounting position for the front struts of a bicycle rack on frames without braze-ons.

salsacycles.com

It looks like the Vado SL uses a 27.2 mm seat post but always double check.