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

[BEC111]

I'm retired so my usage is 100% recreational. I have my Vado tuned down to 15% assist in Eco mode, which is quite sufficient and often even feels like more than I need. So one of the SL models would certainly be suitable for me, and I really would like to lose some of the Vado's weight. With my ongoing back problems it's really not safe for me to lift entirely by myself, which is a situation I don't particularly like. The bike carrier on my car actually came with a removable ramp and I've been using that on occasion when loading and unloading.

I’m with you. Retired, over 70 and a recreational rider. I got a Vado 4 SL the week it came out and it’s changed my riding life. I had been looking at the regular Vado and it’s many similar competitors and was discouraged in my ebike quest. The SL solves,the weight problem, provideS all the assist I really need and has been a joy. I joined a 20 mile group ride today and at the slower group speeds had a ball, getting plenty of exercise without wiping myself out, which is what had happened when I did the same ride on my analog bike last year.

I am truly glad I bought it.

 

[Copyrider]

Took a quick, 20-mile ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back yesterday.


According to Mission Control, I lost and climbed 1300 feet and averaged a little over 11mph (with a few stops to take in my surroundings) at an average assist level of 66%.



My final climb home is one of the 7-8 streets that go up to Pacific Heights. The longest, steepest and tallest is probably Fillmore St.

Today, I chose Laguna St. (a few blocks East) after a slow, casual ride along the crowded Marina walkway and bike path. It’s about 325 feet, at times seemingly straight up...

 

[Oberst]

I remember being in Sausalito in the ‘90’s and Sammy Hagar, I think, had an mtb shop there?

 

[Gavin D]

Took a quick, 20-mile ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back yesterday.


View attachment 57960View attachment 57961According to Mission Control, I lost and climbed 1300 feet and averaged a little over 11mph (with a few stops to take in my surroundings) at an average assist level of 66%.
View attachment 57962View attachment 57963


My final climb home is one of the 7-8 streets that go up to Pacific Heights. The longest, steepest and tallest is probably Fillmore St.

Today, I chose Laguna St. (a few blocks East) after a slow, casual ride along the crowded Marina walkway and bike path. It’s about 325 feet, at times seemingly straight up...
View attachment 57964

Great photos. In your pictures, it looks like you do not have the range extender. Do you have one? Also did you modify the seat post?

 

[Dave1520]

Took a quick, 20-mile ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back yesterday.


View attachment 57960View attachment 57961According to Mission Control, I lost and climbed 1300 feet and averaged a little over 11mph (with a few stops to take in my surroundings) at an average assist level of 66%.
View attachment 57962View attachment 57963


My final climb home is one of the 7-8 streets that go up to Pacific Heights. The longest, steepest and tallest is probably Fillmore St.

Today, I chose Laguna St. (a few blocks East) after a slow, casual ride along the crowded Marina walkway and bike path. It’s about 325 feet, at times seemingly straight up...
View attachment 57964

Is that a foldable bike lock on your down tube braze-ons? If so, which one?

 

[Copyrider]

Great photos. In your pictures, it looks like you do not have the range extender. Do you have one? Also did you modify the seat post?

I don't have the range extender yet. I am still considering adding it. My bike is primarily used as a commuter, so it remains to be seen if I want/need it. Having come from a regular Vado to the SL, I've already noticed, by my rough estimate, about 30-40% greater range for the SL on identical routes, but using consistently less assist.

And yes, I replaced the seat post with a Kinekt 2.1suspension post. I also replaced the saddle with a Selle Anatomica H2. I love both. The folding lock is an ABUS Centium model (which was their special edition version last year, I believe) It's a bit fancier than the standard black ones and it comes in a big wooden box that's great for storing souvenirs, such as those picked up on Humboldt County rides.

I got the folding lock at about a $40 discount by ordering through BikeInn and shipping it from England. It took almost three weeks to get it, though, as they use USPS.

 

[Deenice]

I don't have the range extender yet. I am still considering adding it. My bike is primarily used as a commuter, so it remains to be seen if I want/need it. Having come from a regular Vado to the SL, I've already noticed, by my rough estimate, about 30-40% greater range for the SL on identical routes, but using consistently less assist.

And yes, I replaced the seat post with a Kinekt 2.1suspension post. I also replaced the saddle with a Selle Anatomica H2. I love both. The folding lock is an ABUS Centium model (which was their special edition version last year, I believe) It's a bit fancier than the standard black ones and it comes in a big wooden box that's great for storing souvenirs, such as those picked up on Humboldt County rides.

I got the folding lock at about a $40 discount by ordering through BikeInn and shipping it from England. It took almost three weeks to get it, though, as they use USPS.

What tyre pressure do you find works best? I have been at 60Psi.. but last night tried 48..still not sure the sweet spot. I mainly ride hard paths and roads similar to you I think.

 

[Copyrider]

What tyre pressure do you find works best? I have been at 60Psi.. but last night tried 48..still not sure the sweet spot. I mainly ride hard paths and roads similar to you I think.

I'm running 50psi now. The difference in comfort and control provided by the new saddle and suspension seat post was significant to me. Staying in the saddle versus standing on the pedals for bumps on these front-wheel weighted bikes makes a huge difference in ride quality, especially in fast downhills, in traffic.

Please note--the tires on the standard Vado are wider and more substantial than those on the SL. So the standard Vado can be better dialed for ride dampening than the SL can, with regard to tire pressure.

 

[Deenice]

I'm running 50psi now. The difference in comfort and control provided by the new saddle and suspension seat post was significant to me. Staying in the saddle versus standing on the pedals for bumps on these front-wheel weighted bikes makes a huge difference in ride quality, especially in fast downhills, in traffic.

Please note--the tires on the standard Vado are wider and more substantial than those on the SL. So the standard Vado can be better dialed for ride dampening than the SL can, with regard to tire pressure.

Thanks I will try 50. I will look into seat post also. My dealer is telling me Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss 700x42 tubeless tyres would be great

 

[SKent]

That Kinekt seat post is pricey. Online says $249.

 

[SKent]

Took the Vado SL 5.0 for a 26 mile ride today in the Santa Cruz area with around 2000 feet of climbing with some grades 10 to 15%. The steeper ones were shorter, but there were a couple of sustained climbs. Overall, I was happy with the bike. It handles very well, pretty much like a regular road bike, and that is what I wanted. However, I ended up using Sport mode (2nd level) and Turbo quite a lot and that sucked up battery charge big time. At the end of the ride, I had 40% battery left. It was a bit disappointing, but I am a 71 year old woman who hasn't ridden in almost a year. As I ride more, I will get better. That said, the biggest problem I had was using turbo mode up the hills, or when I just wanted an extra boost. The motor would regularly pause and cut out on me while climbing, then kick in again. It didn't cause the bike to be jerky, but it was very disconcerting. I checked with the bike shop and they thought that I wasn't pedaling fast enough or hard enough and when that happens the motor will slow down or pause. Assuming this is true, I think this is a downside of the bike. None of the other levels did this (Eco and Sport were fine), just the Turbo mode. This aspect was very disappointing. I also have a Levo emtb and the motor does not do that. Has anyone else had that experience on the Vado SL?

 

[Copyrider]

That Kinekt seat post is pricey. Online says $249.

Bought mine through the Selle Anatomica site and got 20% off with their discount code.

Still pricey, but It's made such an improvement in my ride and the build quality is high, so, to me, it has been worth it.

I opted not to go for the carbon version as it costs $50 more and only weighs a little under a pound less.

 

[SKent]

I have never had that happen to me in turbo mode. I'm curious do you have a fitness tracker, wearable or bike computer that supports an external cadence sensor? If you do then it's a simple matter to pair it to the Vado SL and then you can see what your cadence is when the motor cuts out. Or put another way, when the motor cuts out, look at the cadence, that should tell you if what the bike shop told you is plausible or not.

Great idea. I have a cadence meter that I can pair with my Garmin, and maybe the Mission Control app.

 

[Copyrider]

Great idea. I have a cadence meter that I can pair with my Garmin, and maybe the Mission Control app.

That would be my guess too. Cadence is king (way more so than torque) in climbing with an SL. Have you tried climbing with a lower gear that would allow you to spin faster and more consistently?

 

[E-Wheels]

That Kinekt seat post is pricey. Online says $249.

Have you had a look at the Satori Animaris suspension seatpost

PRODUCT | SATORI

www.satoribike.com

Amazon.com

 

[Nubnub]

Great idea. I have a cadence meter that I can pair with my Garmin, and maybe the Mission Control app.

If you have a garmin it should be able to automatically pair with the existing cadence sensor in the SL.

 

[Oberst]

Took the Vado SL 5.0 for a 26 mile ride today in the Santa Cruz area with around 2000 feet of climbing with some grades 10 to 15%. The steeper ones were shorter, but there were a couple of sustained climbs. Overall, I was happy with the bike. It handles very well, pretty much like a regular road bike, and that is what I wanted. However, I ended up using Sport mode (2nd level) and Turbo quite a lot and that sucked up battery charge big time. At the end of the ride, I had 40% battery left. It was a bit disappointing, but I am a 71 year old woman who hasn't ridden in almost a year. As I ride more, I will get better. That said, the biggest problem I had was using turbo mode up the hills, or when I just wanted an extra boost. The motor would regularly pause and cut out on me while climbing, then kick in again. It didn't cause the bike to be jerky, but it was very disconcerting. I checked with the bike shop and they thought that I wasn't pedaling fast enough or hard enough and when that happens the motor will slow down or pause. Assuming this is true, I think this is a downside of the bike. None of the other levels did this (Eco and Sport were fine), just the Turbo mode. This aspect was very disappointing. I also have a Levo emtb and the motor does not do that. Has anyone else had that experience on the Vado SL?

I have a Creo, a Vado and a Levo and the Creo is, like your Vado SL, an e bike you have to ride much like a regular bike so when your cadence goes below a certain point, the power falls off a cliff. It does require adapting to that and getting to lower gears earlier for hills so you can keep your cadence up whereas the Vado and Levo can be muscled up hills at a much lower cadence.
Once I learned that, I could climb hills pretty well but I imagine a long and fairly steep hill will be a challenge to keep spinning fast enough but it is also the only e bike where standing for short bursts is more effective than on my others.

 

[Copyrider]

My only wish for the Vado SL--a step-through frame. That way, my wife would have one too.

 

[Jazin]

I've had my Vado SL 4.0 EQ for about a week now. I'm really having fun with it. I can do my 18 mile lake trail loop in 55 minutes, get home and take a shower, and be ready for work at 8:30. It's a good workout. I'm 50 and in decent analog biking shape. But with this bike, I can go 5-6 mph faster and blast down Chicago's busy roads to get to the trail. On the trail, I don't have to worry anymore about the speed demons coming up behind me. I can also load up my bike with tools and accessories and not feel like it's slowing me down. I like Tour mode the best and sustaining 20 mph. It does run through the battery though (around 40% in an hour). I did a 40 mile trip last weekend and ran out of juice in the last few miles. I might need to play with the settings or go into Eco mode to get more range. $500 for a range extender which I've heard doesn't give you 50% more range is a hard pill to swallow. I ordered a $350 Redshift suspension system (stem and seat post) ... I'll update with my thoughts on that later.

 

[Dave1520]

I ordered a $350 Redshift suspension system (stem and seat post) ... I'll update with my thoughts on that later.


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I too, am looking at the Redshift stem. I would be curious as to how you remount your front light after installing.