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

[FlatSix911]

Hello everyone, firstly, great to see an active forum, I’ve been reading everything I could before buying this bike, carefully noting Court’s review and all opinions on this thread. Hopefully I can contribute with my impressions of the Vado SL 5 after a few weeks. Succinctly, wow! Which is what everyone who’s had a go also says straight away- this thing is incredible.

I bought it because I don’t fancy the idea of the Northern Line (London Underground), even less now than I did four months ago... And, of course, because I love bikes, and this one just screamed “buy me”, especially in silver. Which I did, without a test ride first. I considered a Ribble, Desiknio (both no stock) a Van Moof S3 (potentially unfounded reservations about proprietary components personally) and a few others. The team at the Specialized Concept Store London (Ruislip) were great, reassuring given how outrageously expensive it was. I’m very lucky to have too many bikes already, but, my god, this one is next-level expensive... so I’m glad to be left impressed.

I’ve never really been interested in road bikes (had a few) but I have a couple of mountain bikes and a bunch of cruisers. Road bikes always seemed more about exercise, slogging along instead of having fun. I have a lovely (parkland, shared bike / pedestrian type) route nearby to wind down on, after a long day of working from home... Been riding it for thirty years, ever since I was allowed out my own! About 35 minutes on a heavy steel, back-pedal brake cruiser, maybe 10 minutes less on a trick MTB hardtail with slicks and a high geared Nexus hub. Bikes set their own pace I think. The Vado SL went round in just over 15 minutes, without trying particularly hard. But I nearly lunched it a couple of times. This thing is fast! I understand EU / UK Vado SLs are speed limited compared to US ones. I like to ride in a “press-on” manner, but I don’t take daft risks anymore, I stop at red lights etc, so for this kind of riding, at my level of reasonable fitness and urban road craft, it’s more than fast enough for London.

Anyway, I think I’ve decided to stick to using it for commuting on roads only. My tube journey to the office was an hour, door to door, the Vado SL does it in 40 minutes without (me) breaking a sweat, as I said, respecting traffic lights etc. Highgate Hill? Ha! Easy, and it opens up the possibility of taking quieter routes I wouldn’t consider otherwise. The biggest problem I’m going to have is figuring out a polite, British way of cruising past other cyclists. Give it a couple of weeks, that won’t be a issue (I let the roadies at the office all have a go, they loved it but cautioned me on how fast it was and the need to be sensible).

Problems- the saddle isn’t comfortable for me so far, big nope, but I understand that’s a personal thing. I’ll need to buy fenders and it seems I’m restricted to Specialized’s Dry-Tech only? Fancied some from PDW. For some reason the back of my left foot keeps hitting the crank, perhaps due to the motor / crank width? I think I’ll get the more compliant future shock spring fitted, not convinced the stiff one fitted is doing much for me. Don’t need so many gears. The middle ones aren’t helpful, way too similar. Low gears seem pointlessly so. Chain already damaged the paint on a bumpy road in highest gear, clearance seems mean. So whilst the Shimano stuff is excellent to use, I think it could benefit from a little more careful specifying. I wonder what’s on the Creo? I guess I need to get used to riding with a higher cadence to suit the motor. Interesting to see how reliable the drive train proves. Even before the recent price-hikes, I reckon there will be enough expensive Vado, Creo and Levo SLs around to sustain continued support and evolution from Specialized, or some other canny company... Position of the charge point seems sub-optimal, but no bad weather yet so I’ll see. The front hub / wheel makes a slight tickling noise... really, it’s pretty much a dream though. It’s like complaining about the ashtray in a Ferrari. The list of stuff I love about this bike is much longer.

Some highlights, the Mission Control app is fun, top speed recorded so far is 38.87mph... must try harder. I think that’s what I enjoy most (as mentioned, in the EU / UK electric bikes are basically identical up to 15mph or so) but this bike just flies once you’ve passed that. Lights are brilliant. Small thing, but the handlebar grips are amazing. Acceleration is outstanding for city riding, and it makes Jump bikes seem agricultural. Incidentally, if they sold one with more comfortable 650b’s, Gates belt and NuVinci I’d be all in. Come on Specialized, I’ll usertest it for you.

In summary, again, wow... this thing is fabulous. I’m likely biased, this bike represents a substantial investment, which mentally / financially I feel the need to justify I suppose... But if you’re lucky enough to make it happen, I’d say don’t hesitate, this bike will put a massive grin on your face. Happy to answer any questions. Simon



View attachment 61966

Welcome to EBR and thanks for your very entertaining review!

 

[BEC111]

Well told. You’ve expressed all of our impressions very well. The photo is terrific too.

 

[Copyrider]

Hello everyone, firstly, great to see an active forum, I’ve been reading everything I could before buying this bike, carefully noting Court’s review and all opinions on this thread. Hopefully I can contribute with my impressions of the Vado SL 5 after a few weeks. Succinctly, wow! Which is what everyone who’s had a go also says straight away- this thing is incredible.

I bought it because I don’t fancy the idea of the Northern Line (London Underground), even less now than I did four months ago... And, of course, because I love bikes, and this one just screamed “buy me”, especially in silver. Which I did, without a test ride first. I considered a Ribble, Desiknio (both no stock) a Van Moof S3 (potentially unfounded reservations about proprietary components personally) and a few others. The team at the Specialized Concept Store London (Ruislip) were great, reassuring given how outrageously expensive it was. I’m very lucky to have too many bikes already, but, my god, this one is next-level expensive... so I’m glad to be left impressed.

I’ve never really been interested in road bikes (had a few) but I have a couple of mountain bikes and a bunch of cruisers. Road bikes always seemed more about exercise, slogging along instead of having fun. I have a lovely (parkland, shared bike / pedestrian type) route nearby to wind down on, after a long day of working from home... Been riding it for thirty years, ever since I was allowed out my own! About 35 minutes on a heavy steel, back-pedal brake cruiser, maybe 10 minutes less on a trick MTB hardtail with slicks and a high geared Nexus hub. Bikes set their own pace I think. The Vado SL went round in just over 15 minutes, without trying particularly hard. But I nearly lunched it a couple of times. This thing is fast! I understand EU / UK Vado SLs are speed limited compared to US ones. I like to ride in a “press-on” manner, but I don’t take daft risks anymore, I stop at red lights etc, so for this kind of riding, at my level of reasonable fitness and urban road craft, it’s more than fast enough for London.

Anyway, I think I’ve decided to stick to using it for commuting on roads only. My tube journey to the office was an hour, door to door, the Vado SL does it in 40 minutes without (me) breaking a sweat, as I said, respecting traffic lights etc. Highgate Hill? Ha! Easy, and it opens up the possibility of taking quieter routes I wouldn’t consider otherwise. The biggest problem I’m going to have is figuring out a polite, British way of cruising past other cyclists. Give it a couple of weeks, that won’t be a issue (I let the roadies at the office all have a go, they loved it but cautioned me on how fast it was and the need to be sensible).

Problems- the saddle isn’t comfortable for me so far, big nope, but I understand that’s a personal thing. I’ll need to buy fenders and it seems I’m restricted to Specialized’s Dry-Tech only? Fancied some from PDW. For some reason the back of my left foot keeps hitting the crank, perhaps due to the motor / crank width? I think I’ll get the more compliant future shock spring fitted, not convinced the stiff one fitted is doing much for me. Don’t need so many gears. The middle ones aren’t helpful, way too similar. Low gears seem pointlessly so. Chain already damaged the paint on a bumpy road in highest gear, clearance seems mean. So whilst the Shimano stuff is excellent to use, I think it could benefit from a little more careful specifying. I wonder what’s on the Creo? I guess I need to get used to riding with a higher cadence to suit the motor. Interesting to see how reliable the drive train proves. Even before the recent price-hikes, I reckon there will be enough expensive Vado, Creo and Levo SLs around to sustain continued support and evolution from Specialized, or some other canny company... Position of the charge point seems sub-optimal, but no bad weather yet so I’ll see. The front hub / wheel makes a slight tickling noise... really, it’s pretty much a dream though. It’s like complaining about the ashtray in a Ferrari. The list of stuff I love about this bike is much longer.

Some highlights, the Mission Control app is fun, top speed recorded so far is 38.87mph... must try harder. I think that’s what I enjoy most (as mentioned, in the EU / UK electric bikes are basically identical up to 15mph or so) but this bike just flies once you’ve passed that. Lights are brilliant. Small thing, but the handlebar grips are amazing. Acceleration is outstanding for city riding, and it makes Jump bikes seem agricultural. Incidentally, if they sold one with more comfortable 650b’s, Gates belt and NuVinci I’d be all in. Come on Specialized, I’ll usertest it for you.

In summary, again, wow... this thing is fabulous. I’m likely biased, this bike represents a substantial investment, which mentally / financially I feel the need to justify I suppose... But if you’re lucky enough to make it happen, I’d say don’t hesitate, this bike will put a massive grin on your face. Happy to answer any questions. Simon



View attachment 61966

Our motivations for choosing the Vado SL are quite similar (substitute BART for the London Underground) and our findings are similar, too. Even though I opted for the 4.0, I choked on the price tag a bit, too (LOL).

Regarding the fenders--my bike is the "EQ" model, so it came equipped with them. Though I get only three months per year where there would be any opportunity for them to even be useful due to rain, I do find they have performed well in instances of unexpected wet streets or puddles due to street cleaning. My only complaint is that they are a tad aggressive in their wheel coverage. For instance, in even dropping off a city curb, I always scrape the trailing edge of the front fender, or in popping the bike up on its back wheel to walk it through a narrow space, the back fender scrapes earlier than I'd prefer.Minor annoyances for such an effective design, I admit.

I also believe there are too many gears--and mine has fewer than yours. Even so, after a little time, I'm sure you will adjust your shifting and riding habits as I have, to maximize your SL's boost. Some experimentation with Mission Control will yield amazing results, too. It took me about a week over lots of different terrain and gearing to tune my settings the way I like them. Once it's dialed in, it's like a new bike all over again!

As to the saddle--I can't recommend this one enough: https://selleanatomica.com/products/h2-next-generation-saddle

It's expensive and not exactly light, but its performance is in line with your bike's, which is to say, it's excellent. The build and materials quality are excellent and the style and comfort are fitting of this bike's beautiful design. It's Brooks-style in its design and function, but much more sporty and sleek in its form.

 

[sjmoir]

Thanks everyone. Good call on the pedals and fenders- it was 36 degrees here in London today, but it’ll be raining soon enough... I’ll see if I can get the Drytechs fitted at the first service then, give them a go. Copyrider, that saddle looks great, food for thought thanks!

 

[Pete 6016]

Good going on the purchase! You will love it. That color is rad. If it came in EQ, I might have gotten it, too.

Thanks for the shout-out. Happy to add some value to the conversation. It's really hard to go wrong either way, though.

With regard to the motor whine. You're right to note that it's a bit louder than the standard VADO (which is among the quietest on the market, by most accounts). I've found it to actually be a benefit, though. Because the SL is so reliant on cadence to deliver full power and efficiency, I've started listening to the motor whine when climbing the steepest hills (Bernal Heights, Telegraph in SF) to tell me when I'm not pedaling smoothly and consistently. If the sound is smooth and consistent, I know I'm getting maximum power output from the motor. If it peaks and diminishes, I'm relying more on torque, and thus, not getting maximum power from the motor and my efforts. It's a way to train yourself for good habits.

As far as the amount of power in each mode, I suggest you play around with Mission Control for a few days to set it just the way you want it. I can't remember my exact settings offhand, but I'm riding (approx):

ECO: 25%-40%
SPORT: 50%-75%
TURBO: 85%-100%

Of course, I also ride with it "off" quite a bit, too. The first number is your starting-point assist. That's basically when your torque is high and cadence is low. As your cadence rises, more assist is added in (quite smoothly) to help you gain and maintain speed. I've found that I really notice about a 10% jump in boost and that 50-60% of the time I ride, ECO is my preferred setting, or SPORT in moderate city traffic (for safety) I really only do TURBO for hills...or slight inclines in heavy traffic). With this configuration, I can use the mode selector almost like a throttle and dial up or down the assist with quick and consistent response that's exactly to my liking in most gears... 5th, being my normal sweet spot for nearly all modes and conditions outside of extreme needs.

Try the tuning--you'll like it.

 

[Pete 6016]

I’ve had my VADO 4 SL (unequipped) for about 2 months now. It’s a perfect fit for me as I wanted more of a fitness bike. I found your comments on

Good going on the purchase! You will love it. That color is rad. If it came in EQ, I might have gotten it, too.

Thanks for the shout-out. Happy to add some value to the conversation. It's really hard to go wrong either way, though.

With regard to the motor whine. You're right to note that it's a bit louder than the standard VADO (which is among the quietest on the market, by most accounts). I've found it to actually be a benefit, though. Because the SL is so reliant on cadence to deliver full power and efficiency, I've started listening to the motor whine when climbing the steepest hills (Bernal Heights, Telegraph in SF) to tell me when I'm not pedaling smoothly and consistently. If the sound is smooth and consistent, I know I'm getting maximum power output from the motor. If it peaks and diminishes, I'm relying more on torque, and thus, not getting maximum power from the motor and my efforts. It's a way to train yourself for good habits.

As far as the amount of power in each mode, I suggest you play around with Mission Control for a few days to set it just the way you want it. I can't remember my exact settings offhand, but I'm riding (approx):

ECO: 25%-40%
SPORT: 50%-75%
TURBO: 85%-100%

Of course, I also ride with it "off" quite a bit, too. The first number is your starting-point assist. That's basically when your torque is high and cadence is low. As your cadence rises, more assist is added in (quite smoothly) to help you gain and maintain speed. I've found that I really notice about a 10% jump in boost and that 50-60% of the time I ride, ECO is my preferred setting, or SPORT in moderate city traffic (for safety) I really only do TURBO for hills...or slight inclines in heavy traffic). With this configuration, I can use the mode selector almost like a throttle and dial up or down the assist with quick and consistent response that's exactly to my liking in most gears... 5th, being my normal sweet spot for nearly all modes and conditions outside of extreme needs.

Try the tuning--you'll like it.

 

[Pete 6016]

Good going on the purchase! You will love it. That color is rad. If it came in EQ, I might have gotten it, too.

Thanks for the shout-out. Happy to add some value to the conversation. It's really hard to go wrong either way, though.

With regard to the motor whine. You're right to note that it's a bit louder than the standard VADO (which is among the quietest on the market, by most accounts). I've found it to actually be a benefit, though. Because the SL is so reliant on cadence to deliver full power and efficiency, I've started listening to the motor whine when climbing the steepest hills (Bernal Heights, Telegraph in SF) to tell me when I'm not pedaling smoothly and consistently. If the sound is smooth and consistent, I know I'm getting maximum power output from the motor. If it peaks and diminishes, I'm relying more on torque, and thus, not getting maximum power from the motor and my efforts. It's a way to train yourself for good habits.

As far as the amount of power in each mode, I suggest you play around with Mission Control for a few days to set it just the way you want it. I can't remember my exact settings offhand, but I'm riding (approx):

ECO: 25%-40%
SPORT: 50%-75%
TURBO: 85%-100%

Of course, I also ride with it "off" quite a bit, too. The first number is your starting-point assist. That's basically when your torque is high and cadence is low. As your cadence rises, more assist is added in (quite smoothly) to help you gain and maintain speed. I've found that I really notice about a 10% jump in boost and that 50-60% of the time I ride, ECO is my preferred setting, or SPORT in moderate city traffic (for safety) I really only do TURBO for hills...or slight inclines in heavy traffic). With this configuration, I can use the mode selector almost like a throttle and dial up or down the assist with quick and consistent response that's exactly to my liking in most gears... 5th, being my normal sweet spot for nearly all modes and conditions outside of extreme needs.

Try the tuning--you'll like it.

 

[Pete 6016]

I’ve had my Vado 4 SL for about 2 months now. As I wanted more of a fitness bike the SL is perfect. Your comments on the bike being reliant on cadence has been very helpful to me. I’ve shortened the handle bars, installed an adjustable stem and most recently a Kinekt seat post. Now with cadence in mind I need to change out the cluster. There’s just too much of a gap between cogs. As we primarily ride scenic bike trails In northern Wisconsin and Minnesota I’m using about 3 of the10 cogs. This is a great forum. Thanks for your insight.

 

[Deenice]

Is there a software update? What does it do?

 

[BEC111]

Not sure what the update does. Possibly gets you to visit your LBS?

 

[SwiftySanders]

I wonder who the target customer would be.
@Phyz, you?

Me! I have a Creo and I want one of these bikes TBQH!!!

 

[SwiftySanders]

Our motivations for choosing the Vado SL are quite similar (substitute BART for the London Underground) and our findings are similar, too. Even though I opted for the 4.0, I choked on the price tag a bit, too (LOL).

Regarding the fenders--my bike is the "EQ" model, so it came equipped with them. Though I get only three months per year where there would be any opportunity for them to even be useful due to rain, I do find they have performed well in instances of unexpected wet streets or puddles due to street cleaning. My only complaint is that they are a tad aggressive in their wheel coverage. For instance, in even dropping off a city curb, I always scrape the trailing edge of the front fender, or in popping the bike up on its back wheel to walk it through a narrow space, the back fender scrapes earlier than I'd prefer.Minor annoyances for such an effective design, I admit.

I also believe there are too many gears--and mine has fewer than yours. Even so, after a little time, I'm sure you will adjust your shifting and riding habits as I have, to maximize your SL's boost. Some experimentation with Mission Control will yield amazing results, too. It took me about a week over lots of different terrain and gearing to tune my settings the way I like them. Once it's dialed in, it's like a new bike all over again!

As to the saddle--I can't recommend this one enough: https://selleanatomica.com/products/h2-next-generation-saddle

It's expensive and not exactly light, but its performance is in line with your bike's, which is to say, it's excellent. The build and materials quality are excellent and the style and comfort are fitting of this bike's beautiful design. It's Brooks-style in its design and function, but much more sporty and sleek in its form.

You're in the bay area... hahah! I live in Oakland. I'm in SF all the time!!! Love hearing that other people have a similar bike to mine.

 

[citivas]

Hi. I test road a Vado SL 4.0 EQ a few days ago and am really conflicted. I want to like the SL because of its weight (which makes it easier to transport) and ability to ride it without drag without assist if necessary. But the ride was crazy harsh on the city streets we tried it on. My wife called it the worst experience of any bike she's ever ridden on. We vibrated with every imperfection on the road. To be clear, we've never been road bike people -- we've mostly ridden essentially hybrid bikes, or old rigid frame mountain bikes with hybrid tires (1990's era Raleigh M-20's).

I'm looking to get this for exercise and recreational riding, mostly on roads but also sometimes gravel or dirt trails (not downhill single track). I'm on the fence about getting the SL and then modding it with seat post and handlebar stem suspension and a big saddle seat, or just moving on from the SL and getting a regular Vado or Como. My worry is whether this will really make a profound difference on the ride or just a little difference which wouldn't be enough.

I also wonder if it really comes down to the tires. I've always had tires at least as thick as the regular Vado and may be used to them absorbing the road more. I see you can get thicker tires for the SL but it seems like you then have to ditch your fenders, rack and lose the rear LED taillight, or get the non-EQ version but then have a wire for the seat-mounted taillight that wouldn't work with the mod seat posts and saddles.

Thoughts? I'd don't mind having someone who loves the SL honestly tell me that it's not the right bike for me if that's the case given my circumstances. But if it really is possible to profoundly change the feel of the ride on the SL I'd be happy to consider it.

Thanks.

 

[BEC111]

I had the same conundrum when I bought my Vado 4 SL. I wanted to shock absorption of the model 5 EQ, but couldn’t justify extra cost. I’ve been riding mine since May on similar paths, though with less off pavement. There are occasions when I wish for better seat comfort and might get a suspension seat post of some sort at Some point.

Though the handlebars aren’t cushioned, that hasn’t bothered me so far. Maybe because I pay attention to arm and shoulder flex while I’ve never figured out butt flex other than standing on the pedals.

 

[citivas]

BTW, is there a way to turn off the lights on the SL 4.0 EQ (that doesn't have the control display)? The LBS techs couldn't figure it out. Seemed to come on automatically when the battery was on and didn't response to button pushes the same way it does on the regular Vados.

 

[BEC111]

You have identified one of the many “future directions“ for updates. You can’t turn off the lights nor change it to flashing. So, no. You can’t turn the lights off.

 

[FlatSix911]

Hi. I test road a Vado SL 4.0 EQ a few days ago and am really conflicted. I want to like the SL because of its weight (which makes it easier to transport) and ability to ride it without drag without assist if necessary. But the ride was crazy harsh on the city streets we tried it on. My wife called it the worst experience of any bike she's ever ridden on. We vibrated with every imperfection on the road. To be clear, we've never been road bike people -- we've mostly ridden essentially hybrid bikes, or old rigid frame mountain bikes with hybrid tires (1990's era Raleigh M-20's).
I'm looking to get this for exercise and recreational riding, mostly on roads but also sometimes gravel or dirt trails (not downhill single track). I'm on the fence about getting the SL and then modding it with seat post and handlebar stem suspension and a big saddle seat, or just moving on from the SL and getting a regular Vado or Como. My worry is whether this will really make a profound difference on the ride or just a little difference which wouldn't be enough.
I also wonder if it really comes down to the tires. I've always had tires at least as thick as the regular Vado and may be used to them absorbing the road more. I see you can get thicker tires for the SL but it seems like you then have to ditch your fenders, rack and lose the rear LED taillight, or get the non-EQ version but then have a wire for the seat-mounted taillight that wouldn't work with the mod seat posts and saddles. Thoughts? I'd don't mind having someone who loves the SL honestly tell me that it's not the right bike for me if that's the case given my circumstances. But if it really is possible to profoundly change the feel of the ride on the SL I'd be happy to consider it.

Thanks.

If you like the bike, but not the ride... consider adding a suspension seat post and stem along with wider tires for comfort.

 

[SwiftySanders]

Hi. I test road a Vado SL 4.0 EQ a few days ago and am really conflicted. I want to like the SL because of its weight (which makes it easier to transport) and ability to ride it without drag without assist if necessary. But the ride was crazy harsh on the city streets we tried it on. My wife called it the worst experience of any bike she's ever ridden on. We vibrated with every imperfection on the road. To be clear, we've never been road bike people -- we've mostly ridden essentially hybrid bikes, or old rigid frame mountain bikes with hybrid tires (1990's era Raleigh M-20's).

I'm looking to get this for exercise and recreational riding, mostly on roads but also sometimes gravel or dirt trails (not downhill single track). I'm on the fence about getting the SL and then modding it with seat post and handlebar stem suspension and a big saddle seat, or just moving on from the SL and getting a regular Vado or Como. My worry is whether this will really make a profound difference on the ride or just a little difference which wouldn't be enough.

I also wonder if it really comes down to the tires. I've always had tires at least as thick as the regular Vado and may be used to them absorbing the road more. I see you can get thicker tires for the SL but it seems like you then have to ditch your fenders, rack and lose the rear LED taillight, or get the non-EQ version but then have a wire for the seat-mounted taillight that wouldn't work with the mod seat posts and saddles.

Thoughts? I'd don't mind having someone who loves the SL honestly tell me that it's not the right bike for me if that's the case given my circumstances. But if it really is possible to profoundly change the feel of the ride on the SL I'd be happy to consider it.

Thanks.

I was afraid those thin tires would be harsh on this. Thanks for confirming. I can tolerate it on most roads. However, you should probably switch the tires out. I think this frame maybe able to handle wider tires. I have the turbo creo sl comp carbon evo. That is their gravel version of this bike. I am guessing you should switch to a gravel tire thats wider so it handles the bumps and street debris better. That would probably solve the issues you are having.

 

[citivas]

My understanding is that a 700 x 42 mm tire will fit on the Vado SL, but that's not much different than the stock 38. If you go to 650b wheels then I believe a 650 x 47 mm will fit and likely a 50 mm will fit. Whether or not that would make it acceptable to you and your wife is only a question the two of you can answer. I ride both off-road and road, but I have no issues with riding 23 mm tires on my carbon road bike and I've done light gravel in stretches. I am fine with it, but understand many would not.

My guess is that you might be better candidates for something like the Giant Thrive E+ (wife) and the Giant Fastroad for yourself. These bikes come with 27.5 (or 650b) x 2.4" wide tires. I would think that's plenty wide and lots of volume to take care of road chatter. The Giant is cheaper, though it does weigh a fair bit more. I believe it's around 48 lbs or so.

Thanks.

I wish my wife or I could answer that, as you say, but we have no point of reference and no ability to test that on the bike. Do wider tires make a little or big difference usually on ride vibration?

On the Giant bikes, once you're up in that weight class, what's the benefit of those bikes over the regular Vado or Como which are a similar weight? The Como is right there (high 40's) and the Vado maybe 5 lbs. more.

My other hesitation on counting on a tire changing fixing the SL is it seems pretty invasive. I either have to get an EQ model (which are easier to get around here) and then essentially trash all the things that justified that upgrade (fenders, rack, which mounts to the custom fenders, and the fender-mounted rear LED light), or I have to wait for an non-EQ which is already missing those things but then the rear LED light is custom mounted to the seat which will interfere with modifying the seat and seat post with a suspension post, etc. Unless I'm missing something about how it can be done without all that, seems like major surgery and I'm left without any of those features.

 

[Dunbar]

I don’t own the Turbo Vado SL (considering one) but I can tell you that a suspension seat post like the Kinect will make a massive difference. I basically can’t ride my current e-bike (Cross Current) with a standard rigid seat post as the ride is overly harsh especially once you start going faster. I’m not sure how wide of a tire the Vado will fit but I run wider 50mm tires (my bike was 45mm stock) at reasonable pressures (25-30psi) and that helps a bit too.