Surging Specialized turbo vado SL 5.0

[J K H]

Probably been answered before, but I cannot find.
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 2024 model - In turbo mode the bike surges and then I have to back off then pedal again when it surges again so I am boomerang hopping. In all other modes it feels normal.
Anything I can do with settings to get over this?

 

[sanyata]

You might try adjusting the tune in the app. Your Turbo setting might be 100% for the "ease" mode. In the newer app, slide the Turbo adjustment so the "ease" is perhaps 50% with 100% power. Use that as a starting point and keep experimenting with that adjustment until you find your sweet spot. Good Luck!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It is not a normal behaviour. A visit in the LBS is recommended.

 

[J K H]

You might try adjusting the tune in the app. Your Turbo setting might be 100% for the "ease" mode. In the newer app, slide the Turbo adjustment so the "ease" is perhaps 50% with 100% power. Use that as a starting point and keep experimenting with that adjustment until you for your sweet spot. Good Luck!

Thank you for your advice - I shall experiment.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My Vado SL never surges in Turbo. That's why I recommended seeing the LBS.

 

[J K H]

Thanks Stefan
Maybe I'm describing it wrongly.
It seems that there is too much assistance as soon as I pedal (only in turbo mode) so it is necessary to ease off and then, obviously I lose power and so have to pedal again when the same thing happens. Sanyata in the US has made a suggestion which I shall try - to do with the 'ease' setting. I seriously don't think there is any fault as such...maybe it's just me!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thanks Stefan
Maybe I'm describing it wrongly.
It seems that there is too much assistance as soon as I pedal (only in turbo mode) so it is necessary to ease off and then, obviously I lose power and so have to pedal again when the same thing happens. Sanyata in the US has made a suggestion which I shall try - to do with the 'ease' setting. I seriously don't think there is any fault as such...maybe it's just me!

If there were too much assistance but you were riding in the proper gear (high gear) then your Vado SL would simply ride faster...

 

[sanyata]

IIRC the old Mission Control app for my Levo had an acceleration setting and if it was set high, you could fell the bike rapidly take off or surge forward. The new app has a "responsiveness" setting for the Levo that I don't see in the SL app. So, I'm just theorizing that the "ease" setting might have a similar effect as the responsiveness setting.
Also, I think rider weight might play a role with how the response of either setting would be felt.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

for my Levo had an acceleration setting

It only works on Levo and Kenevo.
"Ease" is just "Assist"

 

[BEC111]

I notice that if I’m in Turbo (100/100) and riding slowly the assist does surge slightly when I start and more annoyingly lags or pulls back when I lower my cadence. It’s slight but definitely noticeable and occasionally disconcerting. I agree with Stefan that this is may not be normal or perhaps better said, expected. It’s minor enough that I don’t really care.

It may just be that at lower assist levels the assist is subtle and all but invisible while at 100% the motor is doing much more work compared to my legs.

 

[mfgrep]

It really sounds like it is behaving normally to me. In turbo when you torque the pedal it will surge on you or at least feel that way. Especially if you apply pedal pressure then release and reapply and so on.

Set your turbo tuning to 60/100 and see what you think. If it is at 100/100 and you apply ANY pedal pressure the bike will surge forward powerfully. If you promptly stop applying pedal pressure it will feel like it cuts out on you. Then if you apply pressure again it will feel like another powerful surge. And so on.

I'm not certain whether you are having a problem or not. Your dealer should be able to best assist you to understand what is going on if anything.

I know that opinions will vary on this but: if you have a standard derailleur drivetrain, I do not believe that you should be starting off in turbo from a stop. If you had an igh (I realize that you do not) this is more acceptable as the bike automatically gears up. With a derailleur it adds too much torque when in the largest cassette gears. It just adds wear and tear and frankly behaves wonky. You should generally start with lower motor power and gear up and power up successively as you gain momentum. Starting off in the largest rear cassette gear and at 100% motor power feels wonky.... Because it is wonky.

 

[Te. S]

It really sounds like it is behaving normally to me. In turbo when you torque the pedal it will surge on you or at least feel that way. Especially if you apply pedal pressure then release and reapply and so on.

Set your turbo tuning to 60/100 and see what you think. If it is at 100/100 and you apply ANY pedal pressure the bike will surge forward powerfully. If you promptly stop applying pedal pressure it will feel like it cuts out on you. Then if you apply pressure again it will feel like another powerful surge. And so on.

I'm not certain whether you are having a problem or not. Your dealer should be able to best assist you to understand what is going on if anything.

I know that opinions will vary on this but: if you have a standard derailleur drivetrain, I do not believe that you should be starting off in turbo from a stop. If you had an igh (I realize that you do not) this is more acceptable as the bike automatically gears up. With a derailleur it adds too much torque when in the largest cassette gears. It just adds wear and tear and frankly behaves wonky. You should generally start with lower motor power and gear up and power up successively as you gain momentum. Starting off in the largest rear cassette gear and at 100% motor power feels wonky.... Because it is wonky.

I agree with this 100%
is this happening from a dead start or while you are riding remember that when you are set on 100/100 it is full assist on so when it recognizes the pedal cadence and adds 100% assist and then when you back off it releases the assist. I would try lowering the assist to 75 and play around with it, good luck

 

[J K H]

I've been out of the country for a while, so please don't think I'm ignoring the advice many of you have given me - thank you.
I'm an experienced cyclist but this is my first experience of assistance, so I may have to accept a learning curve! I never set off in Turbo mode, in fact I rarely use it. As I have attempted to describe, this (maybe perceived only) experience only happens in Turbo mode. I use gearing (derailleur) sensibly as I have for many years (approx 60!). I have reduced the 'ease' to 60 and then 50 and this has helped somewhat, but not totally - maybe I have to use the bike more, I am still fighting on unassisted most of the time. Thank you again to all.