Darth Vado
New Member
Well, here's my first post and consummate with my nickname . . . I'm not going to be a white shiny soldier of the Specialized "Empire".
My Vado has only 1500 kms on it and it's been into the shop twice now. But I anticipate it will be there more often. It's already had all the wiring replaced (the only thing that showed up on what the mechanic called "primitive" diagnostic software). The problem that occurs is intermittent. Sometimes right out of the gate when I turn it on, the motor won't engage and it feels like I'm pushing against motor resistance as well. Sometimes the problem comes on well into a ride, like when I pass someone. The motor is supposed to kick out at 32 kph, which it does when I put on some leg power to pass, but then it doesn't kick back in. If I restart the system, it comes back on but the transition is no longer smooth. Every time you let off slightly on the pedal (like when changing gears), the motor kicks right out, then it takes a cycle or two of the pedals before it abruptly kicks back in again. Even when just turning the bike on, it might lurch forward for a split second, or when rolling it backwards, you can feel the motor trying to kick in. Removing the battery and replacing it fixes the problem briefly, but it will return when you least expect it. It happened 3 times on a 1 hour ride with my wife. My wife's Como so far has not shown any of these symptoms.
The mechanic is going to try swapping another battery from a new bike, or the motor from the new bike if the battery doesn't resolve it. Now that doesn't sound good to me that a new bike needs to have all it's wiring, it's battery and it's motor replaced . . . in the first couple months of use! The mechanic also said that the software he has available from Specialized is very limited ("primitive" was how he referred to it). The support for even him from Specialized is inconsistent and not prompt, plus it seems like whomever he talks to from Specialized doesn't really understand the technology. His experience with BioniX was entirely different. Their diagnostic software was superior and they could connect to the bike through his computer to do deeper diagnostic dives, tell him what was wrong, how to fix it or get the parts out to him immediately. BioniX response was always prompt and efficient. Specialized in his opinion is not as advanced or experienced in making e-bikes.
Add to all this the fact one of the rear spokes is already broken (another seemingly common problem with the Vado), Specialized has not followed through on their promised "Mission Control" app for the Vado, plus the already unreliable nature of this bike, I would not recommend Specialized, even to my worst galactic enemies. I just hope they can get this sorted out, but I'm concerned now about the reliability of this bike in the long term and feel like I'd rather just have a different bike.
I'll keep readers posted on the progress of the repair or anything else that might be of note. May the torque be with you . . .
My Vado has only 1500 kms on it and it's been into the shop twice now. But I anticipate it will be there more often. It's already had all the wiring replaced (the only thing that showed up on what the mechanic called "primitive" diagnostic software). The problem that occurs is intermittent. Sometimes right out of the gate when I turn it on, the motor won't engage and it feels like I'm pushing against motor resistance as well. Sometimes the problem comes on well into a ride, like when I pass someone. The motor is supposed to kick out at 32 kph, which it does when I put on some leg power to pass, but then it doesn't kick back in. If I restart the system, it comes back on but the transition is no longer smooth. Every time you let off slightly on the pedal (like when changing gears), the motor kicks right out, then it takes a cycle or two of the pedals before it abruptly kicks back in again. Even when just turning the bike on, it might lurch forward for a split second, or when rolling it backwards, you can feel the motor trying to kick in. Removing the battery and replacing it fixes the problem briefly, but it will return when you least expect it. It happened 3 times on a 1 hour ride with my wife. My wife's Como so far has not shown any of these symptoms.
The mechanic is going to try swapping another battery from a new bike, or the motor from the new bike if the battery doesn't resolve it. Now that doesn't sound good to me that a new bike needs to have all it's wiring, it's battery and it's motor replaced . . . in the first couple months of use! The mechanic also said that the software he has available from Specialized is very limited ("primitive" was how he referred to it). The support for even him from Specialized is inconsistent and not prompt, plus it seems like whomever he talks to from Specialized doesn't really understand the technology. His experience with BioniX was entirely different. Their diagnostic software was superior and they could connect to the bike through his computer to do deeper diagnostic dives, tell him what was wrong, how to fix it or get the parts out to him immediately. BioniX response was always prompt and efficient. Specialized in his opinion is not as advanced or experienced in making e-bikes.
Add to all this the fact one of the rear spokes is already broken (another seemingly common problem with the Vado), Specialized has not followed through on their promised "Mission Control" app for the Vado, plus the already unreliable nature of this bike, I would not recommend Specialized, even to my worst galactic enemies. I just hope they can get this sorted out, but I'm concerned now about the reliability of this bike in the long term and feel like I'd rather just have a different bike.
I'll keep readers posted on the progress of the repair or anything else that might be of note. May the torque be with you . . .
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