rochrunner
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Rochester Hills MI
My most useful bike over the last 8 years has been my do-everything Specialized Crosstrail. It’s been perfect for the type of riding I mostly do: paved and unpaved rail-trails, hilly dirt/gravel roads, some two-track and occasional MTB trail, and of course road sections when needed. And of all the eBikes I’ve looked at (or at least those sold by a local dealer), nothing matches my needs as well as the Vado. No surprise either since its geometry is a very close match for the Crosstrail line.
So the only question was which one to get between a 3.0 and 4.0. I found the info on the web site to be inadequate, but was able to stop by a dealer yesterday who had 2019 and 2020 bikes on the floor and cleared up some issues. For one thing, the 2020 3.0 is definitely a Class 3 bike. The reason for my confusion is that the tech info on the web lists the 3.0 as having a “1.2E” motor, which is tuned for “efficiency”, including “less peak torque and maximum output”. That made it sound like a 20mph bike, but the sticker says 28mph, (maybe with better battery range?).
The dealer had both a 2019 and 2020 3.0, and it’s apparent that the 2019 3.0 is almost identical to what they’re calling the 2020 4.0 except for a slightly smaller battery (460 vs. 500), which is one reason for the 4.0 listing at $100 more. But basically the 3.0 was reduced in price for 2020 ($3450 to $2700) by going to lower-level components such as Tektro brakes, 9-speed gearing, fork with dropouts instead of thru-axle, etc.
So, knowing what I know now, I think that for my purposes the 2020 4.0 is worth the extra cost over the 3.0 and I am willing to pay it. Now it’s just a matter of timing since the biking season is coming to a close soon around here and it could be April or later before I can get outside again. Still, if an end-of-year or preseason sale comes up I’m ready to pull the trigger.
Any comments?
So the only question was which one to get between a 3.0 and 4.0. I found the info on the web site to be inadequate, but was able to stop by a dealer yesterday who had 2019 and 2020 bikes on the floor and cleared up some issues. For one thing, the 2020 3.0 is definitely a Class 3 bike. The reason for my confusion is that the tech info on the web lists the 3.0 as having a “1.2E” motor, which is tuned for “efficiency”, including “less peak torque and maximum output”. That made it sound like a 20mph bike, but the sticker says 28mph, (maybe with better battery range?).
The dealer had both a 2019 and 2020 3.0, and it’s apparent that the 2019 3.0 is almost identical to what they’re calling the 2020 4.0 except for a slightly smaller battery (460 vs. 500), which is one reason for the 4.0 listing at $100 more. But basically the 3.0 was reduced in price for 2020 ($3450 to $2700) by going to lower-level components such as Tektro brakes, 9-speed gearing, fork with dropouts instead of thru-axle, etc.
So, knowing what I know now, I think that for my purposes the 2020 4.0 is worth the extra cost over the 3.0 and I am willing to pay it. Now it’s just a matter of timing since the biking season is coming to a close soon around here and it could be April or later before I can get outside again. Still, if an end-of-year or preseason sale comes up I’m ready to pull the trigger.
Any comments?
