Vado 4.0 Rode new bike home today (16.5 miles)

[PaD]

Don’t know if this is worth a new thread but in any case I picked up a new Vado 4.0 and rode it home. 26.8 km on the odo when got home. It was an easy ride in good weather. A bit warmer than it usually is in Sweden, 29C or 84F. It’s been a hot summer a will stay this hot for at least another 10 days they say. Wildfires is a big problem.
The ride was nice and easy with a moderate tail wind and I did it in Eco mode ( or off in downhills or some flat parts). After 16.5 miles the battery status on the display was still showing all 5 bars so I guess it’s broken I’m very eager to find out what total range I can expect in various conditions.

Prior to leaving the dealer I took the display off the bike and putting it back it wouldn’t start! All that happened was rhat the last bar on battery status was blinking. One explanation from dealers service guys was that the battery level in the display panel was low. They took one from another bike and initiated it with latest software and all was fine again.
What do you think? I haven’t removed it since arriving home and I just restarted the bike with success ( and the battery level is now showing 4 bars)

To justify this new thread I’ll try to attach some photos showing some change in details that are not shown on Specialized website.
The tail light is different and moved from the rear rack to the fender.
On the rear rack’s down tubes there a ”loops” near the attach point. This could be handy for me if I choose to use my very old Ortlieb backrollers.

 

[PaD]

Dragging motor?
Several times on the way home it felt like the motor was braking when I turned motor assist off. I took the bike out for an evening ride (adding another 13-14 miles to the odo) and I must say pedalling without motor assist feels unnaturally heavy even if I know the bike weighs some 50lbs. I have ridden bikes with luggage.

I shall examine this more today and make sure I’m pushing too high gears. Also will try to compare to my regular unassisted bike.

Battery/range
At 47.5km (29.5 miles) the battery level went from 4 to 3. I had the lights on for about 1/2 hour during the evening ride. All riding done in Eco mode with just a few starts in Sport mode at traffic lights.

Edit !
Cannot get out to ride the Vado right now because the f...ing elevator is broken and I can’t get the Vado out. Live in an apartment on second floor a keep the bike on the balcony.
Did a mini test in the 20’ long staiwell. 3rd lowest gear so I didn’t crash into a wall.

Battery/System completely off - felt like a normal bike but remember the low gear.
Battery/System on but no assist chosen - there is noticeable shudder felt throw crank/pedals. Can’t really say if was heavy with the low gear on the super short ”test track”
Will get out to test on a perfectly flat parking lot as soon as the elevator man has swung his magic wand.

 

[PaD]

Have been out with the Vado trying to get a feel for what I felt was a resistance in motor/crank when pedalling with assist off. I’m not 100% sure there is problem. It is possible it is a comparative thing. The assist in Eco mode is quite strong.
Also comparison with battery off vs battery/system on but no assist was difficult as there was some wind today and what you really want to do is measure pressure on pedals or something like that.
My dealer said come in wlth the bike tomorrow if you like or ride it for few days. He will talk to Specialized dealer support on Monday.
There is a lot to like in the Vado so I really want make sure I have aproblem before making next decision.
Rode another 22km this evening and at 70km (43.5 miles) on odo battery indication went down to 2 bars.
Charging battery now for the first time.

 

[Jho]

Hi PaD

Did you possibly ride along kungsgatan last Thursday evening? I saw a red vado 4.0. I noticed it immediately since I got the same model. Anyway congratulation for your bike.

For you observation, I too notice some resistance from the engine from time to time when assist is turned off or battery turned off. I haven’t systematically tried it out yet but my feeling is that sometimes the resistance was there but another time not for the same gear. What more bother me is when biking on flat road, sometimes I felt that the bike was not just stop assisting above 25 kph but it is pulling me back or like riding from paved road over a short stretch of sand bank. On the other hand, on down slopes I never had these feelings and the bike easily come up to 35 kph. Anyway, I am still learning how the bike behave and so far I am still very happy with it.

 

[PaD]

Hi PaD

Did you possibly ride along kungsgatan last Thursday evening? I saw a red vado 4.0. I noticed it immediately since I got the same model. Anyway congratulation for your bike.

For you observation, I too notice some resistance from the engine from time to time when assist is turned off or battery turned off. I haven’t systematically tried it out yet but my feeling is that sometimes the resistance was there but another time not for the same gear. What more bother me is when biking on flat road, sometimes I felt that the bike was not just stop assisting above 25 kph but it is pulling me back or like riding from paved road over a short stretch of sand bank. On the other hand, on down slopes I never had these feelings and the bike easily come up to 35 kph. Anyway, I am still learning how the bike behave and so far I am still very happy with it.

Hi
Yes I was on my Vado Kungsgatan on Thursday evening. I don’t remember the exact time but at least I do remember riding there on my evening ride
About resistance.
As I’ve said before I think there is a lot to like about the Vado but I’m not to happy about the resistance. I’m going to see the dealer and one of their service guys tomorrow so in a few days I may have more info.
I’m totally new to e-bikes so maybe my expectations are too high. We’ll see what comes out my meeting tomorrow. I get a nice 23-25km morning ride going there.

 

[PaD]

3 months yesterday since I picked up and rode my Vado home.
After 200km I had the motor exchanged and since then the bike has been performing well. Especially after the 1000km ( or 600 miles) check up and adjustments.
I really like the way the Vado handles and the motor in Eco mode is strong and smooth. Don’t think I’ve used Sport mode for more than 1-2% of my riding.
I can go up to 90km ( over 55 miles) on a full charge of the 504Wh battery and I think that’s ok.
But WHY can’t we have the 604Wh battery as an option when buying a new bike?
Not customer friendly!

The Vado is of course not perfect. ( but it is fun ) Specialized teamed up with some strange software guys it seems. Remember how the trip meter reset itself on power off? How stupid was that?
The odo is still not showing/recording the correct distance because the software sometimes doesn’t save the distance if it’s not a full 5km. That’s the explanation I got from Specialized.

Latest info on Mission control app connecting to display was that the Blutooth in the display was not compatible. Didn’t the software guys look into how modern smartphones work before designing the display and software?
For me it would have been better with 11mm tubing in rear rack for fitting my Ortlieb bags.
The position of the headlamp prevents putting on handlebar bags so I lowered the lamp with a aluminum bar.

My odo reads 1633.7 km after motor exchange. Add to that the 200 km on my first motor and the kms the software skips I’m guessing I’ve done about 2000km on my Vado in 90 days. 13-14 miles average per day.
I like the bike but have to look into changing the handlebars. The wide bars seems to push my shoulders back and I get a pain in the neck. Might help with just cutting off a bit.
If you don’t like getting attention buy something else. With a nail polish red Vado you get comments and compliments from little kids as well as little old ladies

 

[Unique]

Hi.
I've had my VADO 4.0 for two month now, and enjoying it a lot. 245km on the odo so far. I only had two minor isues. Display went dark but could be reset by turning bike of and on again. Range seems to be okey, around 80km on one charge. With temp around 1degree Celsius and with lights on it seems fair. Looking forward to springtime.

 

[PaD]

Hi.
I've had my VADO 4.0 for two month now, and enjoying it a lot. 245km on the odo so far. I only had two minor isues. Display went dark but could be reset by turning bike of and on again. Range seems to be okey, around 80km on one charge. With temp around 1degree Celsius and with lights on it seems fair. Looking forward to springtime.

Hej
Good to hear you’re having a good time with the Vado. The Vado 4.0 is a fun and nice bike. I too found the range fair.
Unfortunately mine was stolen shortly after I wrote post/report above.
I’m thinking of getting a new Vado this spring. Maybe a 5.0 with 600Wh battery. There is a 25km/h 5.0 now.
There are other bikes that has caught my attention and could suit my needs ( Bulls and BH) but none of them have dealers in Stockholm.

 

[TS25]

... but have to look into changing the handlebars. The wide bars seems to push my shoulders back and I get a pain in the neck. Might help with just cutting off a bit.

Either that or mounting SQlab Innerbarends 411 might help.

 

[PaD]

Either that or mounting SQlab Innerbarends 411 might help.

That is absolutely something I will look in to for my new bike this spring. Regardless of what brand or model I choose I’m pretty sure the handlebars will be wide.