Vado SL 2 Alloy version released

[BEC111]

Hello all, first post! Looks like there's significantly less difference between the SL2 4.0 and 5.0 compared to the difference between the previous SL 4.0 and 5.0. The previous 4.0 lacked the Future Shock suspension and the MasterMind interface, now both of them have both. So now it seems the main differences are the brakes (as previously), and 10-speed vs. 11-speed. And of course the SL2 4.0 costs $500 less than the SL2 5.0.

A number of upgrades to both SL2 models compared to their previous versions: motor, battery, Future Shock version 3.1 vs 1.5, wider rims/tires, brighter light, more substantial rack. Pity about the 7 lb. weight difference, but hopefully 44 lbs. won't be too onerous to get it onto a car rack.

Assuming I could afford to buy a new $5k bike, even with a trade in of my SL4EQ 1.1, I actually am concerned about the extra weight. I hang my bike on my garage wall with a Zero G rack. I can lift my bike but it is a challenge. I’m just not that strong at this point in my life. Lifting an extra few pounds onto my hitch rack or onto the wall could be a problem.

I guess I’m lucky I don’t have the money to buy a new bike right now. I can make believe I don’t really want the extra oomph the SL2 offers even though I’ve written often about wanting that extra oomph.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I guess I’m lucky I don’t have the money to buy a new bike right now. I can make believe I don’t really want the extra oomph the SL2 offers even though I’ve written often about wanting that extra oomph.

I could afford a Vado SL 2 but I am not in the position to store it.

We're all susceptible to the Gear Acquisition Syndrome. However, we all already own excellent e-bikes. Why change it?

It is different to new riders and I wish them many happy miles on Vado SL 2!

 

[GAJ]

Turbo Vado SL 2 5.0

Nothing delivers more power, speed, and range at such lightweight than Turbo Vado SL 2. It’s a high-performance machine carefully engineered to make fit...

www.specialized.com

I was anticipating this release. It looks pretty good. I must say....I really appreciate my 35lb original Vado SL 4.0.
This latest iteration adds about 10 lbs which causes me to seriously question the "SL" portion of its name.
I fully realize that I sound like a broken record after making this same comment upon the release of the SL 2 Carbon.
The added weight just doesn't make sense to me.

I know that many need/want extended range...or they THINK that they need/want extended range. And more certainly the added range makes for excellent marketing.
My entire reasoning for purchasing my original Vado SL was its analog-like and lightweight nature. "Range" might have been causing me anxiety during my shopping but in real-life range has NEVER been an issue on a super lightweight ebike like the original SL. Now with the added 10lbs on this new iteration.....range is more of an issue.

Surely Spesh knows better than I do. But I had hoped that the low-power and lightweight e-bike segment would entice more riders. I guess not. Riders want more more more. More power. More range etc. This means more weight.

If my SL were stolen I would certainly given this new model a good hard look.....but for my specific use(s) I am not salivating for a trade-in. I guess I can be thankful for that.

The range would be shorter, no?

Same battery, the new bike is more powerful and heavier.

If my TV SL1 5.0 was stolen I'd get the 33lb Turbo Creo 2 Comp E5 currently $4500 in the US if the current closeout inventory of TV SL1 5.0s at $2799 in Large were gone.

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0

Meet the Vado SL. This super-light e-bike was designed to take on anything from daily commutes through urban landscapes to clocking even faster workouts. Need to carry your bike? No sweat. Weighing...

www.cyclesport.com

I think I could live with the drop bars.

If not I'm guessing a dealer conversion to flat bars would be perhaps a few hundred bucks or so.

 

[mogulman]

I saw the SL 2 4.0 at a local bike shop today. I really didn't like it. The extra weight. 10 speed. The black cover over the chain. The big tubes. It looks like a grocery bike rather than a road/gravel/adventure bike.

I looked around the internet and seems like the Santa Cruz Skitch and Cannondale Tesoro Neo carbon 1 or 2, are the bikes that compare most similarly to the old SL.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I saw the SL 2 4.0 at a local bike shop today. I really didn't like it. The extra weight. 10 speed. The black cover over the chain. The big tubes. It looks like a grocery bike rather than a road/gravel/adventure bike.

I looked around the internet and seems like the Santa Cruz Skitch and Cannondale Tesoro Neo carbon 1 or 2, are the bikes that compare most similarly to the old SL.

Didn't notice the black chain guard. Horror memories of the Van Moof's enclosed chain guard!

It does seem firmly positioned as a hardwearing commuting bike. Less an exercise or flat bar gravel/road bike etc. Looking at the pic the shape is less 'flighty', more solid. 4 years ago it was the shape of the first Vado SL that caught my interest. For an ebike it just looked very light and very fast. Very cool. This version is less sexy looking!

 

[mfgrep]

I saw the SL 2 4.0 at a local bike shop today. I really didn't like it. The extra weight. 10 speed. The black cover over the chain. The big tubes. It looks like a grocery bike rather than a road/gravel/adventure bike.

I looked around the internet and seems like the Santa Cruz Skitch and Cannondale Tesoro Neo carbon 1 or 2, are the bikes that compare most similarly to the old SL.

I agree. I have only seen the carbon version and I wasn't thrilled. The SL1 is a sleeker and lighter bike. I know that we all bought and utilize these bikes differently. It seems to me that the reasons that originally drew me to the SL 1 have been abandoned. Lightweight, analog-like, modest/moderate assist.....essentially bicycle FIRST and e-bike second. I don't WANT the bigger tires on the SL2. I don't want the added weight on the SL2 (both for riding and carrying purposes). I guess the SL1 is becoming a bit of a unicorn....for me anyway. The SL2 carbon completely befuddles me; while I like the idea of a less rigid frame, the carbon version should have been made LIGHTER....period.

Now all of this said....I like these SL2's for purposes of a commuter, grocery getter, and all around transportation. The SL2 appears to serve these purposes better than my SL1 ever could. Last year I purchased a Vado 4.0 when they were on sale for $2750 to fill the void(s) that my SL1 lacked. Truth be told....thus far I have put less than 400 miles on the full power Vado 4.0 and I have over 3K miles on the SL1. The problem with the SL2 (for me) is that I lose the light-weight and (I assume) ultra-nimble nature of the SL1. The SL2 COULD replace both my SL1 and my Vado 4.0 but it doesn't seem that the SL2 would accomplish either task quite as effectively. For my use(s) both bikes provide MORE than enough power and range....so the added weight of the new versions are not offset by the added power and range.

I talked to my dealer/manager and mentioned that I wish to see the new alloy version when it arrives at the shop. He offered me $1050 in trade for my basically un-used Vado 4.0 towards the new SL2. I'll pass on that offer lol.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

...essentially bicycle FIRST and e-bike second.

Pretty much sums up the SL 1 from my perspective. Grateful that I managed to snag a 5.0, as the yellow EQ I wanted was already scarce in the US when the money finally came together last fall.

Owe my wife a big one for getting past the sticker shock and letting all the mods and accessories go by with little comment.

Problem is, it's her turn now, she's talking kitchen remodel.

 

[GAJ]

Pretty much sums up the SL 1 from my perspective. Grateful that I managed to snag a 5.0, as the yellow EQ I wanted was already scarce in the US when the money finally came together last fall.

Owe my wife a big one for getting past the sticker shock and letting all the mods and accessories go by with little comment.

Problem is, it's her turn now, she's talking kitchen remodel.

Don't worry, the average kitchen remodel is only five to twenty percent of your home's value!

Worth it though at least in our case.

 

[mfgrep]

Pretty much sums up the SL 1 from my perspective. Grateful that I managed to snag a 5.0, as the yellow EQ I wanted was already scarce in the US when the money finally came together last fall.

Owe my wife a big one for getting past the sticker shock and letting all the mods and accessories go by with little comment.

Problem is, it's her turn now, she's talking kitchen remodel.

I really need a kitchen remodel too. These days I am more risk averse than ever before and the kitchen remodel will just have to wait. I'll appease myself with the upcoming good weather and time on my bike(s).

 

[GAJ]

I really need a kitchen remodel too. These days I am more risk averse than ever before and the kitchen remodel will just have to wait. I'll appease myself with the upcoming good weather and time on my bike(s).

Sadly tariffs will make a remodel more expensive now...so waiting might have benfits.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

---

Don't worry, the average kitchen remodel is only five to twenty percent of your home's value!

Worth it though at least in our case.

Gee, thanks for reminding me!

I've been awarded the Croix de Renovation de Cuisine medal more times than I care to remember. At 76, I was hoping to be gone for the next one. Dang those home improvement shows!

 

[mfgrep]

Sadly tariffs will make a remodel more expensive now...so waiting might have benfits.

I am in my 50's ....have owned house(s) since my 20's....and have NEVER refinanced any house before.
In 2021 I refinanced for the first time and cashed out a chunk (at an excellent rate) in anticipation of a house remodel. Then Covid hit and I put the whole deal on hold. In hindsight it was an excellent time for a first time cash-out refi. The rate was silly good (< 3% for 30 years) and the ensuing housing appreciation makes it feel as if the cost of that cash was near zero (my area is in demand and has appreciated wildly in the last 4 years).

I likely should have re-started the remodel process last year....but I now have a kid getting ready to go to ($$$) college....and now the socio/eco/political/financial landscape around me is unclear yet again.

I'm fine. I don't NEED. I am a cautious person. My old kitchen will be just fine. There are much bigger problems than my old cabinets.
Even with/without tariffs....the world no longer knows what is up/down. I'll wait it out while attempting to keep my sanity intact. I might instead buy a sandbox in which I could bury my head for a few years.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I'm fine. I don't NEED. I am a cautious person. My old kitchen will be just fine. There are much bigger problems than my old cabinets.

Inspiring self-talk! I'm going to make it into an MP3 with a soft female ASMR voice and loop it as my wife sleeps on an old iPod hidden in her pillow.
;^}

Agree, no big financial moves till some kind of trend emerges from the chaos. Till then, a brilliant compromise thanks to you — add a sand box to the kitchen and see how things go from there.

 

[spindoc]

Pretty much sums up the SL 1 from my perspective. Grateful that I managed to snag a 5.0, as the yellow EQ I wanted was already scarce in the US when the money finally came together last fall.

Owe my wife a big one for getting past the sticker shock and letting all the mods and accessories go by with little comment.

Problem is, it's her turn now, she's talking kitchen remodel.

Back to the topic…so is the Trek FX+ 7s now the closest thing to the SL(1) 5.0? And is it in some ways an improvement on it?

 

[GAJ]

Back to the topic…so is the Trek FX+ 7s now the closest thing to the SL(1) 5.0? And is it in some ways an improvement on it?

At 42lbs, no.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Back to the topic…so is the Trek FX+ 7s now the closest thing to the SL(1) 5.0? And is it in some ways an improvement on it?

Hope someone with experience with both bikes chimes in. And even then, how would you ever gauge this short of testing both yourself under intended conditions?

For me, the best thing about the SL 1 is how it feels in action — especially the responsiveness. Raw specs can be very misleading in that regard, but weight counts for a lot in all aspects of feel.

 

[mfgrep]

Back to the topic…so is the Trek FX+ 7s now the closest thing to the SL(1) 5.0? And is it in some ways an improvement on it? The FX+ 7S is more akin to the SL2 in terms of battery and power. Also this Trek seemingly has a more similar frame character when compared to the new SL2.

The Trek is more akin to the SL2 in my opinion....beefier frame than the SL1, slightly bigger battery than the SL1, and similar/same torque as the SL2.
The SL1 by comparison is lighter, less powerful, has a generally slimmer frame profile, and features (very) slightly less battery power.
The Trek is most competing with SL1 in terms of tire size at 40mm vs. the SL1's 38mm. SL2 jumps up to a 47mm which doesn't interest me much for this type of bike.
SL1 is 35lbs. Trek is 41lbs. SL2 is 44lbs.

THIS is precisely the 'problem' with the SL1. SL1 is a fantastic bike in all the ways that I desire....but ON PAPER it wreaks havoc for the marketing and sales departments. They are tasked to sell an expensive bike that on paper appears under-powered and with a small battery. I can't speak for other countries....but in the US....this imo made the SL1 a tough sell for the 'masses' when buyers are looking at options like Aventon for 60+% less money.
I didn't say that the buying public is necessarily 'smart' or well informed....and these manufacturers know this too. Manufacturers are producing bikes with specs that are expected to SELL....and often these bikes are purchased sight unseen via web-order.

When I was at my dealer yesterday he had added some fresh SL1's to the floor. He told me that they recently bought the inventory from a Spesh dealer that went out of business. They also still had a few older SL1's that must be from 2021-2022 era that have been sitting there for AGES now priced at $2499. I bought that same bike on a steep sale 2 years ago for $2499...so they are finally and more aggressively trying to get rid of those old SL1's now.

 

[spindoc]

The Trek is more akin to the SL2 in my opinion....beefier frame than the SL1, slightly bigger battery than the SL1, and similar/same torque as the SL2.
The SL1 by comparison is lighter, less powerful, has a generally slimmer frame profile, and features (very) slightly less battery power.
The Trek is most competing with SL1 in terms of tire size at 40mm vs. the SL1's 38mm. SL2 jumps up to a 47mm which doesn't interest me much for this type of bike.
SL1 is 35lbs. Trek is 41lbs. SL2 is 44lbs.

THIS is precisely the 'problem' with the SL1. SL1 is a fantastic bike in all the ways that I desire....but ON PAPER it wreaks havoc for the marketing and sales departments. They are tasked to sell an expensive bike that on paper appears under-powered and with a small battery. I can't speak for other countries....but in the US....this imo made the SL1 a tough sell for the 'masses' when buyers are looking at options like Aventon for 60+% less money.
I didn't say that the buying public is necessarily 'smart' or well informed....and these manufacturers know this too. Manufacturers are producing bikes with specs that are expected to SELL....and often these bikes are purchased sight unseen via web-order.

When I was at my dealer yesterday he had added some fresh SL1's to the floor. He told me that they recently bought the inventory from a Spesh dealer that went out of business. They also still had a few older SL1's that must be from 2021-2022 era that have been sitting there for AGES now priced at $2499. I bought that same bike on a steep sale 2 years ago for $2499...so they are finally and more aggressively trying to get rid of those old SL1's now.

Thanks for this thoughtful response. One small niggle: isn’t the SL 1’s weight closer to 37 lbs than 35 (at least for the 5.0)?

And which bike shop has SL1’s in stock, and do they have any 5.0’s?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Thanks for this thoughtful response. One small niggle: isn’t the SL 1’s weight closer to 37 lbs than 35 (at least for the 5.0)?

And which bike shop has SL1’s in stock, and do they have any 5.0’s?

My nearest Specialized dealer searched all others for the 5.0 EQ I wanted in September, 2024 and could have had it transferred. No luck there, but he did find one in a Texas warehouse. Two weeks later, it was mine.

Probably a good start for you as well.

 

[spindoc]

Also, can you expand on why the 47mm tire doesn’t interest you much for this type of bike?