When will Vado SL 4.0(or 5.0) upgrate in 2025

toku

New Member
Region
Asia
Hi everyone. It is very nice to join the community and I have one question regarding the specialized Vado SL 4.0 e-bike just like the title. As far as I know, the current Vado SL 4.0(or 5.0) on the official website is still the 2023 version and it is 2025 already. A few months ago they released the 1.2 motor and I think it has been applied on the vado sl 2(and obviously its price is significantly high).
I am planning to buy a vado SL 4.0 but I just worried that what if I buy one and they release the new one or make the sales for the old one( from a costomer's point of view, obvioulsy we can not accept it). I tired to contact them through email but they all said there is no news regarding it. As far as I know, Korea has published sales of vado SL 4.0 and 5.0 since last year and the discount is about 50%. Does it show some hints from the new version of Vado SL bike?
Thank you all!
 
The SL 2 is the updated version of this bike - but as you know it's basically a completely different bike, and considerably more expensive. If you're wondering if they'll put the 1.2 motor in a Vado SL 1 and make a new "6.0" bike, it's extremely unlikely. The original Vado SL 1 has been out of production for quite some time - so only existing stock is for sale, and I doubt they'll want another bike to compete with the SL 2.

I purchased a SL 1 5.0 in late October 2024 and it was discounted price of £2,880. The price dropped again just a couple of months later to around £2,500 - but these tended to be "step-thro" versions, and with limited choice of colours available. I've just checked the dealer I purchased from and they appear to be sold out of SL 1 5.0 bikes, but some 4.0's are still available, and they're being sold for £2,095.

So your options are to pay more for an SL 2, or maybe wait a while for price reductions of the SL 1. This has already been the case across Europe and America, and as you've mentioned in some places in Asia. So it should be only a matter of time.
 
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The SL 5.0 EQ is still available on Specialized's US site (size XL only now) for the same full price I paid for a size L in September, 2024 — and that was for a frame with a 2022 sticker.

At this point, lack of a discount could reflect a combo of good reputation and continued US demand in the face of increasing scarcity.

But I have no real insight into Specialized's thinking on the Vado SL line, and I doubt anyone else here knows much more.

Bought my SL 5.0 at a time when rumors of an update with the 1.2 motor were rife. Sure enough, the SL2 with that motor dropped a few months later, but sure glad I pulled the trigger on the SL 5.0 when I did. With nearly 5 months and 1,200 miles on mine, nothing I've seen about the SL2 would tempt me to switch — including the motor and battery specs.
 
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The SL 5.0 EQ is still available on Specialized's US site (size XL only now) for the same full price I paid for a size L in September, 2024 — and that was for a frame with a 2022 sticker.

At this point, lack of a discount could reflect a combo of good reputation and continued US demand in the face of increasing scarcity.

But I have no real insight into Specialized's thinking on the Vado SL line, and I doubt anyone else here knows much more.

Bought my SL 5.0 at a time when rumors of an update with the 1.2 motor were rife. Sure enough, the SL2 with that motor dropped a few months later, but sure glad I pulled the trigger on the SL 5.0 when I did. With nearly 5 months and 1,200 miles on mine, nothing I've seen about the SL2 would tempt me to switch — including the motor and battery specs.
Thank you so much for the comments and shared experience. I think for me the best way is to wait for a few days even months to see the discount. It is sure that once the 1.2 motor is applied, the price will rise as well so the best strategy for me, I guess, is to wait for the sales coming. Many thanks!
 
The SL 2 is the updated version of this bike - but as you know it's basically a completely different bike, and considerably more expensive. If you're wondering if they'll put the 1.2 motor in a Vado SL 1 and make a new "6.0" bike, it's extremely unlikely. The original Vado SL 1 has been out of production for quite some time - so only existing stock is for sale, and I doubt they'll want another bike to compete with the SL 2.

I purchased a SL 1 5.0 in late October 2024 and it was discounted price of £2,880. The price dropped again just a couple of months later to around £2,500 - but these tended to be "step-thro" versions, and with limited choice of colours available. I've just checked the dealer I purchased from and they appear to be sold out of SL 1 5.0 bikes, but some 4.0's are still available, and they're being sold for £2,095.

So your options are to pay more for an SL 2, or maybe wait a while for price reductions of the SL 1. This has already been the case across Europe and America, and as you've mentioned in some places in Asia. So it should be only a matter of time.
Thank you so much for your commnets. It helps a lot. I think the only thing I could do now is waiting for the sales coming. At the same time, I would like to see some other brands such as Trek or Cannodale. Many thanks!
 
Just looking at the UK Specialized site under "ebike clearance" and the cheapest bike of all is the Vado SL 4 at £1,500 (Size large & XL only) Then some SL Vado step throughs & SL Comos, then as the price rises the big Vados and Teros and the usual glut of Levos.

It's looking like the Levo Gen 5 is being released in April (a full year late) be interesting to see what tricks Spesh will have implemented.

As to an alloy Vado SL 2? Hope they do this but no idea if they have plans. I'd love that gen 2 SL motor with wider clearance same battery (not concerned too much about greater drain because of more powerful motor, I have the range extender and would prefer that existing system to being locked in to a heavy bigger battery) and a reasonable price!

The other Levo rumour for that April release is that the S Works Levo could cost an eye watering £15-16K! All rumours for now...
 
Just looking at the UK Specialized site under "ebike clearance" and the cheapest bike of all is the Vado SL 4 at £1,500 (Size large & XL only) Then some SL Vado step throughs & SL Comos, then as the price rises the big Vados and Teros and the usual glut of Levos.

It's looking like the Levo Gen 5 is being released in April (a full year late) be interesting to see what tricks Spesh will have implemented.

As to an alloy Vado SL 2? Hope they do this but no idea if they have plans. I'd love that gen 2 SL motor with wider clearance same battery (not concerned too much about greater drain because of more powerful motor, I have the range extender and would prefer that existing system to being locked in to a heavy bigger battery) and a reasonable price!

The other Levo rumour for that April release is that the S Works Levo could cost an eye watering £15-16K! All rumours for now...
If the carbon version already has the weight of the 5.0 , then the alloy version likely passes the 20 Kgs mark
 
Just reviewed current Vado SL prices on Specialized's official US site. They haven't budged since I started shopping for an SL 5.0 back in August, 2024. No discounts in sight.

Bought my SL 5.0 EQ through a local Specialized store in September, 2024. They pulled it from a warehouse in another state, as there were no yellow size Ls online and none at other dealers at the time. Paid the same full price showing online now.

Yet I keep reading about deep discounts on Vado SL 4.0s and 5.0s in the UK and EU. What's up with that? Is demand that much higher in the US?
 
Just reviewed current Vado SL prices on Specialized's official US site. They haven't budged since I started shopping for an SL 5.0 back in August, 2024. No discounts in sight.

Bought my SL 5.0 EQ through a local Specialized store in September, 2024. They pulled it from a warehouse in another state, as there were no yellow size Ls online and none at other dealers at the time. Paid the same full price showing online now.

Yet I keep reading about deep discounts on Vado SL 4.0s and 5.0s in the UK and EU. What's up with that? Is demand that much higher in the US?
Hard to say. Hard to see an accurate bigger picture internationally. From all accounts they've been periodically discounting to get rid of the backlog of stock - in general I mean - The bike industry is slowly getting rid of the post covid backlog so they can introduce new models in their medium term plan of "Survive to 25". But hard to say if the cost of living crises has hit sales here but not with you in California? I don't think cycling in general is in great shape in uk right now, plus it is the depths of winter so not a great time traditionally for bike sales. Things tend to pick up with Spring & that's also when Spesh likes to launch new models. Makes sense.
 
The OP lives in Asia. Who knows what Specialized will do there? But I wouldn't bet on any Vado SL 1 online discounts in the US in the foreseeable future.

Independent US dealers looking to get SL 1s off their floors might be a different story, but I don't know how much price leeway they really have on these bikes.
 
Just looking at the UK Specialized site under "ebike clearance" and the cheapest bike of all is the Vado SL 4 at £1,500 (Size large & XL only) Then some SL Vado step throughs & SL Comos, then as the price rises the big Vados and Teros and the usual glut of Levos.

It's looking like the Levo Gen 5 is being released in April (a full year late) be interesting to see what tricks Spesh will have implemented.

As to an alloy Vado SL 2? Hope they do this but no idea if they have plans. I'd love that gen 2 SL motor with wider clearance same battery (not concerned too much about greater drain because of more powerful motor, I have the range extender and would prefer that existing system to being locked in to a heavy bigger battery) and a reasonable price!

The other Levo rumour for that April release is that the S Works Levo could cost an eye watering £15-16K! All rumours for now...
Thank you for your comments. If they will release the new model in April(even maybe it’s not new vado SL), I am afraid it gonna be a long time for me to wait(so sad).
 
The OP lives in Asia. Who knows what Specialized will do there? But I wouldn't bet on any Vado SL 1 online discounts in the US in the foreseeable future.

Independent US dealers looking to get SL 1s off their floors might be a different story, but I don't know how much price leeway they really have on these bikes.
Yes, it is difficult to compare the discount all around the world. Like in Korea they have already started the big sale with huge discount for several months. I live in Japan but the current outlet bike doesn’t include any Vado SL and they even increased the price from 30,0000 to 33,0000(lol)
 
It is so sad big corporations cannot stick to a successful model but follow new (not necessarily best) ideas. An SL 6.0? Fine. Why not maintain and make the successful and popular SL 5.0 and 4.0? As it is now, Specialized has no fitness e-bike in its offer!

Which reminds me of Nestle. Already many years ago, the corporation changed the formula of Nescafe Gold instant coffee, which I had been buying for years. But no, Nestle added fine ground coffee to the Gold, making it taste terribly and making the cups dirty immediately. Even if the brand fans stopped buying Gold, the failed product has been on the shelves for years as a brand flagship. You need to be a company like Coca Cola Company to revert a tragic marketing decision...
 
Why not maintain and make the successful and popular SL 5.0 and 4.0? As it is now, Specialized has no fitness e-bike in its offer!
So you're thinking that Vado SL production has been terminated?

Specialized's official US site is consistent with that. It still offers the Vado SL 4.0 and 5.0, including EQ and step-thru variants. But the sizes and colors still available for online purchase are very limited in all cases. No discounts.

Are any of these bikes still showing on the official EU and UK sites?
 
Are any of these bikes still showing on the official EU and UK sites?
It is only SL 4.0 ST EQ left on the Polish Specialized website. It is a discounted model, now limited to two colours and only XL. Nothing else is available, meaning the SL line has been discontinued.

You know Jeremy how big corporations think. The material truth does not matter; it is the current idea to be promoted. No sales of SL 2 6.0? Aha, so the idea was totally wrong. Let us bury the SL idea in the whole! Nobody would ask us, the users.
 
The bicycle industry is still in post-covid turmoil. Though things appear to be improving, there still are serious excess inventory issues for most of the manufacturers and shops. Any expectations for new products from Specialized or its competitors must be tempered by realizing this turmoil.

Specialized has an identity problem when dealing with fitness and other hybrid style bikes. They are and want to continue to be a racing favorite. Vados and Comos and such don’t really have a place in that universe. The customers for these bikes are probably not the largest pool. So, Specialized doesn't really know how or to whom Vados and Vado SLs and probably Comos, too, should be marketed.

The Vado SL and SL2 are widely considered to be the best or among the best bikes in their category. But at Specialized pricing levels they are often competing with perfectly serviceable bikes half their price. Or less.

It might be a while before the 1.2 motor hits the model 4 or 5. Shame.
 
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The current Specialized definition of a "fitness" e-bike. No commuter, no city, no off-road e-bikes here.
 
Specialized did run a 50% off deal for one week in November on the Vado SL 4.0 and 5.0 on the U.S. website. 4.0 at $1750 and 5.0 at $2250, non eq versions. My internet finger was twitching and about to hit the buy button on the 5.0, but I knew my wife would skin me alive and tack my hide to the wall after buying the creo in September. Looks like a bunch of them ended up on the upway site.
I agree with Stefan, I think Specialized is getting rid of what remains with the plan to discontinue two of the best models that they ever built.
Im in Hawaii on the Big Island right now and found a great bike shop that has SL 4.0’s and 5.0’s in their rental fleet, I rented a 5.0 for a few days—great bike. Riding into a stiff 20 mph headwind was a little work in sport to maintain 13-14 mph, hit turbo and maintain 22 mph and hardly working at all, and I am very weak with a form of muscular dystrophy. My only gripe is that it would have been nice to have an assist level between sport and turbo for the times when sport isn’t quite enough and turbo is to much. I probably should have bought the 5.0, but I convinced myself that I needed the extra grunt of the 1.2 in the Creo. I was only able to put 150 miles on it before snow and ice shut me down in October, but the power seems similar to the 5.0
 
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