I work in a Specialized bike store as the e-bike guy. I delivered a vado SL 5.0 to a customer and rode it. I then immediately ordered a 4.0 for myself. Smoothest power delivery I have ever experienced. And I ordered an awesome red/black combo. Delivery in August.
Just got a 4.0 sl 3 days ago, was a little worried about it being a smaller motor then my sisters and brother in laws comos. Ha! Worry no more the bike is a blast! Can easily keep up with anything.
Specialized bike guy....does the 4.0 SL have the same components and power as the 3.0 SL. JUST tested the 3.0 Vado SL and it's fine but lacked the zip up the hill I took it on. I prefer the fender package the 4.0 offers. Is the 5.0 Vado SL more powerful?
@@michellefriend8848 I dont think there is a 3.0. As far as I know all the Vado SLs are the same power. You may like the regular Vado if you like more power.
@@brendangray yes im 59 and have afib and can climb all the hills around here in Tennessee ( big hills) there are 6 ebikes on our street now , all full power, ican keep up with all of them, often im leading the way
I first watched this video in August 2020 and the next month went to buy a Vado SL but there where none in my size in the Seattle area. So I ended up buying the Turbo Vado and put over 2000 miles on it the first year... half on gravel.. I took the fenders and rack off and added a shock absorbing seat post and it makes a great mild gravel bike. Everything in the video is true that you will ride more, further and have more fun.. Its you only better... its all true... In the same month I bought the Vado I purchased a Sirrus X 5.0 and spent another $1000 on upgrades.. super nimble, super trick bike.. that I almost never ride because the ebikes are so much fun.
Like all of us I have a unique situation. I will be retiring to SW Virginia in the Appalachians in the next year. Beautiful smooth roads with very light traffic and very hilly and plenty of gravel roads and fire trails. Old legs but still plugging away. This video helped me identify that the Vado 4X is for me. Thanks!
For me the SL - if I get one of these. I did a test drive and was impressed! But: The build in battery is an issue for many people in winter times stored in the garage. The fork "suspension" is not suitable for rural areas, if road conditions gettin realy rough. Would love to buy an "Levo SL HT" with a VADO SL like frame. It could have a lightweight fox suspension and offroad 29 x 1.95 tires. A Hardtail with about 15-16 kg. Maybe this would be perfect for commuting AND easy single trails 😎. Lets see whats upcomming 2021 guys. 😋
OUTSTANDING review !!! Just exactly what we ALL needed to know to make an informed decision and choose what is best for us. Vado SL is best for me because I have 30 steps every day and sometimes 3X a day where there is NO WAY I could lift the TURBO Vado on a bus front bike rack or carry up stairs. Now I know which one I will buy :-) With gratitude 🙏 Thank you.
that was the best video, i am struggling to understand these bikes as I am new to the sport, but actually seeing the hill test with and with out power, no sales person could have ever explained that to me where i would have understood it. thank you Nancy.
Specialized Turbo SL comes with an efficient suspension in the handlebar. Very useful on irregular roads, but at rear, the saddle is not enough amortized or you have to use gravel tires instead of slick ones to amortize shocks. Then the low couple, 35 Nm, make the climbing of steep roads difficult (>8% on long distance or >10-15%, up to 40% on short distances) or you are muscled or trained. Specialized Turbo Vado can be a better choice than e.g. Cube Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 625 (625 Wh, 85 Nm, 25.7 kg) or even a Trek VTC because it is a bit lighter, but their performances is on par, specialy on steep roads (over 10-13% or segments up to 40%).
At 47 lbs the Vado is a very heavy bike. My Turbo Creo carbon weighs less than 28 lbs which is a big difference on the road a big difference when lifting it onto a platform bike rack. I looked at the Trek Domane at over 33 lbs and decided that the Creo Class III bike was a better fit. For shopping trips around town the Vado is a good bike.
For me the weight is really the critical factor - I live in a city and without a garage, so I need to carry the bike up a flight of steps and inside my house. So while I would love to have more power for going up hills, carrying a 50+ pound bike every day is just not feasible.
I test rode a Vado SL yesterday in San Franciso. It's super-lightweight for an e-bike, but it doesn't have the "oomph" I need for the steep SF hills. Specialized is on the right track, though!
There's a good video on here by a Norweigan who looks at this motor in a Levo. He has an interesting bit in the video pedalling it up a hill compared to a Levo with the non-light motor - the SL motor just can't hack it. It is a shame as Specialized are heading in the right direction in terms of style but I suspect most people buy an ebike to get up hills - steep hills in my home town of Swansea - and I don't think this Vado SL has the oomph required. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2xlDsEIclJs.html
With mechanical bikes nearing the 1kg I wonder if it's necessary to milk the ebike-cow like that. With ebikes from 15 to 30 kg I'm sure they could do better right now in 2020. You look at tools and you just wonder why it's so complicated to make a compact and powerfull battery with brushless motors and all that stuff that you find on power tools.
@@SpecializedUniversity that’s the plan! Just bought the range extender today. Glad to say that the range calculator tool on the website is spot on with battery mileage prediction.
@@utubebroadcaster Hi! Thanks for your question. I wouldn't associate motor power with fitness level. Both SL and Turbo bikes provide outstanding support while SL bikes make for easy carrying and transport.
I have the turbo Vado which I use daily (35mins each way) I dial down the power to get a good workout using mission control. I ride over rough roads and light tracks and the frame and suspension eat it all up. The video didn’t mention the comparable ride comfort with or without suspension. I ride once a week a 40mile ride (rtn) and the battery only drains by 70%. Vado all the way...... speed, battery and easy on the arms/wrists.
I like that the SL doesn't look like an e-bike and is relatively lightweight. It looks like the bikes also have slightly different geometry (position of where the seat stay meets the top tube). Does that make a difference in how it rides?
I can buy them all...love the Vado 4 I have....but another light weight .....sure....light weight also...friggin specialized got my number❤️❤️❤️❤️🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️
Maybe don't hold the bikes on the rack by the mud guard, though.. :) The force vector of the arm that holds it should be going through the axle and/or contact point of the tire on the actual rack so there's no momentum created by the force.
Recommendations on a hitch carrier for fendered ebikes? Our two bikes total about 95 lb. I think one that clamps onto the frame is best but most versions clamp to the tire area.
Great review! Are either of those bikes capable of going up that hill several times (1/3 of a mile, 9% avg gradient - I live nearby :) carrying a total load of 250lbs without pedaling? Looking to replace my car with an ebike, and carrying groceries is my biggest concern, as I’ll have to ride about 6 similar hills round trip.
Hi! Both of these bikes require rider input(pedaling) to activate the motor and battery. The Turbo Vado would be best suited to assist you in climbing those hills and the range should be no problem when fully charged. Thanks!
It is important to remember in the UK we can only have 250 watt motor that gives us assistance upto 15mph. Beyond that it is classed as a moped / motorcycle and you will need to register the the bike with the dvla and pay insurance ect. Many e bikes are illegal and many are breaking the law. You may as well buy a motorbike.
#1 on my list of features is "mileage range" per battery charge. I hate riding my current e-bike to work and having to carry the charger with me. I want a longer range at the highest power output. It takes me 32 minutes to go 14 miles to work, but it kills the battery on my current iZip Dash E3.
Swap out the battery for a bigger one or strap a spare one on the frame with a plug/wire. I've got a 52v/17ah battery on my ebike (about 40 miles on lowest assist) and a 2nd 52v/21ah battery for my rear rack bag for longer or faster/long trips (just unplug the 17ah when its voltage gets low and plug in my 3ft 8g extension cord with its 90xt plug into the 21ah).
Uf, que video tan bueno, para el tipo de ciudad donde vivo creo que la SL es la mejor opción aunque me quede con ganas de más, pero ya que mi medica me indico hacer ejercicio diario, pues la SL es la opción definitiva para mi, jeje. No es barata, pero se paga sola usándola seguido.
Great video! My husband and I just purchased the Turbo Vado. We're hooked!! Question. No one seems to know how to change from kilometers to MPH on the digital readout on the handlebar. I even contacted Specialized direct, and have not heard back from them. Even the bicycle shop we purchased it from had to look into it. The manual has not helped either. Any input on your end? Thank you! Best, Angela
@@SpecializedUniversity Someone got back to me! It was a 30 second fix. Needed someone to explain it to me, since the manual made absolutely no sense. Thank you for getting back to me!!
@Richard Peterson Someone saw my post and helped me change the kilometers to MPH. Cannot say enough good things about the Vado 4.0. Best peddle assist bike on the market.
A brilliant review. Got to see what they look like in operation. I want stealth. Which do you think was louder, the Regular (Brose belt) or the SL (MAHLE)? Thanks again!
Great video - very helpful. Thanks! There's a shot where the riding partner looks like he's going to blow through a stop sign. I wouldn't show this. :-)
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 Dude, I'm not law enforcement. It's a bit of opinion about things that give cyclists a bad rap. It's like the crotch rocket dudes weaving in and out of traffic. I'm not saying people should be locked up for not obeying traffic laws. I've just seen it too many times when arrogant cyclists just fly through stop signs with traffic present. Next thing you know, someone is entangled with a road raging driver in an unfair situation. I wish you many miles of safe riding.
@@chrisx1197 hey i get 30 mi on sport mode with a little turbo for hills and fun . Have went 35 mi on one charge is my longest and it had like one bar left but im 6 foot 2, 220lbs
I'm curious... is that the bike rack that you would use with the Vado? I know that the fenders become an issues but I noticed that you swung the arm over the fender. I have a Vado and Como and I've had issues with the Fenders not allowing the bike to be fully secured with that style of rack
If you compare the cheapest aluminum Creo to the vado sl 4.0 , they are almost exactly the same. Only slightly slacker head angle on the 4.0 that makes it even better in the gravel, same motor battery etc.. just a flat bar gravel bike that happens to be electric. Can fit 47mm tire too
hi, thanks for a great review! I am cycling daily to work and back in total around 50 km (31miles) with 700 hight meters and I am searching for an upgrade from my mountain bike or race bike, that can assist me to get to work and back - still exercising but being less tired and faster if possible.. I think Vado SL is exactly what I need, the question is only if using the highest assistance on some of the hills, will I still sweat like a crazy :) ? do you know if it can manage those km and hm without charging in between ? (I had Stromer with 45kmh, and had to charge it every 20km).. The second question - now about Turbo Vado: can it still gives me the training effect when I use lower assistance? Thanks a lot for some answers! :).
Both models should be capable of making that distance and providing a workout. You can adjust the amount of assist to balance how hard you have to work and how long the battery will last as you ride. You can always use turbo mode on those steep hills. And remember, you can turn the power off all the way too for a better workout!
I thought the same, my family has a regular 4x power como. But power is lower down and sighns off early compared to my 4.0 sl. Mine goes just as fast keeps up no problem, you have to spin at a little higher cadence to get the juice! It rocks
I still prefer my 48 volt 1000 watt rear hub and 20 ah triangle battery on my 1996 steel Hardrock with a big ass comfy seat. 30 couple mph on the flat, throttle only. If you keep her at 20, she’ll give you 50 miles, throttle only. Got about 800 into her total. And that’s with a heavy duty rack that can really haul stuff. Not concerned about loading it onto a carrier. It does the carrying.
we are struggling to get my wife's heavy e-bike [24kg] bike onto our bike rack, so we are looking at the VADA SL 5.0 EQ. can we get a 'small' here in Australia, sold out in days..... cant even try to ride one... looks like we will have to wait until the next shipment in September....
I like that Specialized is finally upgrading its old ugly street e-bikes, however the new motor is weaker and louder .. a step backwards. And they are still using old fashoned chain instead of carbon drive. If this bike doesn't at least have a usb charger port, it will be the biggest failure of a redesign ever.
Thanks for the review. I'm looking at buying one of these for my wife so we can go riding together. On the long end of the spectrum we might go 3-4 hours over hilly terrain with some gravel. She could probably push 130 watts on average while the bike would need to add 70-100. Are either of these bikes capable of that?
Teo Sluga so stick some slicks on there. That’s what I did on a different model of emtb. Combined with a suspension seatpost it’s perfect. Yet to encounter any stretch of mythical pristine asphalt so thankful for the shock absorption and nut protection! I’m a courier rider and I can tell you comfort is everything when you’re putting in the miles amongst traffic.
@@Bangandthedirtisgone Try without suspension forks... you will be faster... Suspension is needed over the rocks... Not on asphalt... That is why the name of the bike is Mountain Bike, remember?
I have a new Vado 5.0 SL and love it! But I need a hitch-mounted carrier for it that will also accommodate a friend’s 55+-lb Trek ebike. What carrier are you using in the video? It clamps down on the fender, which worries me for our bikes. I’ve been hoping to get the Thule EasyFold XT (when it becomes available) bc it clamps onto the frames. It can carry 130 lb for two bikes and won’t damage the fenders. I only wish it folded “in” rather than “up” to help with garage parking. Thoughts? Recommendations for a hitch carrier for fendered ebikes?
You have to think about how would be achieved. The frame of all bikes are triangular which gives the best strength. For the battery to be removable then the battery would have to be visible, attached to the frame as you wouldn't want the frame to be weakened. Van Moof have and interesting design. Their top tube runs parallel across the whole bike. The battery could easily be made to slide out of that design but interestingly they have also decided to make the battery not removable. I suspect that is to make make money on service.
i have a alez right now, custom wheels and 28 casset. i moved to a new town with hills like you have there. i can hold 33mph on the flat and 45+ down hill. will these bikes allow me to do that or do the motors restrict your top speeds? also i ride maybe 30-40 miles some days. how much range do these bikes have on a charge?
While the motors do not restrict your top speed, they will only give you pedal assist up to 28 mph. After that you are on your own! These bikes are more than capable of 40 miles in a day and can be tuned with our Mission Control app for even more range!
@@SpecializedUniversity do you know of a bike that will go about 28 miles an hour? It would be nice to have assistants up there keeping up with traffic
Depends on your needs...never seen a ebike with only 15kg for about 3000€. The other has 21kg, and there are a lot of competitors on market with this weight, too. As said in the review, it feels more like a natural bike due it's low weight. If your area has no steep hills or you have to take your bike each time into your apartment to avoid it is stolen or you want an eBike which is also drivable without Batteries...as said depends on your needs.
For me it's the 4.0....unless you want the belt/IGH drivetrain (which I don't). The 4.0 gives 70Nm power and uses the same big battery as the 5.0. This gives you plenty of power and the best possible power consumption/range. I have the SL 4.0 and the big brother Vado 4.0. Both awesome but for differing uses. I don't think its too crazy to own both.
Or down. But really, I don't the regular vs SL is about going up or down in the spectrum of desirability or quality, it's about what is more practical for your given usage.
Ambas son fantásticas, pero la SL está en descuento así que... Aunque no me alcanza aún, a ver si sobra una a fin de año para primero dios comprarme una SL con un buen descuento. Muy aparte de la oferta pienso que la ligereza de la SL es algo que en el día a día será algo definitivo, no significa por ello que si compraste la Vado es una mala decisión, todo lo contrario, hay que disfrutarla, sólo digo que siento que con el pasas de los meses probablemente me sentiría más cómodo con la SL que con la Vado y creo que muchas veces no necesitas ir a mayor velocidad que esos 25km/h, aunque en México está "desbloqueada" a los 45km/h, pero es mejor bajarla para tener mayor autonomía. Fantásticas ambas opciones.
