I test rode one of these a couple of weeks ago. Seems a great E bike for 2022 it comes with SRAM shift gear. What I noticed about the ride is when you don't use the motor it rides like a pedal only bike. I am getting uncomfortable on my Trek and will likely need a new knee soon so I am looking at a flat bar e bike. This one looks like a perfect solution to get my neck the relief it needs and to allow me to use the e bike for PT in recovery from the surgery. I am in the Bay Area in California and where I live no matter where I go I have great climbs around me. But in recovery I think I will need a little help for a while. Thank you for a great review. I am looking forward to the 1 year review.
Thanks Richard, very helpful review. I’ll be taking delivery of my Vado 4.0 EQ in 2 weeks! Bought my wife a Turbo Como SL 4.0 last year and she has loved it.
I looked at this today in one of the few LBSs in Exeter and am very tempted..Going to have to book a test ride and put deposit down; some makes and models are due in late 2021, early ' 22!!!
Finally bought mine after watching this review about 100 times. Love the bike only had 7 days and have done 88 miles so far. I'm a bit late but thank for this review as there are not many good one out there!!!
Cheers, glad it helped. I always get frustrated when I can’t find actual owner reviews of bikes so thought I’d do something about it. Still need to do a 1 year on update!
Great review thanks. I have this bike, purchased last June from JEJames. Its great and regular done 30, 40 and 50 miles on a charge. Just need to use the assistance a bit lower, although on the 50 mile ride I did use turbo quite a bit in headwind. Ive just bought the creo comp road bike which is also great.👍
@@cameronarsenault3555 it’s good mate, use it loads for commuting and steady rides on road, the only thing I don’t like is the motor noise at times can be a little loud, I have a turbo Levo which is much quieter even though it’s 3 times as powerful, but other than that spot on, no faults no issues, very happy I bought it!
Great review Richard thanks for that. We(wife) have the exact same bikes. It’s a fantastic bike and love the Mission App and playing around with the power etc. I’m Looking at a few upgrades(tubeless 2Bliss). future shock is not possible I have been told. it weighs 15.85 (large) stock at the moment. Look forward to your further review .
Spot on bloke!!! I just got the vado SL 5.0 & I absolutely love it!!! All I needed was a bit of help against the head winds, or a long hill so as to enjoy the view at the top!
Richard, thanks for the review. I picked up my 5.0 nearly a month ago. Former roadie and I could not stop laughing with excitement the first couple of rides. While I agree about the motor having *slightly* more noise than I’d expected, I LOVE this bike! Changed bars to Jones H Carbon and will throw on my Time Speciale 12’s. At some point I might switch out the drivetrain and brakes.
Brakes and drivetrain, followed by wheels would be my upgrade choices. It’s a great bike, still a great workout with enough help to make the hills easier. Makes my commute better.
@@SassySkylar everything on the bike has performed well, brakes drivetrain, wheels, all still working well. I’d be interested to know what the future shock is like on the 5.0 models. There wasn’t many about when I bought mine so was happy to go for the 4.0. Nothing flashy spec wise but functional
Hi Richard , great review, and what a lovely looking bike! perfect gearing too, I ride over from Sheffield to Hathersage 4 or 5 times a week I'm sure you'll know the road, on my eBike which has a 38 chainring and an 11-34 cassette, never use first or second gear, but find the top gear too low, and" spin out " at about 28mph coming back down Ringinlow. Have in fact just taken delivery of a 44 tooth chainring ( for the Shimano 6100 motor) and an 11 speed 11-42 XT setup which will make the same gearing as yours. Possibly "bump into you" (metaphorically I hope!!) around Sheffield. Stay safe, Enjoy that Beautiful machine
What a great review, thank you for taking the time to make it. I put a deposit on a 5.0 (because silver) just have to wait a few weeks. Outrageously expensive but I used man-maths to justify it. I just don’t fancy the Northern Line into London every day when everything gets going again and I could definitely use the exercise after doing so little for the last three months! But I’ll need help up Highgate Hill twice a day. Interesting to hear you reference older MTBs regarding geometry. I have a lovely (but probably soon to go, to help pay for this) Calibre Bossnut, but I prefer my 20 year old MTB, feels more compact and lively, fun, to me. Maybe just what I’m used to? Thanks again
Did you end up buying this bike? How did you get on cycling up Highgate Hill? I have a similar commute cycling up Muswell Hill which is an absolute monster haha.
@@Phat_Cal yes, it’s fantastic around town, light, nimble and responsive in traffic. It really comes into it’s own on hills, but it doesn’t do all the work for you! It’s a quality bit of kit as all reviews suggest, but there are better choices if you want a bike that assists more. I don’t, so it’s perfect, recommended if that’s what you’re after too Muswell Hill is a monster! I wouldn’t be able to cycle up it on a regular bike, but this would do the trick. Up Highgate Hill I put it in a lower gear and spin up, it likes a high cadence.
@@Phat_Cal I was nervous about the price TBH. But it's just... so good. I've got four other (way less expensive) bikes in the garage, but this is the only one I've wanted to get on since it arrived! It's next level, you'll love it I'm sure
I have the como and the turbo creo comp carbon sl evo!!!! I seriously went back and forth on the vado vs the como, but I wanted something super relaxed since I have the creo
I really like the look of the Creo range, especially the evo model. I’ve already got a mountain bike, e-mountain bike so was looking for at a lower budget than the Creo carbon, otherwise that would’ve probably been my choice. And I’ve always found it hard to get on with drop bars. Probably because I’m a mountain biker first so that position feels more natural to me
Thank you for the review. I trust your opinion because you have another ebike...the 2022 version comes with SRAM eagle. Thinking about putting ASX wireless shifting.
Nice review Rich.... i think we have similar tastes... i also have a specialized Levo - and have a Whyte Glencoe (which I will probably sell, as I have just ordered a Vado to replace it) - have asked the LBS to swap the Vado tyres to a similar tyre to the Glencoe - like the tan side wall. Anyway - nice review. Cheers
I sold my Whyte Glencoe to help pay for my Trek Slash 8, but missed having a commuter bike, I toyed between the Vado and Orbea Gain, but my experience with the Levo swayed me to the Vado.
Great review. Do you think it could double up as gravel bike. I like to get off road but like you don’t get on with drops. Not many flat handlebar gravel bikes around
I just go the 4.0 EQ. Does the EQ have different tires because of the fenders? Anyway I had a great first ride averaging 18.5 mph over 9 miles. I was surprised that I got a similar cardio workout as on my regular bike, yet I was going 4 mph faster. Also headwinds felt like air conditioning rather than, well um, a headwind.
Yeah the EQ has a more road based tyre without the knobs on the outer part, also has a reflective strip round it I think. The workout you get is really good, just makes those hills a bit easier!
Lovely bike, but you better believe you'll get a sweat on with this bike! That's why I got one as well. Tested the regular Vado as well and in Turbo mode that thing would just pull you up a 20% grade without you even noticing it. Did about 13km on it and lost 20% battery. That's the advantage of the SL: it has the range extender. But like I said, you WILL have to work pedalling this bike. I did a 42km ride on my first ride with it, and had about 36% battery left where I had to do some climbs (8% and 10%) in turbo mode. Average speed was 25km/h. Agree on the engine noise. It is pretty noticeable on mine
@@Daytrippen I’m getting the 5.0 SL and like you will mainly be riding it in in the off mode - unassisted. I hope the battery doesn’t degrade too quickly.
Hi Richard. Great review. I have the EXACT one and loving it. Have a Roubaix Comp as my road bike and this will be my commuter and city bike and just to use to ride around with kids in London. I was though getting a bit frustrated with the limiter kicking in at 25km/h so researched how to get by this and have just installed a Planet 3 “rotor”. And it WORKS!! flying at 35-40km/h with minimal effort. Obviously this is a option not everyone will need or want but if anyone wants to know if they work then I can confirm they do. Otherwise only thing I regret is not getting the EQ as I’m now trying to equip mine with rear rack and mudguards as makes sense and these are really hard to find as Specialized don’t stock them yet. I also added a Specialized TCD head unit
That’s interesting about the Planet 3 rotor. I’d like to give one of those a go on my Turbo Levo Carbon Comp, it has nearly 3x the torque of this. I’m wanting a workout from the Vado so doubt I’ll get one for this. But good to know it works, I’ll look into it
Huh, that’s interesting, I read it didn’t work with the Vado. Anyway, along with the great reviews and comments like yours, I can’t wait, Planet 3 or not!
This review was the decisive one that made me purchase the bike. Snapped it up yesterday as the supply was very low or unavailable in LA. It helps that it looks very stealthy which helps not to attract too much attention. Although I have noticed right away that it does need more than 10 gears. On the straight it is less noticeable but on the downhill it becomes apparent that the bike lacks. Other than that it is a pleasure and it rides quite well with zero assistance if the battery drains and you haven't quite made it to your destination, which is a nice plus.
It’s the one negative about crank motors, they can only run a single chainring. The next incarnation of it may have a 1x12 speed giving a bit better range of gears. Like you said though on the flats and steady gradients not to much of an issue
It’s the one negative about crank motors, they can only run a single chainring. The next incarnation of it may have a 1x12 speed giving a bit better range of gears. Like you said though on the flats and steady gradients not to much of an issue. Glad the review helped, I always like to watch actual owner reviews so thought I’d do my bit!
@@ttobba774411 I am getting slowly use to that drawback. My biggest issue right now is that I can not get the motor to 28mph. I can go above 20mph but top out at about 23 to 25 mph. And do not feel the motor at that point. I live in California where Class 3 is allowed. Am I doing something wrong?
@@mx4211 I’m in the uk so my motor is limited to 15.5mph. When I’m going downhill I run out of gears pedalling at about 32mph. Sorry I can’t help more with the issue your having, over here we have to make do with EU speed limits! Maybe have a chat to your local Specialized dealer, might be a motor issue or a sensor……or could just be the gearing/lack of motor power compared to the 80nm motors
Thanks - really interesting review. I've been thinking about getting an ebike for my commute into the city. The round trip is about 32 miles. It sounds like it might be s bit touch and go with this battery. Just wondering, what's it like over pot holes...?
I think the battery would be ok, it depends a lot on how much climbing you do, on the flat you easily go over the assist limit so aren’t using the battery,I live in Sheffield so it’s really hilly, my commute is only 4 miles but I do 450ft of climbing. It’s not bad over the pot holes, it’s better than the carbon road bike I had. I’ve had it a few weeks now and love it, makes my commute easier but I still get a workout if I push.
32 miles on peddle assist is no issue. What is the last 2 to 3 miles like coming home? If Uphill, you may want to keep an eye on the charged level. maybe run it at 1/3 power or 2/3 power on the way to work, and full power on the way home? just a thought
Great review. Just got one and using it for commuting to work. I noticed the gears are now SRAM NX rather than Shimano Deore. Not sure why changed but I guess roughly equivalent. Do you find the handle bar power controller glitches occasionally? Mostly it works fine but sometimes I press to go down to eco and it goes up to turbo. Other times it takes a few presses to get it to drop down to sport from Turbo.
I took it back to the bike shop and they replaced.the shifter and never had a problem since. I had less than 500 miles when I noticed the problem. Same problem like you have.
Great review. I have one on pre-order! Have you tried removing the seatpost? I can see the cable for the rear light looks like it runs up the inside of the seatpost. I am wondering if I could replace the seatpost myself with a suspension one and run the cable externally or if it looks like it would be a rewiring job for the dealer before collection? Thanks
Thanks. No I’ve not tried removing the seat post. It is wired internally, not sure about rewiring it, I’d personally get the dealer to do it so there’s no comeback on the warranty, since the lights are wired into the tcu.
Great review and good timing as I've just ordered this exact bike. Do you know if installing the future shock suspension as a potential upgrade/mod is possible? Thanks
If you could get hold of one I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible, chances are that you’d have to buy the carbon forks with it already installed like on the 5.0 models. Probably have to email Specialized and see what they say. I’d be interested to know as well, and the price.
@@ttobba774411 thanks and agree. I bought this over the 5.0 as my cycle to work scheme has a 2.5k limit but front suspension would make this even better
@@ttobba774411 delivered on Wednesday and its a grear bike. Very pleased although I cant figure out how to turn the lights on and off. This seems possible according to one written review but I cant find anything in the user manual. Any idea??
joefran84 as far as I’m aware they come on automatically when you turn the bike on and stay on, I don’t think there’s a way to turn them off while the bike is powered up. Might be wrong but I don’t know a way.
So on bumpy roads it feels fine, on trails not so good, if your going to be on trails a lot might be worth getting the 5.0 with the future shock. I use mine for commuting mainly and road riding
I love this bike my problem with most evokes is the price. I want a pedals assist bike without a throttle. Also I need two one for me and the wife. I’m leaning towards the Canondale tredwell it’s almost 1500 less. I really want the speed that this bike has but it it worth 3k for us
I really fancy this bike. I have a regular (Orange) mountain bike now with 10-speed rear and I just wonder if this would give me better hill climbing than that with only a single speed at the crank. Steep hills are unavoidable in Yorkshire. How different will this feel up a really steep proper Yorkshire hill compared to an unpowered bike? Not knowing stops me buying one.
Well I’ve got a normal mountain bike as well, I live in Sheffield so know all about hills! You still have to put effort in on the Vado sl but less than a normal bike and you will climb the hills faster for the effort you put in. If your wanting a bike to do most of the work I’d look at something with a more powerful motor, this motor is more of helping shove than a winch you up the hills kinda one. If your really concerned I’d see if you can find one to demo, or demo one of the Turbo Levo SL mountain bikes that use the same motor. I’d hired a Turbo Levo before I bought my EMTB.
I'm really seriously considering this bike. I'm avid mountain biker but broke my ankle 8 months ago and hope to be able to start asphalt riding in a month or two so I can regain muscle and strength and finally get back on trails. Wondering if this motor will be strong enough to assist me. Sound like I would still have to do most of the work and would have to significantly reduce the rides distance at least for a while until I gain more strength just to make it back home :)
The motor is a big help, but it doesn’t do the job for you. It’s somewhere between the big ebikes and a regular one. I’d say as way to recover from injury it should help, you can use maximum assistance to start with then reduce as your ankle recovers, I’ve torn the cartilage in my knee and having that assistance was a great help. And it would make a commuter once you recover. But if you in a hilly area and need BIG assistance look at other bikes.
No this is a completely new motor designed by Specialized. The Mahle x35 is used in lots of bikes but not any by Specialized. All their ebikes use either a Brose or the own brand sl found in this and the Levo SL.
how fast can you pedal with this bike with your muscolar strenght? I know it is possibile to pedal beyond the end of assistance of the motor of 25 km/h, where many e-bikes have a sort of "wall"
So the bike has no detectable drag from the motor over the assistance limit, on flats I’m usually above the assistance limit, the only limitation to how fast you can go is your own muscle power. Essentially it’s like riding a 16kg road bike when the motor isn’t assisting. I have an emtb as well, it has the gen 4 Bosch motor, the reason it feels like hitting a wall on that is because it weighs 24kg and has sticky enduro tyres on. Some motors do have noticeable drag.
Thanks. Mileage will depend on what asset level you use and the amount of climbing you do, but I’d say about 40miles would be the minimum using turbo setting the majority of the time and middle setting the rest. That’s probably doing about 3000 ft of elevation gain. If you stay off the turbo mode and climb les then probably 60miles. A lot will have to do with terrain, rider weight, the power your putting in. It’s early days for me at the minute so will hopefully know more about range as the weeks go on. This is bike No.3 for me, I’m now onto a one in one out policy with the wife!
Hi Rich ,just wondered if you could customise this bikes power modes to suit your own riding needs.The website says, it only produces 180% of assistance, surely that isn't a great amount of assistance when attempting large hills
You can adjust the power modes, the app lets you customise the 3 modes. But the max assistance is still only 180% about 35nm, it’s not going to make hills a breeze like the big motors. It’s a helping hand rather than doing all the work for you. I own a turbo Levo as well and compared to that it feels very weak! But the motor has no drag once over the assistance limit.
Is this 2021 model mate? looking at either this or the the cube reaction 625 hybrid it would be mostly for road use and the odd bit of light gravel type which would anybody say is the best bet for me im 6 feet tall 16 stone ish but working on that lol any feedback greatfully received
2020 model, it was only released earlier this year. I don’t think there is a 2021 model, not that I’ve seen on their website. The cube is a very different proposition to this, that is weighs 8kg more uses a more powerful motor and larger battery, that will pull you up the hills, but over the assistance limit will have more resistance from the motor and be harder to pedal. The Turbo Vado helps you but still requires quite a bit of effort, over the assistance limit there’s no detectable resistance from the motor. If you want some help in getting fit and making the hills easier go for the specialized. If you want to put in very little effort and get about go for the cube. I’ve only done a few towpaths on mine but it’s been spot on, love the bike.
Just one more thing alot of my travelling is on tarmac cycle lanes roads etc in the uk but i do like to hit some decent speeds ive got a basic westhill ghost at moment had a couple of years i can get to around the 25mph usually on flat roads what is the gearing like on the specialised if really put the leg work in mate thanks in advance mate
Jimmy Allen the gearing is ok, I’ve been doing 30mph + downhill and can still pedal without spinning out. I think you’d be ok with the gearing. It’s more the difference between gears, sometimes keeping a comfortable cadence is a little harder than with a 2x drivetrain
Thanks for the great review. Seriously considering one. Don’t know if the price difference between 4.0 and 5.0 is worth it with few extras like future shock
I didn’t want to spend the extra, but if you have the cash it would be nice. I have now ordered the mud guards and rack like what comes in the equipped model.
how has your experience been 3 years on, Richard? still contemplating getting this vs. 5.0 EQ vs. some newer models like Orbea and Canyon. would love to hear your experience, especially on the battery range, if it's good for long rides, and if you've changed any parts for more performance or comfort... thanks!
Hey there, so I ended up selling the bike a year or so ago, my life changed so wasn’t really using it. But up until then it had been great, if I needed a bike like that again wouldn’t hesitate, although I’d probably wait until they do one with the new SL2 motor in. The lightweight e-bike category is just getting better and better, and there’s no way I’d go for a hub drive motor now, you got the fazua and TQ motor that are supposed to be great. I’d love to ride the new specialized creo 2 with the updated motor. As for range depending on what assistance you use and elevation gain 50 miles easily doable without stressing, more if you managed your battery well. Didn’t upgrade anything other than adding the mudguards and rack you get on the EQ model. Hope that helps
Been waiting on the 1.2 motor too. Seems they have added it to all other sl range apart from the Vado so hopefully they release this soon as wanting a new one
@@L4v4lz just check on TH-cam, google etc... there are so many way to unlock the speed limit. There was this magnetic tool that you add to your back wheel or where the sensor is and it’s like £100, but I can’t find it right now. Anyway, just have a browse and read and you’ll find many solutions
Thank you very much Richard for this review ! Your basically changed my mind to go with this one instead of Gain f10/20. Before I put the order in...someone said the saddle of this bike is a bit too narrow and hard . Do you feel the same pls ? Also do you think it worth to pay the 800 more to go with version 5 pls ? If I may ask one more , what made you choose this one over the Gain F bikes ? Thanks a lot .
I have found the saddle fine to be honest, saddles are very personal things though, I wouldn’t let it worry you when buying a bike you can always fit your preferred choice after. As for the extra £800 for the 5, if this was going to be my only bike then yes, but for me this is a commuter/steady ride bike, I own 2 other bikes so wasn’t wanting to spend the extra money. If I had t been able to get one of the specializeds I’d have bought the Orbea, but I think I prefer the mid drive motor which is why I got the specialized, the option to easily upgrade the wheels in the future is a positive for me, and specialized are supposed to be pretty good when honouring their warranties. Hope that helps
@@ttobba774411 That's definitely real omission. Besides drain on the battery it would look a bit strange to have he light on during the day although I can see a safety benefit. Still no app update to turn them off? I guess I could wirie a switch inline.
Me encanta ese color negro, se ve algo simple, pero elegante, al mismo tiempo pasa desapercibida, perfecta para México que la dejas y te la pueden robar.
To me, this bike is close from being the perfect e-bike. It looks great and it's light enough to use it without assistance which is really important for long distance. It's pretty expensive unfortunately... If i buy this bike, it would be simply to replace my car and go for thousands miles each year. The question is : How long will the battery last ? Since it's integrated, how to replace it ? The fact that you can't remove the battery is a pretty bad point imo. Thanks for this nice review
Just ordered a 4.0 and was lucky it was in stock - of it wasn't I was told I'd have to wait until 2022! Took me ages to finally decide and the issue with not being able to remove the battery is what held me back - almost went for a Moustache because of that. Fixed battery makes touring much harder - you need to be sure you can get the whole bike to a power source. What swung me is I realised there's no way I was locking it on the street overnight regardless.
@@jonathanpower7628 I was thinking about this battery problem and realized that the portable battery you can buy with the bike (400$ or so) could be use to charge the main one. Do you see what i mean ?
Oh you’ll enjoy very long lasting battery. I would say at least 10k miles. I have an electric skateboard and I did 5k kms on it within a year and it still goes like new
Totally new to e bikes and I want this bike to commute to work only probs I have is there are some steep hills to climb will this bike have enough power so I don’t have to lill myself on the ride home
It won’t drag you up the hills like the more powerful ebikes, something with a Bosch cx motor, Shimano steps, brose will do nearly all the work going up hill if you want it to. But they also weigh more and have more pedal resistance over the assistance limit. If it’s your first ebike I’d definitely recommend test riding a couple before you buy, you’ll know which one is right for you after a test ride
We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!
Yes they’re restricted to 15.5 mph in the uk and 28mph in the us. I don’t know if they can be derestricted, I’ve never tried. There’s a good chance they can be though.
Yeah I think I got the last one my local bike shop had in stock. Looks like there’s a huge back log on bikes in general due to the COVID pandemic. Loads more people buying bikes and probably a reduction in production. Glad I managed to get it!
@@jimbo4203 I am jealous. I still have a month to wait. Be aware the Vado SL has a built in power meter that measures your input power and uses ANT+ to transmit to either the specialized display or your Garmin or Wahoo. They should advertise this feature better.
NEVER EVER BUY Specialized e-bike. I bougth a Specialized Turbo S, I think in 2015, so it's not that old. Now the rear drive has a mechanical problem. Went to the dealer they replied that it's an old bike and cannot be repaired, and there are no more spare parts. WHAT, this was a 5000 Euro bike. And now it's ready for the scrap yard ??, a 5000 Euro bike within a couple of years. First of all not very sustainable and very envirionmental unfriendly and towards customers ........ What a crap brand.
![บุษบา - เมนทอล [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGnWPokSEis/mqdefault.jpg)
I test rode one of these a couple of weeks ago. Seems a great E bike for 2022 it comes with SRAM shift gear. What I noticed about the ride is when you don't use the motor it rides like a pedal only bike. I am getting uncomfortable on my Trek and will likely need a new knee soon so I am looking at a flat bar e bike. This one looks like a perfect solution to get my neck the relief it needs and to allow me to use the e bike for PT in recovery from the surgery. I am in the Bay Area in California and where I live no matter where I go I have great climbs around me. But in recovery I think I will need a little help for a while.
Thank you for a great review. I am looking forward to the 1 year review.
Thanks Richard, very helpful review. I’ll be taking delivery of my Vado 4.0 EQ in 2 weeks! Bought my wife a Turbo Como SL 4.0 last year and she has loved it.
I looked at this today in one of the few LBSs in Exeter and am very tempted..Going to have to book a test ride and put deposit down; some makes and models are due in late 2021, early ' 22!!!
Finally bought mine after watching this review about 100 times. Love the bike only had 7 days and have done 88 miles so far. I'm a bit late but thank for this review as there are not many good one out there!!!
Cheers, glad it helped. I always get frustrated when I can’t find actual owner reviews of bikes so thought I’d do something about it. Still need to do a 1 year on update!
Great review thanks. I have this bike, purchased last June from JEJames.
Its great and regular done 30, 40 and 50 miles on a charge. Just need to use the assistance a bit lower, although on the 50 mile ride I did use turbo quite a bit in headwind.
Ive just bought the creo comp road bike which is also great.👍
I am seriously considering buying this bike, so I appreciate this review.
It’s early days for me but I’m loving it,
I got my vado sl 4.0 a week ago, 120mi already, and its been a blast !
Considering to 👍
@@ttobba774411 9 months in, what are you thoughts?
@@cameronarsenault3555 it’s good mate, use it loads for commuting and steady rides on road, the only thing I don’t like is the motor noise at times can be a little loud, I have a turbo Levo which is much quieter even though it’s 3 times as powerful, but other than that spot on, no faults no issues, very happy I bought it!
Bought this bike, and I love it!!
Great review Richard thanks for that. We(wife) have the exact same bikes. It’s a fantastic bike and love the Mission App and playing around with the power etc. I’m Looking at a few upgrades(tubeless 2Bliss). future shock is not possible I have been told. it weighs 15.85 (large) stock at the moment. Look forward to your further review .
Thank you for taking the time to review it. Very informative!!
Great review! Thank you, Sir!
Spot on bloke!!!
I just got the vado SL 5.0 & I absolutely love it!!!
All I needed was a bit of help against the head winds, or a long hill so as to enjoy the view at the top!
Hi. what is the 5.0 like when pedaling without motor help? Is it like a regular but heavier bike, road bike?
Thanks , liked and subbed , I’ll start saving , might get there in 2023. Thanks.
Richard, thanks for the review. I picked up my 5.0 nearly a month ago. Former roadie and I could not stop laughing with excitement the first couple of rides. While I agree about the motor having *slightly* more noise than I’d expected, I LOVE this bike! Changed bars to Jones H Carbon and will throw on my Time Speciale 12’s. At some point I might switch out the drivetrain and brakes.
Brakes and drivetrain, followed by wheels would be my upgrade choices. It’s a great bike, still a great workout with enough help to make the hills easier. Makes my commute better.
Do you feel you can get fast enough?
@@captainmakai Yep
@@ttobba774411 what spec bike train, brakes and wheels would you get? I wish to buy the 5.0 SL
@@SassySkylar everything on the bike has performed well, brakes drivetrain, wheels, all still working well. I’d be interested to know what the future shock is like on the 5.0 models.
There wasn’t many about when I bought mine so was happy to go for the 4.0. Nothing flashy spec wise but functional
Hi Richard , great review, and what a lovely looking bike! perfect gearing too,
I ride over from Sheffield to Hathersage 4 or 5 times a week I'm sure you'll know the road, on my eBike which has a 38 chainring and an 11-34 cassette, never use first or second gear, but find the top gear too low, and" spin out " at about 28mph coming back down Ringinlow. Have in fact just taken delivery of a 44 tooth chainring ( for the Shimano 6100 motor) and an 11 speed 11-42 XT setup which will make the same gearing as yours.
Possibly "bump into you" (metaphorically I hope!!) around Sheffield. Stay safe, Enjoy that Beautiful machine
What a great review, thank you for taking the time to make it. I put a deposit on a 5.0 (because silver) just have to wait a few weeks. Outrageously expensive but I used man-maths to justify it. I just don’t fancy the Northern Line into London every day when everything gets going again and I could definitely use the exercise after doing so little for the last three months! But I’ll need help up Highgate Hill twice a day. Interesting to hear you reference older MTBs regarding geometry. I have a lovely (but probably soon to go, to help pay for this) Calibre Bossnut, but I prefer my 20 year old MTB, feels more compact and lively, fun, to me. Maybe just what I’m used to? Thanks again
Thanks. It’ll make commuting a lot easier for you. It’s got very responsive handling without being twitchy. Lovely bike to ride.
Did you end up buying this bike? How did you get on cycling up Highgate Hill? I have a similar commute cycling up Muswell Hill which is an absolute monster haha.
@@Phat_Cal yes, it’s fantastic around town, light, nimble and responsive in traffic. It really comes into it’s own on hills, but it doesn’t do all the work for you! It’s a quality bit of kit as all reviews suggest, but there are better choices if you want a bike that assists more. I don’t, so it’s perfect, recommended if that’s what you’re after too
Muswell Hill is a monster! I wouldn’t be able to cycle up it on a regular bike, but this would do the trick. Up Highgate Hill I put it in a lower gear and spin up, it likes a high cadence.
@@sjmoir thanks so much for your reply! I'm sold.
@@Phat_Cal I was nervous about the price TBH. But it's just... so good. I've got four other (way less expensive) bikes in the garage, but this is the only one I've wanted to get on since it arrived! It's next level, you'll love it I'm sure
Excellent honest review. Thank you 👏🏾
Sick bike bro, thing is beautiful. The the murdered out look.
I have the como and the turbo creo comp carbon sl evo!!!! I seriously went back and forth on the vado vs the como, but I wanted something super relaxed since I have the creo
I really like the look of the Creo range, especially the evo model. I’ve already got a mountain bike, e-mountain bike so was looking for at a lower budget than the Creo carbon, otherwise that would’ve probably been my choice. And I’ve always found it hard to get on with drop bars. Probably because I’m a mountain biker first so that position feels more natural to me
Gorgeous bike!
Nice love the carbon black
Really good review thank you !!!!
Thank you for the review. I trust your opinion because you have another ebike...the 2022 version comes with SRAM eagle. Thinking about putting ASX wireless shifting.
Nice review Rich.... i think we have similar tastes... i also have a specialized Levo - and have a Whyte Glencoe (which I will probably sell, as I have just ordered a Vado to replace it) - have asked the LBS to swap the Vado tyres to a similar tyre to the Glencoe - like the tan side wall. Anyway - nice review. Cheers
I sold my Whyte Glencoe to help pay for my Trek Slash 8, but missed having a commuter bike, I toyed between the Vado and Orbea Gain, but my experience with the Levo swayed me to the Vado.
Great review. Do you think it could double up as gravel bike. I like to get off road but like you don’t get on with drops. Not many flat handlebar gravel bikes around
Hi, is the light connected to the TCU... can you check that cable for me?
I just go the 4.0 EQ. Does the EQ have different tires because of the fenders? Anyway I had a great first ride averaging 18.5 mph over 9 miles. I was surprised that I got a similar cardio workout as on my regular bike, yet I was going 4 mph faster. Also headwinds felt like air conditioning rather than, well um, a headwind.
Yeah the EQ has a more road based tyre without the knobs on the outer part, also has a reflective strip round it I think. The workout you get is really good, just makes those hills a bit easier!
Nice bike! I'm thinking of getting a Vado to ride on days I'm not riding my Epic Evo or Diverge. I would get that same gray color.
Lovely bike, but you better believe you'll get a sweat on with this bike! That's why I got one as well. Tested the regular Vado as well and in Turbo mode that thing would just pull you up a 20% grade without you even noticing it. Did about 13km on it and lost 20% battery. That's the advantage of the SL: it has the range extender. But like I said, you WILL have to work pedalling this bike. I did a 42km ride on my first ride with it, and had about 36% battery left where I had to do some climbs (8% and 10%) in turbo mode. Average speed was 25km/h. Agree on the engine noise. It is pretty noticeable on mine
Thx for the review. Ordered a 5.0- waiting. I have a turbo Levo and will using both - depending on the destination.
How are you finding your 5.0?
@@SassySkylar Love the bike, the only downside is the motor is noisy. I ride mostly in ECO or OFF mode, seldom use trail or turbo.
@@Daytrippen I’m getting the 5.0 SL and like you will mainly be riding it in in the off mode - unassisted. I hope the battery doesn’t degrade too quickly.
Hi Richard. Great review. I have the EXACT one and loving it. Have a Roubaix Comp as my road bike and this will be my commuter and city bike and just to use to ride around with kids in London. I was though getting a bit frustrated with the limiter kicking in at 25km/h so researched how to get by this and have just installed a Planet 3 “rotor”. And it WORKS!! flying at 35-40km/h with minimal effort. Obviously this is a option not everyone will need or want but if anyone wants to know if they work then I can confirm they do. Otherwise only thing I regret is not getting the EQ as I’m now trying to equip mine with rear rack and mudguards as makes sense and these are really hard to find as Specialized don’t stock them yet. I also added a Specialized TCD head unit
That’s interesting about the Planet 3 rotor. I’d like to give one of those a go on my Turbo Levo Carbon Comp, it has nearly 3x the torque of this. I’m wanting a workout from the Vado so doubt I’ll get one for this. But good to know it works, I’ll look into it
Huh, that’s interesting, I read it didn’t work with the Vado. Anyway, along with the great reviews and comments like yours, I can’t wait, Planet 3 or not!
Would love a long term update if you’ve got any thoughts!
This review was the decisive one that made me purchase the bike. Snapped it up yesterday as the supply was very low or unavailable in LA. It helps that it looks very stealthy which helps not to attract too much attention. Although I have noticed right away that it does need more than 10 gears. On the straight it is less noticeable but on the downhill it becomes apparent that the bike lacks. Other than that it is a pleasure and it rides quite well with zero assistance if the battery drains and you haven't quite made it to your destination, which is a nice plus.
It’s the one negative about crank motors, they can only run a single chainring. The next incarnation of it may have a 1x12 speed giving a bit better range of gears.
Like you said though on the flats and steady gradients not to much of an issue
It’s the one negative about crank motors, they can only run a single chainring. The next incarnation of it may have a 1x12 speed giving a bit better range of gears.
Like you said though on the flats and steady gradients not to much of an issue.
Glad the review helped, I always like to watch actual owner reviews so thought I’d do my bit!
@@ttobba774411 I am getting slowly use to that drawback. My biggest issue right now is that I can not get the motor to 28mph. I can go above 20mph but top out at about 23 to 25 mph. And do not feel the motor at that point. I live in California where Class 3 is allowed. Am I doing something wrong?
@@mx4211 I’m in the uk so my motor is limited to 15.5mph.
When I’m going downhill I run out of gears pedalling at about 32mph.
Sorry I can’t help more with the issue your having, over here we have to make do with EU speed limits! Maybe have a chat to your local Specialized dealer, might be a motor issue or a sensor……or could just be the gearing/lack of motor power compared to the 80nm motors
@@ttobba774411 Thanks. I am slowly getting to grips with the new driving style that is necessary when riding an e-bike.
whats it like from a standstill? I used an ebike with hub gears and its too slow starting off until u can get it into the low gear.
Hi Richard, do you still have the bike as I wondering what it performs like now. . Great review.
Thanks - really interesting review. I've been thinking about getting an ebike for my commute into the city. The round trip is about 32 miles. It sounds like it might be s bit touch and go with this battery. Just wondering, what's it like over pot holes...?
I think the battery would be ok, it depends a lot on how much climbing you do, on the flat you easily go over the assist limit so aren’t using the battery,I live in Sheffield so it’s really hilly, my commute is only 4 miles but I do 450ft of climbing.
It’s not bad over the pot holes, it’s better than the carbon road bike I had. I’ve had it a few weeks now and love it, makes my commute easier but I still get a workout if I push.
32 miles on peddle assist is no issue. What is the last 2 to 3 miles like coming home? If Uphill, you may want to keep an eye on the charged level. maybe run it at 1/3 power or 2/3 power on the way to work, and full power on the way home? just a thought
Take your charger with you. Charge at work, should be fine.
Great review. Just got one and using it for commuting to work. I noticed the gears are now SRAM NX rather than Shimano Deore. Not sure why changed but I guess roughly equivalent. Do you find the handle bar power controller glitches occasionally? Mostly it works fine but sometimes I press to go down to eco and it goes up to turbo. Other times it takes a few presses to get it to drop down to sport from Turbo.
I took it back to the bike shop and they replaced.the shifter and never had a problem since. I had less than 500 miles when I noticed the problem. Same problem like you have.
Great review. I have one on pre-order! Have you tried removing the seatpost? I can see the cable for the rear light looks like it runs up the inside of the seatpost. I am wondering if I could replace the seatpost myself with a suspension one and run the cable externally or if it looks like it would be a rewiring job for the dealer before collection? Thanks
Thanks. No I’ve not tried removing the seat post. It is wired internally, not sure about rewiring it, I’d personally get the dealer to do it so there’s no comeback on the warranty, since the lights are wired into the tcu.
Hi Richard, thanks for the reply, much appreciated. 👍
Great review and good timing as I've just ordered this exact bike. Do you know if installing the future shock suspension as a potential upgrade/mod is possible? Thanks
If you could get hold of one I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible, chances are that you’d have to buy the carbon forks with it already installed like on the 5.0 models. Probably have to email Specialized and see what they say. I’d be interested to know as well, and the price.
@@ttobba774411 thanks and agree. I bought this over the 5.0 as my cycle to work scheme has a 2.5k limit but front suspension would make this even better
@@ttobba774411 delivered on Wednesday and its a grear bike. Very pleased although I cant figure out how to turn the lights on and off. This seems possible according to one written review but I cant find anything in the user manual. Any idea??
joefran84 as far as I’m aware they come on automatically when you turn the bike on and stay on, I don’t think there’s a way to turn them off while the bike is powered up. Might be wrong but I don’t know a way.
@@joefran84 light always stays on. No ability to shut off set up that way for safety
Nice review. Now that two years have gone by, how is the battery holding up?
Beautiful Bike!!!!
Great review, one question: how is it feel on bumpy roads/trails?, I am concerned this model is not equipped with Future Shock technology
So on bumpy roads it feels fine, on trails not so good, if your going to be on trails a lot might be worth getting the 5.0 with the future shock. I use mine for commuting mainly and road riding
I love this bike my problem with most evokes is the price. I want a pedals assist bike without a throttle. Also I need two one for me and the wife. I’m leaning towards the Canondale tredwell it’s almost 1500 less.
I really want the speed that this bike has but it it worth 3k for us
Swanky, I'm considering getting an EQ version for commuting, how has it been these last two years?
I’m looking at a 2022 but terrified of cost @Richard how are you finding it 2 years on?
I really fancy this bike. I have a regular (Orange) mountain bike now with 10-speed rear and I just wonder if this would give me better hill climbing than that with only a single speed at the crank. Steep hills are unavoidable in Yorkshire. How different will this feel up a really steep proper Yorkshire hill compared to an unpowered bike? Not knowing stops me buying one.
Well I’ve got a normal mountain bike as well, I live in Sheffield so know all about hills!
You still have to put effort in on the Vado sl but less than a normal bike and you will climb the hills faster for the effort you put in.
If your wanting a bike to do most of the work I’d look at something with a more powerful motor, this motor is more of helping shove than a winch you up the hills kinda one.
If your really concerned I’d see if you can find one to demo, or demo one of the Turbo Levo SL mountain bikes that use the same motor. I’d hired a Turbo Levo before I bought my EMTB.
@@ttobba774411 Thanks
I'm really seriously considering this bike. I'm avid mountain biker but broke my ankle 8 months ago and hope to be able to start asphalt riding in a month or two so I can regain muscle and strength and finally get back on trails.
Wondering if this motor will be strong enough to assist me. Sound like I would still have to do most of the work and would have to significantly reduce the rides distance at least for a while until I gain more strength just to make it back home :)
The motor is a big help, but it doesn’t do the job for you. It’s somewhere between the big ebikes and a regular one. I’d say as way to recover from injury it should help, you can use maximum assistance to start with then reduce as your ankle recovers, I’ve torn the cartilage in my knee and having that assistance was a great help.
And it would make a commuter once you recover.
But if you in a hilly area and need BIG assistance look at other bikes.
Good video, Is there a 4th mode where everyone thing is on except assist? So with one touch your go into eco?
Yes, you just press the - button on the handlebar remote till the assist lights go off that removes all assist but leaves the battery and lights on
Great video.
Richard, the thing is this motor (Orbea and here) is the same Mahle X35 - just moved from hub to center as far as I know.
No this is a completely new motor designed by Specialized. The Mahle x35 is used in lots of bikes but not any by Specialized. All their ebikes use either a Brose or the own brand sl found in this and the Levo SL.
how fast can you pedal with this bike with your muscolar strenght? I know it is possibile to pedal beyond the end of assistance of the motor of 25 km/h, where many e-bikes have a sort of "wall"
So the bike has no detectable drag from the motor over the assistance limit, on flats I’m usually above the assistance limit, the only limitation to how fast you can go is your own muscle power. Essentially it’s like riding a 16kg road bike when the motor isn’t assisting.
I have an emtb as well, it has the gen 4 Bosch motor, the reason it feels like hitting a wall on that is because it weighs 24kg and has sticky enduro tyres on. Some motors do have noticeable drag.
Great Review 👌 What's the mean mileage for this model?
Thinking very seriously about justifying to my wife why I need one more bike.
Thanks. Mileage will depend on what asset level you use and the amount of climbing you do, but I’d say about 40miles would be the minimum using turbo setting the majority of the time and middle setting the rest. That’s probably doing about 3000 ft of elevation gain. If you stay off the turbo mode and climb les then probably 60miles. A lot will have to do with terrain, rider weight, the power your putting in. It’s early days for me at the minute so will hopefully know more about range as the weeks go on. This is bike No.3 for me, I’m now onto a one in one out policy with the wife!
@@ttobba774411 I might try that " One in one out"! 👍 Thanks.
Thanks mate.
Hello what is the widest tire size
Hi Rich ,just wondered if you could customise this bikes power modes to suit your own riding needs.The website says, it only produces 180% of assistance, surely that isn't a great amount of assistance when attempting large hills
You can adjust the power modes, the app lets you customise the 3 modes. But the max assistance is still only 180% about 35nm, it’s not going to make hills a breeze like the big motors. It’s a helping hand rather than doing all the work for you. I own a turbo Levo as well and compared to that it feels very weak! But the motor has no drag once over the assistance limit.
Hi Rich thanks for the info, that's brilliant,really helpful information as I consider buying one of these specialized bikes
Is this 2021 model mate? looking at either this or the the cube reaction 625 hybrid it would be mostly for road use and the odd bit of light gravel type which would anybody say is the best bet for me im 6 feet tall 16 stone ish but working on that lol any feedback greatfully received
2020 model, it was only released earlier this year. I don’t think there is a 2021 model, not that I’ve seen on their website. The cube is a very different proposition to this, that is weighs 8kg more uses a more powerful motor and larger battery, that will pull you up the hills, but over the assistance limit will have more resistance from the motor and be harder to pedal. The Turbo Vado helps you but still requires quite a bit of effort, over the assistance limit there’s no detectable resistance from the motor. If you want some help in getting fit and making the hills easier go for the specialized.
If you want to put in very little effort and get about go for the cube.
I’ve only done a few towpaths on mine but it’s been spot on, love the bike.
Thanks richard that certainly helps my choice much apreciated mate
Just one more thing alot of my travelling is on tarmac cycle lanes roads etc in the uk but i do like to hit some decent speeds ive got a basic westhill ghost at moment had a couple of years i can get to around the 25mph usually on flat roads what is the gearing like on the specialised if really put the leg work in mate thanks in advance mate
Jimmy Allen the gearing is ok, I’ve been doing 30mph + downhill and can still pedal without spinning out. I think you’d be ok with the gearing. It’s more the difference between gears, sometimes keeping a comfortable cadence is a little harder than with a 2x drivetrain
Do you have to pay extra for the mission control app/display?
The app is free to download.
You have to buy the display.
Thanks for the great review. Seriously considering one. Don’t know if the price difference between 4.0 and 5.0 is worth it with few extras like future shock
I didn’t want to spend the extra, but if you have the cash it would be nice. I have now ordered the mud guards and rack like what comes in the equipped model.
I’ve got a 5 (supply issues) but I think the 4 is probably the sweet spot. Sure you’d be thrilled on either
how has your experience been 3 years on, Richard? still contemplating getting this vs. 5.0 EQ vs. some newer models like Orbea and Canyon. would love to hear your experience, especially on the battery range, if it's good for long rides, and if you've changed any parts for more performance or comfort... thanks!
Hey there, so I ended up selling the bike a year or so ago, my life changed so wasn’t really using it. But up until then it had been great, if I needed a bike like that again wouldn’t hesitate, although I’d probably wait until they do one with the new SL2 motor in.
The lightweight e-bike category is just getting better and better, and there’s no way I’d go for a hub drive motor now, you got the fazua and TQ motor that are supposed to be great. I’d love to ride the new specialized creo 2 with the updated motor.
As for range depending on what assistance you use and elevation gain 50 miles easily doable without stressing, more if you managed your battery well. Didn’t upgrade anything other than adding the mudguards and rack you get on the EQ model. Hope that helps
Been waiting on the 1.2 motor too. Seems they have added it to all other sl range apart from the Vado so hopefully they release this soon as wanting a new one
Specialized done a good job , 15mph in uk is a joke would only buy to use for work if it could be unrestricted.
It can be unlocked
@@balintkulacs2517 how? without spending another fortune?
@@L4v4lz just check on TH-cam, google etc... there are so many way to unlock the speed limit. There was this magnetic tool that you add to your back wheel or where the sensor is and it’s like £100, but I can’t find it right now.
Anyway, just have a browse and read and you’ll find many solutions
Thank you very much Richard for this review ! Your basically changed my mind to go with this one instead of Gain f10/20. Before I put the order in...someone said the saddle of this bike is a bit too narrow and hard . Do you feel the same pls ? Also do you think it worth to pay the 800 more to go with version 5 pls ? If I may ask one more , what made you choose this one over the Gain F bikes ? Thanks a lot .
I have found the saddle fine to be honest, saddles are very personal things though, I wouldn’t let it worry you when buying a bike you can always fit your preferred choice after. As for the extra £800 for the 5, if this was going to be my only bike then yes, but for me this is a commuter/steady ride bike, I own 2 other bikes so wasn’t wanting to spend the extra money.
If I had t been able to get one of the specializeds I’d have bought the Orbea, but I think I prefer the mid drive motor which is why I got the specialized, the option to easily upgrade the wheels in the future is a positive for me, and specialized are supposed to be pretty good when honouring their warranties.
Hope that helps
Richard Abbott thank you!
So these are assisted to 15mph?
pedal assist 15mph in UK?
anyway of unlocking it like the American version upto 28mph
I’m not sure to be honest, I’d guess there will be, I know there’s ways to do it on the turbo levos. It’s only a software setting I should imagine.
@@ttobba774411 thanks for the reply.
good video
👍🥰like this E bike 🚲 so Cool 👍👍👍💖
Thanks for the review ! I want to share your review on the Facebook Group for The Turbo Vado SL
Ow cool. Hope it’s helpful
No anti-theft features?
Great trustworthy review Rich really helpful. Any idea what Nm does this bike have ?
Cheers Steve, I’m pretty sure it’s about 35/40 Nm.
Thanks Rich, brilliant,we are going to look at these bikes on Friday,thanks for the info
Is there a way to turn on/off the headlights when I want (with a button or app)?
Not that I know of mate
@@ttobba774411 That's definitely real omission. Besides drain on the battery it would look a bit strange to have he light on during the day although I can see a safety benefit. Still no app update to turn them off? I guess I could wirie a switch inline.
Me encanta ese color negro, se ve algo simple, pero elegante, al mismo tiempo pasa desapercibida, perfecta para México que la dejas y te la pueden robar.
To me, this bike is close from being the perfect e-bike. It looks great and it's light enough to use it without assistance which is really important for long distance.
It's pretty expensive unfortunately...
If i buy this bike, it would be simply to replace my car and go for thousands miles each year.
The question is : How long will the battery last ? Since it's integrated, how to replace it ?
The fact that you can't remove the battery is a pretty bad point imo.
Thanks for this nice review
Just ordered a 4.0 and was lucky it was in stock - of it wasn't I was told I'd have to wait until 2022! Took me ages to finally decide and the issue with not being able to remove the battery is what held me back - almost went for a Moustache because of that. Fixed battery makes touring much harder - you need to be sure you can get the whole bike to a power source. What swung me is I realised there's no way I was locking it on the street overnight regardless.
@@jonathanpower7628 I was thinking about this battery problem and realized that the portable battery you can buy with the bike (400$ or so) could be use to charge the main one.
Do you see what i mean ?
@@aurelien8773 I do - but it hasn't enough capacity to fully charge the main battery. Great idea though for them I'm stuck.
@@jonathanpower7628 im 58 and the vado sl is so light you can easily carry it upstairs. It only weighs 3 pounds more then my 2018 giant mtb
Oh you’ll enjoy very long lasting battery. I would say at least 10k miles. I have an electric skateboard and I did 5k kms on it within a year and it still goes like new
My wifes tektro brakes have been great and reliable.
Sorry, but no review is a review without showing the bike in action.
How much used ?
Nice !
Nice 👍🏼
Thank you. My bike if I reach 70 years old.
I just got one too, is it normal that the front and rear light is in while charging???
Mine always has, I’ve kept it’s software up to date, so must be normal. Although I agree a little odd!
My husband said you can turn off the bike, this will still charge the bike
Totally new to e bikes and I want this bike to commute to work only probs I have is there are some steep hills to climb will this bike have enough power so I don’t have to lill myself on the ride home
It won’t drag you up the hills like the more powerful ebikes, something with a Bosch cx motor, Shimano steps, brose will do nearly all the work going up hill if you want it to. But they also weigh more and have more pedal resistance over the assistance limit. If it’s your first ebike I’d definitely recommend test riding a couple before you buy, you’ll know which one is right for you after a test ride
Can I have a follow up review please to supplement this review. It was a great initial review. Thanks
I’m waiting for a bolt kit to install mudguards and a pannier rack, once they’re on I plan to do a one year on review
@@ttobba774411 superb! I look forward to seeing the transformation in your follow up video
We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!
Oh yes, here is the link for those interested : facebook.com/groups/turbovadosl
are they restricted if so are you able to remove it?
Yes they’re restricted to 15.5 mph in the uk and 28mph in the us. I don’t know if they can be derestricted, I’ve never tried. There’s a good chance they can be though.
Yes they can be unlocked with “Planet 3”
Awesome bikes the turbo line but unfortunately virtually every single model is sold out on the Specialized website.
Yeah I think I got the last one my local bike shop had in stock. Looks like there’s a huge back log on bikes in general due to the COVID pandemic. Loads more people buying bikes and probably a reduction in production.
Glad I managed to get it!
You can have a dealer order you one, there are some available for August delivery.
in the US
Just got mine this week, finally starting to come in a few at a time. Its awesome
@@jimbo4203 I am jealous. I still have a month to wait. Be aware the Vado SL has a built in power meter that measures your input power and uses ANT+ to transmit to either the specialized display or your Garmin or Wahoo. They should advertise this feature better.
NEVER EVER BUY Specialized e-bike. I bougth a Specialized Turbo S, I think in 2015, so it's not that old. Now the rear drive has a mechanical problem. Went to the dealer they replied that it's an old bike and cannot be repaired, and there are no more spare parts. WHAT, this was a 5000 Euro bike. And now it's ready for the scrap yard ??, a 5000 Euro bike within a couple of years. First of all not very sustainable and very envirionmental unfriendly and towards customers ........ What a crap brand.
Review of a bike without riding it? Big fail. Sorry