Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2021 review - An e-bike for fitness, leisure and transport

[@janeg4706]

John (Jane's the wife!).....I bought this bike after a long period of agonising and research. I think I made the right choice. Its super smooth transition from assistance to no assistance is lovely and it's light enough to be ridden without assistance when desired - this also overcomes range anxiety, as I know I could ride it home if the battery runs out on me, even if I'd need a long lie down! The 320W battery is a clever move by Specialized - giving more range than the 250W batteries used in most of the Mahle/iWoc systems but without the weight of the 500W/750W e bikes. The assistance level change buttons are much better than the iWoc system, with the ability to go up or down at the touch of the handlebar mounted buttons. No need to reach down and scroll through an annoying sequence as in the iWoc/Mahle system. The seat is really comfortable too, unlike most other bikes I've bought. It's a great bike for those who want a bit of help on hills or against headwinds but also want to do a bit of work themselves! It is expensive, though mine was on a Specialized promotion which made it cost effective. One negative - the mudguards are about 10mm (3/8") too narrow, which seems a crass and totally avoidable flaw. Also, the specs have changed for 2023 - mine has Sram NX shifters and an 11 speed Sunrace cassette - so far, so good.

[@Super-lucky-7777]

how's it going now ?

[@AlexRocks85]

I am considering buying one of this bike. How is it now? Do you still recommend? Thx.

[@earlhaas7906]

Bought this bike a year ago and love it .I am 72 years old and it gave me back the joy of riding again.

[@davidarthur]

Fantastic to hear Earl 👍

[@jeffrandall8540]

Purchased mine a few months back and I must say that it's an awesome bike...worth every penny. Well built, good solid battery life, geometry feels good and good power assist.

[@jaspreetsidhu5708]

There's a dude around my neighbourhood who I see riding this thing, going to get groceries. I usually have a bit of a chat with him as well on my morning training rides. If it wasn't for this bike he wouldn't be riding. Happy to see things like this getting people out there on more bikes.

[@lizart308]

That's why they are so great :)

[@dewindoethdwl2798]

That bloke sounds like me. I’d started to just own a bike, now I’m fully back to riding a bike regularly. They are brilliant!

[@raulfuentes4130]

And that’s why i just bought one

[@davidebuldrini4738]

I bought this in October 2021 and it’s just fantastic. Commuting or going off track is just amazing. Great machine. I don’t use the car anymore.

[@vonettadevo]

That's awesome! One less car!

[@halstrong2737]

I'm a new owner of this bike as well. I loved being able to ride around our city (Seattle) and keep up with traffic. I felt so much safer. This is not a bike that makes everything easy (I had to work on hills), just easier and more fun. Range is an issue. The claimed 80 miles seems only achieveable with little assist and no hills. I rode 21 miles today, with some hills, on the intermediate assist and ended the ride with 37% battery, suggesting my range was more like 35 miiles. No complaints, it's great.

[@jimbo4203]

I have one too and have done 34 mi one day and still had a little juice left but only 2 red bars , it's a super fun bike

[@justa2]

One of the most thorough and informative bike reviews I’ve ever seen ! Thanks !

[@davidarthur]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jaimeb.7537]

With the motor turned off, this bike pedals extremely well and even rides better than some other bikes out there

[@cyanginpedro]

👆👆 this

[@ianhancock7662]

Bought this bike, absolutely love it, gave me a new lease of life in my mid fifties now and can go anywhere uphill now 👍🏼

[@kamuelalee]

How does this bike do on steep hills? Is it sluggish or pretty easy to pedal?

[@NarrowboatAngel]

@@kamuelalee it’s exceptional, it assists you what ever gear your in, we do a 1:10 in lowest gear and it’s fine #54 years old

[@kamuelalee]

@@NarrowboatAngel Thank you, much appreciated!

[@vonettadevo]

That's awesome. I tried another model and it was so effortless uphill and against the wind. I am eager to test ride this one. Happy riding!

[@7gatcliffe]

As a recent buyer of this bike I can vouch for everything you said Dave as someone who has cycled for 40 years plus as a recreational/fitness cyclist and nearly 60 this beauty has enabled me to still clock 100/120 miles a week even though I have a dodgy hip.

[@jimbo4203]

I'm 60 also and I love mine , I've put over 2000 mi on it , I just did a video on my channel about putting on new gravel tires

[@AlexRocks85]

@@jimbo4203now lets see your video ❤😊

[@MrWoodyman68]

Bought one last August. Loving it...

[@HR-ws1rj]

It’s like a Sirrus with a motor. Nice bike

[@stulys9349]

It's very easy to put it on 30 km/u. Your dealer can do it by changing the wheel measurement sensor parameters in the software.

[@veselinnechev2543]

how can it be done up to 45km per hour like for US?

[@brianwalsh2945]

This is an excellent review , just had a test ride on the Riese & Muller Charger4 GT vario HS today , first time on a e-bike I found once you hit the 25 km mark there was feeling of drag, so I am really keen to test ride the Vado SL . Thanks Dave

[@michael57603]

I took a test ride of this bike today and was very impressed. I didn't realize how few e-bikes are out there on the market that are this light, and with this power- not aware of any! I just aim for a versatile bike- with a motor, can be good on road or gravel and is light enough to carry up stairs or on trains. This was the only one that ticked all boxes. It is expensive though, and as mentioned in the video, the battery is not removable.

[@dean6126]

The only similar models I found were from Orbea (e.g. Orbea Gain) but they have the motor in the back wheel. Both use MAHLE motors (even though specialized calls them their own)

[@vonettadevo]

Is the battery not being removable a bad thing besides making it tricky for finding a place to charge? The ability to navigate this up and down stairs and in the subway is on the top of my list, more than a removable battery.

[@OM-sb2bd]

15mph pedal assist limit is so sad. 28mph here in the US on the same bike - a world of difference.

[@ntglf467]

refreshing review, never thought you would review this kind of bike👀👍

[@markprobets483]

Just bought one of these.. Really looking forward to using it for my daily 11 mile commute into the city of London every day.. Great review.. Thanks 😎👌🏻

[@utubebroadcaster]

How are you finding it so far?

[@davidebuldrini4738]

I’m using it to commute 14km per day in Brussels: works wonderfully. Agile, fast, smooth. Goodbye car. Forever.

[@markprobets483]

I'm absolutely loving this bike.. One of the best things I've ever purchased. Will definitely buy Specialized again.. It's only had one service and that was just the brakes.. Highly recommended 👍😎

[@JordiMonCompanys]

Hi David. This was a great review and a great bike. Considering purchasing it to move around. Another candidate for review in this same category may be the new Orbea Vibe.

[@davidarthur]

Thanks! I’m keen to check out more bikes like this is the viewers want it

[@JordiMonCompanys]

@@davidarthur Orbea! Send this man a bike!! Thanks, David. Keep it up.

[@LoboLouie2]

Might want to add the cannondale quick neo sl to the list and at least $1k less

[@mathanprasath_krishnasamy]

@@davidarthur I am also interested to see your views about Orbea Vibe H30 EBike. I am looking to choose between Vado SL 4 and Orbea Vibe H30. Your views would be great. Thanks

[@colceriumircea3085]

The good thing is you can de restrict and it has range exteder.

[@colceriumircea3085]

Yep. Being derestricted you can feel the real power but in the same time you need to be very careful.

[@ilovejimrogers]

Attractive if it can be bought on the cycle to work scheme. Removable battery is preferable though. Tempting for the commute.

[@balintkulacs2517]

You can buy it through “Cyclescheme”

[@dawnphillips5186]

@@balintkulacs2517 I purchased my vado sl 4 on salary sacrifice and also purchased a spare battery £300 the battery cost, so not cheap but at least its portable and I can take it indoors to charge if needed.

[@bmwofboganville456]

With the right tyres and a shock stem could be a great e-gravel bike

[@jimbo4203]

I've been using mine as a gravel bike and trail's for 1800 miles so far its been great ! Running 40c Nano's, so fun

[@enriquejaimes3368]

Future shock works great on the bike. I run pathfinders 42c and it is efficient yet confortable. Even suitable for smooth single track with a pair of rhombus 42c

[@davidebuldrini4738]

I have one and ride it as a gravel bike in the forest, works super good.

[@aidanoconnor7299]

@@enriquejaimes3368 Hi - I'm thinking of getting this bike for commuting but the stock tyres felt less comfortable than I expected and may not be capable of smoothing out the rough city centre roads much more than my existing road bike. Did you fit the 42c tyres under mudguards / fenders or did you have to remove the mudguards - I thought of fatter tyres but couldn't tell if it had enough clearance?

[@jimbo4203]

​@@aidanoconnor7299I just did a video on my channel fitting new 700x42c Sawtooths on my turbo Vado SL , you can see how much clearance there still is left

[@tenrec]

Just tested one. The motor is surprisingly noisy (compared to a Trek FX+ 2 and Dual Sport + 2), and the brakes didn't have the stopping power of the Treks. Disappointing, considering that the Turbo Vado costs about $1,000 more than the Treks. The motor on the Specialized IS more powerful, though.

[@dynAdZ]

Very good video. Informative and enjoyable. Likable guy. Nice!

[@jimbo4203]

I love my Turbo Vado SL and ride it off-road all the time and make videos😊

[@justineroussel5221]

Hi, thanks the info on the video. I am interested in buying this bike to help me tow my children's trailer. I have been successfully doing so with my normal pedal bike for more than 2 years now, but as my boys are getting heavier, I feel I could do with a bit of electric assistance at times, especially when going uphill! Do you feel this bike could do the job? I should say, I very much enjoy the fitness I get from towing my children's trailer with my usual pedal bike and definitely don't want to have an electric bike to completely take over. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

[@BubbleGum-s5c]

Nice. Did you state the weight and the cassette teeth range as well as the number of teeth on the rank? Good review.

[@V00nster]

I have a 2019 Vado 3.0 (non-SL) which I grabbed on sale ahead of the 2020's coming out. I love it very much, but I think the SL is a very much sleeker looking proposition. That being said, my 3.0 cost half of what this does, has more power and a bigger battery. However, it's also much heavier, and you are aware of that weight when riding. It's certainly agile, but you just get this sense of greater momentum. I typically use minimal assist which is perfectly adequate, and whilst it certainly is possible to ride without assist, that's not such a great experience. I like the thought of an ebike which is equally usable with or without assist, and will definitely consider one of these in future. Nice balanced review, it might also have been interesting to hear a little bit about whether or not this one can talk to the Mission Control app? My Vado originally came with the controversial Bloks display and computer, but it died and was replaced under warranty (after along delay...) with the newer TCD unit which is infinitely better and support for Mission Control is a game changer. Tell it how far you want to go and how much charge you want left at the end, and it works it all out for you - no more range anxiety. Great for longer rides, + you can also tune the assist level of the different modes when using it normally.

[@dtasoudis]

Hello and thank you! I am 76 kg, I run and commute with a trekking bike. Would you pick this over a Giant explore 4 gts or similar for commuting with panniers and some hilly challenges, for everyday ride to work, covering 35k? Thanks in advance!

[@achtungbairnu2tribute]

Hello, great video. 👍🏼 Could you possibly tell me the correct colour of the bike in the video as I need to source touch up paint to repair some minor damage to my own which is the same colour. Thanks

[@smallhatshatethetruth7933]

I love me a fitness bike, my favourite geometry

[@normhanson981]

Great review, thanks David , this one would be great for me as I’m 58 and me and my Brompton struggle on the hills of Cornwall . , I’ll start saving for the basic model with out the rack and mudguards and buy separately and fit myself . I think I would get some use out it being retired .

[@cyclelife9179]

can i ride it to work without sweating, or do i need a more powerful motor?

[@jimbo4203]

It will definitely help in that department but you still have to pedal pretty good up really big hills

[@alanmortell8954]

Is this the White (Abalone) Vado SL 4.0 as it almost looks slightly grey like a Crayon colour? Does it have FutureShock 1.5 or is that only on the newer models (2022)? Thanks for a great review - I am going to buy but torn between the Turbo Vado SL 4.0 and 5.0 - need help!

[@ArttuLaitala-zk3gn]

In the sales pitch it says that the bike is front rack compatiple. Can’t really find a good benchmark for this, so do you happen to have any idea what sort of a front rack would fit?

[@jimbo4203]

I was just at Gear up cycles in Murray KY and he had racks for it in stock

[@jimmywkwan1]

Great video. How tall are you and what size bike were you riding? Thanks

[@Brookes79]

It's a size large in the video.

[@colinjava8447]

That's the sort of ebike I want, I tried a cheap Chinese ebike and it was so heavy it was as if the motor was half used in overcoming the weight. Does anyone know the weight of this bike?

[@balintkulacs2517]

Around 15kg

[@colinjava8447]

@@balintkulacs2517 cool, thanks

[@saafiiiraa]

14 kg actually.

[@wvsac]

Good video, Is there a 4th mode where everyone thing is on except assist? So with one touch your go into eco?

[@jimbo4203]

Yes you can do exactly that if you want, ride with bike on no assist then hit eco when you need it

[@HjMaswadyHjAmjah]

That internal battery sinks this bike for me though. Would've been nice if it was removable for replacement or upgrading...

[@roycutler4670]

It can indeed be removed and replaced if needed.

[@raclemonte68]

And it can be supplemented with a range extender too, which can be removed. I’ve recently acquired this very same bicycle (second hand) having previously ridden a very heavy ezee torque … this is so light & refined in comparison.

[@quinquennial]

Great review. Mine arrives tomorrw. Can't wait.

[@davidarthur]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@SassySkylar]

How’s the bike? Are you pleased with it?

[@quinquennial]

@@SassySkylar loving it . So pleased I bought it. Admiring glances and nice comments.

[@SassySkylar]

@@quinquennial I’m really excited now! Is it good on gravel and what size did you get for your height? I’m 172cm and have gone for a medium frame

[@quinquennial]

@@SassySkylar Mine is fine on gravel. Mind you I don't go crazy on the gravel paths around here. I'm 175 cm and I got the medium frame. At first I thought it was a tad too big but once I got used to it (didn't take long) it was fine. Hope you enjoy it. Come back and let us know. Happy cycling.

[@petewebb6952]

How much does it weigh? (I’d have to lift it over a five-bar gate). Cheers.

[@jimbo4203]

Mine weighs 34 pounds

[@ABC-ue3pl]

Why the crossbar still exists?

[@Neil.C57510]

hi, any idea what the maximum tyre width this will fit? I'd want to put 45mm on.

[@jimbo4203]

Just did a video of putting on new 42's on my channel and you can tell a 45 will probably work , Specialized says you can go as big as 47c with 27.5 rims

[@sarahhicks8538]

How well do you think this would do for towpath/gentle off road?

[@davidarthur]

The tyres should be able to cope with towpaths and smooth dirt/gravel tracks okay

[@nadeemafzal8984]

Thank you David for a super comprehensive review (the things i was thinking about)- eyeing this model since my replaced 2nd van moof s2 has crashed in less than 2 years ---

[@vonettadevo]

I test rode the VanMoof yesterday and while it was super nice, I've read about so many issues with it, so want to go with a reputable brand that stands by their products.

[@nadeemafzal8984]

@@vonettadevo - van moof is a dreadful bike - very wise not to purchase I have got a canondale and with 2500 miles on board never looked back - use it for regular commute - summer and winter as low as -3C in our area I went for a Bosch engine in crank shaft and never looked back - the bike is awesome

[@vonettadevo]

@@nadeemafzal8984 Yes, sounds like it isn’t so great, I definitely need reliability and the ability to easily have it serviced. Tried Cannondale Adventure Neo and Treadwell models yesterday, and liked them, the weight is a big factor, so looking at some super light bikes today.

[@nadeemafzal8984]

@@vonettadevo if weight + electric is priority then specialised is the best Canondale is definitely heavier but that Bosch electric is strong, quick from zero and bullet proof Recommend not buy front or back wheel electrics - those r unstable having had 3 accidents on those bikes - one of them was the van moof - lost 2 grand on that bike

[@vonettadevo]

@@nadeemafzal8984 Thanks for your insights. I test rode the Specialized Vardo SL after work and really enjoyed it, am going back to try the small frame (the medium was a little too big for me). I can easily maneveur it on stairs if necessary and the three modes gave me enough power for hills and headwinds. Nicely designed, nice quailty.

[@joelmulder]

Is this the Vado 4.0 or 5.0?

[@allanallen1835]

Is the volt pulse better ?

[@Bjustis2222]

How fast does it charge?

[@jimbo4203]

About 3 hours

[@hornet224]

$4599 USD. Nice ebike, but a Honda Cub sells for $3749 with better resale and reliability.

[@davidarthur]

Buy the motorcycle then, it’s that easy

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

You have to put gas in a cub, and don't get any exercise riding it. If that's okay with you, and you're just looking for transportation on two wheels, period, then the Cub is a great option.

[@JD-rf1xc]

so you are comparing an apple to an orange.. okay.. stuff cost money, its just the way its always been. you can also walk barefoot, that is $0 USD.

[@primozpeternel9592]

Hi How tall are you and what size is the bike in the video? Thank you

[@davidarthur]

I'm 5'11" and it's a size large

[@JudeJackson210657]

What is the battery life like, and can a new battery easily replace the original one?

[@jimbo4203]

I have a 21' with over 2000 mi and on the Specialized app the battery is still testing at 100%

[@jamsxr]

15mph limiter sucks, need to be 20mph, that’s the sweet spot.

[@balintkulacs2517]

True, I wish there was a way to unlock it as the US model come with a top speed of 28mph for the same price so there must be a way to unlock this power I believe

[@colceriumircea3085]

You can derestrict it. I’ve ride my one with 40km\h

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@balintkulacs2517 There definitely is a way to do that, without voiding the warranty. A tech can also change the wheel size down to I 650b, or maybe smaller, which will also add a tiny bit of top speed.

[@zsoltbudai4779]

There Is was to unlock with this chipset.

[@zsoltbudai4779]

*way

[@wvsac]

No mention of the weight. Has anybody weighed one of these bikes? Thanks

[@dean6126]

About 15-16 kg

[@andreasroosvall7203]

Is there an antitheft system?

[@cyanginpedro]

The newest models with the latest TCU have theft prevention software but you still need to use a physical lock.

[@martink8961]

I test drove this bike. I really liked the ride and the extra power. At the end of the ride, I heard a loud bang under my seat. I don't know what caused it. Anyone else had the same problem?

[@livinginlondon6122]

Size is this bike ? Small medium large or XL ?

[@davidarthur]

medium

[@livinginlondon6122]

@@davidarthur Thanks

[@livinginlondon6122]

@@davidarthur sorry one more question , how tall are you ?

[@davidarthur]

181cm

[@rolfdubbeld]

Never ever buy a specialized e-bike. I bougth a Specialized Turbo S, I think in 2015, so it's not that old. Now the the rear drive has a mechanical problem. Reply from the dealer; it's an old bike and most likely there are no more spare parts. Unlikely that it can be repaired. WHAT, this was a 5000 Euro bike. And now it's ready for the scrap yard ?? First of all not very sustainable and very envirionmental unfriendly. If this turns out unrepairable than never ever a specialized again. I also own a Specialized Epic, one of the first carbon fiber bikes. Drive it already for 25 years.

[@cyanginpedro]

🙄

[@yanceyyankjonesjones3488]

What is your height? I'm trying to decide between a MEDIUM or a LARGE?

[@davidarthur]

I'm 5'11"

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

5'9" with an inseam of about 32 seems to be the cusp. If you're shorter, or your legs or even arms are shorter, you may be best off with a Medium, if taller, a Large. I'm almost 5'11" and have ridden both sizes, there really isn't a massive difference.

[@bennetthasty7886]

I think I love this bike ❤🎉😂

[@colinburke4343]

To expensive to park up and not worry it’ll be there when you get back would stop me using it for errands around town and to the supermarket.

[@riteshsuthar7057]

That’s my worry for getting a fancy ebike. Nicking em seems to be child’s play. If I got one it would purely be for commuting subject to safe routes in place and a really secure lock up location (and that may be a Pipe dream at mo for me).

[@creakcharlie]

Mine didn’t come with pedals lol

[@3niknicholson]

Nice looking bike, but 320Wh is 320 watt-hour not 320 watt per hour

[@rossallen2882]

If its anything like the Creo you can remove the battery quite easily... Requires the motor to be dropped out but it can be done and is very easy to do!

[@jimbo4203]

Its the exact same motor and battery as creo and comes out just as easy

[@nightRanger0077]

25km hr!. Sucks to be in the UK. Luckly where i live 45km/hr is the limit of ebike lets hope they don't become silly as uk councilors are. Its kind of silly that the limit is so low i pedal push bikes much faster than 50km/hr on occasions.

[@Nirvezz]

i had planned to buy one but.. over $3,000 that goes 15mph or so.. sucks. mainly because of laws. im going to build an ebikingling for one of my stumpjumpers. it at least goes 35mph and costs $800 together with battery. i just have to install it.

[@andrewegan7011]

But can you actually buy one?

[@brianbrooking496]

Yes

[@Cstoreri]

No!

[@brianbrooking496]

@@Cstoreri why can’t you buy one?

[@SassySkylar]

@@brianbrooking496 you can buy one. They are available to buy

[@brianbrooking496]

@@SassySkylar thanks Sharon, Not sure why Andrew Egan asked “But can you actually buy one.” Good looking bike, do you have an e bike?

[@goobfilmcast4239]

Too expensive...not a value proposition, at all. Theft Magnet as well !

[@cyanginpedro]

This is one of the most sophisticated e-bikes on the market. You get what you pay for

[@rolandmarcos6840]

Aucun panneaux solaire n'ai de fabrication française

[@channul4887]

3thousand 2hundred sheets. GTFO.

[@robcalkelme]

It’s specialized for being Overpriced 😜

[@rolandmarcos6840]

n'es

[@rolandmarcos6840]

est

[@superflea72]

I was really interested in this bike until I saw it in the flesh...it's as ugly as a hat full of assholes! from various pics I had seen (various web reviews usually), it seemed a handsome bike, particularly in the naked 'Sirrus' guise with the 38mm tyres/no mudguards, etc. however, when I went into a shop and saw them in person, I was struck by how awkward and stretched-out the bottom bracket area looked, and the down tube was a LOT thicker (wider) than it appears in most pictures. the welds looked bulbous and out-of-place on a so-called top-tier bike, and worst of all - it was heavy. not as heavy as my wife's Specialized Como, but heavy enough that I don't believe any reviewer that says how lithe and nimble this platform is...because it's crap! it may seem frivolous to complain about such things (aesthetics), but I was looking at the 5.0 model which costs $7.5k in Australia, and for that kind of money I want my bike to look good AND ride nicely! for these reasons, I ended up ordering an Orbea Gain carbon flatbar (M30)...it gets built at the end of the month, and I can't wait to take it for a spin! :)