Test: The new Urban E-Bike Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 is presented and Velomotion takes part in a detailed test ride.
The sporty Americans from Specialized were really not known for e-bikes in Europe, although the Specialized Turbo S (here to test) existed, an S-Pedelec with a rear wheel hub motor – later also without the “S” as a 25er – which, however, was rarely seen. Maybe also because it wasn't really optimally adapted to commuting practice. Specialized wanted to do that differently now. According to Product Manager Marco Sonderegger, "Bike first" is the most important principle that was set before the development of the new e-bike.
The red Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0, which will be presented to us and 20 other European bike journalists in Düsseldorf at the beginning of May, looks primarily like a sporty bike: the frame flows in soft, dynamic lines, with graphic elements used in an unusually reserved way for the company. All pipes appear very powerful, but not clumsy. Above all, the slightly curved top tube adds momentum to the appearance of the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0. Overall appearance: dynamic. The electric drive system is as integrated as currently in only a few other e-bikes. The battery is in the down tube. Clever: In order to create a frame with a pulled-down top tube, which women often prefer, the battery is not pulled out upwards but diagonally upwards to the left. The sample of the bare frame beam that development engineer Jonas Reiter shows us clearly shows how much development work was necessary to achieve this high level of integration. A mid-engine rotates in the bottom bracket area. And it has it all!
Product news: Specialized with pop-up store in Düsseldorf – opening party today, May 5th
Specialized is taking the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf and the global attention to German cycling as an opportunity to experiment with an innovative retail concept: Specialized is launching a temporary shop in the heart of Düsseldorf for the time before, during and after the Tour de France 2017. The pop-up store will open on May 5, 2017 and will be used for product launches, […]
Specialized Turbo Vado - a lifestyle commuter
21 European journalists get on their red and black Vados to test their qualities in the city of Düsseldorf and in the surrounding area. Commuters – i.e. commuters – mainly drive longer distances; nothing for upright posture like on a city bike. The seating position on the Specialized Turbo Vado is appropriately sporty, slightly stretched; your hands comfortably grip the Specialized grips on the slightly curved handlebars.
The system is switched on with a button embedded in the top tube. The puristic handlebar display shows the support level (three possible modes) in the standard screen as a bar chart, as well as the speed. The first step on the large platform pedal, after a very short pedal travel, the motor takes over. Gentle but firm and inaudible. The first ascent on the cyclist bridge over to the peninsula at the harbor shows: there is real power in there, but it works very well with the human drive. The first few meters stop-and-go in the city, bike first: the bike runs as easy as a light trekking bike. But it is much calmer on the road: successful geometry, the higher weight of an e-bike and the low center of gravity of the motor and battery make it possible. The handling is harmonious, the operation intuitive. The riding modes can be varied with a small thumb satellite switch without taking your hand off the grip. Around the corner or through the long curve: the Vado is lively and the driver feels good. The suspension fork has a positive effect on the curbs of cycle path ramps, otherwise it remains inconspicuous. If you switch off the support on level roads or pedal beyond the 25 mark, you will immediately notice: “Bike first” fits here too. The motor is then decoupled, the cyclist steps directly into the rear wheel - and pedals along like with a normal bicycle - other mid-motor systems build up enormous resistance here.
The motor hardware comes from the Berlin manufacturer Brose, the complete software from Specialized. The 504 watt hour battery in the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 comes from a large Asian supplier. The system will soon be able to do even more via a mobile app: "Smart Control" can, for example, adjust the motor's power output to the desired range. You set the desired range (or the desired driving time) before you start your journey, and the system only uses enough force to meet this specification. Of course, the driving modes can then no longer be changed, since this function could conflict with the expected range.
Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 – the bike for practical commuting
In the new, temporary Specialized shop almost directly on the chic Düsseldorf Königsallee, we are presented with the theoretical basics for a pleasant first driving impression: According to the second basic idea of the development, the Vado was developed primarily with the demands of the commuter in mind. When it comes to ergonomics, Specialized has an enormous background of experience, which is also reflected in their own components such as body geometry saddles and grips. One has less experience with the German ideas of the commuter bike; Specialized has done its homework here, you can see and experience that on the Vado.
A must-have for a commuter bike: A viable way to carry luggage. The Vado has a narrow Racktime luggage carrier, which, among other things, allows panniers to be accommodated. Many different baskets and bags or boxes can also be connected to the carrier via the integrated adapter system. The carrier is nicely integrated into the wheel via the mudguard. The rear light is located in its rear end. The fixed lighting system cannot be ignored in commuter practice either. It is only a few millimeters high in the Vado carrier, but extends across the entire width of the carrier rail and is therefore visible from afar. The S-Pedelec variant also has an integrated brake light – the StVZO makes it necessary. At the front sits a battery-powered headlight with an aspheric lens that delivers a whopping 300 lumens of luminosity. The kickstand on the beautifully crafted rear triangle is also perfect for commuters: stiff, stable even with a loaded carrier.
Dry-Tech: Specialized can now also do fenders
But it is only when we adapt the weather to our latitude that we can see how hard the specialists have really worked: They have developed special mudguards for the Turbo Vado, far removed from the stunted "jewelry" that sports-focused companies otherwise often miss, with two special features: The front mudguard in particular is pulled down extremely far, so that the driver doesn't get wet feet even when crossing puddles.
Because protectors come into contact with the curb for so long, the last 15 centimeters or so are drawn separately from a flexible plastic, which simply gives way when the protector is put on, but then returns to its original shape. Second feature: The side walls of the fenders were formed in the wind tunnel. “Our aim was to find a shape that would prevent the front tire from transporting a lot of water under the fender – which would eventually spray up at the end of the fender by centrifugal force, into the rider’s face.” The new Dry-Tech protectors are shaped on the sides in such a way that most of the water is quickly channeled down their sides beforehand.
Another commuter feature could be hub gears: they require far less maintenance than derailleur gears, and the chain also lasts longer with it. But this is where Specialized declines: With a driver's power of 100 watts, up to 320 watts are added. When 420 watts pull at the chain, hardly any hub manufacturer gives approval for use with this motor.
The Specialized Turbo Vado is largely not a further development of the Specialized Turbo, but a new pedelec. 19 people on three continents work on the Specialized Turbo bikes, as the entire e-bike range is called. After the first impression, the bike is not only impressive, it could even define the state of the art in one way or another. The price of 3.499 euros is unexpectedly low for the 25er top model Vado 4.0, after all the e-bike is a Specialized with many newly developed detailed solutions - and you usually pay a bit for good brand names.
Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0, most important data:
- Frame: aluminum e5
- Suspension fork: Suntour NCX, 50 mm travel
- Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry
- Brakes: Shimano disc brakes with XT levers
- Tyres: Trigger Sport Reflect, 700x47mm
- Hubs with thru axles, 15 mm
- Gears: Shimano XT, 11-speed
- Motor: central motor, 250 watts
- Battery: 504 watt hours, integrated in the down tube
- Website: specialized.com
- Price: € 3.499
MikeMike says
Hey there.
I've had my Vado Comp since last week and can only agree wholeheartedly with this review.
It is super processed and it is great fun to drive it.
The motor is strong and almost silent.
Only the saddle is a bit hard.
On the other hand, I installed a suspension seat post from Suntour.
Now it's perfect.
A side note: in turbo mode I got almost 85km!
A great trekking/city bike which I now also use for my trips to work (15km).
I've hardly seen a nicer one, everything is very discreet and "tidy".
The price for this bike is totally okay.
I am very excited about the upcoming app.
Best regards, MikeMike
Howling Wolf says
Hello Mike Mike,
can you tell me where you did the 85 km, was it all on flat ground?
We are also the proud owners of the Vado, everything really fits, super cool driving experience
and no more engine noise.
Straight stretches with the first level and 3-4 mountains in the 2nd level about 1km each and so far have 2 out of 5 battery bars
lost at 35 km radius. (Weight approx. 92kg.)
Where do you travel 85 km on turbo mode, more precise information would be an advantage for us.
Roland, Amon-Amonsen says
Me and my wife bought two Vado4.0 today and are extremely satisfied, a top model
Stephan says
Hi, are you still satisfied with the Vado 4.0? We're thinking about it too :)
VG
Christian says
what about the brose engine? he was spoken very badly to me. I wanted to know if he is vulnerable? when does the engine shut off? at bosch about 27,5 km/h. is that also the case with the brose?
Hello says
what about the brose engine? he was spoken very badly to me. I wanted to know if he is vulnerable? when does the engine shut off? at bosch about 27,5 km/h. is that also the case with the brose?
Klaus Boldt says
Hello, I've been driving my VADO for almost a year and I'm fascinated by the driving characteristics without the motor. The bike is super easy to ride.
In the meantime I've had massive problems with the electric drive. Without warning, the engine sags very often and in an absolutely unpleasant way
mountain rides. Sometimes there is a total failure of the motor support.
Has anyone had the same experience? You can't make sense of it in the workshop!?
Thank you for any information.
Christopher Bleh says
I also have a Vado and have been driving it to work for over a year, around 1 km a day. I'm happy and haven't had any problems with the engine so far. But with the highly praised front fender. This construction is only suitable on asphalt if there are no leaves and no construction or agricultural dirt. I also have a piece of forest path and a bike path, which unfortunately is covered with earth in places after the rain and is dirty in other passages from tractors. Sometimes I have to stop on the way and use a screwdriver to remove the dirt from the fender, otherwise it acts like a brake. In my view, a bad design. It's way too close to the tire and because it's pulled so far down it really picks everything up like a sweeper.