Specialized Turbo Tero 4.0 EQ Review

This review was provided for free, but Cit-E-Cycles supplied a temporary demo bike for me to test. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Specialized products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Specialized electric bike forums.

Observations:

• The Turbo Tero series is relatively new from Specialized, and features a unique battery that mounts from below the downtube and locks with an AXA locking core and long key. The battery is more rectangular, and the downtube shape of this bike matches and looks nicer than the triangular designs on some other Turbo models. There’s a lever that pulls the battery in snug, and also pushes it out to be removed. To me, this lever can be a little tricky to work as it does not always push the battery out enough to fully release. I had to use my fingernails to get the pack to release from the bottom and then swing out. I like how short and light weight the pack is considering that it offers such high capacity (over 710 watt hours). When mounted, the pack doesn’t rattle, is highly water resistant with IPX6 rating, and uses the Rosenberger EnergyBus magnetic interface that is less likely to break or pull the bike over if the wire gets snagged.
• The Tero comes in three trim levels with 3.0 offering a smaller battery pack and weaker 50nm motor, the 4.0 stepping up to higher capacity battery and nicer specs along with 70nm motor power, and the 5.0 offering the nicest drivetrain, brakes, suspension fork and highest power 90nm motor. Only the Turbo Tero 3.0 is offered in mid-step frame style, all others are traditional diamond high-step. The frame comes in four sizes, offers a short stem and low-rise handlebar for hybrid upright body position.
• It’s important to register the bike with the Specialized Mission Control smartphone app to unlock the lifetime warranty on the frame and enhanced support as well as locking ability. The app can be used to unlock the bike or set a numeric pin that can unlock the bike using the TCD2 LCD display that’s mounted to the handlebar. Most shops should help you get this all setup when you purchase and pick up the bike, unless you’re getting a click to collect at a non-specialized shop.
• The Tero does a lot right, in my opinion, and is one of the best ebikes for 2022 because of the thoughtful improvements to fenders, rear rack, the display panel, the overall look and feel, and variety of trim levels and sizes. I also admire the quality and depth of the Specialized Mission Control smartphone app. Availability might be limited in the size and color you want, as Specialized appears to sell out each year, and the price for this product is relatively high.

Pros:

• The bike looks great and is above average in most ways… It’s one of the best ebikes I’ve tested. It rides solid and quiet, the grips and saddle feel very good to me, and I appreciate the attention to detail with internally routed cables, reflective stickers (including the large Specialized logo on the downtube), and the plastic chainring guard, chain protector, double sided slap guard on the chain stay, the scuff guard stickers on the crank arms, the double bottle cage bosses, the direct mount eyelets on the suspension lowers and seat stays, the fact that it comes in a wide range of colors (across the three trim levels).
• Four frame sizes allow for better fit, the bike can accommodate a wider range of riders. While the 4.0 does not come in mid-step, the 3.0 does, and the dropper seat post makes mounting easier and adapts well for off-road use where you might stand up and use your bent legs to navigate technical sections, jumps, drops etc.
• I wish the EQ (equipped) model was available in North America because the tubular alloy fenders with Drytech water routing and Flextender long piece really work well. The rear rack is one of the best I’ve ever seen with a bright integrated light that’s visible from side and rear angles, has MIK HD compatibility, bungee loops at the base, and pannier hangers with slide stops! The headlight is also great, and I’m excited to see the optional front rack that would mount at the head tube badge someday (not available at time of review). It’s very utilitarian, and an excellent choice for commuters. I like that they included a decent bell.
• The display panel, button pad, and smartphone app are some of the best I’ve seen. While there is some room for further improvement, I love that it shows battery percentage, has a built-in alarm (although it doesn’t alert you, just makes noise if the bike is shaken and won’t power up without the pin), provides walk assist (hold the + button), allows you to turn off the lights (hold the F1 button), and further refine the three levels of assist with micro tune (10% steps for each of the assist levels by pressing F2). I do wish that you could dim the display and turn off the beeps and haptic buzz within the display settings vs. having to use the smartphone app. I love that you can customize screens on the display, plan trips to ensure you don’t run the battery dry, maintain a set heart rate, and so much more with the Mission Control smartphone app.
• Built into the right side of the TCD2 MasterMind display panel is a USB-C charging port that offers 5 volts and a full amp of power output to maintain a smartphone or other portable electronic device! Way to go Specialized, this is very relevant given their fancy app with mapping and heart rate monitor compatibility etc. The app even connects with Strava and Kamoot so Being able to leverage that large 710 watt hour battery is exactly the right decision in my opinion!
• The bike has a very high ingress protection rating of IPX6 which is meant to resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water and deter dust and mud. This makes perfect sense given the attention paid to fender design.
• The aluminum alloy fenders on the EQ models are tubular vs. a flat piece of metal. This makes them stiff and provides strength for supporting the rear rack and the extra long Flextender in the front. This Flextender actually keeps water off of feet and shins while most competing products I’ve tested do not. The Drytech design of the main metal fender routes water out to the sides vs. forward (which can blow up into your face). It’s just excellent all around.
• The rear rack is way above average as well. It has a high 27kg 59.5lb weight capacity, bungee loops on the sides, a standard gauge pannier rod on both sides (with plastic blockers so your bags won’t slide back and forth), and is MIK HD accessory compatible. The higher capacity makes it very capable for use with child seats like the Yepp! Nexxt Maxi that, and the Specialized website says the bike is also rated to pull a trailer.
• Extra sturdy hubs and axles, both are Boost (wider for improved spoke bracing angle) and use thru-axles vs. narrower 9mm skewers. It’s truly trail capable vs. cheaper bikes that have knobby tires but aren’t as sturdy.
• Note the tapered steer tube, upgraded 110mm suspension fork with low speed compression lockout, preload, and rebound. It has thicker 32mm stanchions that are painted black, and has mounting points for the headlight and fender vs. having to use plastic cuffs. Both front and rear axles require a 6mm hex wrench to remove.
• Great design choice including a dropper seat post here. It makes the bike more approachable and is a feature that works just as well in the city as it does on the trails. The base diameter is 30.9mm if you wish to swap it for a suspension post to smooth out the ride off-road instead.
• The motor is fairly compact with a more standard width (q-factor), so the cranks aren’t pushed out wide. I appreciate that it only weighs 6.39lbs because of the magnesium housing, and that it’s so smooth. Brose uses a Gates carbon belt drive inside vs. all plastic gears like many of the competitors. I think it’s neat that the aluminum alloy frame actually surrounds the motor and protects the base because it’s sleeker, doesn’t hang down as far, and is probably lighter than the extra shields used to protect competing mid-drives.
• The motor controller measures rear wheel speed with a sensor and magnet that are well protected (mounted to the chain stay and magnet bolted to the left side of the rear wheel hub). The design is more durable than a spoke mounted magnet. So the controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque to deliver a very natural and dynamic ride feel. Combined with the settings in the Mission control app and Micro Tune right on the LCD panel, it can do exactly what you want and feel more connected to your pedaling.
• If you prefer to pedal quickly or just happen to shift down to a low gear for a climb, the motor can keep up. It’s rated to 120+ RPM so you won’t have to lose speed and downshift again like some of the older motors.
• The battery design is way above average, in my opinion. The pack is very compact for the high capacity it offers, and does not have sharp edges. Since the battery doesn’t require a shield or anything, just has a black metal bottom, it’s probably cheaper to buy replacements and easier to loan or rent a spare. I could imagine stowing one in a pannier or backpack for extended rides.
• The battery charger is excellent too. It’s compact but offers faster 4 amp output for a full charge in roughly four hours. The magnetic interface is an industry standard that won’t get damaged as easily. The plug interface is the same whether charging the pack on or off the bike, so they didn’t waste materials or require a dongle adapter like some competing brands. I feel that they did everything right here.
• There’s a nice little magnetic plastic cover that protects the battery charge port while riding the bike, and the release mechanism that interacts with the locking core seems to protect the battery port and locking core. This area of the bike seems tough and well thought out… even if it is low down on the left side vs. high up on the right as I’d prefer for easier interaction.
• Excellent drivetrain with a wide range of gears, 11 to 42 tooth. The SRAM NX shifters and derailleur are easy to shift and I trust the brand. The 40 tooth chainring has a narrow-wide tooth pattern to reduce the possibility of drops, and a plastic guard further secures the chain. The bottom bracket spindle is hollow and probably stiffer and lighter than alternative designs.
• Great brake setup with large Avid rotors (200mm front and 180mm rear). Both brakes use quad piston calipers for even power distribution and larger surface area. The two-finger brake levers offer adjustable reach for different sized hands, and the larger SRAM Guide reservoirs provide a more progressive stop vs. locking up.
• Large 29″ wheels provide a lower attack angle, more air volume for improved comfort, and the wide 2.35″ design provides some stability and float. The tires are 2Bliss ready (so you can run without inner tubes) to reduce weight and support lower pressure for comfort and riding on soft terrain.
• Specialized has a decent network of dealers in North America, but also sells internationally and has introduced “click to collect” where they will ship bikes to local shops for assembly and handoff. They are one of the “big three” largest cycling brands in the world and offer a lifetime warranty on the frame if you register, as well as two year comprehensive support.
• Specialized seems committed to the ebike space as one of the first big players to introduce a bike way back in 2012. They continue to innovate and do things “their way” vs. using third party solutions. So much of this bike, the motor, the battery, the display, the fenders, the racks etc. is all custom and is BETTER THAN most of the competition. I really admire that about Specialized and feel that they move the industry forward.

Cons:

• Weighing in at 57.6lbs with the EQ setup (equipped with metal fenders, rear rack, and lights) this is not a lightweight hardtail… but it’s not overly heavy either, when you consider the high capacity battery pack. I’m calling out the weight here because Specialized has SL (super light) models that weigh a lot less. At least the weight is positioned low and center, exactly where you’d want it for optimal balance and handling.
• The front fender is extremely long due to the Flextender plastic/rubber piece that provides shoe and shin coverage. It works extremely well, but frequently collides with stairs, curbs, sticks, and other obstacles. I also noticed more pebbles and sticks getting flicked up into the fender and rattling around do to the length and how close the fender is. I see this as more of a trade-off than a con.
• The locking core for the battery pack is positioned very low on the left side of the frame. It’s not directly in the path of the left crank arm, but very close. In short, you’ll have to bend down to plug the bike in or unlock the battery, and the key must remain in to re-mount the pack. I appreciate when the charge port and locking core are positioned high up on the right side of the frame, since that side is easier to access with the bike tipping towards the kickstand.
• The kickstand looks beautiful, and has an adjustable length tip, but is very pointy. For a trail capable bike, this design has the drawback of sticking into soft terrain easily and allowing the bike to tip over more easily.
• The headlight mount on the suspension fork arch can be bumped side to side fairly easily, and subjects the light itself to more bouncing and rattling (being unsprung). If it were mounted on the handlebar or stem, it would be easier for cars and other cyclists to see, would still point where you steer, might not collide with the optional front rack, and would benefitting from the suspension and not bounce around as much.
• The TCD2 MasterMind LCD display is not fully removable, although you can use a 2.5mm hex driver to take it off, then remove a small Allen head screw, and then the display will twist and come off… but it’s still wired into the bike. This display takes up the space where you might otherwise mount a light or smartphone, but is required for the electronic lock, alarm, Bluetooth, Ant+ etc. so I see why it’s more permanent. It also does not auto-dim and you need the app to change the brightness vs. having that option in the settings menu which would be more convenient (along with adding beep and haptic vibration on/off there).
• There’s no shift sensing built into the Brose motor controller and this can lead to increased chain and sprocket wear if you don’t back off a bit on your pedaling while shifting. I believe it’s the reason that Specialized opted for single-shift triggers from SRAM on their highest torque Tero 5.0 model vs. the multi-shift levers. I did notice some mashing when I wasn’t as intentional about easing off the pedals while shifting.
• Very minor gripe here, the headlight does not have side cutouts so the beam is mostly visible from front angles while the rear light wraps around and the side reflectors provide an enhanced visual footprint. It would be nice if the tires had reflective stripes, especially since I thin Ground Control is a Specialized in-house brand and they custom make them.
• This is another minor consideration, the handlebars are pretty wide (mountain bike style) and might not fit through doors as easily, or between cars. This is relevant since the EQ models are setup with fenders, lights, and a rack so I could see people using them in traffic and storing inside condos etc. Handlebars are fairly easy and cheap to replace if you decide on a more swept-back design or just not so long. Look for 31.8mm diameter to match the stock bar.

Useful Resources:

• Specialized electric bike dealers.
• Official Specialized website.