Name: Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0 Review
Item: Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0
Author: Court Rye

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Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0 Review

Specialized Turbo Vado 3 0 Electric Bike Review

Specialized Turbo Vado 3 0 Black Color Scheme

Specialized Turbo Vado 3 0 Step Thru Womens

Specialized Turbo Vado 3 0 Step Thru Black

A feature-complete urban electric bike with premium tubular-alloy fenders, integrated rack and lights, rims and tires as well as a suspension fork with 50 mm travel
Available in four frame sizes and two styles (high-step or mid-step), rigid thru-axles improve handling, 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes for excellent stopping power
Large TFT display panel with integrated Micro-USB for charging accessories, Bluetooth smartphone app for adjusting motor performance and planning trips, bottle cage mount on the downtube
The Vado 3.0 has a smaller battery and lower top speed than the 5.0 and 6.0 model, longer front fender may increase toe-strikes but is flexible, lower weight capacity on rear rack 48.5 lbs

Make:

Specialized

Model:

Turbo Vado 3.0

Price:

$3,200

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Battery and Motor, Lifetime Frame and Fork

Availability:

United States, Europe

Model Year:

2017

Total Weight:

54.4 lbs (24.67 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)

Motor Weight:

7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy, Smooth Welds

Frame Sizes:

15.75 in (40 cm)17.72 in (45 cm)19.69 in (50.01 cm)21.65 in (54.99 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Medium 45 cm: 17.72" Seat Tube, 32" Stand Over Height, 44.3" Wheelbase

Frame Types:

High-Step, Mid-Step

Frame Colors:

Satin Slate with Limon Accents, Gloss Satin Dream Black with Black and Rocket Red Accents, Satin Maroon with Light Turquoise Accents, Gloss SatinDream Black with Black Power Green Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Aluminum Alloy, Post Disc Mount, 100 mm / 15 mm Thru Axle, Sealed Bearings Hub

Frame Rear Details:

142 mm / 12 mm Thru-Axle, Sealed Bearings Hub

Attachment Points:

Bottle Cage Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

10 Speed 1x10, Shimano Deore Shadow Plus Derailleur with SGS cage, Sunrace 11-40T Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano Deore RapidFire Plus Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Custom Alloy, 40T, 104 mm Bolt Circle Diameter (BCD), Single Xsync Style 10- / 11-Speed

Pedals:

Custom Specialized Fitness, Nylon Platform with Grip Traction

Headset:

FSA 1-1/ 8" Upper and Lower, Cartridge Bearings

Stem:

Alloy, 7-Degree Rise, 31.8 mm Clamp, 60 mm (S) / 70 mm (M) / 80 mm (L) / 90 mm (XL)

Handlebar:

Specialized Alloy, 9-Degree Backsweep, 4-Degree Upsweep, 680 mm Width, 31.8 mm Clamp

Brake Details:

Shimano BL-M315 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Front Rotor and 160 mm Rear Rotor, Resin Pads, Shimano Levers with Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Specialized Body Geometry Contour, Ergonomic, Black

Saddle:

Canopy Sport or Aldia Sport, Steel Rails

Seat Post:

Alloy, 2-Bolt Clamp, 12.5 mm Offset, Anti-Corrosion Hardware

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

30.9 mm

Rims:

6061 Aluminum Alloy, Double-Wall, 40 mm Width, 28 Hole

Spokes:

XDB Stainless Steel, 15 Gauge, Black

Tire Brand:

Trigger Sport Reflect, 700 x 47 mm (28" x 1.85")

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

Reflective Sidewall Stripe

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Custom Specialized Rack with Racktime Snap-it System and Integrated Rear Light (22 kg / 48.5 lb Max Load), Tubular Alloy Fenders (Extra-Long Flextender Multi-Plastic Lower Piece), Integrated Specialized Headlight with Aspheric Lens Technology and Black Translucent Side Illumination (6 Volt, Single LED, 300 Lumen, IP67 Rated, Aluminum Die-Cast Body, Stem Mount), Rack-Integrated Specialized Backlight with Lightguide Technology (6 Volt, Single LED, Clear Window, IP67 Rated, Plastic Injected Housing, Aluminum Rack Attachment Studs, Inner Cable Routing in Left Stud), Plastic Chainring Guard, Transparent Slap Guard Sticker, 40 mm Spaced Standard Rear-Mount Kickstand, Electronic Horn (Mounted Below Bottom Bracket), Optional Replacement Battery Pack $800

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack with ABUS Locking Core, 1.9 lb 42 Volt 4 Amp Charger with Rosenberger Plug (Magnetic EnergyBus Standard), Optional 1.3 lb Portable 1.6 Amp Travel Charger, IP67 Water and Dust Protection Rating on Battery Pack, Battery Stops with 4% at Top and Bottom to Avoid Straining Cells, Internal Cable Routing, Shimano CN-HG601 Chain

Motor Brand:

Brose, Rx Street Tuned, Custom for Specialized

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Torque:

90 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

12.5 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

460 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

3.5 hours (7 Hours with Optional Travel Charger)

Estimated Min Range:

35 miles (56 km)

Estimated Max Range:

70 miles (113 km)

Display Type:

Bloks Removable Adjustable Angle 2.2" Backlit TFT LCD with 5 Volt Micro-USB Female Plug, 5 LED Charge Indicator / Power Button on Battery

Readouts:

Battery Level (5 Bars or Percentage), Assist Level (Off, Eco, Sport, Turbo), Trip Distance, Odometer, Available Range, Ride Time, Clock

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad near Left Grip (Set, +, -, Light / Horn), Hold + for Walk Mode, Long-Press Set Twice for Settings Menu, Mission Control App (Bluetooth, iOS and Android)

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Cadence and Torque Sensing, Eco: 20%, Sport: 50%, Turbo: 100%)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)(15.5 MPH in Europe)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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On May 18, 2017 I was invited to a Specialized press event in Palo Alto California where the new Turbo Vado 6.0 was shown off. Before this event, I had created a placeholder review here as a way to study because Specialized had posted details about the new models on their website. Unfortunately, many of those details changed and the event did not feature the 2.0, 3.0, or 5.0 model. In short, the main differences between the 3.0 and 6.0 are the battery size, less bright lights, lower top speed and downgraded drivetrain.

Having ridden the Turbo Vado 6.0 model for more than 20 miles and conducted an in-depth interview with the Head of Brand-Turbo from Switzerland (posted above) I feel that you can begin to get a sense of the bike. Once I am able to spend time with this specific product in person, I will update this review. In the meantime, I suggest that you dig into the Specialized Turbo Vado 6.0 review here. Portions of that original work that I feel are relevant have been maintained below:

What follows is a preview of the Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0 electric bike based on information available publicly through the official Specialized website and associated PDF manual here along with my own knowledge and experience using the Brose mid-drive motor system. Specialized uses this same drive system on their Turbo Levo mountain bikes, and while it may be tuned differently, you can see the hardware in action on those other reviews here. Specialized is recognized as one of the “Big Three” bicycle manufacturers to sell in the United States including Giant and Trek. They have a broad network of dealers that expertly assemble and service bicycles and e-bikes. Over the years, they have been a leader in suspension technology including the Horst Link four-bar rear suspension for mountain bikes and CG-R Carbon Seatpost for city and road bikes. The all-Alloy frame will be tough, lightweight and stiff, for excellent power transfer and the 50 mm suspension fork here adds comfort. The ergonomic grips, upgraded saddle, and fatter road tires will help as well.

The motor is rated at 250 watts nominal as compared with the Vado 5.0 which says 350 watts but the physical hardware is likely the same. Both are probably capable of producing 90 Newton meters of torque and are extremely responsive. The Brose system measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence and pedal torque which improves shifting smoothness and increases range if used properly. Unlike Bosch, the chainring is standard sized (40 Tooth in this case for low-speed operation) and it has a plastic outer guide to keep pant legs relatively clean and snag-free. This is important if you’re a commuter, and I was a bit surprised that the chain does not include a longer cover.

Activating the electric assist settings on the bike is a one-step process. After the battery has been mounted to the frame, you press a small power button near the top of the pack. Here, you can see five LED lights flicker on indicating charge level. These lights function whether the battery pack is mounted to the frame or not. The charging port is located just below and to the left of the power button which is an excellent position in my opinion because it won’t be exposed to as much water or dust when riding (even though the pack is rated at IP67). It also stays clear of the left crank arm and allows the magnetic power cord to pop out easily if tripped over (hopefully without tipping the bike). Note that the locking core used here is made by Abus and that they have a program for matching keys to their folding and u-locks if you send the key code. Now that the bike has been activated, you can use the remote button pad and LCD display panel to cycle through trip statsand three levels of pedal assist power. Additionally, Specialized offers a Mission Control app that lets you plan trips to arrive with a specified charge level remaining. This app can also fine-tune the motor performance. Given that phones showing stats can require more energy than standard phone functionality, it’s wonderful to see a Micro-USB port built into the display interface (likely offering 5 Volt at 1 Amp). This means you can maintain or charge your phone while riding. Ideally, you’d mount the phone to your handlebar with an aftermarket part.

The Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0 is more affordable than the 5.0 and 6.0 primarily because it offers a lower assisted top speed of 20 mph and has a smaller battery capacity. It likely does not weigh much less because the battery cells are the older less energy-dense 18650 type which weigh about the same but don’t store as much energy. You get a 10 speed drivetrain with Shimano Deore vs. the XT with Shadow Plus clutch (to reduce chain bounce) but at lower speeds, this is less of an issue anyway. The bicycle looks professional and blends perfectly with the black grips, spokes, crank-arms, fenders, and rack. They’ve done their best to hide the battery and motor inside the downtube, much like their Turbo Levo models, and I feel like they’ve mostly succeeded. Thankfully, despite being mostly dark colored, the fenders and rims feature reflective stickers to keep you visible in early morning and late night commutes. It’s a stealthy looking electric bike and very quiet when riding, even at higher speeds. Brose motor systems are smooth and efficient, offering excellent torque and power. The pedals are plastic platform “fitness” style with a grippy sand surface for good traction whether you’re wearing sport shoes or office shoes. And the rear rack uses standard gauge tubing which is compatible with clip-on panniers. Note that you only get a single support stay on the sides of the rack so a hardback pannier with an adjustable lower clip would be the most stable choice. One final highlight is the two pairs of bottle cage bosses on the high-step frames for use with a bottle holder, mini pump, or folding lock. When traveling fast and far, the likelihood of encountering a flat or needing to do a repair increases but the upgraded tires are thick and have a puncture protection lining.

Pros:

Standard LCD display panel allows you to navigate menus quickly, can sync with the Mission Control smartphone app to tune the bike, and is removable so it won’t take sun damage or get swipped
The display panel interface has a Micro-USB port offering 5 Volts and 700+ milliamps of power so you can charge a phone and use the Bluetooth Mission Control app from Specialized while riding without draining your battery too much, the app allows you to plan trips and adjust motor performance characteristics at a deeper level
Sturdy tubular fenders hug the tires to keep you dry and clean, the front fender is extra-long featuring a multi-plastic (sort of rubberized) Flextender to keep your feet and shins dry, if this portion of the fender is kicked or collides with a curb it bends naturally, Specialized calls their new fenders “drytech” and has tested them in a wind tunnel to simulate how water responds at ~20 mph, the top portion of the front fender features a plastic wall to spread water to the sides vs. out to the front and up into your face… this can happen when air is pushed quickly forward at high speed
The fenders and rack were very quiet, even though the Flextender portion vibrated and bounced around a bit, it didn’t produce much noise at all and the custom cargo rack felt sturdy but didn’t add much width or length to the bike, I like how it’s minimalist and integrates the brake light
Integrated lights help you see and be seen in dark riding conditions, the headlight is mounted underneath the stem keeping the cockpit clean and points where you steer, the rear light is at the very end of the rack so it won’t get blocked by panniers or trunk bags and it goes extra-bright when either brake lever is pulled
In addition to integrated LED lights, there are several reflective stickers on the fenders and rims to increase your visual footprint in dark riding conditions, this is especially important given the optional black / grey color scheme
The Brose mid-drive motor is extremely compact and quiet, it has a carbon belt inside that transfers power from the planetary gear, it feels smooth and is very responsive… the base of the bottom bracket has vents to allow air to pass directly across the motor casing and cool it
Excellent weight distribution with both the motor and battery mounted low and center,
the frame is totally custom so the electronics blend in and wires are internally routed, the battery doesn’t stand out thanks to a paint-matched shell
I like how the battery tips out towards the left side vs. going up and down because it will reduce frame bumps when mounting and dismounting the battery
Available in four frame sizes for improved fit, I was riding the Medium for this review ant it handled very well in a default “upright” position but the stem can be flipped and spacers put on top vs. below if you want a more aggressive aerodynamic body position
The Men’s high-step Vado frame has two sets of bottle cage bosses (in the traditional spot on top of the downtube and below the top tube) This is especially useful if you want to mount a folding lock, mini-pump or other accessories without adding panniers or a trunk bag
Specialized offers a solid two-year comprehensive warranty with lifetime on the frame and has a vast network of dealers who can provide expert fitting and maintenance
The bike frame was designed to feel stable and I was able to pedal down a hill at 40+ mph comfortably, Specialized uses Body Geometry fit data from over a decade of research and includes gender-specific Body Geometry saddle and grips for improved comfort
The battery pack and display are removable so you can store them safely and charge them conveniently, I’d suggest removing the battery when carrying the bike or using walk mode to help climb stairs, the locking core is made by Abus and they can match folding locks to the same key for convenience and reduced clutter if you want
The charger has a magnetic interface so it won’t knock your bike over as easily if the cord gets tripped over,
the cover for this plug on the bike is also magnetic and has a little rubber leash so it won’t get lost so easy
High-end 11-speed drivetrain makes it easy to start and climb or maintain the ~28 mph top speed, The Shimano Deore XT Shadow+ derailleur keeps the chain tight on bumps to reduce bouncing and slipping with a one-way adjustable clutch (this drivetrain has traditionally been reserved for mountain bikes), the same clutch can make removing the rear wheel easier if locked so the derailleur doesn’t spring back
Unlike the Specialized Turbo Levo e-mountain bikes that also use the Brose drive system, for the Vado models the battery actually locks to the frame (the mountain models just have a 15 mm thru-axle holding it in place) and the charging port has been elevated to the top of the pack to stay clear of the cranks vs. the Vado where it’s very low, basically under the bottom bracket
In addition to the four frame size options, the Vado 3.0 is also coming in a high-step and mid-step frame style which is geared towards Women with gender-specific touch points (grips, saddle)
The drive system uses freewheels to decouple when pedaling unpowered (or above the top assisted speed) which is likely what other Brose ebikes do as I did not notice a difference… but Specialized was emphasizing this
Unlike most other bikes with kickstands, the Vado put a 40 mm mounting bracket on the inside of the left chainstay to make it look sleeker… even the stand looks tight and sleek
In addition to having a plastic chainring guard (that keeps your pants or dress clear of the front sprocket and oily chain), the sprocket itself uses a narrow wide tooth pattern that grabs the chain better to reduce drops and noise

Cons:

The rear rack looks sleek (with fewer support arms) but doesn’t support as much weight as most standard racks I see on other ebikes, you get 48.5 lbs (22 kg) vs. 55 lbs (25 kg) capacity
This doesn’t seem to be an issue for most riders who reduce pedal pressure as they shift gears (because the motor controller measures torque) but you don’t get shift sensing like Bosch and some Impulse motors which could result in more mashing if you’re not careful, I saw this happening a lot on our media ride… people would slow down for stop signs and lights just before hills (or on hills) and then clunk the gears hard shifting down as they started from zero which is bad for the chain, sprockets and derailleur
eFor those who want to ride at higher speeds but maintain the comfort of having a suspension for, you have to pay quite a bit more to get the Vado 6.0 because the 5.0 does not have a suspension fork
I don’t think the battery has an integrated handle, so be careful taking it off the bike and carrying it around, it’s sensitive and should be handled with care
The bike takes a moment to power on after pressing the on/off button at the top of the battery pack, I feel like you have to press that button for a full second and the display isn’t immediate to light up or turn off… it just feels annoying compared to some others like Bosch

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/turbo/urban/turbo-vado-30/118450 and https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/turbo/urban/womens-turbo-vado-30/118451
More Pictures:

January 29, 2024 (9 months ago)

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MSRP: $4,000
MODEL YEAR: 2015, 2016

Stealth appearance with integrated battery pack and near-silent motor helps it blend in like a "normal bike". Excellent weight distribution, responsive hydraulic disc brakes, integrated LED lights, rack and fender mounts, nice…...

2014 Specialized Turbo S Review

MSRP: $6,000
MODEL YEAR: 2014, 2015

One of the fastest, quietest and sturdiest road-style electric bikes around, extremely refined. Solid 15mm thru-axles, tapered head tube and alloy frame for efficient power transfer and high…...

2013 Specialized Turbo Review

MSRP: $5,900
MODEL YEAR: 2013

One of the fastest and priciest electric bikes around, Top speed 45kph (27.96mph) at $5,900 USD. Clean aesthetic with internally routed cables, integrated lithium ion battery pack and built in LED…...

Melanie

8 years ago

Been looking into this bike for months. Love the lines, the front and rear lights, the rack. If I change the tires do you think it will be good on gravel and light trail? Or should I want for the turbo 29 ht?

court

Hi Melanie, yeah! I think this would be a great platform to use for light trail riding, especially if you swap out the tires. I’m assuming you’re a woman based on your name and that you might be interested in the women’s specific Vado 3.0 with step-thru frame? If so, this might beat the Turbo Levo Hardtail because the stand over height would be lower. I’m guessing that the bike would be similar in terms of weight but it could be lighter than the Levo and of course, you get the lights, fenders, and racks… It sounds like the Vado models will be released in the next couple of months so keep an eye out and chime in if you buy one and care to share your experience with it!

Ron

7 years ago

Hi Court,

There seems to be some confusion about the maximum assist speed of the Vado 3.0 for the US market. In your review, you mention a max assist speed of 20 mph, while some other websites (including bikeradar) state a 28 mph max assist.

I checked the official Specialized information, but it doesn’t mention a max speed for any of the Vado models. I guess that I’ll find out which is correct once my local dealer gets some in-stock, but it’s frustrating!

Court Rye

Hi Ron! Specialized told me the bikes will be coming in stock in early July and the only definitive information I have is on the Vado 6.0 which definitely reached ~28 mph during our press test ride in late May 2017. The information for the Vado 3.0 was interpreted from their website and a deep dive into the manual but it’s hard to say how accurate it is given that some specs changed and Specialized took the pages offline for a bit. I met the guy from Bikeradar, he’s cool but missed a couple of things (like the actual weight of the bikes). Perhaps he was just going with what Specialized said in their preso. I don’t think anyone knows for sure on the Vado 3.0 or 5.0 at this point in time. I only know about the 6.0, unless they showed us preproduction and have a change of heart.

Emad Abdulrahim

I purchased the Vado 3.0 few days ago and I absolutely fallen in love with it. It’s the best eBike for the price range ($3200) IMHO. I live in Noe Valley in San Francisco, very steep hills and I have no issues whatsoever getting up on any hill.

What I love about the Specialized Turbo line is how sleek they look, the Brose motor is super quiet and very high torque giving you the burst you need sometimes to get up to speed. Also the motor is super responsive as soon as you pedal and put high pressure it engages and works with you.

The bike goes up to 28 mph before the motor cuts off, that makes it class 3 which is amazing at this price point. I took a 40+ miles trip and still had 1 bar of the battery, it was a windy and full of elevation ride (2k+ ft of elevation gain). I’m convinced this is one of the best eBikes out in the market. Good job from Specialized.

Scott

6 years ago

Hi Emad – how has the Vado 3.0 been working for you? Has the battery lost any capacity?

Duane Wilkins

The speed restrictions are based on local laws, however here in New Zealand it can be raised to 45km/hr or 28mph. I am able to consistently cruize at 43km/hr on flat tarseal. I do not think its safe to go faster than this on this bike config.

I do not have a touch screen, but apart from not having bluetooth or an app makes no difference. I am able to get 40km from a single charge with varied assist levels, or about 30km with full turbo assist.

I changed out the tyres for the faster Continental City Ride II Reflex Tire, about $25 USD on Amazon, they are far more comfortable given the expense of the bike I wont be taking it off the tarmac (neither would it be insured in that instance). I also swapped out the seat for a more plush ride, and increased the height of the handlebars.

I’m very happy with the bike and recommend it. Initially I was frustrated with the lack of app as its advertised in various places, but recently the main website added a reference to later on 2017, but I understand more like early 2018.

HI Duane, thanks for the feedback about tire and saddle upgrades. This entire review is a bit off because I was not able to see and test the new Turbo Vado models… just the 6.0 which is fully covered here. Hope this helps :)

Andy

I am very interested in the Vado 3.0. Here in Canada there are no 28 mph bikes available (except for the Stromer ST 1 X at MEC.CA). I’m fine with that as range and not speed is my main concern. A couple of questions:

If you buy a Stromer you can spec out a higher capacity battery and simply pay for the upgrade. Specialized sells only one replacement battery for the Vado. It’s a 604Wh unit. It sells for $1,300 CDN. The 3.0 comes with a 460Wh battery. Why won’t they ship a 3.0 with the larger battery and simply charge us the difference.
The 3.0 and the 5.0 come with a 1.2 motor. The 28 MPH 5.0 motor has an “s” appended to the model number. I have read that the motors are identical with only the software separating them. True or False?

Will you be doing a review on the 3.0 soon?

Really enjoy your videos.

Thank you,
Andy.

Hi Andy! It would be nice if Specialized offered more customization of their battery size for each model, but it seems like this is more of a pricing strategy. Same thing with the motor, I can’t really say what the differentiator is with the S. The hardware might be the same… that would make sense from an economies of scale perspective, but maybe they downspec the controller or software. I love how Specialized has a broad network of dealers and their designs are great. I do hope to review some of their new bikes in 2018 but cannot say for sure. Perhaps you will get other replies or can post these questions in the Specialized Forum for more engagement :)

David C.

Hey All, I was in Jackson Hole for a few days and I rented a couple of these with my 23 year old son. I’ll provide a quick review of this awesome bicycle, my first but not last ride on the Specialized VADO 3. I’m a veteran rider and didn’t know what to expect from my first e-bike ride. All expectations were exceeded, except seat comfort, but that’s an easy switch. We rode 30-40 miles on our bikes on Day 1, all paved bike/hike trail with 5 degrees maximum grade, and still had 2 or 3 of 4 power bars left at end of the day. These bikes were incredibly smooth, with unanticipated and unbelievable electric power assist at the ready, and an absolute joy to ride. There are 3 levels of power assist, and most fun to experiment with, all at the click of a button. There are also 2 thumb paddle shifters, quite easy to understand: front larger one shifts to make the pedaling easier, and the second, located just in front of the larger thumb paddle, makes the rider pedal with more energy, delivering more torque to the bike (equivalent of downshifting to the most taxing gear combination on a standard bike for downhill speeds). These are well engineered machines, and yes I confirm a 28MPH maximum speed with the power assist turned on. However, you can turn the bike’s power completely off and pedal like normal and you can always exceed the bike’s built-in electric assist maximum if you want because the motor doesn’t slow you down. I did not test out a maximum non-powered speed, as 28MPH is plenty for easy riding, urban riding, trail riding. Everything is nicely fitted: lights, hidden battery plus charging port, rear package/pannier shelf, fenders, etc. I’ll be buying one of these VADO 3.0 bikes in the near future, for myself and wife and son. PS We rode in light rain on Day 2, and bikes handled very well also.

Court

Wonderful update! I’m glad you and your son had some fun riding the Vado’s and I appreciate your little review and feedback on this, David. Thanks :D

Ian

The biggest problem I have found with Vado 3 is the rear wheel which has only 28 spokes. Despite careful riding (on road) I have broke 2 spokes in around 1500kms, and am now looking to replace wheel with something decent. The thinking behind a 28 spoke rear wheel on a heavy ebike fitted with a rack is, to put it politely, hard to fathom.

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up on this Ian. I wonder if you could replace it with a 36 hole wheel since it’s a mid-drive ebike?

I talked to my dealer about it. He will rebuild the wheel completely (for no charge) with new spokes if I break another spoke. He thinks it will be fine with good quality spokes. I have total trust in his judgment, he is very good.

Awesome! I hope it works out, enjoy the ride out there and feel free to chime in with further updates :D

Eddie

This is info on the motors from the Specialized website here.

“And then there’s the power. We offer different 250-watt nominal power versions. The Specialized 1.2 and the 1.2 S (28mph / 45 km/h version) motors are focused around hitting the perfect balance between power and efficiency to ensure maximum range, while the Specialized 1.3 gives you the absolute maximum power (torque) to get to the top of any mountain, no matter how steep.”

Thanks for this info, Eddie! I reviewed the Turbo Vado quite a while back and it was a mixed experience because all we had was the 6.0 model for a press event. I hope to cover their new 2019 stuff this year at some point :)

Thank you for all of your reviews. I went to my local LBS last week and looked at Trek and Specialized and I liked the design of the Specialized better plus the front suspension. I tested the 3.0 and noticed when I got over 20 mph it felt like the crank started free spinning. I read another review where they stated the gearing was not optimized for 28 mph. The 3.0 has a 40 tooth chainring and the 6.0 has a 48. Based on my ride stats with Strava I hit a max speed of 27 mph with a max cadence of 92 rpm. I found an online calculator for bike cadence and speed and entered the setup for the 6.0. According to that on the 6.0 a cadence of 75 rpm should give you 28 mph. The 6.0 has an upgraded drivetrain to a Shimano SLX 11 speed, a much larger batter at 604wh compared to 460wh. And the 6.0 has the upgraded 1.3 motor which the link I provided above states that motor has more torque. With all those upgraded features I decided to order the 6.0. They said I should have it by the end of next week.

4 years ago

Bought this bike around three weeks ago and have been very happy with it. The e-assist is very smooth. Have not yet gone more than ten miles but battery appears to have lots of reserve. Takes on the hills very well and get puzzled looks from other cyclists when I pass them going uphill. You do need to learn how to downshift properly in order to prevent mashing up the gears. I’m 70 year old guy who has cycled for years but have slowly avoided certain routes because of the terrain. Now I can take on the big hills! All in all I am very glad to have made this purchase.

Nice! Thanks for the wonderful testimonial here, Scott. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Vado. Yes, it does take some time to get used to shifting smoothly (but it’s worth it), and I smiled when I read that you’re able to visit some of your old favorite trails. Awesome!