specialized vado 4.0 vs trek super commuter

Tested: Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 E-bike

Well Designed, Practical, and Feature Packed Update to Specialized's Commuter E-bike Range

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Takeaway: The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 e-bike has beautiful design, useful integration, and features ideal for commuting and city riding. The Turbo Power 2.0 motor is tuned for everyday use, with a refined and natural ride feel. While the mid-drive motor only puts out 470 Watts of power, do not be mislead by that number alone as the Turbo Vado has plenty of pep and is fun to ride. The well thought out parts spec, simple interface, clutter free appearance, full fenders, rear rack, and lighting combine into a highly refined e-bike for commuting, city riding, or everyday transportation.

• Natural and intuitive ride feel.
• Turbo 2.0 motor provides ample power for commuting use.
• Full fenders, rear rack, and lights come stock.
• SRAM NX 11-speed drivetrain & Level hydraulic disc brakes.
• SR Suntour Mobie 75mm travel suspension fork, with lockout.

Price: $4,000 Weight: 57.5lbs (Large)

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Build Details

Style: Commuter e-bike Material: 6061-T6 Aluminium Wheel Size: 650b Fork: SR Suntour Mobie A32, 75mm travel, thru-axle, with lockout Motor: Turbo Full Power 2.0 motor, mid motor, 470W/70Nm, 28mph max speed Battery: Fully Integrated Removable and Lockable Downtube Battery, 710Wh Drivetrain: SRAM NX, 11-speed Crank: Forged Alloy, w/ Praxis 48T chainring Pedals: Specialized Commuter w/ grip tape & reflectors Rear Cassette: SRAM PG-1130, 11-speed, 11-42t Brakes: SRAM Level, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc, 180mm 6-bolt rotor (front & rear) Wheels: Double wall pinned aluminum rims, 32H (front & rear) Tires: Pathfinder Sport Reflect, 650Bx2.3 Saddle: Rivo Sport, steel rails, 155mm Seatpost: Spring suspension, alloy, 40mm travel, 30.9mm, 2-bolt clamp Handlebar: Specialized, alloy, 15-degree backsweep, 46mm rise, 31.8mm Stem: Specialized Flowset, 3D-forged alloy, 20-degree rise, 31.8mm clamp Other: Specialized Drytech metal fenders (front & rear), rear rack, front & rear lights, bell, kickstand

As a cyclist, there are few feelings better than a ride on a new bike where everything just feels ' right '. That, in a word, best describes almost everything about Specialized's new Turbo Vado; it just feels right. From the motor, to the interface, to the aesthetic design, to the parts spec, to the ride quality; the Turbo Vado 4.0 is a bike where the details have all been thoroughly thought through to perform as an almost seamless package. This is a rare quality which anyone—be they a lifelong cyclist or the person getting their first e-bike—can benefit from and enjoy.

Specialized's investment in continual development, design, and engineering extends far beyond only making bikes that carry professional athletes to the top step of podiums around the world. As shown with the 2022 Turbo Vado range, they utilized those product development and engineering skills to make bikes that carry you around town or to work with aplomb and with style.

The newly launched 2022 Turbo Vado platform has three models (Vado 3.0, Vado 4.o, and Vado 5.0) ranging in price from $3,250 to $5,500. These three models are each available in standard or step-thru frame variants, come in four frame sizes (S, M, L, and XL), and three color choices (Cast Black, Red Tint, and White Mountains). The Turbo Vado 3.0 and Turbo Vado 5.0 are also available with enviolo step-less internal gear rear hubs with a Gates belt drive.

The Turbo Vado 4.0 model we tested comes in at $4,000. Our White Mountains color test bike weighed in at 57.5 lbs. for a size large, standard style frame.

A class-3 e-bike, the Turbo Vado 4.0 has a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph. Unlike some other popular commuter e-bikes currently on the market, the Vado does not have a throttle to get you up to speed. While this feature can come in handy at times on other e-bikes (and truthfully is needed in many situations on some designs), there were not many times while riding the Vado that I felt as if a throttle was urgently needed or would have significantly improved my riding experience. However, if you have long, steep climbs on your regular rides, are carrying heavier cargo, or are unable to continuously pedal even with assist, the Vado might not be your best option.

The Turbo 2.o motor delivers power to the pedals in a quick and seamless fashion. The lag is barely noticeable, and you do not even think about it while riding. The best way to describe this feeling to someone who has not tried a Specialized Turbo e-bike before is "natural and intuitive". Riding the Turbo Vado often feels like riding a non-assist bike, just with the slightest sound of motor "whir" and with a whole lot of extra confidence that you'll make it to work without getting all sweaty or up that hill on the ride home .

While the Turbo 2.0 motor on the Vado 4.0 only puts out a claimed 470 Watts power (250 Watts nominal) and 70Nm of torque, don't let these numbers confuse you when comparing it to other city or commuter e-bikes claiming 500 or 750 Watt power numbers. Some of this is due to the motor's mid-drive positioning (located at the center of the crank arms), but a lot of this also comes down to the tuning work done by the team at Specialized.

A 710 Watt hour rechargeable battery powers the Vado's motor, housed very cleanly inside the Vado's downtube. The battery is removable for charging and locks to deter theft.

The Turbo Vado's head unit displays all of the vital bicycle metrics such as speed, power assist, and battery power level. It is simple, clean, and easy to see in both bright light and after dusk on dimly lit bike paths. The three power control settings (Eco, Sport, and Turbo) dictate the amount of power assist served up by the motor. You can fine tune the amount of power assist for each of the three settings in Specialized's Mission Control phone app.

Speaking of the Mission control app, I used the iPhone version of the app and found it to be straightforward to use, with a clean and simple layout. With the app you can update motor firmware, tune motor power assist levels, send diagnostic info on your bike to Specialized, and plan out your rides to ensure you will have enough charge left in the battery to get you home.

Like with any e-bike, the more power assist you use, the faster your battery will drain down, thus decreasing the bike's range. For most rides on the Vado, I found the Sport mode to provide a good balance of power assist and range. For a zippier ride, or for heading up hills, I could easily switch the power assist into Turbo mode.

When you have such a good motor and interface on an e-bike, the other component parts that make up a bike can easily be overlooked. Luckily, the product developers at Specialized also did a great job on the Turbo Vado 4.0's component spec, building out an e-bike where the parts all blend together functionally and aesthetically.

For the drivetrain, a SRAM NX 11-speed derailleur and trigger shifter are combined with a wide range 11-42 tooth SRAM cassette to give the Vado 4.0 a broad selection of gears. This wide gear range, paired with a 48-tooth front chainring, suits a variety of terrain. The 46T chainring keeps you from running out of gears when in Turbo mode and the low 42T rear cog helps you get up longer or unexpectedly steep hills.

Strong brakes are important on any e-bike and the Vado 4.0 does not disappoint here either. Stopping duties are managed by SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm diameter rotors. These SRAM brakes have plenty of power on hand and good modulation. An additional benefit of SRAM brakes are that small parts (such as replacement pads) are easy to track down and most good shops are capable of handling routine service (such as brake bleeds).

Suspension forks on commuter bikes can be pretty hit or miss. They are often heavier than a rigid fork and underperform at soaking up bumps or potholes on the road or bike path. On e-bikes, many suspension forks come set-up too soft and will have excessive bob while riding and bottom-out under even the smallest hits. As a result, many riders just end up setting them to lock-out mode.

The SR Suntour Mobie A32 model fork, however, performed much better than expected. The fork has a very smooth feel, and despite not having damping adjustments, remained well mannered over a variety of different sized bumps regularly encountered riding around town. It also feels laterally stiff under heavy braking; a reassuring quality on a 57 lb. e-bike with a 200 lb rider aboard.

Important commuter friendly features are also well thought out on the Vado. The front and rear Specialized Drytech fenders are full metal, hug the tire closely, don't rattle around over rough pavement, and do a sufficient job of keeping road spray from damp roads off your body.

The rear rack on the Vado isn't overly large, but it is built sturdy and is compatible with MIK accessories and with baby seats. Front and rear lights on the bike are powered off the main battery and were bright enough to illuminate the bike lane at night on the way home.

The 650B tires on the Turbo Vado have a wide footprint that inspires confidence while riding. They have a surprising amount of grip for a commuter tire, with a smooth center for fast rolling and knurled texture to the side that provides extra grip on turns. On one ride I found a wet section of a smooth parking lot and spent time trying to find the point where the tires would break loose and send me drifting across the asphalt. Unless I was pushing the lean angle well beyond what one would ever encounter on a typical commute, the tires held traction.

Even small features on the Vado 4.0 impressed me. An example of this are things like the cable routing and cable clips on the front of the bike that make the bike look classy and clean.

In my time on the Vado 4.0 the only two component specs with which I didn't get along were the seat and seatpost. For the seat, it just didn't fit my butt. It is wide but overly firm for me. For the seatpost, Specialized uses a suspension post on the Vado. I would have preferred to see a dropper post as standard equipment on this model. A dropper post makes getting on and off the bike easier, as well as making the bike easier to share with friends or partners.

At 6-foot tall, I am probably at the tall end of the height spectrum for the size large frame size. If you are over 6', I would recommend checking out the XL size for a little longer seat tube and top tube lengths. I also recommend the Turbo Vado step-thru frame variants for riders who have trouble getting on or off a traditional frame bike. The top tube height of the double-diamond Vado frame is not overly tall, but step-thru frames are easier to manage on a bike of this weight, especially when you have the rear rack loaded up with a basket or groceries.

The Turbo Vado 4.0 is an exceptionally well designed and executed bike for commuters and city riders. The only obstacle keeping many more riders from owning a Vado is the price. At $4,000, it is certainly a premium priced offering for a commuter e-bike—for this amount you could buy two Aventon Levels , and still have some money left over for accessories. However, with that higher price tag of the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 comes a more refined and integrated riding experience, superior brakes and drivetrain, a usable suspension fork, and a global dealer network in the event your motor requires service.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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Specialized Turbo Vado Review, 2024

For over three decades, Specialized has had the same mantra: “Innovate or Die.”

That three word slogan represents the ethos of Specialized; a condensed summation of the mindset that’s driven the northern California-based company to become one of the largest and most iconic bike brands on the planet. It’s also the driving force behind why Specialized electric bikes are among the best money can buy.

In this Specialized Turbo Vado review, we take a look at the brand’s flagship electric commuter and parse out what sets it apart from the competition. We test its hill climbing abilities, range and do our best to showcase why the Specialized name has become synonymous with innovation and really good e-bikes.

Powered by a 250w mid drive motor and a 710Wh internally integrated (but removable) battery, the Turbo Vado 4.0 is a sturdy competitor in the high-end commuter category. The latest edition of the Turbo Vado has been reengineered with new geometry, a retooled motor and a new look. Best of all, that 250W motor is capable of Class 3 speeds — and boy is it quick.

It’s an e-bike we’ve been itching to get our hands on – reputation alone warrants consideration for inclusion on our list of best electric bikes – but let’s get hands on and see how it performs in our tests before deciding that.

• The Specialized 2.0 mid-drive motor is divine. Rated at 250W and making 70Nm of torque, it’s one of the best feeling e-bike motors I’ve ridden.
• The new Turbo Vado’s looks are great. The frame is less angular and looks more like a traditional bicycle than the old Turbo Vado.
• With a $4,000 MSRP, the Turbo Vado 4.0’s component package is very competitive and feels right for the money.
• You can update the bike from home using the MissionControl app, which has the ability to pass over-the-air updates to your bike.
• The MasterMind display is very well designed and chock-full of cool features like rider wattage, battery efficiency and more.
• The Turbo Vado is backed by Specialized’s global network of dealers and nearly unparallelled customer service.

• One of our only complaints is that the magnetic charger can be difficult to seat correctly when the battery is installed in the frame.
• Battery: Specialized U2-710, 710Wh battery
• Display: MasterMind display and remote
• Motor: Specialized 2.0, 250W motor with 70 Nm of torque
• Headlight: Integrated Lezyne Ebike Hecto E65 light
• Taillights: Spanniga Commuter Glow XE, integrated
• Peal Assist: ECO, SPORT and TURBO modes, torque sensor
• Range: 20-35 mile (claimed)
• Throttle: N/A
• Claimed weight: 55-63.5 lbs
• Maximum rider weight: 300 lbs (total payload capacity)
• Maximum load on rear rack: 59 lbs
• Brakes: SRAM Level hydraulic disk brake, 180mm rotors front and rear
• Fenders: Specialized DRYTECH fenders
• Fork: SR Suntour Mobie A32, 80 mm travel
• Frame: E5 aluminum
• Drivetrain: SRAM NX 11-speed
• Grips: Specialized Body Geometry lock on
• Saddle: Rivo Sport
• Handlebar: Specialized alloy riser bars
• Kickstand: Included
• Pedals: Specialized commuter
• Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Sport Reflect, 650Bx2.3

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Bike Overview

Few traditional bicycle companies have invested in e-bikes the way Specialized has. And that investment of time, engineering and decades of experience has yielded some pretty telling results: Specialized has long been heralded as the best in the business when it comes to motor design, quality and rider experience.

This Turbo Vado 4.0 is actually the first Specialized electric bike I’ve personally reviewed . Really, it’s the first Specialized e-bike I’ve spent any meaningful amount of time on. What I’ve learned is that the hype around these e-bikes is very real. Even before we dive into the rest results or even begin to pick apart the bike I’m going to do something I rarely do and note right here at the top that this is the best electric commuter bike I’ve ever ridden, and it may even be in the running for the best e-bike I’ve ridden. It really is that good.

This most recent generation of Turbo Vado was released at the end of September 2021 alongside two other full-power Specialized e-bikes, the Turbo Como and Tero. We got our first real-life peeks at the bike at Sea Otter shortly after that and since then I’ve been itching to do a full-depth review.

Aside from the redesigned aluminum frame, which looks far slimmer and more like a traditional bicycle — which is different from the old Vado, which had an overtly e-bikey look — the Vado lineup got the new Specialized 2.0 mid-drive motor. That motor, which is manufactured by Brose but heavily tuned by Specialized, makes 250W and 70Nm of torque.

It’s also a Class 3 e-bike, with pedal assist that can go up to 28 mph. And boy did Specialized lean into this bike’s Class 3 capability. In TURBO mode — there are three PAS levels, ECO, SPORT and TURBO — this bike is an absolute ripper that has zero issue cruising between 25 mph and 28 mph. A feature that makes the Turbo Vado a bonafide super commuter that’ll cover ground quickly and keep pace with city and residential traffic.

Inside the frame, but still removable, is a 710Wh battery. The new Vado was also launched alongside the MasterMind app, which allows you to tune, track and even lock your bike from your phone. One of the coolest features of this app is the ability to push over the air updates to your bike, so as Specialized updates software you can keep your bike in step without going to a bike shop.

Connecting the mid-drive motor to the rear wheel is a SRAM NX 11-speed drivetrain that delivers crisp shifting that handles the motor load with impressive ease.

Braking is handled by a set of SRAM Level hydraulic disk brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear.

On the handlebars, there’s a redesigned display that’s arguably one of the best in the biz. It’s easy to read, tremendously useful and has a host of different screens that show everything from battery efficiency to speed and everything in between.

There’s also an SR Suntour Mobie A32 fork with 80mm travel and a suspension seatpost with 40mm of travel. The remainder of the bike is decked out with various accoutrements from Specialized, including things like the grips, handlebars and pedals.

Lastly there are integrated front and rear lights, plus a rear rack with an MIK interface and a 27kg max weight capacity.

As I said before, the Vado’s got a lot going on.

With an updated look and an updated motor, the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 is a killer electric commuter bike.

The Turbo Vado’s updated frame shape looks less overtly e-bikey than the previous generation. It’s sleek.

The Specialized branding is very subtle compared to most other e-bike brands.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Motor Performance, Speed and Acceleration

I’ve already talked a bit about how much speed the engineers at Specialized have eked out of this 250W mid-drive motor, but let me say it again: This is an enormously quick e-bike.

Obviously the bike’s speed depends quite a bit on which assist level you choose and how hard you pedal, but if speed is what you’re looking for, the Turbo Vado’s aptly named TURBO mode has plenty of it.

We sampled the performance of each of the Turbo Vado’s three assist settings — ECO, SPORT and TURBO — and found they all give a very appropriate amount of boost. ECO mode feels very similar to a lighter non-motorized traditional commuter bike, basically canceling out the additional weight of the e-bike componentry; SPORT mode feels like riding with a solid tailwind and; and TURBO mode feels less like you’re riding with a tailwind and more like you are the wind.

And though this is a pedal assist only e-bike, and e-bikes made by traditional bicycle manufacturers like Specialized are known to place a little more emphasis on the rider’s pedaling than their cheaper counterparts, the Turbo Vado demands very little effort from the rider. You can throw some effort into the pedals, but you don’t have to. Both options are comfortable and pleasantly quick.

The Vado handles hilly and undulating terrain well. It’s motor is powerful and the handling is balanced and predictable.

The 250W Specialized 2.0 motor makes 60Nm of torque. Behind this subtle black casing is arguably one of the most advanced e-bike motors on the market.

The 710Wh battery is housed inside the downtube of the frame and can still be removed for external charging and storage.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Range Test & Battery Performance

The Turbo Vado’s range test results are good, but don’t necessarily stand out from the pack. In fact, they’re very much in line with what we’d expect of a commuter bike with a 710Wh battery. They’re also pretty comparable to many other e-bikes Electric Bike Report’s reviewed , either based on average speed or distance traveled.

In the bike’s lowest assist setting, ECO, the Turbo Vado 4.0 lasted 61.03 miles at an average speed of 11.51 mph before running out of battery. In TURBO mode, the highest assist level, it made it 23.42 miles at an average speed of 18.9 mph.

But while the Vado’s range test results may seem pretty average, the numbers here don’t tell the whole story. I’m immensely impressed with the Turbo Vado’s average speed in the Turbo test. I did that test on an exceptionally windy day in southwest Utah and the bike still managed a nearly 20 mph average, despite me riding directly into that wind for more than half the test.

Our long range test rider Josh also raved about how well the bike pedaled in eco mode. He spends a lot of time range testing bikes in low PAS settings and often has some not so nice things to say about how they pedaled with that little assistance, but he loved the Turbo Vado. He said in ECO mode that it gave just enough assistance to make the bike feel like a normal bicycle, like the additional weight had been canceled out.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Hill Test

On our test hill Hell Hole, the Turbo Vado put up a respectable time that’s right in line with some of the more popular electric commuter bikes on the market.

Using the highest pedal assist setting, TURBO mode, the Turbo Vado cleared the top of Hell Hole in 1:24.00 with an average speed of 12.9 mph. Compared to the more than 50 other ebikes we’ve tested on that hill, the Vado’s result is just four seconds shy of our current average hill climb time of 1:20.00. We don’t have many other high-end electric commuters we can compare it to, but the Vado’s time is right in line with several of the more popular affordable electric commuters we’ve reviewed, such as the Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5 Plus , the RadRunner Plus and the Radio Flyer M880 .

I wouldn’t call any of those bikes direct competitors of the Turbo Vado — they all cost less than half the price of the Specialized and use rear hub motors, putting them in an entirely different category — but it is interesting to see comparable times between them all.

But time isn’t everything when it comes to hill climbing performance, and while those more affordable e-bikes may be comparable on paper, they’re not comparable to the Turbo Vado in feel, comfort and perceived effort on hills. From my perspective as the rider performing this test, it’s wild how easily the Vado carried me up and over Hell Hole. I always like to point out that Hell Hole, at a third of a mile long with an average grade of 12 percent, is a very large and very long hill we’ve chosen specifically because we want to push e-bikes to their climbing limits.

But despite our best effort to push the Turbo Vado to its limit uphill, I’m fairly certain we got nowhere near it. The Vado unflinchingly cruised over Hell Hole, with little indication that the motor was straining and little physical effort from my part.

It’s also an impressive result considering that the motor on the specific bike we’re reviewing, the Turbo Vado 4.0, is a mid-tier unit that makes 70Nm of torque. The bike above this one, the Turbo Vado 5.0, uses a motor that makes 90Nm of torque and likely would have climbed even quicker.

The Turbo Vado 4.0 is a really awesome hill climber. It’s not the quickest we’ve tested, but it hardly struggled on our test hill Hell Hole.

The SRAM NX 11-speed shifter is crisp and handles the motor’s torque well when shifting under load.

The SR Suntour fork with 80mm of travel is plenty to handle rough roads and potholes. Paired with the suspension seatpost, it’s a very comfortable ride.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Brakes and the Brake Test

Spec’d with a set of SRAM Level hydraulic disk brakes and 180mm rotors front and rear, the Turbo Vado 4.0’s braking performance is far above average when compared to the rest of the e-bikes we’ve reviewed.

Like many higher end e-bike components, the Level disk brakes were designed for the rigorous high-intensity braking of mountain biking and adapted for the higher weight and higher speeds of e-biking. It’s a formula that works well, as evidenced by the results of our braking test.

In a series of five full-power stops from 20 mph, the Turbo Vado 4.0 came to a stop at an average distance of 12-feet-11-inches, which is exactly three feet better than the average distance of all the bikes we’ve brake tested so far. It’s a result that’s good enough for ninth place on our all time brake test leaderboard.

Looking outside the data and adding some of my experience as the rider during the brake test, the Turbo Vado felt very controlled under hard braking. As the tires lock up and skid (they almost always do) bikes can become unpredictable and have a tendency to slide sideways or even lose the front end, but the Vado did none of that. The tires did lock up, but the forgiving geometry kept the bike on a straight line and the supremely good lever modulation of the SRAM brakes helped me control that skid while still coming to a very quick stop.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Ride Comfort, Handling and Cockpit

Specialized appears to have taken a page out of the book of mountain bike geometry when redesigning the Turbo Vado, making the bike longer and slacker than the previous generation.

The reach is longer, the headtube angle two degrees slacker and, among other changes, the chainstays are shorter, tucking the rear wheel further into the frame. Specialized says this makes the bike more maneuverable and stable at speed. I haven’t gotten to ride the old Turbo Vado, but I’ll take Specialized’s word on this improvement.

It does, in fact, feel super stable at speed and it’s very maneuverable in tight situations like hard corners and in traffic. The cornering is stable and planted and the body positioning is comfortable and very efficient. One note I’ll add, though this is something I’ve experienced on several pannier-equipped commuter bikes, is that my heels would occasionally clip the pannier bag as I was pedaling. This may be a function of my size 12 feet and often sloppy pedaling, but it’s something to keep in mind should you be a larger person and want to fit this bike with the Tailwind pannier bags. It’s certainly not a dealbreaker for me — I loved those bags — but it was something I needed to be conscientious about.

The cockpit is built around the new Specialized MasterMind head unit that, accompanied with its touchpad, is just delightful to use. I’ve never seen so many metrics on a screen, and there are even neat features like a power meter that tells you how hard your pedaling as opposed to just how hard the motor is pushing.

I also cannot stress enough how important it is that this e-bike can receive over-the-air updates through the MissionControl app. One of the biggest arguments in favor of buying a Specialized is that it’s a company that’s constantly improving it’s e-bike game, and by giving riders the ability to update their bikes remotely means you can take advantage of that progression without needing to take your e-bike to a shop for updating.

The MasterMind head unit is an awesome display with loads of information at your finger tips.

The suspension seatpost is a great touch on this bike. Unlike some cheaper posts that can feel like a pogo stick, this one was really supportive and did a great job of dampening the road.

The Tailwind pannier bags are an accessory that I’d highly recommend. They’re spacious, easy to install and remove and look really slick.

The SRAM Level brake lever and a glimpse of the touchpad that controls the MasterMind display.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Review: Summary / Where to Buy

I’m usually pretty good at finding more than one fault in an e-bike during the review process, but I’m stumped by the Turbo Vado 4.0. My only legitimate complaint (that can’t be explained away by my odd body dimensions) is with the charger, which can be difficult to connect properly when trying to charge the bike with the battery inserted into the frame.

That’s really it. Other than a slightly finicky magnetic charger plug, I loved this e-bike.

The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 electric commuter bike is a remarkably well done e-bike. It handles divinely, looks sharp as about any commuter could and is equipped with a motor that can breath fire in TURBO mode or whisk you along at a comfortable and efficient pace in SPORT and ECO modes.

Mostly though, one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed the Turbo Vado so much is it feels, in many respects, like the direct product of the “Innovate or Die” mantra. You can feel that this bike is the byproduct of 30-plus years of experience building bicycles (and e-bikes) on the bleeding edge of what is currently possible.

And though its price tag is high enough some people will quickly write it off, I’d argue it’s $4,000 MSRP is exactly right for a bike with this spec sheet and this much engineering backing it up. With this bike you’re buying quality; you’re buying support; and you’re buying into a wealth of bicycle engineering and technical knowledge that few companies can compete with. Those factors and more are what make the Turbo Vado 4.0 one of the best e-bikes I’ve gotten to review thus far — which is saying something, as I’ve reviewed a lot of them.

If it’s an e-bike you’re considering for yourself, I can’t recommend it more.

Specialized sells its Turbo Vado electric commuter bike through its massive network of dealerships (there’s likely one very close to you). But for those more keen on buying online, there’s good news: Specialized just recently began shipping bikes directly to consumers so you can buy the Turbo Vado online and have it sent direct to your door .

‘Happy Riding, make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0.

Reader Interactions

February 11, 2022 at 6:14 pm

Like to see test also with the gates belt!

February 12, 2022 at 4:29 am

Is the Vado getting bent drive?

February 11, 2022 at 7:18 pm

Is it too hard to weigh the bike?

February 12, 2022 at 8:53 am

Good one Bob! I agree, Its not like a scale is a specialized piece of equipment almost nobody has in their home or office. 🙂

February 12, 2022 at 8:54 am

Agree. The weight is so important and you have so much knowledge. Why not include the weight?

May 21, 2022 at 1:48 pm

I have the 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 in a medium frame. I weighed it after adding two water bottle cages (negligible weight) and was almost exactly 60 pounds.

February 12, 2022 at 6:13 am

I’m STILL loving the Turbo Vado 3.0 that I bought in 2019 for $2700. Reading this makes me re-assured I chose wisely.

February 12, 2022 at 6:38 am

Specialized Customer Service is a misnomer here in Thailand. They supposedly have 4 retailers (no distributor) 2 of which are closed up. The other 2 are uninterested in providing any assistance to customers. I had to ask a friend of mine living in Hong Kong to buy Specialized Dual Gel gloves for me. I contacted their Customer Service in the US to ask if they could sell me direct in as much as their retailers here in Thailand suck in plain English. Their response was no they could not sell to me direct. This was just for gloves. I can’t imagine what kind of nightmare one would have to go through if there was a major issue. I would not recommend buying anything from them!

February 12, 2022 at 8:59 am

Despite the negative comments about the magnetic Rosenberger charger connector, I have found it to be quite east to use. I have one of the original Specialized Turbos. The same connector is used on Stromer bikes as well.

One caveat though- The magnetism CAN attract debris that can hinder your charger connection. Check it often to make sure nothing magnetic has attached it self to either side of the connector.

Another odd detail is having the Vado finish in the brake test behind a Rad??!! That cant be! Especially puzzling since the author comments on how good the braking is.

Thanks for reviewing what I consider to be a very good bike instead of the typical cheapo Chinese clones.

March 1, 2022 at 2:31 pm

Hello – I see you are 6’1. Did you test the xl or l? I am 6’0 and wonder which to get.

March 2, 2022 at 8:34 pm

I have just bought a 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado 4 and found it wonderful to ride until you are about 4 to 5 Kilometres into the ride. At this point the motor seems to want to drag you back even when you are still pedalling. If I am freewheeling down a gradual slope the motor will pull me up to a complete stop. Can you help me if you think this is normal? My local Specialized dealers workshop supervisor tells me that it is. If I turn the motor off the bike is almost impossible to Ride forward. I feel that this isn’t normal. Would appreciate your opinion.

April 25, 2022 at 7:49 pm

Not normal. I have the same bike and this does not happen. I suggest you take it back to the dealer.

FYI for those who were wondering about the weight. I weighed my medium size Turbo Vado after adding water bottle cages. It came in at almost exactly 60 lbs.

May 21, 2022 at 1:47 pm

I can assure you this is not normal. I am the happy owner of a 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 and none of these problems have occurred on my bike. It freewheels down hills just like my non-motorized bike (actually a little faster due to the weight). If my bike had the problems you have described I would return it to the shop until it was fixed. Based on the response from the workshop supervisor, perhaps you should look for a different Specialized dealer if there is one in your area. That is a completely inappropriate response.

June 22, 2022 at 3:38 pm

My Vado was set to European spec which speed limited it to 17 MPH with pedal assist. I took it back to the dealer and set it to 28 MPH pedal assist. What a difference. Sounds like your firmware needs to be updated. The dealer also had a hard time downloading the correct software. Apparently Specialized only sent out the first part of the download. My bike would not accept the download. It wasn’t until I raised holy hell that they realized the second part of the packet needed to be downloaded. Once they did my bike accepted the update easily.

May 10, 2022 at 9:04 pm

I have a 2020 Turbo Vado 4 and I love it. The weight for me is no big deal. It’s such a smooth, quiet ride. I’ve had no problems whatsoever with it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

May 21, 2022 at 2:08 pm

In early March I purchased a 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0. I have used the Mission Control app to change the settings for Eco mode to 20% Support and 35% Peak Power. This provides sufficient motor assistance to a) ride faster than I ever could on my non-motorized road bike and b) climb all but the steepest hills in my area on Eco mode, while also getting a good workout. So far I have approximately 330 miles on the bike. At the end of every ride my ride distance plus the estimated range remaining has come out to over 100 miles. I haven’t done a century ride in more than 15 years, so I’m pretty sure my butt would be screaming for me to get off the bike before I would run out of battery power. The bike is simply awesome. :0)

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Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (2022) review

Specialized’s latest turbo is its best commuter e-bike offering to date.

TechRadar Verdict

The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (2022) is an e-bike for all seasons and just about any kind of cycling scenario. While it’s not the most svelte electric two-wheeler on the market it is beautifully designed, really well put together, and rides like a dream. There are decent levels of tech, especially from the bike’s much-improved computer while the power delivery is also highly commendable. Mix that with the seamless SRAM 11-speed derailleur gearing setup and you’ve got a winning formula. Specialized bikes aren’t cheap to buy, and the Turbo Vado 4.0 is no exception, but the overall build and ride quality constantly remind you why sometimes it’s best to spend a little bit more. That’s especially so if you plan to use the bike everyday.

Superb power delivery

Excellent tech features

Comfy riding position

Quite chunky to lug around without power assist

Attaching the battery connector is a bit fiddly

Premium price might not suit all budgets

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Two-minute review

Anyone looking for a great all-round electric bike that comes with the benefit of a superior powered system will find much to like about the Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (2022). It comes with the 4X You drive system, meaning it’s got plenty of power to tap into thanks to the 250W motor and 710Wh battery. Even without power assistance, the 11-speed SRAM gearing system is a treat to use on its own.

The Turbo Vado 4.0 isn’t designed around the most delicate of frames, but that's a small sacrifice to make for its sheer practicality. It's one of those e-bikes you can just hop on and hop off again, using the power as and when you need it.

At the same time, it boasts impressive range and bristles with lots of top tech, including the brilliant MasterMind bike computer, neat security options, and a rock-solid supporting app. This is an expensive bike, but the look, feel and riding experience all help to reassure you that you’ve made the right choice.

Price and release date

The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (2022) was unveiled in September 2021, and is available to buy right now direct from Specialized, or from authorized resellers.

It starts at $4,000 / £3,900 / AU$5,000 (at the time of writing, some sizes are discounted), which is towards the higher end of the price bracket for an everyday e-bike. For context, the Cowboy 4 , which sat at the top of our roundup of the best e-bikes for many months, is priced at £2,490 (about $3,400 / AU$4,700).

Our current top-rated folding e-bike, the Gocycle G4, is a little more expensive at $4,999 / £3,999 (about AU$7,000). This is expected for a folding bike due to the complexity of the engineering.

Specialized also sent us the new Align II helmet to try with this bike. Both have clever design as their central theme, with quality not far behind. While the helmet proved to be more than acceptable to wear and is purely functional, the Turbo Vado 4.0 (2022) is a real thing of beauty. The frame is dominated by a bulky front downtube, which houses the battery, but aside from this the Vado 4.0 looks like a solid, everyday cruiser that is suited to a variety of cycling requirements.

It’s not a flashy bike. In fact, the look of the Vado is decidedly low key especially in the White Mountains/Black Reflective colorway we tested. There’s a zingier Red Tint/Silver Reflective finish if you prefer something more vibrant, while the Cast Black/Silver Reflective model is dark and moody if that’s more your thing. The paint is thoughtfully chosen too, with reflective qualities that should make you easier to see on the road.

Whatever color combination you plump for, the Specialized Turbo Vado 4 is a step up from the earlier model, the Specialized Turbo Vado SL , that we got to love over an extended loan period in 2020. That bike proved perfect as a daily rider, especially for quick flits to the shops.

The Turbo Vado 4.0 is quite a chunky bike, and weighs in at 24kg - much more than the 14.9kg SL (Super Light) model. Somehow though it doesn’t feel that bulky when you’re using it though, which we’ll explain shortly.

The Turbo Vado certainly has all the features you'd expect from a high-end e-bike. A major improvement is the bike’s computer. Dubbed the MasterMind, this is a fully customizable unit, which features a crisp and clear display that employs solid, blocky fonts that are easy to read in all conditions. The color and fresh feel of its display is really good on the eyes. 

Everything can be adjusted by the supplementary Mission Control app, which enables quick and easy adaptation of the control options, as well as providing comprehensive information on your rides over time. Specialized also offers over-the-air software updates, much like modern cars, meaning the Vado 4.0 is reasonably future-proof and you don't need to take it to a service center to get important patches and new features.

Specialized has also paid close attention to the bike’s security options. The app can be used to disable the bike with a PIN needed to reactivate it. The Vado’s battery is lockable and can be easily removed altogether as an added bonus.

There are integrated front and rear lights. The taillight is actually a neat wraparound LED strip, a rear rack as standard, plus those all-important Drytech mudguards, which are essential for taming any spray or mud that flies up from the fairly beefy Pathfinder 650b x 2.3-inch tires.

These also do a great job of soaking up bumps in the road, as do the Suntour front forks that can travel 80mm and take on potholes with ease. Specialized has ensured that the latest design will work with through-axle trailers and children’s seats too, which has obvious benefits if you’re planning on using it for family adventures.

Elsewhere, and as you’d expect from this premium brand, the essentials are top-notch including a frame constructed from E5 aluminium, Specialized’s own alloy handlebars with super comfy grips, a Rivo Sport saddle and no-fuss flat pedals. Crucially, there’s a SRAM 11-speed derailleur that proves to be a dream to use. Changing gears is a piece of cake too, with a large lever for the ‘easy gear’ selections and a small button for heading up through to the top gears.

This is backed up by the Turbo Full Power Motor, which is built into the bottom of the downtube. Power deliver is slick and smooth. Stopping comes courtesy of SRAM discs front and rear. As a complete package the bike really looks the part and, while that explains why it’s pretty pricey, the Vado is also subdued enough to not appear really stealable.

Performance

One of the big differences between the lighter Vado SL and this Vado is range. This e-bike can cover less at 144.8km (almost 90 miles) compared to the SL’s 195km (around 121 miles), but the figure is still respectable enough, especially when you consider the weight of the bike itself. In fact, unless you’re really putting in the cycling hours that should be more than enough for most needs over the course of a few days.

There’s a lot to like about the new Vado 4.0, as we discovered over a prolonged period of use. It’s one of those hugely useful cycles that you can just jump on when you need it. The e-bike can be powered up in an instant by pushing the power button on the handlebar-mounted computer. Simply select one of the modes – Eco, Sport or Turbo – and you’re ready to go. 

Those oversized tires feel great on the road and prove very grippy when you really get going. They’re less impressive if you hit a muddy trail as we found out in wet conditions. You’ll need to have a foot ready to put down if you overdo the power settings, pedal too hard and experience a whiff of wheelspin, but this adds a touch of fun to proceedings if you’re in need of a little adrenalin buzz.

On regular roads though, the Vado 4.0 kills it, with the power delivery proving perfectly balanced, dynamic and always there when you need it. The gearing is brilliant too, with the up and down levers on the handlebars allowing for slick changes. This is an e-bike that Specialized seems to have got spot on in that respect. Overall, this incarnation of the Specialized Vado 4.0 is the best one we’ve tried to date.

First reviewed February 2022

You want an e-bike to eat up the miles The available power and its delivery are second to none, making light work of journeys.

Comfort comes first The latest Vado is a dream to ride, with a comfy upright riding position complemented by the great saddle, handlebars and grips.

Tech is a priority The MasterMind computer is excellent, which works brilliantly alongside the supporting app.

Don't buy it if

You’re not into upright, commuter-style bikes This isn’t a racing bike; it's more of a cruiser, although the motor and battery combo give it plenty of beef all the same.

You can’t justify the expense You can get cheaper e-bikes, but the quality, looks and performance here is hard to better.

You’re going off-road The Vado can handle muddy trails with ease, but those road tires can catch you out on slick and slippery surfaces.

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Rob Clymo has been a tech journalist for more years than he can actually remember, having started out in the wacky world of print magazines before discovering the power of the internet. Since he's been all-digital he has run the Innovation channel during a few years at Microsoft as well as turning out regular news, reviews, features and other content for the likes of TechRadar, TechRadar Pro, Tom's Guide, Fit&Well, Gizmodo, Shortlist, Automotive Interiors World, Automotive Testing Technology International, Future of Transportation and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International. In the rare moments he's not working he's usually out and about on one of numerous e-bikes in his collection.

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Review: Specialized Turbo Vado SL is the commuter e-bike for cyclists (and urbanites)

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The original Vado, which launched in 2017 , uses a full-size (but still custom) motor with all the power you’d need for high-speed commutes. But, like all full power e-bikes, they’re heavy, and they provide a lot of assist right out of the gate.

The Specialized Vado SL takes a different approach. It uses a lower power motor, and its power comes on more slowly. This lets them use a smaller battery and motor combo, which is lighter. This gives the bike two advantages…sort of, for the right type of rider.

Which is…who, exactly? And how does it compare to the standard Vado? Let’s find out…

Vado SL tech details

The Turbo Vado SL is built around Specialized’s SL 1.1 motor, which is the lightweight version used in the Levo SL mountain bike , one of (if not) the lightest full-suspension eMTBs on the market. This is how they get away with a lithe frame that looks very much like a regular city bike, nearly as sleek as their Sirrus city bikes.

It’s a small motor, with a comparatively small battery tucked into the downtube. And there’s less “packaging” around the motor. This keeps it all quite small, but it means there’s far less sound insulation, too.

We noted the additional motor noise when we test rode the Levo SL, and that same noise is present here. Watch the video in my Levo SL review if you want to hear it. If not, suffice to say the noise is present, but soft enough to kinda be tuned out after a minute.

Also like the Levo SL (and Creo SL e-road bike ), the Vado SL commuter e-bike can add 50% more range by plugging in the water bottle-shaped external battery.

The bike has three levels of assist, controlled with a thumb pad that uses a +/- pair to go up or down, plus the immediate “Turbo” button denoted with their trademark “S” logo. There’s another button on the back that I’ll get to in a sec.

Their smartphone app lets you customize the level of assist that Eco, Sport and Turbo provide, along with the percentage of effort that you’re required to do along the way. There’s also a smart mode that lets you set the distance and let the bike manage battery use and assist levels to get you there.

The on/off button is flush with the top of the top tube and also has a mode button, though it’s easier to use the handlebar-mounted remote. The top tube unit has an LED display that shows remaining battery power, with blue and green combinations to illustrate how much is left in the internal and external batteries, if you have one plugged in. It turns red when it’s almost dead.

I tested the Vado SL 4.0 Equipped. All models get front and rear taillights that automatically turn on (solid only, no blinking mode) when the bike turns on. “Equipped” models add full coverage front and rear aluminum fenders and the rear rack for only $150 more…very much worth it.

The only other option is a 5.0 model that adds their FutureShock 2.0 suspension steerer tube to take the edge off bumps, plus upgraded shifters, rear derailleur, wheels and tires. Those should save a little bit of weight, but honestly, the 4.0’s Tektro hydraulic brakes and Deore kit on this bike were perfectly fine…and this build is $1,000 less than the 5.0.

Flat mount brakes maintain the sleek look, along with integrated fender, rack and kickstand mounts. The hidden fender mounts on the bottom of the carbon fork are particularly sleek.

Main specs are:

• 240w/35Nm peak output
• 320Wh battery
• 180% max assistance
• 120 mile max range (with external battery pack)
• 28mph top speed (assisted…you can pedal it as fast as you want)
• MSRP from $3,600 to $4,750

Specialized Turbo Vado vs Vado SL

How does the Vado compare to the Vado SL ? Which one’s the best commuter e-bike for you? Here’s the short of it:

If you want more power and easier speed, get the regular Vado.

If you have to carry your bike up stairs, or want more of a workout, get the Vado SL.

Both have similarly equipped trim levels at the same prices. The Vado just has a lot more power, a suspension fork, fatter tires, and it feels like it goes a lot faster even though they’re both Class III models with a 28mph top assisted speed. ( Side note: Trust me, if you call yourself a “cyclist”, don’t waste time with any 20mph Class I e-bikes for a commuter or road model, you’ll only be disappointed. )

The Vado has 90Nm of power, delivering almost 3x the torque, so it’ll get you up to the max much more quickly despite being ~16lbs heavier (49lb claimed weight versus 33lb for Vado SL). It also comes in a step-thru model, the Vado SL does not.

Both versions will take you up to 80 miles per charge, but the Vado SL can use the external battery pack to increase that to 120 miles…the Vado can not.

Vado SL ride review

The Vado SL is a handsome bike. The Vado is a sporty bike. If this sounds like I’m kinda reviewing both of them, I am. We have a Vado 3.0 in our personal fleet and have been riding it for years, and it’s awesome.

The Vado SL was awesome, too, and I enjoyed the lighter weight while doing things like this:

“But, Tyler,” you say, “there’s a groove right there on the right, just wheel the bike up!”

Yep, there is, and the Vado SL has a handy Walk Assist feature for just that reason:

Just push that little button on the backside of the remote and it’ll start rolling the rear wheel forward with enough force to drive it up a ramp. As more and more cities put bike (or luggage) ramps on staircases to make our cities more bike- and pedestrian-friendly, you may find this feature quite useful.

And if your city’s behind the times, the bike is light enough to just pick up and carry.

Overall, the Specialized Vado bikes are a rock-solid choice for commuters. Whether you choose the regular or SL version depends on your needs. Personally, I’d go with the standard one because it’s just more fun and I’m parking it in my garage.

The SL requires more effort to get up to top speed, which is a great workout with the ability to still scoot up the climbs. Kinda depends on how much work you want to put into your commute. Or whether you have to heft it up stairs when you get home…I would not want to carry the regular one up a flight.

That you can get into a fully equipped, 28mph-assist e-bike with a completely integrated battery and drive system for well under $4K, from a brand with retail support to keep you rolling with updates and maintenance, is impressive. Add in great looks, and years of trouble-free use, and it’s easy to recommend Specialized Vado in either variety.

specialized.com

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com . He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

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Can you put a front rack on it?

Yes you can – the 4.0 got an alloy fork with lowrider mounts. The 5.0 got a carbon fork missing these mounts.

Looking at the weight of the 2 bikes brings up a question about ebikes in general. Why most weigh so much. Where does the 16 pound difference between the bikes come from? The motor and battery differences are probably less than half that. Bracing for the additional torque would only be required in the rear triangle and wouldn’t add more than a pound or 2. Both bikes go just as fast and have the same weight capacities. I suspect that Specialized, Trek and Cannondale all over engineer their ebikes and need to put them all on a weight loss diet.

The Vado SL is about 11 pounds heavier than the Sirrus-X, which it is similar to. It also has a bigger frame to house the motor and battery. The forks are slightly bigger as well. The Vado (not SL) has an even bigger battery and motor, and a bigger frame, plus front shock forks, and bigger tires still. That’s the weight there.

I work on mid drive ebikes all day. Got to take a spin on this the other day. Definitely not a motor for a hilly area. I’d put it right next to the Fazua system as far as how little power it puts to the ground and how thin the market for that type of system is. The person who brought the Vado SL in went out on a test ride on my least powerful Bosch bike from the floor and was bummed out that he spent money with the big red S before he came and saw us.

I bought a new Vado for my birthday ( $3500) before tax, I liked the looks of the bike, very much like a road bike. Anyway I went for a ride around my neighborhood on pavement and hills the bike was okay. The next weekend I went for a ten mile ride with a three couples who had Rad single speed e-bikes. The road was not paved in a few places ( muddy and rough areas) the Vado is a ridged ride, the other couples on the rad bikes had throttle and wider tires as well as 5 power assist ( I did not) as the day went everyone was doing great and well ahead of me . The Vado is a great road bike on pavement and hard packed dirt, not for rough roads and mud. I’m looking to sell the bike. Thanks

That is definitely a motor for a hilly area – you should test ride it yes. And yes, every bosch bike feels more powerful, but the SL feels like riding the bike instead of beeing just a passenger on the bike.

I too work in a bike shop, and live in a hilly area. Key questions people need to ask themselves are: “How much assist do i truly want or need?” And, “How natural of pedaling do I want? Specialized bikes are better than every single other brand at the latter. They are the closest to naturally pedaling of any e-bike, period. But if you’re looking for a lot of power just to get over hills, the Vado SL, despite feeling very natural to pedal, isn’t as powerful as the Vado (non SL). And there are bikes with more power than it. If you don’t care about pedaling naturally, and just want power, or top speed, then buy one of the Class 2 bikes with a throttle. Basically a battery powered 750 watt scooter that you can pedal.

Vado 4.0 SL owner here, coming from an analog hybrid. My take, as a fairly fit 67-year-old, is that if you too are fairly fit, the SL is a great commuter/hybrid that allows you to have a good workout plus ample assist for uphills. Not so fit or less interested in a workout? Go for the bigger power heavyweights. But be aware, you will lose that natural bike feel.

Nice, endless your your under 5’3” then your out of luck for any Vado. Missing out on a lot of sales I think.

Well you have a bicycle and your friends have electric motorbikes (throttle), so would be expected. Horses for courses, sounds like your intent with friends is not to get a workout and push the pedals, so make sure you get a throttle bike.

I’m fat , out of shape and live in a hilly area. I tuned the eco setting to 50% on support and power and it goes just fine to be honest. I tried the turbo for the exact same ride and the average speed was 2km/u faster. (25 vs 23) I can do 60km on my custom setting and 40km on turbo. I often ride to the store with no support at all. Is it the best ebike? No not really but it is a very good bike WITH support. I love it.

Can the (damaged, worn) battery be replaced after removing the motor?

Yes, you can! Also handy to remove for travel and if you are on a plane you can just bring the smaller bottle battery which is flight legal!

I have the “original” Specialized Turbo, with the removable battery and hub motor. It’s heavy and gets really hard to pedal over about 24mph. I like the idea of a mid-mounted motor and having the bike be alot lighter of course has many benefits. I’d like to upgrade to the Vado SL, but I’m worried I’ll lose some power. My existing bike (the original Turbo) feels more powerful than the Vado SL on test rides. I assume my bike has better acceleration, but I’m hoping the Vado SL is better at speeds above 24mph. Anyone have any experience with both bikes?

I have owned a Vado 3.0 Turbo for about a year and 1300 hilly miles. It is the best bike I ever owned in my 65 years of city biking. It feels like a real bike only faster. The motor is inaudible. Even in San Francisco I almost never use boost 3. It provides a great combo of transportation and exercise. If I want to get across town quickly I put it on boost 2 and get there faster than a car and have gotten some exercise. When I go for my evening exercise ride up Twin Peaks I mostly use boost 1 even up hills. It is heavy but without the battery I can lift it up to my camper van bar rack without much difficulty. This old guy feels like Greg LeMonde. I see that since I bought my 2020 model the price went up $500. I guess Specialized realized they had a winner.

Toast on – I own Class 3 2021 Vado SL 5.0 as well as a 2018 Vado 4.0.. I did a lot of research last winter and decided to purchase the SL.. It is comfortable (as bikes go), love the shifting , love the brushed aluminum finish as I am meticulous about ‘marks’ on the frame. My regular bike is a 2017 Roubaix Comp.. I ride about 100 miles per week, nothing crazy, but descent shape for a 58 year old. Unfortunately I am disappointed with the SL when it comes to long hills, or hills in general. I have adjusted mission control settings numerous times and I just don’t feel like I achieve any assist on hills with the SL. Certainly can climb those hills faster on my Roubaix. The SL is good for cutting through the wind on flats and slight rollers, but not a great hill bike. Better off using standard bike in hilly area than SL in my experience. (Naturally the Vado 4.0 does very well on hills but not as good as my wife’s Domane+ with speed motor – that bike is fast on….-) for the 6 lb. weight difference, if you want fast, and less of a natural feel on flats and noisier – the Trek is the bike to go with, and I am a ‘Specialized’ guy, currently own 4.

On the Vado SL the 180% assist in turbo mode actually means that the the motor adds 80% to your own effort. It does not add 180%.

Does the Thule Yapp Maxi child seat work with the Vado 5.0 SL? Thank you!

Can you please compare riding effort of similar regular bike and vado sl without motor assistence. Is it much harder to ride?

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Adrienne So

Review: Specialized Turbo Vado SL Equipped

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I biked to the beach the other day. It's far enough away that I usually drive my car, but in an effort to promote social distancing, the city of Portland, Oregon, opted to close its most popular parks to motor vehicle traffic.

OK, I should clarify. I e -biked to the beach. (Yes, technically, an electric bike is a motor vehicle, but at least I don’t need a parking space?) I pedaled on Specialized’s new lightweight electric commuter bike, the Vado SL, and it's currently my dream steed of choice. It’s pricey, but light, powerful, and maneuverable—great for anyone who is currently covering many more miles by bike than normal.

To get to the beach, I bumped through bike lanes, followed painted arrows through a weird, complicated crosswalk, and swooped over a bridge that swung high over a slough. I picked up speed on a paved path on a truck route, and cackled as I overtook serious cyclists in skin-tight jerseys. The beach was gloriously empty. I looked at it for a bit, then hopped on the ebike to head home.

Why would you pick a pricey bike by a high-end bike manufacturer, like Specialized, versus a more affordable one designed by a startup or a software engineer? Well, Specialized has been building bikes since 1981. They have a lot of experience with bikes and bikers, so I wasn’t surprised that the Vado SL is one of the most fun bikes I’ve ridden.

A lot of that love might come from personal preference. The Vado SL has a hybrid frame, which is just like the first bike frame I ever rode. It has a typical road bike frame, but sturdier, with slightly bigger wheels and flat handlebars for a more stable grip. It's an incredibly versatile frame style. You can quickly scootch from pavement to dirt and gravel in comfort, and the flat handlebars make it much easier to steer. That's an underestimated factor in city bikes, since I often find myself dodging telephone poles that pop out of nowhere.

SL stands for “super light,” and it is. I’m 5'2" and rode the small frame, which weighs 33 pounds—only a few pounds heavier than my steel mountain bike. Unlike the vast majority of ebikes, it’s light enough to hang on bike hooks in my shed, carry upstairs, or swing through my gate. That also makes it much easier to maneuver.

It also has a hidden shock-absorbing spring that takes the force of any bumps and cushions the rider over rough terrain. Most road bikes don’t have suspension. Mountain bikes usually do, but that makes them a lot heavier. Specialized compromised by hiding 20 millimeters of suspension in the bike’s head tube, under the handlebars.

This doesn’t seem like it should work. After all, the head tube can't compress. But I felt it when I was absentmindedly biking to the UPS store and hit an enormous pothole without seeing it. It was a jolt, and on a normal bike it would’ve rattled the handlebars right out of my hands. The Vado SL stayed steady and my chin remained un-cheese-gratered.

It’s both weird and not weird that I haven’t mentioned Specialized's custom motor yet. It is a tiny SL 1.1 mid-drive motor, which was designed for their high-performance electric road bikes with 3 graduated assist modes. It’s powered by a slim 320-Wh battery that’s integrated into the bike’s down tube.

I never thought about the motor—because I never had to. You can control the bike’s assistance levels via buttons on the handlebar. But if you download Specialized’s Mission Control app, you can—in addition to diagnosing your bike’s problems, tracking stats, and checking a map—also turn on Smart Control.

Smart Control crunches a lot of data. It estimates the amount of energy that the bike consumes over the course of an estimated ride length, time, or distance. You can input desired factors, like connecting a heart rate monitor to keep your HR at a certain level. But once you’ve toggled it on, it automatically adjusts the level of assistance you need.

Smart Control made it unnervingly easy to ride the bike. It was only after a week that I realized that when Smart Control was on, I never adjusted the assistance level. For example, the bike ride to my house from downtown Portland is a long, boring climb that has induced many a teary temper tantrum late at night.

With Smart Control on, I turned right onto the street back up to my house and … went fast. Really fast! I shifted to bigger and bigger gears, but still felt a comfortable amount of torque on the pedals. I went faster and faster. I triggered the speed limit warning signs as I crept up above 20 mph.

It still felt like I was biking under my own steam, just that I had—suddenly and with no training whatsoever—grown Greg Lemond’s quads. I was free with the electric assistance and rode a lot of hills, and got the battery to 25 percent after 40 miles. That's short of the estimated top limit of 80 miles, but well within the range of most ebike batteries. You can also add range extenders . Just be sure to downshift before you come to a stop. Even with e-assistance, it's hard to get going again if you've put on the biggest gear.

It is worth mentioning that those 40 miles were within three days. That’s not a remarkable feat for a serious cyclist, but for someone who rides mainly in jorts, it’s a lot of miles. I couldn't get off this bike. It was so much fun to take off that it made me feel like a little kid again, like I could adroitly negotiate rutted dirt paths and tree roots and zip off streets at incredible speeds. It’s the first ebike I’ve ridden that doesn’t feel like an ebike at all, and that's a great thing.

The equipped version doesn't include a phone mount, but you get integrated headlamps, a bell, a rack, and extremely long, flexible fenders that sluice water away from you, not splashing it up into your face. If you have the cash to spare, even the extras on the Vado SL are top-notch. And the paint job is fierce .

Updated June 5: This story was updated to correct bike's frame size, which was a small, and the wattage of the battery. It is 320-Wh, not 320-KWh.

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Which commuter ebike? Specialized 2022 Como/Vado 5.0 vs 2022 Trek Allant+ 7S

• Thread starter powersquad
• Start date Dec 18, 2021
• Dec 18, 2021

Hello folks, I am an unfit 36 year old weighing 200lbs looking at my first ebike for commuting to work primarily which is 25KM one way (16 miles) so 50KM return (32 miles). My office location has changed which was quite further out before where I had a free car park but at the new office location location that is 50KM return trip, I will have to find a paid car park and they are around NZD$1800. I figure, this commute is achievable via bicycle specially now that they have interconnected my small town with the major town where my job is via a dedicated cycleway that is mostly concrete path for 70% of the way and remaining is tar seal road. At my new work building after few recent thefts in the car park where the bike stand is also, they have full fenced off the area with swipe card access apparently as I still have not been to the new office location yet. WFH is great but it will come to and end in a month's time so will have to commute to work atleast 3 days a week and 2 days WFH. This will be my first ebike. I have been reading various threads here at EBR and watching videos on YouTube as well between different model bikes that has helped atleast narrow down I think between 2 brands Specialized and Trek. The reason why I have picked these 2 brands is because there is local support for both these brands in my small town and also the major town where my work is. I ruled out Riese and Muller because the closest bike show that supports this brand is 1 hour and 30 mins away one way. For the Trek, I picked the Allant+ 7S which is available in New Zealand at NZD$5999 incl tax (15%) (USD$4000 incl 15% tax). However my wife's workplace has a scheme with this specific chain of bike retailer that gives 12.5% discount and they happen to sell Trek so I can get the Allant +7S for NZD$5250 incl tax (USD$3500). There is barely any ebike stock available in the country due to big back orders. The retailer has 1 M and 1 L size left. I did a test ride on the M size today being 5'9 in height and the bike was a tight/perfect fit. The L size is brand new and they will have to build it which they can for a 10% deposit and will even return the deposit if I back out of both L or M size. I am thinking L size would fit me better. I am looking at the low step version so my wife who is 5'8 can also use it easily. Being my first ever ebike ride, the Allant +7S was great experience. I climbed an steep incline which I would have huffed and puffed on a non e-bike but the Trek ploughed through it on low gear on turbo mode and I did not break a sweat. The motor was noticeably noisy. I will contact the Specialized dealer tomorrow but I think due to being sold out everywhere that I can see online, I would be surprised if they would have any stock. I am interested in the 2022 Como 5.0 more and I like the connectivity and security lock options with motor being disabled. These likely will not be available until April 2022 including the 2022 Vado. These are NZD$8900 incl 15% tax (USD$6000). 1. Is the Specialized 2022 Como 5.0 worth it over Allant+ 7S with an extra price difference of NZD $3650 (USD$2500) for the chain version and $USD900 more on top for the IGH version? 2. Is one of these brands more reliable over the other specially with parts availability down the track as the battery would likely need to be replaced in 5 years time? 3. For commute mostly, if I did go down the path of Specialized, would Como suit better over Vado? Edit - I just came back from the Specialized dealer and the allocation for 2022 bikes are extremely low. Like 1 unit low for 2022 Turbo Como 5.0 (non SL) which they reckon they will receive in January or Feb 2022 and they will not have anything after that until August 2022. I did a test ride on the 2021 Specialized Como they had on floor which was the M size and it's definitely the size I would want if go with Specialized. The bike rode well,. The motor also had noticeable noise but less than the Allant+ 7S. It did struggle on the hill I took it to even on low gear and I had to pedal hard but I suspected that from the SL being 35nm torque only and I am not fit (yet). The brakes were also not that strong or prompt to action unlike the Allant+ 7S. I suspect it might be 2 piston break unlike 4 piston on the Allant+ 7S. I think it's between Turbo Como 5.0 vs Allant+ 7S for me. Both have good torque, build quality and 4 piston breaks. Specialized dealer has offered me $500 off which he said no other dealer will offer in the country in current climate and I believe him because I have not been able to find stock of ebikes in general anywhere in NZ. I can get the Specialized 2022 Turbo Como 5.0 for $8400 instead of $8900 incl tax so USD$5650 incl tax. USD$3500 for the Allant+ 7S. I did prefer the handles of Como SL over Allant+ 7S so I imagine the handles of 2022 Como will be similar as well. Thanks.  

2wheels4fun

• Dec 20, 2021

The Trek seems like a better deal to me, plus it’s in stock. I hope you enjoy your new bike, which ever you pick.  

Stefan Mikes

Well-known member.

This is a very hard decision @powersquad . As I am a Specialized fan as I can tell you the Como is not for everyone. Como is a comfortable city e-bike while the Trek Allant+ 7S is a sporty ride. Otherwise, these two e-bikes are quite similar in performance. The pros for Specialized: The 2022 models sport the updated electronics (Mastermind) and new motors. The connectivity of Specialized e-bikes in unparalleled by any other brand. Trek is equipped with the current Bosch motor but Bosch come with a big change to the Smart System, which has not been implemented by Trek yet (so you would buy -- technically speaking -- an obsolete e-bike). If you only could get a 2022 Vado then I would greatly recommend that to you. Or, a 2022 Specialized Tero EQ.  

The price on the Trek is good, but that is a killer tax. I own a Trek Verve+3 and the Trek you are looking at is a nicer bike. A lot more punch out of the motor. Can you charge the bike when you park it at work? If so you should be able to crank up the assist and make the commute in an hour. If you can’t charge it, you might have to watch the battery range a little more carefully.  

dodgeman said: Can you charge the bike when you park it at work? If so you should be able to crank up the assist and make the commute in an hour. If you can’t charge it, you might have to watch the battery range a little more carefully. Click to expand...

• Dec 21, 2021

I have re-read your original post @powersquad (because my first answer was only related to the differences between Como 5.0 and Allant+ 7S). Range Like you, I am a 90 kg (or so) person, and my legs cannot improve for health reasons. My Turbo test on an older 45 km/h Vado 5.0 with 604 Wh battery gave me the range of 43 km (loop) when riding on a 14 C morning with moderate wind and totally on the flat . I covered that distance in 1 h 28 min net with the average speed of 29.3 km/h. You are to cover several hills, so your range would be even shorter than that. Having said that: The 2022 Como 5.0 comes with a 710 Wh battery. If you rode in Turbo all the way, the range would be close to 50 km but only on the flat. Additionally, Como is less aerodynamic than Vado, further reducing your speed and increasing battery consumption. Analysis: To get the average of 25 km/h, you would be using Turbo uphill only, and Sport mode elsewhere. (Slower average speed means more range). You would either be not pedalling on descents or you would put the assistance to OFF there (there is no reason to pedal or be assisted downhill); that helps conserving the battery charge very much. Conclusion: While you might make the round-trip on a single battery charge of 2022 Como 5.0, you should better consider taking the battery out from the frame and charging it inside at work. (That would be unavoidable with the 500 Wh battery of the Allant+). Battery Sustainability With so hard use of the e-bike, you might be forced to get a new battery in 3 (or even 2) years. Bosch promises to make the older batteries for 7 years more but they actually already think of the new Smart System with completely different batteries. The future here is uncertain. Specialized has just started with the new U2-710 batteries so these should be available for many years with no worries. Specialized SL e-bikes These are very nice but they are no commuters but leisure/fitness e-bikes. You cannot expect high speed or easy climbing or long battery range at higher speeds. I live in the flatland and am getting maximum average speed of 21 km/h on my Vado SL, using Turbo mode for clearing overpasses only. And you probably could not charge the battery on the bike at work! Again: talk with the LBS if you could get a 2022 Vado 5.0. That e-bike would be a better commuter than the Como. And... NZ does not have any speed limit for e-bikes but the imported Specialized models could by chance be limited to 25 km/h (like for Australia or Europe), Double check with the dealer whether the offered model conforms to the U.S. Class 3, that is, it assists you to 28 mph. (Allant+ S is a 28 mph e-bike by definition).  

The Trek you are looking at has the same battery as my Trek and you should have no problem with the range without charging it while you are at work. I’ve ridden 32 miles and probably had another 10 to 15 miles left in the battery. What you probably won’t have is the ability to ride on maximum assist without charging the battery at work. Like Stefan Mikes says, that will hit the battery pretty hard. Just a wild guess on my part, the original battery should last a year and maybe 2 to 3 years.  

An interesting observation, disregarding the e-bike make/model as all modern. upright riding position, mid-drive motor e-bikes face the same phenomena of physics: I needed to visit my daughter today (there is white Winter here now) so I was in hurry. I was riding a loop in flat terrain. I used 409 Wh from the battery to cover 50 km. Yet, the average speed was only 20.2 km/h (and no hills)! The assistance level in terms of the full power Vado/Como was 41%. Increasing the assistance and getting higher average speed is very heavy on the battery range as the power demand is a cubic function of air drag (or, the e-bike velocity relative to air, also related to the riding position).  

Stefan, I know you have disagreed on the range I suspect people will get with their e bikes. I’m not sure why, I’m not saying your wrong, it’s just different from what I experience. I have 990 miles on my Trek Verve+3 with a 500wh battery. My controller just shows bars so it’s hard to compare but the ride you just described I would expect about 40% left on my battery. I would probably ride with a little more assistance and about 3 km/h faster. It’s almost always windy here and some hills, I probably average 1000 feet of elevation gain.  

You're probably far stronger than I am dodgeman. The point is powersquad would like to arrive to work fresh. And at the average speed of 25 km/h. That means a lot of assistance.  

Stronger? I’m not sure about that. It maybe just where I ride, how I ride, wind, hills etc. Knowing how my Trek works compared to the one he is looking at, I’d say if he takes his battery inside and charges it, he will be fine for range running the maximum assist.  

dodgeman said: I’d say if he takes his battery inside and charges it, he will be fine for range running the maximum assist. Click to expand...

dodgeman said: Stefan, I know you have disagreed on the range I suspect people will get with their e bikes. I’m not sure why, I’m not saying your wrong, it’s just different from what I experience. Click to expand...

Thanks, guys, for your tips and recommendations so far. I have managed to find some progress photos of parts of the shared cycleway/walkway last night on the Government website. As per the latest update, it looks it will only complete and open around the end of March 2022 due to COVID lockdown delays. It is a 60KM long shared track linking the major city with two small cities that are neighboring along the river. They have already opened the first small city's path earlier this year linking it to the major city, but our small city got delayed due to COVID. This delay does gives me a good month or two with the bike to get practice on it and get an idea about battery life etc. I have attached some photos of the shared cycleway/walkway. It does include longboards as well now that I see them in the photos which I imagine, the ebike should have no issues with anyway? compared to concrete and tar seal road that I thought the cycleway would compromise of. Hopefully, the front suspension and tyre quality would be comfortable ride with both the Allant+ 7S or Turbo Como 5.0. @Stefan Mikes That is a very good observation you made regarding checking the 25KM/h restriction that they have in some parts of the world. I know Australia also has the 25KM/h restriction for ebikes while NZ does not. The Allant+7S is specifically advertised as Class 3 ebike in NZ with 28mph advertising and during my test ride, I did get it up to 37KM/h on turbo so can confirm it's all good in NZ. I checked Specialized NZ page after your speed restriction comment for Turbo Como 5.0 and it advertises 28mph speeds as well and then checked Australian page and it lists it specifically on their website at 25KM/h. NZ is metric so both Trek and Specialized did not bother converting from mph to km/h when advertising their speeds Hehe. I just rang Specialized NZ HQ in NZ and they confirmed that in NZ, it will be indeed 28mph (45KM/h) for their bikes as well unlike Australia and Eruope so that is great news as well. To answer some of the questions, yes at work I can charge my battery on my desk. There is no external power point AFAIK around the bike stand where I can leave the charger plugged in there and connect to bike directly so I would have to remove the battery if required and charge at my work desk which is no problem. I do have a question though below. 1. With both Trek and Specialized, the battery comes out. If it starts to rain outside and now the battery slot on bike is exposed to the rain, can the rain go inside the battery contact pins or any other place via that big battery hole and damage the electronics/motor/battery or are the battery pins fully sealed and all I need to do before putting the battery back in after rain has stopped is to wipe dry the battery pins contact area to avoid any shortening? 2. When you want to change gears (low or high) when riding either the Trek or Specialized, should I always be pedaling prior to changing the gear or can I stop pedaling and then change gear and start pedaling again? Can I also lower or up multiple gears quickly in succession? 3. When you mention that when going downhill, to not use assist mode and turn it off for that duration, can I just stop pedaling but leave assist mode on to conserve battery and then as soon the hill comes again or flat ground, I don't have to worry turn the assist mode back on and I can just continue to pedal then? 4. @dodgeman The Trek LBS mentioned that with the Allant+ 7S 500Wh battery, that I can most certainly even in turbo mode all the way arrive at work without running out of juice but yeah, more I will need to charge the battery at work. If I did ride conservatively, I may be able to make a return trip back home without charging but that is a hard push whereas with the Como 5.0 710Wh, I will be fine for a return trip too without worrying about running out of juice atleast on sports mode. I read somewhere that Specialized app has a way to predefine your route information and it can then base on that activate/deactivate pedal assist based around the battery that is available to use too which sounds cool so takes a lot of guess work out. Without a doubt, once I do a full run of this new cycleway when it opens and go to work and come back home, I will have a much clear picture of how many steep paths etc I will have to work with. 5. The reason I like Como over the Vado is for 2 reasons. First is that it is low step so my wife can enjoy riding it as well compared to the Vado. It will not be impossible for my wife to get on the Vado but it will not be as easy as Como. I like the handle and sitting position of upright style of the Como. When I rode the Como SL the handlebar and my sitting position felts very natural and comfortable compared to the Allant +7S which is same handle/sitting position style like the Vado. I still have not fully decided yet if I am honest between the Como 5.0 and Allan+ 7S. If I am honest, currently the Como 5.0 is more in my mind of being the bike due to bigger battery, connectivity options, quieter motor and garmin radar sensor at back. I am hoping for the battery to last me atleast 5 years with which ever bike I go with. I am expecting that once my stamina rate increases and I start to get fitter, I rely much less on Turbo mode and run on either Sports or Eco so the battery charge/discharge cycles should reduce once Turbo mode use will be reduced with either of the bike brands. From a resale point of view, do both Trek and Specialized hold their value well? Thanks  

Attachments

Nice looking bike path, either bike should do fine. We hauled our Treks from Illinois to Utah on the back of my pickup about two months ago. We took the batteries out for transport and they make a little plug to cover the contacts left open in the bike. I think it’s more for peace of mind as everything is sealed up pretty good. For speed, I find with mine running in full turbo, I could probably average a little less than 18 mph for a distance of your commute. The Trek you are looking at has a stronger motor so I think you can expect the commute to take an hour or a little less assuming you don’t have to stop a lot or have traffic. I don’t know how busy that path will be on a work day, it may slow you down.  

powersquad said: 1. With both Trek and Specialized, the battery comes out. If it starts to rain outside and now the battery slot on bike is exposed to the rain, can the rain go inside the battery contact pins or any other place via that big battery hole and damage the electronics/motor/battery or are the battery pins fully sealed and all I need to do before putting the battery back in after rain has stopped is to wipe dry the battery pins contact area to avoid any shortening? Click to expand...

powersquad said: 2. When you want to change gears (low or high) when riding either the Trek or Specialized, should I always be pedaling prior to changing the gear or can I stop pedaling and then change gear and start pedaling again? Can I also lower or up multiple gears quickly in succession? Click to expand...

powersquad said: 3. When you mention that when going downhill, to not use assist mode and turn it off for that duration, can I just stop pedaling but leave assist mode on to conserve battery and then as soon the hill comes again or flat ground, I don't have to worry turn the assist mode back on and I can just continue to pedal then? Click to expand...

powersquad said: From a resale point of view, do both Trek and Specialized hold their value well? Click to expand...

As it happens I picked up a Trek Allant 7s just today as a smaller guest rider to compliment my Allant 9s. I had this order in for a full year. Actually months ago I expanded my choice to an Allant 8s or Specialized Turbo Vado 3.…whatever they could get first. My resale of my first bike a Trek Super Commuter 7 to the Pro’s Closet got me over two thousand $US which was more than I expected. Used prices are high at present dur to the kinks in the supply chain. Get whatever you can get your hands on.  

@Stefan Mikes Wow. RidewithGPS is cool. I signed up to the trial for now to get the route planner functionality. The red line on map is what RidewithGPS has drawn. That whole marked route I can tell is the exciting cycle route from my small town to the big town where my office is. It currently goes through 80% tar seal road shared with cars and is not the new shared walkway/cycleway that will open by March 2022 that I have hand drawn in green colour which runs along the river. It's only a part map from screenshot but as you can see my office is in direction and more in line with the green marked line so when that dedicated cycleway open, I should save a lot of time. Is there a way to find out in this website, what time it will take for the existing route that has been calculated as I cannot seem to find that info on their web app atleast.  

Thanks. I left it on imperial units, but I just saw in your profile that you are from Europe hehe so metric like NZ. Pardon my ignorance but yourself and posters have mentioned average 25 km/h speed. Is that the general average speed of a trip that ebikes end up taking hills/elevations, turns, traffic into account? I am hoping that with the new cycleway, I power my way through at max speed as possible on Turbo and if I must charge battery at work then be it just so that I can cut down on commute time. Google maps shows cycling commute of 1 hour and 20 minutes from home to office using current tar seal road shared with cars which I am guessing is with a pedal bicycle averaging 15km/h ~ 20 km/h? If I can average at least 35KM/h on the new cycleway which is shorter route than current tar seal route at 35KM/h, I can cut this down to 45-minute commute max? Hopefully not wishful thinking.  

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30 facts in comparison

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 vs Trek Verve Plus 3

Why is specialized turbo vado 4.0 better than trek verve plus 3.

• 9.79kg lighter ? 14.9kg vs 24.69kg
• 42% larger battery ? 710 Wh vs 500 Wh
• 20 Nm higher maximum torque ? 70 Nm vs 50 Nm
• Has a dedicated smartphone app ?
• Has a turbo mode ?
• Has anti-theft features ?
• 2 more gears ? 11 vs 9
• 40.63% faster top speed ? 45 km/h vs 32 km/h

Why is Trek Verve Plus 3 better than Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0?

• Has rear suspension ?
• Has an eco mode ?

Which are the most popular comparisons?

Canyon Grand Canyon:ON 7

Specialized Turbo Como 5.0

Cannondale Quick Neo SL 2

Heybike Cityrun

Ride1Up Prodigy XR

Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0

Cannondale Adventure Neo 4

Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0

Gazelle Medeo T10 HMB High-Step

Trek Verve Plus 3 Lowstep

Trek Allant Plus 7

Decathlon Riverside 520 E

Mokwheel Basalt

User reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first. Use your experience to help others in the community make a decision.

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Trek Verve Plus 3)

Performance

Hydraulic disc brakes

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0)

Which are the best electric bikes?

Rotwild R__X1000 Ultra

Heybike Horizon

Electric Bike Company Model C

Trek Rail 9__8 GX

Engwe EP 2 Pro

Trek Rail 9__8 XT

Cyrusher Hurricane

Electric Bike Company Model S

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

2023 Turbo Vado 4.0

2023 Verve+ 4S

(descending)

Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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Moscow’s new suburban rail lines dramatically improve commutes!

The first two of the five lines of the MCD were launched November 21: the MCD1 line goes to Odintsovo (west) and Lobnya (north), while MCD2 to Podolsk (south) and Nakhabino (west). These towns are some 20-30 km from Moscow, and are inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people traveling to Moscow on business each day.

Vladimir Putin at the opening of the MCD.

Both lines cross over with central Moscow stations, as well as those on the outskirts. You can change over to the Moscow Central Circle or the metro (there is a total of 27 stations where you can make the switch). These changes allow for getting to and from the city center much faster and more conveniently than commuter trains.

Why does Moscow need the MCD?

The MCD will add to the function of the commuter trains, easing part of the daily burden experienced by those lines, as well as reduce car traffic in and out of town. The MCD runs every 5-10 minutes with only a four-hour break at night. The reason the new trains are referred to as Diameters is that they travel not just to Moscow’s main intercity stations, but also from one city on the outskirts of Moscow all the way to another one situated at the other end. 

The service runs similar to an ordinary Metro, from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Directions are available in English, so you won’t get lost.

One important change you must remember is the Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo airport now run differently than before: now one ride from the Belorussky railway to Sheremetyevo will take 50 minutes - instead of the usual 35. Also, on the way from the airport, Belorussky railway will no longer be the final stop - Odintsovo will. But there will also be a few new stations that cross over with the regular metro - in the Moscow City district, on Begovaya, Fili and Kuntsevskaya. All of these interlink with the regular metro.

New internet-capable trains

The MCD trains - in accordance with the Russian custom with giving names of birds to every new train route - will carry the name Ivolga (Russian word for “Eurasian golden oriole”). The carriages are outfitted with bike racks, luggage and stroller compartments, power sockets and USB chargers with every seat, as well as free Wi-Fi - as is the case with all of Moscow’s urban transport. 

39 trains are currently operational.

Free transfers!

Prior to the MCD appearing, passengers wanting to switch between city and suburban trains had to buy separate tickets. The MCD greatly simplifies the process: now you simply need to use your Troika card at the MCD ticket stalls. There are two tariffs - city (38 rubles, or $0.6) and regional (45 rubles, $0.8; meaning cities just on the outskirts of Moscow - not the entire region). If you need to go further afield into the Moscow region, beyond the MCD, then your Troika card will be charged an additional $0.35 (23 rubles) to transfer to the ‘elektrichka’ (electrical commuter trains). 

Switching between MCD and metro trains is free for a 90-minute window, irrespective of the tariff. However, if you don’t check out of the station at the exit stalls, your Troika card will be blocked, and require around $2.30 (150 rubles) to unlock. 

You can also pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mastercard PayPass and Visa PayPass. 

Will there be other ‘diameters’?

Several more MCD are slated to launch before 2025 - the MCD3 (from Ramenskoye to Zelenograd), MCD4 (Zheleznodorozhny to Aprelevka) and MCD5 (from Domodedovo to Pushkino). Right now, the passenger load of the first two Diameters is estimated at 900,000 per day. All five Diameters will serve more than 330 million Moscow passengers every year. 

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Kitai Gorod Area in Moscow

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