2019 Men's Turbo Vado 6.0

As my second vado, and an experienced rider, I have fair expectations.The 1.3 Brose motor is the biggest let down, the belt has failed 3+ times, the most recent after 1000km. Its not a reliable commuting bike. Specialized Chch Support has been outstanding however. 4 years on I've just replaced the battery. I'm not expecting the motor to last a further couple thousand km's, despite the US specialized PDF dealer guide suggesting 15,000km. Specialized replaced the display as the previous didnt have bluetooth, but didnt update the handlebar holder, instead added second plastic mount so ugly cockpit now. The original battery lock could be bypassed with a credit card ($250 to replace). Had a stone rip out the rear light with the original tyres, replaced them with the reflect version, I replaced those tyres with massive Marathon Efficiency 28 x 2.15 natural rubber - amazing - only just fit! When it dies, I cant justify another 10k on a specialized turbo vado, defintely not a brose.

I've done less than 1800km. replaced motor due to belt breakage, chainset, chainring, cassette, brakes. Scared for the warranty expiration. When it works it's amazing, like a formula 1, which also requires a pit crew to keep it on the road. There are few maintenance or useful videos on the bike from specialized. The manual is outdated at the time of release. It is great fun to ride but I dear for the next motor replacement at my cost.

I want to love this bike but.... it has some sort of glitch that prevents the bike from operating. I bought this bike and was looking forward to it taking me to places that I was no longer capable of riding...big climbs. When it works it is nothing short of amazing. It gives me my lungs and legs back! But now I have been stranded on two rides and this bike is like pushing a brick around when the controls die. The bike instantly loses power (battery is over 50%) but something just causes the bike to die. The dealer does not know what to do and has to rely on Specialized to tell them what to do next. (I really don't understand why the dealer does not stock parts for this bike.) End result is that parts have to be shipped in so it takes a couple of weeks to get it repaired. And apparently, both Specialized and the dealer are just guessing about the cause because it happened again! Not at all the experience that I was looking for. With the amount of money it takes to acquire this bike I was hoping for an amazing, maintenance free experience. Right now, the bike is in the shop for the second time in 3 months so, so far I've missed out on 3 weeks of riding. Please Specialized, make me glad I bought this bike! There is still time to change this unwelcome experience into the purchase I thought I was making.

I have owned several ebikes including a previous generation Specialized Turbo. Wow! Is it impressive to see the advancement in technology in ebikes...especially the new Vado. I love this bike. It is clearly well engineered as an ebike...not just a regular bike with a motor and battery added as some manufacturers do. This bike has so many great little details...it is obvious much thought has gone into its development. Initially, I wasn't convinced that I needed the front shock (non of my previous bikes had one) but boy do I love it. That shock really smooths out the road but with almost no added weight. Battery life has also been excellent, the fender and rack system is very sturdy and the lighting very good. I also think that this bike seems more comfortable. Beyond the front shock, the frame seems to absorb more road vibration making it an especially comfortable computer and cruiser. Most importantly, the bike has been extremely dependable...no issues at all...in spite of several thousand miles of riding. I would highly recommend the Vado 5.0.

Bought one Vado 6.0 2019 to commute. Workplace is 5km away with a 500m climb. 10%average grade with 16% peak. Bumpy streets, some of cobblestone. I use level 2 assistance during 3km at 6% average grade and level 3 (max) for the remainder 2km of steep hills. Using a regular bike this commute is a challenge. With the Vado it begins as effortless and ends as a slight warm up. During summer the temperature is around 30 C during the ride. The motor does not heat at all and the battery drops 1 of the five LEDs. The bike is absolutely silent and you pass by unnoticed. ( The bike is heavy, but during the use this is not noticeable. The motor is able to deal with all that weight with ease. The speed limit dilema turned out as a myth. While riding at level or climbing, the supported speed is just enough. When going down (I go up to 65km/h) it is not the motor that is pushing down, so the cut-off speed is irrelevant. The ride is very comfortable and I feel safe all the time. Things to improve: I was very disappointed with the small monochrome display. I expected it would come with a larger OLED Color (available from the supplier, but not for sale to customers). But to be fair, this simple display is incredibly visible even under direct strong sunlight. Parking such an expensive bike is always a problem. It would be very welcome if it came with an integrated GPS tracker (very well hidden inside the frame, the battery or integrated to the start button), those that you can place a GSM SIM card... Being able to remotely lock the bike in case of theft would be a dream functionality too. The lack of the mission control app does not make the bike unusable, but would certainly be an incredible and outstanding feature to have.

I was shopping for a e-bike for a 20 mile round trip work commute. I test rode a Trek Super Commuter and a Vado 3.0, Bike shop had no 6.0 for test rides at the time. I read all the positive reviews for the Trek and must admit I thought I was sold. Unfortunately the Trek dealer was over 35 miles from me and my LBS had a 10% discount on the Vado 6.0 so I ordered an XL. First impression: This bike is huge , big bad and heavy and looks awesome. Not a fan of the red but looks better than in the website pictures. You can see the quality and details expected In a bike in this price range. Clean uncluttered cockpit with great intuitive controls. Most of the negative reviews of this bike have to do with the mission control app. My advise to anyone considering this bike is to just forget about the mission control app. Common sense is way more accurate is estimating range and battery life. I found this out after a couple of rides. This bike does what it is intended to do. It puts fun back into riding bike. The bike is responsive to pedal strokes, motor is super quite and the handling is incredible. I have hit corners with too much speed and have been blown away by how good the bike handles. The ride is a comfortable, smooth and fast. I constantly find my self just cruising along at 25 MPH. All I can say is WOW. A big smile on my face every time I get on the bike. Well worth every penny spent. Negatives: 2019 models don't have a horn, I cant reset my trip odometer on the bike computer and the computer is no longer touch screen. These negatives are minimal and the fun factor more than compensates those little details. If you can get over mission control this is your ride. You wont be disappointed.

I have been an avid roadie for 40 years. Over the years I have geared down twice and I found myself riding less and less. This bike put the fun back into riding! I'm in the saddle more than ever.

Just finished the ""Hilly Hundred"" on this bike. Rode 54 miles of hills on Saturday in the eco setting. Had 18% left at the end. Rode 39 miles on Sunday in the eco setting. Had 42% left at the end. Lots of continuous hills many at 14% grade. the most challenging was Mount Tabor on Sunday at 24% grade. Was very impressed with the quiet power. The weight keeps me from rating this a 5 star.

I have been watching & reasearching the Vado, previously test-rode 2018 Vado 3.0. Today I tested the 2019 Vado 3.0 and 6.0 (approx 5mi on each). Both were very smooth, comfortable & responsive; I also went through gravel & grassy terrain and was impressed with the versatility. I also appreciate that Vado is quiet — I've tested other e-bikes where the motor and or rattling fenders were quite loud. 3.0 VS 6.0: The 6.0 has only subtle differences that don't greatly enhance a test ride (XT components, 50% larger battery, better shock, better tires), but I'd probably favor the 6.0 (an add'l $1600) if I were to buy this with the intent to use it more than a couple years. That is when the better components will show their value and longevity. CONS: I was sorely discouraged that the Mission Control App is not compatible with the Vado yet — Specialized has been pushing this great feature ""coming soon"" for about two years! I actually downloaded the App on my phone hoping to use it today. FYI, the App provides Battery Percentage (not just the bars), lets you manage the battery to ensure you will not run out on longer rides, and has several other great mapping, stats, and diagnistic info that would add great value and satisfaction. In my mind, the Mission Control interface would add $300-$400 value to the bike, would put it above the competition, and would make the purchase a no-brainer. Without the interface to a specific Specialized bike the App I downloaded is essentially useless! OTHER CHANGES to the 2019 Vado are that they removed the horn (previously built into the motor assembly); this was a nice feature and Specialized downgraded to a basic bell. They also moved the tail light from the rack and down to the fender; I guess they had problems with the racks/light breaking. Finally, the tail light is NOT brake-activated (which I thought was coming standard); this would be a nice safety feature for this otherwise solid commuter bike. The Vado is 90% there!

I purchased this bike to use as a daily commuter. I have been riding a road bike for years and the hills that separate SE Portland and my job in Beaverton, Oregon were beginning to take a toll on my knees and the duration of my commute. What drew me to the bike was its styling and the motor/battery combo. I was looking for a bike with integrated fenders, lights, rack, etc. I commute about 30-35 miles round trip and there are hills involved. My first day I rode a more level route to get to work that was around 17.5 miles. When I arrived the onboard computer showed I had consumed two bars (out of five) of energy...bars rather than a percentage is another downfall. I thought okay. Good to get home. When I went to ride home that afternoon the computer showed only two bars left. I must have been right on the verge. Well, now I was a bit nervous about getting home so I rode a shorter but slightly hillier route (14.5 miles) and I babied the battery...turned off headlamp, rode in Eco mode as much as possible, turned off the assist on downhills, etc. The battery gave out with about a half mile of uphill to my home. Not a lot of fun peddling a 50# bike up a hill. Have found that the bike cannot make the 35 mile round trip on a single charge. I am returning it to the dealer, who is being very gracious about the whole thing, tomorrow and will be looking for another bike. If you are looking for a speedy, fun, nimble, short distance bike, this is an excellent choice. It is so much fun to ride. The motor is responsive and provides all the assist anyone could ever need. Hills disappear. I would not recommend this bike for anyone who is looking for a daily commuter for anything over about 25 miles round trip unless you are willing to charge it on both ends of the ride. My riding was not aggressive. I did keep it in Sport (middle) mode most of the time but would step up Turbo for hill and drop to Eco for descents and flatter ground. Just not good for long (30 mile+) distance.