We’ve reached a tipping point. Sixty-eight percent of the world’s population will live in and around cities by the year 2050. Cities from Bogota to Berlin are re-thinking road space with an eye toward two wheels instead of four. The e-bike is replacing the car for many short-distance trips, unhindered by traffic, the search for parking, and costly monthly payments. And so steps up the Specialized Turbo Vado SL, to get you from A to B as efficiently as possible.
— THE SPECIALIZED DIVERGE EVO —
According to recent studies, e-bike riders get more exercise on average than conventional riders, thanks to the fact that e-bike riders are riding more often and for longer distances. There has never been a better time to invest in our health, our community, and the future of our planet.
Since 1974, Specialized had one goal: Innovate and inspire to improve riders’ lives. They’ve dedicated the past 45 years to pushing the world’s greatest human powered machine into the future. They built a cycling-specific Win Tunnel to research aerodynamics. Innovation labs around the globe to facilitate rapid prototyping of lighter, stronger, and faster shapes and materials. Developed data capturing systems to evaluate and improve suspension kinematics and ride quality, and had a lot of fun riding with friends while doing it.
In 2010, Specialized started work on an electric revolution. Combining an obsession with serving the world’s most discerning riders and a whole lot of technical know-how from their innovation center in Switzerland (the heart of the e-Bike revolution), to create the Turbo S, the first truly uncompromised e-bike. Seven years and five families of bikes later, they’re continuing the relentless pursuit of the perfect e-Bike—a bike that’s you, only faster.
Introducing Specialized Turbo Vado SL
There’s no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this, at a weight that’s light enough to carry. Pedal, then go – over hills, past traffic. Cruise to 15 mph, for up to 80 miles. And at 40% lighter than the average e-bike, it’s built to bring with you: up the stairs, down the hall, on the train, to the office, and everywhere you go.
— HOW TO GET FIT FAST —
So Light You’ll Forget It’s Electric
SL stands for Super Light. That’s right, the Specialized Turbo Vado SL is up to 40% lighter than the average e-Bike. Specialized have taken the same Specialized SL 1.1 system developed in-house to meet the needs of the world’s most discerning road and mountain riders with the Turbo Creo SL performance road bike and Turbo Levo SL trail bike and brought an entirely new and more maneuverable experience to the Vado family of recreation and commute-focused e-bikes.
Reliability
Priority number one is getting where you need to go. Tested across multiple continents in all weather conditions, Vado SL is designed to keep you moving. Vado SL delivers the defining combination of weight, power, range, and ride quality, giving you the confidence to ride more often and to places that you never imagined you would.
— SPECIALIZED TURBO CREO SL —
Portable Range Extender
The Specialized Turbo Vado SL delivers the security of an integrated 320Wh internal battery for up to 80 miles of range with the flexibility of an optional Range Extender for up to 40 miles of additional pedalling assistance. The Range Extender is fully removable, compact, and easy to charge wherever you are.
Performance
California designed and Swiss-engineered, the new Specialized SL 1.1 system represents the very best in superlight e-Bike performance. Ultralight and quiet, the Specialized SL 1.1 system doubles your effort with a smooth power delivery. No unnatural power curve, lurching, or motor jumps. It delivers up to 240 watts of power that are in sync with your cadence all the way to 15 mph. In the event that you outpace the motor’s assistance, there’s no awkward cutoff or drag, just smooth riding for miles.
— CONVINCE YOUR FRIENDS THAT CYCLING IS THE BEST SPORT EVER —
Confidence
When you’re comfortable, you’re confident. The Specialized Turbo Vado SL is built to deliver comfort without compromising capability. High-volume tyres soak up imperfections, handle well on both pavement and dirt, and deliver stability at all speeds. Future Shock technology on 5.0 models brings ultralight suspension to your ride, reducing the impact of rough roads and terrain by nearly 40% compared to bikes with bulkier, heavier front suspension forks.
All Specialized Turbo Vado SL models are equipped standard with hydraulic disc brakes for maximum stopping power, simple 1x shifting for easy operation, integrated front and rear lights to see and be seen, high visibility reflective decals and tyres, and Body Geometry saddle and grips.
Mission Control
Connect your bike to your phone and change everything: Get where you’re going with plenty of charge by controlling the power output, diagnose potential service needs, record and share ride info with friends, and even give your bike its own custom name.
— SPORTIVE RIDING – IS THE FUTURE ELECTRIC —
How Much Power Are We Talking?
The SL 1.1 motor amplifies rider power up to 240 watts and 35Nm of both peak and sustained power. Specialized have tuned the motor to deliver constant, strong support across a wide cadence range for a very natural feel while pedaling.
Multiple Riding Modes?
There are five assisted riding modes: OFF, ECO, SPORT, and TURBO, as well as SMART CONTROL. ECO matches your effort up to 30% of the motor’s power, SPORT matches your effort up to 60% of the motor’s power, and TURBO matches your effort to 100% of the motor’s power—or 240 watts. All three assist modes can be tuned almost infinitely to personalize power levels via the Mission Control App. The unassisted riding mode (OFF) is just like riding a classic bike—the motor was specifically designed in a way that it does not add any drag when bike is in off mode.
What’s The Range?
All models use the same Specialized SL 1.1 motor and 320Wh internal battery. Range varies with use, but you can expect up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) of range using ECO mode. With a Range Extender, another 65 kilometers (40 miles) of range can be added.
— ELECTRIC BIKES TIMELINE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE —
How Does Range Fluctuate?
There are many variables that influence range. The rider’s chosen cadence, weight, fitness, and position on the bike, as well as the bike build, bike weight, tyre choice, and tyre pressure all impact range. Several environmental influences, such as road conditions, elevation, and weather can impact range as well. The less motor support you require, the longer the battery will last. Riding in ECO mode will generally provide the longest battery life. Their Turbo Range Calculator helps riders predict the range they can expect given certain key metrics.
How Is It So Light?
The Specialized Turbo Vado SL saves weight due to its Smartweld aluminum frame combined with the lightweight SL 1.1 motor, a magnesium housing, and the battery integrated into the frame.
What About Bigger Wheels/Tyres?
The Turbo Vado SL has clearance for 42mm tyres with 700C rims. With fenders, there’s still clearance for 38mm tyres.
The Specialized Turbo Vado SL is compatible with 650b wheels and up to a 47mm tyre. Keep in mind the Turbo Vado SL uses 12x110mm front hub spacing and 12x148mm rear spacing.
Make sure you check out this fantastic new bike from Specialized. With a movement towards the every day rider, they’re doing everything they can to produce marketing leading bikes that perform in every day situations.
