PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE IS UNDER REVIEW, AND INFORMATION MAY NOT BE ACCURATE
From the start, it’s evident that the Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH e-bike is aimed at an audience looking for top-notch performance. It’s a nice-looking bike, but with its hydraulic fork & Seatpost, it practically shouts capabilities. You’ll know you’re looking at a luxury vehicle when you turn on the head unit and then see the full-color display.
The price tag will also reveal it. The Turbo Vado is a high-end motorcycle with numerous features, including a rear-facing radar that warns the rider of approaching traffic. The Enviolo drivetrain conducts all the shifting for you, and the belt-drive system is extremely quiet. This is the entire package when it comes to choosing the best electric motorcycles.
But don’t let the extras detract from the drive itself, which is comfortable, enjoyable, and adaptable. You’ll have to spend a lot for the pleasure, but Specialized has put together a good deal.
What will you see here?
Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH: Design
The Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH has the appearance and feel of a super-commuter, perfect for all-weather city riding and much more. Front & rear fenders, as well as a rear baggage rack, are included. Front and rear lights are also integrated (Lezyne makes the front light, which has 310 lumens.).
The aluminum frame is paired with an 80mm RockShox Recon Silver RL suspension fork. This is complemented by a springs suspension Seatpost with 40mm of padding.
This SRAM G2 RS 4-piston mechanical disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power. The Turbo Vado rides on 650b wheels with 2.3-inch wide tires.
The drivetrain also has a Gates Carbon Drive belts drive system, which is extremely quiet. The belt drives its Enviolo Automatic internal geared hub, which automatically switches gears dependent on your pedaling speed. That means you won’t do any manual shifting; the bike will take care of everything.
The mid-drive motor from Specialized produces 90Nm of torque and it can assist up to 28 mph. The aid level simply controlling uses the handlebar-mounted buttons, which are located near the left-side handlebar grip.
Comes in 3 colors: : White Mountains / Black Reflecitve, Red Tint / Silver Reflective , Cast Black / Silver Reflective
Sizes : S,M,L, XL
Cockpit Display
The addition of a Garmin rear-facing radar to the commuter package is intriguing. To warn the rider of approaching autos, the radar sends signals to the cockpit display. The radar can detect cars up to 460 feet (140 meters) away and notifies the rider of the car’s distance & approaching speed via a combination of visual, aural, and tactile cues.
Specialized’s MasterMind cockpit display may use in conjunction with Mission Control software, allowing you to further customize your bike. Of course, even if you don’t use the app, you’ll get lots of information about your Mastermind unit, such as your speed, battery life, help mode, and more.
If you do decide to explore the app’s functionality, you should look into the Turbo System Lock. If you’re going to leave your bike in a public place, you can turn off the motor & set a motion sensor alert. Only the owner can re-enable the motor.
Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH: Accessories
On the Specialized website, there are roughly a dozen Turbo-specific accessories. The majority of them are cables and replacement parts. Replacement fenders and even a new head unit are available.
Numerous accessories aren’t particular to the Turbo model. Everything from tools to bags to helmets to clothes is available directly from Specialized or through a local Specialized dealer.
You won’t get one of the best bike lights, however, make sure you’re wearing one of the best bike helmets before you go riding.
Performance
The Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH has the appearance of a high-end pickup. That’s the kind of bike that feels as though it could easily handle a lot of baggage with the correct attachments, but it also has some high-end features that make it a joy to ride.
To begin with, the RockShox hydraulic fork & suspension Seatpost provides enough cushion to make roads almost disappear beneath you. When you combine that with the wide tires, you won’t feel any road vibration until the going gets bad.
The Turbo Vado lacks the agility and responsiveness of a vehicle designed specifically for speed, such as Momentum’s Voya e+ 3. It does, however, seem secure and grounded. This is likely due to the broad tires, which provide a lot of stability. They also add some adaptability; you can confidently ride the Turbo Vado off-road on gravel roads and extremely light singletrack, knowing that the tires and suspension will hold up.
However, if you’re hoping to complete a workout or constantly go fast on pavement, the Turbo Vado is probably not the best option. For that, it seems a little too upright and cushy.
While an Enviolo Automatic shifting technology is ideal for most customers who desire the automatic-everything experience, it isn’t suitable for adjusting your pedaling cadence on the go.
Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH: Pedaling resistance
As you pedal, the Enviolo system adjusts the pedaling resistance levels automatically. You may change the cadence to a degree using the control buttons on the handlebar (after navigating to the relevant screen), but that found that the cadence was only to the satisfaction approximately 80% of the time, regardless of which model you selected.
Still, if all you want to do is cycle and not think about anything else, the Automatic system is ideal. It’s also combined with the Turbo Vado’s mid-drive motor, which feels extremely powerful even at lesser assist levels. Even on steep hills, you could simply start from a standstill.
The control buttons on the head unit situate and are simple to use. It’s also simple to navigate the numerous menus. There seem to be several alternatives here, so before you ride, play around with the head unit to figure out what info and settings you need and which ones you don’t.
Car traffic approaching from behind is detected by the Garmin radar system. You’ve used this system on other bikes before (the $199 Garmin Varia system accomplishes the same thing but isn’t connected), and you’ve found it to be more anxiety-inducing than beneficial. It’s helpful to know when cars are approaching from behind, but the continual notifications made you look down at the head unit more than you normally would. You could have done without the distraction.
Range and battery life
The detachable lithium-ion battery for the Turbo Vado is built within the down tube. You may unlock the battery with the provided keys and pop it out with the battery release lever. The battery may charge without having to remove from the bike.
The Turbo Vado’s maximum range is not specified by Specialized. Instead, the Specialized website has a handy range calculator. To obtain an idea of how long the battery will survive in real-world situations, enter your height, weight, average speed, mode, number of stops, and terrain.
You forgot to charge your Turbo Vado before the first ride, and the display indicated that the battery was at less than 25% charge. The battery was down to 6% charge by the time you had gone 5 miles utilizing largely the sport mode setting.
Although this may not seem like much, it appears to be in line with what you would anticipate from an e-bike in this price category. A 40-50 mile range in sport mode appears to be a reasonable claim with a full charge. And that’s in line with other bikes having similar components and designs.
Competitors
The Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH belongs to the multi-surface, flat-bar, suspension bike category. This Trek Allant + 7s, which prices $4,050, is a close contender. Both bikes have up to 28 mph assist, integrated lighting, a suspension fork, & disc brakes.
The Turbo Vado’s belt drives an Enviolo shifting system, on the other hand, represents a significant change from the Trek’s more typical chain and derailleur setup. An Explore E+ 2 GTS is available from Giant for $3,450. Although it has front suspension, the parts package & overall appearance, and feels are less luxurious than Turbo Vado.
This Tesoro NEO X1 from Cannondale costs $4,600. It also has a Bosch Performance Line CX engine and a chain & derailleur drivetrain — this time a Shimano 12-speed Deore package, which would be a good inclusion. It’s classified as a touring bike, which implies it may use both on and off the road.
Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH: Availability and price
Its Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH e-bike prices $5,500 and comes in a step-over or step-through style with a black, red, or off-white frame.
If a Turbo Vado 5.0 is too much for your budget, Specialized also offers the Turbo Vado 3.0 ($3,250) & Turbo Vado 4.0 ($4,000). They aren’t quite inexpensive, but they are more economical.
All of the models may buy directly from Specialized’s website. The bike is also available through local dealers. Specialized’s website has a dealer locator so you can find a bike in stock near you.
By clicking on the link here on the product page, you can also apply for Klarna finance.
Conclusion
The Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH e-bike load with features that add to the bike’s overall luxury feel. This Turbo Vado is a solid, strong, & powerful e-bike beneath it all.
It’s a style for riders that desire to ride on more than just pavement. It’s also made to make riding as simple as possible. Its Enviolo Automatic system takes care of the shifting, the motor provides enough assistance — even on steep slopes — and the suspension ensures a comfortable ride.
You’ll spend more on the Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH e-bike because it’s a deluxe package. The ride quality, convenience, plus extras, on the other hand, will not disappoint.
1 Response
I don’t know if this article was rewritten but it reads badly in places referring to the Vado as a motorcycle for instance and other typos. On my test ride I found that the automatic shifting on the 5.0 to be an amazing feature. The Enviolo internally geared hub is already a significant feature but usually comes with a grip shifter which is not a convenient or comfortable way to shift imo. Combining the automatic with the igh on the Vado 5.0 makes this bike a revelation and in a whole different class. No more chains to oil or get dirty or derailers to get out of adjustment or damaged. I don’t agree that you can’t adjust your cadence on the fly as there is a certain level of adjustment you can make with one push of a button on the handlebar to choose a higher or lower cadence level almost instantly though it is not the same as being able to keep it one gear. You can also use the app to adjust how far the bike downshifts when you stop pedaling which I think is brilliant. There is a momentary fast spin of the pedals when you coast without pedaling where the bike takes a second to bring your chosen cadence level back as it thinks you may have stopped and automatically downshifts. So the reviewer does not like the radar detection really ? If you ride on a road with cars very often you should be thrilled this bike has this feature. You can also turn off the audible warning and just use the display if you want. Personally I fell in love with this bike in the ten minutes I test rode it and have ordered one. They are not easy to find right now but I was able to have one shipped from out of state to another store near me. Can’t wait to get it and start exploring shiftless riding.