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Turbo Vado SL 5.0 Step-Through EQ

4.6

7 Reviews

Meet the Vado SL. This super-light e-bike was designed to take on anything from daily…

Turbo Vado SL is e-Bike of the Year!
It’s You, Only Faster

Turbo Vado SL is e-Bike of the Year!

Nothing like the view from the top of the podium. Turbo Vado SL takes home Cycling Plus’s and Bike Radar’s top prize, best e-Bike of 2024. Agile, ultra-light, and so much damn fun. Calling it an ‘e-Bike’ is an insult.

Turbo Vado SL Step-Through

Product Details

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Meet the Vado SL. This super-light e-bike was designed to take on anything from daily commutes through urban landscapes to clocking even faster workouts. Need to carry your bike? No sweat. Weighing 40% less than the full-power Vado, there’s no other electric bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this. All you need to do is get on and go.

The Vado SL comes equipped with everything you need to start riding right away. First, the extra-bright, built-in lights give you higher visibility in low-light areas. Next, the MasterMind Turbo Control Unit (TCU) makes it easy to view ride info on the go. The Nimbus tires roll fast on or off the pavement with plenty of grip, and the Vado SL's featherweight status also makes it perfect for city commuting and offers far more than ride quality — it means you can hang it on a wall or car rack. And it makes public transportation a breeze.

So whether you're going fast or far or both, the Vado SL provides the confidence to do it all at a fraction of the weight.

LIGHT WEIGHT: You’ll be blown away by how easy it is to lift your bike on to a rack, carry it up stairs, or ride nimbly around town, thanks to the category-leading light-weight of the Turbo SL technology, optimised frame materials, design, and specification.

COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT: Body position and handling are optimized to deliver unsurpassed riding comfort, confidence, and control. Powerful hydraulic disc brakes reign in your speed, while larger tires provide maximum traction for turning and stopping.

TURBO SL: The heart of the Vado is its Turbo SL technology, the advanced and integrated electric bike system that delivers an unequaled combination of light-weight, natural feel, anti-theft functions, training tips, a full-function bike computer, ride anywhere range, and more.

The speed limit at which the motor will stop supporting may vary significantly by region and is based on local requirements. It may also affect range: a higher speed limit may result in less range.

  • The MasterMind Turbo Control Unit (TCU) is your information hub with customizable display fields to experience precisely the ride you want.
  • Coming Soon: Over-the-air updates when paired with the Specialized app, allowing your bike to improve over time. 
  • Long-Range - Fully integrated Specialized 320Wh downtube battery w/optional Range Extender compatibility for up to 80 miles (130 km) or 6 hours (eco mode) or up to 120 miles (200 km) or 9 hours w/ range extender (eco mode).
  • Specialized SL 1.1 custom lightweight motor, peak 240W/35Nm, 2x you rider amplification (180% assistance), assist up to 28mph.
  • Lightweight and high-strength premium carbon fork with Boost™ 12x110mm thru-axle.
  • Future Shock 1.5 reduces impacts from rough roads and terrain, potholes be gone!
  • Safety features including premium hydraulic disc brakes for maximum stopping power, and extra-bright front and rear lighting to see and be seen.
  • Step-through frame for easier on/off and managing commuter traffic. Turbo SL mounted rear rack, Racktime-compatible, for your favorite bags and panniers, and DRYTECH fenders to keep the spray away.
  • SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain for lightweight, precise performance for the long haul.
  • DT Swiss R500 disc wheels paired with fast-rolling, high-grip, Nimbus II Sport Reflect 700 tires with BlackBelt flat protection and reflective accents to increase visibility.

Technical Specifications

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FRAMESET

Frame

E5 Aluminum, bottom bracket motor mount, fully integrated downtube battery, internal cable routing, front rack mounts, Smooth Welds

Fork

Rigid carbon fork, Boost™ 12x110mm thru-axle, flat mount disc

Seat Binder

Specialized Alloy, 30.8mm

COCKPIT

Saddle

Bridge Sport, hollow cr-mo rails, 155mm

SeatPost

Specialized, alloy, 2-bolt, 12.5mm offset, 27.2mm

Stem

Specialized Stealth Stem, alloy, 14 deg, 31.8mm, integrated TCD mount

Tape

Specialized Body Geometry Contour, lock-on

Handlebars

Specialized, alloy, 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm

BRAKES

Front Brake

Tektro HD-R510, hydraulic disc, 160mm

Rear Brake

Tektro HD-R510, hydraulic disc, 160mm

DRIVETRAIN

Rear Derailleur

SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed

Shift Levers

SRAM GX, trigger, 12-speed

Cassette

SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed, 11-50t

Chain

SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed

Crankset

Praxis, Forged alloy M30, custom offset

Chainrings

Praxis, 44T, 110BCD

Accessories

Headlight

Lezyne Ebike Power STVZO E115, 310Lumens, 12V

Taillight

Lezyne Ebike Rear Fender STVZO, 11Lumens, 12V

Kickstand

Specialized kickstand, 40mm mount

Rack

Turbo SL Rack, Closed Platform, direct fender mount, Racktime-compatible, 15kg

Fenders

Specialized DryTech, Aluminum

Bell

Simple bell

Pedals

Specialized Commuter w/ grip tape & reflectors

WHEELS

Rims

DT Swiss R500 disc, 22mm internal width, 23mm internal depth

Front Hub

Specialized alloy front hub disc, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x110mm, Center Lock™, 24h

Rear Hub

Specialized alloy rear hub disc, Center Lock™, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm, 28h

Spokes

DT Swiss Industry

Front Tire

Nimbus II Sport Reflect, 700x38mm

Rear Tire

Nimbus II Sport Reflect, 700x38mm

WHEELS & TIRES

Inner Tubes

Standard 40mm PV 700x32-50

E-BIKE

Motor

Specialized SL 1.1, custom lightweight motor

UI/Remote

Specialized MasterMind TCU, percentage of remaining charge, 120 possible display configurations, MicroTune assist adjustment, over-the-air updates, ANT+/Bluetooth®, w/Handlebar remote

Battery

Specialized SL1-320, fully integrated, 320Wh

Charger

Custom charger, 48V System w/ SL system charger plug

E-Bike

Wiring Harness

Custom Specialized wiring harness w/ chargeport

Cockpit

Grips

Body Geometry Women's Contour

* Weights based on production painted frames as pictured. Actual weights will vary based on colourway, frame size, and component variation. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Geometry

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SMLXL
Crank Length170mm172.5mm172.5mm175mm
Handlebar Width680mm680mm680mm680mm
Stem Length60mm75mm75mm90mm
Saddle Width155mm155mm155mm155mm
Seatpost Length350mm350mm350mm350mm
Bike Stand-Over Height616mm631mm655mm688mm
Fork Rake/Offset50mm50mm50mm50mm
Stack595mm626mm660mm696mm
B-B Height291mm291mm291mm291mm
Fork Length (full)390mm390mm390mm390mm
Seat-Tube Length405mm431.5mm469.5mm510mm
B-B Drop70mm70mm70mm70mm
Head-Tube Length185.5mm217mm250mm285.5mm
Trail71mm67mm64mm61mm
Reach378mm401mm415mm424mm
Head-Tube Angle70°70.5°71°71.5°
Front-Center626mm655mm675mm690mm
Chain-Stay Length445mm445mm445mm445mm
Seat-Tube Angle73.5°73.5°73.5°73.5°
Wheelbase1062mm1091mm1110mm1126mm
Top-Tube Length (horizontal)554mm587mm610mm630mm
Geometry

Manual Downloads

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RIDING_WITH_FRAME_FIXED_CARGO_AND_THE_FUTURE_SHOCK_ADDENDUM.pdf
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2022 Rider/Bike Weight Limits and Terrain Conditions
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SPECIALIZED_MOUNTAIN_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_CZ_SK
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_AU-NZ
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_CH
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_CNS
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_CNT
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_DE
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_DK
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_ES
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_FI
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_FR
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_GB
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_HR
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_IT
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_JP
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_KOR
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_NL
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_NO
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_PL
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_PT
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_SL
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_SV
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ACTIVE_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_US
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SPECIALIZED_TURBO_ROAD_GRAVEL_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_BR
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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (All Languages)
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Li Ion Battery UN38.3 Test Summary
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - English
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TB - MASTERMIND TCU/TCD NOT POWERING ON
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Future_Shock_Retrofit_Compatibility_Tech_Bulletin_French.pdf
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - German
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Czech
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Polish
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Slovakian
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Dutch
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Slovenian
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Croatian
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Finnish
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Italian
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Spanish
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Korean
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Chinese Simplified
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Future Shock Retrofit Compatibility - Japanese
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2022_VADO_SL_MASTERMIND_USER_MANUAL_EN_FR_DE_CZ_PL_SK
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2022_VADO_SL_MASTERMIND_USER_MANUAL_NL_DK_NO_SV_SL_HR_RU_FI
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2022_VADO_SL_MASTERMIND_USER_MANUAL_EN_IT_ES_PT_KR_CNT_CNS_JP
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2021 VADO SL USER MANUAL (EN FR DE CZ PL SK)
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2021 VADO SL USER MANUAL (EN IT SP PT KR)
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2021 VADO SL USER MANUAL (NL DK NO SV SL HR)
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Mission Control App 2.0 User Guide (Chinese)
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Mission Control App 2.0 User Guide (English)
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Range Extender (SBC-B16) User Manual
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Charger User Manual (SBC-C04 / SBC-C05 / SBC-C06 / SBC-C07)

Rider Reviews

4.6

7 Reviews

 

Game Changer

My wife just took her first ride with her Vado SL 5.0. She's NEVER ridden up our driveway but giggled up it today. The smile was present the entire time and she said, "game change" and "beautiful and nice". It's perfect.


Name:
Jim

Helpful?

Great bike but some issues

This bike is what I was looking for. A bike that handles like a regular bike when I don’t want to use power but helps with the climbs. It’s light so I can easily lift it into my van. But there are some issues. The handlebars are VERY wide. 1-2” wider than my trek unisex fitness bike. I have no idea why they did this but it’s not comfortable. (I’m 5’3” tall so exactly the middle of the small range). And since there are electronics running through it it can’t be changed. Love the idea of integrated lights but the rear red light doesn’t blink??! Be aware that the distance from the bike rack to where a panier would be connected is much shorter than any other bike. None of my accessories fit. The rack is not carried anywhere so you have to order any accessories on line. Which is not a big deal but I would have like to try a selection. Also due to electronics and the front light the choice of front storage bags is limited to a longer narrow roll type.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Ellen

Helpful?

Game Changer

Goodbye public transpo and car service gauging! This lux vehicle is essential for NYC/Brooklyn commuting. The bridges are a breeze to climb and fun to sail down! The handling through rush hour gridlock is precise, reactive and feels good to breeze by gas-guzzling cars. Dodging bike lane obstructions is safer because it’s possible to seamlessly veer into the traffic lane and be able to keep up without getting honked and yelled at. My first ride was 17miles to the Rockaways (loaded down with Panniers) and what Google Maps said would take 90mins took only 45!! I was running late and ended up being early. She is a thing of beauty and receives so many compliments. The only downside is that I have to keep her in sight when parking on the streets. The workaround is paying a few $ to safely stow her in a parking garage, but the rate is minimal. Tech is a breeze – charging, display, MC – and the Hilltop & LIC retailers are passionate, knowledgeable, generous w their time. 10 out of 5 stars!

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Theresa

Helpful?

The bike rides nicely and

The bike rides nicely and is pretty well put together. I am still learning how to navigate the mission control app. I am not thrilled with the geometry of the bike. I find it difficult to step through and I have decent flexibility. Placing a water bottle is not ideal due to narrow step through space. It is hard to know what is and is not included when buying this bike.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Verified Buyer
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Name:
Guest G.

Helpful?

The weight of the bike

The weight of the bike is great and it firs me better then my last bike. The only thing is it isn't as powerful as my previous E-Bike.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Verified Buyer
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Name:
Guest G.

Helpful?

I’m writing this for my

I’m writing this for my wife with her approval. I asked her today how she’d rate her bike on a scale of 10 and she answered “10.” She could not think of a single thing she would change. We went for a 17 mile ride today, and she felt like she could have easily kept going. The woman who previously fell behind on hills absolutely smoked me on the steepest hill during our ride. She had FUN. The UI on the bike is very intuitive and the Mission Control app is great for getting more information about your rides and to customize bike settings. My wife wanted the bike to start in Eco instead of Trail, for example. That took about 10 seconds to do. The new Mastermind TCU for 2022 is a significant improvement over the “bar” display in earlier models and doesn’t require a BLE code to pair (Spec’s documentation hasn’t been updated yet for this).

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Verified Buyer
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Name:
Guest G.

Helpful?

Excellent quality and performance.

Excellent quality and performance.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Verified Buyer
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Name:
Dariusz Z.

Helpful?