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2021 Vado SL 4.0 EQ

4.8

13 Reviews

There’s no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this,…

Product Details

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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. The Turbo Vado SL 4.0 EQ is best for your daily commute, quick errands and getting around town. Extra-bright, built-in lights in front and back mean you’ll see and be seen. DRYTECH fenders keep water and road spray away, and a standard rear rack is always ready for your bags and panniers. This is your go-to for local transportation.

  • Fully integrated and secure Specialized 320Wh downtube battery w/optional Range Extender compatibility for up to 120 miles of range.
  • Specialized SL 1.1 custom lightweight motor, peak 240W / 35Nm, 2x you rider amplification (180% assistance), assist up to 28mph.
  • Turbo SL mounted rear rack, Racktime-compatible for your favorite bags and panniers, and DRYTECH fenders to keep the spray away.
  • Premium lightweight E5 Aluminum frame.
  • Clean internal cable routing, fender/rack mounts, and reflective graphics.
  • Premium hydraulic disc brakes for maximum stopping power.
  • Bright, integrated front and rear lighting to see and be seen.
  • 10-speed Shimano Deore shifting for reliable performance for the long haul.
  • Durable, lightweight alloy 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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COCKPIT

Saddle

Bridge Sport, Steel rails, 155mm

SeatPost

Specialized, alloy, dual-bolt, 25mm 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

DRIVETRAIN

Rear Derailleur

Shimano Deore, Shadow Plus, GS cage, 10-speed

Shift Levers

Shimano Deore, RapidFire Plus, 10-speed w/ Optical Gear Display

Cassette

Shimano Deore, 10spd, 11-42t

Chain

KMC e10S, 10-speed w/ Missing Link™

Crankset

Praxis, Forged alloy M30, custom offset

Chainrings

Praxis, 44T, 104BCD

WHEELS

Rims

700C disc, 22mm rim depth, 21mm internal width

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

E-BIKE

Motor

Specialized SL 1.1, custom lightweight motor

UI/Remote

Specialized TCU, 10-LED State of charge, 3-LED Ride Mode display, ANT+/Bluetooth®, w/Handlebar remote

Battery

Specialized SL1-320, fully integrated, 320Wh

Charger

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

Wiring Harness

Custom Specialized wiring harness w/ chargeport

ACCESSORIES

Headlight

Lezyne Ebike Hecto STVZO E65, 210Lumens, 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

FRAMESET

Fork

Rigid full aluminum disc, Boost™ 12x110mm, front- rack-compatible

Seat Binder

Integrated w/ frame

BRAKES

Rear Brake

Tektro HD-R290, hydraulic disc, 160mm

Front Brake

Tektro HD-R290, hydraulic disc, 160mm

WHEELS & TIRES

Inner Tubes

Standard 40mm PV 700x32-50

Accessories

SWAT

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

Geometry

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SMLXL
Crank Length170mm172.5mm172.5mm175mm
Seatpost Length350mm350mm350mm350mm
Handlebar Width680mm680mm680mm680mm
Stem Length60mm75mm75mm90mm
Saddle Width155mm155mm155mm155mm
Stack595mm626mm660mm696mm
Reach378mm401mm415mm424mm
Head-Tube Length185mm217mm250mm285mm
Head-Tube Angle70°70.5°71°71.5°
B-B Height270mm270mm270mm270mm
B-B Drop70mm70mm70mm70mm
Trail71mm67mm64mm61mm
Fork Length (full)390mm390mm390mm390mm
Fork Rake/Offset50mm50mm50mm50mm
Front-Center626mm655mm675mm690mm
Chain-Stay Length445mm445mm445mm445mm
Wheelbase1062mm1091mm1110mm1126mm
Top-Tube Length (horizontal)554mm587mm610mm630mm
Bike Stand-Over Height770mm790mm815mm840mm
Seat-Tube Length415mm446.5mm494.5mm535mm
Seat-Tube Angle73.5°73.5°73.5°73.5°
Geometry

Manual Downloads

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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual Addendum: Riding With Kids
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Tire Pressure and Handlebar Grips Addendum
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Trainer Usage Addendum to the Bicycle Owner's Manual
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2019 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_ROAD_GRAVEL_ASSEMBLY_GUIDE_BR
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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (All Languages)
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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (Chinese Simplified)
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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (English)
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Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (Japanese)
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Li Ion Battery UN38.3 Test Summary
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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)

Complete Your Ride

Rider Reviews

4.8

13 Reviews

 

5000 km happy user

After 5000 km of commuting to work (20km to and 20 back) every day / all seasons, in mostly windy and often rainy conditions. I can truly say that this is a fantastic bike! Sometimes I go to work early. Not because I like my job so much, but because I’m looking forward to my daily bike ride. If you want to start commuting… this is the bike for you. Well worth the investment. 90 kg 191cm 58 year old happy rider.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Jef

Helpful?

Fantastic Bike. Recommend changing the cassette.

I love this bike, but my 55 year-old knees don't like the 1st-gear ratio on steep off-road climbs. After 3,000 miles I finally changed the cassette: Shimano make a version with 46T on the big ring instead of the stock 42T that comes with the bike. All other gears are the same ratio as the original. You have to put a slighly longer chain on (I added two links), and play with the shifter settings a bit (get your bike shop to do the replacement if you're not familiar), but shifting works just as well as the original once properly tuned, and your knees will thank you for that lower torque bottom crawler gear on the really steep trails. The chain should need replacing less often too.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Jonathan B.

Helpful?

I’m in love

The Turbo Vado SL 4.0 Step Through EQ is the first e bike I bought. I hated cycling because the hills tire me out tremendously. I bought this and did two short rides of 20km each first to get used to the bike. It was easy, hill climb no problem. Third ride I took it for a 90km ride on eco assist mode up several hills and have plenty of battery charge left (I’m 56 years old, weigh 53 kg and 165cm height with a size S bike) I’m so impressed with its performance and its great cause being pedal assist it’s giving me a workout too. I can’t wait to take it out for the next long ride. Want to find out how far it can take me! I’m hook on cycling now!

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Eileen

Helpful?

Best eBike ever

I have owned 6 eBikes, this is my best go to do everything bike. Climbs any hill, goes off trail on gravel tracks, is great looking and so easy to ride. Worth every penny

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Margaret L.

Helpful?

This bike and the como for the wife is amazing. Will climb most anyhill where others carry theirs to the top. Range for me is around 45 miles. Charge and back out for the evening ride. Just a kick ass bike. Pedal assist is awsume the turbo setting really pulls.

Take one for a test drive. Much better than internet bikes where your local specialized shop can handle anything. Im 6'4 and 210 pounds. The XL frame kicks ass for comfort for a big guy.

Would Recommend?
Yes!

Name:
Charles

Helpful?

Awesome Bike!

I was worried that I was gonna have buyer's remorse, but I couldn't be any happier with this bike. It's super easy to ride, gets going pretty fast, and even hauls my fat but up hills with ease. I could do with a slightly smaller tire because the standing height is just a tad out of my reach (I'm a large and the only bike in stock was an XL), but it's fine so long as I lean it to one side. If you're on the fence, definitely pull the trigger and buy this bike.


Name:
Jr

Helpful?

Can't keep the grin off my face!

I've had the Vado SL for a month now and I am delighted at how great it is. I use it daily for a 3.5 mile (one way) commute to work and it makes me look forward to that all day. I'm in my 50s and my knees are not what they used to be. This is such a pleasure to ride- I can't keep the big grin off my face :) Hills? What hills?! Smooth, comfortable, great gear change, feel safe and secure. Easy and pretty quick to charge (couple of hours). I particularly like that it looks like a regular, albeit very handsome, bike. The only negative I have is that it is only 10 speed. I find myself almost exclusively using only 4 (top) of the 10 gears and would like a couple more higher gears for when I'm on the flat or slightly down hill and cruising. I have never had need to use the lower 5 gears, so it seems to me the gear range is wrong. But apart from that, this is the best money I have spent in a long time! Makes biking even more enjoyable.


Name:
Redzini

Helpful?

THIS BIKE!

The best thing I can stay about the TVSL 4.0 EQ has already been. And as advertised it truly is ""you only faster!"" It's remarkable in the fact that's so remarkable. Like an iPhone or a Tesla it delivers more than expected without issue or hiccups. Having said that, I'm sure that in the right conditions it will go 80 miles per charge. I however am 210 lb. and have a hilly 25 mile commute and I can drain the power in 25 miles. 1/2 with 2/3 power and 1/2 with 3/3. So it gets me there in an hour ten. Drained but there. AWESOME WHIP!


Name:
Big A.

Helpful?

After a week of riding

Coming from a traditional e-bike with hub-mounted motor, this bike is a completely different e-bike experience. Most e-bikes are something of a combination between a mini-moped and a very heavy bicycle. This is neither. This feels and acts far more like a traditional unassisted bicycle. It is light and the transition from power-assist to no power is practically seamless (and quiet). This is truly what I thought what an e-bike should be -- assisting you, the human, in your ride, but never overpowering you. I get the traditional e-bike experience. It feels good to have that super power assist ready to go anytime. But for road biking, I find this bike to be more like regular cycling, with additional assist for hills. I live in an area full of back roads -- and lots of hills. I love cycling on these all day long. My new 4.0 SL EQ helps me do that with a little less effort now, making the overall experience more enjoyable. A few issues.... The seat that comes with this bike is uncomfortable however, and will be the first thing replaced. Also, beware when removing the seat post. For some reason, the designers thought it would be a good idea to add a little widget that will happily fall into the seat post if you don't keep your finger on it while removing the seat post. Even the guy at the bike shop warned me about this. (Sometimes there's a reason every other bike seat post is designed the way it is -- because it works and doesn't have this issue!) With e-bikes with removable batteries (this doesn't have one), you can remove the battery when locking up the bike. This bike has no key, so only physical locks will prevent this bike from not being a target to thieves. I don't miss the display on the bike, since I usually use a third-party app to map my rides anyway. It has a basic battery monitor and power assist button, neither of which I bother with while riding. If you're looking for an e-bike that is as close to a regular bicycle as possible, this is it.


Name:
Boston J.

Helpful?

I am very impressed with my Vado 4.0 SL eq after 2 rides!

I went for a 10 mile ride in cool and windy conditions and only used 7% of the battery power. That works out to over 140 miles of range using similar power levels. I was at the 35% assist level for most of the ride but went down to 0% when the wind was at my back. The 60% assist level allowed me to maintain my speed going up hill into the wind. You feel very noticeable levels of boost with the 60% and turbo(100%) levels. The bike is smooth and refined and shifting was smooth and precise. There is very little motor noise and at the 35% level you really can't tell the motor is helping until you turn it off. At 0% assist the peddling effort was comparable to my mountain bike. I used the Mission Control app via a stem mounted cell phone holder. The app measures: speed, distance, time, battery use and displays power level. The only glitch I have experiences so far is that the app displayed 35% for level 1 and 100% for the turbo level but incorrectly displayed 35% for the second level. That level of boost should have been 60%. I spent a lot of time researching ebikes but I was positively surprised by my actual riding experience. My bike is even better than I anticipated!


Name:
Bill

Helpful?

Excellent All Around

I've had this bike for a few weeks and rode it in Death Valley, Sedona, Santa Barbara, Yosemite, and all over Seattle. It's a great first e-bike and ideal for someone who really just wants to ride a back, and occasionally get some extra help. On flats, the bike is light enough so that I don't even need to use power. But when I need it, it's great. The bike itself is beautifully made - I'm self conscious because people stop me and say ""wow, that's a beautiful bike!"" Haven't had a chance to test it for more than 30 miles, but the battery was more than 70% remaining after that ride so I don't think it's really a concern. I'm not a skinny seat fan and this one made be sore after the first use but after that, it's actually quite comfortable. I can't say anything bad about this bike. It's just so easy and simple and well designed.


Name:
Michael

Helpful?

Aged 55 and No Excuses

Iv'e been living in the Oakland Hills for 25 years. The day after I moved in, I took my 1995 Specialized Stump Jumper FS out for a spin and that was the last day I tried to cycle in my hilly neighborhood. Once the e-bike thing took off a few years ago, I paid no mind as the bikes seemed spendy and were so clunky looking. This year I turned 55 and my bad knees and I decided to revisit the e-bike segment to explore an option for commuting to my office in SF. I noticed the Turbo Vado SL with its newer SL1.1 (lighter weight) motor and was impressed with the fit and finish of the bike and the fact it that it doesn't look like a clunky e-bike. During my test ride, I had fond flashbacks of learning to ride with two wheels...with your dad's hand on your back gently pushing you forward. The pedal assist is just that...its assisting, not doing all the work for you. After purchasing the TVSL 4.0 EQ, I put the bike to the test in my hilly neighborhood and WOW. No more crazy car dodging switch-backing and swearing. You get a workout. However, you can head right up a hill in a straight line and save your breath for something else. Now, I have no excuses to head out the front door to enjoy cycling in my hilly neighborhood. PROS: - Looks like a smart urban commuter - Fairly lightweight considering its an e-bike - Decent Shimano Deore - 3 levels of pedal assist w/ a walking mode - For me a Pro - No quick releases anywhere - Front and rear lighting comes stock CONS: - No display on the TVSL 4.0 EQ model (costs an extra hundo) - Stock pedals were garbage (another $80 to upgrade) - App needs a UX refresh - Extra battery plus cable is around another $500


Name:
Scooter R.

Helpful?

Great bike

I am 46 yrs old, 100kg, 198cm and have not ridden a bike for 15-20 yrs - never tried e-bikes before. I have had this bike for one month now, using it to get to and from work every day (only 5km or so each way). This bike is fantastic! Great design, very rider-friendly. Shout out to the guys at Wooly's Wheels, Sydney for their great service. I wanted to point out some initial reservations I had prior to purchase in case it helps anyone else considering 'taking the leap': 1. The price - it is not cheap at all. but it is a quality product and will last years. I justified the cost based on savings of $10-$20 per day, giving me a payback period of 2-3 years (and COVID free travel) 2. The internal battery (and small battery) - turns out neither of these have been an issue in the end, since I have a private garage and charging (twice a week on average) is easy. 3. The size of the XL frame - being 198cm I thought it would be a bit small (it is rated for up to 193cm), but it seems to be the perfect stand-over height - I got some slightly higher handlebars which are working well. 4. The level of assistance (2x me) vs a Vado 3.0 (4x me): this was not a problem at all in the end - my fitness level is below average, but I have kept it in turbo mode so far and the assistance level is perfect (Even up hills) - I also thought the speed cap of 25kph would be an issue, but there are very few situations when I would want to go faster (and in most cases it would be more dangerous anyway). Anyway - great bike - highly recommended


Name:
Steve

Helpful?