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The Vado SL 4.0 EQ from Specialized is a stealth e-bike. The oversized downtube hides a battery. The small, integrated motor is tucked into the bottom bracket area. It doesn’t look significantly different from a conventional hybrid bike. A micro control pad on the top tube and a handlebar remote are the only other indications that this bike is electric.

Motor Assistance

The Vado is a stealthy ride as well. Assistance comes from that small Brose motor adding boost to 240 watts when needed. Power comes on in the background and feels most present at a higher cadence. The Vado is an athletic ride and pushes the rider to accelerate along with the motor. At 39 pounds, this bike feels light compared to other e-bikes. It is capable of being ridden without motor assistance, although it feels best with the second level out of three.

City Utility

I headed across the hill to pick up some hardware for the shop and locked up in front of Frager’s Hardware. The large tubes and small ABUS Granit 54 Mini lock I had in my backpack presented a challenge. Additionally, I didn’t want to scratch the pristine White Sage finish. I spent the summer riding a Tern Quick Haul, which perpetually had a Basil Bottle basket hung off its side. With the Vado, I chose the backpack. A night earlier, I used a basket on the Vado’s rack to pick up carry out from Maketto, and found it didn’t interface well.

The rear rack is integrated into the fender, and as such has about a 35 pound weight capacity. Suitable for a laptop pannier and light duty errand running, this is no cargo bike. The EQ in the model name refers to “equipped with” rack, fenders, and kickstand which bring the bike up to $4,000. The base model retails for $3,500. The EQ version is recommended if this bike is being used for transportation.

Effortless Shifting

I approached this bike from a decade of riding internally geared and belt drive bikes. The Vado’s SRAM NX drivetrain was impressive. It shifted under load without any hesitation. Often it can feel like you’re putting a derailleur under stress when shifting on e-bikes, but the Vado had effortless and quick shifts. This proved essential, as acceleration on this bike from 0-25 mph happens fast, shifting nearly every other pedal rotation.

Power On Demand

Heading across town to do some additional errands, the bike felt at its best on longer stretches where it could be ridden at a steady 20+mph. Flying down the middle of Pennsylvania Ave towards the Capitol made me wish for some more time to take it out on the Mount Vernon Trail and see how far we could go. At the base of Capitol Hill, a temporary cell tower was interfering with my bluetooth headphones, so I stashed them in a pocket. I placed the assist on full Turbo in preparation for the climb up Capitol Hill. Launching from a stop and onto the hill, the supercharger whine of the motor surged to match my effort. We reached the top in record time. Time to return this stealth machine back to the shop.

The Specs:

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

Motor: Specialized SL 1.1, custom lightweight motor

Battery: Specialized SL1-320, fully integrated, 320Wh

Brakes: Tektro HD-R290

Drivetrain: SRAM NX, 11-speed

Front Light: Lezyne Ebike Hecto STVZO E65, 210Lumens, 12V

Rear Light: Lezyne Ebike Rear Fender STVZO, 11Lumens, 12V

Extras: (EQ Package): Turbo SL Rack, Specialized DryTech fenders, Specialized kickstand, bell