Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 review: it goes further than ever, but it's heavier than ever too

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The new Vado SL brings some significant changes from the previous iteration. Most notable of these is a new motor, Specialized’s in-house 1.2 unit, increasing torque from 35Nm to 50Nm. The control system gets a major update, too, with a new stem-mounted full-colour screen and bar remote.

The SL 2 is a heavier bike than the previous SL, up from 16kg to 20.4kg. That’s down to the huge increase in battery capacity, from the modest 320Wh of the previous-generation bike to 520Wh.

However, this added weight provides far more range and that’s a perfectly fair trade-off.

The Vado SL 2 4.0 is available for £3,099 / $4,599 / €4,250.

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Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 frame

Specialized has extended its strong track record of making impressive urban ebikes with the new Vado SL 2. It follows in the wake of great bikes such as the original carbon Vado SL, the Turbo Como, Turbo Tero X and the previous alloy Vado SL, which was BikeRadar’s urban ebike of the year in 2024.

The Vado SL 2 frameset is available in two versions: a step-through incarnation with a lowered top tube and a standard option with a heavily sloping top tube.

The oversized square-profile down tube houses the large battery. Like the previous Vado SL, the battery is fixed internally, which means charging is only available through the frame charge port in the bottom bracket shell. That could be an issue if your bike store at home or work doesn’t have a mains electricity supply.

The frame is made of shapely hydroformed aluminium tubes, although the welds are prominent.

At the rear, the seatstays are dropped very low and are noticeably slender. The frame features down tube and seat tube bottle bosses, dovetailing with the Vado SL’s longer-range capabilities. The alloy fork gains rack mounts and the chainstay integrates a slimline chain guard.

Up front, the frameset gets Specialized’s Future Shock 3.1 suspension. This internally sprung handlebar suspension system provides 20mm of travel. On more premium Future-Shock equipped bikes, the suspension unit includes a dial to adjust the rebound on the fly, but here it’s fixed.

The only tuneable element is by switching out the internal spring for one of the other three springs included. Generally, heavier riders should use the stiffer springs, and I found fitting the correct spring for my weight gave the Future Shock all the comfort and vibration damping I needed for my multi-surface commutes.

Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 specification

Although Specialized has dropped the EQ (equipped) moniker from the Vado SL range, it comes fully equipped with everything you need for year-round commuting. That means a set of full aluminium mudguards (fenders), with stylish integrated flat alloy stays.

The Vado SL also gets an MIK-compatible (Mounting Is Key) rear rack, which means a wide range of compatible accessories such as baskets, double panniers and child seats are available.

The single-stay-per-side design doesn’t look as sturdy as a traditional rack, but it comes with a decent 25kg weight limit, and I’ve ridden the Vado SL with two pannier bags full of a weekly shop with no issues.

The chainstay-mounted kickstand works well, although it’s not as stable as a twin-spar mid-mounted stand, so care is needed when piling up the rack with heavier loads.

The rack also includes a Spanninga rear light with a built-in brake light function. Like the StVZO-compliant Lezyne front light, this is wired into the ebike system and can be controlled via the bar-mounted remote.

The drivetrain mixes a SRAM crankset with a 44-tooth Praxis chainring, Shimano Cues 10-speed derailleur, cassette and bar-mounted shifter. Tektro’s HD-R285 hydraulic disc brakes come with large 160mm rotors front and rear.

The sturdy alloy wheelset is wrapped with Specialized’s tough Hemisphere puncture-protected 47mm-wide tyres.

Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 motor system

Specialized has developed its own motor system at its electric motor development office in Switzerland.

The 1.2 SL motor system is the latest iteration and is a lower 50Nm-torque version of Specialized’s punchy 2.2 motor, found on its electric mountain bikes. Here, it's powered by a 520Wh battery and controlled by a ‘Mastermind H3’ colour display, paired with a handlebar remote.

The clear, full-colour screen offers multiple pages of data. These can be modified using the Specialized Turbo smartphone app. Control is handled by a remote mounted on the left side of the bar, putting everything from motor modes, lights and swiping between screens within thumb reach.

The motor has three modes: Eco, Sport and Turbo.

Eco is intended as the staple mode for around-town riding; Sport is ideal for getting beyond the city onto rolling rural roads and Turbo is the breakout full-power option for quick getaways from traffic lights or gaining a significant boost on hills.

The supplied fast charger fully recharged the battery in an average of 3 hours and 45 minutes. You can extend the range with an optional 160Wh piggy-back battery, too.

Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 ride impressions

The Vado SL rides brilliantly over a multitude of surfaces and terrain, rendering it more than ‘just’ a commuter bike.

The revamped geometry brings a tall stack (656mm in a size large), a wide (68cm) bar and a relaxed 69-degree head angle. This all amounts to handling that maximises stability. The previous Vado’s steeper front end made for a more agile feel; this new bike is far superior when it comes to riding over a multitude of surfaces, though.

I tested the Vado SL 2 4.0 over six months on my office commute, alongside errand running, shopping and leisurely weekend rides. I took in surfaces ranging from tarmac to towpaths and trails in all weather.

The motor assistance is subtle in both Eco and Sport modes, matching your efforts seamlessly. Only when you drop into Turbo mode does it feel as though the bike is putting in the lion’s share of the effort. Through the Turbo app, you can tune each of the modes should you prefer to weight the assistance more (or less) in your favour.

In town, the upright ride position is excellent. You get a more commanding view of your surroundings, which is ideal for riding in traffic.

Once you get onto rougher surfaces, the relaxed head angle, along with the suspension and large-volume tyres, makes for a comfortable ride. The plushness at the front end is well balanced by the comfortable saddle at the rear.

The smoothness at the front end meant I felt confident taking the Vado SL onto woodland trails and gravel tracks. It’s no mountain bike substitute, like Specialized’s Tero X, but it handles itself far better than any previous iteration of the Vado SL.

The integrated lights work well, with the rear light’s brake function an excellent safety addition. The Leyzne front light works well on urban and suburban roads, although the capped StVZO light pattern is a little underpowered for unlit trails and towpaths. I preferred to run a second bar-mounted light for improved visibility.

The Vado SL's range impressed me, achieving between 65.68 miles / 106km with 2,172ft / 662m of climbing and 53 miles / 85.29km with 2,672ft / 814.3m of elevation.

Range-prediction accuracy through the head unit is good, and it’s a neat trick to link the range prediction to a route on the Turbo app. This enabled me to keep tabs on the power reserves so I didn’t overuse the Turbo mode on a longer ride.

You can even link the assistance to a wireless heart rate monitor, should you need to keep your efforts within set zones. The app's seamless matching to the bike is very slick, on a par with Bosch’s Flow.

The inclusion of Apple Find My functionality and the digital lock are great security features, although I’d still recommend buying one of the best bike locks if you’re leaving the bike in public places.

Specialized Vado SL 2 4.0 bottom line

The new Vado SL may not be as ‘SL’ lightweight as the previous generation, but it’s a more versatile ride that should appeal to a wider range of riders, from novices to seasoned commuters. Its quick charging, long range and luggage capacity even open it up to multi-day tours.

The integrated lights are a mixed bag. The rear, with its brake functionality, is a particular highlight, although the performance of the front light is middling on unlit roads and trails.

The more relaxed ride may not make for the most exciting bike, but in practical terms, it’s a brilliant package. If you’re looking for a capable, well-equipped, dependable and versatile assisted commuter bike, look no further.

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