Pistons Then Pedals

Our 2019 Specialized Vado 1.0 has been a reliable part of our garage for six years and over 4,000 miles.  

The Vado was bought when I was still working in an office. My workplace was in Tempe, Arizona, and I realized that bicycling to work did not take much longer than driving.

As I’ve discussed in another post, I prefer a tactical approach to how I navigate my city.  A bicycle allowed me to bypass traffic and travel at a slower, but more consistent, speed. It also lowered my operating expenses.

The downside was that our summer heat made it impractical for me to commute in July or August on a traditional bike. The eBike excelled at that task. While I don’t go into an office anymore, the Vado continues to be my car alternative.

The Option to Leave the Car at Home

My closest grocery store is less than a mile from my home. A pair of sturdy Ortlieb panniers allows me to load a full grocery run for two onto the bike.

Meanwhile, both of our cars are powered by internal combustion engines, so the short trip is hard on them mechanically.  

Our manual-transmission-equipped VW Jetta still allows you to see the oil temperature on the digital gauge cluster. Usually, the oil temp has not risen enough to register by the time I get to the store.

Our other car is fifteen years old with higher mileage. It’s running nearly eight quarts of thicker Motul 5W-40 oil through a 6-cylinder engine.  That engine is certainly not up to temperature within such a short journey. (I should also mention I chose this oil viscosity because I live in the Sonoran Desert and I checked my owner’s manual first.)

Genuine automotive enthusiasts will agree that short errands are hard on engines. In fact, Jalopnik posted an article about it in April.

I don’t leave my cars at home because I hate them. I leave them at home because I value them. Saving money is an added perk.

What happens if I need to do a larger grocery run or a Costco run? I take the car.

Which Parts Have Required Replacement on the eBike?

I had someone come up to me recently and ask about my eBike. He specifically asked how the battery has held up over time.

I told him that, when I bought it, the battery was a major concern for me. Ironically, although other parts of the bicycle have been replaced, the battery still seems to be running like new. I haven’t noticed any major drop in range and the charging behavior is still fine. I also mentioned I bought the bike from a reputable manufacturer so I could trust the battery’s safety in my home.

After that conversation, I began to think about the parts which needed replacement. My Vado is one of the earlier models, so I’m sure that some of these issues have been ironed out on later versions.

Chain and Chainring: Bicycle chains are a wear item. They will eventually wear out after enough miles. The Vado has needed at least one chain replacement. That’s unsurprising since the mid-drive motor creates more torque than a standard bicycle.

However, after I replaced the chain, the bicycle developed a horrible chain grinding sound. I couldn’t figure it out, so I brought it into my local bike shop for diagnosis. They found the chainring had worn down. This meant when I put a new chain onto it, the teeth were rounded out and not engaging properly. The issue went away after the chainring was replaced.

Brakes: The front brake developed an embarrassing squeal this year. I tried multiple brake bleeds, as well as multiple pad replacements and deep-cleans of the rotor. The problem would not go away. Eventually, I decided that the stock front caliper was probably failing.

I ordered an entirely new Shimano brake system from Cambria Bike. The bicycle is far beyond the warranty period, so I decided to replace the brakes myself. It was fascinating to see the bike’s simplicity and learn how it was built along the way.

Now, with new Shimano brakes installed, the Vado stops great again.

Fork: I’m convinced that the front fork has worn out. The bike’s front end “crashes” over bumps now. My Vado came equipped with a Suntour fork that is probably tired. It uses a quick-release axle on the front, so that limits my replacement options. I haven’t decided what fork to replace it with, so I’m still riding the bike as it is.

Tires: It is no surprise that the factory tires have been replaced. The eBike is now equipped with Schwalbe Green Marathons. They’ve been great. The tires prioritize puncture protection and rolling efficiency. This comes with a somewhat rougher ride, but I’m willing to accept that tradeoff.

Would I Buy Another Specialized eBike?

Yes! As a matter of fact, we already did. We bought a second Vado last year for our two-car household. It’s been interesting to see the build quality difference between them.

Our newer Vado shows a higher level of refinement. The build quality on it reminds me of an automobile, where the older model feels like a souped-up bicycle. It also has features like integrated lights, a factory-equipped rack, and an alarm system. My 2019 bike did not come with those.