Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 E-Bike Review

Images from manufacturer's website

50 mi

RANGE

28 mph

TOP SPEED

5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

47 lbs

WEIGHT

Mid-drive

MOTOR TYPE

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Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 Review: Takeaway

Thanks to its quality components and a good lick of speed, the Turbo Vado 5.0 is ideal for replacing your second car. Fun to ride and with good looks, this is a great investment for those who want to get around quickly without passengers on a regular basis.

Ideal for...

Regular Commuting

Longer Distance Utility Runs

Seeing Friends

Cafe Hopping

Family Rides

Exploring the Countryside

E-Bike Overview

Capable of 28 mph with its street-tuned Brose Turbo 1.3 motor, the Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 has a peak torque of 90 Newton meters that’ll enable you to handle even the gnarliest hills in your city. You’ll be able to accelerate smoothly but quickly thanks to the 11-tooth top gear — and you won’t have to pedal like a maniac to reach top speeds, either. Offering a great range thanks to the 600 Wh in-tube battery, this e-bike will soon leave your car rusting in the drive.

With its swept-back handlebars and comfortable riding position, the Turbo Vado 5.0 is a joy to ride. Though it lacks a throttle, the power via the mid-drive motor will make the feel of cycling a breeze even at higher speeds. The Custom Rx Street Tune design offers a silent ride so you don’t feel like you’re on a noisy motorcycle.

Kitted out with a sturdy rack, full fenders, and lights, it can be ridden through the year and into the evening. These add to the modern, clean lines that make the machine great to look at.

The included Turbo Connect Display also offers easy access to all your riding data, including speed, cadence, rider power, distance, and more. It even lets you set up the Mission Control App on your phone so you can completely customize your ride

Reasons to Buy

The powerful motor and battery make this an e-bike for regular, mid- to long-distance rides. That might be a commute from the exurbs or a dash across the city for lunch with a friend. Thanks to the quality four-piston hydraulic disc brakes and drivetrain, it’ll be useful throughout the year in all weathers — though a Boston snowstorm may be beyond its limits thanks to the road tires.

Things to Consider

Many U.S. brands’ e-bikes have throttles. Specialized is one of the big international brands that don’t install these on its electric bikes. This is also a Class 3 electric bike that may be a bit quick for some older riders, especially if you’re just a recreational rider. Specialized also makes quality Class 1 e-bikes that top out at 20 mph if high speeds aren’t your thing.

Specs & Components

Brand

Specialized

Motor

Brose Turbo 1.3, mid-drive, street tuned

Battery

600 Wh in-tube

Controls

Handlebar remote, LCD screen

Power Delivery

PAS only (Class 3)

Charger

4A fast charger

Drivetrain

11-speed Shimano XT Shadow Plus 11-42t cassette

Brakes

Sram G2 hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm front and rear rotors

Wheels

700 x 47c Trigger Sport road tires

Fork

SR Suntour NCX E25, 50mm travel

Accessories

Rack, full fenders, lights, bell, kickstand

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power

 4.5/5

4.5

A Class 3 electric bike with a maximum speed of 28 mph, this is plenty quick when you want to ride faster. The 90 Nm of torque allows for almost class-leading acceleration, and the road tires will offer minimal friction from rolling resistance.

The Turbo Vado 5.0 does lack a throttle, but that’s part of its classification as a Class 3 electric bike, as the rules forbid throttle use at those speeds.

Range

 4.5/5

4.5

Built for a balance of range and speed, this isn’t a long-range e-bike, but rather, one that’ll handle a 20-mile outbound commute on regular terrain well. There are e-bikes out there that’ll do a 40-mile outbound (80-mile round trip) for a similar price. Specialized, however, has gone for a lower overall weight (just 47 lbs) that eliminates the need for a bigger battery.

Comfort

 4.5/5

4.5

Sat in a comfortably upright city bike position, you’ll not have too much pressure on your upper body riding this e-bike, in part thanks to the 9-degree swept-back handlebars. The Suntour fork with 50mm travel will absorb the bumps and potholes, while the 700 x 47c tires will handle mixed-use paths and gravel tracks.

The lightweight alloy frame was designed using Specialized’s Fitness/Transportation Geometry to help make your commutes more comfortable. The e-bike also comes in four different sizes to accommodate riders of all heights.

Durability

 4.5/5

4.5

As a major international cycling brand, Specialized is well known for its quality. Backed up by good warranties on its components (that are of high specification), this e-bike will serve you well for five years or more with minimal major repairs. Oil the chain regularly and ensure it’s given an annual service, and you’ll have a machine that’ll do thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Style

 5/5

We love the proportions and clean lines of the Turbo Vado 5.0. It’s unarguably a modern, good-looking electric bike that’ll turn heads as you ride. Its sober color black and liquid silver scheme adds to this refined appearance that’ll say a lot about you as you ride it.

Our Research Methodology

We personally research and test every e-bike featured in our reviews and guides to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn how we review.

About Our Editorial Team

Written by Richard Shrubb

Contributing Author

Richard is a well-established journalist and copywriter with years of experience in the EV and e-bike world. He has worked with international sailing magazines, e-bike publications, and national newspapers.

Edited by Kristy Snyder

Professional Editor

Kristy Snyder is a professional writer and editor living in Pittsburgh with over 10 years of content creation experience. When she's not contributing to eBikes.org, Kristy enjoys reading, practicing yoga, drinking beer, and hitting up rail trails.

Meet Our Editorial Team