The Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 e-bikes have helped set the standard for lightweight electric commuting capabilities. Pound for pound, Specialized’s SL 1.2 motor is up there with class-leading performance in a lightweight drive unit. And bikes like the Vado SL 2 Carbon blur the lines between commuter bike and road race machine.
Specialized’s new Turbo Vado SL 2 takes things one step further with its S-Racing LTD — same power, same battery life, same performance, but with the red S-Racing treatment.
S-Racing Becomes Your Daily Commuter
Specialized claims that no other e-bike touches the Turbo Vado SL 2 S-Racing LTD in terms of speed, power output, and range when it comes to the bike’s (light) weight class. Specialized took its highest spec Turbo Vado SL 2 — the 6.0 Carbon — trading components and paint, creating a Tour-worthy bike.
Introducing the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 S-Racing LTD.
This S-Racing LTD Vado features a custom S-Racing paint job and S-Racing graphics, typically found only on Specialized professional race bikes. Specialized replaced the Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain blend found on the 6.0 Carbon with a SRAM RED AXS groupset. A custom flat-bar SRAM RED brakes take care of the stopping.
Completing the cockpit, the S-Racing LTD gets the one-piece carbon bar/stem combo. This carbon combo can be seen on the Specialized Factory Team’s Epic 8 XC race bikes.
Lastly, a Roval Rapide deep aero carbon wheelset replaces alloy DT Swiss hoops.
These component changes make the S-Racing LTD an efficient commuter, and also drastically affect the e-bike’s weight. The S-Racing LTD bike tips the scales at just 30lbs (13.7kg), shaving more than five pounds from the Vado SL’s 6.0 Carbon build.
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 1.2 Motor
Twenty-eight mph pedal-assist performance is delivered to the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 S-Racing LTD via the new Specialized SL 1.2 motor system. This is a significant improvement from the previous SL 1.1 motor that we had on the Turbo Vado SL 4.0 we tested in 2021.
The SL 1.1 drive unit from Specialized on the Vado SL 4.0 outputs 240 watts of power and 35Nm of torque. The prior motor paired that power and torque with a 320-watt-hour battery.
Comparatively, the new SL 1.2 motor bumps things up significantly. Battery life increases to 520Wh, such a significant increase that Specialized claims: “In real-life terms, you can crush a 20-minute commute, both ways, for a week straight without having to recharge.” This, of course, would depend on any elevation gain a commute might have, but you get the picture.
Power output also sees a significant increase with the SL 1.2 motor, increasing from 240W to 320W. Paired with 50Nm of torque, the S-Racing LTD jumps off the line.
So, the New Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 S-Racing LTD is for?…
That is a good question. While it definitely has top-of-the-line components, the impressive SL 1.2 drive unit remains the same across Vado SL 2 models. And the same Specialized app allows you to customize and track your rides.
Will it get you to work faster? Is the S-Racing LTD Vado SL 2 for you?
Sure, it could be for you, provided you understand that shaving five pounds by incorporating the premium components used by Specialized’s pros will come at a price. Oh, and then there is the custom paint and graphics. The custom look likely won’t shave time off your commute, but subtracting five pounds certainly makes for a more efficient and faster ride.
All told, the new Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 S-Racing LTD e-bike can be yours for $10,000 USD. Expensive, yes, but also very limited.
If you’re interested, don’t hesitate — Specialized only made 220 of them. When they’re gone, they’re gone!
