VERSUS SECRET E-BIKESSneaky e-bikes with batteries hidden in the frame are here... but with a
huge disparity in price, do you need to spend double to get twice the ride?Road bots
in disguise
[ WordsRoss Presly ]What’s the story?
At barely half the price of the Vado, the
Ribble is no riddle, focusing on doing
the basics right minus any fancy extras.
There’s no suspension, no integrated
computer, no lights or extra controls: this
is a simple one-button operator and it’s all
the better for it. You can download an app
to make it ‘smart’, but it’s not necessary.Is it any good?
Weirdly, we’re going to talk about how
much fun this bike is to ride without any
assistance first – because the Ribble is a
real easy rider just as long as the road isn’t
too steep, and it’s reassuring that if your
battery runs out a few miles from home
you’re not going to struggle.
When the assistance is running it’s a
breeze, and you’re almost certain to arrive
with barely a bead of sweat on your head.
It’s not as hi-tech as the Vado, but the
single button handles switching through
the three power levels and you can clearly
see how much battery life is left.
You just need to familiarise yourself with
the LED colour coding of each function – for
example, flashing red means you’re close
to draining the battery. It can be tricky to
switch between assistance levels quickly,
so practise on quiet roads first.Price £2199 / stuff.tv/RibbleHybrid
● Up to 80 miles’ range ● 250Wh battery,
4hr charge ● Mahle X35 250W motor
● Aluminium frame, carbon fork
● 13.1kg (medium size)Stuff says ★★★★★
More basic than the Vado, but proves you
don’t need the extras for an excellent rideWhat’s the story?
It looks pretty discreet but the Vado has
a mass of added extras – like lights for
when you’ve stayed in the pub too long,
hidden suspension for when the going gets
bumpy, an extra boost of assistance if hills
become too daunting, and a kickstand for
a bit of statement propping.Is it any good?
With a not insignificant £1800 premium
over the Ribble, the Vado needs to be good,
and it is. It might not be that obvious from
a distance, but once you’re in the saddle
everything starts to become clear.
The Future Shock suspension smooths
out any buzz from the road, the battery
level indicator is clear, and buttons on the
bars offer instant switching through the
three levels of assistance. Hardwired lights
are a welcome addition, as is the kickstand
given it’s too nice a bike to lean carelessly
against a wall.
It’s slightly heavier than the Ribble, but
the added kit explains that – and the Vado
still rides really nicely without assistance.
Is the heady price justified? For most people
probably not, and perhaps Specialized is
partly playing on its name; but even so, the
Vado just edges this battle.Price £4000 / stuff.tv/VadoSL
● Up to 80 miles’ range ● 320Wh battery,
4hr charge ● Specialized SL 1.1 240W motor
● Aluminium frame, carbon fork
● 14.9kgStuff says ★★★★★
Pricey, but the extra cash shows itself in
the ride quality and ease of useSpecialized Turbo
Vado SL 5.0 EQ
Ribble Hybrid AL e
Both e-bikes here
rely on pedal assist,
so the best way to
get up big hills or
whizz away from
traffic lights is to
select the smallest
gear and keep your
legs spinning while
the motor does its
thing. Unlike bikes
with the motors in
the wheels (like our
current favourite,
the VanMoof S3),
there’s no boost
button to move
without pedalling.
It’s less fun, but the
batteries in pedal
assist bikes do give
more range.
Those batteries
are hidden in the
downtube of the
frame, but both
can have a range
extender mounted
in the bottle cage
and plugged in
while you’re riding.
This incurs an extra
cost, but it’s worth
getting if you’ve
got a massive ride
planned or you’re
expecting to go
multiple days
without access
to a charger.PEDAL OF
HONOUR