Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2: SL 1.2 Motor and 520 Wh Integrated Battery

Specialized today unveiled the 2027 Turbo Vado SL, the company's most ambitious update to the SL platform since the original 2020 release. The new bike claims a complete-bike weight of 41 lbs.

The headline change is the new SL 1.2 motor, which Specialized lists at 320 watts. Combined with a 520 Wh integrated battery, Specialized lists the complete bike at 18.6 kg (41 lb 0.1 oz) in a size medium.

Specialized said the new battery uses a proprietary cell chemistry developed in partnership with a Korean cell supplier, with a claimed 50% energy-density improvement over the cells used in the 2023 Vado SL. Independent verification will be required to confirm those numbers, but if accurate it represents a leap that would put the company a generation ahead of its DTC competition.

It comes in a base trim and an EQ commuter-equipped variant with lights, fenders, and rear rack.