LeMond Prologue vs Specialized Vado SL

Greg LeMond has recently got back into bicycle manufacturing with the hybrid Prologue and comfort Dutch products. He is promising a Road Bike in late summer 2021 but offers no details. Since his Prologue is comparable to the Specialized Vado SL popular with the FOGBEES, we thought we would do a comparison. At this time, the LeMond product line-up is limited to these two offerings, while Specialized has an extensive list of electric bikes varieties imcluding the Creo road bike.

With a base price of $4,500, the 11-speed Prologue matches the $4,750 11-speed Vado 4.0 SL. The primary difference between the two ebikes is -- the Prologue has a carbon frame and the Vado has an aluminum frame, making the Prologue potentially lighter than the Vado.

Both ebikes have the batteries built into the frames. However, the Prologue has a 250 watt-hour power source while the Vado has a 320 watt-hour unit. The Prologue claims a 45-mile range on a single charge while the Vado says it can go 80 miles. Both bikes offer the option of a comparably sized additional external battery.

The Prologue is a Class-1 ebike (20 mph max assist) while the Vado is a Class-3 ebike (28 mph max assist), suggesting the products are targeted for different markets, thanks to the current US laws as to where each class can be ridden.

The other big differences are:

• ·       the Prologue uses a rear hub motor while the Vado places its motor at the bottom bracket.

• ·       Both the Prologue and Vado SL have 38-mm tires. (For $1,800 additional, one can replace the Prologue aluminum alloy rims with carbon fiber. No such option is readily available on the Vado.)

• ·       The Prologue claims to weigh 26 pounds while the Vado SL advertises 33 pounds.

Other than these major differences, the bikes are virtually identical, with 240/250-watt motors, comparable gearing, hydraulic disk brakes, lighting, and optional accessories. Specialized offers an upscale 12-speed Vado 5.0. At this time, no comparable product is available at LeMond Composites.

After riding a Specialized Vado 5.0 SL for a little over a month, I can add some real-life observations. First, regarding the weight comparison, my Vado was never as light as 33 pounds. Both manufacturers give the weight of their smallest bike. I have the XL-frame and the EQ rear rack and fenders, At birth, it came in around 37 pounds.  I have added a pannier bag which I keep loaded with tools, an air pump, spare inner tubes, and maybe extra clothes.

Knowing I had the option of motor-assist while on a bike ride, I never was concerned about this extra weight. The disparity between the Prologue and Vado might be important for tiny bicyclists weighing 150 pounds or less, but at nearly 250 pounds, the pounds above the saddle were more a liability than the pounds below the saddle. It was bizarre why some large bicyclists spent thousands of extra dollars to take a couple of pounds off their bike.

The shorter distance range of the Prologue versus the Vado worried me. On a typical ride, with my ebike loaded down, averagimg 14-15 mph or less, I normally expected a range of 60 miles (not the advertised 80 miles.) With the Prologue that would translate to 35 miles of range, I used the motor-assist sparingly -- only when I needed a little help on the hills and mostly in the ECO-mode. Nearly all the FOGBEES rode their Vados similarly and matched my range.

However, a FOGBEE ride was often 45 miles long and when touring, distances could be 60 miles per leg. Often, during the last several miles, my aching legs were devoid of ATP. Being able to motor home painlessly was wonderful..The Prologue range would be insufficient, and create a lot of apprehension about running out of juice before the end of the ride. 

The terrain was an important consideration when choosing an ebike. The hub-drive motor was cheaper to build and manufacture. However, according to the experts, a mid-drive motor was better for heavy bicyclists pedaling up hills. For road riding in Tennessee, the Vado should be a better choice for big guys and gals.

Appropriate gearing can help level out the hills. The Prologue and Vado 4.0 are comparably geared 11-speed bikes with a single pedal ring.. On the other hand, my Vado 5.0 has 12-speed gearing. In Tennessee, I use all 12 and wished I had more. 

Most U.S. States identify ebikes by three classes:

• ·       Class 1 are pedalecs with motor assist up to 20 mph,

• ·       Class 2 are throttle bikes with motor assist up to 20 mph, and

• ·       Class 3 are pedalecs with motor assist up to 28 mph.

Unless restricted by local laws, a Class 1 or 2 ebike can go anywhere regular bikes are permitted. For some simplistic reasoning, Class 3 ebikes are restricted to roads.

The Prologue is a Class 1 ebike while the Vado is a Class 3 ebike. A Class-1 ebike is more than adequate for casual rides on flat terrains. A Class-3 ebike offers the kind of versatility needed in hilly terrains or for general commuting in Tennessee.  

On rough roads carbon frames arguably offer a smoother ride than more rigid aluminum frames. The aluminum Vado 4.0 compensates with a carbon fork. The Vado 5.0 adds a shock absorber to the front steering.

Greg LeMond has a lot of experience with carbon frames and bicycle manufacturing. He got into business in 1991 with an exclusive licensing agreement with Carbonframes, Inc., accessing it's advanced composites technology. However, his company failed.

In 2016, he founded LeMond Composites to manufacture high-volume, low-cost carbon fiber composites under a licensing agreement with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and an exclusive 20-year licensing agreement with Deakin University.  He has a $125 million  manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In 2017 LeMond Composites received $1.79 million from the Australian Federal Government to establish a carbon fiber manufacturing plant in Geelong, Australia.

The Prologue attempts to leverage the weight advantages provided by carbon bike frame with a small built-in battery, and a rear-hub motor. It’s Class 1 design appears to be positioned in the market where “dead” weight rather than performance dominates the buying consideration. such as less concerning, urban recreational bicyclist. Unfortunately, this market segment is highly competitive with significantly less expensive alternatives.

The Secialized Vado SL Class 3 design with its better performance appeals more to the serious bicyclist. But like the Prologue, it is expensive when compared to non-ebikes or road-bike conversions. Nevertheless, it’s price/performance make it a good entry product for those who want an ebike but are reluctant to drop the big dollars for a better performing road bike alternative.