This really is a non-issue for most riders though. It was originally listed as a 2021 model year bike, though due to it arriving quite late in the season, Specialized will be carrying these bikes through to 2022. S snowbro New Member Jun 1, 2018 52 42 USA Feb 11, 2020 #8 Specialized's Turbo Levo SL has 150mm of travel front and rear. There are four models in the Levo SL range: the S-Works Turbo Levo SL, Turbo Levo SL Expert, Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon and entry-level Turbo Levo SL Comp. The weight of an e-bike impacts performance on the trail, for better or worse, when compared to a regular mountain bike. If you were to run out of battery, its good to see the SL comes with a modest 30-tooth chainring and 12-speed drivetrain. Replies 117 Views . Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, If the two bikes were fitted with identical tyres, the Rise would be a full kilo heavier than the Levo SL. The e-bike's extra weight and low distribution of that weight, provides a similar on-trail feel to a bike with updated angles like the new Stumpjumper. The Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert C gets its own Fact m11 carbon frame that builds into an impressive 18.57kg (40.94lb) complete bike. Of course, there is a compromise of shrinking the motor. Workouts on the e-bike did not come without faults. 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The turbo levo comp is available with a carbon fiber or aluminum frame. This could be useful for those who want to train in a specific heart rate zone. 653mm. More shilling for eMoped industry. Fork offset is consistent through the sizes at 51mm. No aftermarket power meter required. We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure youre buying the best. Human physiology is a constant, but how it is utilized in each sport requires specific stimuli. Expensive considering the parts package. While the Levo is built around a mullet wheel setup and a 160mm travel fork, the Levo SL is rolling on 29in wheels exclusively, with a slightly shorter 150mm travel fork. Wheels are another highlight, which has clearly been beautifully put together and feels robust enough to survive the rigors of everyday ruts, potholes, tree trunks, or rocks. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. 155/143mm, X-Fusion Manic, infinite adjustable, two-bolt head, bottom mount cable routing, remote SRL LE lever, 34.9mm. All of that adds up to a raucous e-MTB that is insanely planted at speed, with the Kenevo SLs gooey suspension performance delivering endless amounts of grip and control. If i was explosive every day, then I will quickly over train. In comparison, the Levo SL is easier to pilot on twistier singletrack, which will be more noticeable for lighter and smaller riders. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. My experience has been mixed: I haven't raced in a few years and haven't been actively "training", but I have been focused on progressing my technical/downhill skills over that same time period. Polarized training spends most of the time, 70-80%, at low intensity, and then 20-30% at higher intensity. Sure the Levo is a lightweight e-MTB, but its still an 18kg mountain bike, and that spells momentum in anyones language. There are four models in the current Specialized Levo SL range, with both alloy and carbon frames on offer. I had a downloaded workout that included a series of nine intervals with corresponding rest periouds. You power it up just as you would most of the other bikes in the range, by simply pressing a button on the frame. A friend loaned me his Levo SL and I've been using it to train for Enduro and build my base fitness and not get bored to death on the trainer or pedaling in the eagle at at a snails pace up the hills. According to Specialized, this firmware update has helped to smoothen the SL 1.1 motors output. Seb Stott is a former technical writer for BikeRadar. Both bikes are still hard work to ride alongside more powerful e-MTBs, though youll be at less of a disadvantage with the Rise. I turned around and descended 2,400 feet, through drifting turns, rain ruts, moto-bermed corners and suspension-flexing g-outs for my cool down. There is no way this ride would have been possible, on that trail, with workout goals in mind on a motor-free mountain bike. do DH racers only use a DH bike for all of their DH training workouts? Those newer Specialized models also feature the snazzy MasterMind TCU display, and we really like the crisp glass screen and how it displays the battery level as a percentage. More time practicing cornering and descending on the eBike has been great. Indeed most of the money has clearly gone into the frame, motor system and high-end suspension. Needless to say, in order to give it my best shot, my fitness and bike-handling skills will need to be on another level. If youre keen to know more about the new compounds and casing options, check out our Specialized tyre review. Pushing between 600-800 watts just to get up many of these climbs, the term "punchy" should be swapped to "knock-blow-from-Mike-Tyson" when going up sections of Trail 4 without a motor. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. But, running and mountain bike racing are distinctly different. Battery: Specialized SL-320 fully integrated, 320Wh Youd rather stick with a cheap and cheerful electric mountain bike. While most full-suspension electric bikes weigh well over 20kg, the new stripped-down Levo SL weighs as little as 16.9kg (S-Works model, size small). Excited to see how you do, best of luck! The Turbo Levo SL is a new, lightweight breed of eMTB that harnesses the quick and lively ride of our Stumpjumper.and adds just enough power to introduce a whole new dimension of kick ass. You can also tell the app how far and how high you want to ride, and it will automatically adjust the assistance to get you to the end without running out. - Not a lot of bling the high-end price tag However, it is lighter, more agile and livelier. By manually actuating the motor on the Levo SL, I can mitigate the terrain's impact on my output. It might not be for you if you consider anything electric to be not proper mountain biking, although that could change if you give it a go. Did not read the article, because thats what you do on the internet, but I will share my experience6 yrs ago when I started riding eMTB assist bikes, I went full on, 80-90% emtb and rode analog bike very little. Its gained some weight over last years version, which clocked in at just 16.9kg for the S-Works model, and 17.6kg for the Expert. That goal is only possible with on-trail experience. Build spec consists of a SRAM GX eagle drivetrain and G2 brakes with 200mm front and 180mm rear . yup. Its also a significantly longer and slacker bike, and its equipped as such with a bigger Fox 38 fork, a Float X2 shock, stickier rubber and even bigger brake rotors. Will I use the Levo SL for all of my workouts? You can even use the app to set a target heart rate and the bike will provide more assistance if your heart rate goes above this number or drop the assistance when it gets too low. Watch our video review of the Specialized Levo SL here: The Specialized Levo SL is essentially a lightweight version of the popular Levo. I could see that in some places. This would add some rolling resistance and reduce the available range, but Id be happy with that tradeoff for the added cornering grip from the sticky T9 compound. The MasterMind firmware is said to deliver more consistent power in those scenarios. From a practical standpoint, its just easier to deal with. This helped me stay in an easy, aerobic effort. Specialized bills the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon as a new, lightweight breed of e-MTB and it is certainly distinctive. Otherwise both drive systems work well, despite having their quirks. The 66 head angle and 51mm fork offset provides nice and light steering, and the whole bike initiates turns easily without fuss. Really awesome article. Above all though, the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is a great bike to ride. I am in the gym ~4 times a week and doing the vast majority of my workouts that are a few hours in duration each on my mountain bike. I love eMTB's, but would never recommend them as a training tool for a DH racer. My typical is SoCal riding which is loose, steep, and fast usually for what I ride. We recently tested the Orbea Rise M10, which is the most prominent competitor to the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon. The 181mm Q-Factor on the SL 1.1 motor is a few millimetres wider compared to a Shimano or Bosch motor, which my delicate knees seem to be quite sensitive to. The Turbo Levo SL Experts motor is impressively smooth and refined. The charge port door is simple but effective, and I like that it takes just 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery. Like you say, the race is almost entirely fitness based. The three training philosophies are Sweet Spot Training (medium intensity most of the time), High-Intensity Interval Training (short, maximal efforts), and Polarized Training. The Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon 2022 is an electric-bike. Specialized does also offer a range extender option for the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon, which is worth considering if you're a hardcore biker whos likely to be out for longer days than some. Since he's been all-digital he has run the Innovation channel during a few years at Microsoft as well as turning out regular news, reviews, features and other content for the likes of TechRadar, TechRadar Pro, Tom's Guide, Fit&Well, Gizmodo, Shortlist, Automotive Interiors World, Automotive Testing Technology International, Future of Transportation and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International. My goal with this project was to mitigate my weaknesses in skill and progress my riding. Its still an agile, comfortable and easy-to-ride bike, which makes it a very approachable option for beginner riders. I learned a lot about cycling training as I pedaled my heart out. Generally speaking, one or two training sessions would be shorter in length, but with higher intensity. I can well believe it. Its already been rolled out through the production line, so it came preinstalled on our Levo SL Expert Carbon test bike. That being said, its more lethargic than the sprightly Levo SL. Heavy or fast riders . The remainder would be low intensity. As someone who works with DH racers, I warned them to not ride these bikes too much, many of them started to notice if on the emtb too much, it 'stole' much needed power that is required in DH. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments! The addition of power data results in a much more responsive and effective ride. For their Light eMTB, Specialized designed the compact and light SL 1.1 motor, which delivers 35 Nm torque and draws its power from a small 320 Wh battery. Once dialled in, I found the Levo SL to be a really comfortable bike and a nice change from the latest crop of uber-long reach bikes. Levo SL Levo SL range extender and shock compatibility . This is not an article designed to downgrade mountain bikes in comparison to e-MTBs. The S-WORKS Levo SL is the most premium offering in the Levo SL lineup, featuring more lightweight carbon fiber and titanium hardware (crank arms, derailleur cage plate, handlebar, saddle rails). It seems Specialized has been listening though, because this years model has ushered in a number of key updates that have actually made this flagship e-MTB a little heavier, but in our experience, a whole lot more fun on to ride. Wheels | Roval Traverse SL, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width; . (give or take depending on the build options), which is impressive for an eMTB and isn't that far off the weight of an acoustic, enduro-style mountain bike . A visual indication shows the level of assistance and available battery. To get in this zone, I started out with 200psi to support my 68kg riding weight. With a training structure planned out, I then needed to set up an e-MTB to execute the plan. For what it's worth, I use this same logic to justify riding moto.. Understanding that the Levo SL can essentially flatten out the climbs, keeping me in a preferred training zone, it was time to put the experiment into action. I got my 2018 comp carbon levo down to 20.7 kilos, i dont understand how they can ask the same money for a bike that has less battery, frame and motor weight, and really only saving +2kilos. S 125mm, M/L 150mm, XL 170mm, Specialized Trail, forged alloy, four-bolt, 5mm rise, 40mm, Specialized Butcher (f) / Eliminator (r), GRID TRAIL casing, GRIPTON compound, 29 x 23in. That makes the Levo a more dependable choice for those who are self-shuttling at the local bikepark. It could be a good choice for those who need help to keep up with faster riders or squeeze more laps into their schedule, but otherwise want the most unadulterated ride-feel possible. No. The integrated SWAT tool in the fork steerer tube is also a nice touch. Theres no discernible lag when you start or stop pedalling and the power delivery is smooth and predictable: theres no delayed kick as the electric torque engages like you get with some motors. What if an e-MTB could make you a fitter, faster mountain bike rider? The Downieville AM is an exercise in riding the most efficient, lightest setup you can still ride downhill at race speed without blowing it up. He's also tested products for Vital MTB. - Active, traction-seeking suspension Yes, that's the same one on the S-Works model, and you'll also get a Future Shock 2.0. . I suffered no punctures after three days of riding rocky trails, and while Id prefer SRAMs Code brakes, its G2 trail brakes worked well enough in this case. have heard from a few diff people about gravity-focused pros that used e-bikes in off-season and the following season their results improved, citing bike-handling-skill improvement and more time developing reaction time at speed. It awesome to ride steep and fun trails and stay in z2. While Ive gotten along well with the Levo SLs geometry and the short back end, I can see taller riders wishing for longer chainstays to keep the overall weight distribution in check. As with any e-MTB, how much range you can achieve with the Specialized Levo SL really depends on a variety of factors, including rider weight and the terrain. I managed to climb the grunts and whoops of Trail 4 with a minimal and controlled effort that was within the range of my training. Even if youre not a fan of premium price tags, its hard not to concede that the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon model does represent good value for money. Keeping within that easy effort range on a mountain bike would result in a fraction of the descending and skill-building time. The motor performance is exceptional, and its also much quieter than the whiney drive unit on the Levo SL. Spokes: DT Swiss Industry It can take tens of seconds before heart rate elevates in response to a dramatic increase in effort. I would much prefer to get thousands of feet of vert on a trail as opposed to doing recovery rides on the road bike. The Specialized Levo Comp Carbon gets exactly the same carbon frame as the Expert, Pro and S-Works model. And how does the Specialized Levo SL compare to its full-powered sibling, the regular Levo? This comes as standard on the S-Works model, but costs 300 /$450 as an aftermarket option, and weighs about a kilo. Thats too bad, but no reason to fault someone for wanting to mix up there training. Those Specialized Trail alloy handlebars feature an 8-degree backsweep with a 6-degree upsweep. 635mm. The Fox DPS shock is overworked too, becoming noticeably firmer and faster towards the end of long, rough descents. 2023 Liv Intrigue X E+ Review | A beautifully sleek and lightweight e-MTB with a mullet, Review | The Specialized S-Works Recon shoes are the lightest weve ever tested, 2023 Thok TK01 R Review | A surprising package from an Italian e-MTB specialist, Trek Rail Review | A plush, powerful & frustratingly near-perfect electric mountain bike, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. Super-light padding with gel inserts for comfort and support on longer rides. The main difference here is the more powerful motor on the Rise, which sucks more energy but also gives you a slightly higher average climbing speed. Thats a hefty difference that youll appreciate when loading the bike into the back of a car, and its also very noticeable on the trail. Its also not overly raked out. Road biking on flat roads have very few variables that would affect the power output of the rider. However, the addition of several key spec updates has helped to address what we didnt like, while unlocking more potential out of this lightweight e-MTB.
