I'm now hands-free and focused on the trail or chatting with friends. Seb's been riding mountain bikes for more than half his life, ever since getting hooked on a tiny 24Seven Crosser aged 13. If I podium at Downvielle, I'll write it. 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. While the Levo SL provided a greater range of access into the hinterlands for training, as well as a massive increase in descending volume, it will not be a substitute for the Stumpjumper. The low weight is the obvious drawcard for the Specialized Levo SL. The Traverse wheels are only a little bit heavier (1,947g confirmed), and perhaps theres an argument that an alloy wheelset is a more practical choice for an e-MTB, since alloy rims are much cheaper to replace. Lighter weight and less powerful, this is the e-bike for the rider who seeks a "regular" trail bike experience with a just a little pedal assistance View at Specialized Price: $7,000 List Manufacturer: Specialized By Jeremy Benson, Joshua Hutchens, Chris McNamara Mar 7, 2022 72 OVERALL SCORE RANKED #7 of 7 Downhill Performance - 30% 9.0 However, the pinned GX cassette is cheap on a $15K bike, and its indicative of the overall build kit erring towards functionality rather than outright bling. does any serious athlete only use a single tool for training? The Levo SL has otherwise held up well throughout testing, with no rattles or groans to speak of. Overall rating: Score 9 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert C Pros: Superb suspension and impressive range. Geometry is quite conservative. Wheels | Roval Traverse SL, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width; . Both are do-it-all full suspension e-MTBs that feature a four-bar FSR suspension design and 150mm of rear travel, but there are some significant differences. Well, just program your ride and get pedaling. - Active, traction-seeking suspension No more manually increasing or decreasing motor power with my finger via the bar-mounted control. - Low weight As a result, the Kenevo SL is heavier at 19.12kg for the equivalent Expert model. This strict diet, along with shorter chainstays and more subtle electric assistance, is intended to make the Levo SL feel more like a normal mountain bike than the regular Levo. Otherwise the touch points remain the same, with a low-profile controller on the left side of the handlebar giving riders access to Eco, Trail and Turbo assist settings. Road biking on flat roads have very few variables that would affect the power output of the rider. Ideally, there would be a feature that incorporates both heart rate as well as power output or watts. Central to the appeal for many will be the capability of the 150mm suspension front and rear, which is made all the more effective courtesy of Foxs 36 Performance Elite fork and DPX2 shock combination. 2020 Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon Contact Specialized https://www.specialized.com Weight 17.6kg Positives - Easy, intuitive handling package sets a whole new standard - Smooth and efficient motor performance - Clean and practical frame design - Mission Control app offers huge tuning potential Negatives - Rattly internal cables Think nose breathing, or the ability to carry on a casual conversation while riding. As a result its the heavier of the two bikes, clocking in at 18.54kg despite its light-duty rubber. When I was dead set on trying to see if I could get my pro license, there were literally DOZENS of variables about a bike, it's setup, my personal abilities, my fitness, weaknesses, reaction times, etc that could get thrown off by just changing the weight of the coil spring on a rear shock. After my wrist improved, I wanted to transfer this knowledge and these workouts to the trails. Whether you're looking for diet meals to help you lose weight or hearty, healthy meals for weight gain, NutriFit will create a plan specifically for you. We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure youre buying the best. The Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon 2022 is an electric-bike. I would pick the Expert if it came with. Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon: Design Lightweight at 18kgs Comfortable to ride Great frame and wheel engineering Design score: 4/5 Specialized bills the Specialized Levo SL. Thats over 4kg heavier than the Levo SL. Specialized has also developed new firmware to drive the SL 1.1 motor. Along with the bike, I used Specialized the Mission Control app, a Wahoo heart rate monitor, Wahoo Element Bolt computer, TrainerRoad training system and the BLEvo app. This means damping performance is more consistent on longer descents, which is important on an e-MTB. Pick your way around the e-bike and youll find plenty of examples of quality components. On the trail the low weight also delivers exceptional handling, with the Levo SL being remarkably agile for an e-MTB. He hadnt been to Boise, so it was hard to accurately convey my process in our brief discussion. As youll see from looking at any of the other best e-bike models on the market, theres something to suit any kind of cycling interest. Heart rate is practical data, but has limitations. Its still a noisy little bugger though, with a high-pitched whine that gets louder as the motor spins harder and faster. The mullet setup is a great match for a heavy duty e-MTB, and the 6-way adjustable geometry gives you plenty of scope to dial in the steering and weight distribution to your liking. There no surprise hills around the corner to spike your heart rate if you choose. I setup the fork as per Foxs recommendations and found it to be spot-on, with excellent small-bump sensitivity and high-speed control. Theres also been a change from SRAM G2 brakes to the bigger Codes, which are a little heavier but significantly more powerful. It incorporates the components of the Mission Control app, in addition to what I was wanting. Specializeds Grid Trail tyres appear to be an improvement on the puncture-prone Grid tyres weve become accustomed to seeing on Specialized bikes. After years of running, I have recently changed gears with an obsession for improving my descending skills on a mountain bike. Even though youve got the SL 1.1 motor and a battery on-board, the e-MTB doesnt feel at all cumbersome. 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. Updated e-bike gets 700Wh battery for increased range At the time of writing, the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is on offer too, and this bike maker regularly runs similar discount deals for different markets. Youd rather stick with a cheap and cheerful electric mountain bike. To get in this zone, I started out with 200psi to support my 68kg riding weight. I have a lot of training knowledge when it pertains to running. Federgabel: RockShox Reba SL 150 mm Dmpfer: RockShox Monarch Plus RT 135 mm Pedale: BC Flatpedals Griffe: Ride Alpha DH Motor/Batterie: Specialized Custom/ Turbo 1.3 460 Wh Schaltung: SRAM NX Bremsen: SRAM Level T 200/200 mm Vorbau: Specialized Trail 55 mm Lenker: Specialized 780 mm Laufrder: Roval Traverse 27.5" Reifen: Specialized Butcher . no. The Turbo Levo SL's 240-watt Specialized SL 1.1 motor doubles your effort with a smooth and natural feel at the pedals. The Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon features a full carbon frame, full FOX suspension and a SRAM Eagle NX drivetrain Save for Later Technical Specifications Pick your poison. why is that your only takeaway? Its also slacker (65.5) and longer (450mm reach), which increases overall stability at speed. The current TCU on the Levo SL is absolutely fine and totally functional, but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out that the next generation model is likely to incorporate the updated MasterMind TCU display. Seb has also been a regular contributor to the BikeRadar Podcast and BikeRadar YouTube channel, and written for MBUK magazine and Pinkbike.com. Save 25% + DMR Trail Gloves + DeathGrips when you subscribe to MBUK magazine, *Spring Savings* Try 6 issues of Cycling Plus for just 9.99 | Save 74% today, Instantly familiar trail-bike handling; one of the smoothest, most refined motors on the market; impressive range while being much faster than a regular bike, Some components, especially the fork, compromise performance for gram-counting; harder work / won't keep up with full-power e-bikes on steep climbs, weight isnt necessarily a bad thing when descending, Rims: Roval Traverse Carbon 29. hookless carbon, 30mm inner width The Butcher front tire and Eliminator rubber at the rear deliver substantial dollops of grip on loose ground, though fair less well on hard, wet surfaces. When it comes to the best electric bikes, premium models like the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon model are always going to be big-ticket items. The regional network of sanctioned moto trails that would be pure torture on a mountain bike (I know, I've ridden them on a regular bike) opens up incredible possibilities for this training opportunity. 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). 635mm. Through the Mission Control app, you can tweak the Support Power and the Peak Power for each mode. Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only). I learned a lot about cycling training as I pedaled my heart out. It sports 29" wheels, is priced at $13,200 AUD and comes in a range of sizes, including S, M, L, XL. Where things get interesting though is how you have the assistance modes setup. The suspension rate is quite linear, which means its very plush and comfortable, something you do appreciate during seated climbing on rough sections of trail. Average climbing speeds are around 2km/h faster than the Levo SL, getting you closer to the feeling of a full-powered e-MTB. The geometry of the Levo SL and the Stumpjumper look very different on paper. Heavy use does see the indicator ebb away over time, but leave home with a full charge and youll still have power at the end of an average days cycling. On the trail the Rises EP8-RS motor delivers notably more power. That goal is only possible with on-trail experience. In comparison, the Levo SL sits right in the trail bike camp. 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. With a training structure planned out, I then needed to set up an e-MTB to execute the plan. 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. How did the climb experiment on the Levo SL work? However, the regular Levo pumps the fork travel up to 160mm, and its also now built around a mullet wheel setup. That's right, the built-in power meter. The Specialized Levo SL is the true underdog in this test. Expensive considering the parts package. Heres how it works. The battery alone is around 2kg lighter than the 700Wh whopper used in the regular Levo, and the difference is noticeable. . In general though, total range isnt that far off full-powered e-MTBs with bigger batteries you just climb at a slower pace on the Levo SL. 2020 Turbo Levo Expert Carbon $8,275 Color Spruce / Sage Green Select a Size S M L XL Size Guide Find In-Store Here's where the gloves come offthe Turbo Levo Expert Carbon sheds serious weight with its advanced carbon front triangle and brings a high level of technical capability with a FOX 36 fork and DPS shock. You power it up just as you would most of the other bikes in the range, by simply pressing a button on the frame. Battery: Specialized SL-320 fully integrated, 320Wh According to Specialized, this firmware update has helped to smoothen the SL 1.1 motors output. no. Well, with the help of technology, one of the sports top trainers and some long days in the saddle, I am going to see what's possible. As with last years bike, Ive been testing a Medium size in the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon to suit my 175cm height. This could be useful for those who want to train in a specific heart rate zone. However, this modest power helps eke out an impressive range from the small battery since the rider is forced to do more of the work. The riding skills are obviously similar, like with a moto, but they are not analogous. Specialized reckons the bike is easily comparable to Stumpjumper models and it is incredibly agile. The Levo SL's motor and power meter assisted me with staying consistent and hitting the my workout's effort range (in watts). Specialized says the internal battery will last for approximately 3.5 hours ride time in Eco mode. On less demanding trails, its a comfortable and intuitive bike to ride, which makes it well suited to newer riders and those who arent necessarily ripping at warp speed. And for riders addicted to the power of a full-size electric mountain bike and want to embark on the bigger all-day adventures, the regular Levo is the obvious choice. I was really pleased from what I got out of the conversation. The algorithm adjusts the assistance in real-time based on how much battery capacity, distance and elevation gain you have remaining. Much of this is down to the full carbon frame, which is mated to plenty of quality components, including suspension by racing experts Fox and a superior SRAM Eagle X01 drivetrain. Its another success story from the Specialized stable. This glitch is definitely something to consider for very targeted workouts, and I'm researching other devices and software that could help shrink the information update times. We take a deep dive into how an e-bike could get you race-ready. 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. 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. 155/143mm, X-Fusion Manic, infinite adjustable, two-bolt head, bottom mount cable routing, remote SRL LE lever, 34.9mm. As a pedal-assisted e-mountain bike, the Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon is . In fact, SRAM components appear elsewhere too, with the hydraulic brake disks not only looking fantastic but working to great effect, just as youd expect. 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