Explain to me why everyone is losing their minds about a $500 US price increase in the SWorks level bikes? I didn't see 500 comments on the price of the previous generation being $14,500 US., but maybe I just missed them. The SWorks has gone from $14.5K to $15K and you are getting a more expensive rear shock, improved TCU and updated motor.
For people saying you can get the same bike for less money from other companies, really? Show me another company that has spent as much on R&D as Specialized? Santa Cruz? Nope, bolted up a standard Shimano setup. Trek? Nope, off the shelf stuff. YT? That is a joke right? EVERY other bike company is just using the same motor/battery setups from the same two or three companies. There is a significant difference in power delivery and efficiency with the Brose/Spec setup vs Shimano and others. Just yesterday one of my friends got 8K of vertical from a single charge on the 700 wHr Specialized setup. The most we have seen from a 630 wHr Shimano setup is 4K.
For the people saying that the new Levo is similar to the previous gen, it is not. The new geometry makes the bike ride completely different. I have a Stumpjumper Evo and swapped my previous gen Levo for a Kenevo specifically because the bikes rode so differently. The new setup brings the Levo solidly to the front of the pack in geometry/flexibility and even the suspension kinematics are improved.
I get that the aluminum bikes are not available yet so early adopters are going to be paying big money. Current supply chain problems suck. I am sure that Specialized would love to have the full model range available today to take advantage of the hype cycle. Unfortunately parts are simply not available, but I have no doubt that the lower priced bikes are coming and they will be just as amazing when they are released. For now we should be excited that companies continue to push the envelope of performance and flexibility by releasing new stuff.