Levo SL Gen 1 Levo SL 2023 Megathread

Sebov

Member
Jul 24, 2022
47
38
Bavaria
Based on the fact that the TQ motor has been universally received by media and owners to be virtually silent? While the SL 2.0 will still be running the same mahle motor?
Totally agree. And compared to TQ and Fazua nobody knows whether Spesh is going to bump up the Torque and/or battery size…
But as much as I know there should be an exclusive partnership between TQ and Trek - at least for some time…
 

Dave_B

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
Aug 29, 2020
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Newquay
everything that has been said on this and the other similar post makes a great deal of sense to me.
About a year ago, I was at a very well know Spesh Turbo dealer trying out the Kenevo SL, the whole Spesh UK design and sales team were in the shop, along with the Mahle design engineer. I was asking very specific questions about a motor upgrade and backwards compatibility, everything they said and everything they didn't say ;) strongly suggested a higher torque motor for their SL range of ebikes and backwards compatibility.
 

Neverbeentomoab

Active member
Jun 17, 2019
206
200
Middlesbrough
I demoed a rise the other week and I loved it the only thing stopping me getting one to replace my levo is the poor back up from shimano some people have received. If the tq motor proves reliable or the warranty service is as good as I’ve had from specialized I might get the fuel exe but will give it a couple of month to see what specialized do next.
 

Sebov

Member
Jul 24, 2022
47
38
Bavaria
everything that has been said on this and the other similar post makes a great deal of sense to me.
About a year ago, I was at a very well know Spesh Turbo dealer trying out the Kenevo SL, the whole Spesh UK design and sales team were in the shop, along with the Mahle design engineer. I was asking very specific questions about a motor upgrade and backwards compatibility, everything they said and everything they didn't say ;) strongly suggested a higher torque motor for their SL range of ebikes and backwards compatibility.
Great to hear. But backwards compatibility, does this mean the mounting points? Because that‘s not an issue the industry is aiming for - as you can see with the new display on the Levo Gen3 and Kenevo SL which is not backwards compatible with the Levo SL. Just my two Cents…
 

Sebov

Member
Jul 24, 2022
47
38
Bavaria
I demoed a rise the other week and I loved it the only thing stopping me getting one to replace my levo is the poor back up from shimano some people have received. If the tq motor proves reliable or the warranty service is as good as I’ve had from specialized I might get the fuel exe but will give it a couple of month to see what specialized do next.
Same here…
Fazua Remote, Torque and removable battery are next level.
TQs silent motor is VERY attracting…
But I like the tunability Levos offer and the service provided by Specialized AND my dealer.
Lust but not least. My Stumpy Evo is an extraordinary bike. Love it
 
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Dave_B

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
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Aug 29, 2020
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Newquay
Great to hear. But backwards compatibility, does this mean the mounting points? Because that‘s not an issue the industry is aiming for - as you can see with the new display on the Levo Gen3 and Kenevo SL which is not backwards compatible with the Levo SL. Just my two Cents…

motor size and fitment.
 

Harold

Member
Oct 30, 2020
42
56
Brussels
owned 2 levos, now on 2020 SL...have booked a Fuel EXe. I have zero hope that SL 2.0 can match the EXe.
Maybe not in noise department, however the new DCU display is already matching what trek offers, and 240 to 300 watts is not a huge gap to fill, I would not get your hope that low so quickly. To me the new fazua system is more appealing (on paper) than what trek proposes. Let’s wait and see. But if backward compatibility on SL ever happen, it will be huge!
 

Doomanic

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Jan 21, 2018
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It's going to be a reverse mullet with no motor or battery and ape hanger bars.

1661419061739.png
 

squeegee

Well-known member
Aug 19, 2019
360
267
USA
Any news? Rumors?
All hearsay but heard last: New SL will be mullet, revised Mahle motor 60nm, revised internals; quieter. MM display, new frame design, adjustable geo. I hope this is all true because suspension kinematics of Gen3 Levo is quite better than Gen2. Quieter motor welcome though not the biggest priority IMO.
 

sluette

Member
Aug 9, 2022
41
51
Deutschland
I hope this is all true because suspension kinematics of Gen3 Levo is quite better than Gen2

Of course it depends on your personal preferences. I've followed the longer & slacker trend on the Stumpy Evo and Status and was very surprised at how agile the LEVO SL is with its more conservative Geo
 

oettam20

Member
Mar 3, 2021
72
58
Lugano
Maybe not in noise department, however the new DCU display is already matching what trek offers, and 240 to 300 watts is not a huge gap to fill, I would not get your hope that low so quickly. To me the new fazua system is more appealing (on paper) than what trek proposes. Let’s wait and see. But if backward compatibility on SL ever happen, it will be huge!

The original Levo SL was listed at 240 watt maximum power but my brother’s Kenevo SL is regularly showing values a bit above 300 watt on mastermind display ( when peak power is settled to 100%)
I also feel a stronger pull on the kenevo SL when compared to the first generation Levo SL. Is this part of an “undisclosed” software update?
 

squeegee

Well-known member
Aug 19, 2019
360
267
USA
Of course it depends on your personal preferences. I've followed the longer & slacker trend on the Stumpy Evo and Status and was very surprised at how agile the LEVO SL is with its more conservative Geo

Of course, everything is personal preference. That said new geo is more adjustable, with stem and seat adjustments + hta + chainstay you can make the new geo feel like the old essentially, or experiment and go steeper/slacker/longer/shorter. New frame has lower standover which I like in particular for my tastes, allows seatpost insertion further into frame than old design.
 

boBE

Active member
Apr 12, 2020
415
361
FL
Even the FF Specialized bikes are shown as 250 W nominal, which I recall means they are limited to that much average power over a one hour period (probably due to heat dissipation). We know that a FF can do maybe twice that for a short time. 80% efficient is good, not likely any motor will do much better.
 

SteveRS

Member
Jun 9, 2022
107
75
British Columbia Canada
Even the FF Specialized bikes are shown as 250 W nominal, which I recall means they are limited to that much average power over a one hour period (probably due to heat dissipation). We know that a FF can do maybe twice that for a short time. 80% efficient is good, not likely any motor will do much better.
On my ride yesterday the specialized ride app showed average motor power of 330 W. This was in turbo mode for an hour and a half ride with two limbs of approximately 250 meters each up a dirt road. I also had shuttle mode at 100% to assist with the road climbs.
 

boBE

Active member
Apr 12, 2020
415
361
FL
On my ride yesterday the specialized ride app showed average motor power of 330 W. This was in turbo mode for an hour and a half ride with two limbs of approximately 250 meters each up a dirt road. I also had shuttle mode at 100% to assist with the road climbs.
Brushless (and brushed) motor efficiency varies according to the torque and rpm, peak efficiency is often at mid-high rpm and low torque. If we power up a hill at low rpm and ask for a lot of torque our 80% efficiency may drop to half that. Your 330 W of battery power may still be producing 240 W of motor power.
We need better motors! ;) And better batteries.
 

R120

Moderator
Subscriber
Apr 13, 2018
7,819
9,185
Surrey
Looks like they are clearing out stock of the current model in the sale - suspect new model incoming shortly

 

sluette

Member
Aug 9, 2022
41
51
Deutschland
The Levo SL was already offered in Germany for the price since the beginning of the year.
Was excactly the price tag I payed end of april for the Expert model.
 

grock

Member
Jul 15, 2022
11
23
80020
What the heck is taking so long? I need a new bike and I'm afraid to make a move until I see their new bike. If it doesn't drop soon, I may end up with an EXE.
 

RickBullotta

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jun 5, 2019
1,743
1,488
USA
To add on to this thread, having owned a Rise (M-LTD) and having recently sold it to switch to a full power Levo, I can share some experiences. While the Rise was a perfect bike for solo rides, it wasn't ideal for riding with others on full power eMTBs, and not really needed for rides with regular MTBs. Don't get me wrong, the Rise is a solid bike, but being "neither man nor beast" let to it not getting a lot of use from me. I find myself taking the Levo out a lot more.
 

Jeff McD

Well-known member
Aug 5, 2018
335
356
Kona, Hawaii
To add on to this thread, having owned a Rise (M-LTD) and having recently sold it to switch to a full power Levo, I can share some experiences. While the Rise was a perfect bike for solo rides, it wasn't ideal for riding with others on full power eMTBs, and not really needed for rides with regular MTBs. Don't get me wrong, the Rise is a solid bike, but being "neither man nor beast" let to it not getting a lot of use from me. I find myself taking the Levo out a lot more.
Thanks Rick, that's actually the best eval I have ever read on the superlights. You're absolutely spot on on their limitations. I am waiting for the technology to advance with solid state batteries and nano motors to the point where a 38 pound Ebike can do what a full fat levo does today. I think I am not alone.
 
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Mcharza

E*POWAH BOSS
Aug 10, 2018
2,498
4,722
Helsinki, Finland
Why buy an emtb? You can no longer pedal the same way as before on a normal mtb. At least that's what I thought.

And then you end up riding an emtb with your friends with a turbo. A lighter assistant emtb can't do it.

Was the original purpose of the purchase forgotten here? Or has your physical condition gone down so that a light e-mtb is not enough or has speed blindness struck?

These are the things I think about when I read these writings.
 

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