Levo Gen 3 Specialized Gen 3 2022 Levo Megathread!

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29er rear wheel on the GEN3 why ? The new rear design on the GEN3 is much better than the GEN2 which had a tendency to sit down. On the GEN3 there is an important anti-squat that helps the traction a lot. There is more traction on the GEN3 with a 27.50" wheel than with the 29" on the GEN2. The mullet makes the bike reactive and fun, for me putting a 29" wheel just doesn't make sense! ;)
 
BruceJR said:
I’ve never worked with round spokes before. I guess standard practice is to cut to length and thread. My local shop was able to this for very cheap.
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If the hub make and model is known, and the rim make and model is known, there are spoke calculators online.

The rear hub on the Turbo Levo Comp is (was) thought to be similar or the same as a DT Swiss 350? DT Swiss makes a heavy duty emtn hub. This is not that one. Probably a good idea to memorialize the wheel specifics across models, if this has not been done already.
 
MISTER HYDE said:
29er rear wheel on the GEN3 why ? The new rear design on the GEN3 is much better than the GEN2 which had a tendency to sit down. On the GEN3 there is an important anti-squat that helps the traction a lot. There is more traction on the GEN3 with a 27.50" wheel than with the 29" on the GEN2. The mullet makes the bike reactive and fun, for me putting a 29" wheel just doesn't make sense! ;)
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Disagree. The shorter chainstays on the Gen3 combined with the smaller rear wheel I found there was less traction than the Gen2. The bigger rear wheel has more mechanical grip just because of the larger tyre, having added anti-squat doesn’t magically negate this.
Fitting a 29 rear wheel to a gen3 increases both cornering traction and climbing traction ime.
 
BruceJR said:
Anyone know the spoke lengths for the 27.5” Comp rear wheel?
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You can find the data here: Specialized Support

Skærmbillede 2022-12-21 075759.png
 
ebikerider said:
Être en désaccord. Les bases plus courtes du Gen3 combinées à la roue arrière plus petite, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait moins de traction que le Gen2. La roue arrière plus grande a plus d'adhérence mécanique simplement à cause du pneu plus gros, l'ajout d'un anti-squat n'annule pas cela comme par magie.
Le montage d'une roue arrière 29 sur une gen3 augmente à la fois la traction dans les virages et le temps de traction en montée.
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Mais
 
ebikerider said:
Disagree. The shorter chainstays on the Gen3 combined with the smaller rear wheel I found there was less traction than the Gen2. The bigger rear wheel has more mechanical grip just because of the larger tyre, having added anti-squat doesn’t magically negate this.
Fitting a 29 rear wheel to a gen3 increases both cornering traction and climbing traction ime.
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I was a fan of 29er since the beginning but now with E-bike I think Mullet is better. Really never had traction problem with the GEN3 ! And if you compare 2.3" x 29" ground footprint at the end is very similar to 2.6" x 27.50".
Also 27.50" rear wheel on E-bike is stiffer than 29" that with the engine it is more stressed.
Anyway if you like 29" have fun and let us know how it goes. :)
 
ebikerider said:
Disagree. The shorter chainstays on the Gen3 combined with the smaller rear wheel I found there was less traction than the Gen2. The bigger rear wheel has more mechanical grip just because of the larger tyre, having added anti-squat doesn’t magically negate this.
Fitting a 29 rear wheel to a gen3 increases both cornering traction and climbing traction ime.
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Just use a proper tire with a better carcasse like grid gravity or double down and use a bit less pressure. Problem solved.
 
j.e. said:
Just use a proper tire with a better carcasse like grid gravity or double down and use a bit less pressure. Problem solved.
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Grid gravity Butcher on both size wheels with cushcore and they both have the same pressure.
 
EJDH1970 said:
Thanks for sending. I was considering a coil shock but that particular one is hard to come by. Sticking with the air model which is 00.4118.358.004. Just not sure if the progressive air can is needed.
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Hello! I'm also interested in knowing if the ari+ is not needed
 
Local rides are rock gardens - I've already gotten several snakebites and then went tubeless and dented a rim which now leaks at low pressures. Will try to fix the dent or get a new wheel if that doesn't work - but the Q is where do you go next after you've gone tubeless and you're still having trouble running lower pressures. Is it cushcore?

For the record I'm 180 lbs and the ride feels best just under 20 psi, although the Specialized app tells me I should be running 22-25 or so. At those pressures the bike feels bouncy and riding rocks is a jittery chore.


Edit: Does tire sealant work less well when you are in very wet terrain? It seems like water will ingress at the same point that sealant egresses.. possibly making the sealant work less well?
 
turbolego said:
Local rides are rock gardens - I've already gotten several snakebites and then went tubeless and dented a rim which now leaks at low pressures. Will try to fix the dent or get a new wheel if that doesn't work - but the Q is where do you go next after you've gone tubeless and you're still having trouble running lower pressures. Is it cushcore?

For the record I'm 180 lbs and the ride feels best just under 20 psi, although the Specialized app tells me I should be running 22-25 or so. At those pressures the bike feels bouncy and riding rocks is a jittery chore.


Edit: Does tire sealant work less well when you are in very wet terrain? It seems like water will ingress at the same point that sealant egresses.. possibly making the sealant work less well?
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I run tubeless with Cushcores on 3 emtbs and each has different tire sets (Schwalbe/mullet, Maxxis/29" f/r and Specialized/27.5 f/r) PSI normal settings is 22r/20f and varies +/- a couple Psi depending on trail conditions. Never had a single flat or snakebite in 3+ years. Ran Stans for most of the time and recently switched to Orange Seal. May be difficult to get a good seal with bent rim. Have found its best to use an air compressor or chamber pump 1st time bedding in tire after install. Also seals better after you ride it a couple times. BTW, I'm 190lbs and ride rock gardens and all kinds of trails. I don't let my tires get too worn before changing and give my bike a thorough inspection after every ride. Would definitely recommend Cushcore which allows you to run a couple psi less than without Cushcore. Not sure if this helps. You may want to go with heavier duty casings.
 
Singletrackmind said:
I run tubeless with Cushcores on 3 emtbs and each has different tire sets (Schwalbe/mullet, Maxxis/29" f/r and Specialized/27.5 f/r) PSI normal settings is 22r/20f and varies +/- a couple Psi depending on trail conditions. Never had a single flat or snakebite in 3+ years. Ran Stans for most of the time and recently switched to Orange Seal. May be difficult to get a good seal with bent rim. Have found its best to use an air compressor or chamber pump 1st time bedding in tire after install. Also seals better after you ride it a couple times. BTW, I'm 190lbs and ride rock gardens and all kinds of trails. I don't let my tires get too worn before changing and give my bike a thorough inspection after every ride. Would definitely recommend Cushcore which allows you to run a couple psi less than without Cushcore. Not sure if this helps. You may want to go with heavier duty casings.
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Think I'm going to go for it. Cushcore Pro for EMTBs, yes? Thanks.
 
turbolego said:
Think I'm going to go for it. Cushcore Pro for EMTBs, yes? Thanks.
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Pro is way to go for emtbs. Be sure to get the correct size to match your inner rim width. If you are going to install them yourself, get some good tire levers (I use Pedro's), watch some YouTube videos on how to and most of all, practice patience! Keep us posted.
 
Paolone said:
Hello! after a year and 4 failures of my x2 now i would like to try the new RS ultimate air… who uses it? how are you?
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I’m running the RS Ultimate air with a megneg can. Love it. Ran it back to back with the X2 and found the RS as good or better. Plush, supportive and planted. No regrets. Been thinking of trying a coil but I do run a cascade link and Cascade state they prefer an air shock with the link.
 
Madog said:
I’m running the RS Ultimate air with a megneg can. Love it. Ran it back to back with the X2 and found the RS as good or better. Plush, supportive and planted. No regrets. Been thinking of trying a coil but I do run a cascade link and Cascade state they prefer an air shock with the link.
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I’ve been running a coil with the cascade link for a few months now, no issues at all. The shock was tuned for the link, when I had it retuned they told me they had done a bunch of coiled Levos with cascade links.
 
Ou812 said:
I’ve been running a coil with the cascade link for a few months now, no issues at all. The shock was tuned for the link, when I had it retuned they told me they had done a bunch of coiled Levos with cascade links.
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Thanks. Thinking about it. What shock are you running?
 
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As a follow up I decided to go with the Ohlins TTX AIR2. Zero stock of the RS Ultimate air around. It's also a bonus that the TTX AIR 2 is setup as a LEVO tune if you order direct from Ohlins in the USA. The TTX arrives tomorrow as well my Serviced X2. Fox X2 will be sold and make a great back up shock for someone.
 
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