Levo SL Gen 1 Levo SL 2023 Megathread

[Black Bear Trail]

Makes senses - yes it's definitely on the lower end of power / Batt. How do they compare on the descents?

I prefer the Kenevo SL going down washed out logging roads that I ride. It was a lot more stable than the Levo. I'd like to get a regular Kenevo, but they don't sell them in Japan.

 

[rushy46]

@rushy46 - Thanks so much for the detailed and thorough reply. That’s just what I needed to know.

How much clearance do you have with the 29x2.3 tires (approximate mm between the stays and the bottom bracket)? Does it look like a 29x2.6 could be squeezed in if mud wasn’t an issue?

Tire clearance with the 29x2.3 Eliminator is around 10 - 11 mm ( 29er chainstays positions) - no idea, if that‘s enough for a 2.6 tire

 

[levity]

Thanks again @rushy46 ! The 29x2.6 should be about 8mm wider, so that should leave a good 6mm clearance all around. Enough for our dry conditions here in the Southwest US.

My new SL is on its way, so I will be able confirm next week

 

[levity]

Thanks again @rushy46 ! The 29x2.6 should be about 8mm wider, so that should leave a good 6mm clearance all around. Enough for our dry conditions here in the Southwest US.

My new SL is on its way, so I will be able confirm next week

Here’s a Purgatory 29x2.6 that measures 2.66” wide on an i30 rim.
Levo SL Comp with the Horst link flip chip in the long wheelbase setting. There’s about 6mm clearance to the seat and chain stays and 8+mm clearance to the seat stay bridge and bottom bracket.

Probably too close for muddy conditions, but it should be fine for our dry southwest US.

 

[rushy46]

Just for interest - has anyone tried the Levo Sl without battery in bikeparks with chairlifts and cable cars? I have an Enduro bike for these circumstances but I really like the way the Levo Sl rides and I wonder if there is big difference to a normal bike if you ride it downhill without the battery. I watched the Video how to remove the battery and it shouldn‘t be such a big deal. Maybe there is a 2 kg weight penalty to a normal Enduro bike - I think it should be o.k. Any experience is appreciated

 

[Mteam]

Just for interest - has anyone tried the Levo Sl without battery in bikeparks with chairlifts and cable cars? I have an Enduro bike for these circumstances but I really like the way the Levo Sl rides and I wonder if there is big difference to a normal bike if you ride it downhill without the battery. I watched the Video how to remove the battery and it shouldn‘t be such a big deal. Maybe there is a 2 kg weight penalty to a normal Enduro bike - I think it should be o.k. Any experience is appreciated

I haven't done it with a Levo sl, but I did do it with my trek fuel exe, in chatel bike park in the summer.

It was fine, it rode like a slightly heavier regular bike.

 

[guglez]

I received my bike (Expert, 2023 in white) few days ago. Ridden it 3 times around my house already (the weather is really wet and dirty here ).

First impressions:
the bike is very agile, turbo dildo dropper post is so long! In the lowest position it's touching my knees. Seat tube is very short and overall it feels like the bike is somewhere far far below you and I can play with it as I want. I'm riding it in it's default configuration, did not feel yet that chainstays are too short. Maybe except for one steep climb on an asphalt road - front wheel feels underloaded and frontend of the bike is tent to wobble left and right. Another thing - when I dropped from a very small drop (~25cm) I found myself behind a bike and not in the center of it. Fees like the bike is much shorter than it actually is.

It consumes around 25-30% of the battery per hour, I did not try to save the battery. I'm ~105kg or ~230 pounds.

Front tire is suuuuper sticky, it picks up small stones from the road and releases them to the down tube of the frame and I hear zak-zak-zak all the time. No issues with traction at all.

I'm struggling to get the right sag on the rear, I believe I need to put more than 300 PSI in my shock and I'm struggling to do that with my cheap fork pump. Any recommendations here?

It's my first FOX fork for the last 10 years and it feels weird - on the parking lot test it does not feel plush at all, but on the trail it's definitely absorbing the hits, but I'm still able to feel what's going on under my front wheel. Rear suspension feels very efficient, no noticeable pedal bob. Can't say anything regarding the plushness yet, I've ridden only on rather flat terrain (fire roads in the woods plus some short trails with roots).

I found that my favourite feature of Garmin Edge (segments) does not work with eBikes at all.. Even on downhill sections. That's a real bummer for me, I like to compete with myself on those segments, did that a lot on my amish bike.

Brakes are a little bit inconsistent, I believe they require a bleed. I will replace them with my Hope V4 soon.

Bottle cage is so low, it's a little bit uncomfortable to get the bottle in and out of it. Can I use Fidlock magnetic bottle instead? There is not so much space around a bottle. My guess they did it because they want to put range extender as low as possible.

I'm really happy with the purchase and I'm waiting for a dry weather to test it out properly. Prices are so low now, you can get an expert model for just ~5.5K which is almost half the price.

 

[Thomas46]

Just for interest - has anyone tried the Levo Sl without battery in bikeparks with chairlifts and cable cars? I have an Enduro bike for these circumstances but I really like the way the Levo Sl rides and I wonder if there is big difference to a normal bike if you ride it downhill without the battery. I watched the Video how to remove the battery and it shouldn‘t be such a big deal. Maybe there is a 2 kg weight penalty to a normal Enduro bike - I think it should be o.k. Any experience is appreciated

The bike rides better with the weight of the battery, and I think it weighs only 2kg, to remove the battery makes no sense.

 

[Ou812]

Why the hell is the UK so far behind everywhere else?!? The 2025 frames are already available in other parts of the world, my mate in the US picked one up at his local Spesh dealer a day before Christmas. The 2025 frames aren’t even showing on Spesh’s UK website, they don’t even have the 2025 Enduro frames yet that have been available everywhere else for months now!

 

[guglez]

@Ou812
BREXIT consequenses?

 

[Ou812]

@Ou812
BREXIT consequenses?

I don’t think it’s really anything to do with Brexit, Spesh has a huge HQ here. I think it’s just due to sales numbers, the UK market isn’t that big in the grand scheme of things.

 

[rushy46]

The bike rides better with the weight of the battery, and I think it weighs only 2kg, to remove the battery makes no sense.

This is what I‘ll have to find out. I would only remove the battery if I‘m on a bikepark trip that lasts for a week. I‘m doing that at least once a season - no uphills whatsover and chairlifts or cablecars all over the place. Not sure if it makes sense though to use the Levo Sl instead of my normal Enduro bike.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I've been hovering over the new sl levo for a while..
Seen comp carbon for 4k
0% upto 36mth on klarna..wow..

So I finally got a go on one at Rutland cycles..

They're certainly a lot lighter than my 2019 full fat..
It's pretty quiet until you spin high cadence..
Very nice I thought..
But just not really worth the cost ..
I ride my full fat in eco..occasionally trail.
Turbo I think I've only tried that to see what that's about..not my thing really..

Anyway I got back from my test ride then jumped on my levo and thought ahh..I'll work on my upper body strength instead..as I'm nearly 60, so I'll stay on my full fat..

Got to say tho the SL is a cracking bike

 

[p3eps]

Funny, because the original SL 1.2 frame (2023?) was available in the UK before most places.

I had mine on 12th May which was a few days after launch. I remember it well as it was my wife’s 40th birthday, so it had to stay in its box untouched for a couple of days

 

[Ou812]

Funny, because the original SL 1.2 frame (2023?) was available in the UK before most places.

I had mine on 12th May which was a few days after launch. I remember it well as it was my wife’s 40th birthday, so it had to stay in its box untouched for a couple of days

I tried to get one back then too! I was told by my local Spesh dealer that the UK barely got any frames and only 25 or so of them were the size I needed. Once those were gone there were no more to be had, Spesh never sent a second shipment here. I asked about the 2025 frames and was told that Spesh hasn’t given them any info on when they’ll be available, he can’t even see them to order, only the complete bike.

Just doesn’t make sense that I can hop across the channel and pick one up in France but can’t walk into my local Spesh dealer and get one. The colour is pretty sick too, at least I think it is.

Kit Cadre S-Works Turbo Levo SL

Pour les Riders en quête de singletracks sinueux, qui souhaitent faire de plus gros sauts et se sentir plus rapides, voici votre nouveau vélo. Le Levo S...

www.specialized.com

 

[dirtdinner]

Just in case anyone else is as big an idiot as me...

I noticed my Levo SL (2) is creaking/squeeking from the rear pivots. Bouncing on the pedals or seat consistently makes the noise. Checked every pivot - still makes the sound...Turns out it is the little rubber shield where the rear triangle joins the frame behind the charge point. That bit of rubber was just making a squeak noise as it rubbed lol

 

[guglez]

Would you happen to have a pic of your set up?

I have an impression that it does not fit on S5 frame: LEVO SL -Besitzer

 

[guglez]

Maybe with a combination with this mount it will fit (the mount itself is thinner), but somehow you need to connect the mount to the battery, the included strap will be way too small.

 

[dirtdinner]

Hmm my Levo SL (gen 2) charger has a flashing red light and isn't charging the bike.

The charger light is green when I plug it into the wall, turns the bike on when I plug it into the bike charging socket, but then blinks red (the charger) and doesn't charge.

FWIW if I plug the range extender into the bike, the bike detects it and works (so I don't think it's the bike).

If I plug the charger into the range extender then the range extender lights (that look like a wifi signal) flash like it is charging but the charger also blinks red.

Anyone had this issue? Do I have a dead charger? Anyway to reset it? Thanks

 

[Ou812]

Checking all the connections and cleaning the contacts would be the first thing I’d try.

If it’s doing it with both the internal battery and the range extender I’d imagine it’s the charger itself. Do you have access to another charger to try?

 

[dirtdinner]

Checking all the connections and cleaning the contacts would be the first thing I’d try.

If it’s doing it with both the internal battery and the range extender I’d imagine it’s the charger itself. Do you have access to another charger to try?

Yeah I tried cleaning the contacts and the connections all look good.

Don't have access to another charger but will go the LBS when they open on Monday.

I hope it's a quick turn around (assuming I need a new charger - or if a charger reset is possible), cause I'm currently on holidays - it's my prime riding window atm!

 

[dirtdinner]

Yeah I tried cleaning the contacts and the connections all look good.

Don't have access to another charger but will go the LBS when they open on Monday.

I hope it's a quick turn around (assuming I need a new charger - or if a charger reset is possible), cause I'm currently on holidays - it's my prime riding window atm!

Sweet the LBS switched out the charger on the spot as they said Specialized are great with their warranties. Bike currently charging! Props to the LBS

 

[guglez]

BTW, do all ebikes share the same type of charging connectors? I rented a giant ebike last year and I was able to charge it at the restaurant somewhere in the mountains, they just had a cable hanging around and I used it to charge the bike.

 

[mustclime]

Seth does a Levo sl rehab if anyone is interested.

 

[wolfbane1967]

I have an impression that it does not fit on S5 frame: LEVO SL -Besitzer

View attachment 152498

Is that also for S4 frame ? So how can i know if range extender will fit my S4 frame before i order ? hmm

 

[DylanJM]

Is that also for S4 frame ? So how can i know if range extender will fit my S4 frame before i order ? hmm

It'll be fine if you use the regular bottle cage. Not sure I see the benefit of the Fidloc solution in that post over the regular bottle cgae and band?

 

[Ribinrobin]

Seth does a Levo sl rehab if anyone is interested.

Watched this yesterday dude didnt seem super stoked on his ex demo sl 1

 

[wolfbane1967]

It'll be fine if you use the regular bottle cage. Not sure I see the benefit of the Fidloc solution in that post over the regular bottle cgae and band?

Thank you

 

[Housenotes]

I have an impression that it does not fit on S5 frame: LEVO SL -Besitzer

View attachment 152498

Where did you get that battery extension holder? Mine is just a typical water bottle cage.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Where did you get that battery extension holder? Mine is just a typical water bottle cage.

It’s a Fid lock mounted cage. You can get the bottles and this version from most shops. Though I would say the extra thickness of that mount has the battery way to close to the piggyback of the shock.