Levo Gen 4 What do you dislike about the 2026 Gen4 Levo

[Citylad77]

Interesting to notice @Citylad77 don't answer my question but I recon it's cuz he doesn't know what he's talking about cuz he should answer since he's an experienced rider and know everything about brands and what riding style ppl he has never met before do

I didn’t see your Question..
My recent MTB experience comes from Marin Mountain Vision Pros in early 2000s, 650Bs , then from 18 every S works Levos, in my teens I used to ride scramble bikes then Montesa Cota trail bikes, I cover around 4k miles a year on EMTBs. I have ridden 2 Gen 4 S works both stock bikes apart from my own preferred Psi’s, each bike for around 2 hrs on the trails I frequent. I had no intention of owning an AMflow , I had no idea that the bike even existed until I saw one out on the trails. Very happy with my Gen 3 and happy to wait for the Gen 4 which I was told was a revelation over the Gen 3. Then I had a ride on an AMflow, it was if the bike had come from a future time.

 

[Polar]

I have spent over 50k GBP on S Works Levos from 19 never been offered so much as a Cup of Tea, there is a nice Costa down the road though. lol.

Let's brag.
I have spent ten times more on bikes and parts in 8 years at my LBS.

Get free soda a cookie, priority and discounts every time I walk in the door.

But I'm still a moron who likes most other brands but they're not what I prefer.
I'm also pretty busy with my own life ain't got time to talk shit about what I dislike.
Enjoy your day.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Well, 9 months later, it's still the aesthetics (downtube) which kills it for me. I've not grown to like it over time as can often happen.

I'm sure it's a more than capable bike and like any bike, they'll be situations where this is better than others and others are better than this. But looks wise, it still feels like someone got into a weird ugly tree competition with Haibike after too many beers and arguably, Spesh won.

Spesh were always ahead of the game on the aesthetics. Go back in time, the original Kenevo - a poster child in this case - it looked great and in two seconds you could drop the front of the battery and stuff your crap up into the void if you wanted to just like on the gen4.

Youtube link if anyone wants to watch some retro Rob and some old Kenevo footage about 3/4 of the way through.

 

[Fangs2k]

Well, 9 months later, it's still the aesthetics (downtube) which kills it for me. I've not grown to like it over time as can often happen.

Apart from the 7 people who replied to your poll and think it’s perfect, I think what is shows is that people are a hard to please bunch and every single ‘dislike’ has been clicked, so what does it tell us, that people will always find something to dislike?

Oh, and downtube size is at number 3, weight and price being even more disliked, despite it being comparable weight wise to many other alloy full power and full size battery e-bikes. Perception is a funny old thing.

It’s not that I don’t like the bike, it’s more that I’ve been there and done that with the brand, and whilst I still own a Specilaized (a Gen 1 SL, with the weird frame support) I prefer a more diverse stable these days.

I must admit that I don’t fully understand the hand wringing over the Gen 4 Levo, if somebody doesn’t like it then fine, plenty of fish in the sea etc! I’m pleased for those that own one and ar getting out there and loving it, same as any e-bike really.

My 2019 Jam2 is still rocking, it must be viewed as absolute bobbins by the cognoscenti on here, but fortunately I long since stopped being bothered by what other people think about my bikes (or riding! ) and me about theirs.

I’m with you on the Haibike though!

 

[Polar]

I've not grown to like it.

Don't worry, but be patient because when you have grown a little more and become an adult, you will look at it differently.

 

[Polar]

I must admit that I don’t fully understand the hand wringing over the Gen 4 Levo

Downtube, power, ,weight etc. I'm pretty sure the main reason for all the complaint is since there is a new boy in town born in China.

 

[Fangs2k]

Downtube, power, ,weight etc. I'm pretty sure the main reason for all the complaint is since there is a new boy in town born in China.

Yes, I’m sure that’s part of it.

I’ve noticed a lot of specialist fora seem to always have those who rather than just shrug their shoulders and move on if they don’t like something instead make it a personal mission to run whatever it is down and pi¥5 on owners chips instead.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Apart from the 7 people who replied to your poll and think it’s perfect, I think what is shows is that people are a hard to please bunch and every single ‘dislike’ has been clicked, so what does it tell us, that people will always find something to dislike?

Oh, and downtube size is at number 3, weight and price being even more disliked, despite it being comparable weight wise to many other alloy full power and full size battery e-bikes. Perception is a funny old thing.

It’s not that I don’t like the bike, it’s more that I’ve been there and done that with the brand, and whilst I still own a Specilaized (a Gen 1 SL, with the weird frame support) I prefer a more diverse stable these days.

I must admit that I don’t fully understand the hand wringing over the Gen 4 Levo, if somebody doesn’t like it then fine, plenty of fish in the sea etc! I’m pleased for those that own one and ar getting out there and loving it, same as any e-bike really.

My 2019 Jam2 is still rocking, it must be viewed as absolute bobbins by the cognoscenti on here, but fortunately I long since stopped being bothered by what other people think about my bikes (or riding! ) and me about theirs.

I’m with you on the Haibike though!

I don't know. Your Gen1 SL was and is a great bike still. The Jam2 did everything the world still tries to aspire to. It was light, capable, had enough power and had a range extender. What's not to like.

Agreed, there's probably a bit too much complaining about the gen4, but I think for most people it's just that they can't get their heads around it compared to the normal evolutionary route we've always had from Spesh. Gen1,2,3 Levo. Gen1,2 SL, KSL, Kenevo 1&2. All fantastic bikes AND you enjoyed looking at them. Anyway, it's all been said before I guess.

The gen4 was also really late to the party due to the move from the Mahle to the Brose. Weirdly, they're now doing the same with the firmware update, it's been ready to roll for months now (installed on several bikes) , yet it's still not been publicly released. It's like they're waiting for Amflow to release their updated motor so they can they upgrade the gen4 to be just behind the curve again. Maybe the new Spesh moto is "Better late than never" ?

 

[Zimmerframe]

Don't worry, but be patient because when you have grown a little more and become an adult, you will look at it differently.

Thanks for he words of assurance, sadly, I think I'll continue to be a child stuck in an old man's body.

Like I say, I'm sure the gen4 is a more than capable bike. It's just that for whatever reason, sometimes I like to look at my bikes and feel a warm glow inside that I like the way they look (incidentally, this has never happened when I'm lying on the floor in pain near the bike, proving that it's not all encompassing).

With the Gen4 I'll always see a Gen3 which someone cut and shut a 2016 Cannondale EMTB downtube onto. Sorry, I'm an asshole I can't help it.

 

[Polar]

Thanks for he words of assurance, sadly, I think I'll continue to be a child stuck in an old man's body.

Like I say, I'm sure the gen4 is a more than capable bike. It's just that for whatever reason, sometimes I like to look at my bikes and feel a warm glow inside that I like the way they look (incidentally, this has never happened when I'm lying on the floor in pain near the bike, proving that it's not all encompassing).

With the Gen4 I'll always see a Gen3 which someone cut and shut a 2016 Cannondale EMTB downtube onto. Sorry, I'm an asshole I can't help it.

Actually one should be grateful to be a child in the brain as long as possible but I compare bikes with ladies they come in all forms and shapes, some people like thick thighs, others thin etc. and every man who got a lady I have talked to is extremely satisfied with their choice though som rides better than others but they would never dump their current lady since it's the whole package that counts.

 

[cozzy]

I mentioned earlier on this thread, I marshal enduro events in the se England. Sponsored by a prominent specialized dealer, half the entered ebikes are specialized. It wasn't until the last 2 rounds i actually had the misfortune to see 2 of these in the flesh. The gen2 and 3 bikes look like sl's in comparison.
There were more unno's in attendance, certainly more amflows.

As a previous fan of the brand, its not so much hate, just disappointment.

 

[Citylad77]

Well, 9 months later, it's still the aesthetics (downtube) which kills it for me. I've not grown to like it over time as can often happen.

I'm sure it's a more than capable bike and like any bike, they'll be situations where this is better than others and others are better than this. But looks wise, it still feels like someone got into a weird ugly tree competition with Haibike after too many beers and arguably, Spesh won.

Spesh were always ahead of the game on the aesthetics. Go back in time, the original Kenevo - a poster child in this case - it looked great and in two seconds you could drop the front of the battery and stuff your crap up into the void if you wanted to just like on the gen4.

View attachment 174462

Youtube link if anyone wants to watch some retro Rob and some old Kenevo footage about 3/4 of the way They are about to get an education from what I understand in how to design a good looking down tube with a removable battery.

Let's brag.
I have spent ten times more on bikes and parts in 8 years at my LBS.

Get free soda a cookie, priority and discounts every time I walk in the door.

But I'm still a moron who likes most other brands but they're not what I prefer.
I'm also pretty busy with my own life ain't got time to talk shit about what I dislike.
Enjoy your day.

I’m not bragging about anything, just making a point about my experience on MTBs. The bottom line is this Gen 4 just looks sht no matter how you try and spin it, I am far from alone with this view. Another bike maker is about to launch a bike with a slim looking down tube design with a removable battery. This is how the Gen 4 should have been made.

 

[Citylad77]

I mentioned earlier on this thread, I marshal enduro events in the se England. Sponsored by a prominent specialized dealer, half the entered ebikes are specialized. It wasn't until the last 2 rounds i actually had the misfortune to see 2 of these in the flesh. The gen2 and 3 bikes look like sl's in comparison.
There were more unno's in attendance, certainly more amflows.

As a previous fan of the brand, its not so much hate, just disappointment.

Same had 7 Levos loved every one. They could have and should have done better with this Gen4. It’s hardly the revaluation that was promised. Imv they took it for granted that existing long established customers would just keep buying no matter what they came out with. The fact that only 3% think they got it right says it all.

 

[Polar]

The bottom line is this Gen 4 just looks sht

Never seen you mentioned that before, or maybe just 10-20 times

 

[Fangs2k]

Same had 7 Levos loved every one. They could have and should have done better with this Gen4. It’s hardly the revaluation that was promised. Imv they took it for granted that existing long established customers would just keep buying no matter what they came out with.

Again, I have no idea how many people are buying the Levo 4, or whether they’re established owners/fans of the brand, or new ones. I suspect that nobody outside of Specialized knows that either.

Anecdotally, the closest Specialized dealer to me (who I know fairly well now) has no complaints. The retired folks two doors down from where I live have just purchased e-bikes, didn’t ask my opinion and I had no idea they were buying them, but they’ve chosen a pair of Gen 4 Levo’s. They ride them to the pub a few miles away and pootle around the green lanes, doubt they’re riding any enduro events though so no doubt that makes my observation less valid…

The point is, you don’t like it, fine, so I suggest you just get over your disappointment and leave folks to enjoy whatever it is they’ve purchased.

It’s aesthetics at the end of the day, not everybody likes the same thing (I find the Unno looks painfully thin, just my view) and there’s really no need to snipe at everybody who does like it or perhaps even doesn’t care much what it looks like. Time to move on, really.

 

[Moderator]

@Citylad77

You have been honoured with a temporary custom title which should save you a lot of typing

 

[linkqwd]

The point is, you don’t like it, fine, so I suggest you just get over your disappointment and leave folks to enjoy whatever it is they’ve purchased.

lol, this thread was created specifically for people who don’t like Gen 4 (generally or partly)
There’s a separate thread for those who enjoy the bike.

I don’t get why people come here just to tell others they’re wrong for disliking Gen 4

 

[Fangs2k]

There’s a separate thread for those who enjoy the bike.

Yep, there are, and the same negative comments are all over those as well, so why can’t dissenting comments be allowed on this one?

It’s all been said, multiple times, and this thread has just become another needlessly antagonistic one that drags the place down.

 

[emtbeast]

The gen4 feels and looks like a solid average emtb, I rode it last year at the Riva del Garda festival, It doesn't really stand out in anyway IMO.
Standing out - that is the factor that had people drool over the previous Levo models I think.
I live in an area with plenty emtb friendly terrain and trails and a big bikepark just under my nose, a lot of e-bikes to see everywhere everyday.
For comparison when the gen3 came, I saw these bikes everywhere, even last fall one of my friends bought one instead of the new model.
Now the gen4 in my area I still haven't seen a single guy riding it.
Spend a vacation in Riva(emtb heaven)last summer and I only met one guy on the gen4.
Even though it's a solid emtb IMO I feel the bike definitely didn't pick up momentum as everyone expected.

 

[cozzy]

All the owners are pootling around green lanes apparently so you wouldn't have seen them on the trails
I hope to god they sack the designers, change the focus group and pull something out the bag quickly.
Ive been loosely hanging onto the dream of a new kenevo, but if it was based around the corpulent gen4 battery design, no thanks.
They were the absolute class leaders for years, simple keyless battery removal, integrated tcu, discrete controller whilst others were bolting the bridge of the starship enterprise to the handlebar, all wrapped up in a good looking frame. Now just very very average.
Would be very interesting to see sales figures, perhaps they have produced them in lower numbers after getting caught out with an oversupply of gen3's, so there won't be the massive discounts we saw on them.
Im a bit sad my local dealer had to resort to hawking revvi's, basically illegal electric kids motorbikes. I think the glory days are gone.

 

[Citylad77]

I don't know. Your Gen1 SL was and is a great bike still. The Jam2 did everything the world still tries to aspire to. It was light, capable, had enough power and had a range extender. What's not to like.

Agreed, there's probably a bit too much complaining about the gen4, but I think for most people it's just that they can't get their heads around it compared to the normal evolutionary route we've always had from Spesh. Gen1,2,3 Levo. Gen1,2 SL, KSL, Kenevo 1&2. All fantastic bikes AND you enjoyed looking at them. Anyway, it's all been said before I guess.

The gen4 was also really late to the party due to the move from the Mahle to the Brose. Weirdly, they're now doing the same with the firmware update, it's been ready to roll for months now (installed on several bikes) , yet it's still not been publicly released. It's like they're waiting for Amflow to release their updated motor so they can they upgrade the gen4 to be just behind the curve again. Maybe the new Spesh moto is "Better late than never" ?

The gen4 feels and looks like a solid average emtb, I rode it last year at the Riva del Garda festival, It doesn't really stand out in anyway IMO.
Standing out - that is the factor that had people drool over the previous Levo models I think.
I live in an area with plenty emtb friendly terrain and trails and a big bikepark just under my nose, a lot of e-bikes to see everywhere everyday.
For comparison when the gen3 came, I saw these bikes in the everywhere, even last fall one of my friends bought one instead of the new model.
Now the gen4 in my area I still haven't seen a single guy riding it.
Spend a vacation in Riva(emtb heaven)last summer and I only met one guy on the gen4.
Even though it's a solid emtb IMO I feel the bike definitely didn't pick up momentum as everyone expected.

The gen4 feels and looks like a solid average emtb, I rode it last year at the Riva del Garda festival, It doesn't really stand out in anyway IMO.
Standing out - that is the factor that had people drool over the previous Levo models I think.
I live in an area with plenty emtb friendly terrain and trails and a big bikepark just under my nose, a lot of e-bikes to see everywhere everyday.
For comparison when the gen3 came, I saw these bikes in the everywhere, even last fall one of my friends bought one instead of the new model.
Now the gen4 in my area I still haven't seen a single guy riding it.
Spend a vacation in Riva(emtb heaven)last summer and I only met one guy on the gen4.
Even though it's a solid emtb IMO I feel the bike definitely didn't pick up momentum as everyone expected.

That’s my point as in looks sell. If it’s a good looking bike you could forget a few things that are not quite as good as others do. I don’t see many out on the trails either, I do see good few Gen 3s though, when I ask owners if they’re going to upgrade they start laughing…

 

[Polar]

lol, this thread was created specifically for people who don’t like Gen 4 (generally or partly)
There’s a separate thread for those who enjoy the bike.

I don’t get why people come here just to tell others they’re wrong for disliking Gen 4

Nothing wrong to dislike a bike but when the same person repeats it several times daily months after month, it starts to get a bit boring and is of little help to others.
It's much more productive to daily poop in a bucket stored under the bed than here,

 

[cream]

Nothing wrong to dislike a bike but when the same person repeats it several times daily months after month, it starts to get a bit boring and is of little help to others.
It's much more productive to daily poop in a bucket stored under the bed than here,

Don't stress too much. He's trying to get a permanent "Gen4 " badge and seems determined. I would not enjoy a bike less , based on negative comments.

I don't want to offend anybody, but watching the interaction (from a safe distance) between you two is somehow funny to me, and I thank you both for that. This Levo surely stirs some emotions. What a bike !

 

[Ribinrobin]

had mine just over a month coming from a amflow love the descending of it...but..its very heavy its a plough of a bike more than a poppy one. Looks wise aint best and motor noise is another bug bear. i kind of wish i waited for a druid coreE as a normal druid owner. i did get mine heavily reduced but still the longing for the corE remains

 

[Fangs2k]

All the owners are pootling around green lanes apparently so you wouldn't have seen them on the trails

Still building the straw men?

I don’t know what the sales numbers are, I suspect you don’t know either, and looking at green lanes or enduro events probably won’t tell us either.

I wouldn’t be surprised though if it hasn’t sold as much as Specialized’s previous offerings, but there is more competition out there now and some people (as evidenced by this thread) don’t like it.

It’s ok, we don’t need to get a violin out for Specialized here, they have such a diverse range of bikes and accessories on offer I doubt the future depends on one model of e-bike, however sh*te some people think it is.

 

[Moderator]

Hey All,

I think this thread has probably served it's purpose now.

It seems unlikely that anyone will find anything new they suddenly dislike about the bike and I think everyone's views have all been clearly expressed.

Therefore, I'm locking the thread. Thanks for everyones input, now it's time to find something to love.