New to E-MTBS - Between Levo 3 and 4.

[K-Rimes]

Hi all, about to pull the trigger on my first e-bike from a local bike shop.

Gen 3 Expert - $5000
Gen 4 Alloy - $6750

Really having a tough time deciding, any advice appreciated!

 

[Kramer]

I’ve got a Gen 4 Expert, it’s still new to me, but so far it’s been excellent.

I wouldn’t worry too much about alloy vs carbon when it comes to range, however the alloy models only come with Fox 36s as standard and they do make an already heavy bike even heavier.

For your extra money, you’re getting a bigger battery, a more powerful, (hopefully) more reliable motor, the ability to take the battery out, the option of a range extender, a fancier display with a few more tuning and tracking options, and if it’s your thing, there are bespoke racks that are made for it.

A friend has a Gen 3 and loves it. So far I’m loving my Gen 4. A few of the features above were dealbreakers for me, YMMV.

 

[K-Rimes]

I’ve got a Gen 4 Expert, it’s still new to me, but so far it’s been excellent.

I wouldn’t worry too much about alloy vs carbon when it comes to range, however the alloy models only come with Fox 36s as standard and they do make an already heavy bike even heavier.

For your extra money, you’re getting a bigger battery, a more powerful, (hopefully) more reliable motor, the ability to take the battery out, the option of a range extender, a fancier display with a few more tuning and tracking options, and if it’s your thing, there are bespoke racks that are made for it.

A friend has a Gen 3 and loves it. So far I’m loving my Gen 4. A few of the features above were dealbreakers for me, YMMV.

The big concern for me is motor reliability. Yes, I know, Specialized warranty is good and I'll have 2 years of full coverage but I'd rather have a trouble free ownership as the LBS is far from me (40 minutes). My use case will not be intensive, I'm not going to be hammering drops, rock gardens, or so on - but I am near the ocean with salty air, and extremely dusty trails / fire roads. With time, my skills may improve, which I hope for.

I am 210lb, so the suspension is a bit of a concern, and the Expert Gen 3 has that handled. I know, however, that suspension can be upgraded on an alloy but the motor cannot so... It's a tough decision!

The Gen4 seems by all accounts more reliable with a variety of quality of life improvements, but is it worth $1750 to get it?