Levo Gen 4 Specialized Gen 4 Levo - Official Thread

[linkqwd]

But the fact that the professional reviewers don't talk about these technical details that changed from previous generations(in a wrong way, if you ask me), is strange.

There is quite a review I found on reddit yesterday
TLDR: many problems with s-works, probably the worst case scenario that I've seen among reviews.

OP is confirmed that levo gen4 has rattle on the motor, and yet none of major review crews even velomotion has not mentioned this.
At this point I just consider all this 'bike of the year' labels are BS and watching\reading big magazines reviews just a waste of time.

 

[Hicksy 92]

There is quite a review I found on reddit yesterday
TLDR: many problems with s-works, probably the worst case scenario that I've seen among reviews.

OP is confirmed that levo gen4 has rattle on the motor, and yet none of major review crews even velomotion has not mentioned this.
At this point I just consider all this 'bike of the year' labels are BS and watching\reading big magazines reviews just a waist of time

There is quite a review I found on reddit yesterday
TLDR: many problems with s-works, probably the worst case scenario that I've seen among reviews.

OP is confirmed that levo gen4 has rattle on the motor, and yet none of major review crews even velomotion has not mentioned this.
At this point I just consider all this 'bike of the year' labels are BS and watching\reading big magazines reviews just a waist of time.
View attachment 168238

Funny the only time I hear my s-works motor make a noise , is when I’m wheeling it backs wards over the step into my shed , makes 2 clunks and that’s it , can’t even make it rattle if I pick it up and drop it , so far ,756 miles in it’s been faultless , My only gripe with it is its battery efficiency, but if you can do a 25-30 mile ride with moderate climbing and ride in auto plus , wow the thing is so much fun

 

[Powerslider]

Just an Amflow bot attacking the competition?

 

[westcoastmtbr]

I literally have 3 friend with the Gen 4 Levo. They do NOT rattle. This is a total joke. I get it, Specialized takes a bunch of crap for trying to be the leader in the premium ebike space, so it comes with a price. (literally a price). Whether Specialized wants to charge a premium for their bikes is their business strategy. Maybe it's a wise choice or a bad strategy, but I'm glad we all have a choice. I think the Gen 4 is a very nice bike, and if a sale on them appears then maybe I'll pull the trigger. But this BS about I just test rode the Levo 4 and it rattles is either a broken bike, or someone with a grudge. Sorry.

 

[linkqwd]

and if a sale on them appears then maybe I'll pull the trigger. But this BS about I just test rode the Levo 4 and it rattles is either a broken bike, or someone with a grudge. Sorry.

Be carefull, there are a lot of broken bikes at premium price out there

 

[Starocca]

My motor had a rattle and it was replaced under warranty. The new motor is rattle free

 

[westcoastmtbr]

My motor had a rattle and it was replaced under warranty. The new motor is rattle free

Point #2. Everyone who had a gen 2 or 3 Levo had belt issues. Specialized had spent lots of cash on keeping the bikes warrantied and treating the customers in a very fair manner. Compare this to what we'll find out about lesser brands promoting the DJI motor (awesome motor btw) but some of these brands will go out of business, or be one pain in the ass getting support. Just think about the YT bike fiasco. Want to save some money on a YT Decoy?!? So, yes, you'll spend a premium on a Levo (personally think they are too much, but so is Unno, Crestline, Yeti, Transition, and the likes) but at the end of the day, motor goes to sh*t down the road and I bet Specialized you have the option of keeping it going. HMMMM. And some of these motors are very expensive to replace.....

 

[linkqwd]

My motor had a rattle and it was replaced under warranty. The new motor is rattle free

Hmm, maybe Spesh should have done some announcement that this can be fixed by warranty claim, considering their premium status (but obviously they are not going to do so)
Here is the guy who tried to solve exactly this problem by putting expensive e*thirteen Sidekick hub Anyone use Anti-Pedal Kickback Tech on EMTB?

The thing is not everyone might be so lucky, I asked spesh about test unit that I rode and they replied that this is okay for this motor.

 

[Polar]

It's always fun to hear facts from a friend of a friend and reviewers that has it as a living promising they get no kick back in any shape or form.
Life would be boring without them and no learning curve.

 

[TheSnowShark]

For my part,

all I know is that I have Levo Gen3, and that Specialized really messed with me by stopping the Mission Control application and their new version which is completely useless and rotten..

They didn't even bother to answer me in front of my dissatisfaction.. so, you want me to buy a Gen4.?

.. no thanks !!!

 

[westcoastmtbr]

It's always fun to hear facts from a friend of a friend and reviewers that has it as a living promising they get no kick back in any shape or form.
Life would be boring without them and no learning curve.

who might be you be referring to? Is it me? One can only share their experiences and then you one choose what to believe. If you are local to the SF Bay Area then join us on a ride this Sunday! We'll do Demo Forest. Interested?

 

[jamesyun]

Not sure if anyone caught this detail in the manual:

https://support.specialized.com/kb/sp_de-de/content/ECV3-5895/Specialized-Internal-Batteries-Turbo-Levo-Gen4

Looks like there's (2) battery suppliers for the X2 pack that powers our Gen 4 Levos. They both share the same part number, but one is identified as B26 and the other B34.

Interestingly the B34 battery has slightly more capacity (850wh vs 842wh) AND it's actually 100g lighter.

Checked my battery and it's a B26. Curious to see if there's any B34's out in the field?

 

[westcoastmtbr]

Not sure if anyone caught this detail in the manual:

https://support.specialized.com/kb/sp_de-de/content/ECV3-5895/Specialized-Internal-Batteries-Turbo-Levo-Gen4

Looks like there's (2) battery suppliers for the X2 pack that powers our Gen 4 Levos. They both share the same part number, but one is identified as B26 and the other B34.

Interestingly the B34 battery has slightly more capacity (850wh vs 842wh) AND it's actually 100g lighter.

Checked my battery and it's a B26. Curious to see if there's any B34's out in the field?

View attachment 168250

Japan is a nice touch

 

[Polar]

Everyone who had a gen 2 or 3 Levo had belt issues

Well after 7-8000km on my 2 previous G3 I had zero belt issues but I did wish I had since lower mileage is easier to sell.

 

[Polar]

Not sure if anyone caught this detail in the manual:

https://support.specialized.com/kb/sp_de-de/content/ECV3-5895/Specialized-Internal-Batteries-Turbo-Levo-Gen4

Looks like there's (2) battery suppliers for the X2 pack that powers our Gen 4 Levos. They both share the same part number, but one is identified as B26 and the other B34.

Interestingly the B34 battery has slightly more capacity (850wh vs 842wh) AND it's actually 100g lighter.

Checked my battery and it's a B26. Curious to see if there's any B34's out in the field

Is it me?

No chill down no one particular just most of the ppl hearing, reading and maybe a short demo ride and then they know everything about the bike.
All brand can have problems but how they handle it is widely different.
I just got a new battery nest and display a couple of days after I mentioned it.
I can't praise my LBS and Specialized enough for the support they give.

 

[westcoastmtbr]

No chill down no one particular just most of the ppl hearing, reading and maybe a short demo ride and then they know everything about the bike.
All brand can have problems but how they handle it is widely different.
I just got a new battery nest and display a couple of days after I mentioned it.
I can't praise my LBS and Specialized enough for the support they give.

Got it. Just feel the same way. One of the Gen 4 bikes has about 700 miles on it, so it's safe to say it's enough miles to make a kind observation. When you do make it out West, then do come for a ride., Ibis, Specialized, and Santa Cruz bikes all have factory stores, so you can rent one of your choosing.

 

[B-man]

I literally have 3 friend with the Gen 4 Levo. They do NOT rattle. This is a total joke. I get it, Specialized takes a bunch of crap for trying to be the leader in the premium ebike space, so it comes with a price. (literally a price). Whether Specialized wants to charge a premium for their bikes is their business strategy. Maybe it's a wise choice or a bad strategy, but I'm glad we all have a choice. I think the Gen 4 is a very nice bike, and if a sale on them appears then maybe I'll pull the trigger. But this BS about I just test rode the Levo 4 and it rattles is either a broken bike, or someone with a grudge. Sorry.

My gen 4 rattles and none of my Gen 3s did. I had 7 Gen 3s.

 

[jamesyun]

My gen 4 rattles and none of my Gen 3s did. I had 7 Gen 3s.

My gen 4 definately rattles too

 

[linkqwd]

Two more reports about motor rattle, @westcoastmtbr do you still think that those are broken bikes?

Lets escalate this further, I found this page https://support.specialized.com/kb/...00000006201/Turbo-Bikes-Motor-Sound-Explained
where specialized states that there is occasional Gearbox clatter when descending among other noises.

I dont know why some people experience this rattle and others don't, but this is definitely there and not everyone will be covered by warranty since it is stated by specialized in their document that this noise is normal because of the motor design.

 

[mantra]

I was able to do a short testride on a gen 4 comp alloy yesterday. Sadly only for 20 mins and only arround town, but I tried to smash as many stairs as I could find. I tried different speeds, roll and jumpins. Honestly, I was not able to hear destinct motor rattle. Also ist did not really make sounds when pushing it backwards. There was some noise, but very silent and only at the beginning of going backwards. Nothing like in the video posted earlier. Really strange why some bikes have those noises/rattles and some apparently dont...

 

[Polar]

My gen 4 definately rattles too

My Levo 4 definitely do not rattle before or after I got the new springloaded battery nest.
It's also very silent with the SWAT bag full but that's maybe because I have a towel inside to stop tools to rattle.
After 2.600 km it's still more silent than my G3.

 

[Polar]

Really strange why some bikes have those noises/rattles and some apparently dont...

Specialized has explained why in a YT video.

 

[Polar]

One of the Gen 4 bikes has about 700 miles on it, so it's safe to say it's enough miles to make a kind observation.

Mine has 2.600 km and I'm observing closely every day.
I'll make a press release if anything should occur.

 

[Albertocsoares]

My G4 Expert has about 2,000 km on it (since April 25th), mostly on tough technical trails and climbs, with lots of rocks and roots. A typical ride is 40 km with 1,200 meters of elevation gain, and I usually have about 20% battery left. (I’m 60 years old and weigh 75 kg.)

• 1,000 km: Changed rear tire (2.4 Maxxis Minion DHR 3C)
• 1,500 km: Changed battery support (2 events around 1,400 km)
• 1,700 km: Changed front tire (2.5 Maxxis Assegai)
• 1,900 km: Changed rear tire (2.4 Maxxis Minion DHR 3C)
• 1,900 km: Changed rear brake pads

So far, so good

 

[Polar]

Changed battery support

Is that what I call battery nest and did you get the new version with springs?

 

[Potter57]

Il mio Gen4 ha 4 mesi, non vibra ed è molto silenziosa.

 

[Bndit]

For my part,

all I know is that I have Levo Gen3, and that Specialized really messed with me by stopping the Mission Control application and their new version which is completely useless and rotten..

They didn't even bother to answer me in front of my dissatisfaction.. so, you want me to buy a Gen4.?

.. no thanks !!!

I had gen2 Levo and now have gen3. The app is really nice and works great. I don't understand how the old one was better or what's wrong with the new one?

 

[westcoastmtbr]

Two more reports about motor rattle, @westcoastmtbr do you still think that those are broken bikes?

Lets escalate this further, I found this page https://support.specialized.com/kb/...00000006201/Turbo-Bikes-Motor-Sound-Explained
where specialized states that there is occasional Gearbox clatter when descending among other noises.

I dont know why some people experience this rattle and others don't, but this is definitely there and not everyone will be covered by warranty since it is stated by specialized in their document that this noise is normal because of the motor design.

I stand corrected... unlike many of the other systems that rattle out of the box, it

My G4 Expert has about 2,000 km on it (since April 25th), mostly on tough technical trails and climbs, with lots of rocks and roots. A typical ride is 40 km with 1,200 meters of elevation gain, and I usually have about 20% battery left. (I’m 60 years old and weigh 75 kg.)

• 1,000 km: Changed rear tire (2.4 Maxxis Minion DHR 3C)
• 1,500 km: Changed battery support (2 events around 1,400 km)
• 1,700 km: Changed front tire (2.5 Maxxis Assegai)
• 1,900 km: Changed rear tire (2.4 Maxxis Minion DHR 3C)
• 1,900 km: Changed rear brake pads

So far, so good

No motor rattle?

 

[Albertocsoares]

I stand corrected... unlike many of the other systems that rattle out of the box, it

No motor rattle?

Not that I can notice.

Is that what I call battery nest and did you get the new version with springs?View attachment 168274

Yes, that´s what I call battery support

 

[jamesyun]

Regarding the motor rattle, it would make sense that some people would notice it more than others. Based on what I'm seeing the rattle happens during times where pedal kickback is induced or when the chain is flailing around quite a bit, from continuous medium sized hits. You can easily replicate the noise yourself by simply pressing down on the chain which turns the chainring slightly counter clockwise. When doing this there's a distinct knocking sound that resonates through the front of the chassis. This is much less noticeable on smoother trails where the motor is virtually silent. This rattle is likely noise called out specifically as "normal" in the Levo 4 manual under certain circumstances.