- May 27, 2019
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This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Specialized Levo R: We Rode It. Here's What You Need to Know. Please add to the discussion here.
Specialized Levo R: We Rode It. Here's What You Need to Know
- Thread starter EMTB Forums Staff
- Start date
First Ride Specialized Levo R: Full Power in a Lighter, Faster Package Specialized have launched the Levo R, and we flew out to ride it.
Spec states “builds as light as 18.6kg” so maybe that ~20kg estimate with 600Wh battery is a fraction pessimistic/realistic?
@Rob Rides EMTB did you ask Specialized if they considered redesigning this one for a slim fixed battery? If they had to redesign the front triangle anyway then why not go this route? Only thing that would need to change is the battery, everything else form the Levo 4 could be reused.
Could be range extender only config.
I'm thinking a "build" is a configuration you can buy, but I could be wrong.
Not that we can buy a 600Wh battery.
18.6 in build with a 600wh battery and SL build spec. Trail tyres, SL brakes etc etc.
No - youd have to build it custom.
ragetty
Member
… this! … it‘s apparently ‚not a gravity-assist’ bike, meaning less climbing and so the battery can legit be smaller – loose a kg from the frame and 2kg from the battery.
But then it might poach too much in SL territory.
Interesting new development, if not confusing who/where its for!
Assuming from the video "Finale" was the ride location & having spent a week there last summer on a KSL2...
How did it handle the trails ?
As they can be total gnar & i read the write up, so would expect it to be out of its depth there...
You mention "medium trails" did you hit little Champery/Engineer? (about the only trail names that were gnar i can remember
).
For context, I ride a G3 full fat (for UK winter mud & steeps) & LSL2 (XC/trail riding on undulating terrain, pedals better over the 15.5mph limiter than the full fat & obvs easier to chuck over a stile).
To be honest after seeing the Spech. email, i was expecting battery technology innovation, such as these new cells that hold more energy to produce a lighter bike (& perhaps slimmer frame).
As it seems semi solid state is some way off.
Or the touted Levo Evo, 180mm full fat beast being well overdue!
Assuming from the video "Finale" was the ride location & having spent a week there last summer on a KSL2...
How did it handle the trails ?
As they can be total gnar & i read the write up, so would expect it to be out of its depth there...
You mention "medium trails" did you hit little Champery/Engineer? (about the only trail names that were gnar i can remember
).For context, I ride a G3 full fat (for UK winter mud & steeps) & LSL2 (XC/trail riding on undulating terrain, pedals better over the 15.5mph limiter than the full fat & obvs easier to chuck over a stile).
To be honest after seeing the Spech. email, i was expecting battery technology innovation, such as these new cells that hold more energy to produce a lighter bike (& perhaps slimmer frame).
As it seems semi solid state is some way off.
Or the touted Levo Evo, 180mm full fat beast being well overdue!
This bike just screams compromise. And every bike has its compromises, but this bike IS a compromise. It’s like the best of no worlds.
This is specialized dudes. Not some random bike brand. Their new offerings should always be with the intent of being the best available. If they’re going to make an xc bike (or rally lol), then make it with the intent of being the best out there. I feel like they wasted a lot of time on this project to release a bike that’s not even that light and still with a gargantuan downtube. I guess when you create your own bike category (rally) then how could it not be the best in that category lol.
I’m a specialized fan and hope they eventually put out something that makes me consider returning to their bikes one day, but it hasn’t been a good look lately…
This is specialized dudes. Not some random bike brand. Their new offerings should always be with the intent of being the best available. If they’re going to make an xc bike (or rally lol), then make it with the intent of being the best out there. I feel like they wasted a lot of time on this project to release a bike that’s not even that light and still with a gargantuan downtube. I guess when you create your own bike category (rally) then how could it not be the best in that category lol.
I’m a specialized fan and hope they eventually put out something that makes me consider returning to their bikes one day, but it hasn’t been a good look lately…
Nice video,
looks like they have made some effort on the weight, but agree that they are boxed in with the GEN 4 looks wise. It’s not a cheap bike and at this price point it needs to tick all the Box’s. Looks very important to some. Like has been mentioned in some of the videos I know for fact that they have lost sales due to the Gen 4 looks.
looks like they have made some effort on the weight, but agree that they are boxed in with the GEN 4 looks wise. It’s not a cheap bike and at this price point it needs to tick all the Box’s. Looks very important to some. Like has been mentioned in some of the videos I know for fact that they have lost sales due to the Gen 4 looks.
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It's interesting to me the $15,649.99 S-W Turbo R is slightly more expensive than a $15,399.99 S-W Levo 4. I expected them to be the same price or maybe even have the R slightly less expensive.
Redesigning a slim battery that fits in the downtube with the same architecture (removable etc) is a big project. So they went with the least friction, kept the existing electrical system, and just redeveloped the hardware around it.
I do think Specialzed are in a bit of a pickle at the moment with this whole battery / chunky design - because they will want to get 3 years or so with the current system (my guestimate) for the R&D capex to pay back.
They cant go DJI as they have an entire turbo team.
I think that the ebike system is very good - it just looks so dated now compared to the competition. Put it next to a Avinox build, and it looks like its a generation behind. (in looks alone)
Looks great for actual trail riding. I’ll take a slightly chunkier downtube with a removable battery over a non-removable one any day.
I dunno, I mean I’m struggling to see how this isn’t an attractive bike? Looks are always subjective, and fashions change.
For some, it’s clearly important that looks come first, for others it’s not.
Good to hear that it actually rides well, which for me is one of the important things for, er, actually riding a bike?!
I just think it’s a shame that every review is followed by “lolz, look at the phat batteryz tube thingy” as the main takeaway.
It’s perfectly possible to like this bike and aesthetically different ones like the Mith or even the Amflow, at the same time. When did things get so tribal in the land of EMTB?
Now more than ever people need to just get out and ride whatever it is you’ve got and get over ourselves.
For some, it’s clearly important that looks come first, for others it’s not.
Good to hear that it actually rides well, which for me is one of the important things for, er, actually riding a bike?!
I just think it’s a shame that every review is followed by “lolz, look at the phat batteryz tube thingy” as the main takeaway.
It’s perfectly possible to like this bike and aesthetically different ones like the Mith or even the Amflow, at the same time. When did things get so tribal in the land of EMTB?
Now more than ever people need to just get out and ride whatever it is you’ve got and get over ourselves.
Which one screams lightweight bike to you?
Also which frame IS actually lightweight… gotta take your specialized goggles off
News flash, some bikes look different to other bikes?!
They both have a place in the market, and regardless of respective weights they ride very differently and are for arguably different riders, trails and riding styles.
Don’t throw the tribal shite at me either, I don’t have any specialized goggles on, I don’t own a Gen 4 of any sort and I don’t want to buy one. Doesn’t make it a bad bike though, as Rob said, and likewise doesn’t make it the best either.
Why does it have to be either or?
DuncanDoughnuts
Active member
Good review here ....
Not being tribal, I’m genuinely disappointed in specialized offerings lately. I love that brand and I want them to live up to the legendary name. I’m not saying you’re wrong for liking how it looks, but maybe trying to help you understand how the “tribals” look at it.
This offering isn’t slim, or that light. So it’s really not the best of either world. I’m definitely function over form as well, but this bike wins in neither category. Again this is a top tier mtb company. This bike without the logo looks like something you can get off alibaba.
No hard feeling though and no reason to get mad at each other. Just my opinion that doesn’t really matter.
It’s actually the tribal bit I’m struggling with, the hate not just for a bike that they have no intention of liking or buying, but the willingness to continually tell people who have purchased a Gen4 or are thinking about the R have or will have ‘brought the wrong bike’.
I own a Gen 1 Levo SL, that for me was an exciting ‘game changer’ e-bike for how I use one. It wasn’t universally received though. I also owned a Gen 3 Levo for a while but didn’t get on with it long term. I know lots of people love them though and who am I to argue!
‘Super Bikes’ like the Mith are incredible bits of kit, albeit several thousand pounds over what I can justify spending (if you can even get hold of one) and I know the Specialized R isn’t cheap either, but it would be overkill for my trails and skills if I’m honest.
That’s why I think there’s room for e-bikes like this R, it’s available, supportable and will be all the bike a lot of people need. It’s not perfect, what bike is, but it will be perfect for lots of people.
When I bought my '21 SJEVO frame I was so impressed by the quality compared to my other high end bikes, and I watched my PB's fall left and right on that bike and I was pretty certain that I was from then on out a Spesh fan boy.
But the offerings just continue to be strange and missing the point. Which is wild because the company was just so forward thinking with so many designs in years past. SJ15, Levo SL, now the Levo, just have all missed the mark.
But the offerings just continue to be strange and missing the point. Which is wild because the company was just so forward thinking with so many designs in years past. SJ15, Levo SL, now the Levo, just have all missed the mark.
Really? Why not more riding (your Avinox) at Sunset Hills? Or is that too much bike for those trails too?
robikinkela
Active member
Only one glaring mistake in my opinion: not offering it directly with the 600 W/h battery...
Yeah I have met a few riders on full-fat eMTB that keep to very mellow trails. While the Levo R isn’t for me, I can see it being ideal for some others.
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