Specialized Levo R: We Rode It. Here's What You Need to Know
- Thread starter EMTB Forums Staff
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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.
Rando_12345
E*POWAH Master
Ok, but in 2026 1000Wh worth of cells is well under $100, and other brands sell their 600Wh for around $700...
With a way smaller battery.
The 700wh in the Gen3 lasted almost the same as the 840wh in the Gen4. I dont think there is much of a difference. I do big rides. They both lasted about 35-40 miles and 6000ft to 8000ft vertical.
With the same level of assistance, the Levo4 has significantly more range than the Levo3.
I've owned a Levo2, a Kenevo2, Levo3 and now I've had a Levo4 since May.
I know what I'm talking about!
Ah ha ... The "R" stands for railroad ..
www.jalopnik.com
Abandoned Railroad E-Bike Camping Is The Next Great American Adventure - Jalopnik
Now I kind of want to head off to a government surplus auction to pick up a USPS e-bike of my own.
www.jalopnik.com
No kenevo 3 just Levo evo
Man I keep seeing levo R advertisements on fb/IG and the comment sections are all 99% trashing on it. It really makes me wonder why they went this route. I’m sure they do enough market research and feel they can sell enough units. I truly hope it does well. I want every bike brand to crush it.
I just don’t get why they didn’t go with an updated SL frame lightweight low travel build with range extender option? That would check all boxes to me. I don’t think the low travel option is this bikes negative. Honestly most of the emtb guys I see on the trails really don’t even need 160 travel and would probably do better on say an SL light frame with 140 travel. Interested to see how this bike does.
Is this completely replacing the SL?
I just don’t get why they didn’t go with an updated SL frame lightweight low travel build with range extender option? That would check all boxes to me. I don’t think the low travel option is this bikes negative. Honestly most of the emtb guys I see on the trails really don’t even need 160 travel and would probably do better on say an SL light frame with 140 travel. Interested to see how this bike does.
Is this completely replacing the SL?
I think they wanted the economy of sharing the same motor and battery platform they're already confident in.
There's quite a few people i see expressing positivity. One that struck a chord with me is a guy saying he would've chosen the R over the 4 he purchased for his petite wife. Also I see the R being a great choice for people who want something more hardcore and powerful than a hybrid like a Turbo Vado. When you look at the market from the bottom up, instead of top down the R makes a lot of sense.
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I wouldn't say "significantly more range". A little more is more like it.
So you've owned 3 Specialized ebikes. Im on my 8th Levo. I know what Im talking about also. Thanks though for your opinion. I get a new Levo every year and sometime a new one every 6 months. Im still saying the 700wh in Gen 3 lasted ALMOST the same as the 840wh in the Gen 4. I do understand turning the Gen 4 down helps it last a little longer but it's not much at all. It's hardly noticeable in the mountains and the steep trails I ride. I have over 30,000 miles and over 2 million ft of vertical riding Levos all on Strava. I never ride pavement or roads. All my riding is steep, mountain, single track.
I believe we are both right to be honest. It depends on the trails you ride. In the mountains you might only get 3-4 miles further with the 840wh. On flat ground and easy trails you might get 7-8 miles further. Id say the vertical difference between the 700wh and 840wh is 800ft to 1000ft.
Ratcliff1893
New Member
The level of criticism is unbelievable! It’s almost like an orchestrated attack on Specialized, the hard of thinking have latched on to the talking points and seem to be repeating it endlessly! Populist type aggression! Got my tinfoil hat on now
I don’t hear these constant negative comments against the Whyte Kado or the yeti that have a big downtube.
There’s no doubt there’s a shift in what people want now and it’s certainly redirecting the industry.
The constant slagging off is just bizarre. Why do people need to constantly go on? Are there a lot of teenage boys here?
I asked on another thread what is it that can’t be done on a turbo levo gen 4 or R compared to other e-bikes? No one answered that funnily enough.
You don’t have to like and you certainly don’t have to buy one and you certainly can express that but the endless negativity Is just odd!
When I put my tinfoil hat on I start thinking it’s bots seeking to impact AI results towards a negative sentiment.The level of criticism is unbelievable! It’s almost like an orchestrated attack on Specialized, the hard of thinking have latched on to the talking points and seem to be repeating it endlessly! Populist type aggression! Got my tinfoil hat on now
I don’t hear these constant negative comments against the Whyte Kado or the yeti that have a big downtube.
There’s no doubt there’s a shift in what people want now and it’s certainly redirecting the industry.
The constant slagging off is just bizarre. Why do people need to constantly go on? Are there a lot of teenage boys here?
I asked on another thread what is it that can’t be done on a turbo levo gen 4 or R compared to other e-bikes? No one answered that funnily enough.
You don’t have to like and you certainly don’t have to buy one and you certainly can express that but the endless negativity Is just odd!
I thought that, when I enquired was told it’s the same motor as the normal Gen4 with the la
store confirmed it’s the same motor as normal Gen4
I went to see this new R bike yesterday. Have to say the 29/29 setup helps with its looks wise. For some reason the mullet set seems to bring out the size of the down tube more. Could not fault the fit finish paint quality etc, it was perfect. Spoke to tech chap that rides at good level he says after a day riding it, it rides really well and deals with the earlier GEN 4S feeling “ Off” weight wise. Note that the R has a different frame to the normal earlier Gen 4S, it felt almost same weight as my AMflow. If I was in the Market for one I would definitely go for the R.
Right, their advertising and product development should understand the reality gap; what riders actually need is different from what they want. But kudos to them for trying to bring a sensible product to market.
seriously though. I’ll be interested to see how many guys on here get one. I’m guessing not a lot. While every other bike drop thread has bikes completely sold out and crazy anticipation.
I think they should have just did a light build on an updated SL frame with option to run range extender. That would have zero people confused here. I’m guessing they will use this new frame for the Levo evo, so probably just a quick short travel “light” drop before they drop the real reason for the frame.
For me it’s simple. Spesh were innovators on the ebike space for gen 1,2 & 3 Levo.
Knocked it out of the park on all those releases.
When brands were using stuck on batteries in 2019-2022, bolted to the frame, and a bird’s nest of cables with ridiculous switchgear, Spesh innovated with integrated batteries and a slick app and outstanding integration.
Then for gen 3, the Turbo team were the first to integrated a colour display into the top tube, and bring mullet, aggressive geo and a slick package together with great integration.
Gen 4 - the expectations were high. Meanwhile, Avinox sucker punched the industry with slick integration, high tech and a powerhouse of a motor.
Everyone was waiting for Spesh to respond with the Gen 4…..
And it’s kinda a victim of their past success and our collective expectations.
Bike rides good. Rally rides good. Solid product. But no longer the best integration, no longer the slickest frames.
They pushed boundaries with the OG kenevo, dual crown ebike, and they were bold and brave.
Kenevo SL was ahead of its time. Levo SL was the original SL ebike and copied by everyone.
But the rest of the bike world caught up real fast.
Gen 4 looks designed by a committee.
Love the team there, but it needs focus. To be a killer bike. And exceed expectations.
Innovate or die.
Knocked it out of the park on all those releases.
When brands were using stuck on batteries in 2019-2022, bolted to the frame, and a bird’s nest of cables with ridiculous switchgear, Spesh innovated with integrated batteries and a slick app and outstanding integration.
Then for gen 3, the Turbo team were the first to integrated a colour display into the top tube, and bring mullet, aggressive geo and a slick package together with great integration.
Gen 4 - the expectations were high. Meanwhile, Avinox sucker punched the industry with slick integration, high tech and a powerhouse of a motor.
Everyone was waiting for Spesh to respond with the Gen 4…..
And it’s kinda a victim of their past success and our collective expectations.
Bike rides good. Rally rides good. Solid product. But no longer the best integration, no longer the slickest frames.
They pushed boundaries with the OG kenevo, dual crown ebike, and they were bold and brave.
Kenevo SL was ahead of its time. Levo SL was the original SL ebike and copied by everyone.
But the rest of the bike world caught up real fast.
Gen 4 looks designed by a committee.
Love the team there, but it needs focus. To be a killer bike. And exceed expectations.
Innovate or die.
I’ve got comp 2, 3 (alloy) and comp 4 - all have been great but gen 2 had the best combination of weight and adjustability but not reliability. I’d look at the R for the Mrs especially if they do lighter option with 600. I need to try a few different bikes before I’d say spec again.
I bet ‘the shop’ absolutely loves fielding all your questions on something you have no intention of buying!
Like they’d give an S if they’re selling a bike of any sort, why would they care?
Purple parznip
Active member
Why always a bloody mullet,some of us want a full 29er,doesnt even look like it would fit a 29, have they done this on purpose?
If so,they have lost a potential customer
Ratcliff1893
New Member
This bike is a 29erWhy always a bloody mullet,some of us want a full 29er,doesnt even look like it would fit a 29, have they done this on purpose?
If so,they have lost a potential customer
It help to read maybe a 29 apears.
Purple parznip
Active member
Its called sarcasm
What was interesting about it?
I mean, the bike with the most power and torque was the fastest up a gravel road?
Pointless comparison really, and a bit of what is wrong with e-mountain biking in my view, but if you need to get up a 1 mile track 10s faster than somebody else….
My GadGas has
They didn’t create a new (rally) category. My 2024 GasGas MXC6 has a factory rally mode.
It’s a little interesting that they are the exact same weight at 46.5 lbs. With Levo being purpose built to be as light as possible as far as light duty brake, bars, short travel, tire casing. The specialized being almost twice the price. I’d be curious to see how light an amflow could be built. Someone on here has one at 40.6 lbs, but that’s still with the 160mm fox fork and stuff. I bet you could get sub 40lb amflow with a build like this levo for xc stuff
It’s like looking at the bike specialized made, vs the bike they should have made. The amflow just looks like a specialized stump jumper. And no I don’t think the amflow is the holy grail of bikes. If specialized made the Amflow though, nobody would hate on that bike at alllllll. That would be the best selling bike for years (although their price would have been astronomical compared to amflows pricing).
Ratcliff1893
New Member
Just a thought on price. This is a Chinese company doing what they do! The same is happening with cars etc. Maybe the Amflow will slip away as a brand, it’s done its intended job brilliantly so far or maybe the prices will creep towards that of the premium brands?
Based on what they have coming out next month, I think it’s more likely that will be moving up a few gears and putting more pressure on more established Brands that are going to continue to look expensive.
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