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.
veryoldfart
Member
Just cannot bring myself to buy such a shit looking frame. Have Gen 3 S Works & would like to update/ upgrade, but never to that eyesore. Wake up Spesh, you had 2 colour ways for S Works framesets, why not now?
It's lots of other "much better" ebikes on the market so what's the problem except to moan over something you don't like but others do.
shenzi105
New Member
Such a fun bike to ride, so responsive, at my level of riding, easy to put it where I want. Love that thing. I love the look of it, the finish, the frame, the geo. So pumped!
Beautiful agreed. Did you get your shop activate the class 3? Game changer for me. Congratulations on new bike and awesome truck too
shenzi105
New Member
No I didn’t he them to activate Class 3 yet.
Good truck
and needed for the mtb’s, the dirt bike but mostly for the wife’s mulch obsession and the “I need a new big plat again” moments 
I would rather take that truck
Blue Spruce
New Member
- Feb 13, 2026
- 16
- 29
Not sure if it's already been mentioned but Specialized is doing a demo tour with the Levo R. Saw they're going to be in Nashville on March 15th at Cedar Hill park.
Easier to remove and cover up the hole too for travelling with bike.
I take bothI would rather take that truck
shenzi105
New Member
actually I can activate it in Settings. Used it yesterday to ride back to the car, oh my, game changer indeed.
Georgedukesa
Active member
I bought the expert In black and I frikken love it I’ve got the Sworks Gen 4 in green and they are both completely different rides , the. Sworks wants to take off when I ride it on a jump line and the R wants to stay on the ground . The R iv got , Put on One up V3 dropper , I stuck look Ti pedals on out lighter handle bars and stem lighter seat (sworks) also XX cranks and at the moment it’s at 21.7 kg with the 600 wat battery it will drop to. 20.7 and I cannot emphasise enough how agile and fun this bike is , in a flat single track segment (one that lost guys use to measure thier capabilities on at our trails I dropped 20 seconds as apposed to my Sworks But to get the R to do jumps it’s (and this is my experience might not be yours who ever is reading this) it wants to stick to the ground
Any way if you don’t own one don’t comment cause you don’t know what the bike rides like
Ps I’m sticking Hope Evo 4 Gr4 brakes on (weight is the same as SRAM) today she gets the Industry 9 hydra 2 hubs in blue (they are 10 grams lighter than the i9 1/1 hubs (but I never got them for that got them cause they frikken awesome aswell also popping on a blue woolftooth seat collar and blue dropper remote from woolftooth will update with pics when done Don’t care what the moaners and groaners say this thing is sexy
Rando_12345
E*POWAH Master
I was going to say nice bike, but you told us not to comment if we don't own one 
My guess is your S-works has faster rebound, maybe more compression, because generally speaking a lighter + shorter travel bike should be less stuck to the ground.
My guess is your S-works has faster rebound, maybe more compression, because generally speaking a lighter + shorter travel bike should be less stuck to the ground.
looks good in black! 20kg with 600wh is a good weight! blue hubs is the only bit i wouldnt be keen on surely bronze to match the decals? lovely bike!
Georgedukesa
Active member
I was going to say nice bike, but you told us not to comment if we don't own one
My guess is your S-works has faster rebound, maybe more compression, because generally speaking a lighter + shorter travel bike should be less stuck to the ground.
sorry cuz appreciate your liking the bike
Georgedukesa
Active member
Thank you Iva actually got the Chris King 50th anniversary hubset on my Sworks (they gold ) that’s good suggestion for the colour coding , I’ll pop a pick with the blue against the black once they on
With the already one year delayed battery how much longer are you willing to wait?
Georgedukesa
Active member
Iv had to change my rims found out the hole count on the Industy nine rear hub , ( I had them from a previous order that I never used) so dropping 400 Gr just on rim change
So battery is a nice to have if it ever emerges
Was at the LBS and picked up the bike to put it into one of thier stands and shees it’s way lighter than the Sworks
So to answer your question in a long winded get to
If it come great if not blaaaa
Georgedukesa
Active member
To respond on the lighter part I disagreeI was going to say nice bike, but you told us not to comment if we don't own one
My guess is your S-works has faster rebound, maybe more compression, because generally speaking a lighter + shorter travel bike should be less stuck to the ground.
The heavier the bike the easier it is to jump
I know it sounds counterintuitive but have you riden the Levo gen4 turbo mode I fly
also the R is a shorter in most areas starting with the the frame Reach is shorter top tube length is shorter front Center shorter etc etc so the bike (the R ) is not the same frame or dimensions and I think this , (shorter lengths ) kinematics etc cause it to wanna stay down stay faster
If you haven’t ridden it try get one from your lbs and give it a good run I think you will be pleasantly surprised
Georgedukesa
Active member
I am no expert so above is just my experienceTo respond on the lighter part I disagree
The heavier the bike the easier it is to jump
I know it sounds counterintuitive but have you riden the Levo gen4 turbo mode I fly
Reach is shorter top tube length is shorter front Center shorter etc etc so the bike (the R ) is not the same frame or dimensions and I think this , (shorter lengths ) kinematics etc cause it to wanna stay down stay faster
If you haven’t ridden it try get one from your lbs and give it a good run I think you will be pleasantly surprised
Madmountainman
Member
Hmmm... I've been pondering on the new Levo and my thoughts are; If the Levo and Levo R share the same main frame, is it not possible that Specialized have created the R in order to increase the choices as that would then clear the chunky frame stock, allowing them to bring forward the development of an aesthetically more challenging Levo 5. Given that the Levo 4, which hasn't been out that long, can already be seen for sale at reduced prices, this would indicate that they are losing sales to the Avinox powered competition and need to refocus on their strategy. 
I'd considered the new Levo 4 as the S6 geometry suits me, but having just retired one of my analogue bikes with a knackered rear linkage on the four bar suspension, I'm now not going for one, or any other four bar design. My bike's been an absolute pain with this bearing in the chain-stay, as it's exposed to all of the crap year round riding brings and I have to change them every year. Unfortunately, this winter's been really wet and both bearings have rusted solid, despite extra greasing when I installed them, and the one pivot bolt's now completely fused to the bearing and won't come out. I'm not too fussed as the frame's done some really hard service since 2017, but I think i'll put my money on something with a DW Link or similar, like Mondraker, Pivot or the new Atherton.
I'd considered the new Levo 4 as the S6 geometry suits me, but having just retired one of my analogue bikes with a knackered rear linkage on the four bar suspension, I'm now not going for one, or any other four bar design. My bike's been an absolute pain with this bearing in the chain-stay, as it's exposed to all of the crap year round riding brings and I have to change them every year. Unfortunately, this winter's been really wet and both bearings have rusted solid, despite extra greasing when I installed them, and the one pivot bolt's now completely fused to the bearing and won't come out. I'm not too fussed as the frame's done some really hard service since 2017, but I think i'll put my money on something with a DW Link or similar, like Mondraker, Pivot or the new Atherton.
Are you satisfied with the bar rise on R?
They’re not the same frame so maybe you can craft some new bullshit to make yourself feel superior?Hmmm... I've been pondering on the new Levo and my thoughts are; If the Levo and Levo R share the same main frame, is it not possible that Specialized have created the R in order to increase the choices as that would then clear the chunky frame stock, allowing them to bring forward the development of an aesthetically more challenging Levo 5. Given that the Levo 4, which hasn't been out that long, can already be seen for sale at reduced prices, this would indicate that they are losing sales to the Avinox powered competition and need to refocus on their strategy.
I'd considered the new Levo 4 as the S6 geometry suits me, but having just retired one of my analogue bikes with a knackered rear linkage on the four bar suspension, I'm now not going for one, or any other four bar design. My bike's been an absolute pain with this bearing in the chain-stay, as it's exposed to all of the crap year round riding brings and I have to change them every year. Unfortunately, this winter's been really wet and both bearings have rusted solid, despite extra greasing when I installed them, and the one pivot bolt's now completely fused to the bearing and won't come out. I'm not too fussed as the frame's done some really hard service since 2017, but I think i'll put my money on something with a DW Link or similar, like Mondraker, Pivot or the new Atherton.
Georgedukesa
Active member
I rode the flat bar on the Swork R and it didn’t feel to nice for me ,so I put the same bars as my Sworks Levo4 but there’s been mixed feelings on this some like it some change to rise bars
Georgedukesa
Active member
Definitely different Frames may look similar but that’s it the angles the lengths all different
shenzi105
New Member
why the constant obsession with the Avinox, why wouldn’t they be losing sales to newer, excellent, Bosch bikes too, the market is filled with great alternative to the Levo 4 with the Vala, the LTe, the Orbeas, the Pivot, etc.Hmmm... I've been pondering on the new Levo and my thoughts are; If the Levo and Levo R share the same main frame, is it not possible that Specialized have created the R in order to increase the choices as that would then clear the chunky frame stock, allowing them to bring forward the development of an aesthetically more challenging Levo 5. Given that the Levo 4, which hasn't been out that long, can already be seen for sale at reduced prices, this would indicate that they are losing sales to the Avinox powered competition and need to refocus on their strategy.
I'd considered the new Levo 4 as the S6 geometry suits me, but having just retired one of my analogue bikes with a knackered rear linkage on the four bar suspension, I'm now not going for one, or any other four bar design. My bike's been an absolute pain with this bearing in the chain-stay, as it's exposed to all of the crap year round riding brings and I have to change them every year. Unfortunately, this winter's been really wet and both bearings have rusted solid, despite extra greasing when I installed them, and the one pivot bolt's now completely fused to the bearing and won't come out. I'm not too fussed as the frame's done some really hard service since 2017, but I think i'll put my money on something with a DW Link or similar, like Mondraker, Pivot or the new Atherton.
I see way more new Bosch models on the trails than Avinox. There might be the Avinox niche demographics here and ture in the U
on the S4 I am riding, yes.
I am not a fan of the integrated bar, on any bike, the Fuel EXe had it, the Spesh Epic S-Works has it. Also one of the reason I wasn’t keen on the R SWorks, and the $5G difference lol
This is all I wanted from the Levo 4, not a compromise !! And I believe many others would prefer this configuration to Levo 4. Starting with 29er wheelset, smaller travel. Almost all they implemented I wish could have been done on Levo 4. But it could have been taken much farther and shave another 3 pounds easily. Battery that slides out, rather than a side door, would save quite some weight from overbuilding the down tube. Throw on some Roval control wheels ... easily sufficient for AM rides, or even Control SL for pure XC terrain, SL post of get rid of it completely, lightweight carbon bar and stem, With 600 Wh battery, it can be easily SL bike. If they brough to market 350 Wh battery, I am confident they could built this with that battery at sub 38lb.
But as someone mentioned in would pouch into SL category way too much, which I am not sure they would not like
Boys and girls, did anyone actually take the two frames, Levo 4 and Levo R and compare them side by side for geometry. They may have different carbon layup to save the some weight, but I would say the rear tringle from one frame is likely mounted with the same hardware on the other frame, meaning, I would not be surprised that the triangles could be interchangeable. So if you have Levo 4, perhaps it can be made into 29er, with triangle from Levo R. Then all one needs to is swap a link and a shock and it might end up with very similar bikes, plus minus some extra weight. I know it is mix and match, but if I was designing it, I would go this route to preserve some design features to re-use as much hardware between bikes as possible.
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