Article Specialized Levo SL is a 16.9KG Super Light emtb

[lggc]

They need to do one with the new enduro's new suspension design. Its 40% more efficient in pedaling than the current stumpjumper, not to mention, is a ton better on the downhill.

I'm fine with less power, but if I am having to pedal it harder, that energy shouldnt be so wasted. There is no way that spesh doesnt update the SJ in the next year or two with the new suspension. If you look at the "xray" promo schematics they have released of the sl, they have room to do that low mounted suspension.

It's impossible, needed the same space in BB pedal man.

 

[miPbiP]

This was my Levo Comp Carbon weight. Tubeless no pedals. 22.44KG

My Comp Carbon Levo SL is 18.2 KG for reference. Again, tubeless, no pedals.

for weight reference: real world weight of my 2019 Levo Comp Carbon in medium: 21.7kg (with pedals, Minion DHF on the front, carbon bars, Ergon saddle, otherwise stock). so Rob's XL, without pedals, is 700 grams more. must be close to a kg difference with pedals.

surprised.

caveat: bathroom scales!

 

[Slowroller]

The biggest thing I’ve learned since this announcement is how many of you still use roof racks....

 

[Peter Hill]

nice bike and some very good engineering ideas, IP rated motor, waterproof plugs constant battery connection. All sounds like the problems we have been having have been addressed.
Well it doesn't make me very happy, while the spesh engineers have been beavering away on the sl it looks like all the levo and kenevo owners have been a bit "overlooked" what about fixing our crappy power cables, what about fixing our TCU's that fill up with water if you sneeze on them, what about some quality control on the motors that have to get replaced, some guys have had up to five motor replacements in a bike thats not even a year old WTF!!
between my wife and I we have spent around £30k on spesh ebikes, how about a bit of reengineering to fix our problems!!

I agree, it seems likely that this motor, albeit in a more powerful form will find its way into the Levo/Kenevo. I know there is never a good time to buy technology but I agree that it feels like those of us who spent a lot of money on the Levo and Kenevo are now being left behind with improved technology and the development engineers working on new models.
The best news about the SL is the better waterproofing of the motor and connections etc . It’s telling that Spec have improved the crank seals, a know problem with the Brose motors. I like the new bike but I would possibly be always be riding in Turbo! so not sure it's the bike for me?

 

[Fojsum]

I have been so close to pulling the trigger on a Levo Comp over the last month, glad I held off because I think the SL is right up my alley. I'm already an experienced rider with decent fitness but looking for a little help on the climbs and on longer rides.The only thing that worries me is being an early adopter of a 1st Gen bike. Will there be kinks that need worked out? Will the prices come down quickly? It's just hard to say right now. The components on the comp models seem a little lacking for the price. I'm a light rider at only 5.7 ft and 135 lbs. I consider myself an intermediate level rider. I ride everything from handcut rocky and rooty xc trails, to smooth flow trails, to jumpy and rocky downhill trails. This would be my only bike. Current bike is an aluminum full suspension 27.5+ bike with 130mm of travel front and back(Pike fork). Rob (or anyone), think a comp sl would be a match for me? Would the fox 34 rythm hold me back at all? Lot of money for a bike! Thoughts?

 

[miPbiP]

Will the prices come down quickly?

My hunch is not. Have the Levo prices dropped since launch?

Spesh ain't charity at the end of the day.

 

[Pdoz]

I have been so close to pulling the trigger on a Levo Comp over the last month, glad I held off because I think the SL is right up my alley. I'm already an experienced rider with decent fitness but looking for a little help on the climbs and on longer rides.The only thing that worries me is being an early adopter of a 1st Gen bike. Will there be kinks that need worked out? Will the prices come down quickly? It's just hard to say right now. The components on the comp models seem a little lacking for the price. I'm a light rider at only 5.7 ft and 135 lbs. I consider myself an intermediate level rider. I ride everything from handcut rocky and rooty xc trails, to smooth flow trails, to jumpy and rocky downhill trails. This would be my only bike. Current bike is an aluminum full suspension 27.5+ bike with 130mm of travel front and back(Pike fork). Rob (or anyone), think a comp sl would be a match for me? Would the fox 34 rythm hold me back at all? Lot of money for a bike! Thoughts?

I'm hoping we get about 30% of the bikes sold to early adopters, find out nothing breaks, then in 12 months when the specialized boffins shake their heads in frustration and try to dump remaining stock cheaply BUY.

But I won't complain if they sell out , all the other manufacturers get excited and focus goes back to their 2019 models

 

[jwrx]

I have been so close to pulling the trigger on a Levo Comp over the last month, glad I held off because I think the SL is right up my alley. I'm already an experienced rider with decent fitness but looking for a little help on the climbs and on longer rides.The only thing that worries me is being an early adopter of a 1st Gen bike. Will there be kinks that need worked out? Will the prices come down quickly? It's just hard to say right now. The components on the comp models seem a little lacking for the price. I'm a light rider at only 5.7 ft and 135 lbs. I consider myself an intermediate level rider. I ride everything from handcut rocky and rooty xc trails, to smooth flow trails, to jumpy and rocky downhill trails. This would be my only bike. Current bike is an aluminum full suspension 27.5+ bike with 130mm of travel front and back(Pike fork). Rob (or anyone), think a comp sl would be a match for me? Would the fox 34 rythm hold me back at all? Lot of money for a bike! Thoughts?

exactly my thoughts...having owned both a 18 and 19 levo....im worried about being a early adopter for the SL.

Gen 1 levo was heavy as a pig, Gen 2 was much better...Gen 3 (2019-2020) is lightyears ahead, in terms of geo, battery, motor

 

[Jamsxr]

Bike looks wicked, great to see them push the boundaries and take things a step further.

Not sure what Levo and Kenevo owners expected, surely most of you did your research and knew what you were buying at the time... We usually have to compromise with most things, the new SL is less powerful and has a noisier motor, and we still really have no idea how reliable it actually is.

I have noticed that in the eBike world most of the talk is less about riding and more about the feeds and speeds of the ebikes, I’m probably as guilty as the next person. Having ridden a good few ebikes I now actually realise that it’s all about the riding, and having the latest/lightest/most powerful bike really adds very little to the experience. Albeit I do like shiny new stuff!

 

[Peter Hill]

Bike looks wicked, great to see them push the boundaries and take things a step further.

Not sure what Levo and Kenevo owners expected, surely most of you did your research and knew what you were buying at the time... We usually have to compromise with most things, the new SL is less powerful and has a noisier motor, and we still really have no idea how reliable it actually is.

I have noticed that in the eBike world most of the talk is less about riding and more about the feeds and speeds of the ebikes, I’m probably as guilty as the next person. Having ridden a good few ebikes I now actually realise that it’s all about the riding, and having the latest/lightest/most powerful bike really adds very little to the experience. Albeit I do like shiny new stuff!

All about the riding I agree with and the Levo is great but after three motors in just over a year, the focus does drift back to the wether these bikes were ever ‘fit for purpose ‘ especially in the UK conditions. Yes we knew what we were buying but they are not cheap and although Specialised do have an excellent warranty you flipping well need it! The ‘new’ battery and motor setup on the SL seems to go a long way in addressing some of the issues though.
I think the next Levo/Kenevo or even something completely different will be amazing, sadly I won’t be able to buy it, as my bike has just lost another £1000! That’s technology for you, never a good time to buy?just go out and enjoy it while it works?

 

[Jamsxr]

All about the riding I agree with and the Levo is great but after four motors in a year, the focus does drift back to the wether these bikes were ever ‘fit for purpose ‘ especially in the UK conditions. Yes we knew what we were buying but they are not cheap and although Specialised do have an excellent warranty you flipping well need it! The ‘new’ battery and motor setup on the SL seems to go a long way in addressing some of the issues though.
I think the next Levo/Kenevo or even something completely different will be amazing, sadly I won’t be able to buy it, as my bike has just lost another £1000! That’s technology for you, never a good time to buy?just go out and enjoy it while it works?

Fair enough, I can see why you feel a little put out at the very least. I didn’t go the Levo route for that reason, but now I’ve said that my e8000 is bound to pack up on the next ride ?

 

[Lee Dove]

This I need to find out. E8000 ala rest I couldn't live with. Please don't be need that noisy! The brose is perfect at noise levels. Not too intrusive

I have had 3 E8000 motors now (counting my wifes) and will say that after a couple of hundred K's they get quieter. This would be expected as the gears run in and smooth off. After 1000k my current E8000 is as quiet if not quieter than the Brose motor I tested in a Kenevo.

 

[MattyB]

I have had 3 E8000 motors now (counting my wifes) and will say that after a couple of hundred K's they get quieter. This would be expected as the gears run in and smooth off. After 1000k my current E8000 is as quiet if not quieter than the Brose motor I tested in a Kenevo.

Gary’s are normally very quiet after 1000km - he breaks them way before that... ??

 

[Benson]

With Specialized pushing the virtues of the SL being lighter than the full fat version it’s curious to see them use a heavier AXS dropper rather than a Reverb on the Sworks model. If the answer is they are pushing the SRAM AXS technology I’d understand it, but the bikes we saw at Specialized HQ today all had traditional wired SRAM XX1 Eagle groupsets.

 

[p3eps]

With Specialized pushing the virtues of the SL being lighter than the full fat version it’s curious to see them use a heavier AXS dropper rather than a Reverb on the Sworks model. If the answer is they are pushing the SRAM AXS technology I’d understand it, but the bikes we saw at Specialized HQ today all had traditional wired SRAM XX1 Eagle groupsets.

You’ve got to get the Founder’s Edition to get the AXS groupset. The s-works is wired.

 

[Benson]

You’ve got to get the Founder’s Edition to get the AXS groupset. The s-works is wired.

Yup, know that. My original curiosity still stands.

 

[Levo Laland]

Alloy Comp weight £19kg.

 

[Eddy Current]

Im pretty sure this motor can take more power.

Wont be this gen obviously

But the e-future is lighter powerfull and brighter ...

 

[tacoma22]

I’ll keep my regular levo until they release the next model that has 50-60nm (or more) in an SL motor size package.
I certainly don’t care about weight after adding a coil shock, fox 36, dh casing tires and heavier duty breaks
Sure is fun hitting turbo and just doing ridiculous things.

 

[Jamsxr]

Alloy Comp weight £19kg.

View attachment 25681

It does seem like Specilized have somehow turned a couple of KG saving, though a smaller battery, motor and noodle forks, into a technological revolution. The power of marketing?

 

[miPbiP]

extender weighs about a kg I think.

my take - if you're going to habitually run the extender, perhaps the SL is not the right bike, go for the Levo.

 

[miPbiP]

yeah me too.

my Levo is 21.7kg - I'd look for that 4kg saving on the basis of rarely using the extender.

 

[p3eps]

People need to compare apples with apples.
You can’t compare the weight of an S-Works Levo with a Comp SL. There’s £5k difference between them!
Same with a Levo Comp that has had loads of weight saving v’s a stock bike.

Levo S-Works stock is about 20.8kg if I remember correctly?
Levo SL S-Works is 16.9kg. Almost 4kg.

Weight is not the be all and end all... however after riding a 17.7kg Levo SL yesterday after riding my 22kg Trek Rail, I can tell you that it makes a big difference!!

 

[CjP]

Has it dawned on anyone that some people might just want a lighter bike and are happy to pay for the new tech that comes along with it.
4kgs is a massive difference and those that think it isn’t obviously don’t know shit from chocolate.
Ride the bike first, do yourself a favour and give an honest opinion. All bikes have their purpose and those who they work for and those they don’t. At least Specialized are now giving many different people many different options.
I think that’s a great thing both for us and for competition/innovation.

 

[Peter Hill]

People need to compare apples with apples.
You can’t compare the weight of an S-Works Levo with a Comp SL. There’s £5k difference between them!
Same with a Levo Comp that has had loads of weight saving v’s a stock bike.

Levo S-Works stock is about 20.8kg if I remember correctly?
Levo SL S-Works is 16.9kg. Almost 4kg.

Weight is not the be all and end all... however after riding a 17.7kg Levo SL yesterday after riding my 22kg Trek Rail, I can tell you that it makes a big difference!!

Your right and so many people, including myself passing comment without actually having tried one!! One day hopefully as it looks a great bike to go out and play or train on, not sure about the big club rides though? I would need to get much fitter and stronger, maybe this bike would help me to achieve this?

 

[miPbiP]

Looked to my (by eye) the SL has a little more BB clearance than the Levo. Relevant to me as I bash my Levo BB area a lot.

Can anyone confirm? (@Rob Hancill)?

Thx.

(note to self - learn to jump not roll!).

 

[Zimmerframe]

Looked to my (by eye) the SL has a little more BB clearance than the Levo. Relevant to me as I bash my Levo BB area a lot.

Can anyone confirm? (@Rob Hancill)?

Thx.

(note to self - learn to jump not roll!).

SL has a BB of 348 FF Levo has 347.5 .. so half a mm there ..

But if you look at the images, the SL has a 30 tooth 94bcd ring and the FF has a 32 tooth 104 bcd ring.

The FF you can up to a 36T and it's still protected by the battery guard.

The SL looks like the 30T is already at the guards limit.

So yes, you must be gaining 20mm ?? or so.

 

[Couchy]

So a bike with less power and less range is lighter ?, in other news the Pope is catholic.
I’m sure it rides great in fact I’m positive it does but that’s because lighter bikes do despite a few years of folk telling us a heavier ebike rides the same as a lighter bike. As with anything Specialized though it’s all hype and the fan bois are out in force. It’s strange when I rejected mine at 4 weeks old the dealer was perplexed. He said not too worry they’ll keep fixing it as if that was good enough service and mattered more than building a reliable bike in the first place. Completely ignoring the time out to take the bike in each time and the need to have one as a spare. But with such a big marketing budget and the willingness of folk to accept the product it doesn’t matter what I think.
SL though nice bike and concept ?

 

[miPbiP]

SL has a BB of 348 FF Levo has 347.5 .. so half a mm there ..

But if you look at the images, the SL has a 30 tooth 94bcd ring and the FF has a 32 tooth 104 bcd ring.

The FF you can up to a 36T and it's still protected by the battery guard.

The SL looks like the 30T is already at the guards limit.

So yes, you must be gaining 20mm ?? or so.

20mm is a big win.

30T isn't.

maybe explains why they have dinner plate rear cassette.

 

[miPbiP]

oops back to front, small cog is lower gearing not higher. doh.