Levo Gen 3 Would you trust a Specialized in the Mountains. Another motor down 🤬

[jgusta]

Totally agree with Steve
My first Yeti motor (EP8) was 670miles, then within 6 months I had 4 motors ranging between 12mile and 60mile, Yeti were totally unhelpful and shameful given the price you pay for one, I sold it, went over to Bosch and vowed never to buy a Yeti again (I previously owned an Arc, SB6 and SB130), you could say I was a Yeti fan but I'll never buy from them again!

Problem when two companies involved with structural integrity of bike as the case with Yeti and Shimano. Yeti, says not their issue with frame, but defers to Shimano for remedy which sounds hit or miss. I had similar issues with my Trek Rail2 and Bosch. Had to wait on Bosch to remedy the situation even though I would argue it was a Trek problem with how the frame was built to hold the motor with easily failing motor mount point inside of frame that would compromise the motor when mounting points failed

 

[jgusta]

Why ebikes a dicey thing as far as durability goes, since so many things can go wrong, especially when adding a motor, battery and extra 20 lbs of heft with extra physical demands placed on them. Ridden further, more frequently, more DH/exposure to physical stress/strain. Why can never part with my analog.

 

[Just gan]

I think it’s important not to lump the SL Mahle motors in with the Brose. Im sure there are SL Mahle failures, but, conversely, Brose (full fat) motors seem to fail often. Ask the bearing man.

I was told by a repairer that 2600 miles was good going for a Brose motor , and Scottish and Welsh conditions are more prone to failure.

 

[Black Bear Trail]

Yes so x1 motor in the Kenevo SL, sold that. Now x2 in the Levo so far.

That's crazy. I think at around 700 on my Gen 3 Levo. But, there has been a whistling sound coming from the motor area from about after the first month or two that I bought it. Someone said that it might not be the motor, but the rubber rings inside that might need grease. The old Japanese guy who owns the a bicycle shop in my city that sells Specialized told me that he can't fix it.

 

[Black Bear Trail]

Yes so x1 motor in the Kenevo SL, sold that. Now x2 in the Levo so far.

I also had a Kenevo SL, but I stopped riding it after two months and bought a Levo. I liked my Kenevo SL for the stability, but the motor was just too weak for me. I remember my Kenevo SL motor also being a little noisy, but no problems. I think I had only about 300 - 400 km on it.

 

[Bndit]

Just bought new gen3 Levo. Had gen2 and it motor lasted 3400km and battery little bit longer. I trust this one will do at least the same. Great bikes, great customer service and now when new model is released, great deals for old ones

 

[Jase]

I was told by a repairer that 2600 miles was good going for a Brose motor , and Scottish and Welsh conditions are more prone to failure.

Well my experience is I haven’t had two make it past 1500 miles yet. Last one made it 1200 miles. Luckily we have the Ebike motor centre close by and it’s going back to them.
Just wish there was a way these motors could be toughened up for the UK environment. I don’t think we should have to factor in motor overhaul/replacement annually.

 

[Just gan]

Well my experience is I haven’t had two make it past 1500 miles yet. Last one made it 1200 miles. Luckily we have the Ebike motor centre close by and it’s going back to them.
Just wish there was a way these motors could be toughened up for the UK environment. I don’t think we should have to factor in motor overhaul/replacement annually.

Be like servicing your car soon. 2600 miles first motor went , 2000 second and 3000 third . Fourth had 3500 on it when i sold it 5 weeks ago . Bike was going ok but lad stripped motor number four down . Bearing gone and belt chaffing so he sent it away not sure how he got on , im scared to ask . Battery was amazing 10,000 miles . I did a long ride the week before I sold it , same range as when it was new . Berkshire Cycles were awesome with warranty claims ,whip motor out post it and new one back within a week , poke your LBS. Watch this space for any Gen 3 Comp Alloy problems

 

[j14ben]

Problem when two companies involved with structural integrity of bike as the case with Yeti and Shimano. Yeti, says not their issue with frame, but defers to Shimano for remedy which sounds hit or miss. I had similar issues with my Trek Rail2 and Bosch. Had to wait on Bosch to remedy the situation even though I would argue it was a Trek problem with how the frame was built to hold the motor with easily failing motor mount point inside of frame that would compromise the motor when mounting points failed

That was similar to my argument, I didn't go to Shimano to buy a bike, I went to Yeti, as far as I was concerned it was still within its warranty period and due to the amount of failures something wasn't right but Yeti point blank refused to help, it comes to something when your LBS severs ties with Yeti due to them not helping, my LBS had been an authorised dealer since they opened but said they couldnt trade with a company who were so narrow minded!

 

[Kelvinb]

I have a Levo alloy, I live in hope every time i try to turn it on that i don't get a red light on the TCU. For the £5k that i paid i really don't think that i have a great product.

 

[steve_sordy]

Totally agree with Steve
My first Yeti motor (EP8) was 670miles, then within 6 months I had 4 motors ranging between 12mile and 60mile, Yeti were totally unhelpful and shameful given the price you pay for one, I sold it, went over to Bosch and vowed never to buy a Yeti again (I previously owned an Arc, SB6 and SB130), you could say I was a Yeti fan but I'll never buy from them again!

Yikes! That is an exceptionally poor experience! Poor you!
Whether you meant 4 or 5 motors in less than 1000 miles is irrelevant, it is absolutely appalling.
But the general experience of Shimano motors is very much better than that. One guy on here regularly gets more then 25000 km on each motor. Could your experience be down to the way the motor was mounted in the frame? Could it be a poor frame design, or poor installation? But if the Yeti design and motor installation were to blame then the internet would be ablaze with users protesting their shit experience. I assume it's not, because we'd know about it by now. Could it be one bad frame, damaged in transit or something, maybe it escaped the QC dept?

 

[Wilkom]

I’m the owner of a Turbo Levo, I originally had a Kenevo SL, the motor on that went at 1700 miles and it had a new harness not long after getting it. However ridercare and the local bike shop were good so I bought another Specialized.
My first motor on that packed in after 1500 miles, replaced under warranty. But remaining warranty on the new motor is only to the two year mark.
So I put it in for an upgrade service when it went out of warranty.
Anyway it stranded me at the top (luckily) of Annachsheen on the Torridon classic loop. It’s done about 1200 miles from new. Long hard ride out of the hills when the motor packs in.

I bought a brand new Levo in 2022(in Australia). On the first ride it was throwing up error codes and shutting down. That fault was resolved the next day by replacing the main cable. Last December I had to replace the motor, at my expense albeit discounted, as it had a broken mounting lug and had also started to turn off while riding, but not enough to be annoying. Then by January it started to fail more regularly. Because it was an intermittent failure, parts were swapped in and out until finally the only thing left was the battery which was replaced at cost price. A process that took about three weeks and several returns to the bike shop an hour away from home. So fast forward to today and Gen 3 Levo keeps shutting down. Needs to be unplugged and plugged back in to start. Will not turn on using power button. Only runs for short periods and has been back at the shop for over a week.
I have had enough of this expensive Specialized lemon and have ordered an Amflow Pl Carbon.