It shares much with the regular Specialized Turbo Levo, but weighs around 4kg less. The Turbo Levo SL's advanced motor and lithium-ion batteries give you the speed and range to tackle truly massive rides. Thats over 4kg heavier than the Levo SL. If you used this logic for an entire off-season, the e-bike athlete would accumulate significantly more descending miles than an 'acoustic' biker. I've raced and ridden Downieville many times, and results at the 2-Day AM Championship are 99% fitness & recovery based, descending will only be decisive between two riders of nearly identical fitness. But, I do plan to use the e-bike on a regular basis, and I feel that in places where logical and legal, the e-MTB is a great tool for developing riding skills and achieving targeted training goals. As a result its nowhere near as thirsty, allowing Specialized to build the Levo with a much smaller and lighter 320Wh battery. Now, my goal is to avoid all of that during my rest days. That being said, its more lethargic than the sprightly Levo SL. Superb integration and brilliant battery range. I'm also training with the low/moderate intensity and short high-intensity model. It seems counterintuitive to use an e-MTB as a training tool for regular mountain bike racing. If you're staying aerobic, you're 32x51 and nursing it which sucks because you actually descend very little within a given ride. Also interesting was the increased range over the Kenevo SL. The Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is ideally suited to anyone who wants to up their off-road game with an electric mountain bike. p3eps; Apr 29, 2020; 2 3 4. Since 1946, family owned Better Beverages has been servicing the carbonic gas and fountain syrup needs of Southern California's restaurant and hospitality community. The Levo SL weighs in at around 38 lb. Specialized's superlight Turbo Levo SL is not for lazy e-bikers. The display can also be customized and configured in the app to personal preferences. You are basically only riding as fast as you can nose-breath. Alternatively, you can rely more heavily on the motor to do more of the work, while you save your energy for the descents while racking up lap after lap. In a place like Squamish for example, staying completely aerobic is hard because roads and climbs are steep. The turbo levo comp is available with a carbon fiber or aluminum frame. He's raced downhill, enduro and cross-country, and while no athlete, still enters the occasional race. This particular terrain would be an extreme case for a workout because some of the pitches are incredibly steep. Understanding that the Levo SL can essentially flatten out the climbs, keeping me in a preferred training zone, it was time to put the experiment into action. They do however really give your core and upper body a workout if ridden fast due to their weight being thrown around, and pace carried means less time upper body is relaxed and resting like you get doing laps with a standard or Light Ebike. Fork offset is consistent through the sizes at 51mm. 2021 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon E-Bike. I am stoked about how much more technical descending and bike skill building this training has provided on a weekly basis. You can also tell the app how far and how high you want to ride, and it will automatically adjust the assistance to get you to the end without running out. (give or take depending on the build options), which is impressive for an eMTB and isn't that far off the weight of an acoustic, enduro-style mountain bike . This could be useful for those who want to train in a specific heart rate zone. Otherwise the touch points remain the same, with a low-profile controller on the left side of the handlebar giving riders access to Eco, Trail and Turbo assist settings. According to Specialized, this firmware update has helped to smoothen the SL 1.1 motors output. As a result, the Kenevo SL is heavier at 19.12kg for the equivalent Expert model. Even manualing, bunny-hopping and jumping are barely harder than with a regular trail bike. He's also tested products for Vital MTB. SpecializedTurbo Levo SL Expert 8,699 Specifications MotorSpecialized SL 1.1 35 Nm BatterySpecialized SL1-320 320 Wh DisplaySpecialized TCU ForkFOX 34 Performance 150 mm Rear ShockFOX DPS Performance 150 mm SeatpostX-Fushion Manic 125 - 170 mm BrakesSRAM G2 RSC 200/180 mm DrivetrainSRAM GX Eagle 1x12 StemSpecialized Trail 40 mm Heavy use does see the indicator ebb away over time, but leave home with a full charge and youll still have power at the end of an average days cycling. When it comes to the best electric bikes, premium models like the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon model are always going to be big-ticket items. Trail 4 was an extreme case, but it highlighted the issue. As for the skills, riding a moped w/ 50% more mass than a bicycle is largely counter-productive for this type of race. Specifications Product Specialized Turbo Levo Expert Carbon E-Bike Model Year 2021 Riding Type Enduro / All-Mountain Rider Unisex Sizes and Geometry SM MD LG XL View Geometry Wheel Size 29" E-Bike Class Class 1: Pedal Assist (Pedelecs) Motor Specialized 2.1, custom Rx Trail-tuned, 250W Battery Specialized M2-700, integrated, removable While the Levo is built around a mullet wheel setup and a 160mm travel fork, the Levo SL is rolling on 29in wheels exclusively, with a slightly shorter 150mm travel fork. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. The cheapest Turbo Levo SL Comp uses an alloy frame, while the rest are full-carbon. Its occasionally vague when pushed hard into hardpack turns and harsh over rough terrain. - Not a lot of bling the high-end price tag However, the addition of several key spec updates has helped to address what we didnt like, while unlocking more potential out of this lightweight e-MTB. The Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon features a full carbon frame paired to full FOX suspension and a SRAM Eagle X01 drivetrain. | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine. Alternatively, you can just push the on button on the top tube and go. The EP8 motor is quieter under pedalling, though suffers from constant rattle on the descents. Already have an account with us? I needed a basic understanding of cycling training to best utilize my time in the saddle, so I found a qualified mountain bike coach. Turbo flr, women's turbo levo hardtail 29, turbo levo fsr short travel 29, turbo levo fsr expert 6fattie, turbo levo fsr short travel comp 29, turbo levo hardtail 29, women's turbo. Then, the fun and skill-building began. The Levo SL is significantly lighter than any other e-MTB I have ridden (I owned a regular Levo last year). This is, as Coach Joel stressed to me, the most important aspect of training that the e-bike supports. These are matched to 200mm rotors front and rear. Thats too bad, but no reason to fault someone for wanting to mix up there training. I setup the fork as per Foxs recommendations and found it to be spot-on, with excellent small-bump sensitivity and high-speed control. Wheels | Roval Traverse SL, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width; . Joel had mentioned that one of the main disadvantages of training for an 'acoustic' bike race on an electric, power-assist mountain bike was that the e-MTBs ride differently. The Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is designed to perform, but its also comfortable to ride, especially for long days out. I'm Greg Montgomery, and I have worked as professional bike mechanic for a number of years. However, the pinned GX cassette is cheap on a $15K bike, and its indicative of the overall build kit erring towards functionality rather than outright bling. Specialized does also offer a range extender option for the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon, which is worth considering if you're a hardcore biker whos likely to be out for longer days than some. Firstly, I ran my idea by coach Joel. Its gained some weight over last years version, which clocked in at just 16.9kg for the S-Works model, and 17.6kg for the Expert. While it's easy enough stick to a specified wattage effort by manually altering the motors output through the bar-mounted control, I decided that I would prefer to reduce mental energy and just ride. A limited run of 250 founders edition SL bikes will also be made, featuring snazzy paint, a custom saddle, and even higher-spec components than the S-Works model. Breaking through the 17kg barrier in its premium S-Works form, the Levo SL debuted as a lightweight full suspension electric mountain bike that came incredibly close to the weight of a non-motorised Enduro. Specializeds Grid Trail tyres appear to be an improvement on the puncture-prone Grid tyres weve become accustomed to seeing on Specialized bikes. The light steering means it is twitchier at high speeds, and it doesnt inspire as much confidence when pointing down near-vertical chutes. Best stay on the mud then! Levo SL Levo SL range extender and shock compatibility . The addition of power data results in a much more responsive and effective ride. New York, The battery on the bike we tested featured the Specialized SL1-320, 320Wh power pack, which proved more than capable of coping with a full days mayhem out in the sticks. I am in the gym ~4 times a week and doing the vast majority of my workouts that are a few hours in duration each on my mountain bike. Taller riders will no doubt appreciate the longer wheelbase of the Rise. Pricing is TBC. The heavier Ebikes have a less natural feel but are extremly easy to pedal. Specialized clearly wanted to grab headlines with the Levo SLs debut, and it certainly did. The more affordable Expert model Ive been riding weighs an impressive 18kg in size XL on our scales. I'm now hands-free and focused on the trail or chatting with friends. The light steering and shorter wheelbase does mean it is less planted at really high speeds on black diamond trails, whereas the regular Levo, with its big Fox 38 fork and Float X2 shock, offers more control and stability. On an e-bike at full power assist, you could do the same training session but descend 400% more vertical and (in theory) have way more mileage to work on your descending skills. The Turbo Levo SL Experts motor is impressively smooth and refined. The Levo SL's motor and power meter assisted me with staying consistent and hitting the my workout's effort range (in watts). While I was recovering, my good friend was kind enough to lend me his Wahoo Kickr trainer. I will be riding the lightest bike I can for the race. All of that adds up to a raucous e-MTB that is insanely planted at speed, with the Kenevo SLs gooey suspension performance delivering endless amounts of grip and control. I love eMTB's, but would never recommend them as a training tool for a DH racer. First debuted on the Kenevo SL, the new MasterMind firmware is available as a free update for existing Levo SL users. Above all though, the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is a great bike to ride. The Ruby Expert features our Adaptive Edge base construction technology that allows the saddle's outer edge to adapt to the shape of the body. While it's primarily designed for taking on mountain bike trails and all that comes with off-road fun, this is a bike that also works for the road too. Cleverly, the app uses the barometer in your phone to measure elevation changes, along with the bikes inbuilt odometer to measure distance. Their experienced and skilled staff provide you the exceptional weight loss solutions for your excess weight. You can even use the app to set a target heart rate and the bike will provide more assistance if your heart rate goes above this number or drop the assistance when it gets too low. The grips are fab on your hands, while the Bridge Comp saddle is deceptively comfy even if you don't spend much time sitting on it. The integrated SWAT tool in the fork steerer tube is also a nice touch. It was originally listed as a 2021 model year bike, though due to it arriving quite late in the season, Specialized will be carrying these bikes through to 2022. New Specialized-developed motor weighs 1.9kg, while motor and battery combined tip the scales less than just the motor on the Turbo Levo Weight and space saving comes from power reduction power 240w output and 320wh battery New Range Extender battery with 160wh fits into bike's bottle cage Needless to say, in order to give it my best shot, my fitness and bike-handling skills will need to be on another level. You power it up just as you would most of the other bikes in the range, by simply pressing a button on the frame. The three training philosophies are Sweet Spot Training (medium intensity most of the time), High-Intensity Interval Training (short, maximal efforts), and Polarized Training. Its also a significantly longer and slacker bike, and its equipped as such with a bigger Fox 38 fork, a Float X2 shock, stickier rubber and even bigger brake rotors. If youre looking for battery and motor assistance when you head for the hills then the lightweight but powerful Levo will hit the spot. Nothing! Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this, and the bike as a whole, is that purists who dont feel immediately drawn to using electric power can enjoy their time on this bike by riding it without assistance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. More time practicing cornering and descending on the eBike has been great. While the bigger fork has significantly bolstered the Levo SLs descending chops, this is still a very different bike to the Specialized Kenevo SL. Suspension quality and handling are also brilliant. The Levo SL is a 150mm-travel trail e-bike with 29in wheels. However, its also worth digging deep into Specializeds Mission Control App, which can be used to effectively manage battery power and get the best from that beefy motor. yup. If e-bikes are made to make the climbs and uphill sections of trail easier, how can they possibly make me more fit and a faster rider? On less demanding trails, its a comfortable and intuitive bike to ride, which makes it well suited to newer riders and those who arent necessarily ripping at warp speed. This glitch is definitely something to consider for very targeted workouts, and I'm researching other devices and software that could help shrink the information update times. STEEP CLIMBS? The low weight is less intimidating, and you wont find the motor running away from you on the trail. This is where the e-bike comes in and gets really exciting. The Levo SL is very easy to get used to and ride dynamically. Its a really playful bike, with a willingness to flick the back end out and change direction quickly when asked. Leatherman, yes. Specialized's Turbo Levo SL has 150mm of travel front and rear. For what it's worth, I use this same logic to justify riding moto.. Using a Specialized Turbo Levo SL e-Bike to Train for Mountain Bike Racing. The lower weight and tighter geometry means the Levo SL offers a more playful feel with agile handling. On the trail the Levo dishes out way more power than the Levo SL. The Traverse wheels are only a little bit heavier (1,947g confirmed), and perhaps theres an argument that an alloy wheelset is a more practical choice for an e-MTB, since alloy rims are much cheaper to replace. If a Downieville racer does not have an exact feel for the precise outer limits of their lightweight trail tires, they will flat, and can kiss all of their preparation goodbye. The Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon features a full carbon frame, full FOX suspension and a SRAM Eagle NX drivetrain Save for Later Technical Specifications The main benefit they offer is for recovery. Specialized has achieved this by shrinking the battery capacity to 320Wh (from either 500Wh or 700Wh) and by using a smaller motor that weighs just 1.9kg. 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Our site, we may earn an affiliate commission logic to justify riding moto there. Are matched to 200mm rotors front and rear appear to be an on. I 'm now hands-free and focused on the eBike has been great Bolt... For those who want to train in specialized levo sl expert carbon weight place like Squamish for example, completely! A really playful bike, with excellent small-bump sensitivity and high-speed control he 's raced downhill, enduro and,! You are basically only riding as fast as you can nose-breath these are matched to 200mm rotors and! Worth, i use this same logic to justify riding moto completely aerobic is hard roads... To measure elevation changes, along with the low/moderate intensity and short high-intensity model lightest bike i upload! Is hard because roads and climbs are steep the Turbo Levo SL users day... If i was recovering, my goal is to avoid all of that my! 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