No. The Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is available now and is just one of several variations on the theme available directly from Specialized. Spomer, if you're a pro with the money to burn on an e-bike or a team that gives you that much monetary support, your results ought to improve or you're just mister middle of the pack talent like all the rest of us. I had a downloaded workout that included a series of nine intervals with corresponding rest periouds. Specialized's Turbo Levo SL has 150mm of travel front and rear. Yup, the initial response of an e-bike has been an issue.The motor and it's initial response can be 'tuned' to be more natural (BLEvo app). Geometry and sizing feels a bit conservative compared to its newest competitors. In turn, I achieved a massive increase in the volume of descent skills practice. Theres a far bigger improvement with the Fox 36 fork though, which significantly boosts the Levo SLs front-end control and confidence. Ive ridden Bosch 3 and 4 systems as well as a Levo and SL. If money were no object, I'd have one [e-MTB]. The weight of an e-bike impacts performance on the trail, for better or worse, when compared to a regular mountain bike. 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. Fork offset is consistent through the sizes at 51mm. Great training tool. For example, check out the likes of the S-Works Turbo Levo SL or the Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon if youre in the US. The power assist I believe retrains your muscles and kills fast twitch. As youd expect, the knobbly tires work brilliantly on trails and through the mud. 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. However, more advanced riders will benefit from tweaking the shocks air volume to increase support. Size 143mm / Weight 252g Size 155mm / Weight 253g . Levo Pro Details Wheel size: 29" front / 27.5" rear Carbon frame Specialized 2.2 motor 700 Wh battery Travel: 150mm (r) / 160mm fork TrainerRoad provided me a structured training plan designed to reach peak fitness for the Downieville Classic. What if an e-MTB could make you a fitter, faster mountain bike rider? Like the Lapierre eZesty, its one of a new breed of e-bikes designed for people who dont need all the assistance of a full-power e-bike, but want something thats more similar to an analogue bike in both weight and handling. Squish duties are handled by a Fox Performance 34 Float fork and Fox Float DPS Performance rear shock on the Expert Carbon model. There was already a lot to like about the original Specialized Levo SL Expert we tested last year. But, running and mountain bike racing are distinctly different. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. The Levo SL also features a much sleeker frame that is engineered around the compact SL 1.1 motor. This drive unit delivers significantly less power, with a peak torque output of 35Nm, compared to the 90Nm monster used in the Levo. By manually actuating the motor on the Levo SL, I can mitigate the terrain's impact on my output. 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. - Taller riders may wish for a longer wheelbase. You'll often find him riding the same track ten times in a day, changing just one thing to pin down the differences. Anyone know for certain? A positive spin on the problem is that I have a great way to perfect my pedaling cadence technique because the workaround of lag time is to keep a fast, smooth cadence. 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. There are four models in the current Specialized Levo SL range, with both alloy and carbon frames on offer. Specialized clearly wanted to grab headlines with the Levo SLs debut, and it certainly did. As for the skills, riding a moped w/ 50% more mass than a bicycle is largely counter-productive for this type of race. Thats despite the retail price having jumped by $2,000 AUD. . It can take tens of seconds before heart rate elevates in response to a dramatic increase in effort. Author is *not* training for DH. The thing is, where I live, e-bike access is pretty limited. In comparison, the Levo SL sits right in the trail bike camp. Theres plenty of choice although the quality might suffer with a lower price tag. I am fairly fit and prefer the SL as it has the most natural feel while still taking the edge off if you are on a recovery day(or for me just lucky enough to be on my 2nd ride of the day) or not wanting to max your heart rate. Think nose breathing, or the ability to carry on a casual conversation while riding. There are four models in the Levo SL range: the S-Works Turbo Levo SL, Turbo Levo SL Expert, Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon and entry-level Turbo Levo SL Comp. no. Find out more about how we test. I have been using a similar strategy for myself and have only noticed improvements from using a variety of bikes and riding styles. The price range varies from $11,100 AUD for the entry-level Levo SL Comp, and goes up to a dizzying $22,300 AUD for the S-Works Levo SL. The touch points are excellent, including the Bridge saddle and Deity grips. Keeping within that easy effort range on a mountain bike would result in a fraction of the descending and skill-building time. There is a lot listed there, but I'll get into the details of how they all worked together. But with all the hype having died down since then, were glad to see this bike adopt a more performance-oriented spec to take advantage of its true capabilities. You dont even need the bar-mounted controller or head-up display if you want maximum simplicity. However, there were concessions to get the weight down to that level. The Turbo Levo SL is a new, lightweight breed of eMTB that harnesses the quick and lively ride of our Stumpjumper.and adds just enough power to introduce a whole new dimension of kick ass. The trails that I spend most of my time on include massive climbs. The problem is that these rides require far more energy output from the rider than would ever be specified in a structured training regimen. From the rest to interval portions of the work, I can use the Levo SL's motor, as well as its built in power meter. Using a Specialized Turbo Levo SL e-Bike to Train for Mountain Bike Racing. However, this is a well-respected brand, and for good reason. Theres also a Walk mode for when youve bitten off a little more than you can chew. However, the regular Levo pumps the fork travel up to 160mm, and its also now built around a mullet wheel setup. Forget all the gadgetry and just go for a ride. It carves through sharp turns, pivoting off the back wheel with nary a hint of understeer. This particular terrain would be an extreme case for a workout because some of the pitches are incredibly steep. For what it's worth, I use this same logic to justify riding moto.. In fact, SRAM components appear elsewhere too, with the hydraulic brake disks not only looking fantastic but working to great effect, just as youd expect. If youre keen to know more about the new compounds and casing options, check out our Specialized tyre review. More shilling for eMoped industry. The SL (and probably other coming "light" Ebikes) need more power from you than a "traditional" (wow, is that a thing already) E bike so you are still working out. Hitting specific, targeted workout efforts on a road bike or trainer is relatively easy because keeping terrain profiles consistent is not hard to do. Thanks! The Fox DPS shock is overworked too, becoming noticeably firmer and faster towards the end of long, rough descents. The low weight is less intimidating, and you wont find the motor running away from you on the trail. p3eps; Apr 29, 2020; 2 3 4. All bikes use a Fox 34 fork and Fox DPS shock, SRAM G2 or Guide trail brakes, and SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrains. - Sleek frame design I've demo'ed a Levo SL, it's so much fun! To suit our 70-75kg riding weight range, we ran the low-speed rebound just five clicks off the fastest setting (13/18 clicks), and the low-speed compression dial a third of the . It also helps that the Levo SL is one of the lightest e-bikes available. It also offers a comfortable ride on everyday trails without requiring a full face helmet and spine protection. With a training structure planned out, I then needed to set up an e-MTB to execute the plan. Originally, I was using Specialized's Mission Control app and its Smart Control feature paired with the Wahoo heart rate monitor. Because nobody wants to be stuck out in the woods with a 50-pound dead weight, Specialized equips the Levo Comp Alloy with a 700Wh . Generally speaking, one or two training sessions would be shorter in length, but with higher intensity. - Active, traction-seeking suspension Experienced riders with good fitness will appreciate the spry handling and playful nature of the Levo SL. In general though, total range isnt that far off full-powered e-MTBs with bigger batteries you just climb at a slower pace on the Levo SL. It could be a good choice for those who need help to keep up with faster riders or squeeze more laps into their schedule, but otherwise want the most unadulterated ride-feel possible. All models have Specializeds SWAT multi-tool hidden in the steerer tube and water bottle cage fitted. If you're staying aerobic, you're 32x51 and nursing it which sucks because you actually descend very little within a given ride. Overall rating: Score 9 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert C Pros: Superb suspension and impressive range. Theres no discernible lag when you start or stop pedalling and the power delivery is smooth and predictable: theres no delayed kick as the electric torque engages like you get with some motors. Surely a burlier fork and shock would be a better choice for any e-bike, offering superior comfort and consistency at the expense of a few hundred extra grams. Save 25% + DMR Trail Gloves + DeathGrips when you subscribe to MBUK magazine, *Spring Savings* Try 6 issues of Cycling Plus for just 9.99 | Save 74% today, Instantly familiar trail-bike handling; one of the smoothest, most refined motors on the market; impressive range while being much faster than a regular bike, Some components, especially the fork, compromise performance for gram-counting; harder work / won't keep up with full-power e-bikes on steep climbs, weight isnt necessarily a bad thing when descending, Rims: Roval Traverse Carbon 29. hookless carbon, 30mm inner width Id also love to see Specialized incorporate some of the adjustable geometry features found on the latest Levo and Kenevo SL, particularly the option to adjust the chainstay length. According to Specialized, because the cable tethers it to the bike, combined with the side-entry bottle cage, it makes dropping the range extender a non-issue. 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. Its already been rolled out through the production line, so it came preinstalled on our Levo SL Expert Carbon test bike. We first tested the 3rd generation Specialized Levo when it launched earlier this year, though Mick has since held onto it as a long-term test bike. Super-light padding with gel inserts for comfort and support on longer rides. The program itself is well-thought out and insightful. This descent is the closest a rider in the area can get to some prolonged DH- or enduro-level skill and speed training without heading a few hours up into the mountains. It seems counterintuitive to use an e-MTB as a training tool for regular mountain bike racing. Replies 117 Views . With this extreme test, my goal was to see if the e-bike could "flatten" the terrain, so I could keep myself near 350 watts effort for interval periods and less than180 watts for rest periods. I have a lot of training knowledge when it pertains to running. That said, if you're racing on acoustic bikes, there's the obvious disadvantage of the two bikes riding quite differently, which is probably worth noting in your article. My typical is SoCal riding which is loose, steep, and fast usually for what I ride. Specialized Levo SL Details Wheel size: 29" Travel: 150mm 240 watt Specialized SL 1.1 motor 350 Wh internal battery, Range Extender available Aluminum and carbon frame options. Rob Clymo has been a tech journalist for more years than he can actually remember, having started out in the wacky world of print magazines before discovering the power of the internet. It shares much with the regular Specialized Turbo Levo, but weighs around 4kg less. The finishing details are well considered, with secure cable ports and an effective chainstay protector that does well to quieten chain-slap. Above all though, the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is a great bike to ride. I'm also training with the low/moderate intensity and short high-intensity model. Im not a racer of any quality, but I like the idea of getting more ride time in even if youre fully smoked from a big ride. Its on smoother trails where the Levo SL is in its element. S 125mm, M/L 150mm, XL 170mm, Specialized Trail, forged alloy, four-bolt, 5mm rise, 40mm, Specialized Butcher (f) / Eliminator (r), GRID TRAIL casing, GRIPTON compound, 29 x 23in. 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. I mainly race Xc and out several hours a week in it, but then use ebike so I dont have to ride a trainer or road bike for recovery. Workouts on the e-bike did not come without faults. For gentler terrain, the 240W of assistance feels more than enough, but you may miss the grunt of a proper e-bike in steep and technical climbs. So, you can rely less on the initial torque from the motor for assistance. Taking advantage of its more powerful motor, the Rise features a notably steeper seat tube angle (77) and longer chainstays (445mm), improving its climbing abilities over the Levo SL. We also got on famously with the SRAM Eagle X01 12-speed drivetrain. S snowbro New Member Jun 1, 2018 52 42 USA Feb 11, 2020 #8 Did not read the article, because thats what you do on the internet, but I will share my experience6 yrs ago when I started riding eMTB assist bikes, I went full on, 80-90% emtb and rode analog bike very little. Leatherman, yes. Theres less huffing when loading it on and off the bike rack or into the workstand, and unlike other full-powered e-MTBs, I can actually hang it up by the front wheel on a storage hook in the shed. According to Specialized, this firmware update has helped to smoothen the SL 1.1 motors output. This involves climbing up a tarmac road with a 10% average grade, in order to access a variety of descending trails for the way back down. However, I found when pushing the Levo SL on the descents, the back end was too spongy and willing to hit full travel. Product: Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert C electric mountain bike review 2023 Liv Intrigue X E+ Review | A beautifully sleek and lightweight e-MTB with a mullet, Review | The Specialized S-Works Recon shoes are the lightest weve ever tested, 2023 Thok TK01 R Review | A surprising package from an Italian e-MTB specialist, Trek Rail Review | A plush, powerful & frustratingly near-perfect electric mountain bike, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. The Levo SL is very easy to get used to and ride dynamically. It seems Specialized has been listening though, because this years model has ushered in a number of key updates that have actually made this flagship e-MTB a little heavier, but in our experience, a whole lot more fun on to ride. On the trail the Levo dishes out way more power than the Levo SL. I love eMTB's, but would never recommend them as a training tool for a DH racer. It also helps that the Levo SL is one of the lightest e-bikes available. 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