Hi,
I am not expecting this to get many answers back if any!
Has any one ridden a levo sl or even better own one, after some real world peoples thoughts.
Thanks
I have one, best bike I've ever had ! I got it in the summer, so it had a week in Cairngorms when we got away between lockdowns and since then largely local rides. I bought it after 10 months off the bike after a shoulder reconstruction, which happened in an unlucky crash on first outing on a brand new Orbea Wilds FS. With hindsight the Orbea was just too much bike for me and I sold it given it was effectively new, and I was laid up.
So, the SL - mine is the Expert, carbon frame, carbon wheels and I have made a few changes to it, mainly due personal preference. I didn't get on with the Guide brakes so had then changed to XT 4 pots, and i upgraded the dropper to a reverb AXS as have arthritic thumbs !
Bike rides pretty much the same as a Stumpjumper, which it has identical geometry to, and the increased weight (it's just under 40 pounds) is only noticeable when taking it on and off the rack and over fences etc.
I have some heart issues which means I ought to stay out of threshold HR zones and the e-assist does a superb job of that. I ride it in trail mode most of the time, and only click it into turbo on steep short hills. Battery wise, it's good for a typical 3 hr natural xc, or Cairngorm type ride on the internal battery, though I do have the range extender also, as backup.
Ive spent a couple of hours on one as i was lucky enough to be one of the first in the UK to demo one back in Feb 2020 at a Specialized Levo SL demo day in the Surrey Hills
I normally ride a full fat 2020 Levo (had a 2017 Levo and 2018 Kenevo before the 2020 Levo)
I was quite surprised by how light it was compared to the full fat Levo, it handled well and felt nice to ride
The motor was noisier than im used to, i used the bike in Turbo and Trail for the ride and after 20 miles i had almost used up the internal battery but the range extender hadn't been touched
If i was coming from a normal MTB to an E-MTB i would deffo go for the Levo SL only problem is ive been spolit by the full fat Levo and cant give up the Turbo boost!
Only thing i dont like about the SL (and the full fat Levo) is you get poor spec for the money
The Specialized wheels are made of cheese, the non DT Swiss hubs (on bikes below the expert) kill bearings, the Specialized dropper post is like a rocket and has to be controlled with your arse, the standard tyres are known to be terrible for grip and sidewall protection
Would be nice if they offered a frame, motor, battery and associated wiring inc the TCU package in the UK (was available in Germany last year and in the USA this year) as id be more inclined to go that route next time and build my own
Orbea now do a lighter bike, the Rise, which is worth looking at too, not sure if Focus do one yet, but they all seem to be looking at this type of 'bridge' ebike.
Test rode one, didn’t buy. (Was on Scott 710 espark, now on levo expert)
Loved the weight/ride but motor, brakes and gears all ‘felt’ clunky/rough esp for the money and having a non removable battery (hotels, motorhome,etc), was for me a stopper. (And expert had 4 yr warranty and was in a sale and has a rebuildable motor, even if battery removal inelegant)
Dream - 17kg, 378 lockable but easy remove battery (that fits in backpack), fox, shimano running gear, engine that specialist shops will rebuild when out of warranty.
We have one, also got a Turbo Levo. The SL feels and handles very much like the Stumpjumper we have but a bit heavier. I would have no problems riding it all day without the motor switched on.
The motor is noticeable louder than the ones on the Turbo Levo.
If I had to pick one over the other then it would be a close call but would be the Turbo Levo as it just feels more planted for me.
Both bikes are very capable, be it for all day rides in the Peak or DHs in Wharncliffe.
Mark and Hannah have both done very good reviews of the Levo SL on STW. The Orbea Rise looks to be a much better option on paper and the reviews I have watched all said it was better than the SL. They will be hard to get hold of this year though. The Rise is much better spec'ed than the SL, has the new Shimano EP8 motor and although expensive (circa £500) a range extender batter that sits in the bottle cage.
SL - Mark - https://singletrackworld.com/charged/2020/02/04/specialized-turbo-levo-sl-comp-carbon-first-ride-video/
SL - Hannah - https://singletrackworld.com/charged/2020/02/04/specialized-turbo-levo-sl-lighter-than-your-old-enduro-bike/
Rise - Mark - https://singletrackworld.com/charged/2020/10/22/orbea-rise-a-new-lower-power-shimano-driven-emtb/
I have had mine for 9 months and done just short of 2000 miles - love it! I originally looked at e-bikes in 2019 due to being 70+ with a bad back & arthritic knees. However, I found them just too heavy to lift and handle. Then the SL came along which I demo rode over 2 days. What I revelation! I ordered one which arrived in March just before lockdown 1.
On my normal bike I would ride 15-18 miles with backache on long climbs & aching knees. On the SL I ride anywhere between 25 and 40 miles & do it again the next day. I've never ridden a FF e-bike so can't compare. The smaller motor has never been an issue with me as I ride mainly solo on eco or trail with odd bursts of turbo.
Live in West Yorkshire so plenty of hills & moors from my door. Have had no problems with the motor but upgraded fork to a Fox 36 (arthritic thumb so needed something plusher).
More insight on FB where there is a specific page for Levo SL's