Specialized Levo SL

Looking for any information/feedback on the real world range for the Levo SL? How many metres climbing/distance can you expect in trail mode? Understand full turbo mode can get 800m+.

I am riding a full power 25kg ebike and manage 1300m climbing and 22 miles out of 50% of a 720Wh battery and never use it above trail mode (50% of 85Nm). Would it be realistic to expect the same range? I assume I would need less power with a much lighter bike – is this correct?

Thanks for any feedback

I’m sorry that I probably can’t give you a meaningful answer. But I have a Mondraker Neat with a 360Whr battery and a 160whr range extender. I believe the Neat has a 50Nm TQ motor. I recently had an outing in the Alps near Morgins with a friend who was on a full fat LaPierre.

i think the biggest complication in getting a simple answer will be how much support you want. The only e-bike I’ve ever had is the Neat. I tend to ride in the lowest mode, or the middle mode. I hardly ever use the higher mode. But when I swapped bikes with my friend, my highest mode was sort of equivalent to his mode 2 – out of his 4 modes available. And I’ve found that I’m always getting passed by e-bikes on the trails who are clearly riding their full fat bikes with higher levels of support than I use.

so my point is this – if you re used to full fat, and want reasonably high levels of support, then this will dramatically affect your range imo. On the other hand, if you can reset you expectations based on the lightweight e-bike experience, then I think your range should be pretty good.

on my Neat, if I climb 600m and ride for a couple of hours in the Alps, I tend to use about 50% of the internal battery.

I have a Gen 2 SL and get about 30km and 700-800m of climbing with the in-frame battery using a combination of power modes. I weigh 72 kg. I also have the range extender for rides that are longer and/or with more elevation and if I’m riding with friends on full power bikes when I tend to make more use of the higher power modes to keep up. If I was doing a 22 mile ride with 1300m of climb I’d be taking the range extender.

These are interesting threads as where I live (the very hilly Calder valley), rides regularly average out to equate to 1000ft of climbing for every 10miles. I usually ride under my own steam for 15miles or so.
So I’m curious what sort of terrain is seeing that much climbing is a relatively short distance.

I ride in the Surrey Hills and North Downs areas. The hills aren’t high but there are numerous trails that are close together, so there is very little flat terrain in between i.e. it’s pretty much all up and all down. Also with an e-bike it’s easier to ride back up the steepest and most direct routes to next trail. Hence the relatively short distance to elevation ratio.

I’m not very good at using strava, however one time I did on a sl1.1 motor. I did 25 miles + 2700ft of climbing at afan. This was with a range extender and I finished the ride on below 10%. This was fully on turbo.

I have a levo sl2 with the newer motor and get less range,

Hopefully this is slightly helpful.

Also theres currently some ridiculous deals especially if you are s3.

I’ve been on full phat since Jan 24. I’m finding the same as snooze.

Prior to that, I had a gen1 kenevo sl for about four months.

IMO you’ll only get aomething similar by being fitter or trying harder. You won’t get that same figures for the same effort just because the bike is a few kg different.

I have the 1.2 version and ride in Squamish BC, so a mix of easy or punchy climbs and flat connecting bits. Honestly I have no idea what the range is as I don’t track my rides. But in simple terms I go out for 2-3 hours and at the start of the ride often ride with the motor turned off where its fairly flat, am fairly conservative with the power on the ‘normal’ climbs, but use plenty of assistance for the steep sections I just want to get out of the way. The battery certainly drains fast above 70% assistance. I use ‘micro-tune’ rather than the 3 preset power levels which is good for conserving battery life. I’ve normally got around 20% battery left at the end of the last downhill so just stick the bike in full power to get home. I’ve only used my range extender once in a year.

@rockhopper70

my local is QECP and a 12-14mile ride works out at 2500+ft  usually, likewise did some Surrey hills at weekend, and that was similar, Hindhead exploration also works out somewhere around that.  In contrast somewhere like Swinley might be 400FT over 15 miles or whatever the full loop is…..

Our main rides are very much ride to top, recoup, ride down, regroup, rinse and repeat, while your riding sound like it may be a sort of constant pedal around

Theres some good range comparison videos on youtube, I’ve been doing all sorts of rough calculations recently.

From my test rides and reviews with the Sl/TQ/Fazua motors, and presumably the Bosch SX too  – cadence is far more important than the big bikes. We’ve all seen those guys ‘soft pedalling’ a Trek Rail or whatever at 50 rpm up a steep fire road chatting away – you are not gonna be doing that.

As for deals – I literally just bought one (S4) for £3k. See the deals thread. Dont hang around.

How heavy are you? What tyres? What sort of terrain? How fit are you? Endless possibilities of combinations will mean we’re miles off. I could tell you what I get at 63kgs and 70ish miles a week over varying bikes but it’ll probably be meaningless to you.

as others have said, so many variables.  I have the original model, a 2020 one. My local trails, natural stuff around west of Scotland are pretty hilly.  A typical 2 – 2.5 hr ride will leave me with maybe around 10- 15% without the range extender.  I use it almost always in the middle (trail) power setting.  I may  use turbo for a couple of 20 – 30 second bursts over the ride, and I weigh about 80kg.

I am riding a full power 25kg ebike and manage 1300m climbing and 22 miles out of 50% of a 720Wh battery and never use it above trail mode (50% of 85Nm). Would it be realistic to expect the same range? I assume I would need less power with a much lighter bike – is this correct?

Based on riding a Kenevo SL Gen 1 I get at least the range (with extender) if not better than all (except the one lad with a 900Wh battery) that my riding buddies do with their full-fat bikes.

7,500ft and circa 35 miles gets me to 15%.

If it’s a shorter ride or there are also folk on analog bikes, I won’t bother with the extender – good for 5,000ft.

So I’m curious what sort of terrain is seeing that much climbing is a relatively short distance.

Any “enduro”/winch and plummet type ride that’s essentially up and down with nothing else involved. E.g. 22miles and 6,000ft of climbing at the Golfie last weekend. That was on a normal bike though, quite interested to know what I would do on (any sort of) ebike in the same time

I test road one back in May, along with Orbea Rise and Whyte E-Lyte

It was the most fun bike to ride , but had the worst motor by far. It only really had 2 settings as the lowest 2 settings were so close you couldn’t really tell the difference. The most powerful setting was very similar to the mid setting on other bikes.

The spesh reps even said you probably need a range extender.

Nice bike but too compromised for me now given what else is on the market.

I would highly recommend you try and test ride bikes. I wanted to like the Levo SL, and ended up with a Rise LT.

I’m only 2 weeks in but reckon it’s good for at least 5,000ft climbing and 30+ miles, or as I did this morning a quick 1hr before work 1,000ft climbing in 85nm and 10% battery used !

If the OP does buy an SL, make sure you get one that has the micro-tune option (higher spec models) as the ability to just up the power by 10% at the press of a button is really useful and increases efficiency compared to increasing power by a full 1/3.

I’ve had mine for a year. Love it. Doesn’t look like an e-bike and I’ve had heavier non e-bikes in my ‘freeride’ days. It’s sub 19kg in S4 size.

Can comfortably do 40 miles and 4500ft of climbing on a charge with the range extender using a mix of power modes. The factory preset is nonsense so I run mine 35/35 in Eco, 65/65 in Trail and 100/100 in Turbo. Microtune is handy and standard on all models now.

Its been totally reliable but the great reputation Specialized have for warranty was a factor in buying one. Looked at Orbea but support is definitely not on a par with Specialized.

The other thing to consider is what do your riding buddies have? Full fat or SL?

I’ve got a 2 yr old Turbo Levo SL. I’m Lakes based and that’s one of the main reasons why i went for the Levo SL.

On a full day out (40 miles) I use a full battery. I don’t have the range extender, and I’m mindful about using trail mode too often.

However the bike pedals really well when not using trail (eco or off completely) and it handles like a portly normal full suss bike. Not to bad when it comes to hike a bike either, and can be lifted over gates/fences if needed.

I like mine.

Looking for any information/feedback on the real world range for the Levo SL? How many metres climbing/distance can you expect in trail mode? Understand full turbo mode can get 800m+.

It’s rare I ride in just trail mode once I’m doing long rides. Just trail mode rides tend to be evening rides with kiddo and we can do 15-20km with 500m ascent and I will use less than 50% battery.

Bigger rides have been Dyfi wild ride at 30km and 1000m ascent using a mix of all modes and got back with about 30% battery. Peaks day out was 40km and 1400m ascent mostly climbing in trail but using eco or no assist on roads & descents. Was around 10% at the end of that.

Based on riding a Kenevo SL Gen 1 I get at least the range (with extender) if not better than all (except the one lad with a 900Wh battery) that my riding buddies do with their full-fat bikes.

You keep posting this but fail to mention your weight compared to your mates weights.

I’d wager that the guys we see outside the boozer(your mates) are a fair few KG’s/beers heavier than you so it’s not really surprising.

I have a gen 1 Levo SL. In the tweed valley I get 1000m vertical without the extender. 50% more with. I used the mode that makes me put some effort in : usually swapping between eco and trail.

I recently changed to another SL type bike:  bosch SX powered.

What I will say is that it takes X watts to get my lardy ass up a hill. There isnt IME (after trying lots) a great difference in effeciency between motors / batteries / bikes. It still takes X watts to move a certain mass up a vertical. So a lighter bike will make a tiny difference. Putting more effort in is the biggest difference. Tyres, weather, gear also make a small difference.

Lastly – the Levo is a fantastic bike: I’ve done 7500km in all the Scottish weathers. Not had a single issue – still on original motor and battery. Had to change the chainring once and 2 XX chains.

I kind of regret ‘changing it’ (my wife has claimed it as hers rather than me selling it!)

You keep posting this but fail to mention your weight compared to your mates weights.

I’d wager that the guys we see outside the boozer(your mates) are a fair few KG’s/beers heavier than you so it’s not really surprising.

Mostly around my weight, just 6-8″ shorter – but hard to see when we’re sat outside The Salmon / Cloven 🙂

So I’m curious what sort of terrain is seeing that much climbing is a relatively short distance.

Come to Thornielee, can get near 3,000ft from 11ish miles – and this vid missed the steep trails…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_mVVTdA7U8&t=682s

Sams Bikes on YouTube is a pretty good bs free place to look at range of comparable bikes…

@intheborders

I’d say the woks weighed more than the height difference. 😉

That’s before you even take into account fitness.

Based on riding a Kenevo SL Gen 1 I get at least the range (with extender) if not better than all (except the one lad with a 900Wh battery) that my riding buddies do with their full-fat bikes.

Which I still continue to find remarkable, as I’m considerably fitter than average yet with a KSL1 + range extender I think the most I ever got out of the bike was ~40km & ~1800m of vert, in Eco (turned down) & trail, which was consistent with friends on them & I’m hardly your ebiker stereotype at 185cm & 82kg.

By comparison, my Bosch powered bike with a 750wH battery in Tour+ will do 3000m of vert. And it only weighs 2.6kg more than my KSL did.

The thing is with the SL specialized bikes is they are also very easy to pedal with the motor off.

I got 1700m over 23.7 miles at the Golfie earlier in the year, with 18% remaining (no range extender either).  There’s a decent amount of support in eco, and plenty bits where you don’t need the motor at all (90kg-ish KSL 1.1).  No chance of keeping up with full power bikes doing that, though.

@teethgrinder that is kind of my primary reason for going for the SL once the price was right (yesterday). I’ve been ‘e-curious’ for a while, having spent the last 18 months riding with mates all on big, heavy, full power ebikes. The irony is, as I’ve always historically been the fittest and faster they are now repaying a lifetime of me having to wait for them at the top of the climbs.

I could almost (not quite!) suggest I’ve sort of been forced into it, in a way – and I guess many people feel like that. Once your mates have them, you sort of have to. I’ve held out as long as I can. I did plan on waiting till spring but the £3k SL carbon dropping into C2W pricing clinched it.

I can’t afford/didnt want an ebike as an addition – it has to replace my main trail bike. I’m relatively fit, and not that heavy, so yes, whilst they may still be able to pull away on the climbs the difference will have been reduced massively.

From my previous rides on the older gen, plus some testing of the new one – the draw of the bike is that its just a Stumpjumper. That happens to also have a little motor. Fingers crossed I’ve made a good choice.

Thanks for all the responses.

I’m probably 70kg with my kit and some water, so light weight! I am limited to 2.5 hrs at Tarland Trails in Aberdeenshire or similar  (Circa 10-12% incline) before I need to return for chores/football taxi etc. In that time I can get circa 11 miles/900m climbing on an analogue bike and 1400m/20 miles on a full fat e-bike (Returned Torque:On to Canyon due to battery issues) but never go above power level 4 out of 8 on a Shimano EP801 which corresponds to 47-48Nm, so I figure a 50Nm max would be fine in that respect. My goal is to blast the up hills as fast as possible (Noting it may be a bit slower that a full e-bike) but I feel like a passenger on the full fat on the down hills – the analogue is 10 times the fun downhill as you can change direction and pop so easy!

So my goal with a lightweight bike is to get that analogue feel with something extra to get those extra rounds in. But noting the battery on the Levo SL with range extender is good for something between 1200m and 2000m climbing depending on the mode. 1200m is probably to little as I am hoping to do better than the 1400m as I increase fitness (Not too much cycling as the kids are learning and analogue bike issues this year). I assume I wouldn’t need the same power from a lightweight e-bike as a full fat to do the same, so assuming trail would be fine for cruising up hill at 12-14mph.

Trying to get a demo bike but difficult in Aberdeenshire!

Let me know how it goes Snotrag! I sound in a similar position to you!

3K is unbelievable for a carbon. Best I have seen is £4350… Does the £3K include the C2W discount?

No thats £3k cash price. They might still have one left in S4.

Yes they are ex demo but honestly – the one I have my name on has been ridden for 6 hours. Its got the shinyness worn off the tyres and thats it.

Interesting thread – I’ve always struggled to keep my fitness at a level I’m happy with, especially over winter, and in the last year I’ve done almost no riding (thanks to spending every spare weekend building my van) and so I’m currently at rock bottom fitness-wise, staring at a huge wall in front of me to get back to anywhere near decent fitness.

I’ve been thinking about lightweight emtb’s for a couple of years now, and it’s probable that this winter will be the time I’ll pull the trigger.

Personally, I don’t want an emtb. What I want is to have a fitness level where I’m not killing myself riding multiple 1000-1300m days in the lakes one after another. I could get to that level just by training for 5hrs a week for 6 months (I’ve been there before) but a: I’m 43 and maintaining, let alone gaining fitness is slowly becoming harder and harder;  b: I don’t have the time and/or motivation to ride when I’m unfit, which is making me not want to ride, which is making me more unfit, which makes me not want to ride… And so on.

I’ve ridden a couple of FF emtb’s, they’re fun for a short while,but I don’t like them. The weight, the slightly out of control nature of the power, etc.

I just want to feel like I’m riding a regular MTB, but have Nino Schurter’s legs.

I want to be able to ride 5x 1000m days on a trip in April and enjoy it, despite not having sat on a turbo trainer for 5hrs a week all winter.

I want to be able to up the assistance level if I’m feeling a bit tired but still want to go for a ride.

I want to be able to hikeabike with it without breaking my spine.

The TQ HPR50 is looking like it’s going to be the system for me, the fact that it’s the most natural feeling system is a huge bonus, no overrun or surge of power is exactly what I want. Range will be fine, 1500m is about the most I do, more like 1000m days on average. The Canyon Spectral on:fly leading the race at the moment too.

Just need to sort out a test ride of one and also sell one of my current bikes as I really can’t justify having 3x MTBs in the garage!

63kgs – 30 miles 1629 metres with 36% battery left over the two rides in one day. First ride was completely in eco with some trail use in the 2nd ride of the day. The 2nd ride of the day was laps of Tarland and in the morning it was HBR and mastermind.

If you are after a nearly new Levo try Felltrax in Carlisle. They specialise in nearly new bikes. I know Weeksy from here has bought off them before now.

It’s a genuine shop with helpful staff.