The Specialized SL 1.1 is something like the forefather of light motors. With the introduction of the Specialised Levo SL Light eMTBs became socially acceptable at the start of 2020. And to this day, there are only a few E-All-Mountains that come close to the trend-setting weight of the Levo SL. This is not least due to the lightweight and minimalist drive, which has remained unchanged since 2020. For our large comparison test of lightweight e-bike drives we were able to test the Specialized SL 1.1 E-MTB drivetrain extensively in the lab and in practice.
The technical data: Specialised SL 1.1 e-bike motor
- Motor weight: 1.95 kg
- Battery weight: 1.84 kg (320 Wh)
- Battery options: 320 Wh; range extender: 160 Wh, 1.03 kg
- Drive levels: Eco, Trail, Turbo
- Tightness: IP 67
- Connectivity: ANT+ (LEV)
The battery of the Specialised SL 1.1
The SL 1.1 is only available in the E-MTB in combination with a permanently installed 320 Wh battery. The battery cannot be removed for charging or changing on tour. A range extender in water bottle format is available to increase the range. The 160 extra watt hours weigh just over a kilo and fit easily into smaller rucksacks. The drive is installed in the Trail bike Levo SL (150 mm / 29 inch) or in the Enduro Kenevo SL (170 mm / 29 inch).
Driving feel and power delivery of the Specialised E-bike motor
The Specialized system is one of the more minimalist drivetrains in the comparison. This is also noticeable in the riding experience. The aha effect that classic e-bike motors offer with their striking power does not materialise with the SL 1.1. This is because the motor's thrust is rather discreet, even with full support. Especially at low cadences, the SL 1.1 lacks a bit of oomph in the test comparison. If you hit a counter-climb in the wrong gear, you can expect little thrust from the motor. At a high cadence, however, the performance is decent. The advantage of the tamed power: the riding experience remains quite smooth. Bike feeling instead of moped feeling. However, if you feel the SL 1.1 carefully, you will notice a fairly uniform power delivery. In the basic setting, the thrust is clearly decoupled from the rider's input. This means that the SL 1.1 delivers its power regardless of whether you pedal hard or softly. If you want a more lively riding experience, you can set the modes much more dynamically using the excellent Mission Control app. Overall, this suits the SL concept much better. Off-road, the drive feels harmonious overall, but the loud drive noise clearly disturbs the otherwise well-rounded picture.
More light drives in the test
The Specialized SL 1.1 was tested as part of a major comparison of various lightweight e-bike motors. Our overview article including comparative values can be found here.
The Specialised SL 1.1 e-bike motor in laboratory test
The power of the Specialized SL 1.1 is at the lower end of our test field. Our laboratory test resulted in a maximum output of 234 watts. The maximum torque of 36 Newton metres is also significantly lower than the strongest test candidates. However, the power curve is balanced. Only at very high pedalling frequencies above 110 rpm does the power drop significantly. Also clearly evident in the lab test: In the factory setting, the motor reacts strongly to changes in cadence, but the rider's power has no influence on the motor's output. This means that in turbo mode, the SL 1.1 delivers its full power even with a minimum pedalling impulse of 80 watts. If the rider accelerates more, the motor cannot keep up.
The Specialised E-Bike Motor in continuous load operation
Continuous load is a difficult issue for small and lightweight e-bike drives. Because if you want to squeeze as much power as possible out of a compact drive, you run the risk of having a problem with heat dissipation. With Specialized, this doesn't seem to be an issue at all. The drive delivers its 234 watts continuously and without grumbling, even under adverse conditions. In our standardised test scenario, a climb under continuous full load, the SL 1.1 never reached critical housing temperatures. We were also unable to detect any loss of performance. The overall system with the 320 battery is designed to match the performance of the SL 1.1. Despite the comparatively low capacity, the Specialized system climbed around 1050 metres in altitude at maximum support and delivered over an hour of turbo boost. The rider data: Rider weight 89 kilos, 150 watts pedalling power, cadence 80 rpm.
Specialised SL 1.1Noise development
In our opinion, the drive noise of the SL 1.1 is the biggest weakness of the Specialized motor. Despite its low power output, the motor is one of the loudest in the Light class. And that's not all. There is no discernible difference in volume compared to a classic Bosch or Shimano motor. The sound is rather high-frequency and was described by most testers as tending towards unpleasant. Even when you switch to Eco mode, the noise remains clearly perceptible and annoying at all times.
The operating elements of the Specialised E-bike motor
This is how we imagine successful controls! The shifter is inconspicuous but easy to use. The small screen in the top tube looks really high-quality, can be customised with data fields and offers a wide range of functions. Nevertheless, you don't feel like you're cruising through the forest with an overloaded multimedia centre. In some data fields, the font is borderline small, but this can be easily solved via the app settings. The overall operation of the system is very intuitive and the integration is absolutely streamlined. The compact shifter on the handlebars is also unobtrusive, the buttons provide good haptic feedback and are ergonomically positioned on the grip. Overall, the controls make a very high-quality and sophisticated impression.
The App Mission Control is a fairly comprehensive and comparatively sophisticated tool. In addition to useful fine-tuning of the three riding modes (various pre-sets can be saved), there are system updates, fault diagnostics, information on the system history and even smart power regulation. Specialized promises that the bike will select the support level so that the battery is sufficient for the planned tour. It is also possible to link the motor support to the heart rate.
- Fine adjustment of the U-steps
- Updates for all drive components
- Tracking + smart battery management
- Updates, error analysis, system information
EMTB evaluation and measured values
- max. torque: 36 Nm
- Top performance: 234 W
- Power: 3/6 points
- High cadence pull-through: 4/6 points
- Drive around 25 km/h: 4/6 points
- Engine sound: 2.5/6 points
- Control elements: 6/6 points
Test summary of the Specialized SL 1.1 e-bike motor
"The Specialized system makes really light E-MTBs possible. The Americans have proven this with the Levo SL, which still sets standards in the lightweight trail bike category. The system is one of the lightest in the test. In terms of performance, however, the SL 1.1 is one of the minimalists. Unfortunately, the motor is still very loud. Here Specialized has more than serious competition from the latest light drives from Fazua and TQ.
We can't wait to see whether Specialized will be able to up the ante with the next expansion stage of its Light drive. The intuitive controls and the extensive app of the Specialized system, on the other hand, are absolutely top class. The Mastermind display in particular sets a benchmark to this day with its successful combination of stylish design, streamlined integration and wide range of functions."
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
