Since the beginning of E-MTB development Specialised goes its own way. The huge development department of the Turbo bikes in Switzerland is not content with simply building a good chassis around the motor and battery. Specialised is fully involved in drive development and diligently develops its Turbo Levo e-bikes itself. Displays, software, apps - the American brand does its own thing and sets trends and standards. Expectations for the new Specialized Levo were correspondingly high. Rumours of a new motor developed entirely in-house persisted, as Specialized had already taken this step with the new Levo. superlight Levo SL gone. However, the revolution in the Levo Gen3 drive unit has not materialised. At least as far as the main components of the motor and battery are concerned. Broses Drive SMag with revised Specialized software continues to provide the thrust, while the battery capacity remains at 700 watt hours. Nevertheless, a lot has been done to the drive unit. However, the biggest innovations are in the chassis.
The wheel mix of 29 inches at the front and 27.5 inches at the rear is new. The predecessor still rolled in the classic, well-behaved 29er set-up. One reason for the small rear wheel: this is the only way to realise shorter chainstays. The Levo developers want to give the bike more manoeuvrable, sportier handling. Role model: Our own Levo SL, which relies on very short stays and has thus inspired many e-mountain bikers. The developers knit a very modern geometry around these parameters. The motto: longer, flatter, more extreme - but also more variable. The geometry can be heavily customised with various adjustment options. The next step in the fluffed-up chassis is the more solid components, first and foremost the chassis: Thick Fox 38 fork with one centimetre more stroke (160 millimetres) and the voluminous X2 shock absorber with reservoir. These are the hallmarks of a full-blown enduro bike. And this is exactly the direction in which the newcomer is pushing.
The third generation of the Levo is trimmed for wild descents and riding fun in demanding terrain. The Predecessor Levo Gen2 from 2019 favoured a rather moderate configuration, which always gave the Levo a record-breaking weight. The newcomer has become heavier with its enduro attitude. Our test bike (S-Works, size S4) weighs in at 22.2 kilos. The last predecessor model we had in the EMTB test (issue 1/2020) was a significantly cheaper Turbo Levo Expert, MY 2020, which weighed 21.4 kilos. Nevertheless, it has to be said quite clearly: the latest model is also at the forefront in terms of weight, if you keep the considerable battery size, robust equipment and orientation of the bike in mind.
When it comes to weight, the Levo developers also rely on their super-light Levo SL model: if you have one of the lightest e-trail bikes in the world in your portfolio, the powerful brother can also be a little heavier. "The gap can be a little wider here: Super-light performance on the Levo SL, full-power turbo performance on the Levo," says Marco Sonderegger, one of the brains behind Specialized's E-MTBs. In other words, the new Levo makes no compromises that could restrict extreme trail performance. With its metamorphosis into a potent mini enduro bike, the Levo is based on its non-motorised brother Stumpjumper Evo, which has taken a very similar direction in its latest stage of development and served as a model for the design of the Levo.
The new features on the Specialized Turbo Levo
Even if the new Specialized Levo does without spectacular changes to the motor or battery, this does not mean that the Americans have neglected their hobbyhorse - the clever integration and software of the drive. A second glance reveals some exciting updates. The most obvious is the new TCU2 display, which has been affectionately christened "Mastermind". In the format of a smartwatch, the 12 x 25 millimetre screen is emblazoned on the top tube. The display can be fully customised via the new Mission Control app. The biker can currently choose from a good 30 pieces of data and distribute them individually on different pages of the display. Percentage-accurate battery display, U-level, speed, current altitude, rider performance - and much more. You can scroll through the pages using a separate button on the remote lever. Specialized has massively increased the information content of its display compared to its predecessor, without sacrificing the slim and sporty look. It's really smart and functional. Another advantage of the new Mission Control app: system updates can now be carried out conveniently via mobile phone. No need to go to the dealer.
Another new feature is the Micro Tune mode. This can be easily activated by a long press on the plus button, even while riding. With Micro Tune, the motor support can be changed in 10 per cent increments, which enables finer adjustment of the motor power. This can be particularly helpful when riding in groups if the classic modes simply don't match the speed of the other riders.
More reliability: The motor in the Specialised Levo Gen3
Specialized has also worked on the reliability of the drive. Problems with the motor should be a thing of the past thanks to various hardware optimisations. At the centre of this is a new carbon belt, which should be significantly more resilient. These hardware changes can be found in all Brose SMag motors of the latest generation. Some of these motors are said to have already been installed in the 2021 predecessor levers of the latest production batches. The new software has also been optimised so that fewer load peaks occur, which should also optimise the service life of the motor. The performance data remains the same: 90 Newton metres of maximum torque and a maximum output of 565 watts (manufacturer's specifications). We tested the bike and the drive in the laboratory and in practice and carried out standardised reach measurements. The Read the test results of the Specialized Turbo Levo here.
New plug for the Specialized Levo
The new battery-to-motor connector is exclusive to the third-generation Levos. In the past, there were problems with moisture ingress. The new version is sealed with a lever and has multiple seals on the inside. This should completely protect the electronics from water ingress. The Levo developers describe water as the "final enemy of every e-bike". With the new design, the Levo should withstand the toughest use in the most adverse conditions.
The facts about the Specialized Levo Gen3
- 160/150 mm suspension travel
- MX wheel mix (29" front/27.5" rear)
- Specialised 2.2 motor (Brose Drive SMag)
- 700 Wh battery
- Full carbon frame
- Weight: from 22.2 kilos (EMTB measured value, size S4)
- 2 models for 11499 and 13999 euros
The geometry of the new Specialized Levo
The Levo developers have made the most drastic changes to the geometry. Longer, slacker, more modern is the motto. The basis is a new sizing concept that Specialized has been using on other bikes for some time. The S-Sizing. Instead of the usual designations Small, Medium, Large,... sizes S1 to S6. This means that the Levo gets one size more than before. The idea behind the S sizes: Riders should not simply choose their bike to suit their height, but to suit their area of use and riding style. A 183 cm tall rider, traditionally at home on a size L, can choose between sizes S3 to S5 - and thus has reach values between 452 and 502 mm to choose from. This is made possible by very short seat tubes, which do not restrict the free choice of size due to leg length. With a reach of an enormous 532 millimetres, size S6 offers even tall riders and reach fetishists a really roomy bike.
The shorter chainstays remain constant across all sizes. We measured 443 millimetres in the EMTB lab. A character-defining feature, as the Levo is easy to pull onto the rear wheel and fun to manoeuvre around corners. However, this does not make it a climbing world champion. The next significant change: the steering angle has become slacker. A moderate 66 degrees has become a slack 64.2 degrees (EMTB measurement). But that's not all. If you install the supplied bearing shells for the headset, you can flatten the head angle by another whole degree. Coupled with the long reach, this finally results in an enduro geometry that is extremely styled for downhill riding. Moderate riders can also use the bearing shell to steepen the steering angle by one degree from the neutral position.
The Turbo Levo from Specialized on the trail
We have already had the opportunity to ride the new Levo extensively on trails of various kinds. Most of the time we were riding in the neutral steering angle setting with a high bottom bracket. Even in this setup, a much racier character is noticeable compared to its predecessor. The Levo wants to be ridden fast and furiously and blossoms on demanding descents. The adapted rear suspension kinematics are also noticeable. The rear end is really plush and soaks up root carpets. The term "hoover" is quite apt, as the rear wheel literally slurps up the ground. Traction is higher on the list of priorities than the joy of jumping. Coupled with the long and flat geometry, this results in an extremely smooth and stable ride. The bike retains its playfulness thanks to its short chainstays and is very easy to pull onto the rear wheel. However, compared to its predecessor, the handling is less direct and light-footed at a moderate pace. Striking: Even when the going gets really rough, the Levo whisks quietly and well-damped over the trail. Want to find out more about the new Levo and its expertise? In EMTB 2/2021 you'll find a detailed test of the brand new Specialized speedster. On newsstands from 20 April!
Models and prices of the Turbo Levo
By now, we're used to the fact that Specialized doesn't exactly offer bargains at student rates. But the pricing of the new Turbo Levo goes one better. You'll be looking in vain for affordable models. Let's start with the Turbo Levo Pro, which reaches deep into the high-end box with carbon wheels and Fox Factory suspension. Cost point: 11499 euros. The S-Works model shines on top with a complete AXS system from Sram with wireless shifting and seat post, as well as other gadgets. This will set you back 13999 euros. But we can give the all-clear: More favourable equipment variants are to follow in the course of the year.
Conclusion on the new Specialized Turbo Levo
Even if the really big bang didn't materialise, namely a new motor developed in-house, Specialized has once again made an exclamation mark in terms of system integration. However, the decisive changes to the new Turbo Levo lie in its orientation. With a modern, downhill-orientated geometry, the bike becomes a wild enduro playmate. It aims to retain its status as a smooth super all-rounder with smart adjustment options. However, it will only be a real quantum leap for e-mountain bikers who are looking for a racy companion for the wild trail chase.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
