I would pick the Expert if it came with. The SL 1.1 motor impresses with its smooth, consistent and low-drag performance, and the new MasterMind software means its more effective at filtering out messy pedalling inputs from the rider. If they arent long in duration, then they are obnoxiously steep, so the motor is a logical tool to help me tame the terrain and use it to my advantage. After years of running, I have recently changed gears with an obsession for improving my descending skills on a mountain bike. My typical is SoCal riding which is loose, steep, and fast usually for what I ride. Whether you're looking for diet meals to help you lose weight or hearty, healthy meals for weight gain, NutriFit will create a plan specifically for you. 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). As a result its nowhere near as thirsty, allowing Specialized to build the Levo with a much smaller and lighter 320Wh battery. However, I found when pushing the Levo SL on the descents, the back end was too spongy and willing to hit full travel. Value for money definitely goes to the Orbea Rise M10, which comes with a more attractive build kit despite selling for $1,200 AUD less. Along with the trainer, I signed up to TrainerRoad for workouts. Nothing! Well, just program your ride and get pedaling. Theres of course huge adjustability available via the GRIP2 damper, so you can tweak away to your hearts content. Specialized bills the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon as a new, lightweight breed of e-MTB and it is certainly distinctive. Turbo Levo SL is a new, lightweight breed of eMTB that harnesses the quick and lively ride of our Stumpjumperand adds just enough power to introduce a whole new dimension of kick ass. He hadnt been to Boise, so it was hard to accurately convey my process in our brief discussion. Its on smoother trails where the Levo SL is in its element. The result is a 4-5kg weight saving over the regular Levo. Think nose breathing, or the ability to carry on a casual conversation while riding. I broke my wrist near the end of summer 2020. The drivetrain has performed without drama, and the short 165mm crank arms are a great spec choice. We take a deep dive into how an e-bike could get you race-ready. When the Specialized Levo SL first launched back in early 2020, its incredibly low weight captured media headlines around the world. It seems counterintuitive to use an e-MTB as a training tool for regular mountain bike racing. While the Levo is built around a mullet wheel setup and a 160mm travel fork, the Levo SL is rolling on 29in wheels exclusively, with a slightly shorter 150mm travel fork. . Understanding that the Levo SL can essentially flatten out the climbs, keeping me in a preferred training zone, it was time to put the experiment into action. Since 1946, family owned Better Beverages has been servicing the carbonic gas and fountain syrup needs of Southern California's restaurant and hospitality community. 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. This really is a non-issue for most riders though. On easy days, I just set the parameters, put my phone in my pocket, and carry on. This is true for weight, with the average trail/all mountain bike being roughly 30 pounds, an e-MTB with similar travel being around 50 pounds and this Levo SL coming in just under 40 lbs. Its also not overly raked out. Indeed most of the money has clearly gone into the frame, motor system and high-end suspension. Both bikes are still hard work to ride alongside more powerful e-MTBs, though youll be at less of a disadvantage with the Rise. Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon: Design Lightweight at 18kgs Comfortable to ride Great frame and wheel engineering Design score: 4/5 Specialized bills the Specialized Levo SL. However, the weight savings have gone too far with the Fox 34 fork. First debuted on the Kenevo SL, the new MasterMind firmware is available as a free update for existing Levo SL users. I have a lot of training knowledge when it pertains to running. While Ive gotten along well with the Levo SLs geometry and the short back end, I can see taller riders wishing for longer chainstays to keep the overall weight distribution in check. No more manually increasing or decreasing motor power with my finger via the bar-mounted control. For the spec, we included a 1x Shimano GRX group to take on shifting and braking duties, while DT R470 Boost wheels get wrapped in wide 38mm Pathfinder Pro tires to keep you rolling . 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. I learned a lot about cycling training as I pedaled my heart out. Really awesome article. There is a lot more that BLEvo app can do, but that would be an entire article in itself. The 181mm Q-Factor on the SL 1.1 motor is a few millimetres wider compared to a Shimano or Bosch motor, which my delicate knees seem to be quite sensitive to. Specialized Bicycle Components Turbo Levo Manuals & Tech Content Manuals & Tech Content User Manual - 2022 Levo -English Click here for other languages User Manual - Roval Road and Mountain Wheelsets 2022 Rider/Bike Weight Limits Schematic - 2022 Levo Structural Weight Limits Torque Specifications The Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon is a bike thats more than ready to be put through its paces. I will be riding the lightest bike I can for the race. 2017 Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Expert 6Fattie E-Bike - Reviews, Comparisons, Specs - Mountain Bike E-Bikes - Vital MTB Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo review - BikeRadar Lightest e-bike ever! Experienced riders with good fitness will appreciate the spry handling and playful nature of the Levo SL. I just went on my first run with bone conduction headphones, and Im hooked, Volt Infinity review: A comfortable hybrid e-bike with plenty of range, The latest Apple TV 4K test lets you watch four sports streams at once. The lever blade pivots on bushings instead of bearings, resulting in a mushier feel. Levo SL Levo SL range extender and shock compatibility . At 190cm tall, I would have preferred a bit more reach to feel comfortable descending at speed. 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. But playing the devils advocate, why not get on a road bike for a while to get the effort in and then just shuttle some trails and maybe get even more ride time in descending on your race bike. The Traverse wheels are only a little bit heavier (1,947g confirmed), and perhaps theres an argument that an alloy wheelset is a more practical choice for an e-MTB, since alloy rims are much cheaper to replace. . Suspension quality and handling are also brilliant. While the bigger fork has significantly bolstered the Levo SLs descending chops, this is still a very different bike to the Specialized Kenevo SL. . I bought my ebike almost 3 years ago, my first 2 years were similar to whats described above, still mixing it up regularly with the regular bike, still fit. The S-WORKS Levo SL is the most premium offering in the Levo SL lineup, featuring more lightweight carbon fiber and titanium hardware (crank arms, derailleur cage plate, handlebar, saddle rails). 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 . 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. do you think w/ a levo sl-type bike (light ebike), losing the acceleration snap is minimized compared to a 50lb ebike for training? Trail 4 was an extreme case, but it highlighted the issue. I think it is minimized, as is the (possible) loss of twitch muscles due to getting far less power. When descending, the short back-end and low overall weight make the handling virtually identical to an acoustic trail bike; you could almost forget you were riding an e-bike when youre not pedalling. I steadily bumped up the pressure until I was up at 220psi with just 25% sag. Cleverly, the app uses the barometer in your phone to measure elevation changes, along with the bikes inbuilt odometer to measure distance. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, How did the climb experiment on the Levo SL work? Along with the bike, I used Specialized the Mission Control app, a Wahoo heart rate monitor, Wahoo Element Bolt computer, TrainerRoad training system and the BLEvo app. @Stiksandstones I had always assumed that the weakness of riding an ebike for "training" was that it was not the same handling, weight distribution, braking points, shift points, power distribution and overall instantaneous feel of a regular MTB. You can also tell the app how far and how high you want to ride, and it will automatically adjust the assistance to get you to the end without running out. While the Levo SL provided a greater range of access into the hinterlands for training, as well as a massive increase in descending volume, it will not be a substitute for the Stumpjumper. The battery on the bike we tested featured the Specialized SL1-320, 320Wh power pack, which proved more than capable of coping with a full days mayhem out in the sticks. The remainder would be low intensity. You dont even need the bar-mounted controller or head-up display if you want maximum simplicity. 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. Compared to the vague LED display on the Rise, there is no doubt the Levo SLs TCU is the better interface, and the Mission Control app is also far more user friendly. 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