2023 Specialized Levo SL Review | The All-New Levo SL Resets The Benchmark For Lightweight e-MTBs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- See the full review here: flowmountainbike.com/tests/20...
It was in early 2020 when the Specialized Levo SL made its thunderous debut. Purpose-built around a low-powered motor and a smaller battery, the Levo SL broke headlines thanks to its sleek looks and incredible sub-18kg weight. Sure, it wasn’t the first lightweight electric mountain bike on the market, but it was arguably the one to legitimise the category. Indeed it proved to be the catalyst for other lightweight e-MTBs like the Orbea Rise, Trek Fuel EXe, Pivot Shuttle SL and even Specialized’s own long-travel bruiser, the Kenevo SL.
While many other brands are yet to even arrive in this segment, Specialized is steaming ahead with the launch of the 2nd generation Levo SL. Promising more power, neater integration, improved handling and greater adjustability, there’s plenty of hype to live up to. So does it deliver? We’ve been testing the 2023 Specialized Levo SL to see how all the changes play out on the trail!
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Specialized Levo SL Review Contents
0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Specialized Levo SL Overview
2:15 - Specialized Levo SL Geometry & Sizing
3:01 - Specialized Levo SL Price & Specs
3:39 - Specialized Levo SL Weight
4:15 - Suspension Performance
5:22 - Handling
6:26 - SL 1.2 Motor
7:35 - Downsides
8:50 - Specialized Levo SL Range Testing
10:10 - Specialized Levo SL vs Trek Fuel EXe
10:26 - Flow's Verdict
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Flow does it again! After watching a few reviews back to back, you guys just do it so much better. You actually discuss every point that a rider and potential buyer would be interested in. Not to mention you aren't always reviewing the best model in the range, which makes your reviews far more relevant to the average joe. Top job!
Thanks very much mate, we really appreciate the feedback! [Wil]
Another well articulated product review! You are as good as any bike reviewer on the internet!
No, he’s better than most
Thanks folks, appreciate the feedback! [Wil]
The best review on youtube of the SL. And I’ve seen more than 10 of them …👍🏻🔥
Another amazing review Will, I get so excited when the little blue circle comes up next to FLOW MTB on here for a new video!
One of the best reviews I have ever heard. Well done.
I am an advocate for longer chain stays it’s time the manufacturers gave more options.
Just ordered, I didn’t think I would ever buy an e-bike but this one got me. I average 250kms a week on my road bike, this is all about maximising the number of downhill runs 🤙
Test rode one got to say what a lovely bike to ride, probably the best e bike ive rode and that includes higher powered e bikes
Excellent review mate ,I had just ordered an s5 couple of hour before I watched your review.
Très bonne présentation et bien complète.
Avec ta vidéo, on sait tout sur ce vélo.
Merci pour le partage.
Seems like a great upgrade. I'll be keeping my 2021 Levo SL for now.
Great review! Thank you. Hoping that specialized will put this motor to the lower priced SL bikes in the near future along with the TCU.
Flow is holding it down! I prefer their/your take over many other online reviews
Thanks for the kind words mate, much appreciated! [Wil]
Great Video, thank you !
Always so good Wil! I'm 55 and have no plans to buy an E bike anytime soon, but if and when I do it will be one of these lighter weight bikes and I can only imagine how much they will improve in the next 5-7 years when I might be in the market.... but hopefully not.
Age has nothing to do with it. If you like descending more than climbing then get one. If you enjoy spending more time chugging up a hill then no worries. Different tools for different jobs. You get a work out either way.
People just make the mistake of not realizing there is it's own pure joy of rocketing up stupid hill climbs that you CANT normally do, hill climb is it's own addiction and niche in the car and moto world
@@LastAphelion That too if you're a climber, you can find some really fun tech climbs you def can't do on a regular bike, and makes normal climbing actually enjoyable lol.
Excellent review , Will , that's gonna be my next bike
Cheers Darryl, glad you found the review useful! [Wil]
great review, cheers
New level of review about bikes and not bikers. Thanks!
I have the original Levo SL comp. I mulleted it because I am short..5 ft 2 inches and found full 29 too high in situations where I needed a quick dismount. I did notice though that on one of my usual trails I could no longer clear an uphill ledge I previously could with the full 29 setup. So I am wondering if the 2023 SL in mullet in size equivalent to original small has more or the same clearance? It seemed from your review that clearance on rocky uphills might still pose a problem?
Another Great review- thanks Wil! Which one is more fun? The levo or the SL? I own the levo expert and I am riding in eco mode most of the time. What do you think, will the sl in trail mode ride similar?
What pedals were on this test bike? They look awesome, and very aggressive with good grip.
This new Specialized EVO sl and Giant Trance E Advance E+ a both options for those looking for a lighter enduro/trail style EMTB. Both are appealing due to the lighter weight. Coming off a Giant Trance X E+ 29er at almost 26kg, the weight savings are attractive. Any chance of a comparison of these two?
If the bike is the stock set up what BB, HA & SA change does the ‘high / low’ setting make? Cheers
We tested all of them. Don’t talk until you have ridden it. It really in a class of it own.
1. What is the crank situation? I see it's dub. Does that mean there is a spindle and a normal dub crankset fit in there? How would I upgrade it?
Your comment on the float x for more aggressive riders, I have worked out the orange volume spacer is the go, pink one was to harsh, also I will be fitting my 2023 Zebs 170mm ,have waited for this for 2 years.
Get the cascade link also make 160 rear with OEM shock
Do you know if the SL 1.2 motor will fit in the Kenevo SL?
Great review! The new motor seems to be quite an improvement. I'm curious if Specialized will release a Kenevo SL with the new 1.2 motor any time soon
I want to see it full 27.5 compatible too
So i curently have a levo sl carbon 2021 model right now. I got a really good deal on a 2021 s works levo sl carbon with full of best fox suspension and kashina coating. Should i buy that or the new 2023 sl levo comp carbon both cost the same. What u think i get must value from?
Do you think the next model up, the expert, is worth the extra 2k?
Great review Wil, this review certainly would have given me food for thought before I pulled the trigger and purchased a '22 Orbea Rise H15 on special (your review the carbon rise greatly assisted my decision making). However, I suspect Specialized pricing even with the price drop for this model would have put me off, even with upgrades including 4 piston xt callipers, a dhr2 on the front, dissector to the rear, a 203mm rotor up front and ride wrap I'm still about $2500 better off with the Rise. I up sized to a large but could have comfortably rode a medium but would probably go for a s3 for the levo sl gen 2 like you did to accentuate the agility. Out of pure academic interest, how do you think my new rig would stack up against a comp carbon levo sl s3?
Good question Sandy! I'd need to ride the two bikes back-to-back to make a more accurate comparison, and I'd be keen to try the Levo SL in a full 29er setup so it's a closer match.
Handily, I believe we have one of the new Rise models on the way in the near future, so that'll be a great opportunity to compare the two bikes!
[Wil]
@Flow Mountain Bike Thanks Wil, a full 29" comparison makes sense, I'm hoping that the added weight of an alloy frame bigger battery, along with the up-sizing and upgrades makes my bike more composed on descents to at least draw even with levo sl's suspension platform. Do you think that Specialized will eventually release an alloy levo sl like they did with Stumpjumper evo? The latter is quite heavy, so if they do I'm hoping that the Rise is still lighter
Whats the difference between the sl turbo levo with sl turbo ltd? What LTD stands for? Prices changes from 14000 to 15000
@3:09 where did you find info about the S-Works LTD model?
It's on their website
Thank you for a great video. I am currently in the market for a light e-mtb and this Levo SL and Trek Ex-e is one of my top three choices. The Turbo Levo SL is 3000 AUD more expensive than the Trek Ex with current offers in Sweden. I would like the SL I think, but would you choose it at a 3000 AUD premium over the Trek?
Curious about what did you choose and how it went.
I'm in Norway and considering the same options
I think 20k NOK difference here
@@seif.z Hei, jeg gikk for Specialized Turbo Levo SL 2024. Carb Comp.
Jeg synes sykkelen er fantastisk men har oppgradert noen av komponentene. Eneste jeg er litt skuffet over er lydnivået på motoren. Den er helt OK, men støyer helt klart mer en Trek. Jeg fikk en bra deal på sykkelen så er fornøyd og hadde nok valgt den igjen. Skal si at jeg hadde nok vært mer enn fornøyd med Trek. Burde kanskje legge til at jeg er nok litt Specialized fanboy
unless i missed it,what head angle setting did you set the bike at for the review?
We tested the bike in the stock position with a 64.6-degree head angle, though Specialized is sending us out the offset cup so we can experiment a bit further with all the options. Keen to try it out in full-29er mode too! [Wil]
Hi Will, so will this be overbooked for up and down the hills around Hebden Bridge. Sat on one today in a concept store, reduced from £7,500 to £3,875! Cheers
I reckon the Levo SL would be mint for the trails around Hebden Bridge! It'll handle all the techy stuff really well, and as long as you're using the lower assist settings, I'd expect range would be pretty decent. Potentially a full-powered Levo would be better if you're cutting a lot of laps, though you can add a range extender to the Levo SL to boost capacity. [Wil]
Do you know if the new motor is backward compatible with 2020 sl?
Mounting appears to be the same apparently.
Nice review video! I want to upgrade fro my trusty old Specialized 2004 Epic Comp and was wondering if Specialized has upgraded the Turbo Levo like they have Levo SL? The new SL looks pretty sweet... But tempted to go for more power with the Turbo Levo as we have lots of huge hills here in the San Francisco Bay Area.. Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome... Turbo Levo or Levo SL??? Thank you!!! :)
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it!
The current Levo was introduced in early 2021, and aside from some spec and paint updates, it's otherwise unchanged since then. Not sure if you've seen it already, but this was our review video on it; th-cam.com/video/OaRv8wUWTiU/w-d-xo.html
I think if you're looking for decent motor support on bigger hills, and you're riding beyond 2-hours, the regular Levo will be the more appropriate choice. The extra weight also makes it very stable on the descents.
The Levo SL delivers a more subtle level of assistance that's meant to complement your pedalling input, feeling more natural and closer to riding a regular mountain bike. The lower weight makes it easier to live with (carrying up stairs, putting in the back of your car etc), and it also improves the handling on twisty singletrack. The downside is that the smaller battery won't deliver nearly as much range, so you're a bit limited when it comes to much longer rides that have a lot of elevation gain.
Hope that helps!
[Wil]
@@FlowMountainBikeTH-cam Thank you for your response, it was very helpful. We have tons of hills where I live here in the Sa Francisco bay Area... think I'll go the Turbo Levo as the extra power would come I handy where is ride... : ) Thank you again..
I've bought them both lol.
Ok this is my dilemma this bike or the entry trek fuel exe 9.5 for £2.2k (uk pounds ) cheaper
can the 1.2 motor fit in the old from with the 1.1 motor?
I believe the mounting points are the same, but I'm not 100% sure whether the new motor is compatible with the old frame and associated electronics etc. Might be a question for your Specialized dealer! [Wil]
Orbea Rise numbers w the larger battery still have that part beat
Larger battery yes but cant fly with your bike and extender battery. Max size to carry on plane is 160 Wh
The EXe has zero drag when the motor is turned off.
Is it really that much better the the old sl?
It's improved in pretty much every way. The motor is noticeably more powerful and it's also quieter too. Both the suspension performance and geometry are a step-up, and the MasterMind TCU is a really nice user interface. All-round it's a great evolution over the existing Levo SL. [Wil]
Are you saying the new Fox Rhythym is good then? The old ones were very poor, imo….
After about 3 years the last Keurig stopped working th-cam.com/users/postUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf initially was able to unblock, however eventually we couldn't fix. That one was a replacement unit sent by the manufacturer after we had problems with our very first Keurig. This works fine (lol, at least for now) however I didn't realize the water reservoir was so much smaller than our prior unit. With 2 people having one or two cups of coffee each morning, it seems like I'm refilling it daily. Otherwise just happy to have the convenience of pod coffee vs. making a morning pot.
This or fuel exe? Differences?
Fuel just as good but cheaper. No brainer for me.
I personally prefer the ride quality and the user interface of the Levo SL, though the Fuel EXe has some notable advantages.
If you're interested, I put together a detailed comparison between the two bikes in the full review here: flowmountainbike.com/tests/2023-specialized-levo-sl-review-comp-carbon/
Hope that helps!
[Wil]
@@Nickubus99 the motor in the Fuel isn't quite proven yet. If it was me, I'd give the Fuel another year to make sure it's robust enough. I've ridden the Fuel EXe and I have the old Levo SL and to be honest, even in power they didn't feel that different. The Fuel was super quiet, so I'd be interested to hear how much more quiet the new SL motor is.
@@streddaz They missed a great opportunity to call it the Specialized Stump-E.
@@hambo76 ha ha, never thought of that one 😂
$12k to $22.5k price range. I don't doubt it's an amazing bike, but dear lord....I'll simply never be able to own one of these 😞
These companies need a reality check. These bikes aren't exactly an investment
@@Teamcrapsheep few years ago i had a close family member on the verge of suicide his life was a mess, he bought an e bike after riding mine cost him 6k uk sterling, since then hes gave up drinking smoking and taking prescripton medicine to deal with his anxiety and depression, that investment saved his life its something that has sparked him back into gear its unbeleivable to see the transformation in him, i understand some of these e bike prices are insane i totally agree, but that investment could transform someones life or even save it.
@@Teamcrapsheep They sell them. That's probably all the reality they need.
Just gotta take a small loan of a million dollars to afford this… 😂
I know it's a different bike, but I've had such bad reliability issues (6 motors replaced) with my turbo levo just can't pull the trigger on another specialized bike. Nice design but if the bike in the shop all the time and its a constant drain on the wallet, its just not worth it. Pass
I thought dude was going to say, "Whenever I test ride a new e bike.......I feel more and more like a little girl."
Regular Bikes don’t suit this lazy screen-agers generation.
I understand that more people will get up from the couch to the trails just because They own a electric bikes.
Thats good also.
Just do more squats in the gym and save yourself 10k
Yeah, but squats at the gym are like a gizzilion times more boring
@@robbief1 Chicken legs..
What a rip off. 12000 dollars for rythm and low level components
8k and everything should come with factory suspension. at least in the US.
Just as bad as trek, 9 point whatever build still giving you domain or base select and every model skimps out by giving you a mix of lower drivetrain parts even as the price increases.. dumb stuff like for every 1k the price increases you still get a low end cassette or shifter or whatever like wtf are we paying more for in those specs?
You can tell how much they overcharge when i the top of the line old gen that was 22000 dollars for sale at 8000 and theyre still making a margin. Honestly mtbiking is becoming a very rich mans sport
@@southpawlibranine3511 Considering the carbon wheels are 1500 and the suspension is close to 2000 alone with zero other parts. At least if you buy them direct. Specialized isn't a direct to consumer brand either so they are more expensive because of the mark up on the floor. You can get direct to consumer bikes cheaper if that is the route you want to go... These are the newest, most high end emtbs, you can buy. Sorry the Ferrari isn't in your price range.
@@_Jake.From.Statefarm_ stop making stupid excuses. You think specialized pays that much for their own wheels or the forks and shocks? And in no way can you equate a specialized to a ferrari. Theyre made by giant in the first place. There are other non direct to consumer bikes for with much better components.
All these bikes are waaay overpriced. I can get a high quality motorbike for the half the price
You can get a car for half the price of a regular bike too.. what's your point lol?
@@_Jake.From.Statefarm_ your mums available for a quarter of the price so whats your point homosexual