Specialized Levo vs. 2023 Levo SL - 8 points of comparison with real data
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ค. 2024
- Levo SL vs. Turbo Levo shootout between full power and mid-power bikes from Specialized ebike emtb electric mountain bikes.
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I just traded in my 2021 Levo Expert for a 2023 Levo SL Pro and love it. The SL's ride is definitely more engaging and exciting. The climbs are harder but I enjoy the workout and the overall ride is closer to an analog bike. With the Levo, I almost never use the Turbo mode and almost always come home with 70% of battery life. With the SL, I get in a great ride and come home with 50%. But during the ride, I will use Off, Eco, Trail & Turbo modes. Because the bike is only 18 kg, I do quite a bit of non-motorized ride so my range is actually quite good. Riding the Levo without motor assist, is not so much fun. It's a beast but it also plows up and down the steeps with more ease.
Great comparison video, this has to go through everyone’s mind when purchasing a new e-mtb, I know I’m thinking about it for the next one…
This mid-level category is exploding right now.
Excellent content!
I really appreciate that.
Fantastic video! keep bringing them because e bikes are hard to make decisions about and cost a lot for the average-joe.
Very worthwhile info between the two bikes. Thank you for the video. If I make the transition to e-assist I'd go with the 2023 Levo SL. Primarily due to the lighter weight.
Good choice! Folks who haven't tried emtb yet because of weight and ride quality concerns are best paired with the new Levo SL. It's cool that this option is now in Version 2 and is becoming a dialed product.
I can say that the Gen 2 Levo SL is one of the best riding mountain bikes I've ever ridden. Better than the Specialized Enduro even.
Excellent video, thank you very much
Hey @EMTBReview.
Your reviews are some of the better emtb reviews on FB, nice one !
Brit living in the French Alps here !
Question.
I have a levo sl Mk1, the only things that I don't like are the 29 back wheel & the noise of the motor !
I have some money burning a hole in my pocket but not sure what to do.
Should I (lose) 4k€ "trying" to sell my Levo sl mk1 to upgrade to the Mk2 (though in all fairness my bike is awesome & I am loving it) or should I look to add a levo (alloy comp)or similar to my collection & have 2 "different" e-bikes ?
Great comparison!! I agree with everything having ridden Levos and owning Kenevo SL. Although my experience with full power was I never really got used to the weight. They easily go above 50lbs (just the tires/cushcore upgrades will push to 53-54lbs) and it's felt everywhere the wheels get off the ground. Maybe I haven't ridden full power enough, but that's my 2c.
Yeah, definitely understandable not getting used to it. Bigger folks have a better chance than lighter ones.
Best situation is:
- use a great bike like the Gen 3 Levo with mullet and very supportive suspension and brakes
- ride it exclusively for 6 months
- really move around the bike and develop your upper body.
Francis, I totally agree with your observations in regard to Levos vs. Levo SLs. I have the first generation Specialized Levo SL Alloy that came out in 2020. Upgraded with Fox 36 Factory fork, Float X shock and SRAM GX drivetrain. It has 5,500+ miles on it with 400,000+ feet of climbing after three years. Test rode the new Gen 2 Levo SL Carbon a few weeks ago and immediately bought one. Gen 2 already came with a Fox 36 Rhythm, Float X shock and GX drivetrain. There was never much consideration on my part about going with a heavy Levo Gen 3...Maybe when I hit 80 or so!
Great choices there Bill. If the first SL made you happy, you'll be overjoyed with this new one.
@@EMTBReview Already determined that the Gen 2 is a better downhiller than the original version. And that call is while using the stock Specialized tires so far.
Another great review
I appreciate that. Will do more.
Great Review but The one i was really after was heart rate when climbing, both bikes at different rpm speeds
I was jumping my 63 pound yt decoy. I have jumped bigger table tops and cleared them on my analog bike. Trying to find a comparison between the sl and full power on jumping. I'm 235 pounds and love my full power bikes, but considering sl with cascade link for better air time, what do you think.
Hey.
I Need some advice,
I have the 2020 SL (with 35Nm).
I wanna add additional ebike
Should I go with the Levo Generation 3 or with the SL Generation 2?
I am riding trail only with long distance (40/50 km).
Would love to try a levo sl or orbea rise but everyone i ride with is on full fat ebikes pushing hard to the top.
Goog video. When you compare the bikes do you have the same wheels, tires and brake disc?
Disc rotor, no. For the speed testing, stock wheels and tires as long as they're the same weight and type of tire.
For range testing I'll use identical tire and wheels
Great review
Thank you. I appreciate that very much.
Thanks for the comparison - great video! If you could only have one - Would you give up your Turbo Levo for the New Levo SL?
I’m thinking about right now. I miss my gen 1 SL. I Put a Slack R kit on that bike changing rake to 64 degrees. Transformed bike for downhill. Loved the light weight and no drag after 20 mi an hour plus no drag with motor off. Big Levo is a great bike but it’s a monster truck.
Great video, is there maybe a comparison coming up of the sl vs orbea rise carbon, both model 2023 ?
Yeah, I'll try to get a 2023 carbon.
my old ebike was a levo sl and i just bought a brand new levo and i honestly love it i bought a 500wh batttery so that i can have a lighter bike on shorter rides and the 700wh can go super far if you ride conservativly it covers so much more ground without being a pain i used to carry 3 range extenders for my levo sl
Rrrrrrright? Pro move right there using a 500wh battery on short ride days for the Levo.
The old Levo SL and current Kenevo SL require so many extenders for long rides that it's sometimes not worth it.
@@EMTBReview I actually built a 300 wh battery for my old kenevo because I did a lot of short hard rides on it and it brought the weight down a ton I built it out of a damaged battery
What did it weigh
Thank you for these vids, I'm trying to make this choice right now, and its driving me nuts. Levo vs SL. I'm 190 lbs, do you think the SL would last me for a 20 mile ride, with maybe 500 ft of elevation?? Mainly running eco / trail mode??
Yes, 500 foot of elevation is nothing. You should have more than half the battery left with the new SL.
@@EMTBReview God bless you brother. That's what I've been waiting to hear. And dope vids btw, keep them coming. Nobody else is even coming close to this quality and thoroughness
I'm 6'3" 220 and I squeaked out 34 mi one time and still had 2 red bars left
I own a heavy 57lb all in 750wh full fat and a 41lb Orbea Rise.
When I ride the full fat I really miss the feel of riding the Rise. When I rode the Rise I really miss the massive battery and plushness of the full fat.
Perhaps the ideal bike for a lighter rider like me (150lbs) might be something with a Fazua motor.
What’s a better option? A Transition Relay at 44lbs or a Fezzari Timp Peak with a 504wh battery (504wh is almost 3lbs lighter than their 635wh battery) at around 47lbs??
I’m kind of leaning towards a Fezzari (after seeing your review) and pick up both 504 and 635 batteries at checkout
Wow, the Timp Peak can handle a small 504wh battery? That's pretty cool. I would lean towards the Fezzari and put your custom build on it on their order page. The Relay is good but there are no Fazua extender batteries til 2024.
Another option is to modify your Orbea Rise.
160mm fork
Reservoir shock like Marzocchi Air or Fox FloatX
Mullet.
And definitely get the 255wh extender of theirs.
@@EMTBReview the best part about Fezzari’s battery option is they are custom to Fezzari and not Shimano batteries. Shimano batteries from what I’ve seen tend to degrade faster than others out there
Got 2021 turbo levo. Love it for the raw trails and hills in my area. I can ride and explore for hours on trails that you’d otherwise need a dirt bike to manage. Got a 2023 SL to ride with grandson and friends at single track areas. At 60 I still ride analog trance but I can now keep up with guys half my age who I ride with and also tow my 8 year old grandson up the odd long grind on his Specialized 24” rip rock expert. I’ll also ride the SL and lend levo to my wife for some local forest outings. But BOTH are still MY bikes! lol
I can relate on so many fronts. Your share is very valued here. These bike enable so many things
Good comparison for a same rider. However for a light person a fulfat is a tank. The difference between 540/300 w is the difference between 200 pounds and 110. Actually more like 120 considering the sl is 10 pounds lighter. If you are a lighter weight rider consider the weight desadvantage of a fulfat vs the power gain.
I like your analysis there. Thank you!!!
Great comparison! If I could make one suggestion - for people watching/listening to your videos passively (while driving, exercising, etc), it would be more helpful if you referred to each bike as a name (the SL, for example) instead of “this bike, that bike, this one”. If I’m not watching the screen, I don’t know which bike you’re talking about. Just a minor nitpick!
Exactly man! I tried listening while driving and that was a key, key area of improvement. Thank you, thank you.
I went with the Levo because if I’m going to do E, I want the full fat with all the trimmings and power. Maybe as a 2nd bike, the Levo SL would be a candidate.
Exactly Levo fits the bill for most folks with versatile power and a whole lot of range!!! The new SL provides a good option now for those look to fly and get some leg pump!
I figure, I ride about 150 miles a week in group rides usually on roadbike, and so far 1 day a week on E Mtbike, so I want it full powered and full sizebattery when I ride it.....its a whole different experience than my Intense Sniper XC bike. ............I guess the idea with the small motor/battery is to fake it and look like a normal mt bike, so as to not get noticed where they arent allowed.
Can you test the levo sl and TQ motor bouth with same crack length and 27inch wheel? I just must know!
Interesting. I might do that if the the SL Cranks fit on Fuel EXe.
@@EMTBReview Thank you for hope!
i have ripped apart so many chains on my gen 1 sl i think that it happens because tthe tourqe sensor on the gen 1 was super jumpy and not as smooth as the new one or the levo. Could just be my bike though
On the Gen 1 Specialized media launch, a couple chains blew up on the first climb. Growing pains for sure. And we're not there yet as far as drivetrains are concerned.
Bosch has a torque sensor that senses shifts and drop power momentarily.
This comparison would be nice with the regular Levos Comp Alloy or Comp Carbon. Not many can afford or are willing to splurge in a S-Works
Honestly, the difference between a carbon frame and an alloy frame on a Levo or any emtbr for that matter is hardly noticeable. Save the money for better brakes and suspension.
@@EMTBReview Someone recommended I change my brakes for Shimano Saints. Thoughts
Least for me its no question i'd rather go for a full power e bike. The only thing is can feel it when the motor cuts out
Full power is where 90% of the initial customer base is going. Opens up options for more riders and the range can't be beat!!
Mid power is getting better now with the Fazua Ride 60 motor and the Bosch SC motor options.
@EMTBReview I use it for a commuting bike mostly as it's a 12 mile ride but it's great as its durable and comfy plus gives me a load of power and hills and stuff is no issue 😂 Think it's the first bike I've fell in love with. Does the sl give a noticeable power boost or is it very minor?
it sounds like to me that a bike in the middle wouldnt be that bad ! but also, 2x14k and you want 3-4 bikes in stable? I can't do gold bars AND that haha.
Get the $5500 model of the Levo. The new SL, I'd say wait til the alloy models come out.
@@EMTBReview im kinda waiting for the Kenevo SL 2, but, maybe thats dumb :) The 5.5k Levo is definitely not bad
Great reviews! How come you never mention Marin Bikes? Talk about value, Alpine trail E2 is a great bike for $6300
I will check on them. None of my couple hundred friends ride Marin so I'm not around those bikes enough.
These are both great bikes, the price? Is pretty much always going to be 2 to 3K more due to having the Big Brand Name.
That's just how it is. These are pricey so its 3K more just for that name, at least, gotta pay for big time marketing,CEO, etc.
But they are really nice bikes no doubt.
I head to the mountains in nor cal so I went for the Canyon Spectral ON CF8, pricey but not insanely so.
The bike romps, it really likes to turn quick and zip around at high speeds. 900WH battery, so it must be able to climb 8000' at least.
Its a big bike but it likes to be thrown around, its my first E bike so who knows what I get next?
Like most I rarely run it in boost, but it goes a long ways when I do leave it in boost mode.
My recommendation is usually to get the $5500 model and then upgrade the brakes and suspension when the budget allows. The Levo has this option but the new alloy SLs are not out yet.
@@EMTBReview I will do some upgrades on the CF8 as it goes along, stronger drivetrain systems are coming along....I wonder how many of the 14K bikes these companies sell? My motorcycle habit isnt cheap, nor is my roadbike habit.
Nice bikes ! I went with levo 2.2 over levo 1.1 because of better torque and bigger battery, now with sl 1.2 I can look forward to a lighter emtb with higher torque 😎🤘🏽.
Exactly. The new Levo SL has a larger sweet spot now.
I believe the Levo got a quieter motor in 2022.
A hair. The real muffler occurred in 2023. 44% quieter.
i'm willing to sacrifice power for even more weight savings ... need another 5lbs shaved off that SL ... lol ... it's no joke for a 5'4 125lbs rider to be able to handle the bike without "man-handling" the bike, if you know what I mean ...
Ive ridden singletrack on dirtbikes with guys that are your size, 245 lb bike and they do fine. Just get used to it after a while.
Stay tuned. I have a 34 lb 2023 Levo SL coming in for test. A friend put all Epic parts on it. I can get it to 31 lbs too since I'm a little crazy.
@@EMTBReview say Whaaaaattttt ... ok, I also can't afford a $14k+ bike ... lol ... that's insane ....
@@bradsanders6954 appreciate the vote of confidence, but at 53, i'm just not AT ALL interested in heavy bikes, need efficiency more so than manhandle a sports equipment and i've gone through my motorcyle / dirtbike phase back in the days ... just different goals :-)
you can get a 2017 Mecedes on BMW for the price of these, and have way more torque
And way less fun.
@@MagneticMTB you've obviously never done 85 in a 30
@@MikeZak101 you’ve obviously never (something clever that relates to mountain biking or somehow disses you for putting others in danger with yer stupid car shit)
At least you didn't say 'you can get a motorcycle for.........' :)
I always advice folks to get the alloy $5k model whenever possible. The great thing with ebikes is a couple lbs. doesn't matter that much.
I've got some fun toys but my ebike is one of the best purchases I've ever made.