2023 Specialized Levo SL speed, noise and ride tested light emtb
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ค. 2023
- Levo SL vs. Trek Fuel EXe vs Orbea Rise vs. Transition Relay, Turbo Levo comparison mid power ebike lightweight emtb for 2023 levo sl gen 2
Bikes and components at Competitive - bit.ly/3onc6Z5
JensonUSA - alnk.to/cSF8uw3Shop trek Fuel EXe options here: bit.ly/3L6edsT - กีฬา
This video is only Part 1. Other videos in the hopper are:
- Levo SL vs Fuel EXe vs. Orbea Rise vs. Transition Relay - detailed comparison
- Levo SL vs. old Levo SL vs. Turbo Levo
- Levo SL mullet compared to Levo SL 29er - speed, range, handling and fun
- Speed and sound comparison. Different trail scenarios.
Any of those compelling? Any requests?
levo sl vs exe vs rise pls :)
The SL vs Fuel vs Rise … Would be great! Please compare peddling resistance without motor engaged.
Also think Rise Carbon would be a more fare comparison compared to H Rise which weighs as a full fat like 21 kg compared to Rise M at 18 kg.
Levo vs relay
New levo SL vs relay!
I’m torn between the two. 😭
levo vs levo sl. range and climbs
Very informative video, especially with your comparisons. Best available on this release day. Thanks!
Thank you. That is very high praise indeed.
Dude you have the wet dream selection of ebikes in ur fleet. And really good review too with all the comparisons plus ur honest opinion and not just a sales pitch for specialized
Rrrrright? I have a great fleet so I have great responsibility. My only goal is the at viewers learn some insight and useful info about these bikes. :)
I love your review especially your chart showing the metrics! Thank you!
Much appreciated.
Great review (as always) love your power & consumption comparisons thanks!
Yeah, the power consumption reports are revealing since they can reveal good range data.
Francis! Great to see you. Good info.
What's up bud? I remember you well. Always stoked!
Thanks again, you gave the review the others did not, in particular with the detailed comparison to the TREK. I am still on my Gen 2 Levo (bought it after your review), but am looking for a different bike. Will definetly give it a try. I believe for my riding, I would go with the 29er and maybe the slacker headtube, but will see.... the only thing worrying (beyond the price) is the range.... Greta work man, keep it up!
Thank you. I think the manufacturers are pleased since they are actually learning something from my review. Really cool since it took a lot of effort and my findings hold water even after many more test rides.
I hope to provide much more insight about this bike and others in the near future.
Juat bought the new levo sl carbon 2023, and god damm i love it. What a beast down the trails
Great review, great to see a strong competitor to the Fuel ExE
Yup, this space now is super interesting and competitive.
Orbea rise
Great review and information!
Do you think that install a ZEB 160mm fork would be good for this bike, similar though fork as the full Turbo Levo came as standard? Also, for this bike which 2023 RS SD ultimate shock would you recommend the linear or progressive can?
Thanks!
I was just after something i could do occasional trail rides on, at $2450 usd the '22 sl is doing fine.
It's what I like about new bikes- they bring down the price of 'old' bikes 👌
Fantastic video! Thanks for so much detail and information.
You are most welcome. Spread the word about our channel.
@@EMTBReview will do, subscribed too. Look forward to more videos on the SL 2
Watching your reviews of this bike pushed me to getting a stump evo last week
Right on, that is the parent of this bike.
I'm thinking of renewing my turbo levo from 2018... I'm very interested in the new SL, do you recommend it over the levo g3? I dont like much climbing but i love go downhill!
Great improvements!! Just wish the battery was easier to remove. That was my main thing but still...this new Levo SL sounds fantastic. Glad they kept it around 40 lbs.
Yeah, this bike is sooo much better than the outgoing one with component selection and suspension progress. And it's still light.
If the battery was easier to remove, it would be much heavier. They have to add a lot of material to strengthen the down tube when there is a massive opening.
@@bostondye3736 Nope incorrect. I just built up a custom Exe size Medium which weighs just 37.1 lbs inc pedals & cage with removable battery. This is over 2.3lbs lighter than this new $15,000 SL SWorks & I managed to build my Exe for half this $ cost which is absolutely phenomenal!
@@foxfolk3837 I like the sound of that!
Thanks for comparing it with the competition. the new Levo SL looks great, much improvement visually and technically. I can't wait to see the new Kenevo SL though
Yeah, I wonder, this year or next.
Can you replace the KSL motor with the new 1.2 motor?
Any thoughts on 23 Levo SL vs Transition Relay ?
Nice! Great review!
Thank you sir! This bike flies!
For me it sounds as if it’s not much more quiet.
@@harzenduro the old Levo SL roared like a lion at full power of 240 watts.
The new motor at 320watts is definitely more quiet. But the big difference is if the new motor is going at 240 watts like the old one (for comparison). It purrs.
Great review. The new SL looks great. I think I will hold onto my Orbea Rise for now, but I like what Specialized is doing. Nice to have so many mid-weight eBike options.
Thank you. This one is a truly great handling bike. And it has so many options geometry and setup wise.
Help me decide, 2022 Turbo Levo Pro or 2023 Turbo Levo SL S works. This will be my first E-bike, need a little help on the long steep hill climbs keeping up with my 25 year old son in law. Current bike 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie.
Other reviews have commented on the 170mm (long) crank arms which seem too long for a modern e-bike with a low bottom bracket and just encourage pedal strikes. Was this an issue for you? Would you prefer shorter cranks? Do you think they went for the longer ones to give a better impression of motor power?
No issue with pedal strikes in 10 rides. This is a pedaler’s ebike so they wanted to put in proper cranks like the last SL. Is this the same length as the previous one?
Cool I can still raise the bb height if needed since it ships in low
Great video on this channel! Question as I have a borrowed older generation Turbo Levo SL comp I have been testing. How did you find the comparison in terms of gearing between the new generation SL and the previous model? I ride on the road and gravel quite a bit to get to trails etc. and one thing I notice is that when I am on my smallest cassette ring on the back my cadence is really limited by the gearing - too easy to pedal once I get to a certain level but am still below the cut off speed. Wondering if there are any changes to that on the new version or if there are any suggestions. I suspect the cassette size and such is all tied into the way the motor is set up. PS I am not a techie as far as bikes are concerned. :) Many Thanks for all the useful info you provide in these videos.
The gearing on both generations are the same. Both of them come with a 32t front ring and that is too small IMHO. Changing it to a 34t is a great upgrade. It works well on both models and it's even better on the new one since the motor has 40% more torque.
@@EMTBReview Great advice! much appreciated.
Looks so much nicer without the side arm, I'm really tempted by this bike but its hard to pick anything other than the Orbea Rise as its miles ahead of all the others, especially with some mods to improve the geo. Will just have to test one. Great work BTW.
Yes, we have a full comparison video of Midpower bikes now on our channel
Great review! Love the uphil comparison chart. Great bike it seems, but think I still rate Orbea Rise Carbon at the top.
Thank you. Yes, I love my Rise too for the range and usability. Wish the Rise was slacker and more rowdy capable though.
@@EMTBReview Haven’t been able to watch the video yet as I’m on holiday, but do you think the new Levo SL is rowdier and more capable?
In the video where you test the fuel EXe against the levo sl Gen you recorded 7:05 for the EXe and 7:22 for the levo sl. In this video the EXe is still 7:05 but the levo sl is now 7:30. How does that come?
Ah yes, in the previous video, the 2021 Levo SL recorded a fast time of 7:22. The average rider watts on that was just slightly off at 201 watts. I'll retest and be more consistent on which data I use next time around
Great review! Hoping you could do a comparison between this and the Exe. I found that when I tested the exe, it did not give me enough power up steep sustained rocky climbs so wondering how this will compare. I like the Exe stealth look though. I am going to demo this on Wednesday so really excited to see how this compares!
Yes, full comparison coming with much more detail.
That is the issue I have with my EXe. I put in 200 w consistently on a steep climb but power from bike is mostly around 100W in high mode despite everything maxed out. Now others have told me that they don’t see that on their bike, so there could be a software/hardware issue with certain bikes. I have never seen anyone doing a review (like this one) reference that lack of power on the EXe.
@@danielboesch9057 yeah I found that on the steep climbs too tbh and found that it’s actually easier with my analogue bike to climb without the additional weight . The exe feels Algood on flat terrain though but ideally I want assist on those steep bits ! If they had perfected the climbing steep bits of the exe, I definitely would have bought it. I do wonder if the levo sl power delivery feels as natural as the exe ?
so if I understand it, you buy the mullet, you substitute a rear 29 for the 27.5, and suddenly the assistance cut-off speed is increased to level which is no longer within the law - can the user switch the rear wheel circumference him/herself via Mission Control or does it have to go to the dealer (like on the Brose-engined Levos)?
Correct. As a 29er rear, this will around 22 mph with assist. Yes, Mission Control can adjust it back down by specifying the correct new wheel circumference
I know this isn’t an apples to apples comparison, but I thought I’d ask anyway. In your review of the Timp Peak, you said it’s one of the best handling bikes you’ve ridden and that it rode like a 150/160 bike. Others say the Timp Peak is also lively, etc. how do you think the levo SL compares?
Thanks for the great reviews. I’m in the market for an emtb and your reviews have been really helpful!
Ahhh yes, the Timp Peak with 170mm/170mm 29er is definitely a great bike. That is a capable beast with great short 437mm chainstays. I'm ready to try a 27.5 inch rear wheel on that.
This Levo SL is 39 lbs compared to the Timp Peak's 51 lbs. Sooo, this Levo SL is more nimble and it's easier to change direction and pop in the air. SL is more playful and it has very supple suspension as well. I think the Fezzari will show it's big capabilities and sweet spot if I can take it to bigger terrain and bigger rocks in the Sierra this summer.
Thanks for the walk through. I have a fuel exe and love it and I probably would not trade it for the 2023 levo for a few reasons, but it's so great to see so many new and exciting bikes come out all the time. They seem to have nailed it in all categories but a few with this bike. Stoked to hear more of your thoughts on it.
Yes, it's a great step indeed.
will you be doing a video to see if the 1.2 motor will fit in the 2021 frame?
I am not sure. I'm sure it will work. I'll ask Specialized if they have any intentions of selling a motor separately. Would be cool if they did.
Oh man, i have been considering one of these mid power bikes and sell the levo Pro. None have convinced me, but this might! If you had to give up your gen 3 Levo for this would it be worth it?
For me, yes. I’m light and this allows me to keep up with anyone now.
Also I’m distressed Levos break drivetrains, motors, shocks. So it will be cool to have a daily driver that will be reliable and will keep me fit
@@EMTBReview I'll have to wait to see the pro version, definitely will need the extender. The battery was a miss for sure, I can get 40 miles with over 2000 ft on the levo Pro. No way that's happening on this!
Hi, can we remove the battery and have it work just using the range extender? Like how kenevo SL does it
Yes, can definitely do that.
What is the difference between SL Levo turbo with sl levo turbo LTD? What LTD stands for? One is 14,000.00 but price jumps to 15,000 by adding this LTD
Uuggghh now I’m torn between the new Levo SL and the transition relay. Which would you say is your favorite between the two since you’ve ridden both? I’m demoing the relay tomorrow and riding here at Galbraith in bham. Can’t wait!
Definitely the Levo SL. Both of these bikes are fun and capable in the steep, techy. The Relay is a good bike but it is version 1.0. There are some rattles, no charging port on the bike and no extender available til 2024. And the Fazua system is still a little buggy.
I have a relay. Amazing bike for handling and ride characteristics. Feels like my spire and patrol in one. FAZUA controls and UI is pretty lame but I don’t ride my ebike for the tech. FAZUA motor is great though.
@@425flex what do you mean by UI? I demoed the PNW relay this past Friday and I had a blast on it!! A little rattle but wasn’t enough to irritate me. The remote was a little finicky and the lights on the top tube were a little bright. But nothing to bother me to the extreme. Plus the transition shop mentioned that fazua will most likely come out with a click remote and display unit. I’ve been back and fourth from the relay and Levo SL, and the relay most likely fits my needs with the take out battery, 60nm of torque, and the 430 Wh battery. Plus it looks sick as hell too 🤤
@@Table_Topper_Tony I just mean the top tube led light bar is pretty boring and like you mentioned way too bright. The ring remote is pretty garbage. Only have had my relay for a month and the ring gets stuck when I flick it up due to the grit and debri that gets trapped in there. But like you said they are hopefully coming out with a fix. All in all the specialized master mind tcu/app compared to FAZUA LED bar/app is loads better.
How do you think Pivot Shuttle SL would fair on your test hill?
On the test hill, it will be at around 6:50, just like the Transition Relay which has the exact same motor, battery and weight. If I hit the boost button multiple times, it may manage 6:30 with the 10 second surges at 450 watts. It's real wattage is 380 watts.
At the end of the day, that Fazua Ride 60 feels just like the new Shuttle SL motor but with a bigger battery and no available extender
I'll be keeping my Kenevo SL, as I find the power more than enough, and I de-tune it. Now, when they do an updated Kenevo Sl...then de-tune that as well: Hell ya, and lighter! I love the adjustability, like the Stumpjumper EVO, KSL. Too bad the motor is a different profile, not backwards compatible but I did not expect that.
Right on. I'm sure the next Kenevo SL update will have this motor.
I had to get rid of my Kenevo SL as I wasn't time efficient on solo rides. And group rides with ebike buddies, I was holding everyone back on punchy climbs and I had carry extenders. This new Levo SL, I ride fast solo and able to hang with full-powered buddies with one extender.
I really hope the new one will support full 27.5", I'm below average height and 29"s just suck the fun out of everything
we need the same review but for a kenevo sl 2
I was wondering when that motor was coming. They had to do it. I'm looking forward to demo one. I probably won't buy one, though. I will wait for that motor in a kenevo.
This is definitely coming in the Kenevo. It's just what that bike needs for the big terrain it's ready for.
Great review. Well done. Yeah, HUGE fail on making the battery not easier to remove. If you want to fly your bike somewhere it has to be removed.
That is a little fail since a tiny fraction of the market for this bike takes the battery out for flying. The gains are in aesthetics, weight and rattle-free performance. So they made their choice on the attributes to pursue.
Battery is still removable for travel. But for those who want to do this regularly, there will be better options.
The option if you need more batery power is to engage a external batery.
@@manuelalberto87 It's NOT a matter of more batter power, the range extenders work great. it's the time it takes to remove the main battery before flying and then putting it back it. The motor has to be dropped out to remove the battery.
@@stanleycrocker775no one takes their bikes on planes. It's good that specialized choose to not make accommodations for .000000001% of the emtb Rider population
The GIANT TRANCE X Advanced E+ is the bike that can give this and the Orbea Rise a serious run for the money, 400 wh battery, tunable torque settings, and battery extender! It’s the bike I’m most intrigued by and I hope you do a review real soon!
I’m always excited to see your reviews, honest and informative!
Seems like Trek still has the best drive system? I wonder if others will be able to use it or is just licensed to Trek?
Trek is the most compact. It's not as powerful though and its peak torque not available through a broad range of rpms. Also, seems to have drag and is more battery hungry than others.
Definitely quiet and is one of the best.
The exclusive license to Trek for a year seems over and there are a bunch of bikes coming out this year with the TQ motor. A lightweight one from Scott has been announced. www.scott-sports.com/us/en/product/scott-lumen-eride-900-sl-bike?article=290593008
Others are using it already. Scott Lumen has a TQ Motor and there are a couple other brands with TQ as well.
Do you think there will be a trek slash e bike with the TQ MOTOR?
which size did you test? S3?
Yes, S3. I'm 5'7" and love roomy, long reach bikes.
Is the 1.2 motor backward compatible?
bolt-compatible, battery, wiring and TCU seem compatible. Hopefully, Specialized can answer that.
In reality, they'll most likely never sell the motor separately since that will take away a lot of new sales. The new Levo SL is a much better platform than the old. That Kenevo SL though is a great bike and will really come to life with this new motor if a retrofit is allowed.
Where are these places you are riding in?
I ride mostly Santa Cruz and Pacifica. Most of this video was shot in Santa Teresa County park in San Jose, CA
@@EMTBReview BTW, I really enjoy watching your reviews. You're one of the best e-mtb reviews I've seen thus far. Always so detailed. Thanks!
Your English vernacular is spot on... I'm guessing you were born 1967...
"one of the best bikes I've ever ridden."
"the motor: they nailed it."
"the battery - not so jazzed."
"Love my Levo - this beats the Levo in terms of sending Fun"
"Turns my 3 hr ride into a 1.5 hr ride"
Nice, Francis. Wish I could ride with ya!
haha... you know... that is really flattering you find my musings quotable.
Thank you. Miss you my good man. This beats my favorite bike so it must be my new favorite bike!
@@EMTBReview send it my way when you’re done, eh? My Levo SL could use an upgrade
totally agree if they would have made the battery 400wh that would have put all other brands behind
i defo would have pull the trigger without thinking but with this 320wh.
eehh not to sure
That would have sealed the deal for many. Fitting too as it will go hand-in-hand with the bump in power.
I have a Trek Fuel EXe 9.8XT and I preferred it over the old Levo SL which I rode twice. The Levo SL actually seemed stronger to me than the Fuel which doesn’t seem to provide steady full power in high mode. Other than that I really prefer the Fuel EXe: it’s better balanced, Rockshox suspension is super plush and the integration of display and app was mich better than the old Levo SL. I also prefer the silent TQ Motor and the fact that the battery is easily removable. Having the removable battery allows me to keep it indoors in the winter and also charge in a restaurant at the bike park when needed.
Yeah, the old Levo SL is not good since it has old suspension and geometry that's not as supple and supportive. The Fuel EXe is definitely a better handler than that with its poppy, supportive feel.
This new 2023 Levo SL definitely went up many levels and leapfrogged even the Trek in terms of handling and suppleness.
The old Levo SL was a pretty good motor once it got going. If the rider rpm is constantly high, that Levo SL put out good power. If there's a lot of steep, stop and go, it was a dog. The Trek TQ motor has decent torque but it's not as strong as advertised over steep, sustained climbs. Also, the TQ motor has to be configured in the app to get the most power in Turbo mode. Default is a little muted.
@@EMTBReview thanks for the reply. I always enjoy your reviews!
I recently built up an Exe full high end custom build. My Exe in size Medium now weighs just 37.1lbs inc pedals & cage which is over 2.3lbs lighter than this new 2023 SL Sworks which costs $15,000. I managed to build up my Exe for half the $ cost with removable battery to boot. Running 160 fork, changed shock stroke to 150 with full clearance and can run mullet so very comparable to the new SL & with my lighter weight Exe would be great to ride side by side with tisi new 2023 SL to see how it plays out?
@@foxfolk3837 Nice. What tires, seat post pedals did you use as I am owning the Fuel Exe 9.9 xtc but looking for more weight off. I just do that with every bike. ;). Thanks!
TQ and Fazua definitely quieter than the new SL, but i think it's funny how they one up the EX-e with the 20 extra watts at max power.
I agree on the noise. The TQ just doesn't seem as torquey as they claim and it's not over a broad range of rpms.
Fazua Ride 60 is a great motor but they claim 450 watts. In reality, it's really just 380 watts and the rest of the watts is just for a 10 second boost mode.
@@EMTBReview I have a Rise H, but I am leaning towards the EX-e, but need an Extra Battery and 3 range extenders to get the similar WH to the Rise H with 1 extender (792wh vs 880wh). The stealthiness of the Fuel would be easier to hide in places ur not supposed to be...I think I could get away with it @ places like Rockville.
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
Yes, I've had many motor failures on my Gen2 full-powered Levo. On the Levo SL, I know of no failures since this motor has no belt and is much more bulletproof.
Valid comment but you don't need to put itin every one of our 2023 Levo SL videos.
Knee jerk reaction is Specialized cut some corners to get the new model released to compete with lost sales to the other mid power bikes. Hopefully they'll work out the battery limitations. Seems a touch heavy and pricy given the small battery. New Rise is cheaper, more powerful, has a bigger battery and is lighter spec for spec.
true but the geometry on the rise isn't as well designed as this new levo SL plus you get the benefits of no cables running through the headset which the orbea has and are a pain in the rear to work with if you need any service done on your bike lol
This definitely wasn't rushed. It was delayed quite a bit to get the power up and the noise down. The weight is very good at 38 lbs because this thing is built to ride and shred. Great tires, suspension, brakes and all the touch points.
I love my Rise because of the Range. That rattle though is a big downer and the geometry and suspension is kinda trail/xc. It has to be modded quite a bit to get it to rally.
I'm pretty upset the new Rise has identical geometry to the one introduced around 3 years ago. Too steep
One thing is for certain, Specialized did not rush this one out - it's been 3 full years since the previous Levo SL and this version has been rumoured for release for well over a year. If anything they held the release back whilst clearing stock of the previous generation Levo SLs.
@E-MTB Review depends on your local trails imo. 23 model with the motor update, the rattle is mostly gone. The new cells/software are more efficient as well. New frame lighter. I like the 150/140 configuration. Also like not having to bring an extender or get range anxiety. The final point is the cost difference. The new SL pricing is outlandish. I'd love to see you add a 23 carbon model Rise to the fleet or at least for testing. The M10 lines up price wise with the Comp. The component specs between those 2 bikes are drastically different. I'm not bombing big mountains in my locale NWA for the configuration is great. Final factor for me (over the tq bikes, the fazua is flawed) was my weight. I'm 205lb (gym rat) and like the extra punch from the ep8rs + range. Nearly bought a Wild or Timp Peak but didn't like the on trail feel of the heavier bike.
The battery size is a non starter for me.
Understood. It really needs to be bigger. Funny no other review channels talk about it at all a downside.
It really depends on the type of riding people do. For the alps with lots of climbing it would not be enough. For what I ride (typically 20 miles with 1500 feet of climbing) this size is fine. I have a Fuel EXe with a 360Wh battery and I never drained it. On a typical ride I use 60%, riding mostly in Trail (mid) level. Rider Weight will also be important.
@@danielboesch9057 True. But with a 400+wh battery and/or a bigger extender, the sweet spot and the usability of the Levo SL would fit a lot more types of riding and give owners way more options.
Yeah, I'm 204 lbs so I need all the battery I can get! With that said the application dictates the design so if t fits your application it's the right bike for you!
Want more power, look at orbea rise
Just bought a brand new 21 for 3k off
Two takeaways
The motor got quiet enough to hear you panting
You need longer lunch breaks 😂
Rrrrrrrright? I did that climb 20 times at least. My breathing should be the calibration or reference point for the motor noise. :)
It's cool that these new motors are quiet enough that the dominant noise is the tire on the ground.
You can’t fly with a (range extender) battery greater than 160Wh.
True. But a bike needs to designed for maximum usability, not niche use cases.
One that would be cool is to later offer a 240 wh battery extender that is compatible. Users can have 160 extenders or 240wh in their arsenal!
not removable battery... they should rotate the motor like on Levo and yes 400 wat battery
Rotating the motor makes it look soo not stealthy though since there's that huge bump that takes away the water bottle space too.
Removable battery really does not seem to be a huge priority in this category.
A removable battery adds weight. Can't have your cake and eat it.
It's 2023 and Specialce still hasn't gotten a UL rating for any of their E-bikes yet. Panasonic did that years and years ago. I guess when the company is lead by a "vacuum sales man" that's what you get.
Panasonic has bikes? Good comment there until the cheap shot
@@EMTBReview I would love to have a COMO 5.0 IGH, but they won't get the UL rating. Plus they lied to me about the new Global Haul ST having a UL rated battery in an email I got from them when I asked. It does not. NO Special lies e-bikes will be sold in NYC after mid August.
Shite battery range, will need to retro fit my battery jacket for a proper day out
Battery jacket?