LONG TERM REVIEW: SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TURBO LEVO SL 

The first iteration of the Turbo Levo SL from Specialized was one of their first forays into the lightweight eMTB world, so it only makes sense that they made the second generation even better. With a claimed weight of around 40 pounds for a complete bike, Specialized touts the new Levo SL as having a traditional ride feel plus electric assistance. A full-carbon frame is built around 150mm of rear-wheel travel with loads of adjustability to let the bike adapt to virtually any trail. Simply put, they took all the positives of the Stumpjumper platform and added a motor to make this an extremely versatile all-mountain machine.

DRIVE SYSTEM

For the new Tubro Levo SL, Specialized developed an all-new second generation of their SL Rx Trail Tuned motor to deliver more power more efficiently. This new drive unit puts out 50 N/m of torque and 320 watts of peak power, and is paired with their fully integrated 320Wh battery system, along with the optional 160Wh range extender. Technically, the internal battery is removable, but it requires dropping the motor, so Specialized recommends keeping the battery in the frame.

Specialized uses their MasterMind Turbo Control Unit (TCU) mounted in the top tube to display system information with 120 different possible configurations through their Mission Control app, which also allows for fine-tuning of the power in the three ride modes. The small handlebar-mounted motor control sits on the left side of the cockpit and seamlessly integrates with the brake/dropper mount, with the single wire entering the frame next to the brake cable.

FRAME

The S-Works version of the Turbo Levo SL is built from Specialized Fact 11m carbon, which they claim is the strongest and lightest that they offer. The suspension linkage that connects the seatstays to a mounting point on the back of the seat tube is made from aluminum, but other than that the rest of the frame is made of composite, including the yoke for the rear suspension.

There are three different points of adjustment throughout the frame—two sets of upper headset cups to allow for a Neutral, Slack or Steep setting, a flip chip at the lower shock mount to adjust the bottom bracket height, and a flip chip at the rear axle to allow 27.5- or 29-inch wheels.

With the headset adjustments, the head tube angle can be set at 63.8, 64.6 or 65.7 degrees with reach numbers growing from 405mm to 525m across the six frame sizes. On our size S4 test bike, the reach sat at 470mm, and we kept the neutral headset to maintain the 64.6-degree head tube angle with a mixed-wheel setup.

SUSPENSION

The Turbo Levo SL features the same tried-and-true FSR Horst Link suspension design and layout with 150mm of travel as its cousin, the Stumpjumper Evo, with the exception of not having the brace that runs from the top tube to the seat tube.

Our S-Works carbon test bike came with a 210x55mm Fox Factory Float X shock that features low-speed compression and rebound adjustments paired with a Fox Factory 36 Grip 2 fork with 160mm of travel and a 44mm offset.

All six sizes of the Levo SL receive individual shock tunes to match the individual kinematics of each frame, which Specialized claims is done to maximize the usable suspension travel and maintain performance on longer descents.

COMPONENTS

With only the S-Works LTD model priced higher at $15,000, our $14,000 S-Works carbon build of the Turbo Levo SL does not skimp on components. There are two lower-tired builds at $8,000 and $10,000 with more entry-level components and suspension, but all models have the same drive system. SRAM’s new Code Ultimate Stealth brakes and HS2 rotors not only look good but are very effective in reigning in this powerhouse of a bike. These are one of the few SRAM brake options that we thoroughly enjoyed and felt confident with on longer descents.

There is an XX Transmission groupset and SRAM carbon ebike crank driving the rear wheel, which is a joy to use on ebikes, especially under power. Taking care of seatpost duties is a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post with 170mm of travel topped with a Specialized Bridge saddle. The Deity Copperhead stem and Knuckleduster grips paired with a Roval Traverse SL carbon handlebar felt comfortable and stable straight away, as did the Roval Traverse carbon wheels. Specialized takes care of tire duties, with a 29-inch Butcher in the front and 27.5-inch Eliminator in the rear, both in the Grid Trail casing and 2.3-inch width.

CLIMBING

When putting down power on the pedals, the Specialized 1.2 SL motor brings the power on smoothly without feeling jumpy. Some full-power eMTBs can feel squirrely or have unexpected bursts of power from the motor, but the 1.2 SL system felt smooth and closer to a non-motorized bike. We spent most of our time in either the Trail or Turbo modes when climbing, mainly staying in the Trail mode to maximize the range while still cruising up the climbs.

We didn’t feel the need to mess around with any of the tuning options on the app. The stock settings in the Trail and Turbo modes worked well during our test period and let us get a good feel for the system.

There is a noticeable difference when compared to a full-size eMTB with 80+ N/m of power in terms of climbing, but the lightweight nature of the Levo SL lets the bike feel like it has more power than it does. The 75.8-degree seat tube angle paired with the 470mm reach on the size S4 put us in a comfortable position to climb and let us easily balance our weight between the front and rear wheel.

For our taller riders, we did have to raise the Reverb AXS seatpost out of the collar a bit to get the saddle at the right height, but were still able to drop it out of the way for descents. We never felt the need to flip the climb switch on the rear shock, as the custom tune provided a supportive pedaling platform while still smoothing out small bumps—and it’s an ebike.

We did notice the limited range of the Levo SL’s 320Wh battery straightaway. Our test loop, where we could normally lap five or six times on a full-power eMTB, was limited to about three laps on the Levo SL, even with the range extender. This wasn’t unexpected, but it is something to note if long rides are your thing.

More mellow climbs and trails should see a bit more range with the battery, but steeper ascents will take a toll on how far you can go. Customizing the amount of power in each setting through the Specialized app will also affect the amount of range you can get with the Levo SL.

DESCENDING

The Levo SL handled very much like the Stumpjumper when pointed downhill but with even more stability, thanks to the added weight in the downtube and bottom bracket. The custom tune on the Float X shock let small bumps disappear without blowing through the rest of the travel on larger impacts and botched landings, and it provided a progressive platform to pump through rollers without feeling sluggish. The bike felt maneuverable through tighter and more technical trails without getting hung up, and popping off of jumps and manualing through straightaways was a joy.

It wasn’t necessarily as playful as a non-motorized mountain bike with the same amount of travel, but we didn’t feel glued to the ground either like we would on a full-power eMTB. The 27.5-inch rear wheel made slapping corners and finding alternate lines something we chased each time we rode the bike. For how fun and playful the Levo SL was, we still found loads of stability and poise when speeds increased and the trails got steeper.

The 160mm Fox 36 fork worked flawlessly, smoothing out small bumps and impacts while ramping up to handle larger hits and staying composed in more technical terrain. The wide range of adjustments on both the fork and shock let us dial in the suspension feel for whatever trail we encountered.

There wasn’t the same all-out stability and planted feeling you get from a full-size eMTB with noticeably more weight in the bottom bracket area, but we did find increased confidence through corners and rough singletrack compared to a non-motorized bike. When we wanted it to stick to the ground and plow through sections, it did just that.

WHAT DID WE LOVE?

Almost every detail was well thought out and engineered on the new S-Works Levo SL. The XX Transmission was a joy to use on an ebike, and the shifting under load was flawless, plus it just simply looks good. The entire bike has a stealthy black look that we love, with the Fox suspension and anodized components adding a splash of bling.

While out on the trail, it rides and handles very similarly to non-assist mountain bikes while giving you the extra range and capability of an ebike. The Fox Factory suspension and custom tune unlocked the full potential of the Levo SL frame, letting it feel right at home on anything from smooth flow trails and jumps to EDR-level downhill tracks.

WHAT DID WE HATE?

Though there are few faults with a bike at this price from a brand like Specialized, we had to get picky. The 170mm dropper length felt a bit too short for a frame size designed with this height range in mind. We would have preferred a cable-actuated seatpost with more travel over the wireless AXS seatpost.

Additionally, the seatpost developed some squish off the top within the first few rides, which isn’t desirable on a bike or seatpost with that high of a price tag. It was a simple fix, but something we would rather have not dealt with.

BOTTOM LINE

Like a well-built and thought-out sports car, the S-Works Turbo Levo SL is simply a joy to ride. Top-end components throughout the entire bike and a thoroughly evolved frame make it the cream of the crop when it comes to lightweight ebikes. Though it doesn’t have the range or top-end power of its full-size counterparts, the traditional feel and dialed geometry with the added plus of electric assistance make this platform hard to beat.

If you’re looking for something with tons of power and loads of range, like an 80+ N/m eMTB, then you may be disappointed, but that isn’t what the Levo SL is designed for. It’s built for the rider who wants to maximize their time out on the trail, turning that normal one-lap afternoon ride into something a bit more adventurous and perhaps discovering something new.

All of our test riders felt comfortable and confident on the bike straight away and loved the versatility that it offered. It excels on a variety of trails, from flow to rough tech, and combines the attributes of both regular and electric mountain bikes in a unique way with tons of adjustability. It comes with a price, but the S-Works Turbo Levo SL and others like it fill a unique void between regular mountain bikes and full-power electric bikes.

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TURBO LEVO SL

www.specialized.com/us

CATEGORY: Light eMTB

SUSPENSION: 160mm (front), 150mm (rear)

WHEEL SIZE: 29″ (front), 27.5″ (rear)

Price: $14,000
Weight: 40.2 pounds/18.23 kilograms (without pedals)
Sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4 (tested), S5, S6
Frame tested: S-Works Fact 11m carbon, 150mm travel (and material)
Shock: Fox Float X Factory 210x55mm
Fork: Fox 36 Factory 160mm, 44mm offset
Wheelset: Roval Traverse SL carbon, 29″ front, 27.5″ rear
Tires: Butcher, Grid Trail (29×2.3″) front; Eliminator, Grid Trail (29×2.3″) rear

Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS (170mm travel)
Saddle: Specialized Bridge, Ti rails
Handlebar: Roval Traverse SL carbon
Stem: Deity Copperhead
Grips: Deity Knuckleduster
Headset: Specialized adjustable headset (Neutral, Steep, Slack)
Brakes: SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth
Rotors: SRAM HS2, 200mm (f)/200mm (r)
Rear derailleur: SRAM XX Eagle Transmission
Shifters: SRAM AXS Pod
Crankset: SRAM carbon cranks
Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB
Cassette: SRAM XX Transmission, 12-speed, 10-52T
Chain: SRAM XX Transmission Flat-Top
Chainrings: SL 1.2 Spider, 32-tooth

GEOMETRY SIZE LARGE

Head tube angle: 65.7°–63.8°
Effective seat tube angle: 76.2°–75.8°
Reach: 470mm–475mm (18.5″–18.7″)
Stack: 632mm–635mm (24.9″–25″)
Bottom bracket height: 346mm–353mm (13.6″–13.9″)
Chainstay length: 431mm–443mm (17″–17.4″)
Wheelbase: 1228mm–1255mm (48.3″–49.4″)