2018 Demo Levo Carbon comp lands in Oz.

[outerlimits]

Bicycle Riders Morningside in Brisbane, QLD Australia have these for demo 7th to 20th August.
Have been told same battery and motor still for 2019.

[EDIT]- Thread title to remove errors around 2019 bike. Rob.

 

[Sophie777]

So certainly same motor and battery for the 2019 Levo Aluminum Comp.
Please also post pics of the all-aluminum versions if you come across those.

 

[Al Boneta]

Hmmm... Looks like the current 2018 Comp Carbon we have in the US

 

[DaiGaled]

I wonder if there are any upgrades other than paint.

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

Are you 100% sure these are 2019? They look very 2018 to me....

If they are 2019, Specialized have really lost the plot, missed the boat and destroyed my expectations.....

I think if it is true, I will crawl back into my hole and sulk for the next few months while I contemplate what brand I now need to jump to...

 

[eFat]

On their facebook it's just "Specialized Levo Comp Carbon test bikes available..."

 

[DaiGaled]

On their facebook it's just "Specialized Levo Comp Carbon test bikes available..."

That would explain why (as Al pointed out) they look like the carbon comp in the picture lol.

 

[Doomanic]

I doubt they’d fanfare a test on last years bikes though, especially if there are major changes on the way.

 

[Bennyb]

I’m no expert, but that’s a 2018 carbon comp. 100%

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

Maybe they have just a load of 2018s in that they really need to get shot of before the 2019s land?

I hope so..... cause they really do look like 2108s to me too.

 

[SteveF]

They're wasting their time if they haven't incorporated the new magnesium casing Brose motor. It has pedal pressure activated torque response and it's one feature desperately needed by specialized. No one want to try starting up on an incline and having to wait for half a wheel rev before some assistance kicks in.

 

[Doomanic]

What's the release date for the MagS? Anyone know?

 

[SteveF]

It's already been announced. Scroll down this page here BULLS E-MTB news 2019: lightweight 15,9 kg bike, Brose with 750-Wh-battery & eSUV full-susser | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine

The new Bulls EVO AM-4. I have postponed my Levo order to jump a generation in the hope the mag S is utilised on the new S-Works.
If it's not, then I'll be giving the Bulls guys a call.

 

[SteveF]

What's more.....it has a 750W battery

 

[Doomanic]

That’s not available until January though.

 

[SteveF]

It'll be worth the wait if Specialized don't come up with the goods. I just don't think a company as market savy as Specialized would wait with introducing the Mag S motor. It's such an important element of the bike and it's improvements are not just a facelift. It is a complete redesign and the torque sensing function is critical in keeping at the top of the game.

 

[Halcon]

You guys should post this on the 2019 Specialized Rumors Page. I hope its not true as well.

 

[Donnie797]

They're wasting their time if they haven't incorporated the new magnesium casing Brose motor. It has pedal pressure activated torque response and it's one feature desperately needed by specialized. No one want to try starting up on an incline and having to wait for half a wheel rev before some assistance kicks in.

Mine doesn't do that - assist activation comes pretty instant. Maybe that was an issue before the x.23 update?

 

[MarkH]

Also note Specialized also sometimes use non standard colour schemes for demo bikes so it's possible that a 2019 demo bike uses 2018 comp colour but is 2019 spec in all other areas.

 

[Surge]

They're wasting their time if they haven't incorporated the new magnesium casing Brose motor. It has pedal pressure activated torque response and it's one feature desperately needed by specialized. No one want to try starting up on an incline and having to wait for half a wheel rev before some assistance kicks in.

That's not at all how the 2018s behave, certainly not my S Works. Motor activation is fast, not half a wheel rev.

 

[SteveF]

Mine doesn't do that - assist activation comes pretty instant. Maybe that was an issue before the x.23 update?

Hi Donnie
I'm not reading the posts as often as I should, hence the delay. Your reply is very interesting. My understanding is that the current Levo torque sensing is off a wheel sensor that relies on a part revolution, or full revolution, of the wheel to switch on the power assist. If that is the case, then it equates to a torque sensing lag which places you at a distinct disadvantage when trying to restart on a steep incline ( 6% and upwards) and get some forward momentum under way. It would be next to impossible to get underway without instant torque response. That has been my perception riding a chain stay torque sensor bike that switches on as soon as the top chain line is tight. In that case I get instant reaction to pedal assist. Anything less and in my case I wouldn't be able to get underway.
So to read your comment that your Levo has almost instant reaction is at odds with a YouTube Levo review from the UK. sO I would be interest to hear more detail about the "x.23" update, what it is and when it occured.

 

[VaseLEVO]

Have you given a thought to it might be a perception issue.? I am new to this on my first ebike too, and I would have to say I don’t feel any delay either, but I can’t tell which side of the equation am in. Could be false positive or true positive.

 

[SteveF]

Have you given a thought to it might be a perception issue.? I am new to this on my first ebike too, and I would have to say I don’t feel any delay either, but I can’t tell which side of the equation am in. Could be false positive or true positive.

The definitive test would be to get on a steep incline, preferably single track with a loose surface , dismount, then try to get underway again. You'll need to be in the lowest gear.

 

[MarkH]

I believe the rear wheel sensor is for speed, and rider input is sensed by crank rotation internally. Pick up on my Carbon Comp is pretty instantaneous.

 

[outerlimits]

Hi Donnie
I'm not reading the posts as often as I should, hence the delay. Your reply is very interesting. My understanding is that the current Levo torque sensing is off a wheel sensor that relies on a part revolution, or full revolution, of the wheel to switch on the power assist. If that is the case, then it equates to a torque sensing lag which places you at a distinct disadvantage when trying to restart on a steep incline ( 6% and upwards) and get some forward momentum under way. It would be next to impossible to get underway without instant torque response. That has been my perception riding a chain stay torque sensor bike that switches on as soon as the top chain line is tight. In that case I get instant reaction to pedal assist. Anything less and in my case I wouldn't be able to get underway.
So to read your comment that your Levo has almost instant reaction is at odds with a YouTube Levo review from the UK. sO I would be interest to hear more detail about the "x.23" update, what it is and when it occured.

There is a torque sensor in the motor and a speed sensor on the chainstay. No lag, just all get up and go. ?

 

[ccrdave]

I think it depends on the motor firmware some of the earlier editions wernt so good at using the torque sensor input, as @outerlimits says there are touque sensors in the motor but in my opinion until the latest firmware I dont believe they were used to the full advantage.
My first 2016 levo you had to do half a crank revolution before the motor cut in, my 2018 with the 5.0.4 firmware is all but instantanious, I mean it does need you to weight/move the crank but only by a tiny amount

 

[Donnie797]

Hi Donnie
I'm not reading the posts as often as I should, hence the delay. Your reply is very interesting. My understanding is that the current Levo torque sensing is off a wheel sensor that relies on a part revolution, or full revolution, of the wheel to switch on the power assist. If that is the case, then it equates to a torque sensing lag which places you at a distinct disadvantage when trying to restart on a steep incline ( 6% and upwards) and get some forward momentum under way. It would be next to impossible to get underway without instant torque response. That has been my perception riding a chain stay torque sensor bike that switches on as soon as the top chain line is tight. In that case I get instant reaction to pedal assist. Anything less and in my case I wouldn't be able to get underway.
So to read your comment that your Levo has almost instant reaction is at odds with a YouTube Levo review from the UK. sO I would be interest to hear more detail about the "x.23" update, what it is and when it occured.

Hi Steve, like others said before - the rear wheel sensor is just the speed sensor that makes sure the assist stops on 25km/h. The torque sensor in the motor is handling the initiation and level of assist and this comes very instant. You can test that pretty easy - switch to turbo, stand still, pull the brakes and put some pressure eon the pedal. You should instantly feel the assist kicking in without any rotation (ok, let it be 5mm) of the pedals.

The x.23 update makes the assist & customizing better, so theres no reason to not get it
They got rid of a buggy function which caused the assist to fail or stutter in some conditions and added customization of all three assist levels and the max motor power on each level. And the assist itself just got better, 20% Eco now feels fine (just enough) whereas before it was hardly a help. There are some comparisons found in the interwebs including charts and stuff if you want to dig into that. But would recommend just to get the update, it makes everything better

One thing to note is, if you use other apps like blevo after the update they can't support all functions anymore. But I don't use them so I can't go into details (you'll find it here in the forums if you search).

 

[Jeff McD]

Hey Steve, I guarantee you it is near instantaneous start up. With the x.23 update I was able to customize trail mode to start at 55% assist but increase all the way up to 100% with increased pressure on the pedals, similar to boost, but had to have the shop reprogram it back down to increase only up to 70% because when starting on a steep incline the hard pressure on pedal stroke would make the motor immediately jump to 100% with the front wheel rearing up, spinning around and put me on the ground with the front end of the bike pointed down the hill, before I knew what was going on and without any possibility of correcting, haha. I swear to god it happen that fast. And I'm pretty darn quick and a good climber.

I kind of doubt specialized would let themselves get behind others with that important a feature.

 

[gelfy666]

It's already been announced. Scroll down this page here BULLS E-MTB news 2019: lightweight 15,9 kg bike, Brose with 750-Wh-battery & eSUV full-susser | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine

The new Bulls EVO AM-4. I have postponed my Levo order to jump a generation in the hope the mag S is utilised on the new S-Works.
If it's not, then I'll be giving the Bulls guys a call.

I'm liking the Bulls or possibly Maxx FAB4 EL

 

[Jrwilliams7]

I ride for a Specialized sponsored team and our rep was at the launch day at Specialized last week.

Not only are new colors coming in October for the levo line a stronger motor and larger battery are also in the works. Here’s the kicker, the levo will become a 150 mill travel bike. Specialized sales are huge on the levo and they are listening to buyers and retailers on what customers want. I still think it’s the best ebike out, until October.

The kenevo will remain unchanged from its current 2019 line up.