2019 Specialized TURBO LEVO HARDTAIL 29 - newbie

[Madk higgins]

Hi all, I'm no spring chicken and in the past I've had marin mountain bikes, but I've not had a bike for many years, and being semi retired I quite fancy getting out in the fresh air more. I won't be doing anything extreme so I quite fancy the specialized turbo levo hardtail 29, but when ever I try to search for reviews on it, the better (more expensive) model comes up so I am struggling to get reviews on the cheaper one.

I have a few questions with regards this model, as follows:

1). Is the specialized after sales service good?

2). Will specialized stores price match other stores?

3). Is there any reason why few people seem to go with this cheaper (hardtail) model?

4) I am reasonably fit, but being heavy bikes are they reasonably okay for lifting in and out of an estate car, or will I need to start pumping iron for a few months first??

Any replies appreciated

 

[R120]

1. Specilized have an excellent reputation for after sales care in the UK, but IMO buying the bike from a store that knows what they are doing with the EMTB's is critical - Berkshire Cycles, Raceco, and Freeborn Bikes are 3 such dealers.

2. A lot of stores will price match.

3. The Levo hardtail is a very basic spec, even compared with other brands hardtail, and quite often the price difference between a basic full suspension and a hardtail EMTB is not that great - you may be able to pick up a 2018 Levo Full Suspension for not far off the price of the hardtail in a sale - again I would test ride the bike if possible, if you can afford the FS I would go down that route.

4.Yes, but taking the wheels off will help, and probably be necessary to get it in to an estate - lifitn them onto roof racks is where it get tricky!

 

[Max-E]

I’m a real hard tail fan but unless you’re really just doing gentle fire roads and canal paths etc (in which case a Levo is maybe overkill) a FS EMTB makes a lot more sense.

 

[Sandy]

I just picked up (this week) a Levo HT. Love it, handn't appreciated they were "basic", but then I was originally checking Hellfrauds offerings and decided to give my local bike shop a try. Obviously there was much more expensive offerings, but £2k was my personal limit.

As for fitting in a car, I have a small hatchback, Renault Zoe. With rear seat folded down I fit the bike in with a squeeze with the front wheel off.

 

[R120]

Basic isn’t necessarily a bad thing, they are good quality components, but an advanced rider is going to want more tune ability and performance that what is specified - for general riding around and non aggressive riding they are fine, and basic means easy to set up too

 

[Sandy]

Basic isn’t necessarily a bad thing, they are good quality components, but an advanced rider is going to want more tune ability and performance that what is specified - for general riding around and non aggressive riding they are fine, and basic means easy to set up too

One mans easy is another mans rocket science. I've not set mine up at all (I changed the bell, does that count?). I just get on and ride and give it a wipe down when done. That's what attracted me to the Specialised Levo HT. Known decent brand, my LBS supports / services them. It copes fine with stubbly grass trails, I've gone up some steep loose ground gradients and I'm happy with it. Yup the back end jumps up and down when going over really rough ground if your off the saddle. Or your ass takes a pounding if you remain seated.... i bought a paid of MTB Bike padded shorts, now my ass is fine.

£2k was a no brainer for a noob like me. £7k+ for some outrageous beast that I'd just let down by being a noob made no sense to me. I can understand who the big boys ride them though. So customisable, but wasted on me.

The EMBN channel on Youtube is what sold me on a Specialized bike. Frankly I just presumed they were mega bucks that's why Halfords didn't sell them.... lol Yup i'm that guy that'd go to Halfords before thinking of a small Local. Just because it never occurred to me. Had a friend recommend Leslie Bike Shop, who couldn't have been friendlier. Only a couple of hundred quid more for Specialized over a Voodoo, so glad I saw the light. The videos on the EMBN channel are entertaining and a lot are specifically designed for noobs and not at all condescending.

 

[R120]

All good point, although I think EMBN are rather dismissive of E-Hardtails, they tend to talk people out of them where as I am a big fan, and have one myself.

 

[DTZ]

My other half has a Levo HT (Womens version) and I rode it quite a bit to commute to work before I decided to by myself an FSR version.

The bike itself is good, brakes do their job, gears do their job, motor does its job etc, but to be honest its really let down by the Suntour forks! I'm quite heavy (95kg) and the forks (even with preload fully wound back) are just about OK to take the edge of rough tracks for me, but they are still awful. The other half is a lot lighter and if the track is less than billiard table smooth the forks offer her no absorption at all. I've purchased a set of Revelations from a comp to upgrade from the sektors on my base, and the plan is to put my sektors onto her HT - Hopefully that will make the bike a lot better.

 

[Madk higgins]

Thanks for the above comments guys, and I now have the levo HT and I am pleased with it, and definitely benefited from an emtb not having been on a bike for around 20 years, and I am never going to be doing 6' jumps in the air (would struggle with 6" jumps).

I have used it a few times over my local woods, and I don't doubt that a full suspension would have been better as the woods aren't as smooth as I remember (probably down to my old age), but I just couldn't justify the big difference in cost. My old marin mtb never even had front suspension, so at least the levo HT is a step up.

One word of warning for anyone thinking of getting a levo HT, is that levo no longer provide a handlebar remote, and even when I went into order my HT, I looked at the full suspension levo and wasn't told about this. The manual also says that 'all levo models are supplied with a handlebar remote.' I spoke to the manager where I bought it, and he is ordering one for me and fitting it at no charge (I'm not the first customer to have this issue). Mine is built in 2018 according to the frame, so I'm suprised it never came with one. A bit mean of Specialized for taking the handlebar remote off the bike despite their manual saying all levos come with this.

 

[DTZ]

One word of warning for anyone thinking of getting a levo HT, is that levo no longer provide a handlebar remote, and even when I went into order my HT, I looked at the full suspension levo and wasn't told about this. The manual also says that 'all levo models are supplied with a handlebar remote.' I spoke to the manager where I bought it, and he is ordering one for me and fitting it at no charge (I'm not the first customer to have this issue). Mine is built in 2018 according to the frame, so I'm suprised it never came with one. A bit mean of Specialized for taking the handlebar remote off the bike despite their manual saying all levos come with this.

I posted a thread regarding this a couple of days ago - I emailed Specialized Rider care about the missing remote and they are being provided FOC by Specialized via dealers, but the dealer has to request one for you.

Its not that they "removed" the handlebar remote, its more that they had supply issues and could not fit them because they had none.

 

[Madk higgins]

I posted a thread regarding this a couple of days ago - I emailed Specialized Rider care about the missing remote and they are being provided FOC by Specialized via dealers, but the dealer has to request one for you.

Its not that they "removed" the handlebar remote, its more that they had supply issues and could not fit them because they had none.

Interesting you say that because I called another specialized shop and was told there were manufacturing issues with the handlebar remotes and if anyone bought a levo from them without one on it, once they had a new batch in they would supply and fit them free of charge. My local shop obviously appears misinformed because both the manager and owner insist the levo HT no longer come supplied with them, but at least they will fit one. I am.looking forward to having the remote fitted because it is a bit awkward changing the power setting quickly whilst cycling along. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[R120]

Thanks for the above comments guys, and I now have the levo HT and I am pleased with it, and definitely benefited from an emtb not having been on a bike for around 20 years, and I am never going to be doing 6' jumps in the air (would struggle with 6" jumps).

I have used it a few times over my local woods, and I don't doubt that a full suspension would have been better as the woods aren't as smooth as I remember (probably down to my old age), but I just couldn't justify the big difference in cost. My old marin mtb never even had front suspension, so at least the levo HT is a step up.

One word of warning for anyone thinking of getting a levo HT, is that levo no longer provide a handlebar remote, and even when I went into order my HT, I looked at the full suspension levo and wasn't told about this. The manual also says that 'all levo models are supplied with a handlebar remote.' I spoke to the manager where I bought it, and he is ordering one for me and fitting it at no charge (I'm not the first customer to have this issue). Mine is built in 2018 according to the frame, so I'm suprised it never came with one. A bit mean of Specialized for taking the handlebar remote off the bike despite their manual saying all levos come with this.

If you are just pootling about in the woods for want of a better phrase, it may be worth getting a Thusbuster seat post, these do make quite a big difference to ride comfort, but obviously mean you cant fit a dropper post, but if your riding doesn't require a dropper then they are a good option to consider. The ST is probably more suited to mtb

SEATPOSTS - Cane Creek Cycling Components

 

[Baker]

For sure there are very limited options for quality hardtail ebikes. I think for a trail savvy one you're only looking at Specialized, Vitus and Norco. I purchased and ride a levo hardtail because I want to ride on the edge and do all the work, but mainly I didn't want a 23kg bike. I ride trail about 15hrs a week, mostly reds, mostly with people on full sussers and still keep up. Yeah the levo ht off the rack is basic but who doesn't customize their bikes. I paid £1600 for my 2019 levo while everywhere else it was selling for £2200. I used that £600 difference to upgrade every single part on it. Bonus is the bike now weights 17.5kg and it's suited to me. I'm also only 65kg so the new, less-powerful 1.2e motor is more than adequate too.

Don't automatically diss the hardtails, they'll make you a better more confident rider in the long run!

 

[Madk higgins]

For sure there are very limited options for quality hardtail ebikes. I think for a trail savvy one you're only looking at Specialized, Vitus and Norco. I purchased and ride a levo hardtail because I want to ride on the edge and do all the work, but mainly I didn't want a 23kg bike. I ride trail about 15hrs a week, mostly reds, mostly with people on full sussers and still keep up. Yeah the levo ht off the rack is basic but who doesn't customize their bikes. I paid £1600 for my 2019 levo while everywhere else it was selling for £2200. I used that £600 difference to upgrade every single part on it. Bonus is the bike now weights 17.5kg and it's suited to me. I'm also only 65kg so the new, less-powerful 1.2e motor is more than adequate too.

Don't automatically diss the hardtails, they'll make you a better more confident rider in the long run!

Wow that is some discount, how did you manage to get £650 off the retail price?

 

[DTZ]

Don't automatically diss the hardtails

I'm not sure anyone has, yes the specs and equipment level aren't great but we have to consider that the HT is approximately half the price of the base FSR. I bet Specialized make less money on each HT sold than they do on each FSR.

 

[R120]

For sure there are very limited options for quality hardtail ebikes. I think for a trail savvy one you're only looking at Specialized, Vitus and Norco. I purchased and ride a levo hardtail because I want to ride on the edge and do all the work, but mainly I didn't want a 23kg bike. I ride trail about 15hrs a week, mostly reds, mostly with people on full sussers and still keep up. Yeah the levo ht off the rack is basic but who doesn't customize their bikes. I paid £1600 for my 2019 levo while everywhere else it was selling for £2200. I used that £600 difference to upgrade every single part on it. Bonus is the bike now weights 17.5kg and it's suited to me. I'm also only 65kg so the new, less-powerful 1.2e motor is more than adequate too.

Don't automatically diss the hardtails, they'll make you a better more confident rider in the long run!

Totally agree with you, I have a Vitus E-Sentier which I picked up in a CRC bargain event, and its changed a wee bit since it left the factory . Ride it as much as I do my E-Sommett.

 

[Baker]

Wow that is some discount, how did you manage to get £650 off the retail price?

The shop were listing them at £1899, rang up to pay and the guy shocked me with an added discount to £1619. Didn't argue, collected it the next day. Looks like I told too many people though as back to full price now ?

 

[Baker]

Totally agree with you, I have a Vitus E-Sentier which I picked up in a CRC bargain event, and its changed a wee bit since it left the factory . Ride it as much as I do my E-Sommett.

View attachment 14988

Like it alot. Keep it simple. Less to clean, fix and service.