2019 Specialized Turbo Levo News & Rumours

[R120]

Yes riden a couple of Specialized Levos and a Kenevo - TBH I think all of the current motors are much of a muchness and the bike they’re attached too is a far more important factor.

For me the trail mode on Shimano is the most natural ebike riding mode I have tried, I haven’t tried a Levo with the newer software though.

I like the display on the Shimano, not having one on the Levo I found annoying, but then again I wouldn’t by a Bosch because the carbuncles they call displays I just couldn’t live with despite functionally being very good.

 

[Thomas]

If the new Specialized ebikes model prices are going to where we all think they are going.... this is another option

Okay, you can’t get it until next year but for just over £5k this is looking like a no brainer now

Price wise
Motor wise
Spec wise

View attachment 4905

My thoughts exactly. I was looking at the same model. You get the bike, that look like nothing out there.
I have a bad feeling, that the FSR Comp models will be also downgraded regarding the components, just like it happened to new LEVO HT 2019.
One who is looking to buy his first EMTB and was set to Turbo LEVO, don't know...

 

[rmh1009]

Yes riden a couple of Specialized Levos and a Kenevo - TBH I think all of the current motors are much of a muchness and the bike they’re attached too is a far more important factor.

For me the trail mode on Shimano is the most natural ebike riding mode I have tried, I haven’t tried a Levo with the newer software though.

I like the display on the Shimano, not having one on the Levo I found annoying, but then again I wouldn’t by a Bosch because the carbuncles they call displays I just couldn’t live with despite functionally being very good.

Thanks mate. Can't wait for the delivery. Any maintenance tips for the Shimano? Going off the thread a bit.

 

[R120]

Plenty - in the shimano sections!

 

[R120]

To all of you on this thread holding out for some miracle bike from Specialized, let me just say that there are some outstanding emtbs out there, with plenty of amazing bike coming in 2019, I know people love a Specialized but there are so many good bikes out there at good prices.

I like Specialized, and and view them as one of many good options out there, but my prime interest in the new one is to see what they do with it Aesthetically as to date this is where they have led the way with EMTBs

 

[Norange]

Personally if i wasn't a Shimano fan boy, and wanted a Brose with a big battery, these Nox's would tickle my fancy. Flip chip for 29 or 27.5 too

Are those from the same filing cabinet factory that Orange use?

 

[Thomas]

To all of you on this thread holding out for some miracle bike from Specialized, let me just say that there are some outstanding emtbs out there, with plenty of amazing bike coming in 2019, I know people love a Specialized but there are so many good bikes out there at good prices.

I like Specialized, and and view them as one of many good options out there, but my prime interest in the new one is to see what they do with it Aesthetically as to date this is where they have led the way with EMTBs

Sure they are, no doubt about that.
But the "problem", at least in my case is, that with specialized, the support after purchase is second to none. I have great support at local Specialized bike store and as a 10 year customer, nice discount on every purchase, so basically I'm "stuck" with Specialized, for better or worse. Just like with car, I'm stuck with VW same deal as Specialized.
Now I feel guilty even looking at Haibike....

 

[R120]

And I get that as being a big reason for going with one, no arguments.

 

[R120]

Are those from the same filing cabinet factory that Orange use?

Certainly a Germanic take on the old hewn from girders look.

Have to say I prefer an angular bike to a swoopy one, think it’s down to the era of MTBs I grew up with, a slightly industrial slant always gets me going

 

[R120]

That’s the problem with Specialized, they have down making bikes which are way too easy to justify to yourself spending ridiculous amounts on. I have done so many times down the years, and I know when I see one of the new top end Levos in the flesh it will be way too tempting to reach for my credit card.

This thing is these things (high end EMTB’s not just spesh) are now looking like being so expensive that they are way beyond impulse purchase levels - throwing a 10grand bike down some rocky rooty track in the British winter when you have an off is not something I like to financially think about!

 

[Gary]

On the contrary. I think we have way more choice now and you certainly don't have to spend 10 grand to get an amazing bike.
To put this into perspective. 22 years ago I bought my first brand new full DH race bike. it was priced at £4k (I didn't pay anywhere near that for mine but others would have).
That bike was cutting edge at the time
It had a moulded carbon frame with stupid aluminium lugs that broke like coke can ring pulls and a frame design which meant the saddle couldn't be lowered properly or that crappy shock would hit it and bend the mounts.a 67deg H/A and a fairly high BB
4" of front ELASTOMER sprung Rockshox 20mm axle dual crown suspension
5.5" of rear suspension with a (Rockshox) coil shock that would split it's seals at the thought of a decent sized jump.
A massive 48T chainring and a chain device that just plain didn't do it's job
It had V-Brakes to stop all 47lb of it
XT level parts.
DH tyres hadn't been fully developed so there was little choice. infact we used to double wrap XC spikes with a bald tyre with the bead cut off inside to beef it up.
And we had to push these things uphill all day for about half an hours riding. (Throwing it down wet rooty rocky Scottish hillsides until something inevitably broke and ended your day)

Today £3k retail will buy you
a 30lb 170mm carbon bike with 11 speed XT/GX gearing well damped suspension and reliable and powerful 200mm disc brakes, durable super predictable tyres and strong light reliable parts
Or a 50lb Emtb with a great motor and battery and spec to rival the above carbon bike

If you want to spend £10k on a bike fine. I have no problem with that. But It won't actually ride any better than the two bikes I'm describing above.
You could spend £10k on a (fairly crap) mtb 20 years ago If wanted. Anyone remember Louis Collella's bikes?

Spesh was the first company to make DH an affordable sport with it's BigHit frames in 1999 they retailed at £599 (and had a £350 Fox shock -pretty much the benchmark for rear shock performance at the time). And Specialized were still upholding warranty on them when they broke 10 years later.

ATM Spesh just don't make any bikes I'd want but that warranty and the fact there's more than one dealer within 10 miles of me is a pretty good reason to buy one..
I've actually never bought anything in my entire life on tick. If I don't have the money. I don't buy it. Simples.

 

[Deleted member 1026]

Take leaf from the digital camera journey, once something becomes electronic it evolves very quickly and technology will give you something better each year.
E bikes will become an item that may not last you as long as a traditional bike and become somewhat of a disposable purchase for people who like the latest tech.

Digital cameras got cheaper as the market got bigger.

 

[Norange]

Agree with the above, I remember my mate's GT Lobo looking great, but seeming pretty expensive for how well it worked. Am looking forward to riding my '04 Orange Five again once fitter. Considering that with upgrades it probably cost more than my Levo after inflation, it will be intriguing.
And to put SWorks into context, will be playing with a Hi-Fi that costs more than the average house next week. The trick is to love what you have. One of my favourite biking memories was meeting a student bike club at Afan. Apparently last year's £50 bike challenge meant the bikes were too good, so that year the limit was £25! Dude on a mint Raleigh Shopper (with matching luggage set and a fecking manual) was having more fun than anyone else we met that day.

 

[Tori]

Well, from what I see leaked here on the 2019 Levo, the changes seem evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and won't be enough for me to consider an upgrade. I have my 2018 Expert set up just where I like it, and I actually love the damn thing. I think I'll hang onto it for a while.

The 700Wh battery is a good development; but I wonder what the dimensions of this battery will be? Will it be more compact than the current 504Wh units?

Like Rob, I'm very keen to try out a Haibike Flyon when they get released here in Australia. The 2020 Bosch motor is also going to be very nice to check out.

 

[jwrx]

As the owner of 2018 Levo Turbo S-Works let me just say, the S-Works is just not worth it. The Levo Turbo Expert with the carbon hoops and decent components for almost $2500 cheaper is good enough. S-Works is a waste of money.

Obviously, I'm very disappointed with my S-Works. The difference between my beat 2016 Levo Turbo and the 2018 S-Works is negligible. Motor on my new bike is much louder than the old. Suspension is "meh" and the drive train clicks and skips. Not what I would expect for a supposedly top-of-the-line bike.

Hope this helps anyone considering buying a Turbo Levo.

I actually have the opposite experience. We negotiated a deal with our dealer for Sworks, got a substantial discount (same price as expert rrp) and got a rear upgrade to Ohlins TTX coil shocks
I love my sworks. The ohlins front and rear is a huge step forward vs the rockshocks. The ohlins is not a easy sus to tune to your liking, but if you put in the time and effort, it rewards you by being the plushest and rewarding suspension around. Hated the monarch that was originally on the bike

The reason we got the Sworks was because our dealer had 2 demo days, and we rode 3-4 hours on all variants...i spent many hours switching between the expert/sworks/comp....and it was obvious the ohlins on the Sworks was hands down the best handling

My Sworks is silent, had a creak on the command post (its shit)...my dealer warrantied it no questions asked.

 

[jwrx]

Hopefully they've got rid of that horrid "Kind Shock LEV-DX" external cable routed dropper post they were using by 2019!

I have had 2 KS, 2 Command post over the last 8 years...both KS were bombproof...the Spez CP were rubbish. One broken within 1 year, the other replaced under warranty within 2 months

 

[neils]

I have had 2 KS, 2 Command post over the last 8 years...both KS were bombproof...the Spez CP were rubbish. One broken within 1 year, the other replaced under warranty within 2 months

And i've had he exact opposite experience..... I've had command posts for years now, its quick and has never failed, my tip is quick squirt on the stanchion before your ride. The KS on my friends Haibike (2016) is awful mainly because of the external routing and the way the routing attaches to the post and also the thumb lever.

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

And i've had he exact opposite experience..... I've had command posts for years now, its quick and has never failed, my tip is quick squirt on the stanchion before your ride. The KS on my friends Haibike (2016) is awful mainly because of the external routing and the way the routing attaches to the post and also the thumb lever.

Really sorry, you are never going to convince me.
I like my nuts where they are.
There should be a very large Health and Safety warning sign on all Command Posts.
‘Attention! nuts may appear in mouth due to the high speed release of dropper post. Use at your own risk’

 

[Al Boneta]

Really sorry, you are never going to convince me.
I like my nuts where they are.
There should be a very large Health and Safety warning sign on all Command Posts.
‘Attention! nuts may appear in mouth due to the high speed release of dropper post. Use at your own risk’

Caution Ball busting battering ram

 

[ccrdave]

One of things i was told is that spesh want to get away from this new range every year thing, we might find that two new models appear now with another two say at christmas. Theres lots of speculation here but i think im right when i say specialized are not stupid they must know not everyone can drop 10k on a new bike, it would seem to be financial suicide if they ignored the smaller budget. I think its just worth waiting to see exactly what they release.
Once its out on the market then we can bitch.....or not!

 

[Al Boneta]

One of things i was told is that spesh want to get away from this new range every year thing, we might find that two new models appear now with another two say at christmas. Theres lots of speculation here but i think im right when i say specialized are not stupid they must know not everyone can drop 10k on a new bike, it would seem to be financial suicide if they ignored the smaller budget. I think its just worth waiting to see exactly what they release.
Once its out on the market then we can bitch.....or not!

Or just buy the 700wh battery separately and shove it in a 2019 base model or comp

 

[ccrdave]

Or just buy the 700wh battery separately and shove it in a 2019 base model or comp

Yep good plan, there are some really good third party solutions as well for lots less money, the range extender from Danny can more or less double your battery size for around 500 euros if i keep my 2018 levo its what i will do

 

[R120]

Does BMZ make the Specialised batteries? They seem to make most of the batteries out there which are brand specific

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Specialized 2019 Turbo Levo. All the confirmed details and specifications.

Please see above for continuation.