All New 2019 Specialized Turbo Levo launched

[CryptoBiker]

Is this only for praising the bike? I think the actual frame design itself is COOL as hell, the Stumpjumper looks incredible in my opinion, and I bet it does ride like a complete beast!

 

[bigborett]

Get yourself a deal on a 2018 Carbon Comp, spend a little on the forks and you've almost got yourself the new carbon expert. Minus frame, motor, battery, wheels and few other bits and bobs. A good bike if you get the right deal though.

 

[eFat]

Why is it absurd that it went up 5.3% when I already explained that with all of the factors I added up in my earlier post?

All of the bike have new frames which require new tooling.
All of the bikes have new motors and batteries which are more expensive than the previous versions.
New software and tuning that is exclusive to specialized was a huge investment.

Since when does this have anything to do with the sale price?

 

[MattyB]

...Specialized is the only bicycle company I know of that invests 100% of its profit back into development.

Sorry, but I severely doubt that - what is your source for that information? I can't find any detailed financials online but we are talking about a long standing company with an estimated ~£500m annual revenue that is 49% owned by Merida, not an internet start-up. It's a company not a charity, and whilst it may not have shareholders every company I've ever seen exists primarily to generate profit.

 

[Surge]

Yeah, I am not sure you understand what S-Works is for. It’s a no holds barred halo bike for dentists, lawyers and people who can find the justification to spend a metric fuck ton of money on not a motorcycle.
I used to own a S-works Mclaren Venge, a bicycle that was as much as a Ducati.
The new S-Works Levo at least has a motor.
None of the other Levo models have had a 20% price increase. Just the top of the range spare no expensive Levo. Last years Expert was $7800, the new one is $8200, which is only 5.3% more.
I won’t do the math on the others because it’s still single digit growth.
All of the bike have new frames which require new tooling.
All of the bikes have new motors and batteries which are more expensive than the previous versions.
New software and tuning that is exclusive to specialized was a huge investment.
The costs of manufacturing have increased and starting Monday will only increase more for the US market because my government thinks it’s punishing China without realizing they are just punishing their own citizens.
Probably do realize it and it was intentional. Just like my business has a margin threshold to stay solvent, Specialized knows what their margins can withstand to stay in business. It’s a bummer that prices increased but I can’t say they are not warranted or justified. Specialized is the only bicycle company I know of that invests 100% of its profit back into development.

I'm not sure you understand that the point is I'm comparing the 2018 S-Works to the 2019 S-Works. You don't have to explain what the S-Works is for, your opinion anyway; last year's model was also the S-Works!

Also, China tariffs have nothing to do with Specialized. The bikes are made in Taiwan, not China.

I'm just glad I bought a 2018 new S-Works for $8000 (20% off list), which is a whopping $6000 less than the new model ($14000 list) here in the USA. I'm not really sure what the improvements are - besides a longer range (which I don't need), the rest are tradeoffs. I'm sure the 2019 is a fantastic machine, I'm just shocked that they are gouging us with a 20% price increase... and make no mistake, gouging is what it is.

 

[R120]

But the price of a top end Merc stays the same each year, and you don't need to upgrade the brakes, windows, car seats, steering wheel etc as soon as you get it, you get all higher end components from the start...

German made cars are better, that's what you're paying for, and I am sorry but this bike is american made and overpriced, there is no comparison with a top end German car that ACTUALLY performs better than the Ford.

I think you will find a Ford focus is a much better car than an a class - and i have owned both!

 

[Surge]

I think you will find a Ford focus is a much better car than an a class - and i have owned both!

Interesting how people can have such different points of view!
I can’t possibly see how anyone could say a Focus is better than an A Class, except on price. I worked at Ford and you couldn’t pay me to drive one.

 

[R120]

I don't get why people have an issue with the price, its like you really wanted a Specialised but now can afford one! If so there are lots of other options out there.

Yes its expensive, yes there are cheaper options out there, but thats the same with everything.

At the end of the day its up to whoever buys the bike as to why they buy it, for a lot of people buying a mid spec 19 Levo they wont feel they are being ripped off because they are getting the bike they want.

No one is forcing anyone to buy anything!

Specifications on bikes are overrated - having XYZ suspension or cranks or whatever is totally irrelevant if the bike isn't a sorted package.

One thing you will definitely get with Specialised is components specced to work well together, whereas a lot of manufacturers provide sorted top end bikes and then just stick on price appropriate parts on the lower models.

 

[R120]

Interesting how people can have such different points of view!
I can’t possibly see how anyone could say a Focus is better than an A Class, except on price. I worked at Ford and you couldn’t pay me to drive one.

Mercedes aint what it one was - Focus is a well resolved family hatchback, A Class is style over substance, cramped, impractical in comparison to the Ford, and spent a lot of time back at the dealer.

Should have got a golf!

 

[Surge]

I’ve had 2 B classes and 1 C in the last 5 years. No issues. Still have 2 of them. Most cars have similar reliability these days because it’s the same parts suppliers used by all.

 

[R120]

Yup i have 3 mercs including new c-class which just about to trade in for the facelift version and i do like them, but have found the quality to be flaky. The c class is great and i would take it any day over a BMW or Audi, the A Class though lags behind on several fronts in terms of day to day usability compared to a golf/focus, especially in terms of rear leg room and boot space

 

[CryptoBiker]

People have an issue with the price because its too expensive, even taking everything into account. Its as simple as that.

It has nothing to do with being able to afford it or not, there is value for money at every price point in my opinion, even high end

And speaking about Mercedes A-Class, you can get 3 2010 models, yup, THREE CARS, for the price of the S-Works.

Let that sink in.

 

[CryptoBiker]

Based on my upgrade path, i'll own an S-Works Levo in about 5 years, haha

 

[Surge]

Based on my upgrade path, i'll own an S-Works Levo in about 5 years, haha

Ha! Smart. At that point these models will be worth almost nothing.

 

[ccrdave]

I don't get why people have an issue with the price, its like you really wanted a Specialised but now can afford one! If so there are lots of other options out there.

Yes its expensive, yes there are cheaper options out there, but thats the same with everything.

At the end of the day its up to whoever buys the bike as to why they buy it, for a lot of people buying a mid spec 19 Levo they wont feel they are being ripped off because they are getting the bike they want.

No one is forcing anyone to buy anything!

Specifications on bikes are overrated - having XYZ suspension or cranks or whatever is totally irrelevant if the bike isn't a sorted package.

One thing you will definitely get with Specialised is components specced to work well together, whereas a lot of manufacturers provide sorted top end bikes and then just stick on price appropriate parts on the lower models.

Really? Have you seen the fork they spec on the 2019 hardtail? Ok i know its only a 2.2 grand bike but specing a fork that retails for 58 quid one that doesnt even work in any eviroment.
Im very disappointed, I thought specialized had more respect for their own product than that

 

[Swissrob]

Based on my upgrade path, i'll own an S-Works Levo in about 5 years, haha

It only took me three years to make my Ferrari, no one can tell it from the real thing...……..

 

[jonathan horticulturist]

The price is so high, even if I could afford it I wouldn’t. A bike can be an accurate definition of who you are: you can save the environment, you can save your life by riding, etc.

I can’t legally drive a car because of the medication I take. I guess that’s besides the point, because even if I could drive, I wouldn’t buy a gas guzzler, I’d get an electric car with a hydrogen fuel cell.

All-New Hyundai NEXO – Coming Soon | Hyundai UK

This car is £60k, but when you consider it costs £600k to make one of them, it makes Range Rovers and the like look completely daft.

I wonder what cars the Merida group execs drive... probably £60k Audis and the like.

Specialized at these prices are yet another status symbol: they will clean up shop by persuading anyone who takes riding a bike seriously to have it on finance, just like an £800 phone contract.

 

[R120]

People have an issue with the price because its too expensive, even taking everything into account. Its as simple as that.

It has nothing to do with being able to afford it or not, there is value for money at every price point in my opinion, even high end

And speaking about Mercedes A-Class, you can get 3 2010 models, yup, THREE CARS, for the price of the S-Works.

Let that sink in.

Firstly i am in agreement with you that the bikes are expensive for what they are, my point is who cares? I don't care if you could buy 10 cars for the price of an s-works, or a whole terrace of houses in Wales.

I am interested in if its a good bike or not, it may be good value or bad value depending on each consumers point of view. A lot of the Specialized owners on her have bought them because they place a high value on the customer service they get from their local shops, and also the brands excellent reputation for customer care, and to a lot of people having that security when buying an expensive e-mtb is worth paying more for as it has value to them.

Who says value is a quantum in every bike buyers thought process? If i wanted the best road bike, or the best mountain bike for the riding i want to do, i would get the right bike and it would cost what it costs. I have a client who has a 10K Pinarello Dogma he uses as an indoor training bike, and it has never seen daylight - the reason he has it is he wants to train on the same bike as his road bike, and the value of being able to do that was more important than the value of the purchase.

If i wanted the best value bike, then i would get the bike that has the best mix of bang for your buck and decent riding characteristics.

Value is an interesting concept with EBIKES anyway, as part of me thinks that you are to go in several thousand deep on the purchase of one, you may as-well spend a bit more to get the right one, than end up spending a bit less, but still a horrific amount of money to get something not quite right that you regret.

 

[Gee68]

Just got back an hour ago from my local spesh dealers with a Carbon comp(in red) on order,bloody expensive,but it's the bike I wanted with the backup I wanted so am well happy.

 

[VaseLEVO]

Ross please stop with the generalizations and assumptions, its not nice nor accurate. I bought the levo based on pure feeling I got from riding it, I don't care what people think of the brand and honestly 98% of people in my circle don't even know what it is and many think its US $1500 bike. Still I don't care to correct their misconceptions because thats not why I bought one.

I drive V8 AMG and a gas guzzling Range Rover. My wife wants only Toyota Prius to save the world and recycles like crazy. We agree to disagree on choices, and thats alright we are all individuals with free will. But you know what? Besides the enjoyment of biking, I ride to stay healthy. None of these seeming contradictions are daft to me. They are just choices. Would I buy the S-Works? No. I can afford one, but fact of the matter is I couldn't tell the difference with the expert because am only a novice to an intermediate rider. I am but one example. I can honestly tell you this because no one on this forum knows who I am, but hopefully you see where you are wrong.

So is the S-Works all about status? I don't really know and don't care. I am sure it is for many and others its about having the best if they can tell. We ought to respect the buyer's choice regardless of their reasons. For me I could feel a difference between the aluminum base levo that I fell in love with and the expert, and its the only reason I went that route. I could also feel a difference between it and Haibike I tested. I liked its looks but it felt not as good. I also tested a Trek. The shop I bought it from helped me ultimately make the right choice and not once was status mentioned in that conversation. I would have bought that aluminum levo but they only had it in large and am a medium, so I started looking at alternatives and discovered the expert was better still. I am just one example out many I suspect.

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

Just got back an hour ago from my local spesh dealers with a Carbon comp(in red) on order,bloody expensive,but it's the bike I wanted with the backup I wanted so am well happy.

And that everyone, is what it is all about, being happy ?

If you are happy with what you have done great!
If you are not happy, you dont have to do it, there are plenty of other options to take so take them ?

Life is short, Life is for living, so just get on with it before it is too late ?

 

[Halcon]

I vote we start a new thread where the people who actually have the bike can tell the others about it while they wait for their Levos to get delivered (Nov for me). And have a separate thread for those who want to discuss price and the bike as a status symbol or an evil corporate plot.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I vote we start a new thread where the people who actually have the bike can tell the others about it while they wait for their Levos to get delivered (Nov for me). And have a separate thread for those who want to discuss price and the bike as a status symbol or an evil corporate plot.

Done

 

[Travelly]

Does anyone on the UK actually have one as yet? Pics please if you do.

 

[Travelly]

I cant decide whether to get one or not. 5k for a bike with a Revelation fork and Guide RE brakes is a lot. What do other people think?

 

[Al Boneta]

I'm not sure you understand that the point is I'm comparing the 2018 S-Works to the 2019 S-Works. You don't have to explain what the S-Works is for, your opinion anyway; last year's model was also the S-Works!

Also, China tariffs have nothing to do with Specialized. The bikes are made in Taiwan, not China.

I'm just glad I bought a 2018 new S-Works for $8000 (20% off list), which is a whopping $6000 less than the new model ($14000 list) here in the USA. I'm not really sure what the improvements are - besides a longer range (which I don't need), the rest are tradeoffs. I'm sure the 2019 is a fantastic machine, I'm just shocked that they are gouging us with a 20% price increase... and make no mistake, gouging is what it is.

The new Tariffs will affect anything bike related that has Chinese sourced parts and materials reguardless of where the assembly takes place.
The 2019 S-Works not $14000 list
Here is my order screen on the Specialized B2B site.

Yeah so not $14000

If you’re not really sure what the improvements are, you should check it out on the World Wide Webs, something about a weight reduction, new motor, I don’t have all the details.
Glad you got a good deal on the old one, but get that Öhlins fork recall taken care of.

 

[Gary]

@Travelly Revs are fine, REs are brilliant.
If that helps.


this thread got a little weird with all the money and car chat. not to mention the spesh fanboi evangelism.

It's just a bike

 

[Travelly]

Fair enough. I havent ridden on them so dont now. My only concern is other brands that are charging over 5k for an ebike are spec'ing fox 36 elites at least. Some even fox36 forks so the level of spec is so different.

 

[Al Boneta]

@Travelly Revs are fine, REs are brilliant.
If that helps.


this thread got a little weird with all the money and car chat. not to mention the spesh fanboi evangelism.

It's just a bike

It’s the antichrist to some people

 

[Al Boneta]

Fair enough. I havent ridden on them so dont now. My only concern is other brands that are charging over 5k for an ebike are spec'ing fox 36 elites at least. Some even fox36 forks so the level of spec is so different.

I totally agree