Levo get's best eMTB review from eBike-MTB

[galaga187]

Interesting positive review of the 2019 S-works Levo, I'm a bit suspicious as they don't mention the tyres being rubbish. Link to review

 

[Doomanic]

I wonder where their ad revenue comes from...

 

[galaga187]

Very useful table of facts and data in their reviews also The best eMTB you can buy | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine . N.B the heavy Haibike Flyon does include the weight of a light as well

 

[njn]

No Meta?

 

[MattyB]

I wonder where their ad revenue comes from...

...or who paid for their 7 day bike testing jaunt in Tuscany... Strangely no mention of any of the issues that people have been experiencing is mentioned in the review.

I strongly suspect this is a case of JASI - just another Specialized infomercial.

 

[Doomanic]

No Vitus either.

 

[Doomanic]

Strangely no mention of any of the issues that people have been experiencing is mentioned in the review.

To be fair, they didn't mention the Bosch issue either.

 

[Vilt]

LEVO Tyres rubbish? They're probably not the best ever, but they aren't that bad.

Specialized Butcher 2.6 tyre review - MBR
Specialized Butcher Grid Review

Also, when review a $11K bike - you're not going to put a bike down because of the tyres. It is by far not the biggest issue on the Levos.

And to be fair, the Canyon Spectral:ON gets best value and also a huge thumbs up in their group review. There are so many bikes and brands on the market these days, you can hardly expect a magazine to review them all and pick a winner.

 

[R120]

Remember its a German magazine so will be focused on bikes available in that market.

The Levo is the best EMTB out there in purely technical terms, and is a great riding bike too, what these tests don't take into account is long term ownership and issues.

 

[nobbyq]

what's wrong with the levo ?

 

[R120]

My point was more about reviews in general, EMTB's are a whole new sector, and we are only now really seeing feedback on various models that come from long-term ownership. One of the great thing about @Rob Hancill reviews is he keeps the bikes for a while, and as such tend to pick up on things that only become apparent when you have had a bike for a while.

The Levo has a number of well known potential issues that are widely covered on the forum, of course a lot of people only come on here to post about issues which slightly skews the view on them, along with the fact that its the most popular EMTB so more out there. Most of them can be avoided if you buy from a good shop, and are aware of the maintenance needed to avoid them.

The Levo is the most advanced and integrated bike currently on the market, but as with any cutting edge product pushing the envelope will mean more complications in design, manufacture, and maintenance.

 

[All Mountain Coaching]

Was a great read that review and having all the info in one place for comparison.

Despite having a few issues I still believe the levo is the best out there. Kinda wish I'd got a plastic model now and trusted I'd love it.

 

[highpeakrider]

Was a great read that review and having all the info in one place for comparison.

Despite having a few issues I still believe the levo is the best out there. Kinda wish I'd got a plastic model now and trusted I'd love it.

Always next year.........

 

[galaga187]

LEVO Tyres rubbish? They're probably not the best ever, but they aren't that bad.

Specialized Butcher 2.6 tyre review - MBR
Specialized Butcher Grid Review

Also, when review a $11K bike - you're not going to put a bike down because of the tyres. It is by far not the biggest issue on the Levos.

And to be fair, the Canyon Spectral:ON gets best value and also a huge thumbs up in their group review. There are so many bikes and brands on the market these days, you can hardly expect a magazine to review them all and pick a winner.

I've ridden the Spectral on and I think it is a really sorted bike but way too many issues with Canyon delivery. I've kept a Butcher on the rear on my Levo but I really couldn't trust it as front tyre for riding in the UK 8/10 seems like a reasonable score. I rode with @Doomanic in the forest of dean a couple of weeks ago on a muddy ride and there was another rider in our group on a Levo having grip problems I don't think his Butchers were helping.

 

[galaga187]

Was a great read that review and having all the info in one place for comparison.

Despite having a few issues I still believe the levo is the best out there. Kinda wish I'd got a plastic model now and trusted I'd love it.

Agreed - I found their 2018 review to be pretty accurate from demo rides that I did last year. I'm not sure who is doing 100% independent reviews of all current eBikes on the market but at the moment I'm very happy with the Levo 2019.

 

[R120]

I do think that of the mag test theirs are the best

 

[Dewi]

Shame they didn't include a Norco.
Would have been interested in how it stacks up.

 

[All Mountain Coaching]

Was a great read that review and having all the info in one place for comparison.

Despite having a few issues I still believe the levo is the best out there. Kinda wish I'd got a plastic model now and trusted I'd love it.

Always next year.........

Here's hoping they do a frame/motor only option in the 2020 range.

 

[galaga187]

Here's hoping they do a frame/motor only option in the 2020 range.

If they don't would you mind buying the s-works version and selling me all the parts at a big discount Anyway I thought we were all supposed to be riding jetboards by 2020?

 

[Gavalar]

Interesting positive review of the 2019 S-works Levo, I'm a bit suspicious as they don't mention the tyres being rubbish. Link to review

And yet another website, www.theloamwolf.com named the Norco Sight VLT1 the Best e-MTB in North America over and above the Levo, I guess it all boils down to personal choice.

 

[Vilt]

And availability. I have never seen that brand here.

 

[Gavalar]

And availability. I have never seen that brand here.

The sole UK Retailer of the Norco Brand is Evans Cycles, the Sight e-MTB starts at £5k for a full carbon front frame and Ali rear

 

[Gavalar]

Shame they didn't include a Norco.
Would have been interested in how it stacks up.
View attachment 11795

Go over to www.theloamwolf.com they named the Norco Sight VLT1 the best e-MTB in North America, their group test includes Pivot Shuttle, Specialized, Trek etc, it's worth the read and a look at the video.

 

[MattyB]

The sole UK Retailer of the Norco Brand is Evans Cycles, the Sight e-MTB starts at £5k for a full carbon front frame and Ali rear

Unfortunately the non-removeable (well, not by the owner) battery and the fact it comes from the (now Mike Ashley owned) Evans Cycles means it will be a no-go for many UK buyers. Our bikes tend to be stored in unheated sheds and garages, and anyone whose ever dealt with a Mike Ashley company knows customer service is a foreign concept to him...

 

[Gavalar]

Unfortunately the non-removeable (well, not easily) battery and the fact it comes from the (now Mike Ashley owned) Evans Cycles means it will be a no-go for many UK buyers whose bikes are stored in unheated sheds and garages.

I agree in part, I loathe the fact that Mr Ashley gets some of my money.
The battery can, apparently, only be removed by a dealer, with regards to cold garages and sheds why don't people use a trickle charger, we could argue that the Achilles heel of an e-MTB is the actual thing that drives them, the battery.

 

[MattyB]

...with regards to cold garages and sheds why don't people use a trickle charger, we could argue that the Achilles heel of an e-MTB is the actual thing that drives them, the battery.

Because keeping a lithium chemistry battery at full charge in below freezing temperatures is a pretty terrible idea that will reduce capacity and cycle life - they should be stored at 50-80% SOC at room temp.

 

[R120]

Also many people can't charge the bike where they keep it.

 

[Gavalar]

Because keeping a lithium chemistry battery at full charge in below freezing temperatures is a pretty terrible idea that will reduce capacity and cycle life - they should be stored at 50-80% SOC at room temp.

You're obviously more clued up than myself, but I still say that the Achilles heel, for those of us that live in cold and wet climates, is the battery technology, and that's why I still ride my none electric bike more, I'm pretty close to saying, foook it, I'll revisit the technology in 5 years.

 

[R120]

I ride my Shimano E8000 equipped Vitus's minimum 3 times a week/60 miles come rain, snow or shine, and have no issues at all - the only thing I notice is that below 5 degrees the range is affected. In fact if anything the EMTB gets me out more in bad conditions, for example today I went on a 20 mile ride in the howling wind, fair bit of rain, and bog like conditions on the trails, that I would never think of doing on my normal bike, as the motor means the wind isn't such an issue and allows me to plough thought he mud.

 

[MattyB]

You're obviously more clued up than myself, but I still say that the Achilles heel, for those of us that live in cold and wet climates, is the battery technology, and that's why I still ride my none electric bike more, I'm pretty close to saying, foook it, I'll revisit the technology in 5 years.

I don’t disagree that ebikes would benefit from a bump in battery tech, but that is unlikely for 3-5 years - billions are going into battery tech for decarbonising our economies, but when they come capacity will be limited initially and any breakthroughs will go to cars and home energy storage first. However as @R120 points out current battery tech still gets the job done providing you do your research on how to charge, store and use your pack. Just don’t rely on the manufacturers guidance; most of the ebike manuals I’ve looked at are woefully inadequate.