Levo SL Gen 1 Levo SL killed by Orbea?

[Jimbo Vills]

That's a tedious, predictable meme.

As I say, I could easily buy a Rise right now - but it offers absolutely nothing I have any interest in. It's not a paradigm shifter, it's not special, it's just an obvious bit of band-wagon jumping. It's simply an emasculated FF bike, with some weight-saving.

You could as easily buy any other lightweight Shimano-powered bike and turn the power down in the app.

And as to it having more power than the SL - so does everything else. That's precisely its appeal.

Tedious meme? ? ok dude.

Well done on the ability to be able to buy a rise, no one else on here could do that! Must be important to you as you mentioned it twice lol

glad you like your bike. No entirely sure why you feel the need to defend your purchase so much but it’s good you like it.

even if it does come across as slight sour grapes ??‍

 

[Harold]

might of done if there was an option available at the time!? ?

you almost sound like you are justifying your purchase dude. It’s a bit like buying a 6 month old car and a new model comes out.
You tell your mates you prefer the old shape but secretly your gutted inside ???

on a serious note. The SL looks a great bike. So does the Rise.

Whatever makes you happy.

But just cos you love the SL, doesn’t mean the next guy won’t prefer the Rise ??

Same applies for the opposite mate. Juste cause a newer « better » bike is launched, doesn’t mean the former is less good. I guess it is just different. Orbea is lighter full shimano bike, with the characteristics we know for such motor. The motor is just restricted with a fancy RS sticker: Specialised has taken a different approach, not any worse. Just different.

I guess we will have more and more guys trying to justify they sold their levo for a rise. Consumerism, consumerism...

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Same applies for the opposite mate. Juste cause a newer « better » bike is launched, doesn’t mean the former is less good. I guess it is just different. Orbea is lighter full shimano bike, with the characteristics we know for such motor. The motor is just restricted with a fancy RS sticker: Specialised has taken a different approach, not any worse. Just different.

I guess we will have more and more guys trying to justify they sold their levo for a rise. Consumerism, consumerism...

couldn’t agree more mate ??

 

[Mcharza]

This is what I want. SL with the new stumpy Evo Geo.

That’s why I chose Kenovo alongside the Evo. At the same time, I got more suspension, weight and engine ?

 

[High Rock Ruti]

High Rock Ruti

When will the Orbea Rise restriction software be hacked, 18 KGs with 85 NMs, that would make a heavyweight lightweight!

Warm Regards

Ruti

 

[grantini]

I have a Levo and an SL. Two completely different bikes. I love both.

 

[soundwave]

I was going to buy an SL, but not anymore after the Rise introduction

 

[Captain45]

I was thinking of adding an SL to my stable as well for those lighter ride days but this M10 looks super appealing too! For those who've ordered, did you guys do a standard model or did you customize color and components? Im curious what the lead times are on custom orders

Also really curious if the ep8 has the standard rattles in this frame as the other's out there

 

[Ameiza]

I was thinking of adding an SL to my stable as well for those lighter ride days but this M10 looks super appealing too! For those who've ordered, did you guys do a standard model or did you customize color and components? Im curious what the lead times are on custom orders

Also really curious if the ep8 has the standard rattles in this frame as the other's out there

The LBS/national distributor got my MiO order and the bike should come out of the stock they preordered from Orbea with a estimated delivery February/March.
custom colors and burlier tires.

 

[Norcalsl]

Got to give it to Orbea. It will definitely cut into Levo SL sales. But I don't need or want more power. I ride a 36 lbs. SL and ride it unassisted on all but the steepest climbs, and then at 25%-35% Eco mode. I want to stay fit but don't want to suffer up those lung busting climbs.

 

[CjP]

Hahaha cut into SL profits, you guys are funny.
The Orbea is a great concept! Hopefully it’s pushes Spesh to up the SL torque as regardless of what people say here its always better to have more power than you need than not enough.
I bought two range extenders for mine and I still haven’t used them. While I LOVE the SL, I would love the ability to need the range extenders. There are just some days where I feel the need to go all out!

 

[jwrx]

I have owned 2 previous levos and now on a SL. I wont go back to the FF levos. 35nm and sub 17kg is exactly what i want in a ebike.

The only thing i would ask for ..is for spez to offer modular batteries,..so i can remove 1/2 the batteries for short rides

 

[Harold]

I have both on preorder, but I am canceling the SL comp alu over a Rise M10. I’ve only tested the SL and liked it, but the offering of the Rise was just too damn tempting. For almost the same money (preorder price both) I get full carbon frame over Aluminum , Fox36 Factory grip2 over 34 Rhythm; Dpx2 kashima over float performance, Shimano XT group over NX, XT brakes over guide RE, carbon handlebars over aluminum, etc. More than 1 kg lighter bike!
On top of that a most likely better geo AND the choice of running up to 60Nm torque. I could tune it down to the SL level if I want to. I even got to customize the colors of the bike to my liking?.

So, for me the SL kind of died.

I am keeping my 2020 Kenovo for full power and bigger days!?

Dude this seems quite biased! You a comparing a mid range bike at 7600eur to entry level bike at 6000eur.
Of course the M10 is better kitted, it costs 1600 eur more. You should compare the Orbea you ordered to sl comp carbon or event expert (2020 model can be find for 6500 on some sites). I noticed you mention preorder prices, but those are not actual prices of the bikes.

This a pity because initially I was almost fully behind you. Indeed Rise has some tangible advantages. But again I see biased statements made to justify somehow their writers’ purchase decision

Finally, as for any other bike, I would advice anybody on the fence to preorder, to test ride the bike first! This common sense I guess!
25nm more than SL is appealing on paper, for sure. But this alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The ride experience is really what matters. And it is a combination of factors.

And to avoid missunderstanding, I did not order SL nor Rise yet. ?

 

[Levo-Lon]

Time will tell, but I highly doubt the SL is ‘dead’. One thing that intrigues me about the Rise is range... more power, more consumption, less range is how I see it. The SL is capable of impressive ranges, I wonder how the Rise will stack up.

Wait until warranty is needed...which it will, and orbea won't be as good a specialized when it starts

 

[Ameiza]

Dude this seems quite biased! You a comparing a mid range bike at 7600eur to entry level bike at 6000eur.
Of course the M10 is better kitted, it costs 1600 eur more. You should compare the Orbea you ordered to sl comp carbon or event expert (2020 model can be find for 6500 on some sites). I noticed you mention preorder prices, but those are not actual prices of the bikes.

This a pity because initially I was almost fully behind you. Indeed Rise has some tangible advantages. But again I see biased statements made to justify somehow their writers’ purchase decision

Finally, as for any other bike, I would advice anybody on the fence to preorder, to test ride the bike first! This common sense I guess!
25nm more than SL is appealing on paper, for sure. But this alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The ride experience is really what matters. And it is a combination of factors.

And to avoid missunderstanding, I did not order SL nor Rise yet. ?

You are fully entitled to think I am biased, I really don’t mind?
I do care about the ROI (quality, feel and fun) of my investment, and everybody knows that Spesh is a bit pricy.
I simply got a better deal for the M10 (only 350$ more than the SL alu comp). And that is what I needed to concider for MY purchase.
Can you really blame me?

I do agree that M10 has a spec more similar to a SL carbon expert.

When I got the Kenevo at a preorder price one year ago, it was good ROI at 5200$. Today it costs 7150$, and the deal is not so good anymore...

 

[Harold]

You are fully entitled to think I am biased, I really don’t mind?
I do care about the ROI (quality, feel and fun) of my investment, and everybody knows that Spesh is a bit pricy.
I simply got a better deal for the M10 (only 350$ more than the SL alu comp). And that is what I needed to concider for MY purchase.
Can you really blame me?

I do agree that M10 has a spec more similar to a SL carbon expert.

When I got the Kenevo at a preorder price one year ago, it was good ROI at 5200$. Today it costs 7150$, and the deal is not so good anymore...

indeed FF turbo levo got a price increased recently, hopefully this is not the case for the SL.
You seems to have found a good offer for your Rise, I found some very interesting ones for SL expert or Comp carbon. But I still cannot make my mind.

Price is obviously not the only criteria.
But your are right, Spe is on the pricy side.

Finally I did not intend to blame you in any fashion. I just wanted to point out that it is useless to try to motivate your choices on forums. Your choice (for Rise) is the good choice, for you, because it is YOUR choice! And it is all good like this, no one needs to be convinced about this choice rational, except you. Cause you gonna be the one riding it and enjoying it!

 

[Ameiza]

indeed FF turbo levo got a price increased recently, hopefully this is not the case for the SL.
You seems to have found a good offer for your Rise, I found some very interesting ones for SL expert or Comp carbon. But I still cannot make my mind.

Price is obviously not the only criteria.
But your are right, Spe is on the pricy side.

Finally I did not intend to blame you in any fashion. I just wanted to point out that it is useless to try to motivate your choices on forums. Your choice (for Rise) is the good choice, for you, because it is YOUR choice! And it is all good like this, no one needs to be convinced about this choice rational, except you. Cause you gonna be the one riding it and enjoying it!

Agreed!

The carbon versions of SL got a 10-12% increase, the Alu SL stays still.

 

[Mcharza]

I’m not buying either model, but the geometry of the frame is more important to me. Parts are easy to replace, but the frame is not.

If you only compare price and parts, it still doesn’t affect where and how you ride. Modern geometry suits me better for my own rides

 

[motoadve]

Orbea is a bit cross country for my kind of riding, would not buy one, still prefer the SL.
SL needs more power though (more power has never hurt) for those fun steep techy climbs you can do on the big Levo and are impossible on the SL.
I have the full Levo, the SL and the non E Specialized Enduro.
Ride 5 times a week, once the SL, once the big Levo and 3 times the Enduro.
The most fun is the big Levo.... always, then the Enduro, then the SL which still it is a lot of fun and a fantastic bike that in some sections handles better than the other two.

What we need is the Ebike version of the Enduro, that would be an amazing bike

 

[CodyDog]

Orbea is a bit cross country for my kind of riding, would not buy one, still prefer the SL.
SL needs more power though (more power has never hurt) for those fun steep techy climbs you can do on the big Levo and are impossible on the SL.
I have the full Levo, the SL and the non E Specialized Enduro.
Ride 5 times a week, once the SL, once the big Levo and 3 times the Enduro.
The most fun is the big Levo.... always, then the Enduro, then the SL which still it is a lot of fun and a fantastic bike that in some sections handles better than the other two.

What we need is the Ebike version of the Enduro, that would be an amazing bike

Good point made. For me lighter wasn't better. I was able to buy the lighter SL but after some test rides on both bikes, I went with the heavier 2021 Levo Comp. Like the extra power and the extra weight doesn't bother me a bit.

With that being said, all the bikes mentioned in the string are very good bikes.

 

[Konanige]

For me, It wasn't just the weight of the Sl that swung it it was the lack of power, I didn't want 60nm I just wanted enough to keep the pressure off my knees and still keep up my fitness. So no the Orbea hasn't killed off the Sl for me at least.

 

[RickBullotta]

Orbea is a bit cross country for my kind of riding, would not buy one, still prefer the SL.
SL needs more power though (more power has never hurt) for those fun steep techy climbs you can do on the big Levo and are impossible on the SL.
I have the full Levo, the SL and the non E Specialized Enduro.
Ride 5 times a week, once the SL, once the big Levo and 3 times the Enduro.
The most fun is the big Levo.... always, then the Enduro, then the SL which still it is a lot of fun and a fantastic bike that in some sections handles better than the other two.

What we need is the Ebike version of the Enduro, that would be an amazing bike

Hold on a second - "a bit more cross country for my kind of riding". Gotta take issue with that. Almost *everything* about the SL is more "cross country" than the Rise in their normal spec - motor, geometry, recommended tire size, rear suspension, etc...but overall they're quite similar.

But yeah, an eMTB Enduro would be a sweet bike.

 

[motoadve]

Hold on a second - "a bit more cross country for my kind of riding". Gotta take issue with that. Literally *everything* about the SL is more "cross country" than the Rise in their normal spec - motor, geometry, recommended tire size, rear suspension, etc...

But yeah, an eMTB Enduro would be a sweet bike.

Honestly havent look too much into the Rise.
I thought the Rise was 140mm vs the 150mm rear travel on the SL.

 

[RickBullotta]

Honestly havent look too much into the Rise.
I thought the Rise was 140mm vs the 150mm rear travel on the SL.

They're very similar bikes targeted at very similar purposes. I think they're both quite awesome and will lead to (hopefully) 35 lb Enduro eMTBs at some point in the future!

Cheers.

 

[KeithR]

Hold on a second - "a bit more cross country for my kind of riding". Gotta take issue with that. Literally *everything* about the SL is more "cross country" than the Rise in their normal spec - motor, geometry, recommended tire size, rear suspension, etc...

Kinda underlines how subjective and arbitrary these definitions are, doesn't it?. The SL is a trail bike by Specialized's reckoning - an all-rounder - and it occupies that space very effectively.

 

[RickBullotta]

Kinda underlines how subjective and arbitrary these definitions are, doesn't it?. The SL is a trail bike by Specialized's reckoning - an all-rounder - and it occupies that space very effectively.

Exactly. Like I've said a few times, it's *AWESOME* that we are getting more choices in this segment. And I'm sure more to come!

 

[F4Flyer]

I have to look at comparisons first and then ride both of possible. The Levo SL (I have a Pivot Shuttle) was next on my list for 2021 but I think I'd prefer the Rise. The Levo SL seems more plush so that is an advantage it has but I'll wait and see hwo both compare. However, I went from 100% targeting the Levo SL to prob a 70-30 favoring the Rise. Both weigh about the same so I'll take the extra power. I do also have a Specialized Creo as my road/gravel bike and th Levo SL has the same motor as the Levo SL.

 

[R120]

Truth is you need to ride em both to make a call - if the made an SL EVO with the geo of the stumpy evo then I would order one without testing, as I have ridden and SL and am familiar with the Mahle motor, and have also ridden the previous gen Stumpy Evo which was one of my favourite normal bikes, so wouldnt feel like I was taking a punt.

On paper the Orbea (for me at least) looks a much better option out of the current lightweight offerings, but I doubt being able to test one this side of Christmas, or much likely deeper into 2021 is much of an option.

I don't really get the fitness based decisions either on going for an SL over a Full Fat (though I have never ridden a bike with the aim of getting fit, its just a nice by product of doing so) as how you ride any bike, motor or not, is as much of a factor in the work out you get from it, and if you really do use it primarily as a fitness tool then tailoring your rides to focus on this will have more impact IMO than what bike you ride. You can get just as fit on a full fat ebike as a lightweight one if you set out to do so, and if you are not at all fit in the first place then its probably going to be easier to get fit on a full fat than a lightweight.

From my totally amateur and anecdotal observations the thing about mountain biking that gets you fit, in an all round sense, is that you use so many muscles and so much of your body when riding proper trails, and riding a heavy EMTB only increases this. In my two years I have definitely bulked up from riding much heavier bikes than I used too. I ride mine on average 3 times a week and my whole body gets pasted in way that never happens on my normal bikes!

Pounding out the miles on a road bike/xc ride is a totally different kind of fitness to that of the stop start move it all about and do the hokey pokey that is riding proper trails.

 

[jcmonty]

I was tempted by the Rise vs. my SL - most of my modifications could port over given the same shock length, 29er, etc. The Geo on the rise is a bit more modern, and could be made more aggressive (slacker) without sacrificing on the seat tube angle, reach, or BB Drop comparatively . The kinematics look better out of the box too for aggressive riding. The 60nm torque would be a "nice to have", though I get along with the 35nm on the SL without missing my old Kenevo much.

I don't like the looks of the Rise vs. SL. I think that the SL is one of the better looking bikes out there (along with the stumpys). I don't like that the rise is 140mm for more aggressive riding. Perhaps, cascade components will release a linkage that ups the travel a bit. It's probably perfect for most, but I definitely use and appreciate the 150mm on Levo SL.

 

[Johno]

In a few months time this forum will be over run with people complainig about the ep8 motor on the rise
It sounds like a bag of bolts