Disclaimer. I am electrical engineer by education and software designer by occupation. I am 52 and fit. Like run/walked with my husky 20km+ daily before achillees began protesting.
I am currently testing 2020 Levo Comp and Levo SL Carbon back to back before I decide what's best for me. I have good bike dealers I guess
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With 175cm I am between size M and L. Tough.
M sized Levo SL seemed short with front wheel shooting the stars on hard ascents, L sized Levo seemed planted and being really big bike.
L sized Levo SL seemed big bicycle while M sized Levo seemed great - while motor lasted.
Levo felt like AMG Merc while SL felt like Honda S2000 - both of which I own so I can tell. Part of this being 2.6 vs 2.3 tires, part being geometry and main part being power delivery.
Levo felt like a small motorcycle with pedals while Levo SL felt like a bicycle with added power. 165/170 cranks, tire width, frame width and power delivery being main differentiators.
Levo wants you to ride with it, Levo SL wants you to pedal. Levo is a lift while Levo SL is uncompromised cardio torture machine. Levo SL requires cadence to deliver some support while Levo wants you to 'just' pedal.
After a couple days the Levo motor (Brose) failed. TCU showed battery and support levels just fine, the app was communicating with the TCU just fine, was showing motor temperature and what not... just the motor wasn't producing any power. Dealer hooked it to a computer - and said I must have brought a bad karma referencing earlier fault experiences from this forum members.... His computer didn't show any errors all the while the motor was not functioning... My guess is power delivery components on the motherboard which is 'less than perfectly sealed' just died and the motor wasn't getting any juice while the rest of electronics were working just fine. Seeing the power cable water (dis)protection on connector I wouldn't be surprised if this design was meant for dry California weather. Funny thing - if you put your finger on lower two small pins on the battery connector it will show you current battery level. Try it.
Levo SLs (M and L) were working fine. Having opportunity to test them back to back I can say that this smaller motor is miles ahead of the big brother in terms of integration and smooth power delivery. Having smaller torque on tap this smaller motor wants you to pedal and keep the cadence. On regular trails - not step jumping - this motor will get you wherever you want however long the ascend may be BUT you need to pedal. It's no Haibike with 120Nm motor lift. SL is an exercise machine for fit people and that's it. The Smart Control section of Mission Control app begs for further parametrisation (like fitness levels) as currently it will juice you out demanding/motivating you to work at 100% as the power is so addictive
So there. This is my basic opinion of these two bikes. Although the raw power is very addictive the (un)reliability of it makes me lean towards SL hoping that in the next 5 years I will be able to maintain the fitness level necessary for this bike
I am currently testing 2020 Levo Comp and Levo SL Carbon back to back before I decide what's best for me. I have good bike dealers I guess
.With 175cm I am between size M and L. Tough.
M sized Levo SL seemed short with front wheel shooting the stars on hard ascents, L sized Levo seemed planted and being really big bike.
L sized Levo SL seemed big bicycle while M sized Levo seemed great - while motor lasted.
Levo felt like AMG Merc while SL felt like Honda S2000 - both of which I own so I can tell. Part of this being 2.6 vs 2.3 tires, part being geometry and main part being power delivery.
Levo felt like a small motorcycle with pedals while Levo SL felt like a bicycle with added power. 165/170 cranks, tire width, frame width and power delivery being main differentiators.
Levo wants you to ride with it, Levo SL wants you to pedal. Levo is a lift while Levo SL is uncompromised cardio torture machine. Levo SL requires cadence to deliver some support while Levo wants you to 'just' pedal.
After a couple days the Levo motor (Brose) failed. TCU showed battery and support levels just fine, the app was communicating with the TCU just fine, was showing motor temperature and what not... just the motor wasn't producing any power. Dealer hooked it to a computer - and said I must have brought a bad karma referencing earlier fault experiences from this forum members.... His computer didn't show any errors all the while the motor was not functioning... My guess is power delivery components on the motherboard which is 'less than perfectly sealed' just died and the motor wasn't getting any juice while the rest of electronics were working just fine. Seeing the power cable water (dis)protection on connector I wouldn't be surprised if this design was meant for dry California weather. Funny thing - if you put your finger on lower two small pins on the battery connector it will show you current battery level. Try it
.Levo SLs (M and L) were working fine. Having opportunity to test them back to back I can say that this smaller motor is miles ahead of the big brother in terms of integration and smooth power delivery. Having smaller torque on tap this smaller motor wants you to pedal and keep the cadence. On regular trails - not step jumping - this motor will get you wherever you want however long the ascend may be BUT you need to pedal. It's no Haibike with 120Nm motor lift. SL is an exercise machine for fit people and that's it. The Smart Control section of Mission Control app begs for further parametrisation (like fitness levels) as currently it will juice you out demanding/motivating you to work at 100% as the power is so addictive
So there. This is my basic opinion of these two bikes. Although the raw power is very addictive the (un)reliability of it makes me lean towards SL hoping that in the next 5 years I will be able to maintain the fitness level necessary for this bike
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