Levo Gen 3 My new Levo Expert 2022 has a broken carbob swing Thx Specialized

E Bob

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2021
360
359
torfaen
Any idea of what the weight limit of the '22 Expert is? On my 2021 Alu Levo Comp it says 136 structural weight, which is Specialized speak for bike, and everything it has to carry. Looks like I'm right on the limit, despite the LBS saying I still had some good margin with my weight. I don't jump, though, so not too worried.

There's a sticker right underneath the frame that tells you the limit:
View attachment 66956

It mentions EN 15194, which is the only ebike standard for such things and assumes a total weight (everything!) of 120kg, but was written for road and touring bikes, which are rarely jumped. No standards exist for eMTBs as far as I know.
372D4C77-82EB-428F-9B85-B2464838F0E9.jpeg
 

KSL

Member
Jul 10, 2021
186
82
SoCal
I use a lot of carbon components for windsurfing. 100% carbon masts and booms and a mix of UD and matrix carbon board layup. All are put under enormous stress in strong winds and rough seas but get rinsed in a shore break and a broken mast is likely.........and any solid impact will likely lead to failure sooner or later. The thing being on each component the type of carbon and the layup is designed to resist forces in a specific direction and to a specified degree. Regardless of composite no carbon layup except one using kevlar, is able to resist hard impacts.....and including kevlar in a composite is a very specialist job.

Personally I would never buy a mtb with a carbon frame.....road bike certainly....mtb no way!

Would you ever fly on a current generation plane?

Each Boeing 787 Dreamliner contains approximately 23 tonnes of carbon fiber
 

DtEW

Active member
Dec 8, 2020
206
190
Bay Area, California
Would you ever fly on a current generation plane?

Each Boeing 787 Dreamliner contains approximately 23 tonnes of carbon fiber

Yehbut...

If the 787 takes a tumble in a rock garden, I'm pretty sure they would decommission it.

If that's the sort of critical-duty treatment that is used for carbon MTB frames, I'm sure nobody would have any reservations whatsoever... assuming they're not paying for it.;)
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
6,568
5,060
Weymouth
Yehbut...

If the 787 takes a tumble in a rock garden, I'm pretty sure they would decommission it.

If that's the sort of critical-duty treatment that is used for carbon MTB frames, I'm sure nobody would have any reservations whatsoever... assuming they're not paying for it.;)
..........and the aircraft is subject to strictly adhered gross weight limit, air speed, and rate of altitude change. I would also venture that the construction uses the highest quality carbon fibre and is subject to the highest levels of both manufacture and testing.
The brand of carbon windsurf boom I use cost £1200.........you can buy a "carbon" boom for £400. The same brand of carbon mast ( 460cm) costs £750.............other brands from £150...................which do you reckon use the higher modulus carbon, are in fact 100% carbon as opposed to a carbon/glass composite and use advanced epoxy resins?
Even so, chuck some rocks at them and they will likely fail. Fortunately for aircraft, not many rocks at 30k feet
 

etoni

E*POWAH Elite
Sep 3, 2018
417
3,873
Thun Switzerland
Keep in mind to switch brakes back to the original SRAM Code brakes. Otherwise Specialized might decline warranty replacement. In a German forum somebody reported that warrant was denied with a Magura MT7 mounted on an Expert. Specialized declined warranty with the words: Not original. No approvement.

Ridiculous. SWorks comes with MT7. ?
but mt7 is a bonsai brake against the trickstuff.
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,028
20,818
Brittany, France
I was on a dreamliner a few years ago which hit, and destroyed, a lamp post. Obviously they grounded the aircraft and then no doubt heavily inspected it for damage to the leading edge. If I'd have waited around, I wonder if I'd have seen it leave with one new black wing ? :unsure: :ROFLMAO:
 

head

Active member
Jul 2, 2020
124
119
Slovakia
How heavy are you? I have an expert which received a fair amount of abuse, and it's still holding. Although, I'll probably inspect it thoroughly after seeing pictures in this thread.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,258
5,048
Scotland
True, although I can say that I have been just sitting next to my bike before and had a tire just blow up. I mean that's weird right! lol Stupid tubeless sealant everywhere.
I had a tyre blow up inside the car not a nice experience. I just picked it up from a dealer the tyre was not on all the way I actually seen this and thought I will sort it when I get home. Ears rang for a week.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,258
5,048
Scotland
How heavy are you? I have an expert which received a fair amount of abuse, and it's still holding. Although, I'll probably inspect it thoroughly after seeing pictures in this thread.
I'm a fat lad and have well battered my expert and had no issues. Two frames in four years headset wear in first so replaced.
 

HIGGIE216

New Member
Nov 25, 2023
4
1
Simi Valley
How heavy are you? I have an expert which received a fair amount of abuse, and it's still holding. Although, I'll probably inspect it thoroughly after seeing pictures in this thread.
I am around 230 lbs (105kg). My local trails are rocky peak in simi valley as well as suicide trail in oak park. They are fairly rocky but the frame broke on a moderately chunky flow trail while I was doing around 25 mph (40kph).
 

Christurbo

E*POWAH Master
Jul 11, 2023
384
722
North Wales
I am around 230 lbs (105kg). My local trails are rocky peak in simi valley as well as suicide trail in oak park. They are fairly rocky but the frame broke on a moderately chunky flow trail while I was doing around 25 mph (40kph).
The stress fracture could have been there from before and this occurred over time. With the chunky flow trail becoming the last straw.

E.g you could have cased a jump or took a hard landing where your shock bottomed out sending forces through the frame itself with the weakest part failing producing the stress fracture.
 

ebikerider

Active member
Oct 1, 2019
706
484
Australia
I am around 230 lbs (105kg). My local trails are rocky peak in simi valley as well as suicide trail in oak park. They are fairly rocky but the frame broke on a moderately chunky flow trail while I was doing around 25 mph (40kph).
What spring rate is on the Push? A solid bottom out (or possibly plenty of bottom outs depending on spring rate) is a likely cause of the beginning of the end of those chainstays.
 

head

Active member
Jul 2, 2020
124
119
Slovakia
I have a feeling that this happens when you bottom out the suspension and the force has no where to go.

I had a fair amount of bottom-outs. Once, I cased a jump so badly that I ripped off both grips on landing. Fortunately, my Levo is still holding. I even inspected the rear triangle yesterday after seeing pictures in this thread 😅.

IMG_9964.jpeg
 

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