Levo SL Gen 1 Official Levo SL Thread

[R120]

I am a fan of both coil and air shocks, but would only use a coil if prioritising outright grip and traction over everything else, they are also great if set up well on monster jumps, or super long DH runs where they heat up less than an air shock. Top riders often switch between the two depending on the terrain they are riding.

I get why top end Airshocks are more expensive, because they are far more complex bits of kit, a coil shock is fundamentally a very basic form of shock, but of course some of the boutique ones like EXT are going to be expensive due to limited production quantities.

The main thing you will feel on a coil, and why they offer more traction, is that the break away force to a activate the shock is a lot lower than on an air shock, so they react quicker to the terrain, hence the grip and small bump qualities. On an EMTB this can also be felt when climbing technical terrain. The extra weigh of a coil shock isn't really an issue on an EMTB, though the combined weight of the bike and the rider often means its hard to get the right spring weight, though the market seems to be adjusting to this with more heavy spring options out there. Of course a coil looks bad ass too!

I have a Super Deluxe with a Meg Neg conversion, which significantly expands the negative chamber - for me its the best balance between the two - you get the bottomless feel and traction associated with a coil, (though obviously still not up there with a coil), but you also get the responsiveness of the air shock. Worth a try for anyone who has a super deluxe as its a sub £100 upgrade, though has a lot of set up options so again you need to know what you are doing, or get the right help, when installing it.

Having ridden a few coil shock EMTB's unless you have the spring weight spot on for you/your riding, you do notice a significant loss in the pop/responsiveness of the bike, so critical you get the set up right, and if you dont know what you are doing with a coil spending the extra to get it specified/set -up for you by a specialist is well worth it.

 

[MrBrownstone]

Hi all. New user here. I tested Trek Rail 7, Levo Comp Carbon and Levo SL Comp Carbon yesterday and I loved the SL. I felt more like a passenger on the Levo and Trail, but more like a rider on the SL

I am now probably going to buy one. It looks like the Comp Carbons are sold out in Finland in black color and XL. The LBS has Experet Carbon in my size and color, but it doesn't seem to get much love in this thread. It does have carbon wheels, but the SRAM set is still something I might replace with Shimano. Tough choices...

EDIT: The LBS offered a deal on Expert Carbon for 8250€

The expert carbon, the one I rode is a SWEET bike/package. Go for it. So lightweight it’s crazy.

Will this be your first Emtb?

 

[TomH79]

Hi all. New user here. I tested Trek Rail 7, Levo Comp Carbon and Levo SL Comp Carbon yesterday and I loved the SL. I felt more like a passenger on the Levo and Trail, but more like a rider on the SL

I am now probably going to buy one. It looks like the Comp Carbons are sold out in Finland in black color and XL. The LBS has Experet Carbon in my size and color, but it doesn't seem to get much love in this thread. It does have carbon wheels, but the SRAM set is still something I might replace with Shimano. Tough choices...

EDIT: The LBS offered a deal on Expert Carbon for 8250€

Take it

 

[p3eps]

Hi all. New user here. I tested Trek Rail 7, Levo Comp Carbon and Levo SL Comp Carbon yesterday and I loved the SL. I felt more like a passenger on the Levo and Trail, but more like a rider on the SL

I am now probably going to buy one. It looks like the Comp Carbons are sold out in Finland in black color and XL. The LBS has Experet Carbon in my size and color, but it doesn't seem to get much love in this thread. It does have carbon wheels, but the SRAM set is still something I might replace with Shimano. Tough choices...

EDIT: The LBS offered a deal on Expert Carbon for 8250€

I went for an Expert in XL. When I bought it, I thought that the better components on the Expert over Comp were worth the hike in price. The GX groupset is a significant improvement on the NX, and the Roval carbon wheels are much lighter than the alloy wheels on the Comp. I also thought the brakes and shocks were better too.

After some riding, I realised that the G2 RSC brakes were really lacking, so replaced them with Magura MT7's. I didn't like the Fox 34 Performance shock, so swapped it for a Lyric Ultimate. I changed most of the groupset to XX1 when I fitted AXS, and then swapped the cassette over anyway. Turns out, the only remaining parts of the bike I have just now is the wheels, rear shock, and the cranks - the later 2 I will be replacing in the near future.
Were the wheels alone worth the extra premium over the Comp? Probably not. I've sold all the spares on ebay, and probably got more for selling a GX groupset over an NX. I probably got more for selling the slightly better parts from the Expert than I would have for the components off the Comp (fork / brakes). Probably still not worth taking the Expert over the Comp - but at the time of purchase I thought I'd be happy with most of them!

If I was to go back and do it again, I'd probably go with the Comp knowing that I'd replace everything. If you're the sort of person who will be happy with the components on the Expert and won't be swapping them - then it may be better value.

On another note - I got 15% discount, so paid £6325 for mine.

 

[paquo]

Carbon wheels and light shoes, - 900g

View attachment 31070

nice, i have never seen those whitewall fastraks before

 

[soundwave]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, this would be my first emtb. I don’t like sram feeling in brakes and shifting so those are something I might very well replace. I have carbon wheels now in my Orbea Occam H10 trail and they do feel fast, but I wonder is the difference significant in an emtb? Leaning towards a Comp model but that means about 3-4 weeks wait.

 

[soundwave]

On another note - I got 15% discount, so paid £6325 for mine.

That’s a crazy good deal! ?

 

[Killswitch73]

Hi all. New user here. I tested Trek Rail 7, Levo Comp Carbon and Levo SL Comp Carbon yesterday and I loved the SL. I felt more like a passenger on the Levo and Trail, but more like a rider on the SL

I am now probably going to buy one. It looks like the Comp Carbons are sold out in Finland in black color and XL. The LBS has Experet Carbon in my size and color, but it doesn't seem to get much love in this thread. It does have carbon wheels, but the SRAM set is still something I might replace with Shimano. Tough choices...

EDIT: The LBS offered a deal on Expert Carbon for 8250€

How much discount you getting on this as when I concert the € to £ your near enough paying near Full price in £ . Minimum you should be getting 10% off .
I got 12% on my comp carbon but I already had the hrs to upgrade it .

 

[TomH79]

How much discount you getting on this as when I concert the € to £ your near enough paying near Full price in £ . Minimum you should be getting 10% off .
I got 12% on my comp carbon but I already had the hrs to upgrade it .

Soundwave lives in Finland?
Here in finland we have only few spesh dealers so discounts are minimal.

 

[jcmonty]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, this would be my first emtb. I don’t like sram feeling in brakes and shifting so those are something I might very well replace. I have carbon wheels now in my Orbea Occam H10 trail and they do feel fast, but I wonder is the difference significant in an emtb? Leaning towards a Comp model but that means about 3-4 weeks wait.

The comp wheels are heavy, especially when coupled with the NX cassette. I feel it mostly on DH acceleration (gravity fueled). Ebike takes the edge off of the perceived rotating weight losses on climbs and flats IMO.

That being said , I haven't had any reliability issues (knock on wood), tubeless setup was the easiest I have ever dealt with, and any perceived acceleration sluggishness has gone away as I have ridden the bike. I probably will still go carbon one day, but it's not necessary by any means. Great way to lose rotating, unsprung weight on the Comp though.

 

[Killswitch73]

Soundwave lives in Finland?
Here in finland we have only few spesh dealers so discounts are minimal.

Ohhh I see . Ok then fair enough . I would still for the comp carbon over the expert though as then it’s like £1500 or around €1700 Euros difference and can get massive upgrades on the wheels and brakes and even get a better fork for that . I only paid €655 euros for my Lyrik ultimates from R2 bikes in Germany .

 

[dasurpha]

Soundwave lives in Finland?
Here in finland we have only few spesh dealers so discounts are minimal.

Yeah, I checked the LBS and with the higher list price and reluctant discounts could not justify to buy locally and ordered from Germany. Got the bike with extended battery quite a lot cheaper than the bike alone would have been here - and faster, as they had 2 week queue to get anything out of the shop. (They probably would have prioritized it if that would have been the deal breaker TBH.) That said, I’m happy to use their services and pay for it when there’s something I will not do myself.

Hopefully getting the bike by Friday so I can set it up over the weekend

 

[dasurpha]

Oh, anyone happens to know the length of the rear brake hose so I can order the right XT set directly?

 

[TomH79]

Oh, anyone happens to know the length of the rear brake hose so I can order the right XT set directly?

Take the 1700mm

 

[Killswitch73]

Oh, anyone happens to know the length of the rear brake hose so I can order the right XT set directly?

1700mm or a little less .

Edit : someone beat me to it lol ?

 

[Killswitch73]

Will the hope E-bike cranks fit this SL ? Needing shorter cranks

 

[dasurpha]

1700mm or a little less .

Edit : someone beat me to it lol ?

Thanks, I went for 1650 ?

 

[soundwave]

Yeah, I checked the LBS and with the higher list price and reluctant discounts could not justify to buy locally and ordered from Germany.

Would you mind sharing the dealer you ordered it from? ?

 

[dasurpha]

Would you mind sharing the dealer you ordered it from? ?

Sure, I’ll send you private message with the details. Biker-boarder.de

 

[p3eps]

Will the hope E-bike cranks fit this SL ? Needing shorter cranks

I may be wrong, but I think the only cranks that fit the SL at the moment are the stock Praxis ones.
I’ve been trying to get the carbon Praxis ones in 165 since getting the bike, but they’re still ‘coming soon’ as an aftermarket purchase.

 

[CJaMTB]

I may be wrong, but I think the only cranks that fit the SL at the moment are the stock Praxis ones.
I’ve been trying to get the carbon Praxis ones in 165 since getting the bike, but they’re still ‘coming soon’ as an aftermarket purchase.

Does the SL not use the same crank interface as the Levo and Kenevo?

 

[p3eps]

Does the SL not use the same crank interface as the Levo and Kenevo?

Again, I could be wrong - but my LBS said no. I’ve spoken to Praxis, and they told me the carbon crank for the SL was coming soon.
It’s under a different section of their website along with the Creo one.
If I could have used the Levo one, I’m sure they wouldn’t have developed a new one for the SL?

 

[p3eps]

CARBON M30 eCRANKS - Praxis Works

 

[Killswitch73]

I may be wrong, but I think the only cranks that fit the SL at the moment are the stock Praxis ones.
I’ve been trying to get the carbon Praxis ones in 165 since getting the bike, but they’re still ‘coming soon’ as an aftermarket purchase.

165 still a bit to long for me .. 160 or even better 155mm is what I need . My large comes with 170 so going 165 carbon is just 5mm .
It’s not to bad at the moment as I’m not going on my local trails as they are closed but when they open back up I’m going to get nothing but pedal strikes due to the technical climbs over rocks and granite.

I might send Hope an email to see if they will be making a specialized 1.1 fitting crank arms .

 

[p3eps]

If there is something else that fits, then I’d love to know - as I want to change mine too!
I’ve been holding off for these Praxis ones though - in belief that they’re the only ones that’ll fit!!

I’ve got 170mm too, and am getting better at avoiding rocks etc. The killer is some trails are so rutted, that they’re practically impossible to get up without the cranks catching.

I think 165mm is the smallest Praxis are making - as they’d be what you got on a Small or Medium SL.

 

[Konanige]

Not trying to cause trouble but genuinely interested to know why people seem to want to shorten their cranks. I have 3 MTB's Genesis Tarn BB@320mm crank length 180mm, On-one Codeine 29 BB @340mm crank 180mm, Levo SL BB@345mm cranks 170mm, so the Ebike effectively has the most pedal clearance. I've had a couple of pedal strikes in the first 900km but nothing worse than on my other bikes. I could see an issue with a coil shock as they blow through the travel easier than air so less support in the midstroke, so not best for climbing unless it has a lockout.

 

[R120]

Shorter cranks help with pedal strikes when doing technical climbs you wouldnt usually try on a normal bike - having said that once you get used to the bike and adjust your technique pedal strikes become less of an issue. Personally I wouldn't want to go below 160mm because you begin to notice the cadence change, and also because when descending you are effectively shortening your platform, which could lead to less stability.

A few years ago most EMTB's came with 175mm cranks, whereas now they come with shorter cranks out the box. Back then a lot of us where changing the cranks, but with many of the newer bikes you dont need to.

On a full fat EMTB you won't notice going to a bit shorter crank due to the power delivery, however I can see on a bike like the SL why you might not want to go too short.

 

[p3eps]

I am a fan of both coil and air shocks, but would only use a coil if prioritising outright grip and traction over everything else, they are also great if set up well on monster jumps, or super long DH runs where they heat up less than an air shock. Top riders often switch between the two depending on the terrain they are riding.
.

I contacted TF tuned and gave them details of the bike / issues with DPS / riding style / height & weight etc.

Their suggestion is an Öhlins TTX Coil.
“Yes we are talking about coil – it just works well on these heavier bikes and we can get it set up to give you enough ‘pop’. It will feel different to air no dbout, but most people don’t go back once they’ve had a coil set up.”
There is an Öhlins TTX air shock too - which is what the first part is about.

 

[Konanige]

Shorter cranks help with pedal strikes when doing technical climbs you wouldnt usually try on a normal bike - having said that once you get used to the bike and adjust your technique pedal strikes become less of an issue. Personally I wouldn't want to go below 160mm because you begin to notice the cadence change, and also because when descending you are effectively shortening your platform, which could lead to less stability.

A few years ago most bikes came with 175mm cranks, whereas now they come with shorter cranks out the box. Back then a lot of us where changing the cranks, but with many of the newer bikes you dont need to.

On a full fat EMTB you won't notice going to a bit shorter crank due to the power delivery, however I can see on a bike like the SL why you might not want to go too short.

Thanks for the insight, I will leave mine as is because theres nothing I ride round here that I couldn't get up on my normal bike if my knees were OK!!

 

[Killswitch73]

If there is something else that fits, then I’d love to know - as I want to change mine too!
I’ve been holding off for these Praxis ones though - in belief that they’re the only ones that’ll fit!!

I’ve got 170mm too, and am getting better at avoiding rocks etc. The killer is some trails are so rutted, that they’re practically impossible to get up without the cranks catching.

I think 165mm is the smallest Praxis are making - as they’d be what you got on a Small or Medium SL.

I’m getting strikes just on local woods on roots I can’t begin to think what it’s going to be like on my trials as Dalbeattie is famous for it’s granite and rock gardens .