Levo Gen 3 Specialized Gen 3 2022 Levo Megathread!

[BikingBad]

Guys, Anyone upgrade to SRAM Maven brakes? If using the stock rotors (Code RS brakes on Levo Expert model), do I need the disc brake adaptors?

 

[Ou812]

Guys, Anyone upgrade to SRAM Maven brakes? If using the stock rotors (Code RS brakes on Levo Expert model), do I need the disc brake adaptors?

I bought the ultimate kit that came with the adaptors, they’re the same ones that came on the bike stock so you’re good. The only reason you’d need to change the adaptors is if you went with bigger rotors.

 

[BikingBad]

I bought the ultimate kit that came with the adaptors, they’re the same ones that came on the bike stock so you’re good. The only reason you’d need to change the adaptors is if you went with bigger rotors.

Cool, thx! How do you like the brakes? The kit is sold out everywhere so purchased the ultimate brakes and pro bleed kit.

 

[Polar]

Guys, Anyone upgrade to SRAM Maven brakes? If using the stock rotors (Code RS brakes on Levo Expert model), do I need the disc brake adaptors?

Wouldn't use stock rotors but the new HS2 rotors included in the expert kit or buy them 200 front and 180 back gives you more than enough braking power. You don't need adaptor as long as you don't go bigger rotor.

 

[Ou812]

Cool, thx! How do you like the brakes? The kit is sold out everywhere so purchased the ultimate brakes and pro bleed kit.

Honestly, they lasted a week on my bike before I went back to the Hope T4V4s. I didn’t feel they had anymore power than my Hopes and I preferred the lever feel of the Hopes.

 

[BruceJR]

Honestly, they lasted a week on my bike before I went back to the Hope T4V4s. I didn’t feel they had anymore power than my Hopes and I preferred the lever feel of the Hopes.

I bought the Maven Ultimate kit with the rotors and stuff for my Levo..then I got buyers remorse after readying about how harsh the levers are. After installing T4's on my Stumpy around the same time I'm thoroughly convinced I do not want any other brakes except Dominions. I need to return that kit.

 

[Polar]

I bought the Maven Ultimate kit with the rotors and stuff for my Levo..then I got buyers remorse after readying about how harsh the levers are. After installing T4's on my Stumpy around the same time I'm thoroughly convinced I do not want any other brakes except Dominions. I need to return that kit.

Did you install them and tried them out properly or just listen to what a couple of others say?

 

[BruceJR]

Did you install them and tried them out properly or just listen to what a couple of others say?

They are not installed. I know from the feel before installing them they are stiffer than the Codes that came with the bike. I'm sure the stopping power is top notch but I can guarantee the feel and modulation will not match the Hayes..for me.

 

[Polar]

They are not installed. I know from the feel before installing them they are stiffer than the Codes that came with the bike. I'm sure the stopping power is top notch but I can guarantee the feel and modulation will not match the Hayes..for me.

First time I heard someone says they know how a product feels and works when all the parts are new compared to the old product and on top of that make a decision based on others views.
Anyway Maven have only been out for a couple of weeks so it's gone be interesting to see some reviews based on long time use.

 

[Ou812]

I bought the Maven Ultimate kit with the rotors and stuff for my Levo..then I got buyers remorse after readying about how harsh the levers are. After installing T4's on my Stumpy around the same time I'm thoroughly convinced I do not want any other brakes except Dominions. I need to return that kit.

Just list them for sale over retail and make some money, I’ve been offered £200 more than what I paid for mine and they’re slightly used. I rarely sell stuff though so mine will probably just sit on the shelf along with all the other random parts I’ve tried or swapped out.

 

[BruceJR]

First time I heard someone says they know how a product feels and works when all the parts are new compared to the old product and on top of that make a decision based on others views.
Anyway Maven have only been out for a couple of weeks so it's gone be interesting to see some reviews based on long time use.

Seriously? We all make purchasing decision based on product reviews all the time.... Most of the reviews do compare them to Codes as a reference. So if you know Codes then you can have a pretty good idea. That said, I do agree it's not a 100% accurate assessment of just how stiff the pull is on the Mavens but I assure you it's fairly obviously stiff. Especially when I have years of experience riding Codes. If I didn't just install the Hayes on my other bike and love them so much I would certainly have given the Mavens a try. It's not in dispute how different the feel of the the two will be. After experiencing the light action and supreme modulation of the Hayes. I don't want to give that up. Also, after seeing the paint splatter color on another bike...I decided it was not for me. It's extremely loud. Especially on an all black bike like mine. If I sell them, I would only mark them up enough to cover the taxes that I paid above the retail price and any PayPal fees.

 

[Polar]

Seriously? We all make purchasing decision based on product reviews all the time.... Most of the reviews do compare them to Codes as a reference. So if you know Codes then you can have a pretty good idea. That said, I do agree it's not a 100% accurate assessment of just how stiff the pull is on the Mavens but I assure you it's fairly obviously stiff. Especially when I have years of experience riding Codes. If I didn't just install the Hayes on my other bike and love them so much I would certainly have given the Mavens a try. It's not in dispute how different the feel of the the two will be. After experiencing the light action and supreme modulation of the Hayes. I don't want to give that up. Also, after seeing the paint splatter color on another bike...I decided it was not for me. It's extremely loud. Especially on an all black bike like mine. If I sell them, I would only mark them up enough to cover the taxes that I paid above the retail price and any PayPal fees.

Well I read reviews but final decision is mine since I'm gonna use the product but of course no need to change if you're satisfied with what you got.
I have tried all the code combinations and never got satisfied so after reading a lot of reviews and considering what type of support I would get in my country I was about to pull the trigger on TRP and not Hope since they ain't got bite adjustment but suddenly I got an offer on Maven I couldn't resist especially with the Van Halen design.
Good everybody got different opinions otherwise the world would be be dead boring.

For real don't you think black on red is dope

 

[head]

I bought two Maven kits: one for the e-bike and one for the eatbike. The brakes have a slightly inconsistent bite point (a known issue that can be fixed), but otherwise, they're awesome! I tried the 200mm front and 180mm rear combo on the eatbike, but I didn't like it—the 180mm felt a bit too weak. I swapped it for a 200mm rotor, and now it's perfect. The eatbike is a full 29er, while the e-bike is a mullet, so I might use the 180mm rotor in the rear on it.

 

[BikingBad]

Anyone install the Maven brakes yourself? Was it difficult to route the rear cable through? Did you use a coupler or were you able to just push cable through from back to front?

 

[Ou812]

Anyone install the Maven brakes yourself? Was it difficult to route the rear cable through? Did you use a coupler or were you able to just push cable through from back to front?

Just push it through, the Levo is one of the easiest ones I’ve ever done. The only tricky part is at the head tube but it’s still super easy.

 

[BikingBad]

Just push it through, the Levo is one of the easiest ones I’ve ever done. The only tricky part is at the head tube but it’s still super easy.

Cool, thx!

 

[BikingBad]

For Maven brake upgrade, if upsizing rear rotor to HS2 220mm rotor, a 180 to 220mm post bracket is required which is not included with the kit (Expert or individual brake purchase).

 

[nathan]

Ok! Thank you guys!

neodymium is noted. Are there any special requirements for the magnets? Recomended size maybe?

Hey I’m in the same situation with a centerlock rear wheel. I plan to use a 6 bolt adapter. Did you find a solution? I’ve ordered 6mm x 2mm magnets and plan to use gorilla gel superglue. I have the lock ring coming unfortunately I ordered it before I came across this thread.

 

[fone]

Hey I’m in the same situation with a centerlock rear wheel. I plan to use a 6 bolt adapter. Did you find a solution? I’ve ordered 6mm x 2mm magnets and plan to use gorilla gel superglue. I have the lock ring coming unfortunately I ordered it before I came across this thread.

No, I just used the Specialized Centerlock Speed Sensor Magnet.
Works well and I don't have any issues. DTSwiss HX1700 Rear Wheel and SRAM HS2 Disks.

​

 

[iXi]

Anyone know what size the screws are that hold the speed sensor magnet in place. I threaded one trying to take it off and will have to drill it out to replaced the rotor but don't want to until I can get a replacement screw.

 

[Money Pit]

Smashpot conversion ready to go into my fox 38 so I think I'm gonna up my levo travel to 170mm. Already have cascade long shock fitted with a super deluxe coil.

Looking forward to seeing how levo handles it all.

Love this bike.

 

[faberle]

Smashpot conversion ready to go into my fox 38 so I think I'm gonna up my levo travel to 170mm. Already have cascade long shock fitted with a super deluxe coil.

Looking forward to seeing how levo handles it all.

Love this bike.

got mine instralled 3 weeks ago. great upgrade, buttery smooth front, but it adds weight making the front a little bit less nimble at low speed. I fixed that completely (and made even more nimble than stock) by changing head tube angle up one degree, super easy on Levo Gen3. That strangly did not affect my perception of stability going down.

 

[Money Pit]

got mine instralled 3 weeks ago. great upgrade, buttery smooth front, but it adds weight making the front a little bit less nimble at low speed. I fixed that completely (and made even more nimble than stock) by changing head tube angle up one degree, super easy on Levo Gen3. That strangly did not affect my perception of stability going down.

That's good info thanks. I had planned on doing same. I'm currently in the slack head angle so and since I'm upping travel to 170 I figured I'd step head angle back to neutral.

Part of me is tempted by a 180mm fork but I'll resist for now. Can I ask what oil you put in your smashpot?

 

[Cb750stu]

That's good info thanks. I had planned on doing same. I'm currently in the slack head angle so and since I'm upping travel to 170 I figured I'd step head angle back to neutral.

Part of me is tempted by a 180mm fork but I'll resist for now. Can I ask what oil you put in your smashpot?

You just use the same oil as what was used for the air spring

 

[Money Pit]

You just use the same oil as what was used for the air spring

Ah I thought people tended to use a lighter weight or something. I've only got some 15wt rockshox oil I'll likely use in spring and was going to use some 5wt fox Teflon oil for damper side.

 

[faberle]

That's good info thanks. I had planned on doing same. I'm currently in the slack head angle so and since I'm upping travel to 170 I figured I'd step head angle back to neutral.

Part of me is tempted by a 180mm fork but I'll resist for now. Can I ask what oil you put in your smashpot?

@Money Pit , sorry don't know what oil is there, as I got installed by a suspension pro but I can ask them if you want.

 

[Ou812]

Ah I thought people tended to use a lighter weight or something. I've only got some 15wt rockshox oil I'll likely use in spring and was going to use some 5wt fox Teflon oil for damper side.

I use Motorex Supergliss 68k in the air side and Motorex 2.5wt in the damper side.

FWIW, the Fox 5wt with teflon has been discontinued, pretty much everything with PTFE in it will eventually be. Fox now uses 4wt in the damper side, it’s made by motorex and is the same thing as the 2.5wt I’ve been using for years.

 

[Money Pit]

I use Motorex Supergliss 68k in the air side and Motorex 2.5wt in the damper side.

FWIW, the Fox 5wt with teflon has been discontinued, pretty much everything with PTFE in it will eventually be. Fox now uses 4wt in the damper side, it’s made by motorex and is the same thing as the 2.5wt I’ve been using for years.

Thanks for that info.

I put some 15wt rockshox oil in one side and some fox 5wt in the other as that's what I had available.

Took the bike for a five minute ride around the block and I couldn't believe how much better it felt. It seemed to have really smoothed out small bumps like pavement slabs and kerbs etc. I'll give it a lap around a proper trail tonight.

First impressions are vgood.

It's noticeably heavier on the front end but I think ill he used to that soon enough.

 

[BikingBad]

14 months old Expert build, subtle cracking and grinding noise only when pedaling, but not slipping, seems to be coming from motor. Anyone else experience this?

 

[DuncanDoughnuts]

Have you recently put a new chain on ?

I had that and it was a worn chainring.

But any cracking and grinding from that area is not great sign