Where do you draw the line - £5.5k eMtb Levo. Failed battery x 2, failed motor x 1, failed tcu x1, failed harness x 1, failed bearing x 1, failed dropper post x 1, failed sensor cable x1. Off the road for 14 weeks out of 51 since bought. All the stress and being off-road during lock down. When is enough enough. This seems to be acceptable to specialized - No offer to replace the bike. Absolutely gutted about this.
Levo Gen 2 Specialized levo desperation
- Thread starter Bazzer
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
Ha - where to go now.
- Thread starter
- #4
Helpful
lumpy
🚁 CHOPPER 🚁
Have all those failed parts been replaced by Specialized under warranty?
You don't need Spesh to offer a replacement. 8 failures in a year surely qualifies as not fit for purpose and refund. But it'd be the shop that processes the refund, not Spesh. I am always one for giving a manufacturer the chance to put something right, and one for accepting that sometimes stuff just breaks. Your scenario does seem beyond that though.
Grannyjones
Member
TBH it's not just E Bikes. Had a lot go wrong on alalogue bikes as well. Bottom brackets that fail in just 1000 miles repeatedly, no warranty replacement just a £60 bill.
On the E Bike the motor lasted 3x longer than that and it got replaced under warranty. I'm suprised to hear of so many electronic-related failures vs only one mechanical failure (dropper post). What mileage has it done ?
On the E Bike the motor lasted 3x longer than that and it got replaced under warranty. I'm suprised to hear of so many electronic-related failures vs only one mechanical failure (dropper post). What mileage has it done ?
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- Thread starter
- #9
All the parts have been replaced under warranty but when your bike has let you down so many times you have no confidence riding it. I didn’t mention the ongoing issues I’ve had with water ingress as well . Three months of issues there as well.
I’m now at the point of trying for a refund - which means returning it to tredz and dealing with them (never a great experience) and then if I’m successful there are no bikes available to buy! Spec surely could do a direct swap if they wanted ?
I’m now at the point of trying for a refund - which means returning it to tredz and dealing with them (never a great experience) and then if I’m successful there are no bikes available to buy! Spec surely could do a direct swap if they wanted ?
"Fit for purpose" won't be a useable argument. You'd need to demonstrate that by establishing a pattern from a critical mass of other users, suggesting a design or manufacturing shortcoming. With thousands around that don't have these issues, not easy.
A "lemon" - perhaps - you're at the mercy of the manufacturer/dealer then.
- Thread starter
- #11
With the Levo, Im completely accepting that it’s emerging tech and that things go wrong - you can’t fault the replacement of parts. But after 12 months of stuff going wrong and when it stops you from getting out doing what you love - and when you don’t trust it do a 3 hour ride in the sticks - that’s not good.
- Thread starter
- #12
How did you get on with your 4 motor replacements?
Tell us more .
I met an older guy yesterday at Whinlatter with Turbo Levo Comp (MY2020) , bought in Nov2019. I was chatting before we headed off on the Altura South Loop and he was already on his 4th motor in 18 months!
I was considering the Levo as it has the 700wh battery but this just puts me right off...
@Bazzer I would approach the bike shop on the basis of not fit for purpose!
I was considering the Levo as it has the 700wh battery but this just puts me right off...
@Bazzer I would approach the bike shop on the basis of not fit for purpose!
- Thread starter
- #15
Error codes on the tcu and then the tcu not engaging at all. The tcu has a crap seal and water coming in via cable inlets I think. Spec sent a new tcu, harness and tcu cable. This whole process was three months. Bringing the bike inside to dry out etc and it not working most of the time . Nothing to do with how it’s washed and I don’t turn it upside down - we’ve had a wet winter I guess and they aren’t water tight, Berkshire cycles spec dealer recommend you seal around the tcu with insulation tape and around the USB port and an air compressor to run water out of the tube and motor area after a wet ride/wash.
EebStrider
Well-known member
If the shop messes you about, and you paid on a credit card for the bike, use the protection that comes with the card to get it sorted.
- Thread starter
- #17
FYI - after all the work and the speed sensor cable being replaced , it still shows a speed sensor fault - comes on after 5 mins and then stays on. I assume this is why they didn’t spot it when it had the work done - probably took it around the car park a few times and thought job done. To make matters worse - it’s a 3 hour round trip to the dealer to get the work done.
Grannyjones
Member
I'm wondering if using these E Bikes during really wet Winters is a no-go
I didn't use mine much this Winter, especially when the ground was very wet and muddy, and the few times I did it would some times cause error codes on the TCU.
3 hour round trip to the dealer really sucks!
I thought my 30-35 minute drive each way was bad and I always get a ride in while I'm there as there is decent riding near the bike shop. I've been twice in the year I've had it for warranty work - the cable between the motor & battery and the motor itself.
I didn't use mine much this Winter, especially when the ground was very wet and muddy, and the few times I did it would some times cause error codes on the TCU.
3 hour round trip to the dealer really sucks!
I thought my 30-35 minute drive each way was bad and I always get a ride in while I'm there as there is decent riding near the bike shop. I've been twice in the year I've had it for warranty work - the cable between the motor & battery and the motor itself.
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Yep, can't think of anywhere online he'd find that ?
there are also stories like mine, which are not as well published because we don't go and moan to the internet that our 2020 levo's have never had a single problem.. not to say it wont happen at some point but I ride with a big bunch of guys that own every motor between them, every single one has been replaced at some point but Levo's are like transit vans, there are just more of them around.
Had my 2020 levo comp since they launched. Everything’s worked flawlessly except a motor replacement. My buddy had to get his motor replaced also. But no other problems. Think you may of gotten a lemon with all those issues, I would be alittle frustrated also but my dealer always makes things right
High Rock Ruti
Active member
High Rock Ruti
I've gotten two full refunds from Specialized, 2016 Levo Expert 2019 S works. Never go after your bike shop, besides the fact that Specialized is a "stand-up" company. I've just ordered 2022 Turbo Levo pro, (S Works sold out 5 weeks ago) would not have paid the extra 2K either way. Specialized has earned my loyalty ? %. If they stand behind their bikes I'll keep going back, AFTER THEY FIX THE BIKES, which I'm hoping they have. I've now got three electric bikes, Trek, Orbea and Pivot. Within the last week, two out of three were broken ? could not get brake pads. Spoke to Shimano last week XT Deore 203 mm brake rotors they had 7800 back orders they quoted next December for the ones I needed and next March 2022 for another rotor. Found the rotors in Taiwan ?? hope they show up! But hey there's good news my chain and cassette has lasted a thousand miles..... a new personal best!
Warm Regards Ruti
When I got to this stage with my 2020 Levo Expert, my LBS gave a full refund. I have a Bullit now which is a way better bike...
That beauty has cured the genuine (incorrect) worry I’d developed about ebikes failing so often that they’re more trouble than they’re worth.
Anyway, there’s a way to do this in the U.K. and my VERY STRONG ADVICE AS SOMEBODY WHO GOT HIS MONEY BACK is to join Which? for a few quid and use their advice — they not only tell you your rights, what options you have and so on, but they have an automatic system that will write your letter.
You’ll find lots advice in forums etc about your rights, what constitutes a valid claim and how many chances they have to fix it. Avoid them. The Consumer Rights pages on the .gov.U.K. Website are a dreadfully boring read, but go there and just read it and you’ll see what constitutes a fault, what opportunities you have, the seller has, the manufacturer has and the credit card company has.
In summary....
”Your bike has not been fit for purpose from the point of sale”. ”The purpose of you bike is to provide electrically assisted peddle cycling“ “You have had only one fault, many times, which has not been reliably repaired” “That single fault is the failure of electrical assistance” The cause of that is completely irrelevant to you the purchaser; think of a washing machine that doesn’t wash, the reason or reasons why it continuously fails to wash are irrelevant and it would have to be taken back under U.K. Consumer Law after several episodes of the service dealer failing to provide a lasting repair to the problem which is failing to wash, even if there have been several causes of that within the washing machine. “Your contract is with the bike seller, not the manufacturer; the bike seller has a contract with the distributor or perhaps with be the manufacturer (for example Specialized Concept Store with Specialized U.K.) and you do not” ”You can report this to the Ombudsman, the Cycle Retail Trade Association and, having given 14 days notice of requiring either a brand new replacement or a full refund of the purchase price, you can make an application to the County Court colloquially called the small claims court — that will require an arbitration step which will cost about £100 and you can claim all that, your phone calls etc etc in the County Court Claim and your bike price is within the price limit”
Your LBS will be horrified by being dragged into all this once they know you are completely committed: this is a business matter, not an emotional one. Remember, they get the trade price back from the distributor and only loose their profit which is rapidly being chewed up by the repairs under guarantee which they have to fund themselve, upsets their repair staff and chews up profit-making repair slots. The distributor does not pay repair time, they only supply parts under guarantee.
Alternatively, contact Berkshire Bikes and have a good chat to the boss. With the new Gen 3’s coming in, you may find that convo’ very helpful.
And, Specialized do not want to see all this here, they really don’t. Trust me (well, don’t, ‘cos I’ve already told you not to trust anything on this topic in forums ????), but I’ve had that chat and I believe them.
So, don’t take any elbow from your LBS about that.
I did for a while until I spoke to Specialized and following that, the senior manager for my LBS and then sent my ’Letter’.
I have spoken to three large Specialized dealers during this process and all have taken back two or more Levo’s recently in this exact situation....
The real problem is getting another bike promptly with the refund. But, like you, I’d got to the stage where I had completely lost confidence in the bike and couldn’t bring myself to risk another 10k push back at 64 with the shite back I’d bought the bike to help me with!
Lastly, it’s probably nothing to do with how you ride or look after the bike. Lots on forums about that too. I stuck to all the rules about water, cleaning, cleaning products, avoiding peddle strikes, riding in turbo all the time over rocky terrain etc, etc. And, there is simply no explanation as to why some Levi’s go on for ever and others keep failung when the whole electrics have been stripped and replaced three or more times.
It won’t be you and your next e-bike will be fine (in comparison) ?
That beauty has cured the genuine (incorrect) worry I’d developed about ebikes failing so often that they’re more trouble than they’re worth.
Anyway, there’s a way to do this in the U.K. and my VERY STRONG ADVICE AS SOMEBODY WHO GOT HIS MONEY BACK is to join Which? for a few quid and use their advice — they not only tell you your rights, what options you have and so on, but they have an automatic system that will write your letter.
You’ll find lots advice in forums etc about your rights, what constitutes a valid claim and how many chances they have to fix it. Avoid them. The Consumer Rights pages on the .gov.U.K. Website are a dreadfully boring read, but go there and just read it and you’ll see what constitutes a fault, what opportunities you have, the seller has, the manufacturer has and the credit card company has.
In summary....
”Your bike has not been fit for purpose from the point of sale”. ”The purpose of you bike is to provide electrically assisted peddle cycling“ “You have had only one fault, many times, which has not been reliably repaired” “That single fault is the failure of electrical assistance” The cause of that is completely irrelevant to you the purchaser; think of a washing machine that doesn’t wash, the reason or reasons why it continuously fails to wash are irrelevant and it would have to be taken back under U.K. Consumer Law after several episodes of the service dealer failing to provide a lasting repair to the problem which is failing to wash, even if there have been several causes of that within the washing machine. “Your contract is with the bike seller, not the manufacturer; the bike seller has a contract with the distributor or perhaps with be the manufacturer (for example Specialized Concept Store with Specialized U.K.) and you do not” ”You can report this to the Ombudsman, the Cycle Retail Trade Association and, having given 14 days notice of requiring either a brand new replacement or a full refund of the purchase price, you can make an application to the County Court colloquially called the small claims court — that will require an arbitration step which will cost about £100 and you can claim all that, your phone calls etc etc in the County Court Claim and your bike price is within the price limit”
Your LBS will be horrified by being dragged into all this once they know you are completely committed: this is a business matter, not an emotional one. Remember, they get the trade price back from the distributor and only loose their profit which is rapidly being chewed up by the repairs under guarantee which they have to fund themselve, upsets their repair staff and chews up profit-making repair slots. The distributor does not pay repair time, they only supply parts under guarantee.
Alternatively, contact Berkshire Bikes and have a good chat to the boss. With the new Gen 3’s coming in, you may find that convo’ very helpful.
And, Specialized do not want to see all this here, they really don’t. Trust me (well, don’t, ‘cos I’ve already told you not to trust anything on this topic in forums ????), but I’ve had that chat and I believe them.
So, don’t take any elbow from your LBS about that.
I did for a while until I spoke to Specialized and following that, the senior manager for my LBS and then sent my ’Letter’.
I have spoken to three large Specialized dealers during this process and all have taken back two or more Levo’s recently in this exact situation....
The real problem is getting another bike promptly with the refund. But, like you, I’d got to the stage where I had completely lost confidence in the bike and couldn’t bring myself to risk another 10k push back at 64 with the shite back I’d bought the bike to help me with!
Lastly, it’s probably nothing to do with how you ride or look after the bike. Lots on forums about that too. I stuck to all the rules about water, cleaning, cleaning products, avoiding peddle strikes, riding in turbo all the time over rocky terrain etc, etc. And, there is simply no explanation as to why some Levi’s go on for ever and others keep failung when the whole electrics have been stripped and replaced three or more times.
It won’t be you and your next e-bike will be fine (in comparison) ?
Last edited:
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