Did you buy the bike from Berkshire cycles?
Specialized or YT?
- Thread starter Alf Alderson
- Start date
No I hadn’t but I’ve sent quite a few people there way as a result of such great service.
Bosch already have Excellence Centres. RaceCo in Stourbridge is one, Dean Forest cycles is another.
RaceCo don't charge for warranty work, even if you didn't buy the bike from them, Dean Forest Cycles charge a small amount (I was quoted £30) to cover them for work outside that which is covered by Bosch.
Just ordered the Decoy Pro. There will be a 2018 Levo Comp Carbon for sale in July ?
phdatsun
New Member
I rode both for me the 2019 levo is where my money went. If I was more into downhill I would have bought the yt. I do own YT capra pro race and love it though.
Specialized have a couple of new parts to stop the crap going down the motor housing and a new rear shock connector. I called the bike shop I bought my 19 levo from (60 miles away) and they said they’d sort it no problem but I might want to try a local Specialized dealer. I did this and they said they’d charge the labour for fitting. I called Specialized themselves and they confirmed that they would not cover the labour. I told them exactly what I thought of that!
I think it’s a load of crap tbh, I’ve left it for now. It’s not the cost, it’s the fact I think it stinks.
I think it’s a load of crap tbh, I’ve left it for now. It’s not the cost, it’s the fact I think it stinks.
lolp
Member
Well I've read all the bumph, reviews, opinions etc and it seems the yt decoy is more gravity orientated and the spesh levo more trail orientated whilst the yt offers better components at my approx £4k price point. My riding, on an 18 levo is definitely more forest trail based with a few trail centres etc thrown in each year.
So my questions are that .....relative to my existing bike... whilst most would advise me to buy the spesh and i acknowledge the common wisdom, as an average weekend warrior doing only relatively small jumps am i really going to notice much difference if i plumped for the yt? What disadvantages might i notice? Is the yt as easy to lift the front? Will the yt deal with the typical forest obstacles as easily?
Oh for a test ride...anyone know where or when?????
Thanks in anticipation!
So my questions are that .....relative to my existing bike... whilst most would advise me to buy the spesh and i acknowledge the common wisdom, as an average weekend warrior doing only relatively small jumps am i really going to notice much difference if i plumped for the yt? What disadvantages might i notice? Is the yt as easy to lift the front? Will the yt deal with the typical forest obstacles as easily?
Oh for a test ride...anyone know where or when?????
Thanks in anticipation!
lolp
Member
Thanks for those responses guys but my main questions were really if anyone can say whether i (or any other average weekend warrior) really am going to notice much difference if i plumped for the yt? What disadvantages might i notice? Will the yt deal with the typical forest obstacles as easily?
I think you are the only one who can answer that question ?
I don’t think there are many disadvantages of either bike, they are just suited for different riding styles. When it comes to eBikes, personally I would rather be ‘over biked’, as I ride a very broad range of trails and the motor helps compensate in areas where an normal long travel bike might be at a disadvantage. The YT also has shorter chainstays and wheelbase, this should help make up for the extra travel and improve playfulness on less gravity focused trails.
I don’t think there are many disadvantages of either bike, they are just suited for different riding styles. When it comes to eBikes, personally I would rather be ‘over biked’, as I ride a very broad range of trails and the motor helps compensate in areas where an normal long travel bike might be at a disadvantage. The YT also has shorter chainstays and wheelbase, this should help make up for the extra travel and improve playfulness on less gravity focused trails.
The YT is fine over typical forest obstacles. Whatever they are... I rode the demo bike on some blue trails, some natural singletrack, some red descents and some sketchy off-piste descents. It was fine on all of them. My Trek is a little more stable when it gets steep, up as well as down, but it's longer and heavier so significantly less agile.
The obvious disadvantage over a Levo is the motor noise. If that doesn't bother you, crack on.
Can anyone advise if they had any size small decoys at FoD, as ideally would like to try out the actual size I've ordered. When I've demo'd bikes in the past brands often only bring mediums and up to demo days?
I'm 5.4 so can fit on a medium ok, but always size down to retain max agility. It would have been nice to try out as small, as I remember when demo-ing a medium Levo it felt like a monster truck. I took the chance with buying my small Levo and it paid off as it's much more agile than the medium. Hope the queue is smaller for the mediums.
It won’t be.
There’s only one medium and bikes are allocated on a first come, first served basis, meaning every pre-pubescent snot-nosed brat in front of you will just jump on whatever becomes available whether it fits or not.
There’s only one medium and bikes are allocated on a first come, first served basis, meaning every pre-pubescent snot-nosed brat in front of you will just jump on whatever becomes available whether it fits or not.
That's not the answer I was looking for. I was planning to go on Friday to beat the crowds but that would mean getting there mid day. Might be better to go at the crack of dawn Saturday instead
Blimey. What time do you suggest I arrive to get out in the first batch. Sounds like I need to camp?
There doesn't seem to be a "right" time. On Sunday I headed back to ride my own bike. I got there around 12 and the queue was at least 10 people waiting for Decoys. I did 90 minutes or so on my bike and the queue was about half that so I rejoined it hoping to ride a Base model, of which there is only one. One of the people in front of me took it about an hour after I joined the queue and it was another 90 minutes before I got to ride it. Even if I had been waiting for any spec in Large, it would only have been about 30 minutes sooner.
Got to Gisburn at 2 and was on the Decoy by 3. Very impressed.
The medium Decoy didn't feel quite as agile as my small 18 Levo, but the suspension was much better and the Decoy felt better off jumps, less nose heavy. Didn't like the Di2 though, so glad I've gone for the Pro model not the Race
The medium Decoy didn't feel quite as agile as my small 18 Levo, but the suspension was much better and the Decoy felt better off jumps, less nose heavy. Didn't like the Di2 though, so glad I've gone for the Pro model not the Race
lolp
Member
Interesting info markh. I have an 18 levo too and am considering the decoy. I was pleased to hear you found it had a light front end. How did you find the shimano motor in comparison to the levo's brose?
Lucky, more like!
Way noisier than the Brose. Not quite as natural feeling. Boost mode was higher than the Brose - too high for me so I didn't really use it. Trail mode was spot on. Eco felt higher than on my Levo. Not sure how much you can adjust the Shimano.
I think I prefer the Brose motor but could live with the Shimano fine.
Battery use was good. Did a full loop on 3 bars.
Lucky, more like!
Was there first thing this morning. The bikes were busy but it was ok; about an hour seemed the norm for the Decoy queue and there were plenty of their regular bikes too. I did a loop on the 29 Capra after trying the Decoy.
I'm using my '14 Capra daily just now as my Sommet is back with CRC. It's amazing how much the Capra has moved on.
Enjoyed the Decoy too but, apart from looks and battery strength, I don't think it's a better bike than the Vitus E-Sommet VR.
Not sure I would ever get used to controlling the DI2 mech with the E700 shifter buttons.
Also, I've been to lots of Demo days, this was the best by far, All the YT guys are super keen. Good job.
ATB Frank
Yes . I've got a Levo 19
Said in a previous post. Decoy looks stunning and is a plush ride but didn't like the Shimano motor as much as a Brose.
Actually prefer the ride and smooth powerful motor of my Levo
I know personal opinions are subjective but that's my 2p worth
EMTB Forums
Latest articles
-
Introducing the Forestal e-Cygnus - a downcountry and XC emtb
The new Forestal e-Cygnus is a slightly unusual emtb. It comes in two... -
2025 M1 Sporttechnik EN 8.0 review
The M1 EN is one of four M1 models built on the same frame. Well, it’s...