Levo Gen 2 Used 2020 Specialized Levo Expert question

[peter19ue]

Hi:
So I'm looking at getting my first ebike and am somewhat overwhelmed! I was originally going to get a 2021 Turbo Levo for $7500 but came across a 2020 Turbo Levo Expert with 138 miles for basically the same price and it would even be a little less since I would not have to pay sales tax. I was wondering if the motors are basically the same and would you recommend one over the other?

I was also looking at the new Gen3 Expert but don't know if I could justify spending $11K on a new bike. I do tend to keep my bikes a long time (still ride a 2012 Tallboy LTC) so maybe it would make sense to just go that route allthough I know technology changes quickly.

I was also looking at the Meta Power but that isn't scheduled to ship until nex year.

Thanks for any input, I really appreciate it.

Pete

 

[salko]

Basically they are the same motors, with 2020 model you also have 4 years extended warranty on the motor (from the date of purchase), with 2021/22 only 2 years.

 

[peter19ue]

Basically they are the same motors, with 2020 model you also have 4 years extended warranty on the motor (from the date of purchase), with 2021/22 only 2 years.

Thanks for the reply. So it sounds like the 2020 Levo Expert would be a better choice than the 2021 Levo Comp if the price is the same.
Since this is my first ebike would it make more sense spending $7500 on a 2020 Levo Comp expert than $11K on Gen3 Levo Pro?
Really appreciate the info!
Pete

 

[DtEW]

Basically they are the same motors, with 2020 model you also have 4 years extended warranty on the motor (from the date of purchase), with 2021/22 only 2 years.

Thanks for the reply. So it sounds like the 2020 Levo Expert would be a better choice than the 2021 Levo Comp if the price is the same.

The reason the MY2020 (as does the MY2019) has the extended motor warranty is because there was an infamous spate of motor failures (you should do a little research here; some people are on their 4-5th motors) due to a variety of issues. Brose has been doing running upgrades during the production run, and sometime in 2020 (i.e. for the MY2021 models) they upgraded the belt to one that was Kevlar-reinforced. Even though this has not fully eliminated motor failures... indications are that it has helped. Ironically, this is why the MY2021/22 motors no longer has the extended warranty. Specialized actually came out with the extended warranty for the MY2019/20 motors right when people were starting to panic. This was meant to calm the market and user base.

It has been said (without verification) that the MY2021 motor (2021 "2.1") internals are the same as that of MY2022 (2022 "2.2").

 

[peter19ue]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like the MY2020 and MY2021 motors are the same and they have just replaced the belt? If I were to by a MY2020 and there was an issue would they be able to install the upgraded belt?
Thx, Pete

 

[DtEW]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like the MY2020 and MY2021 motors are the same and they have just replaced the belt? If I were to by a MY2020 and there was an issue would they be able to install the upgraded belt?
Thx, Pete

There isn't much info out there as to what all the running upgrades have been. The reinforced belt is just one thing that is definitely known. There was also talk of failure of belt tensioner due to it being secured with threadlocker. I am not sure what the fix for that ended up being. The dearth of info is due to the fact that opening up the motor voids the warranty.

And nobody knows if a replacement motor for a failure is at full current specs, or rebuilt from older versions. (Again, given what is known... few people chance opening up their motor unless they had literally no other option.) The only thing that is known is that there are users who have numerous motor failures... and those who haven't had any (yet?)

I would not view a MY2020's extended warranty with envy. If this is your first e-bike, I would think that having the full support of a Specialized dealer that you bought the bike from at-retail is superior to trying to work with a dealer that you did not buy the bike from. I mean, that dealer might turn out to be cool and responsible warranty service providers... but that's not a certainty.

My experience is that we bought both of our MY2021 Levos from dealers, but it was in the midst of the bike shortage, so I ended up traveling ~200 miles round-trip to get one in a model/size/color that I wanted. My transaction with the far-off LBS turned out to be less-than-smooth, so I tried talking to the couple-miles-away LBS that we bought my significant-other's Levo from. For an LBS that we literally just bought one eMTB from... they were pretty much jerks and basically offered no help whatsoever. Even Specialized's online arm just shrugged their shoulders and feigned helplessness. In the end, it was the far-off LBS (the one that I actually bought the bike from) that came through, even though we had to do a lot of in-depth communications through email and photos. Object lesson is that the entity that you have a direct financial relationship with is the one that has a legal/moral obligation to help you, no matter how it's supposed to be.

 

[peter19ue]

Thanks for the clarification. So if sounds like if I by the new Gen3 I may have the same motor issues?
Pete

 

[DtEW]

Thanks for the clarification. So if sounds like if I by the new Gen3 I may have the same motor issues?

You buy any e-bike, and you may have motor issues. You really need to take some time and look around in these forums. But that shouldn't put you off from getting one, as you will find that life is shorter (or, your ability to rock the outdoors) than waiting for the "right" thing to finally manifest. Play (and play hard) while you can.

 

[peter19ue]

Sounds like a plan. I will defintely do some more research!