What would you choose?

[Hebegebe]

All 2021 models, in no particular order:-

Specialized Turbo Levo Comp
Orbea Wild FS H25
Trek Rail 5 SX 625
Cube 160 HPC SL 625


I think you can guess why i'm asking!

 

[congerball]

Levo.

 

[Tim1023]

Er...whatever they have in stock right now??

My dealer in Hamburg said I'll need to wait until Feb for my Levo Comp

(but I gather Berkshire Cycles has a bunch of them)

 

[paquo]

Haibike allmtn 7

 

[Paul Mac]

Rail

 

[JoeBlow]

How do they compare pricewise? I was looking at the Orbea Wild FS H20. Good spec. for the money.

Al

 

[Hebegebe]

How do they compare pricewise? I was looking at the Orbea Wild FS H20. Good spec. for the money.

Al

6k
4.5k
4.2k
4.15k

Specialized has a 700w battery, all the others are 625w

 

[JoeBlow]

6k
4.5k
4.2k
4.15k

Specialized has a 700w battery, all the others are 625w

I have a 500w battery and have never come anywhere near running it down but I ride mostly bike parks so 625 would be a bonus for me in any case. I'm not a fan of Brose (Specialised) motors. I know too many people who have had to return their Specialised bikes because of motor failure. It's no coincidence that Specialised have extended the warranty which is good but who wants to be without their bike for 3 weeks. Looked at this way you are essentially paying an extra 1.5k for 75w of battery life and possibly a less reliable motor. That's how I would look at it. Having said all that there is no denying the Levo is a very nice bike.

Al

 

[MartinW148]

Merdia E-160

 

[Jonnyferry1]

I have a 500w battery and have never come anywhere near running it down but I ride mostly bike parks so 625 would be a bonus for me in any case. I'm not a fan of Brose (Specialised) motors. I know too many people who have had to return their Specialised bikes because of motor failure. It's no coincidence that Specialised have extended the warranty which is good but who wants to be without their bike for 3 weeks. Looked at this way you are essentially paying an extra 1.5k for 75w of battery life and possibly a less reliable motor. That's how I would look at it. Having said all that there is no denying the Levo is a very nice bike.

Al

I was reading in a few article’s and seen on some videos of specialized reps saying that they have apparantly improved the 2021 motor. They wont admit there was a fault with the previous models but are confident on the new motor. Only time will tell how true that statement is i suppose

 

[Hebegebe]

I was reading in a few article’s and seen on some videos of specialized reps saying that they have apparantly improved the 2021 motor. They wont admit there was a fault with the previous models but are confident on the new motor. Only time will tell how true that statement is i suppose

I think they did pretty much admit the issue. I must admit a 4 year warranty is very tempting, pretty much takes care of the lifespan of the bike. Regarding the 700w battery, I probably wouldn't need it, the days of all day riding have long gone for me. The new entry level FSR has a 500w motor and retails for £4500, I would expect to pay £3800 after a little negotiating, could be an option?

 

[Jonnyferry1]

Yes they did in so many words. You only get 2 years warranty with the 2021 model bikes, the 2 year extension is for the 2020 model and before.

I have paid £4500 for my specialized Levo and i have been told i will get it mid october. I dont think youll get anywhere with getting money off as you have to be lucky to even find one in stock anywhere for the entry level and comp model bikes including the SL and kenevo range. But good luck let us know what you find and choose to do ??

 

[R120]

Choose the bike that fits you best, has the components you like, and suits your riding - thats all that matters, all you have listed have decent motors and batteries but are quite different bikes.

 

[Dirk74]

Choose the bike that fits you best, has the components you like, and suits your riding - thats all that matters, all you have listed have decent motors and batteries but are quite different bikes.

And also consider that the LBS you buy from is not far away and known/capable for good service.

 

[urastus]

I think they did pretty much admit the issue. I must admit a 4 year warranty is very tempting, pretty much takes care of the lifespan of the bike. Regarding the 700w battery, I probably wouldn't need it, the days of all day riding have long gone for me. The new entry level FSR has a 500w motor and retails for £4500, I would expect to pay £3800 after a little negotiating, could be an option?

I don't think that extra two year warranty if for new models, is it?

 

[Andrie]

I have Orbea Wild FS H30 and Giant Reign E+1, both with 500 wh battery. It was enough in the beginning. But two months later, I’ve ran out of battery twice on the orbea and once on the Giant. Now I want 625wh and even thinking of getting dual battery which the Orbea can handle. However, that would mean I have to carry backpack for my drinks and snacks, which I don’t really like. The Specialized is 700wh but my friends have similar run times with my other friends running 625wh Bosch.

 

[Beekeeper]

Decathlon Stilus FS (£2699)
Comes with a 500wh battery but has room for a 625wh.

You could buy a spare 625wh and it would still be cheaper than the other 4 bikes ?

just think, for the same price as the Levo you could buy two Stilus bikes and have £600 left over.

Stilus has RockShox full suspension 150mm travel. SRAM gears and brakes. Bosch 85nm motor.

 

[JoeBlow]

Decathlon Stilus FS (£2699)
Comes with a 500wh battery but has room for a 625wh.

You could buy a spare 625wh and it would still be cheaper than the other 4 bikes ?

just think, for the same price as the Levo you could buy two Stilus bikes and have £600 left over.

Stilus has RockShox full suspension 150mm travel. SRAM gears and brakes. Bosch 85nm motor.

I was very tempted by the Stilus but I wanted more travel. 160mm seems to be the "sweet spot". I have 130mm on my Trek Powerfly 4 but have recently been bottoming out. I've ended up ordering an Orbea Wild FS H20. Fox suspension and 160mm of travel all for under £4000. When I saw the dramatic price drop I didn't hesitate.

 

[Beekeeper]

I was very tempted by the Stilus but I wanted more travel. 160mm seems to be the "sweet spot". I have 130mm on my Trek Powerfly 4 but have recently been bottoming out. I've ended up ordering an Orbea Wild FS H20. Fox suspension and 160mm of travel all for under £4000. When I saw the dramatic price drop I didn't hesitate.

yeah I know what you mean. We had no intention of buying the previous years bikes at the time especially when the old Bosch motor was being discontinued but a massive price drop was simply too good to turn down. We concluded that Mid / late August of each year is definitely the best time for a good deal on Cube bikes.
Obviously this year is very different with the current shortage situation.

 

[urastus]

I was very tempted by the Stilus but I wanted more travel. 160mm seems to be the "sweet spot". I have 130mm on my Trek Powerfly 4 but have recently been bottoming out. I've ended up ordering an Orbea Wild FS H20. Fox suspension and 160mm of travel all for under £4000. When I saw the dramatic price drop I didn't hesitate.

In the meantime, you could up the psi in your suspension!

 

[JoeBlow]

In the meantime, you could up the psi in your suspension!

Already tried that. Recommended is about 80psi currently I've got it at 95 which helped somewhat.

 

[Forever Wild]

Pick any bike with...

1. Horst 4 Bar rear linkage
2. Rear axle mounted on the seat-stay and NOT the chain stay.

It will ride much much better than other frame designs.

 

[Mteam]

Pick any bike with...

1. Horst 4 Bar rear linkage
2. Rear axle mounted on the seat-stay and NOT the chain stay.

It will ride much much better than other frame designs.

Nonsense.

Any suspension design/layout is a compromise of various characteristics, there is no such thing as the best suspension design.

A horst link can be very bad or very good as can almost any other of the commonly used designs.

 

[Forever Wild]

Nonsense.

Any suspension design/layout is a compromise of various characteristics, there is no such thing as the best suspension design.

A horst link can be very bad or very good as can almost any other of the commonly used designs.

I have 3 ebikes. I’m speaking from my experience. It’s simply my opinion and my experience. Glad to hear you think it’s nonsense. I don’t believe all suspension designs are equal. I am not a fan of any derivation of the single pivot design. I don’t like the way it rides.

 

[urastus]

Already tried that. Recommended is about 80psi currently I've got it at 95 which helped somewhat.

for me it is the opposite - recommended pressures are way over kill. We're all different, put in what you need, so long as you don't exceed maximum pressures. Any of those recommendations will only ever work for a few - I imagine it's only beginners or occasional riders who don't find what's good for them.

 

[Al Boneta]

I was reading in a few article’s and seen on some videos of specialized reps saying that they have apparantly improved the 2021 motor. They wont admit there was a fault with the previous models but are confident on the new motor. Only time will tell how true that statement is i suppose

Actually Mike Sinyard the President of Specialized did admit there was a problem and made a very public statement to that effect.

 

[Jonnyferry1]

Actually Mike Sinyard the President of Specialized did admit there was a problem and made a very public statement to that effect.

So would that mean customers of previous models still under warranty, are in their right to ask for the 2021 motor to be put in their bikes free of charge ?

 

[Al Boneta]

So would that mean customers of previous models still under warranty, are in their right to ask for the 2021 motor to be put in their bikes free of charge ?

Only if you have a failure

 

[urastus]

Already tried that. Recommended is about 80psi currently I've got it at 95 which helped somewhat.

 

[Matt_Rider]

Any 3 apart from the Levo. I just don't see the value in them for the money you pay. Much better value out there. A great bike but $$$.

FWIW i just bought the 2021 e-ONE SIXTY 9000 for the same price as what you get a Levo Comp for and it's got the following over the Levo

Carbon frame
DT Swiss HX1501 wheel set
Fox 38 Performance Elite
Fox DPX2 Elite
Shimano XT brakes
Shimano XT groupset

Have a look into one of those too.