Specialised has beefed up the motor, boosted the ability and tweaked the geometry on the brand new era of the light-weight Turbo Levo SL electrical mountain bike
What are the hallmarks of the most effective bikes? Is it consolation, efficiency, nice suspension or low weight? With the up to date Turbo Levo SL, Specialised argue {that a} actually nice bike is one you don’t discover while you’re driving – and we’re inclined to suppose they’re on to one thing there. The query is, does the following era of its in style light-weight electrical mountain bike match the invoice?
(Impatient? You may at all times simply skip straight to the first trip evaluation of the Specialised Turbo Levo SL Gen 2)
Have to know:
- 150/160mm journey
- Combined wheelsize (may also run as full 29er)
- Adjustable geometry; head angle, backside bracket top and wheelsize
- New Turbo SL 1.2 motor with extra torque, extra energy and quieter working
- Geometry based mostly on Stumpjumper EVO
- Adjusted suspension leverage
So what precisely has Specialised modified on the bike that has already impressed us – the Specialised Turbo Levo SL Professional scored a powerful 9 out of 10 in 2021 – and are what affect have these modifications had on the dealing with?
Up to date body design and geometry
First off, Specialised has taken one other extremely rated bike – the Stumpjumper EVO – because the geometry and sizing template for the Levo SL mark two. Now, the Levo SL comes within the S sizing vary, from the smallest S1 to S6.
The thought behind that is that sizing isn’t only a matter of rider top; smaller bikes are extra manouvrable, bigger and longer bikes are extra secure on technical terrain, so bike measurement can also be a query of terrain and dealing with desire. However for many who did discover the sizing on the earlier Levo SL a tad quick – our chief bike tester amongst them – then the excellent news is the attain is considerably longer right here. For instance, the S4 Levo SL has a 471mm attain, 21mm greater than that on the scale L within the first era Levo SL.
To make sure that the trip really feel is uniform throughout sizes, the smallest S1 has much less journey – 144mm rear, 150mm entrance – than the opposite sizes. It additionally takes a barely smaller shock (210x50mm) and might’t take reservoir shocks or 55mm shocks.
The chassis consists of Reality 11m carbon composite, tuned as a single unit. Different geometry parts introduced over from the Stumpjumper Evo embrace a decrease backside bracket, slacker head angle and decreased fork offset, in comparison with the earlier mannequin. A 2° steeper seat angle places the rider within the a lot better place when climbing. It’s additionally misplaced the distinctive side-arm.
There’s a complete lot of adjustability constructed into the design, which permits riders to additional tweak the bike to swimsuit their preferences, or the paths and terrain it’s going to be ridden on. This features a flip chip on the chainstay close to the Horst pivot which permits the bike to run a 29er rear wheel fairly than 27.5, with out in any other case affecting the geometry. A one other flip chip on the shock eyelet shifts the underside bracket top, whereas the pinnacle angle may be tweaked between three settings from slack to steep: 63°, 64.25° and 65.5°.
The suspension leverage ratio is decrease total than the earlier era Levo SL, with a barely flattened curve that provides elevated small bump sensitivity and mid-stroke assist, Specialised claims, whereas nonetheless providing that magical ‘bottomless’ really feel.
New motor: extra energy, for longer
After all, when speaking about an electrical mountain bike, probably the most essential parts is the motor and battery system. This too has had an replace; the brand new Levo SL is fitted with new Turbo SL 1.2 system. This affords, based on Specialised, 43% extra torque and 33% extra energy than its predecessor. A 50Nm peak output is considerably greater than the 35Nm of V1, and the S-Works construct and body set comes with a 160Wh vary extender as normal, additionally out there aftermarket for the Comp construct.
The brand new, extra highly effective SL 1.2 motor
This motor can also be between 34% and 45% quieter, because it options an up to date gearbox design with a honey-comb construction two-piece motor housing designed to dissipate noise extra successfully.
The Mastermind TCU on the highest tube is inset, which handlebar controls are discreet
And at last, built-in into the highest tube is the Mastermind TCU or Turbo Management Unit. It is a show and restricted management unit which connects the motor, controls and Mission Management App.
The S-Works mannequin comes with the brand new SRAM XX Eagle groupset
Fox provides the suspension, whereas the S-Works mannequin options the model new SRAM XX Eagle groupset.
Whereas the bike remains to be gentle, and nonetheless one of many lightest available on the market, once we measured it it got here in barely heavier than the unique model. That is one thing Specialised explicitly acknowledge; the precedence was constructing for efficiency and sturdiness first, gentle weight second.
Does the up to date Turbo Levo SL fulfil the ‘engineered to vanish’ remit that Specialised has acknowledged for it? MBR bike tester Alan Muldoon lists a number of likes in his record of first impressions, not least the improved sizing, beefier battery and adjustability on the geometry, and his first trip evaluation of the Specialised Turbo Levo SL Gen 2 will let you understand how shut it received.
Specialised Turbo Levo SL Gen 2 vary
There are two construct choices within the up to date Turbo Levo SL vary; the range-topping S-Works construct, and the cheaper Comp mannequin.
Specialised Turbo Levo SL II Comp Carbon
- Worth: £7,000 / $
- Body: Levo SL carbon
- Forks: Fox Float 36 Rhythm GRIP damper
- Shock: Fox Float DPS
- Motor and battery: Specialised 1.2 SL Customized Rx Path Tuned Motor with SL1-320 32Wh battery
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle, SRAM NX
- Brakes: SRAM Code RS 4-piston
- Wheels/tyres: Specialised 29/27.5 alloy, Butcher (entrance) and Eliminator (rear) tyres
Specialised S-Works Turbo Levo SL II
- Worth: £13,000 / $
- Body: Levo SL SW body, Reality 11m carbon
- Forks: Fox Float 36 GRIP 2 damper
- Shock: Fox Float X Evol LV
- Motor and battery: Specialised 1.2 SL Customized Rx Path Tuned Motor with SL1-320 32Wh battery
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Code Silver Stealth 4-piston
- Wheels/tyres: Roval Traverse SL Carbon, Butcher (entrance) and Eliminator (rear) tyres
Searching for a extra price range electrical mountain bike? Take a look on the Vitus E-Sommet VRX. Or in the event you’re simply to know extra in regards to the competitors, learn our information to the finest electrical mountain bikes.
