New Specialized Levo Drops In, And It Is Better Than Ever
Specialized has launched the latest version of its market-conquering Levo, and it is better, faster, lighter and more fun than before.
E-bikes have been on our radar for nearly a decade, so the launch of Specialized’s first Levo in July, 2015, was not a surprise. Possibly a little later than expected, but there was no way one of the planet’s most technologically advanced bike brands was going to miss out on what we now know is a tidal wave of pedal-assist cycling.
The bike industry behemoth was a little late to the e-mountain bike party, although it had representation in the urban sphere as early as 2012, but as with most things the big S does, the Levo was an instant hit. An e-bike designed to be ridden just like a ‘real’ mountain bike, with industry-leading integration and design that was refreshingly sleek. It didn’t even have a boxy display out front, the Mission Control app launched Levo riders into an all-new world of wireless tuneability.
Adjust it all to dial in your ride perfectly for you. A lot! Change the head angle from 63 to 65.5 degrees, in three increments, and raise or drop the BB by 7mm.
Fast-forward six years, and the latest Levo is on the launchpad. As Specialized puts it: “A forty-year obsession with creating the best riding mountain bikes possible takes a bionic leap forward with the new Levo. It sets the standard for full power ride quality with stable, natural trail manners born from an integrated full carbon chassis development approach; fusing together 150mm of rear suspension, progressive geometry, sophisticated motor assist and the advanced MasterMind Turbo Control Unit to bring you a ride like no other.”
“Harness this technology and amplify your experience. More speed. More distance. More freedom. More trails ridden, more pure stoke generated, more unforgettable experiences… experienced. This is where the impossible becomes possible and you are riding better, stronger, farther, and faster than ever before. The new Levo; merging unprecedented power and range with natural, confident handling for an unbelievable ride. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most. The ride. Your ride.”
What’s New On This Levo?
Let’s start with the party at the back; the new Levo has a 27.5″ rear wheel, matched to a 29″ up front for a mullet ride that is lively and planted, with shorter chainstays. The geometry has had a full revamp, too, making the most of the smaller rear wheel with a steeper seat tube, a longer front end and a more relaxed fork offset, and you can even adjust it all to dial in your ride perfectly for you. A lot!
Change the head angle from 63 to 65.5 degrees, in three increments, and raise or drop the BB by 7mm. With 150mm/160mm of custom-valved travel on offer (150/150 on the smallest size), in a suspension package that delivers small bump sensitivity, mid-stroke support and compliant but controlled full travel when stomping the big hits. The tuned leverage rate is matched by the firm’s proprietary Rx Tune shock valving. There is little you shouldn’t be able to crush on your way down, on the new Levo.
The way up is a whole lot more pleasant, too, when it comes to range, supporting you for up to five hours of trail time.
“Now you can ride further and explore more than ever before. Smart Control ensures that you won’t run out of juice; it enables you to input the duration or distance of your ride and then manages support level to complete it with available battery charge. Range like this is only possible by fully integrating our highest capacity Turbo Technology battery (700 Wh) with our Mastermind Turbo Control Unit to ensure maximum efficiency.”
The MasterMind Turbo Control Unit (TCU) is the brains of the Levo; the hardware and software that control how the motor, battery, bike and you interact with real-time support tuning while riding and recording and display of all the relevant data from your bike and ride.
MasterMind TCU also does over-the-air updates so that your bike gets better over time, and it also seamlessly integrates with the Mission Control app for advanced tuning, on-trail diagnostics and more.
Finally, we get to the heart of the new Levo: the motor. The Turbo Full Power System unit is now fitted with a more robust belt for long-term reliability and power delivery, and new firmware that optimises efficiency and power output across the ride and provides an even smoother, more natural ride feeling. This motor is being used on all new Levos.
The New Levo is available now from your Specialized dealer, in two models:
LEVO SW CARBON R240 000
LEVO PRO CARBON R195 000
READ MORE ON: ebikes levo new products product launch Specialized