RUSSELL’S SPECIALIZED TURBO LEVO SL EXPERT CARBON £8,500

Light, lithe and lively, the Levo has been a much-loved companion to snapper Russ

Any concerns I may have had about the smaller-than-average 320Wh battery of the Levo SL were dispelled on its first outing, and the bike has continued to prove that its combination of light weight (18.6kg), sensible geometry and limited pedalling assistance (200 per cent in the top ‘Turbo’ mode) delivers a ride that’s less about the ‘e’ and more about the experience.

On most e-MTBs, there’s a power surge when the motor kicks in, but on the Levo SL it’s more natural and more in harmony with your riding. Any e-bike has the benefit of allowing you to ride further and faster, but this one has an agility and finesse of handling that allows you to tackle more technical features with a confidence you might not have on a heavier machine.

On early rides, it proved to be so much fun that an over-enthusiastic racking up of long trail days resulted in a slight numbness in my hands, which led me to swap out the bar for a OneUp carbon bar/stem/grips package. This turned out to be a game-changer in terms of comfort and, together with getting a customised fork set-up, was the best upgrade I made.

I’ve been riding and testing e-bikes since the beginning, because they’re solid workhorses for covering the miles more easily when carrying heavy camera kit. The difference with the Levo SL is its nimble playfulness, which makes it a joy to play on as well as work on. There’s none of the usual quiet worry about getting a heavy bike home if there’s a motor problem, because its handling isn’t so affected by lack of power. It’s also worth mentioning that the drive system has so far been problem-free. Would I buy it? The bank manager might not be happy, but yes, in a heartbeat. www.specialized.com