Specialized S-works Turbo Levo
Analog-like behaviour with all the benefits of a battery
Analog-like behaviour with all the benefits of pedal-assist
How do you make an emtb that feels like a normal mountain bike? That is a question the people at Specialized have clearly spent a lot of time thinking about. The Morgan Hill, Calif., brand that helped shape the first generation of mountain bikes is working hard to be at the sharp end of emtb development.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all strategy, Specialized is developing two approaches to emtb design. The Levo SL bikes reduce power to get closer to unassisted bike weights. With the Turbo Levo, the focus is on changing frame and geometry design to gain all possible advantages of a full-powered emtb.
Specialized has a few tricks up its sleeve for the Turbo Levo – the most obvious is the mixed-wheel sizes. A 29" wheel up front maintains roll-over speed and efficiency while a 27.5" wheel in the back allows designers to shorten the chainstays and makes the Turbo Levo more playful.
More subtle pieces are the independently adjustable head-tube angle and bottom-bracket height. These design elements, like much of the Turbo Levo, are borrowed from the well-regarded Stumpjumper evo. The adjustability lets you tailor the Levo to suit more rolling singletrack or more challenging trails.
Specialized continues to develop its own range of emtb parts. The Levo makes use of the brand’s latest Turbo Full Power System 2.2 motor. The belt-driven design is quieter than its competitors, while still delivering a powerful 90 Nm of torque. New for 2021 is the Mastermind tcu. Integrated into the emtb’s top tube, Specialized’s control unit works hard to add to the ride experience, not just display battery life. There are more than 30 screen options available. Microtune assist adjustment is a standout new feature: it lets you dial in your assistance levels, in 10 per cent increments, to match your ride partner. All of this can be controlled, and automatically updated, from Specialized’s Mission Control app.
On the trail, the quiet belt-driven motor and the machine’s clean look, with wires concealed neatly, get closer to the feel of an un-assisted bike. Specialized keeps the weight low in the frame, which gives the Levo excellent traction in corners, especially with the 27.5" rear wheel. A shorter back end helps keep the Levo balanced, nimble and playful, with little adjustment required from how you would ride any other mountain bike. It is still heavier than its analog relatives, but the Turbo Levo distributes that weight in a way that feels natural. It’s assist will get you up the toughest hills with energy, and time to spare.
All of these features aren’t cheap.
The S-works Turbo Levo carries a staggering price tag. But that cost reflects more than just its list of expensive parts, such as sram xx1 axs wireless shifting and Fox Factory suspension.
With the Turbo Levo’s own tcu, motor and its frame designed around the specific needs of an emtb, the bike offers a complete package. It’s an emtb that feels natural on trail, without losing the assist that makes going electric attractive in the first place.