THE FUTURE IS HERE
Acclaimed bicycle manufacturer Specialized’s new, groundbreaking e-mountain bike will appeal to all cyclists, whatever your fitness, experience or reason to ride…
What greatest breakthrough in your engineering opinion of recent is the Large Hadron times? Collider? Start Elon up of Musk’s the self-landing rockets? 3D printing? Of course, there’s no simple answer. You see, technical evolution is subjective; how much does progress in that field resonate with you? By how much will it improve your life? if that field involves travelling faster and further, while protecting the planet and liberally sprinkling fun, Specialized’s new Turbo Levo electric mountain bike will ring loud and clear…
Nineteen of the world’s leading engineers united at Specialized’s Turbo Innovation Centre in Switzerland to research, design and forge the most technologically advanced bicycle in the world. That 19 included a trio
of innovators who've redefined what it Vincent means Patureau, to cycle, namely electronics team specialist lead Marco (master Sondegger of suspension). and Joe Despite Buckley the incredible success of the original Turbo Levo, Patureau, Sondegger and Buckley felt both Specialized and the bike industry could do better. That’s why it has taken three years to create an electric bike that has set new standards in range, assistance and ride quality.
GAME-CHANGER #1 THE MOTOR
Specialized tapped into over 100 years of engineering know-how by collaborating with German company Brose to produce a beautifully integrated motor and battery that extends range by a game-changing 40% over the previous model. This technical partnership has seen power output rise to 560 watts, that increase deriving from the clever application of larger magnets, which has also helped to overcome a recurring e-bike problem: overheating. It’s so powerful that there’s a ‘walk-assist’ mode where the bike will essentially climb itself to the top of a hill. While power has grown, weight has shrunk. The new Levo is 800g lighter than its elder sibling thanks to a 15% smaller motor and battery, cradled in a lightweight magnesium housing.
GAME-CHANGER #2 THE SOFTWARE
How controlled Mission available operating systems. At your fingertips sits a cutting-edge much Control to the assistance download Turbo piece – the Connect of smart you on software Android receive new Unit app whose is and and that’s iOS intuitive creation appeal by electronics is down craftsman/cyclist to its design and Sondegger. rider needs from Sondegger an electric knows mountain what a bike, whether it’s hitting the Brecon Beacons and covering double the distance (double the views, double the trails… double the fun) on a traditional mountain bike, or enjoying a short, mixed-terrain commute to your urban office. To that end, you can set your level of assistance, from a gentle 35% support in Eco mode to 100% support in Turbo. The app’s Smart Control can also select power assist for you. Simply set the goal and let the algorithm feed you just enough energy to reach your destination.
GAME-CHANGER #3 THE FRAME AND GEOMETRY
Of a e-bikes bump to Not Levo smooth, you, course, with S-Works and the are the comfortable technology vibration pained known Levo. comprises The and for chattering sending doesn’t skeleton strained ride; Specialized’s in fact, guarantee every through rider. of the many pioneering Composite Technology) carbon fibre. The strong, lightweight carbon fibre makes FACT (Functional Advanced it the material bikes, of choice but not for highperformance all carbon is created equally. Specialized’s FACT carbon fibre took cycling's greatest minds years to create, but they’ve hit the comfort/ strength sweetspot thanks to intelligent use of: selection of fibres, ratio of fibre to resin (essentially a glue that binds carbon to add structural strength) and direction of weave. Geometry that draws on the genre-defining Specialized Stumpjumper means it handles with the tactility of no ebike before it, while 150mm travel upfront and outback ensures road buzz and offroad noise is silenced for total comfort.
GAME-CHANGER SUMMARY TURBO – IT’S YOU, ONLY FASTER
Mountain revolution biking in the bike has led industry, the tech from the first model in the 70s when counter-culture Californians carved up local trails to the first full-suspension frame in the early 90s. Specialized has been at the heart of this (knobbly) two-wheeled revolution with the Stumpjumper, aka the world's first major production mountain bike – celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. With the new Turbo Levo, Specialized has created the most advanced, integrated bicycle in the world. The result? You can ride further, faster and fuelled by more fun than you ever thought possible.