Specialized Just dropped the Levo R – A totally new platform and style of Electric Mountain bike.
New bike launches are a very frequent event these days and it’s incredibly easy to get lost in the ‘ noise ’ of lighter, faster, more power and ‘ this bike will change your life ‘. The truth is; at least from all the reputable bike brands – there aren’t many bad E-Bikes out there.
Admittedly allot of the time we as retailers receive a marketing pack prior to these launches and not much else – barely even a look at a physical bike, never mind swinging a leg over one and ride it in anger.
For this Launch Specialized changed that; by the time the bike lands we will have had more time on this bike than any before – James rode the bike earlier in the year at an event in Malaga and Ash for a day out in the surrey hills. Before we move on to the ride feel and experience below are the key facts:
Full-power SuperNatural performance with the Turbo 3.1 system (up to 850 W / 111 Nm)
A trimmed-down 140/130 mm chassis with Rally-tuned geometry
Dedicated 29-inch wheels and a tailored, lightweight spec
Category-leading agility with builds as light as 18.6 kg
Modular battery options delivering up to 4.75 hours of ride-anywhere range
Dedicated chassis that is 530g lighter – lighter front triangle, rear stays, linkages and hardware
Complete bike circa 2kgs lighter than the standard Levo G4 via lighter frame and build kit.
Levo “Rally” geometry. Very similar to Epic Evo – Fast, agile, responsive, carries speed.
Adjustable geometry at head angle / Bottom Bracket / Chainstay.
Swap out the battery to run with a smaller 600wh unit to save another 1.1kg
For detailed spec, see; Levo Deep Dive Blog
How does the bike actually ride?
In mid January I was fortunate enough to attend an event and test out the new Levo R, held just outside Malaga in the trails opposite Ahlurin Golf Resort ( Sierra Mijas ). First Impression of the bike is that it feels considerably lighter – Simply picking up from the rack and manoeuvring was much easier. On the trails the bike climbs great, you can really feel the extra power on the fairly steep fire roads. I was hugely impressed when we came to some steep technical uphill, on most other bikes I have tried this kind of terrain is very difficult; you either have too much power and loose traction or the motor has overrun and throws you offline. The Levo R climbed very well, the power was there when you needed it and not when you didn’t, the new tune came in great for this.
All electric mountain bikes feel great on the flat until you hit that speed limit and it feels like dropping an anchor. On this bike Specialized have changed the power curve and that, mixed with the lighter weight does drastically improve that ‘ hitting the wall ‘ feeling, which is great! Down hill – The trails were fairly greasy but not too steep and I did have apprehensions of whether there would be enough travel, after all 140/130 a little less than I’m used to. Within 10 seconds of the first trail these apprehensions had gone; again the combination of lightweight geometry adjusted to my riding style and the Genie rear shock for me made the bike feel and handle great – it was easy to change lines, felt easy to pop and i felt comfortable on drops.
Who is this bike for?
Certainly its not for everyone; However its light, handles better than longer travel bikes from most other brands and with the update has more than enough power, So it should definitely be a consideration if you are looking for a new E – Steed. If you are a rider who is coming from XC, Trail, or analog bikes this is the one for you it will give you that full power without a big-bike feel. Alongside that if you prioritise agility, precision, and distance over rowdy terrain and want that true rally car feel – get this bike on your list today!
Watch the Youtube video here
Explore the full range of bikes here
