REVIEW: Specialized Turbo Levo 4
This week, I had the opportunity to test out the brand-new specialized turbo Levo 4, one of the top-of-the-line full power mountain e-bikes. I have some thoughts, and comparisons to other bikes in its class
First things first – Yes, I did get to test the S-works build. Normally, that doesn’t mean a whole lot, but for the Levo, it does. The s-works comes with a bigger motor and battery, giving it better and longer performance out on the trail. It was also a little lighter, with carbon linkage on the suspension and top-of-the-line parts. (this was also my first time on the SRAM Maven brakes and Fox transfer neo dropper post, so I’ll have some comments on those later) I do feel like the difference is important, but you won’t have any less fun on the lower builds than on the s-works.
Speaking of the parts, as a s-works, naturally the bike is kitted with the finest top of the line parts that are on the market. The SRAM Transmission eagle XX drivechain was very reliable, even shifting in some rather bad places that may have not been as nice on other derailleurs. A special feature to the Levo is a integrated battery connecter, allowing your derailleur to be powered from the battery of the bike, giving you one less thing to forget when going for a ride. You can still run a standard axs battery in a pinch, but trust me, you don’t want to get this bike to the point where you’re pedaling it dead. The SRAM Maven brakes were a pleasant surprise for me. I had my complaints about the older SRAM brakes, but the mavens impressed me. They have good power, and aren’t super unreliable on the bite point like some of the previous SRAM brakes. They also do have good modulation, making them a really solid option for enduro, downhill, or full power e-bikes like this. The fox suspension was just as buttery as always, making bumps disappear with ease. I never felt the bike really jolt under me, even over drops and jumps. The other standout to me was the fox transfer neo dropper post. I have been kind of iffy on electronic droppers in the past, but the transfer neo is almost better than a mechanical post. The actuation is instant, and the lever throw is so short you can just tap it and the seat is up. The post is super buttery smooth as well, making it super smooth up and down.
Enough about the parts though, how did it ride? Amazingly well. The weight of the battery and motor kept the bike planted and locked, giving me confidence even in some more shallow or flat corners. It also puts power down really well, and while not as torquey as something like the Powerplay from Rocky Mountain, this system delivers better running speed and more consistent power when pedaling and when on and off the pedals. This helps it climb really well, and there were times I honestly forgot to shift into a lower gear to climb because the bike just was able to put power down that well. Combining that with a really climbing friendly suspension design and the bike climbs like a dream.
Downhill is almost even better, if that’s possible. Just as I love bigger bikes, I also love heavy bikes, since they fly downhill and get even more out of pumping them. This bike flies downhill, and with the added weight, pops off of jumps and even rollers with just a little pull and stays stuck to the ground even through the roughest and tightest stuff. During my entire ride, I had a huge grin on my face from just the pure joy of this bike’s handling.
There are some other notable changes, mainly with the screen and controller for the e-bike system, which are much more user friendly and easier to use. They also made a settings screen to change your preferences on the fly. Overall, the bike has gotten a little more friendly to use, while keeping what makes the Levo great.
I would, and probably will, ride the Levo again. It is a just plain fun bike, great power, great handling, and just easy to hop on and ride. I was comfortable on the bike after just a few minutes of riding, and didn’t want to get off the bike once I was done.
Happy Adventuring!
-Peter
