Last in a long line for the suspension, motor and geometry updates that the Big S’ suspension bikes have received is the Specialized Turbo Levo SL.
Pete headed to North Wales to sling a leg over the updated Specialized Turbo Levo SL, the Big S’ light weight ebike based around the Stumpjumper platform.
Photos by Scott Windsor.
Key features:
- Fox 36 Factory 150mm fork
- Fox Float X Factory shock
- SRAM XX AXS Eagle 12-speed drive
- Specialized 1.2 SL Motor
- Specialized 320Wh battery
- SRAM Code Silver Stealth brakes
- Roval Traverse SL Carbon rims on Roval Traverse SL hubs
- Rockshox Reverb AXS dropper
- £13,000.00 RRP
- Specialized.com
It wouldn’t be a long shot to say that the new Specialized Turbo Levo SL has seen no stone unturned compared to its predecessor. As the last of their suspension bikes to get the round of geometry and kinematic updates, all the lessons learned from updating the Stumpjumper both in regular and EVO flavour, the Kenevo SL, the Enduro etc, have all been poured into this new bike.
The new Levo SL gets the Stumpjumper EVO geometry, with the flip chip and adjustable headset cups, with the added bonus of now being able to run mixed wheels as well as full 29″ with geometry remaining static in either seup. On the kinematic side, a flattened leverage curve aims to offer improved small bump performance and mid-stoke support, whilst ramping up for the end stroke. Travel is 150mm at the rear (144mm on the S1) with a more rearward axle path than previous.
Battery size remains at 320Wh but the new 1.2 SL motor offers more power and torque than before, with the option of bolting on an additional 160Wh range extender. Peak power is 320 Watts with torque increasing from 35Nm of the outgoing models, to 50Nm on the current bike. A lot of work has also been done to reduce motor noise through a two-piece motor housing and a honeycomb construction. All of the power and mode customisation is available in both the Mastermind TCU and the Mission Control App.
The S-Works model I rode for two days in Wales is top of the heap in terms of price and spec. The Comp spec is the other model launching and is a less eye-watering £7,000, compared to the £13,000 of the S-Works. Spec is, however, the cream of the crop.
Fox Factory 36 and Float X dampers fit to the FACT 11mm carbon fibre frame, with the S-Works adding carbon rocker links to the mix. SRAM XX AXS Eagle handles the transmission with Code Silver Stealth brakes keeping things in check, plus an AXS operated Reverb. Wheels are Roval Traverse SL Carbon numbers shod with a Specialized Butcher out front and an Eliminator out back, both in GRID Trail flavour. Barring the Deity stem and grips, finishing kit is of Specialized mark.
Geometry
The Turbo Levo SL is available in sizes S1 to S6. I tested the S3.
Reach on the S3 is 445mm with a seat tube of 405mm. Head tube angle in the stock position is 64.6 degrees with a seat tube angle of 75.8 degrees. Chainstays on the S3 are 432mm with a wheelbase of 1208mm.
Opening moves
First port of call, as ever, was getting sag set right, then tuning damping to suit, wind the levers in and set saddle height that afternoon before we were led out into the wilds the following day. Even with the sag on the rear shock set at 30% the car park test left me feeling that the rear end was using an awful lot of travel, but I decided to make a call on setup after actually riding the thing.
As the sun split the sky on a glorious day in North Wales, initial impressions were that the increase power and torque was very welcome indeed. Most notably in Eco, where previous SL models had perhaps enough power to overcome the motor drag, the Levo SL had useful power in Eco, and as such, I was happy spinning away feeling like I was doing something whilst getting a little bit of help. Rather than trying out all the various options for geo and wheelsize options, I decided to leave the bike stock both in mullet and middle position for the headset cups.
The opening day saw us take in a big swathe of Coed Y Brenin, both on and off piste. The lack of motor whine soon had me forgetting I was on an ebike. The bike breezed up the climbs even in Eco and went down anything I pointed at with a deftness that felt a little like cheating. As the day wore on, I’d make the most of the higher power modes but that was more due to my lack of fitness rather than any battery management, and still found Eco the one to go for. Full fat ebike fans may think otherwise, however.
Beyond smashing the back wheel into a large, square edged rock I hadn’t seen (maybe the 29er would have dealt with it), my usual reluctance to run Trail casing tyres wasn’t founded on anything. I think I’d have put a hole in any tyre in that specific instance. I was happy that the bike would give me the power I needed to enjoy the downs by leaving me fresh at the top, and allow me to get after it when the ground pointed down the way.
Day two is where the bike really came alive. We’d head up the Dyfi Valley to sample some of the Welsh Enduro offerings, and in the same vein as the Stumpjumper EVO did at Inners at the 2020 launch, the Levo SL made light work of the natural steeps that were on offer. Being very much a fan of this kind of trail and the bike’s penchant for it, we were off.
Rarely has a bike I have ridden for a day been this adept at allowing me to attack steep, root-infested trail with such ease as this. Any worries that the rear end felt soft had been long forgotten. The bike dealt with any and all things I rode at, even steep, techy climbs came and went. There was so much grip on offer I forgot I don’t often rate the fitted tyres and it mattered little.
Whilst the bike went about dealing with whatever I threw at it, it never felt like I was disengaged from the experience. I could feel every bit of the trail, feel the grip, feel the hits, but they were all dealt with in a manner that encouraged me to push on, especially when things got rougher and steeper.
I’m very much looking forward to getting a longer test on the new Levo SL as it is a bike that goes fast whatever you choose to tackle on it whilst offering a lively and engaging ride.
