Market: At least since the Eurobike last year, E-MTBs have emerged from their exotic existence and can be found in almost every manufacturer's portfolio. From next spring, US manufacturer Specialized will also have a whole range of pedal-assist mountain bikes in their range - the new model series is called LEVO.
An E-MTB from Specialized – why? For which target group?
For many, Specialized mountain bikes have so far been symbolic of a sporty, performance-oriented audience. So how does a mountain bike like the Levo with an electric drive fit into this philosophy? Is the Morgan Hill, California manufacturer bowing to market pressures? By no means do the developers and engineers present emphasize in unison. Rather, the Specialized Levo stands for "More Trail". The electric drive does not by definition speak against a sporty orientation of the Levo, it rather opens up completely new possibilities. The time saved uphill and on the way to the trail results in more time on the trail, where you always want to be. Geometry, drive and equipment are also designed in such a way that the Levo should not lose its sporty character even on the trail.
"That was our vision from the beginning," says Associate Product Manager Dominik Geyer. “We wanted a sporty pedal-assist bike that stands out from the crowd. We developed and fine-tuned the concept for many years until it was exactly how we had imagined it.”
Four models - from the 29er to Fatbike to Trailfully
So at Specialized we are 100% convinced of the bold concept of the Levo. With four main models and a few variants each, as well as two special women's bikes, Specialized is attacking the competition in spring 2016. The frequent choice of 6Fattie or 27,5+ tires is striking - only on the 29″ hardtail, the Turbo Levo HT 29, “normal width” tires are used.
The heart of the Specialized Levo - the drive
The Specialized Levo is driven by a mid-engine developed by BROSE especially for Specialized. The 250W powerful drive cannot be found on any other bike and was developed and produced exclusively for Specialized to meet the requirements of the Levo. "We didn't want a ready-made solution that might not ultimately fit our requirements 100%," emphasizes Product Manager Marco Sonderegger at the press launch in Leogang. The drive offers three performance levels: Turbo, Trail and Eco. At 25km/h it's over, the modes only differ in the level of support. The engine also blends in perfectly with the overall picture. Its fairing is primarily responsible for this – the forged aluminum part is the largest ever produced by Specialized. With a total of 3,4kg for the engine and fairing, the weight is extremely respectable.
Anyone looking curiously at the handlebars of the Levo for the control unit for the drive will be disappointed: the cockpit is clean and tidy, no control unit, no display. "We don't believe that the majority of customers want a huge display on their handlebars," says Marco Sonderegger. As so often in the past, Specialized is taking a bold special path. The control unit for driving the Levo is located on the battery integrated into the frame. Three buttons and ten LEDs - that's all there is to see. The drive can be switched on and off and the three modes can be selected, while the LEDs indicate the battery charge level. One or the other may turn up their noses - after all, you don't want to fiddle around with the frame or stop to check the battery level while riding. There is also a solution on the Levo for those who prefer to have everything in view: the drive communicates via Bluetooth and ANT+.
“We want to give our drivers the choice. Since our drive communicates in open protocols, it can be operated with a wide range of devices available on the market." says MTB Marketing Manager Sam Benedict. The Garmin Edge Touring Plus serves as an example: mounted on the handlebars and connected to the Levo via ANT+, the little helper not only shows the battery charge level, but you can also use the display to switch back and forth between the three drive modes. "The possibilities are almost unlimited," adds Engineering Manager Jan Talavasek, "For example, you can have the battery charge level displayed constantly on an ANT+-capable fitness tracker." So the Levo is not tied to a certain end device - if these develop further over the years, the drive will still be able to communicate with the most modern representatives.
Integrated speed, cadence and power meter
The data from the sensors integrated in the Levo can also be read on the display of such end devices. Here, too, there is a great deal in the Levo: In addition to the speed and cadence sensors that are now almost obligatory on e-bikes, the Levo also offers a fully-fledged power meter. The driver's performance can be read out here, with or without motor support. The design of the speedometer is also clever. This sits well hidden on the brake mount on the rear wheel - the associated magnet is mounted on the brake disc. "We had to adapt the design for the magnet several times, but it is now compatible with all discs available on the market." says design engineer Vincent Patureau.
The Levo's battery - heritage of the Turbo
Bewildered looks are certain when you first come into contact with the Levo series, because apart from the inconspicuous motor, you will look in vain for a battery that is visually conspicuously mounted, as is often the case with the competition.
However, anyone who is familiar with the Specialized Turbo already knows where the power for the drive comes from: the battery cells are firmly packed in the down tube of the Levo, in their own IP67-certified casing. The high certification promises very good protection against weather influences such as water and mud. For assembly, the battery is inserted from below and fixed to the frame at the top with an Allen screw. “We made a conscious decision to fix it with screws. Quick-release fasteners, especially on E-MTBs, shake loose after a while and cause an unpleasant rattling - we definitely wanted to prevent that," says Sonderegger. The battery is produced by the same manufacturer as that of the Turbo - but the capacity has been significantly increased. Depending on the equipment variant, it contains 504 or 405Wh.
More than just a gimmick: The Specialized App Mission Control
Just in time for the launch of the Levo series in spring, the new Specialized Mission Control app will also be available for Android and iOS devices. Just a gimmick? Not even close! With this app you make use of the communicative drive of the Levos. It connects to the bike via Bluetooth, so the drive can be fine-tuned, there is GPS navigation and a really unique feature called Smart Control.
Three points are particularly important to Specialized when it comes to the app:
- The app is an optional feature - it is not required to operate the Levo
- Mission Control is designed in such a way that the settings can also be easily operated by non-technical users.
- The setting options are limited: Motor tuning cannot provoke defects or make the drive virtually undriveable.
First test drive: experiment successful!
We were able to see the performance of the Specialized Levo for ourselves on the wonderful trails around Leogang. Honestly, no matter how much you may have resisted a mountain bike with a motor before, a lap on the Specialized Levo can turn some doubters into fans. We had the pleasure of sitting on the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Expert. Of course, the almost 22kg bike comes with 6Fattie tires, SRAM Guide brakes with 203mm brake discs, a SRAM X01 groupset, Rock Shox Pike at the front and a Fox Float at the rear.
The fact that Specialized has also given thought to the special requirements of an e-bike when it comes to equipment is shown, for example, by the 34-tooth chain ring specially made for the Californians, which is not made of aluminum like most of its counterparts, but instead of steel . The high forces acting through the drive should not have a negative effect on the wear of the chain ring.
If you didn't feel the additional boost from the motor when you first turn the pedals, which is somewhat unusual for most people, you would hardly believe you were sitting on a pedal-assist bike, the motor is so incredibly quiet. Even on the road, the 6Fattie tires make more noise than the engine - fascinating! The drive also has more than enough power: Many riders in our group quickly switch down from turbo mode to the less powerful Trail setting. So it pedals comfortably up steep slopes. Even if it sounds obvious and may sound malicious to some, the great strength of the Levo FSR is its uphill performance. However, this does not mean the lame climbing of forest roads up to the next trail, but the trails themselves. With the Levo FSR you can easily climb trails that you would normally just ski down.
Root carpets, stone steps and steep, blocked counter ascents: the Levo takes all of this almost playfully - uphill! The tires have excellent grip and the very well-tuned chassis absorbs the roughest bumps, but without letting too much of a sofa feeling arise. However, after an hour we all start to sweat quite a bit – someone should say again that riding an e-bike is not a sport. The Levo FSR is also fun in the other direction, although the additional weight is definitely noticeable here. The bike is a bit cumbersome and riders who otherwise work very actively with their bike will have to get used to it. However, once you have found the necessary confidence, the Levo is a lot of fun. The motor is now just an additional fun factor on an already really fast trail bike.
We can only say that the Specialized Levo series is worth a look for almost every mountain biker. The Californians go their own way with their eMTBs in many ways, but they all pay off in practice and make the Levo a really great experience - even for electro skeptics.