The All-New Specialized Turbo Levo SL!

Posted May 11, 2020 in Electric Bikes, Mountain Biking, Cycling, Product Reviews by eriksbikeshop

Specialized just changed Trail Bikes, forever, by giving you the power to ride more trails!

Introducing the all-new Specialized Turbo Levo SL!

Specialized already has the best eMTBs in the Turbo Levo and Kenevo models. These revolutionary eMTBs give riders a tremendous amount of power to get riders to the top of the hill fast and they provide the travel and maneuverability to get them down to the bottom with a huge smile on their faces.

But some riders wanted even more. They wanted a trail bike that offered a lighter-weight platform that could deliver even more maneuverability to really pull every ounce of performance out of their ride. And this is exactly what the all-new, ultralight Specialized Turbo Levo SL does by doubling your pedaling power while handling like a nimble Trail bike!

Designed in California and engineered in Switzerland, the Specialized Turbo Levo SL is the lightest and most agile eMTB to ever shred the gnar! The S-Works Turbo Levo SL is a full 9 pounds lighter than the S-Works Turbo Levo! With weights as low as 38.25 pounds, the Specialized Turbo Levo SL is in a class all on its own!

Specialized Turbo.

So, What makes the Turbo Levo SL so special? In one word – EVERYTHING!

At the heart of the Turbo Levo SL is the motor. This motor and its magnesium casing, known as the Turbo SL 1.1 motor, is the same motor that is found on the revolutionary Turbo Creo SL e-Road bike, with advancements to the software and a walk mode added for Turbo Levo SL. At only 4.3 pounds, the Turbo SL 1.1 motor is half the weight of other crank-based motors! The Turbo SL 1.1 motor system can ONLY be found on Specialized Turbo models!

The Turbo SL 1.1 motor delivers up to 240 watts of power along with 35 Nm of peak and sustained power with a top-assisted speed of 20 mph. This may not seem like a lot (considering that Turbo Levo and Kenevo deliver more power) but Turbo Levo SL is designed for a completely different experience. Turbo Levo SL is tuned to deliver a more constant and strong support experience across a wide cadence range to give riders a very natural feel while pedaling. You will almost forget that you are riding an e-bike as you are climbing up those hills!

Because the Turbo SL1.1 motor is tuned to provide a more streamlined power output, the 320Wh internal battery system has also been streamlined to provide plenty of power and range in a smaller, lighter package. Add to that the 160Wh range extender batteries and you will have enough energy to ride all day, anywhere! Range extender batteries come stock on some models and are available for purchase to use on all models!

Pair your Turbo Levo SL with the Smart Control feature on the Mission Control App and all worries about battery life fade away! Enter how far or how long you want to ride along with how much battery you want to be left at the end of the ride and Smart Control takes over! Smart Control checks the bike’s battery status every 10 seconds and adjusts output levels to ensure that you make it back with plenty of battery to spare! While a number of factors have an impact on battery life, riders can expect to get up to 3 1/2 hours out of the internal battery and an additional 1 1/2 hours out of each Range Extender battery!

The Specialized Mission Control App is more than just Smart Control! Out of the box from the factory, ECO mode matches your effort with up to 30% of the motor’s 240-watt power. TRAIL matches your effort up to 60% and TURBO matches your effort to 100% of that 240 watts. But, with Mission Control you have full control over your Turbo Levo SL by allowing you to adjust these outputs to meet your preferences. Fine-tune both peak power and sustained assistance for all three levels and dial the Turbo Levo SL to fit you perfectly!

The Mission Control App even helps you to diagnose and extract an issue report to provide to your mechanic should any issues with the battery or motor arise. You can even track your rides and connect your ANGi equipped helmet! So, to get the most out of your Turbo Levo SL, be sure to download the Mission Control App from the Apple App or Google Play Store.

OK, back to the bike. The new Turbo Levo SL frame is a very close match to the current Turbo Levo frame in geometry and suspension kinematics. But, due to the reduced weight, the Turbo Levo SL actually has a ride quality closer to that of the non-electric Specialized Stumpjumper! This is a remarkable feat for a full-suspension eMTB!

Out front of the Turbo Levo SL is a 150mm suspension fork that is perfectly paired with a 150mm rear shock. The Turbo Levo SL also features 29″ wheels and tires. This combination of suspension travel and wheel size provides riders with the perfect amount of travel and speed for the kind of hard-hitting, fast-rolling trail riding that they are looking for! Available in M5 Aluminum Alloy and FACT Carbon Fiber versions, there’s a Turbo Levo SL for every trail rider!

Here’s the model breakdown –

Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy

  • M5 Premium Aluminum Sidearm Frame with FSR Suspension Design
  • FOX Rhythm 34 FLOAT Fork
  • FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Shock
  • SRAM NX Eagle Drivetrain
  • SRAM Guide R Brakes

Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon

  • Full FACT 11m Carbon Fiber Sidearm Frame with FSR Suspension Design
  • FOX Rhythm 34 FLOAT Fork
  • FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Shock
  • SRAM NX Eagle Drivetrain
  • SRAM Guide R Brakes

Turbo Levo SL Expert

  • Full FACT 11m Carbon Fiber Sidearm Frame with FSR Suspension Design
  • FOX Performance Elite 34 FLOAT Fork
  • FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Shock
  • SRAM GX Eagle Drivetrain
  • SRAM Guide G2 RSC Brakes

S-Works Turbo Levo SL

  • Full FACT 11m Carbon Fiber Sidearm Frame with FSR Suspension Design
  • FOX Factory 34 FLOAT Fork
  • FOX Factory FLOAT DPS Shock
  • SRAM XX1 Eagle Drivetrain
  • RockShox Reverb AXS Dropper Post
  • SRAM Guide G2 RSC Ultimate Brakes
  • (1) 160Wh Range Extender Battery

There you have it! The Trail Bike game has been changed forever. Check it out for yourself at your local ERIK’S Location or at shopERIKS.com!