2018 Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Carbon - First Look
Specialized first introduced the Turbo Levo FSR range of bikes back in 2015, followed by a push in North America early in 2016. The bike was received well by those with an interest in the pedal-assist functionality but creating the bike how they wanted—fully integrated battery and engine—required processes that resulted in it weighing a bit more than others. Add to this that everyone swoons over carbon and it was only a matter of time before Specialized would create a version in the fantastic plastic.
Turbo Levo FSR Carbon Details• Intended use: Trail/All-Mountain
• Carbon front triangle, alloy rear
• Rear wheel travel: 150mm
• Fork travel: 150mm
• Wheel size: 27.5 +
• 504wh integrated battery
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL
• MSRP: 5,999–$9,999 €
• www.specialized.com
• Carbon front triangle, alloy rear
• Rear wheel travel: 150mm
• Fork travel: 150mm
• Wheel size: 27.5 +
• 504wh integrated battery
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL
• MSRP: 5,999–$9,999 €
• www.specialized.com
Now is that time, with the California based brand unleashing a full carbon front triangle for the 2018 Turbo Levo FSR. There are a number of other updates too; software amends, engine tweaks, a different tire size and longer fork to counter the lower BB as a result of the smaller, though more aggressive tyres. It’s the same frame design and all of the parts can be swapped between it and the alloy model that came before (and still available), but Specialized claim that it’s now lighter, stiffer, and more efficient.
Frame Design
As with the alloy Turbo Levo FSR, the carbon frame design draws a lot of the lines and style from the regular Stumpjumper line of bikes, only more overbuilt to take the added weight and abuse that e-MTB’s see on the trail. Producing the carbon Turbo Levo FSR did prove quite tricky for the team though, and they noted that achieving the stiff chassis with the voids needed for engine components required quite a bit of problem-solving and innovation. However, working closely with their team in Taiwan they were able to get the setup they felt was needed. Specialized claim that the carbon front triangle is 20% stiffer than the alloy model.
Another challenge for the team was the mounts for the motor, with the carbon frame requiring the design of new motor mounts that would work with the carbon moulds. The motor mount itself is made of aluminium and this is where the thermal pad and motor connect, transferring heat out of the motor. Combined with the updated software and changes to the motor—which includes thermal pads inside it too—it’s claimed to contain a greater thermal balance, resulting in longer operation times with less chance of losing power thanks to it running a tad too hot.
The carbon mould for the motor was a difficult problem for the team to solve, but they're confident in the solution.
The internals of the downtube, including cable mounts.
Geometry
The updated carbon frame still features the same geometry as the alloy bike, with Specialized noting that when they set out to develop a pedal-assist mountain bike, they wanted it to ride like a trail bike and not a bike with a battery and motor strapped to it. Ride quality is important and they are seeking something that riders will enjoy on the trails, both up and down.
The Turbo Levo FSR bikes retain many of the attributes that Specialized are renowned for, including short chainstays and a low bottom bracket and while they claim long top tubes, the numbers here are admittedly pretty average in that regard, at least in today's market.
The updated carbon frame still features the same geometry as the alloy bike, with Specialized noting that when they set out to develop a pedal-assist mountain bike, they wanted it to ride like a trail bike and not a bike with a battery and motor strapped to it. Ride quality is important and they are seeking something that riders will enjoy on the trails, both up and down.
The Turbo Levo FSR bikes retain many of the attributes that Specialized are renowned for, including short chainstays and a low bottom bracket and while they claim long top tubes, the numbers here are admittedly pretty average in that regard, at least in today's market.
Updating the Turbo Levo FSR
Aside from the frame, the largest updates have come in the form of amends to the engine and the software, all of which has been adjusted to provide what Specialized say is a more efficient motor than the previous model. The Turbo 1.3 motor sees what Specialized claim is better heat management in the motor and 15% more power (torque) than the current model, with it turning more of the energy into power as opposed to heat. While strategically placed thermal pads in the motor are also a big part of this, improvements to the software, making the motor more efficient, were also a large component.
The belt driven, Specialized Turbo Levo motor.
The new bar mounted remote to adjust power output.
The previous Turbo Levo FSR featured quite a bit of adjustability to the motor, thanks to buttons accessible on the downtube and more-so via the Mission Control application. While the tune-ability of the Mission Control app. is still available, the access to the most basic adjustments—changing power modes, which were previously only possible by hitting the buttons on the downtube—are now accessible from the bar via a more intuitive remote. Another component to the new software is its ability to read and smoothen out the riders pedal stroke.
Another clever component to Specialized's Mission Control application is the ability for them to see where the bikes are being used. The team hope to be able to use this data in the future for the betterment of riders everywhere, though at the moment it's very clear from the heatmap data shown here (via Specialized's Mission Control app.) that Europe is miles ahead when it comes to acceptance, and use of, the e-MTB's, and specifically Turbo Levo FSR bikes, in this case.
The 2018 Turbo Levo FSR models, whether carbon or alloy, have been downsized in the tire department, from the 3.0 treads of old down to a more aggressive, 2.8 Butcher. This change resulted in the bottom bracket height dropping and to combat that, Specialized upped the travel on the front fork to 150mm. Specialized say that the move was market driven, noting that people were looking to run a smaller tire on the 150mm travel bike.
Plenty of tire clearance front and rear for the 2.8 Butcher tires fitted to all models.
The two top carbon models will also see more powerful brakes fitted, with SRAM’s updated Code R and Code RSC models. The Comp Turbo Levo Carbon and the aluminium models each come fitted with SRAM’s e-MTB specific brake, the Guide RE. All of the bikes are spec’ed with 200mm rotors front and rear.
For more information on the new Turbo Levo FSR Carbon, visit specialized.com
MENTIONS: @Specialized
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Any electric bicycle exceeding 25km/h will be seen as a motorcycle, in which case the law on motocycles will be applied.
End of story.
noun: bicycle; plural noun: bicycles
a vehicle consisting of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.
Motors aren't specifically mentioned.
I've owned a Turbo Levo for a year. Got it for my 70 th birthday. I had heart surgery in 2007 and am a cancer survivor. I had a second open heart surgery 20 weeks ago for a valve repair and I'm now back riding the trails I've ridden for the last 35 years. I ride either with a couple buddies, one 21 years younger, or a varied group of up to a dozen riders, mostly intermediate to advanced. I ride in the pack uphill. I ride near the back downhill, because I'm more cautious. I ride at low power and I'm out here for a workout. I have to keep my heart rate under 130. If it's really steep I up my power to mid range, or high at an extreme. Everybody knows I'm on an e bike but we all ride together. I'll having a blast. I'll reply again when I'm 80! Ps. The Turbo Levo has a 250w motor, NOT 530. It has a 504 amp hour battery capacity. The biggest issue we have here are NOT e-bikes, but Cyclo cross riders blasting bast and bumping everyone trying to beat their previous best. Half don't even say excuse me or on your left. They don't seem to show courtesy to hikers and horseback riders. THEY give ALL bike riders a bad name. Thanks for listening, John
Bikeroots
the funniest thing is looking at them at the parking spot, when they (try to) put their Ebikes on their bike racks (i guess bikeshops dont tell them "if you're not fit enough to ride uphill, you're not fit enough to lift a Ebike")
But in my area at least, I increasingly notice people deeper in the woods that have no business of being there, both in terms of physical shape and riding ability. Trails are getting overcrowded and even worse, getting dumbed down.
For example older people, like my grandparents, who couldn't experience the joy of cycling anymore if there weren't any ebikes. In addition, it's a bike advantage for the mountainbike industry, as it attracts more people and therefore more money making standard mountainbikes cheaper and pushes innovation forward. As long as there is a respectfull community (supported by both sides) I don't see a big problem here.
I can relate to your situation, but ebikes would only solve the uphill problem, and honesty stopping every 15s second on the way down would ruin 100% of the fun.
Generalising the assumed target audience for e-bikes doesn't make anyone appear more educated, talented or accepting and only makes us all look more ignorant and niche oriented.
From experience: It doesn't matter if you're a 23 year old (healthy) Dirt Jumper or a 35 year old rider who has developed a heart condition that restricts their riding ability or a 60 year old grandparent who wants to ride with their family; a properly designed and built e-bike simply is the future of our industry and they aren't something to fear or hate but simply another platform of bicycle that joy can be derived from.
If I want to pedaI I get my lightweight hardtail, impressive machines for that.
Enduro bikes (what a fake!!!) have no room in my world, sold mine two months ago
But here we are talking about a trail bike. And trails have both downhill and uphill sections. So you should either be able to ride both, or choose a different sport.
Get off your "holier than thou" purist high horse and let people ride the bike they want to ride. Since when is this a sacred thing that cannot be challenged or individually defined? Who are you to tell someone the best way that they should enjoy their mountain bike experience (provided they aren’t out to purposefully ruin yours)? You don’t want to own a bike with an electric motor? Great, neither do I. Don't want to read an article about ebikes? Great, then don't- no one is forcing you to. It's not that hard. This ridiculously elitist attitude in mountain biking is hilariously misplaced. If an ebiker is on a trail that allows access to ebikes, then keep your mouth shut, embrace personal freedom, and let them ride their bike.
Chairlifts are typically used in bike parks that don't have any uphill trails (and you can't ride the DH trails in the opposite direction for obvious reasons) so that's a completely different scenario and as I said, I don't care how you get to the top.
Also, it's not only mountain biking, it's about the bigger picture. Ebikes are just another thing that's trying to tell people that they have the right to do whatever they want without making any effort or meeting any requirements. Would you agree if people started using helicopters to fly to the top of Mont Blanc just because they want to enjoy the view but they can't be bothered to climb it?
@WAKIdesigns Ten thousands of years ago, hunting was a basic need. Mountain biking is not. Riding a trail ebike is like shooting guided missiles at a deer that's 5 kilometres away and calling it a sport.
(If you explore the whole area within a week and find all the best trails, what are you going to do next? Sit and look around who could sell you a new toy to entertain you for another week?)
Re: using a helicopter, people are already doing that, and so long as it is done safely and they aren't preventing me from enjoying the mountains the way I want to, so what? Are you opposed to heli-skiing too? Shouldn't they be required to climb that silly mountain before they ski it?
Ultimately, there is no argument against ebikes in-and-of-themselves. People use multiple ways of getting to the top of the trail via non-human power/means and this is simply another manifestation of that. The only arguments against ebikes involve the problems surrounding ebikes, such as land access disputes. Here, the ebike isn't a problem- the land access legislation is the problem. Solve the land access problem, and ebikes aren't a threat to anyone but the user, which is just how it is with a normal bike.
@ka-brap: As far as I know, there's no way to ski uphill, while uphill climbs on a bike are not only possible but also an inseparable part of trail riding. If your primary concern is the descent, then get a DH bike.
Skiing uphill = ski touring. It's the oldest form of skiing, still very popular today, and the exact analog to your definition of trail biking. The reason it doesn't seem normal to you is because using a chairlift has become the established norm of getting to the top of the trail. Hmmm... sounds like something else we are talking about, doesn't it? What seems unrecognizable to you, might be super normal for someone else and as long as that other person isn't infringing upon your way of doing things, so what? Stop trying to save ebikers from themselves or tell them how a real mountain biking experience is supposed to be.
This is only true if you are taking soft climb at very low pace. Which means that statement is wrong most of the time. I tested 3 of them last week. A 250W e-bike offer assistance, it doesn't climb by itself. It just allows to climb faster or clear sections that would force you to dismount because of the gradient. When your heart rate is at 180rpm, you do more or less the same workout except you are getting some free speed in the process.
If I wanted to read about e-bike tosh I could go somewhere like bikerumour or dirts e-bike section.
I just dont want e-bikes to erode into the norms of mountainbiking, they are not.
(read as: buy all the shit you see at the bike store, because if that guy on a shop floor was able to talk you into e-"bike" that cost as much as a small car (sic!) he may as well sell you a toolkit, bottle, all the lights, windproof jacket and energy bar)
Your viewers hate ebikes, but if you ignore them you lose a big share of the market.
What's it going to be?
E-roadie for the commute to work and a 'proper' mtb for the weekend shredding ;D
In your case, it seems like pedal assist is the way to go. Actually, it would make sense for me too. A few days a week I try to get a mountainbike ride in after work. So after work, racing my bike home, put it away, change clothes, get on the bike (often with lights) and then try to get an effective mountainbike ride in. I'm nowhere as sharp and strong as I should be. And any coach will probably tell me that a daily grind to and from work isn't the best preparation for an effective training. But yeah, these bikes are expensive and a battery is an expensive wear part too. I won't get one, but I can see them make a lot of sense.
Just keep them away from the singletrack!
As for e-bike marketing here, this is exactly the way they are marketed, sold and used here. This is probably why the impression by PB editors is skewed that there'd be more e-bikes on the trails than normal mountainbikes. They look at the stats through their own coloured glasses. Nearly all e-bikes sold here are for commuter use. Regular commuter bikes are durable so they just keep being ridden, there was just not such a huge demand for such bikes new (because we already have about three or four bikes on average, I think).
Look, I'm not necessarily against emtb but I'm starting to hate the way PB handles the matter. First they fire up the hate and question whether they should feature them. People respond. Then they simply ignore that and continue to publish articles without getting the first issue out of the way. Which means that people regurgitate the same old arguments which isn't good for anyone except for PB traffic. I think PB should adapt its pace. First decide whether they want e-bike content on here or not. And then we'll just have to accept whatever they choose, but be consistent. If they accept e-bike content then we should as well. That is, either read the article and be on point or, if you don't like it, just don't click it. Or they could choose not to accept it. That means don't publish articles, no sponsored content, no ads. What we have now is that the triggered the hate with the first few articles and then keep that going until we need Vernon Felton or Danielle Baker to call us back to order. It is not good for the vibe. I don't hate these bikes, I don't love them either. But I hate the halfhearted way they handle it.
These bikes are heavy, and do cause more damage to trails . Its anecdotal but logical. Please PINKBIKE, stop pandering to Specialized and remove this ADVERT. Why do you even think its acceptable to show this? Leave it to EMTBR to advertise these monstrosities.
1. Do an Abi instruction to allow us to calm down and recover from repetitively throwing chairs at computer screens.
2. Do a Calvin instruction on how to remove rust from our bike we have negelected because we didn't get time to actually ride our bikes.
3. Redirect us to that Deathgrip comp reminding us that we're supposed to throw some roost and document it.
4. Turn down the site. While you're busy judging the roost pictures and vids, we'll be busy fixing our trails.
Cheers.
Why didn't he get a DH bike if he only wants to ride downhill?
And what if you come across a former mountain biker who ended up on a wheelchair, will you sell him a quad?
Over here there are e-bikes that go up to 45km/h. They are indeed registered and have a license plate, so fully legal.
Dick.
I've already seen people going up some serious steep shit on these with "turbo modes".
My biggest problem with eMTBs is that the industry will start targeting the 25km/h limit on their machines. In the end, what will the human input need to be to keep calling them eBikes and not motor bikes? Is twiddling my thumb going to be a good enough input, or a rotational wrist movement the handlebar? You know, like a throttle? ... Oh!?
No prejudice, just empiricism on my hometrails.
So everyone can believe that an E-MTB is a bicycle and as an E-MTBiker believe he/she is part of our community.
I dont mind E-MTBs to be fast, efficient and light. I would buy one, if I could use one. As long as I can carry or shift my MTB up a steep Hill and an E-MTB is to heavy for this, I wont.
And I'm guessing, like me, too long out of the uk to consider going back, especially now...
IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING FUN!!! If you like to suffer on the hills, that's fine, if you don't but love riding down hill, then you SHOULD buy an ebike.
(PS, i don't own an ebike, or plan to anytime soon as I enjoy the climbs as much as the descents, but come on, stop keyboard bashing over ebikes. It's like the whole 29er thing from ten years ago. E bikes are here to stay and in ten year most of you will be on one!!)
If you have a mate whom insists on bringing this monstrosity on your casual backcountry fave ride locations, stop them, smash the bike and ditch that looser.
#powertof*ckupmoretrails
But I'm still interested to see how it would fair on the climb
No one it seems saw the deliberate?
Mistake at the start of the review!!!
@pinkbike get the facts correct the Levo is 135mm rear travel NOT 150mm as you stated!
@specialized when are you going to release a 160/160 Levo, I want one now!!
Aaaaaaaand..... welcome to the world of negative props, but much like riding an e-bike, I don't give a crap what everyone else thinks!
At the moment they aren't for me but I can see the benefits of getting more trail for your time and I could ride to my fav ride spot in the evenings (8 miles away) rather than taking the car.
Also if they are limited to 15mph there is no benefit on DH trails anyway.
I think the "they are for lazy people" argument doesn't hold. Lazy people are gonna be lazy. If I had one I would still be sweating like a pig just going a lot faster doing it.
I just hope they don't F up trail access for the rest of us.
Having ridden an E-Bike (Turbo levo) it was an absolute riot to ride. Flat out up, fast as hell down. Big, sh*t eating grin when I got back & absolutely knackered.
I don't get the hate - it's all bikes to me. But then I ride a 29er too.
I guess its cool to hate.
@Racer951 I get the issues with trail centres. It's also why I am on the fence. People riding them need to give way to other under their own steam.
It's also pretty cool to explore a place. See a new track you don't know ? With the ebike you try it, if it ends up being uninteresting, going in a wrong direction, the motor will help you come back.
Want to take a quick ride at the end of a work day but don't want to put yourself in the red cuz' you still have to cook and do the dishes ? The ebike helps quite a bit.
Can't ride 3, 2 or even once a week to keep the pace of your riding buddies who may live closer to the mountains ? The ebike helps again.
But you may also send it and ride at full speed and come back pretty tired, even with the motor.
I bet you are a noob and have not ridden bikes for very long, I bet you haven't got a log cabin at the bottom of your garden filled with bicycles of all kinds showing that you are open minded to trying new things... I've been into mountain biking for over 6 years, way back dude, I know what I'm on about.
It has its place. I recently found a whole load of unmarked trails all over the hills. On a "normal" bike, you could really only ride one loop. The climb to the top was far too long and steep to slog up more than once. It meant some trails couldn't be ridden in that trip.
On the ebike, we could hit that climb 4 or 5 times!
It trumps the uplift.
So many DH tracks without uplifts here in the UK. And if you want a session with a good few runs, an ebike is definitely the answer.
(but just riding it on the trail, no. The bikes become so heavy with the motor and battery, you actually have to use assistance to ride along side a normal bike!)
Around here it used to be mtb'ers defending their trails against the forest workers, now it's against forest workers and ebikers.
I recently rode Orange's new Alpine 6E and have to say that although weighty (about the same as a mid 2000's DH bike) it rode really well, hitting jumps was real stable and the Shimano Steps E8000 motor was real good.
The only gripe was that you have to run slightly more psi in your suspension to allow for the extra weight and when you stopped pedalling the motor cuts out and it's almost as if you have the brakes on.
My new view is that you have to treat these as an alternative option to ride, we rode normal bikes first and I was shattered then in the afternoon we switched to the E-bikes and we did the same climbs and run but 4 times over!
I had the same amount of fun but for longer. For smashing places like bike parks then no (unless you don't uplift) but for all day riding you can get more done in the same space of time they are great and can handle just as well.
Just watch out putting the power down out of berms as the assist can catch you out!
I hope for them they have addressed that issue because it was really frustrating while I didn't have any issue on the shimano steps bike (didn't try any Bosch one).
Just another niche. Although I may repeat the experience once in a while in no way would I want to sell my regular MTB for an e-bike.
nsmb.com/articles/specialized-turbo-levo-man
ebike are the best uphill fun!
What is wrong with e bikes is the extra weight,
Funny thing is weight of bikes like this is not avalable?
I wouldn't buy one but I could see myself renting one 2 - 3 times a year. I would even say that it is much less lame than taking a lift to the top of a hill. At least you learned the right to descend by sweating while a regular DH rider/Freerider is just too lazy to do that.
Most people aren't interested in taking a lift and go on a dedicated DH / bike park. They want to leave the door of their house, climb the nearest hill and bomb in the descent. E-MTB can certainly be very fun in that regards. It really just depends how you put the cursor between fun on the descent and time spent grinding that bike up that climb.
Besides while an e-bike "rides like a piece of shit" for an experienced DH rider, the added weight and most importantly much lower overall (while counting the rider) center of gravity means the ride can feel less sketchy to the less experienced rider. The bike catch less air, the braking is more stable, etc.
There are some fundamental propositions before buying an E-MTB (a real one):
- enough cash to spare
- a place where you can ride it
- a place to recharge after the ride
- a car rack that is strong enough (if you dont live near a mountain with trails)
This limits the possible range of buyers. Most of us live in a place, where you ride a normal MTB near our home on quite boring trails, with no steep hills and no place to show off your new bike.
I think most E-MTB are rented.
I hope you never carried you bike in your car, because if so, you definitly don't earn the right to ride your bike. And i'm pretty sure the hardcore ski-mountaineer you're refering to also drive their car with their skis until the place where they start skinning up. And when they get caught in a storm in their ridiculous light gears, they call the rescue to go down. Does it mean they didn't deserve to survive? Do you even deserve your food since you didn't kill the animal/culture the plants ? it's a ridiculous logic.
That is complete rubbish, sorry - something of fairytail for most people being close enough to the trail to just ride out of their garage - I barely know of a person that rides their mtb to the trail, and those I do are XC riders who are certainly not riding heavy DH/FR bikes!
If you are that nervous that you find a modern dh bike 'sketchy' strapping 15lbs of battery to your bike probably wont help!
@Racer951 "
If you are that nervous that you find a modern dh bike 'sketchy' strapping 15lbs of battery to your bike probably wont help!"
It is not about me. That said I tested an e-bike last week and the lower CG and heavier bike really tames the bike in the bumpy/braking areas compared to an all mountainbike with otherwise comparable geometry/tires/suspension travel.
"and those I do are XC riders who are certainly not riding heavy DH/FR bikes! "
That's the whole point. An e-mtb allows you to ride that heavy "all-mountain" (they aren't DH/FR bikes) bike at the top of nearby hills/mountains whatever their level of fitness is.
I ride over 30 miles easily on my MTB around the Lake District in the UK with lots of hard climbing. If I can only ride 20 miles max. in a much faster time, then it's a bit of a wasted 150 mile round trip.
I have an estate car so can sling(?) it in the back.
(an e-mtb as well) SILLY PC ADDICTED !