SPECIALIZED LEVO SL GEN 2

WORTH THE WAIT

Words by Drew Rohde | Photos + Video by Lear Miller / Dusten Ryen

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This installment of our Dissected Series is the longest one we’ve ever made. It’s not the length of the video we’re talking about, but the fact that we first rode and met with Specialized to try the Gen 2 Levo SL a year ago. We attended a full-blown media event, rode the bike, met with the team involved with developing the updated Levo SL and to be honest, had a pretty dang good time! Despite being incredibly impressed with how playful, light, and lively the new Specialized Levo SL was, we came home thinking, “Dang, that bike is sweet. But, they’re still a bit behind on the power.” Apparently, the team at Specialized thought the same thing as we got an email about a month later saying all embargo dates were postponed indefinitely and we’d be getting an update when things were ready to pick back up. 

Fast forward to March 2023 and we got an exciting email from Allan Cooke, Specialized’s in-house doer of things and shredder-extraordinaire. It was game on and we couldn’t wait to make the trip to coastal California to spend a couple of days seeing what that extra time did for this sub-40lb 2023 bike. Read on for our  Specialized Levo SL Gen 2 feature review and see if the wait was worth it!

Compared to the outgoing Levo SL, Gen 2 is exactly what aggressive riders had been hoping Specialized would deliver. It’s a stiffer, more adjustable, and more capable all-around eMTB that has the capabilities to go hard or have fun keeping it casual.

As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long-term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Specialized for the opportunity to create this feature and getting you some valuable beta on this new eMTB.

FAQ | CHASSIS & COMPONENTS

HOW MUCH SUSPENSION TRAVEL DOES TURBO LEVO SL HAVE?

The Specialized LEVO SL Gen 2 has 150mm of rear suspension travel and 160mm of front travel, ideal for a wide range of off-road conditions. The S1 has 144mm rear suspension travel and 150mm up front to maximize standover height.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLIP-CHIP IN THE CHAIN STAY AND THE ONE IN THE SHOCKEYE?

The flip-chip on the horst-pivot, near the rear axle, accommodates the fitment of a 29” rear wheel (the bike comes stock in a 27.5” rear/29” front “mullet” configuration). The flip-chip at the shock allows for adjustment of the BB height (+/- 5mm).

WHICH SHOCK OPTIONS ARE THERE?
(ESPECIALLY IF COIL SHOCKS CAN BE USED)

While it is possible to fit compatible aftermarket shocks, you’ll get the best performance with the original Rx tuned shock. Specialized frames are generally designed and tested to work with the suspension components provided as original equipment. We extensively test and refine damping curves and air spring volumes to match a given bike’s kinematics for optimum performance. When changing out shocks, be aware certain models of shocks may not be compatible with the frame due to the position of the shock reservoir, size, and/or other compatibility factors, even if they fit. Specialized does not guarantee aftermarket shock compatibility.

That said, frame sizes S2 – S6 work with some reservoir coil shocks as listed below, though none of these aftermarket shocks feature a specific tune for the Levo SL. The frame features standard eyelets front and rear. Forward eyelet hardware is 8mm x 25mm, and no hardware for the rear eyelet. Ensure the shock dimensions fit in the respective frame size:

Shock length/stroke | S2-S6: 210 x 55 mm

No reservoir shocks or shocks with 55mm of stroke in the S1 frame: 210 x 50 mm.

FAQ | SL SYSTEM

WHAT IS THE WATT-HOUR (WH) CAPACITY OF LEVO SL’S BATTERY ?

All Levo SL models have a 320Wh internal battery. The SL Range Extender is a compact battery that mounts into the bottle cage, adding 160Wh more capacity. Combining the internal battery and the Range Extender yields a total of 480Wh.

HOW MUCH POWER DOES TURBO LEVO SL HAVE?

Levo SL’s new Specialized SL 1.2 motor delivers up to 320 watts of power and 50 Nm of peak torque. These are impressive power and torque values, but what’s really important is how all this power and torque is delivered. The integrated functionality of the Turbo OS results in an extremely smooth, stealthy, and natural duplication of your power.

HOW HAS THE MAX POWER CHANGED BETWEEN LEVO SL GEN 1 AND GEN 2?

The new Specialized SL 1.2 motor spec’d on all models has dedicated firmware, improved hardware, is stealthier, and 33% more powerful than the Specialized 1.1 motor. The Levo SL Gen 2 features the Specialized 1.2 motor with an increased power of 320W and 50 Nm of torque. Compare that to the Specialized SL 1.1 motor with 240W and 35 Nm.

WHAT ARE THE DEFAULT MODE SETTINGS FOR THE SL 1.2 MOTOR, AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT THAN THE GEN 1?

The bike comes with a default mode setting of 80% peak power in Turbo mode, which optimizes easy climbing and battery usage. This setting is based on our understanding of the average desired range and power preferences derived from accumulated Mission Control data. There are two ways for a rider to unlock 100% peak power:

1. Using the onboard MicroTune on-the-fly feature of the Mastermind TCU, dial to 100/100.
2. Download the Mission Control App, go into Tune, and change power settings from factory setting of 100/80 to 100/100.
3. A retailer can change the peak power settings for you in the shop using our retailer Turbo Studio program.

WHAT UPDATES TO THE SPECIALIZED SL 1.2 MOTOR REDUCE THE MOTOR NOISE?

While increasing power, we were able to reduce noise significantly. We achieved this through an updated gearbox design and a new two-piece motor housing featuring an integrated honeycomb structure to better dissipate noise. This equals a perceived noise reduction of 34-45% compared to the SL 1.1 motor.

HOW CAN I UPDATE MY BIKE?

The over-the-air feature lets you know when your bike needs an update through the Mission Control App. To update a bike, connect to Mission Control, go into diagnostics, choose update, and keep your phone within Bluetooth range of the bike until the update is complete. Your local Specialized retailer can complete updates as well through Turbo Studios.

WHAT IS THE RANGE OF THE LEVO SL?

Many factors affect how far, how long, and how much climbing a full charge will take you: terrain, rider weight, power assist level, and even pedaling cadence all impact range. The following table states the most common range spectrums for elevation gain (M), distance (KM), and ride time (H) for each default mode Eco – Trail – Turbo (only reference the internal line)