Specialized Levo SL vs Turbo Levo - Which is FASTER?!

I test the 2020 Specialized Levo SL and Turbo Levo in a head to head. Which is quicker up, which one is quicker down? What other benefits does each one have over another?

700Wh battery vs 320wh and 90Nm vs 35Nm.... Theres a fair bit of difference between these bikes!

UK Pricing:
Levo SL S-Works - £10,999
Levo SL Expert - £7,499
Levo SL Comp Carbon - £5,999
Levo SL Comp - £4,999

Turbo Levo S-Works - £9999
Turbo Levo Expert - £7249
Turbo Levo Comp Carbon - £5499
Turbo Levo Alu £4249

[RobRidesEMTB]

Which would you choose? Levo SL vs Turbo Levo?

[HarryMugfordTV]

Can we just take a minute to appreciate the sheer amount of effort Rob took to make this video!! 🙌👍

[dogday]

Great review, pretty much answered everything I needed to know.

[martinsalharrisocou]

Really interesting comparison. I was surprised how much faster you were on the SL going downhill. When I swapped from a YT Capra Pro Race to a 2019 Kenevo I was within 2weeks faster on every single downhill track in the Surrey Hills due to the increased confidence and planted feel of the MUCH heavier bike!

[fabioventuri]

Awesome review Rod! I used to ride those trails in my younger and fitter days, and that is one of the reasons I am looking at getting my first e bike. I am looking at the 2020 Levo vs Levo SL right now and it is such a tricky choice. Tested both and I am leaning towards the Levo. Reasons being that I am a 100kg plus rider looking for a fun, easy way to get riding fit and stay riding fit again, with the least amount of strain on joints. The SL felt like it did not quite have enough grunt for me, maybe if I am much lighter and fitter, but the Levo put a grin on my face and feels like the type of bike that would see me out riding trails twice as much as the SL. The majority of my riding would be riding like Stellenbosch trails, Durbanville Hills and Tokai, so lots of jeep tracks, fun single tracks and open country roads. Any feedback from riders of similar specs would be appreciated.

[Jwmbike]

Having ridden both and owning a Levo SL Sworks, I feel like this was a great review. MOST reviews are extremely biased simply stating a lack of power. The SL appeals mostly to your long time cyclist who will enjoy a nimble bike.

My analogy is that the SL handles like a 2-stroke dirt bike. It has power but you have to find it. You need to keep the rpm and shift regularly to stay in the power band. The Levo is so torquey you can get away with anything. Its your 4 stroke.

[TShirtDriving]

You should test how difficult it is to pedal with the motors off (simulates you running out of range and have to pedal home or to the car). As well as travel mode on the SL with the main battery out and just the range extender hooked up and see how far you can go. If someone where to fly by plane.

[malcolmsmit]

Rob, great job as always, very neat bike.
OK, here are some facts,  
I weighed a large S works Levo SL with the range extender. It was 41.18LBs and when I rode it it felt very light and using Turbo felt like it had aboue 40% of the power of my 2019 43LB with S works tail, cranks, wheels light chain ring and cassette. Ti pedals-bolts, modified carbon comp fox 36 etc. Turbo Levo with a 500 WH battery and all tools.
An S works 2019 Levo is 44LBs with a 500WH battery 45.6 with a 700WH. So if you weigh 180LBs like me 223 Lbs total verses 221LBs total weight combined. This makes you less than 1% lighter with an exposed battery, no water bottle cage, 20 less WHs 40% of the power, smaller brake calipers, rotors, tires, wheels, 34 verses 36 fox fork as on my bike. and no potential to carry 40% more juice, no need to buy or deal with charging 2 batteries.
The 48 volt systems efficiency is awesome, I'm not sure of the actual % of the benefit this provides.
It seams like Specialized claims the weight of an SL founder small without RE battery to Standard Levo Comp huge $ gap etc..

[BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

I'd really like to see: Turbo Levo vs. Levo SL vs. Stumpjumper. Maybe a timed 1 mile climb/decent.

[glennolsen]

Great review Rob! I only wish you compared the Levo in trail mode instead of boost. I’ve heard that the Levo in trail and the SL in boost are very similar in feel and im curious to hear if the both have similar range even though the SL has a smaller battery.

[thenipper]

I love my Levo. Would like to try the Levo SL. I suspect it remains a case of n+1

[sitchad]

I love my Turbo Levo Expert both on climbs and down hill runs. I am sure the SL is a great bike as well but as a heavier rider I want the extra power and larger battery. Full disclosure my wife and I own 8 Specialized bikes, road and mountain so maybe I am bias.

[borjastick]

I tested both and found the Turbo Levo far too powerful for my needs and my fitness levels. I went ahead and bought the Levo SL Comp and love it to bits. I hardly ever use Turbo mode, maybe for 5-10 minutes in an hour's ride, perhaps less. If you are fit and a regular rider the smaller battery and power output is plenty. You just need to change gear more often and keep the pedaling in the sweet spot power output range. This is easy to find and use because you hear it as well as feel it. I am astonished at the quality of this bike and find that I do in fact now ride harder than before because the hills can be attacked instead of submitted to. Thus my ride efficiency is improved as are my average speeds and I therefore pedal more revolutions in an hour or two than I ever did before. Great fun, a game changer for me and exciting every time I ride it.

[myideas]

I have ridden both. This review is spot on. I bought a new (mullet) Levo and after a while, sold it and got the Kenevo SL (same motor/battery as the Levo SL). I find that in the steep, rough and challenging trails of Santa Cruz, CA, the lighter bike is just more fun for me. That said, I have some friends who are better than me who ride the big Levo and can stuff in into any section of trail (probably relying on their extra skill and needing to put a lot more muscle in to throw the bike around). For me the lighter bike is way more fun even though at my weight it's a bit underpowered. That said, I can keep up with my friends that are 20 years younger and 60 pounds lighter on their regular bikes. Levels the playing field and I'm loving my bike. The Levo SL was also very nice but not as fun for me on the steeper/rougher trails. The Kenevo SL is a lightweight e-enduro bike, where the Levo SL is a lightweight e-trail bike. I need more travel, so the Kenevo SL it is..

[wsl]

Thank you for the review. Helps to decide between the two. I will wait a little longer to buy one. Want to see if any hitches or glitches with SL battery and/or motor. Waited this long to see reduced motor weight and a better battery in the Turbo.

[mattx]

It's so much easier to lift above your head because your pockets are no longer weighed down with 11 grand of pound notes. Brilliant

[davidfisher]

Thanks, Rob. The SL is getting so much closer to an efficient, lighter-weight performer that gives you just what you need and not much more. And it does that in a package that doesn’t scream e-bike. I’m nibbling hard...

[bencooper]

We get it you like Specialized. Need some reviews of other bikes and that aren't 10k.

[billyrock]

Horrible battery and motor issues in 2020. Brutal.

[mikekay]

Looking forward to a similar comparison of the turbo SL vs the Ezesty. You were not as enthusiastic of the similar lighter Ezesty maybe initial differences?