My Orbea Rise M10 is my second e-bike. My first e-bike was a 2020 YT 29er pro. It was a great bike. I'm 68 year sold and have been riding since 1983. Like many, I have lots of injuries I do a lot of pre-exercise before a ride to be limber enough to ride aggressive single-track. For the last 8 years or so, I would experience patellar knee pain both before an after riding and I experienced more discomfort, with more aggressive and longer rides over 3 hours. The Yt, with the Shimano E-8000 motor seemed to aggravate it even more. It felt like I was peddling against the motor and weight of the bike, especially in the eco mode. Learning about the Orbea Rise and the RS (Rider Synergy), I decided to buy a M10. What a difference. My knee pain went away! Just what I wanted. The frame on this bike is amazingly stiff and yet comfortable. It is easily the best trail bike I have owned (I 've owned 16 MTB's over the years). I've put over 1400 miles on it since April, 2021. Its been absolutely flawless.
I'm thinking about buying an M10 as well. I have left knee and left hamstring pain, so I need a great bike to help relieve the pain. An M10 may be the answer!
@@jaymueller2418 does "unexpected health issues" mean you got the Jab ?? One rider from our club has major heart issues "coincidentally" after getting the jab .. Several excellent riders just stopped coming to the weekly rides and we have no idea if they are even alive. All this post C19 push. I have no idea what percentage got the jab.
@@JustMe-vx7yt dang thats crazy.. glad i would never let the govt tell me how to live.. bad enough they had us stop working and i lost everything cause of it... this world is gettin scarier by the day!!! i think its time mother nature did a cleanse to the planet.. human race has gotten to be more toxic then ever.. so fuc... sad man
Orbea Rise's almost double power for a similar range and weight of the SL is what did it for me when I made the purchase decision couple of months ago. The specification versus price value was also a very clear differentiator. As an older, heavier guy (58 and 220 lb's) riding in a mode 2 it surprisingly gives me a similar range to a number of full fat bikes. I'm left well behind on boost mode belting up the fire trails but climbing up regular trails in eco or trail mode I'm more than keeping up with others with similar age, weight and fitness constraints on full powered ebikes.
58 male seems to be the demographic for electric bikes 2 reasons you can afford if you did anything other than a min wage job in your life. Also your fat and out of shape. You did not say how tall you are so assuming 5'9 avg american - you are 50-60 lbs overwieght watch NFL and drink beer all week end. Americans - hahahahaha the joke of the world
Nice review. I bought the SL expert about 18 months ago. There is nothing stock left on the bike- XT 4 piston brakes are great. 160 Pike Ultimate, DPX2 w/ cascade link have transformed it into an ultra hover bike beast. Power is enough for me. I have a '21 Stumpy S-Works when I want a poppy, nimble ride. The Rise is a great bike too.
I was looking for exactly this comparison test and it answered almost all my questions. After I have first fully set on the Levo SL I must now admit to myself that I have paid too much attention to the brand name Specialzed. I will now look for a dealer where I can test ride the Rise M20 once. Thank you for the great test and many greetings from Ruhrpott in Germany.
Owned both bikes, Rise wins every time simply due to 60nm v’s 35nm. Rise is also a much more engaging ride with the synergy set up. Surprised how Specialised are getting future sales since launch of Rise as the additional torque is so noticeable so you can ride with FF riders you would not be able to keep up with SL
I recently tried out both…… Ride both on the lower settings and kind of forget about the motors to see if you like the bikes handling and geo. That’s probably why the SL still sells……….Also I’ve ridden one recently (I don’t ride like the guys in the videos do.) I do more flow trails and single track that switches back-and-forth tightly at slower speeds. The longer slacker bike (Rise) doesn’t really do me. And the steeper seat tube angle (Rise) isn’t really needed as much because of the motor. I did notice the shorter chainstay (SL) feeling great. One thing to think about is the Levo SL climbing on the lowest setting (eco) will be climb faster than the best short travel 29er ( Ibis Ripley). With that said, the SL is very much a powerful E bike. Another thing to think about is none of these bikes really go in turbo, you can’t really use them in turbo a lot, plus it’ll wear the hell out of your power train if you do as well as burn the battery. Nobody ever talks about chains breaking in the back country, just motor failure. These things are kind of hidden. These bikes live in eco and trail mode mostly . Judge then on this power setting to see what is really needed. Personally I’d go for a full sized Ebike for muddy days and just not caring about weight and using the power as an E bike full on. Treat it as a different animal. As far as 90% of the usage I would get one of these lighter newer iterations. My .02
Funny, torque does not matter to me since I rarely ride the SL in full power mode. And it handles far better with the short chainstays. Why not go for a full power e bike?
@@koho All these bikes are mainly used in Eco or Trail anyway, used in full power will break chains and wear out the drivetrain fast, it should only be used sparingly or commuting. With that said, they are all fairly similar using realistic power modes. I Had a Turbo Levo, it was my first E-bike. I thought that using a lighter wheels set and reducing the power would make it the perfect E-bike, and pretty much an SL. While the wait was cut down, it still didn't feel right. The SL was about 6lbs lighter and just turned in tighter slower conditions better, was also easier on those tech single tracks that are steep and rutty where you are lifting the back tire and sort of inching . The worst thing was the Turbo Levo had motor drag bad after 20mph, which on flow trails absolutely SUCKED!!, I think the full power E-bike like a Turbo Levo should just be left big and burly, and be used on wet muddy sort of days, or as a commuter, or maybe something to facilitate an older or person with injury. I sold mine and never looked back .
I have a Rise, and love it. My decision came down to the Rise, and the Levo SL. Ultimately I went with the Rise because of the value. I went with the M20, as I felt I could upgrade the components, as I wanted to, and applied the saving to a trip to Bentonville to break it in. Great bike for that area.
Spot on vid guys. I have both bikes. I think the only downside to the rise is wheels like u said and the rear shock. I changed my wheels to a high end carbon set. The Rise is much more sporty to ride. I also feel the SL is strangely short in the reach..size L. Also for me I think it’s a must to put a display on the bike…easy to fix 🤙🏽 Nice riding!
Thanks Gents. Great review. I recently got a Levo SL, and agree that it felt very "planted," not snappy enough. Made a few upgrades to shed some pounds, AND flipped the suspension "chip" into the "high" position. Now it's a much snappier, responsive ride, and it gets off the ground easier.
I had an Orbea Wild FS and wanted something more nimble and made me really spin the pedals. I found a RISE M-TEAM spec that might be a little overkill for my riding skill but it's a beautiful bike and crazy fun to ride.
I have the Rise M20, threw a Marzocchi Z1 160mm on it with a Marzocchi 210x55 Coil and man the bike is fun. Upgraded the brakes to SRAM Code Rs because I had them on hand, would have preferred XTs. Next on my list is the wheels and then I think the bike is set. The bike is incredibly fun out of the box though and really no need for upgrades other than brakes IMO.
Well done guys. Your review is one or may be the best that I've seen so far! I'm almost 60 years old and pretty fit... I have a so called eco-bike (non engine,-)) the 2020 SL and a LEVO expert muscle ebike. And I have to say that I'm almost 90% on my SL. I like also the Orbea but unfortunately it's almost not possible to get one for a test ride. But as I know the Shimano engine very well I understand the difference to have more torque if needed. nether the less if you want to tune the bike to the max = light weight the SL seems the better base. With Magura brakes, concept wheels and XTR set up I reach 16,5kg with pedals. Of course it's not an enduro bike mode but more a marathon to all mountain bike. One more point - the noise is terrible and not matching the use as low power supported bike at all. Instead you can't hardly hear the LEVO expert ,-(((
Great video, I have an SL and sometimes I miss the power, but generaly I like also to work a bit for my downhill. With a full power emtb I wouldnt have any workout.
The short chainstays on the SL make a huge difference - so nimble for an e bike. I've had one for 20 months, bullet-proof, great sus, fantastic downhill (I like it better than my Evil Following).
I also went from an Evil Following to the Levo SL and thought I'd be sacrificing performance with an bike, I was definitely wrong. Especially on the downhill.
Nice vidéo, good points. Like almost all ‘reviews’ on lighter or lower powered e-bikes, you only look at the perspective of the 2 riders. Weight of the rider has a fondamental effect of the available assistance & range. Before the Rise came out I bought a Fullfat but my wife that weighs 33% less than me felt a ff was a tank and prefered an SL. We are both very happy with our choices and if one was to change it would probably be me more than her. I am of the opinion that we will probably end up with 3 power categories in the future.
You make a great point about weight, as there's a huge difference between a 54 kg rider (me) and a more typical 80 kg rider on an SL. My hybrid is a Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0, with the same motor as Specialized's eMTBs. I find it great IF you're fit, and have awesome range (140 km on gravel). Having said that, I opted for the Orbea Rise, and love the extra torque, especially as I have two profiles to play with and can fine tune them in the app to max out battery life/range.
The torque makes difference and the weight is not so low to "improve the feeling" of a "normal bike" personally I like a bike with a responsive motor and a weight that gives stability and optimal response from suspension, why pay more to have less?
I like the new aluminum Rise, because of the lower cost, larger battery, and less janky electronics (battery display). I think the amount of power the Rise has is at the sweet spot for most riders and that is what the Specialized need to boost. Id like to see a future software update to get the Rise up to higher power (at the cost of battery life which is OK). I'd be fine with full power for just 3 hours as an option.
Great review guys! I heard Orbea is launching in 22' an Aluminium version of the Rise with a 504kWh battery to compensate for the extra weight...! Heard anything?
I chose the Rise M10 to complement my Ripmo and Trek Rail. Ended up loving the rise more than my Rail and my Rail has been collecting dust. I was considering the Levo SL but with plenty of publicized motor issues and the fact that the Rise has almost twice the torque of the SL for nearly the same weight just sold me. Also to mention I also felt that there was something a bit off on the bigger jumps on the rise, I was thinking about getting a set of We Are Ones for it. I am ordering immediately since you guys also thought it was the wheels.
I think you mean motor issues with the Turbo Levo, not the SL, which is a different motor. Just did a search, bupkis - do you have a source? I'm interested since I have an SL and it has been bulletproof for 20 months, with heavy abuse, river crossings, etc.
whats with this it dont jump right thing?? i really liked everything ive been hearing but im an airborne addict so if this is truly an issue then this the rise truly is not my thing.. please lmk if u get chance what it is thats making everyone say its good bike except for big jumps
Don't think you can go wrong with either. I owned a levo SL at one time but sold it cause it was getting in the way of some fitness goals I had set for myself. Just rode it to much. It was a blast though. The lower power/battery concept is perfect for a lot of riders including me. And yes, it took a bit to set in the brakes but they eventually started working fine
Haha! Just rode it too much. Best ad Specialized could ask for. Same experience here. I got an SL and ride - literally - twice as much as with my Evil Following.
I have the rise M20, totally stock and love it! I've ridden it on crazy steep DH trails, jump trails, drops and it handles everything. Only thing I dont like is I have a XL and the seat tube height is way to high and can get in the way on really steep terrain even with the seat slammed as low as possible, otherwise awesome bike.
When you say that you have an XL and the seat tube height is way too high, how tall are you? If I'm 6'1, do you think that an XL or an L would be best?
@@mesabman I'm 6'2" and it's weird that the seat tube is so high, on steep rollers I have a hard time getting behind the seat when the seat is slammed as far down as it can go without getting caught up a little, but other than that the bike feels great! I guess I have long arms so the xl reach works well, but I wish the seat tube was shorter by about 1".
@@MTBzine does yours have a 175 dropper? And if so, is it slammed? I’ve taken a gamble and ordered a 200 fox transfer to replace the oc2, as it was on sale for a good price. Couldn’t find anywhere whether it would fit.
Great video guys, Rise v SL the 2 most popular choices. I have the Levo but originally wanted the Rise (back order) but I am still happy with the Levo. I would have likeed the 60 NM though. I have the Fox 36 and Code Brakes.
Been waiting for this one ever since the accidental upload :D As a Levo SL owner and bicycle mechanic for over a decade I agree with pretty much everything that was said. I ride a Expert model of which pretty much nothing is left but the wheels and frame. The brakes went first. Terrible spec. Really like what they did with the 2021 models and specs. 35mil cockpit, 36 Performance Elite and DPX2 in exchange for a set of carbon wheel is kinda fair imo. But it might struggle with squirliness mentioned for the orbea a little bit then. Clocked around 9k km now, bikepark laps and big mountain EWS stages including and it takes it all. Was really cautious at first but not need for it. Would love a software update to maybe 50Nm if the motor can handle and I'd be fully satisfied
I have both (couple of days) , i have a custom spec 17,2kg SL (large) which now belongs to the wife . and now i have on the way a Rise M10 with a few upgrades MT7 , XX1 , Roval SL Carbon wheels ..should be around 17.8kg (large)
More power means More Fun. That being said, I still find myself riding with 40nm (Tour+) on my Trek Rail, rather than the 85nm in the higher settings. But, on the fire roads, it's Turbo all the way. Oh yah!
Very nice review guys! Another major issue for me is that that there is only one (1) Orbea dealer within 25 miles of my home (Reno/Sparks/Truckee/Lake Tahoe area). The next Orbea dealer is over 100 miles away (Sacramento). Whereas, there are six (6) Specialized dealers within the same area (all within 25 miles/half within 15 miles). Having the convenience of so many Specialized dealers was enough for me to go Specialized. Lastly, the 35 nm motor in my Levo SL is still enough for me at age 73 considering that my power levels are normally set to 35/60/80. Cannot remember when I used a 100% Turbo mode last in the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding my home...maybe had 35/70/100 on its first day out...and changed it.
Thanks and dealer support is definitely a big issue for some folks Bill. Always appreciate responses that help us think of other important things for consumers!
@@TheLoamWolf Hi again. Noting how many good comparisons you had in this video, I took the time to watch it a second time and focused on the SL's braking. One question...What brakeset would you put on the Levo SL?
I demoed the Rise for two days. It had Enve wheels and I can tell you it was solid on steep fast DH runs down Mud Springs in AF canyon. I weigh 205 and could get about 3200 feet of climbing on profile 2 (more power). I’ve also riden the Levo SL at Kenuga bike park. The power is undewelming and the geo on that bike is out of date. In my mind the Rise is a much better bike all around and I’m a fan of specialized. They need to update the levo SL.
I bought an Orbea Rise M10 with the Vault hub. After 8mths and limited rides I was getting a loud pinging noise from the rear hub. On inspection I found that the teeth on the Vault hub were rounded along with the pawls. Clearly the hub is not fit for purpose on an ebike and I do not understand why Orbea are fitting standard mtb components on ebikes!!! The loads incurred on an ebike rear hub are massive compared to that of a conventional bike. So at considerable expense (£450) I have changed out my rear hub to DT Swiss who actually make ebike compatible hubs.
I have an M10 Occam and M10 Rise. Identical apart from wheels and rear shock. (dpx2 (biggest spacer) Vs Float x) and I feel like its the Float X that massively improves the rise. Ive only had the rise 2 weeks but the occam will be for sale soon i feel
Great video. This kind of vid is always interesting and super cool to get your view on it. I have a Rise myself, and I made some upgrades that you also mentioned (like wheelset). It rides like a dream. But what would really cool and interesting is if you made a vid about the first super light long travel emtb that isn't the kenevo SL. It is possible to transform the Rise into 160/160 without changing the geo negatively. That means a 27.5 in the back, a 216*63 rear shock and a reduced offset bushing, and a 160 air shaft in the fork. Please make it happen :)
I have a Rise with that exact set up, 170mm Lyrik Ultimate up front, and 8.5x2.5, Fox DPX2 with an offset rear bushing, and 27.5 out back and it's a blast everywhere.
@@theedmondsept very cool. I want to make this build myself as I have a spare set of 27.5 wheels and I would just switch from 160/160 mullet to 29" 150/140 depending on the day! Awesome you did it! But doesn't 170 front lift the BB a bit too much?
@@TeamCykelhold No problem on the BB, In my opinion, the front feels great with the 170mm either way, up or down. My friend has the stock Rise with 150/140 same sized large frame as mine, and I'm so happy I did the upgrade, it's basically an enduro spec bike now and it handles most of what I put it through, and that's enough for me
@@theedmondsept Sounds so rad. I just have to do the same after hearing that, although I might keep it at 160 front so I can change between mullet and 29 without faffing with the fork air shaft every time.
@@TeamCykelhold Trust me, you won't be disappointed with this setup, and I wouldn't be surprised if Orbea comes out with an updated Rise with more rear travel like mine and call it something else, but I call mine "Rise Mx"
@@derekhemmes How is the handling with the geo change? I read that a guy did a 170f/ 160r coil with a mullet config and was really happy with it.. extended the wheel base and steepened the headtube angle
@@_Jake.From.Statefarm_ I LOVE it! I'm so much more comfortable on the steeps & jank, and I feel more stable at speed. I posted a full review on my channel (seach "I Do Blues" and/or "Orbea Rise Enduro").
Just curious, I know a lot of people like the Specialized motor (regardless of the power output etc) how did the rise's motor feel in comparison? As a lot of people, I think you guys included were sold on it for the Levo/Kenevo right away.
Interesting what you said about the wheels! I changed mine to carbon the day I got it because I wanted to shave some more weight from my M20, sounds like that was a good decision 😅 so far really enjoying it, the battery seems to last forever, I'm going further than I ever did with my previous 625wh Bosch bike and enjoying it much more due to how light it is. My other bike been a specialized Enduro, the shorter travel of the rise is something I really enjoy. If they make a 160/150 specialized with a tad more power and low weight, I can see both bikes been sold for one of those, the integration on new specialized bikes is leagues ahead of its competitors now
Awesome video, where all did you test? I can spot at least Sandy ridge, great that you took these down Johnnys, most reviews I've seen only focus on DH tracks and neglect jumping all together.
@@TheLoamWolf Nice, definitely considering one of these two as a new dad and this is where I'd take them, and then use my normal for bigger spots in tillamook SF thrilly and BR. Would you choose these lighter ones over a full power E-bike for that mentality?
I swear, Orbea must have a mole inside Specialized corporate, because they often take specialized concepts, refine them and release souped up models a year or two later after Specialized. See braced frame borrowed from the Stumpy, the SL concepts and now even the in frame storage bit. I think it's great for the customers, but Spesh must be fuming! I own the SL and I'm happy as hell with the bike. The cool thing is that Specialized offer alloy models for these bikes, which makes the more accessible. But also the fact that you can rail them on aggressive, chunky descends is a huge plus. I think having an eMTB that's not great for self-shuttling in aggressive terrain kind of misses the point. And the short chainstay means that it still works for navigating tight, techy terrain as well.
From what I hear SL is doing fine sales wise. It has lots of advantages over the Rise, the main lesser being lower torque. But I don't even ride the SL in highest mode except rarely. The short chainstays are everything. It's the perfect E bike IMO, except would like a little less motor whine.
I like most fell into that anti at one time until I found myself not riding due to my ailing knee/knees. Then one demo on the SL opened my eyes to the fact that it takes just enough pressure off my knees when the climbs get steep. Not to mention that you can clean steep and techy climbs that you're walking on your pedal bike. Then the Rise came out and the dilemma started. In short I bought the Rise and I'm more than stoked.
SL does have that shorter chainstay and on slower single track ( where I ride ) the SL would ride better on those switch back like moderate up hill/down hill where excessive power is not needed
I own an SL, and yes, the short chainstays make it as nimble as is probably possible for an e-bike. And bullet proof for 20 months and 3400 km. Great bike all around.
@@koho I think that Geo should be the first thing when comparing these bikes and the motor second, a lot of people look at the motor first. Also look at where do you ride? My thoughts............. The Rise could be said to be the best bike , but when you just ride these on eco and trail the power difference is not all that much more unless really going for turbo which will cut battery life and really is not going to be used. The Levo Sl on just Eco can feel like the fastest short travel 29er climbing and that is something to be said about all this motor power stuff. The short chain stay makes it more realistic at slower speeds to me, and if going to a bike park and down hilling all day the Levo SL can feel less likely to get pinged off the rocks . Reliability from a strong co. like Specialized is somewhat nice as well. I think comparing the geo first is the most important thing, not the motor. I would own a full fat (Trek Rail) and a Levo SL (used) for the price of the Rise . My.02
I am interested in a Specialized TURBO LEVO SL COMP which has the 320wh motor and presumably the low 35nm torque output. I don't do technical climbs or mega downhill stuff. Mainly I ride tracks and trails and some quiet lanes here in rural France. Is this bike going to be sufficient for a 64yr old duffer like me?
How much different is the weight on the Rise based on trim level? I'm not sure if they used the M20, M10, etc in this video - but, for example, is the M10 lighter?
Might have to drive 4 hours there and 4 hours back, just to demo a carbon one. I want to order a h15 the aluminum one, but I am not sure what size? My yt decoy I'm xxl, stumpjumper I'm s5, my Gen 2 levo and levo sl I'm xl. I'm 6'2" tall. How tall are you and what do you guys think for me.
Haha...mo-peds equal mo-fun! We don't have sensitive egos here. We did reach out to Specialized prior to this review coming out and did not get any official or unofficial word, however based on tone of conversation, and my own hopes, I think something is coming...
@@TheLoamWolf Haha nor should you, ebikes are awesome! I will definitely get one to go along side my normal bikes. I don’t get the ebike hate, most of the haters are happy to get a in a chairlift/truck to get up the hill but ebikes are “cheating”?! 🤷🏼♂️😂 Interesting… I love the SL concept but the current one just seems a bit left behind now. If Spesh come out with an updated SL that is to the Stumpy Evo what the Kenevo SL is to the Enduro, they can take my money.
This is hardly a test if you change-out the stock fork on the bloatedly priced Levo SL? What gives and Y R these bikes priced more than a new 2022 Honda CRF450? Nonetheless, I own an Levo SL.
It is a test. Haha. But as we said, the model we received came with a 34 as it was one of the first Levo SL's out. Since then Specialized has updated their offerings and they now sell a Levo SL with a 36, so we changed that particular bike, but not to something that a consumer can't buy direct from Specialized in their Levo SL lineup... As far as price and value go, we believe we addressed that pretty well in this review.
@@TheLoamWolf Thx. I hv a 22' SL comp with 34 forks. Lowest of the 4 Levo SL's. Only the top 2 come with the 36 fork. Seems you're testing the Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon. Specialized nomenclature is confusing at best. Am still waiting for a video re. insane bicycle prices generally. Way more expensive than MX.
How are the two bikes say on a downtown Calgary or LA bike trail, I do ride some rough stuff but I'm coming 60 so I'm not out to go racing on the mountains down hill. I'm considering purchasing a Rise h30 to ride with my wife and family at our cabin on rough dirt hard pack , broken asphalt and some sandy stuff. Then the city for regular groomed bike trails around the city's. La and Calgary. This would be a good ad on for your reviews. Not all of us want to race break neck on mountain down hills. If you could expand your review to cover these other task's that would be wonderful. Love the channel otherwise. R
Thanks for the feedback and we definitely get to cover all bases. Those bikes would certainly be fine for that type of riding! Tire selection will be a good area to look at to maximize comfort on the rod bits and not wear out too quickly on asphalt but still give the traction desired when off roading.
@@TheLoamWolf Thanks guys. Well thanks to your review I did go purchase the Rise H30 20mph, orange and black back at the end of June 2022. I have now ridden it all summer on all kinds of terrain including downtown bike paths along the bow river and basically everywhere. I could not be happier with the bike, the battery and power are amazing. You can ride it for hours and it still had 5 bar's battery. Only one day back in Aug we left at 7 am and by 3 pm getting home I was down to 2 bars left after so many hours of riding I could not believe it, we did 150 km's total that day. Now that the season is coming to a close up in Canada winter will be arriving soon, but its been an amazing summer for weather for Motorcycles and Biking around Alberta and Saskatchewan where I live. Now comes the question, what do I do with the RISE H30 battery for the sleeping season of Nov 2022 till June 2023? How should I leave the battery in my rise so I don't hurt it. Maybe you could link an article that you guys did on this question or if you don't have one maybe that would be a good new video for you to cover. Anyway thanks again. Reg Riemer
How much faster uphill (in same mode) is the rise than the Levo sl on for example a 500 ft fire road climb with an average gradient of 12%. Are we taking seconds or minutes?
500 vertical feet? over what distance? If you are climbing a hill that's over 5 minutes, i think the time difference could approach 1 minute, and at 8-10 min you could be over 1 min i think... On shorter hills you're talking seconds, but if you look at the difference in a 1/4mile drag race vs a marathon, .2 seconds or 2 seconds can be huge.
@@TheLoamWolf thanks! 500ft In just under 1 mile, which takes me about 15 minutes on my analog bike at just under 4 mph. If I understand you correctly and say I was climbing 2500 ft at a 10% incline = 4.73 miles, the RISE would be around 7 minutes faster? (All other things being equal) Very rough numbers, but does that sound in the ball park? Thank you so much for the review/response. I’m really struggling with this one and no one has either bike to demo here in SoCal. I’m leaning towards the SL for the more enduro rides I do, but I’d trade it for a couple more Downs in my short 2-3 hour riding window.
@@TheLoamWolf actually I found your power hour video at Santa’s village. I’d be curious how many laps you’d get in on the rise and Levo sl in that hour?
@@howlieboy My Rise set to 70Nm feels more powerful than a 3rd Gen Levo in Turbo I borrowed from a friend for 2 weeks. I have not lost a drag race on my Orbea against Brose, Bosch or Other EP8 motors. 85Nm feels absolutely ridiculous on the Rise due to its power to weight. I’ve done 24mi, 5900’ in 3:08 moving time on the internal battery. I’ve also done 4600’ in 1:29 moving time with the range extender (60Nm). Longest ride to date is 31mi, 9200’ in 3:40 moving time with 2 range extenders. 150lb rider, and not in good shape but capable of 2000’ on an acoustic bike
@@mtbmike9866 thanks Mike! Great info. I love what you’ve done with your rise. I’m not quite as adventurous in making what I’d consider large changes (140->160) offset busting etc.
Haha. #Sponsorme www.murrayspomade.com/products/murrays-originals Stuff doesn't wash out for several days, making it zero maintenance. Hair stays put, but not hard or crunchy. soft and pliable but holds shape, cheap and a can will last you 3-4 months! Win win!
@@TheLoamWolf ya for whatever reason if I try to do it on a Rise HC, it takes me to the euro site. Might just have to settle for a base model if I can find one in town and do the upgrades myself. Kind of wanted a different color, but at this point I’m just trying to buy an e bike if I can find one in stock
It doesn't look like they offer the MyO for the Hydro build, atleast not yet. Seems like it's more of an option on the higher end builds. The struggle of finding anything right now is real, good luck in your search!
The EP8 RS ist just tuned down by software. You can easily set it to its original power of 85 Newtonmeters. Then you have a full powered lightweight bike. But then the range is melting down for sure.
Part of the reason it’s light weight though is the lower torque means standard (lighter) components are used, unleash the full power and this is no longer the case.
@@chrishurley5711 The biggest problem about using the original power of 85nm is the battery. It is made for the less power and draining so much electricity will have an big impact on the durabilty.
More power and specialised would have it but with so little juice I cant help feeling you could achieve the same experience (perhaps better) with a stumpjumper and a personal trainer. So annoying as they have nailed everything else….. maybe not reliability
Where are the reports re reliability? (Don't confuse with Turbo Levo.) I ride the SL rarely in full power mode, and it is plenty of power. I get to the top of our 4000 ft mountains and am fresh. And the short chainstays are critical. The perfect bike IMO.
@@koho prob hanging around the fb group. Seems to be more around components than motors. It was more a general comment about the brand though and I do like that they have offered 4 year warranty in response.
Had one for 20 months. The perfect bike for me. The short chainstays are critical. I do wish there was a little less whine, but don''t notice it much anymore.
sorry guys but the noise test is pure bs. so many other factors that influence the noise such as the tires. this should have been done inside in a silence room on a teststand.
Having fun with a bike shop representing Orbea at the moment, my disk has warped touching the frame in as little as 4 charges. The shop in question has been trying to say it is not a warranty item after multiple attempts to point out the warranty says otherwise in our contract. A copy of the warranty was sent from them highlighting the contradicting text, from a shop that has dealt with e-bikes for years thats a worrying sign, and customers must have at some point had the same issue them spent money unwittingly at their establishment. They also tried to say this volume of defection is normal-. I come from a mechanic-ing background and have also put 20,000 on mountain bikes in 5 years and have a good grasp of what is acceptable. Orbea stepped in on Friday and hopefully this will be sorted.
My Orbea Rise M10 is my second e-bike. My first e-bike was a 2020 YT 29er pro. It was a great bike. I'm 68 year sold and have been riding since 1983. Like many, I have lots of injuries I do a lot of pre-exercise before a ride to be limber enough to ride aggressive single-track. For the last 8 years or so, I would experience patellar knee pain both before an after riding and I experienced more discomfort, with more aggressive and longer rides over 3 hours. The Yt, with the Shimano E-8000 motor seemed to aggravate it even more. It felt like I was peddling against the motor and weight of the bike, especially in the eco mode.
Learning about the Orbea Rise and the RS (Rider Synergy), I decided to buy a M10. What a difference. My knee pain went away! Just what I wanted. The frame on this bike is amazingly stiff and yet comfortable. It is easily the best trail bike I have owned (I 've owned 16 MTB's over the years). I've put over 1400 miles on it since April, 2021. Its been absolutely flawless.
I'm thinking about buying an M10 as well. I have left knee and left hamstring pain, so I need a great bike to help relieve the pain. An M10 may be the answer!
That’s so cool, Paul. I’m an xc racer, 45 years old but some unexpected health issues have me looking at ebikes for a year or so.
@@jaymueller2418 does "unexpected health issues" mean you got the Jab ?? One rider from our club has major heart issues "coincidentally" after getting the jab .. Several excellent riders just stopped coming to the weekly rides and we have no idea if they are even alive. All this post C19 push. I have no idea what percentage got the jab.
@@JustMe-vx7yt dang thats crazy.. glad i would never let the govt tell me how to live.. bad enough they had us stop working and i lost everything cause of it... this world is gettin scarier by the day!!! i think its time mother nature did a cleanse to the planet.. human race has gotten to be more toxic then ever.. so fuc... sad man
Orbea Rise's almost double power for a similar range and weight of the SL is what did it for me when I made the purchase decision couple of months ago. The specification versus price value was also a very clear differentiator. As an older, heavier guy (58 and 220 lb's) riding in a mode 2 it surprisingly gives me a similar range to a number of full fat bikes. I'm left well behind on boost mode belting up the fire trails but climbing up regular trails in eco or trail mode I'm more than keeping up with others with similar age, weight and fitness constraints on full powered ebikes.
Thanks for sharing Craig.
I have an SL, practically never use full power. Be aware, the shorter chainstays make a *huge* difference.
58 male seems to be the demographic for electric bikes 2 reasons you can afford if you did anything other than a min wage job in your life. Also your fat and out of shape. You did not say how tall you are so assuming 5'9 avg american - you are 50-60 lbs overwieght watch NFL and drink beer all week end. Americans - hahahahaha the joke of the world
Nice review. I bought the SL expert about 18 months ago. There is nothing stock left on the bike- XT 4 piston brakes are great. 160 Pike Ultimate, DPX2 w/ cascade link have transformed it into an ultra hover bike beast. Power is enough for me. I have a '21 Stumpy S-Works when I want a poppy, nimble ride.
The Rise is a great bike too.
I was looking for exactly this comparison test and it answered almost all my questions. After I have first fully set on the Levo SL I must now admit to myself that I have paid too much attention to the brand name Specialzed. I will now look for a dealer where I can test ride the Rise M20 once. Thank you for the great test and many greetings from Ruhrpott in Germany.
Owned both bikes, Rise wins every time simply due to 60nm v’s 35nm. Rise is also a much more engaging ride with the synergy set up. Surprised how Specialised are getting future sales since launch of Rise as the additional torque is so noticeable so you can ride with FF riders you would not be able to keep up with SL
I recently tried out both……
Ride both on the lower settings and kind of forget about the motors to see if you like the bikes handling and geo. That’s probably why the SL still sells……….Also I’ve ridden one recently (I don’t ride like the guys in the videos do.) I do more flow trails and single track that switches back-and-forth tightly at slower speeds. The longer slacker bike (Rise) doesn’t really do me. And the steeper seat tube angle (Rise) isn’t really needed as much because of the motor. I did notice the shorter chainstay (SL) feeling great.
One thing to think about is the Levo SL climbing on the lowest setting (eco) will be climb faster than the best short travel 29er ( Ibis Ripley). With that said, the SL is very much a powerful E bike. Another thing to think about is none of these bikes really go in turbo, you can’t really use them in turbo a lot, plus it’ll wear the hell out of your power train if you do as well as burn the battery. Nobody ever talks about chains breaking in the back country, just motor failure. These things are kind of hidden. These bikes live in eco and trail mode mostly . Judge then on this power setting to see what is really needed.
Personally I’d go for a full sized Ebike for muddy days and just not caring about weight and using the power as an E bike full on. Treat it as a different animal. As far as 90% of the usage I would get one of these lighter newer iterations. My .02
Funny, torque does not matter to me since I rarely ride the SL in full power mode. And it handles far better with the short chainstays. Why not go for a full power e bike?
@@koho All these bikes are mainly used in Eco or Trail anyway, used in full power will break chains and wear out the drivetrain fast, it should only be used sparingly or commuting. With that said, they are all fairly similar using realistic power modes.
I Had a Turbo Levo, it was my first E-bike. I thought that using a lighter wheels set and reducing the power would make it the perfect E-bike, and pretty much an SL. While the wait was cut down, it still didn't feel right.
The SL was about 6lbs lighter and just turned in tighter slower conditions better, was also easier on those tech single tracks that are steep and rutty where you are lifting the back tire and sort of inching .
The worst thing was the Turbo Levo had motor drag bad after 20mph, which on flow trails absolutely SUCKED!!,
I think the full power E-bike like a Turbo Levo should just be left big and burly, and be used on wet muddy sort of days, or as a commuter, or maybe something to facilitate an older or person with injury. I sold mine and never looked back .
@@koho are you working for specialized?
I have a Rise, and love it. My decision came down to the Rise, and the Levo SL. Ultimately I went with the Rise because of the value. I went with the M20, as I felt I could upgrade the components, as I wanted to, and applied the saving to a trip to Bentonville to break it in. Great bike for that area.
what's the weight of m20?
Given that there’s a new gen 2 levo sl now for a similar price, would you still go for the rise? A year later.
Spot on vid guys.
I have both bikes. I think the only downside to the rise is wheels like u said and the rear shock.
I changed my wheels to a high end carbon set. The Rise is much more sporty to ride. I also feel the SL is strangely short in the reach..size L.
Also for me I think it’s a must to put a display on the bike…easy to fix 🤙🏽
Nice riding!
Right on
Thanks Gents. Great review. I recently got a Levo SL, and agree that it felt very "planted," not snappy enough. Made a few upgrades to shed some pounds, AND flipped the suspension "chip" into the "high" position. Now it's a much snappier, responsive ride, and it gets off the ground easier.
Thanks for sharing your input! really cool to hear that Gano. Congrats on the new bike.
I had an Orbea Wild FS and wanted something more nimble and made me really spin the pedals. I found a RISE M-TEAM spec that might be a little overkill for my riding skill but it's a beautiful bike and crazy fun to ride.
I have the Rise M20, threw a Marzocchi Z1 160mm on it with a Marzocchi 210x55 Coil and man the bike is fun. Upgraded the brakes to SRAM Code Rs because I had them on hand, would have preferred XTs. Next on my list is the wheels and then I think the bike is set. The bike is incredibly fun out of the box though and really no need for upgrades other than brakes IMO.
Well done guys. Your review is one or may be the best that I've seen so far! I'm almost 60 years old and pretty fit... I have a so called eco-bike (non engine,-)) the 2020 SL and a LEVO expert muscle ebike. And I have to say that I'm almost 90% on my SL. I like also the Orbea but unfortunately it's almost not possible to get one for a test ride. But as I know the Shimano engine very well I understand the difference to have more torque if needed. nether the less if you want to tune the bike to the max = light weight the SL seems the better base. With Magura brakes, concept wheels and XTR set up I reach 16,5kg with pedals. Of course it's not an enduro bike mode but more a marathon to all mountain bike. One more point - the noise is terrible and not matching the use as low power supported bike at all. Instead you can't hardly hear the LEVO expert ,-(((
sorry but magura brakes are a disaster.. had 3 diff sets and nothing but issues.. GL with them!!
Great video, I have an SL and sometimes I miss the power, but generaly I like also to work a bit for my downhill. With a full power emtb I wouldnt have any workout.
You haven't ridden a full power eMTB hard enough! haha
The short chainstays on the SL make a huge difference - so nimble for an e bike. I've had one for 20 months, bullet-proof, great sus, fantastic downhill (I like it better than my Evil Following).
I also went from an Evil Following to the Levo SL and thought I'd be sacrificing performance with an bike, I was definitely wrong. Especially on the downhill.
Nice vidéo, good points. Like almost all ‘reviews’ on lighter or lower powered e-bikes, you only look at the perspective of the 2 riders. Weight of the rider has a fondamental effect of the available assistance & range. Before the Rise came out I bought a Fullfat but my wife that weighs 33% less than me felt a ff was a tank and prefered an SL. We are both very happy with our choices and if one was to change it would probably be me more than her. I am of the opinion that we will probably end up with 3 power categories in the future.
You make a great point about weight, as there's a huge difference between a 54 kg rider (me) and a more typical 80 kg rider on an SL. My hybrid is a Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0, with the same motor as Specialized's eMTBs. I find it great IF you're fit, and have awesome range (140 km on gravel). Having said that, I opted for the Orbea Rise, and love the extra torque, especially as I have two profiles to play with and can fine tune them in the app to max out battery life/range.
Had the SL it’s a great bike but wanted more power. Gen 3 levo has been perfect for everything and anything .
The torque makes difference and the weight is not so low to "improve the feeling" of a "normal bike" personally I like a bike with a responsive motor and a weight that gives stability and optimal response from suspension, why pay more to have less?
Great review as usual. Now to compare them both to the new Trek mid power bike !
I like the new aluminum Rise, because of the lower cost, larger battery, and less janky electronics (battery display). I think the amount of power the Rise has is at the sweet spot for most riders and that is what the Specialized need to boost. Id like to see a future software update to get the Rise up to higher power (at the cost of battery life which is OK). I'd be fine with full power for just 3 hours as an option.
Great review guys!
I heard Orbea is launching in 22' an Aluminium version of the Rise with a 504kWh battery to compensate for the extra weight...! Heard anything?
I chose the Rise M10 to complement my Ripmo and Trek Rail. Ended up loving the rise more than my Rail and my Rail has been collecting dust. I was considering the Levo SL but with plenty of publicized motor issues and the fact that the Rise has almost twice the torque of the SL for nearly the same weight just sold me. Also to mention I also felt that there was something a bit off on the bigger jumps on the rise, I was thinking about getting a set of We Are Ones for it. I am ordering immediately since you guys also thought it was the wheels.
I think you mean motor issues with the Turbo Levo, not the SL, which is a different motor. Just did a search, bupkis - do you have a source? I'm interested since I have an SL and it has been bulletproof for 20 months, with heavy abuse, river crossings, etc.
@@koho He is not answering. It is aleady four months.
whats with this it dont jump right thing?? i really liked everything ive been hearing but im an airborne addict so if this is truly an issue then this the rise truly is not my thing.. please lmk if u get chance what it is thats making everyone say its good bike except for big jumps
Don't think you can go wrong with either. I owned a levo SL at one time but sold
it cause it was getting in the way of some fitness goals I had set for myself. Just rode it to much. It was a blast though. The lower power/battery concept is perfect for a lot of riders including me. And yes, it took a bit to set in the brakes but they eventually started working fine
Haha! Just rode it too much. Best ad Specialized could ask for. Same experience here. I got an SL and ride - literally - twice as much as with my Evil Following.
I have the rise M20, totally stock and love it! I've ridden it on crazy steep DH trails, jump trails, drops and it handles everything. Only thing I dont like is I have a XL and the seat tube height is way to high and can get in the way on really steep terrain even with the seat slammed as low as possible, otherwise awesome bike.
When you say that you have an XL and the seat tube height is way too high, how tall are you? If I'm 6'1, do you think that an XL or an L would be best?
@@mesabman I'm 6'2" and it's weird that the seat tube is so high, on steep rollers I have a hard time getting behind the seat when the seat is slammed as far down as it can go without getting caught up a little, but other than that the bike feels great! I guess I have long arms so the xl reach works well, but I wish the seat tube was shorter by about 1".
@@MTBzine does yours have a 175 dropper? And if so, is it slammed?
I’ve taken a gamble and ordered a 200 fox transfer to replace the oc2, as it was on sale for a good price. Couldn’t find anywhere whether it would fit.
@@lachburgers my XL came with a 170mm dropper and it's slammed as far down it can go into the seat tube.
@@MTBzine thanks mate.
Appreciate the reply.
Great video guys, Rise v SL the 2 most popular choices. I have the Levo but originally wanted the Rise (back order) but I am still happy with the Levo. I would have likeed the 60 NM though. I have the Fox 36 and Code Brakes.
Thanks for sharing!
Been waiting for this one ever since the accidental upload :D
As a Levo SL owner and bicycle mechanic for over a decade I agree with pretty much everything that was said. I ride a Expert model of which pretty much nothing is left but the wheels and frame. The brakes went first. Terrible spec.
Really like what they did with the 2021 models and specs. 35mil cockpit, 36 Performance Elite and DPX2 in exchange for a set of carbon wheel is kinda fair imo. But it might struggle with squirliness mentioned for the orbea a little bit then.
Clocked around 9k km now, bikepark laps and big mountain EWS stages including and it takes it all. Was really cautious at first but not need for it. Would love a software update to maybe 50Nm if the motor can handle and I'd be fully satisfied
So an Orbea rise would be about perfect for you?
Welp…I just scratched the LevoSL off my list. Great review 👍
Appreciate you watching and glad you got some useful info.
I have both (couple of days) , i have a custom spec 17,2kg SL (large) which now belongs to the wife . and now i have on the way a Rise M10 with a few upgrades MT7 , XX1 , Roval SL Carbon wheels ..should be around 17.8kg (large)
Give us an update? please .. thoughts, impressions What you like, dislike and would do different to get best bike and save money.
More power means More Fun. That being said, I still find myself riding with 40nm (Tour+) on my Trek Rail, rather than the 85nm in the higher settings. But, on the fire roads, it's Turbo all the way. Oh yah!
Thanks for sharing Howie
Very nice review guys! Another major issue for me is that that there is only one (1) Orbea dealer within 25 miles of my home (Reno/Sparks/Truckee/Lake Tahoe area). The next Orbea dealer is over 100 miles away (Sacramento). Whereas, there are six (6) Specialized dealers within the same area (all within 25 miles/half within 15 miles). Having the convenience of so many Specialized dealers was enough for me to go Specialized. Lastly, the 35 nm motor in my Levo SL is still enough for me at age 73 considering that my power levels are normally set to 35/60/80. Cannot remember when I used a 100% Turbo mode last in the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding my home...maybe had 35/70/100 on its first day out...and changed it.
Thanks and dealer support is definitely a big issue for some folks Bill. Always appreciate responses that help us think of other important things for consumers!
@@TheLoamWolf Hi again. Noting how many good comparisons you had in this video, I took the time to watch it a second time and focused on the SL's braking. One question...What brakeset would you put on the Levo SL?
Will be interesting to revisit this when the new SL comes out
Indeed it will!
I demoed the Rise for two days. It had Enve wheels and I can tell you it was solid on steep fast DH runs down Mud Springs in AF canyon. I weigh 205 and could get about 3200 feet of climbing on profile 2 (more power).
I’ve also riden the Levo SL at Kenuga bike park. The power is undewelming and the geo on that bike is out of date. In my mind the Rise is a much better bike all around and I’m a fan of specialized. They need to update the levo SL.
Thanks for sharing!
I bought an Orbea Rise M10 with the Vault hub. After 8mths and limited rides I was getting a loud pinging noise from the rear hub. On inspection I found that the teeth on the Vault hub were rounded along with the pawls. Clearly the hub is not fit for purpose on an ebike and I do not understand why Orbea are fitting standard mtb components on ebikes!!!
The loads incurred on an ebike rear hub are massive compared to that of a conventional bike. So at considerable expense (£450) I have changed out my rear hub to DT Swiss who actually make ebike compatible hubs.
Soon as Orbea announced the hydro put down a deposit on the H15!
I have an M10 Occam and M10 Rise. Identical apart from wheels and rear shock. (dpx2 (biggest spacer) Vs Float x) and I feel like its the Float X that massively improves the rise. Ive only had the rise 2 weeks but the occam will be for sale soon i feel
Sad but true... Our dream analog bikes just collect dust these days.
Great video. This kind of vid is always interesting and super cool to get your view on it. I have a Rise myself, and I made some upgrades that you also mentioned (like wheelset). It rides like a dream. But what would really cool and interesting is if you made a vid about the first super light long travel emtb that isn't the kenevo SL. It is possible to transform the Rise into 160/160 without changing the geo negatively. That means a 27.5 in the back, a 216*63 rear shock and a reduced offset bushing, and a 160 air shaft in the fork. Please make it happen :)
I have a Rise with that exact set up, 170mm Lyrik Ultimate up front, and 8.5x2.5, Fox DPX2 with an offset rear bushing, and 27.5 out back and it's a blast everywhere.
@@theedmondsept very cool. I want to make this build myself as I have a spare set of 27.5 wheels and I would just switch from 160/160 mullet to 29" 150/140 depending on the day! Awesome you did it! But doesn't 170 front lift the BB a bit too much?
@@TeamCykelhold No problem on the BB, In my opinion, the front feels great with the 170mm either way, up or down. My friend has the stock Rise with 150/140 same sized large frame as mine, and I'm so happy I did the upgrade, it's basically an enduro spec bike now and it handles most of what I put it through, and that's enough for me
@@theedmondsept Sounds so rad. I just have to do the same after hearing that, although I might keep it at 160 front so I can change between mullet and 29 without faffing with the fork air shaft every time.
@@TeamCykelhold Trust me, you won't be disappointed with this setup, and I wouldn't be surprised if Orbea comes out with an updated Rise with more rear travel like mine and call it something else, but I call mine "Rise Mx"
8:22 If you`re riding double diamond and enduro, Orbea have the other e-mtb for that, the Orbea Wild.
Testing both models, the LEVO SL is much more reassuring with jumps and in very steep slopes.
Yes, agreed! The Levo SL is just such a well balanced bike, and feels closer to an analog bike than anything else I've ridden.
Great vidz. Would love to try this Orbea. Especially now that I'm riding my full fat on Eco mode most of the time.
Orbea it is... I'm sold!
Power, Sporty, Lightweight= all Rise
Man that Rise is so sick! I hope the drop a 170mm version!!!
You can mod the Rise to a 160/160 mullet. Slackens it to 64 degrees. Looks amazing.
@@derekhemmes my savings account did not need to know that....
@@fullpullmtb mine is 162mm rear, 170mm fork, mullet, 63.8 deg HT. 27.5 Carbon or stiffer alloy rear wheel really helps
ruclips.net/video/NBD9WB91654/видео.html
@@derekhemmes How is the handling with the geo change? I read that a guy did a 170f/ 160r coil with a mullet config and was really happy with it.. extended the wheel base and steepened the headtube angle
@@_Jake.From.Statefarm_ I LOVE it! I'm so much more comfortable on the steeps & jank, and I feel more stable at speed. I posted a full review on my channel (seach "I Do Blues" and/or "Orbea Rise Enduro").
I prefer to Rise to the occasion 💪
For your review, can you specify the exact Rise model and the exact Levo SL model? Thx.
Great review as always
Thanks for watching
Just curious, I know a lot of people like the Specialized motor (regardless of the power output etc) how did the rise's motor feel in comparison? As a lot of people, I think you guys included were sold on it for the Levo/Kenevo right away.
Interesting what you said about the wheels! I changed mine to carbon the day I got it because I wanted to shave some more weight from my M20, sounds like that was a good decision 😅 so far really enjoying it, the battery seems to last forever, I'm going further than I ever did with my previous 625wh Bosch bike and enjoying it much more due to how light it is. My other bike been a specialized Enduro, the shorter travel of the rise is something I really enjoy. If they make a 160/150 specialized with a tad more power and low weight, I can see both bikes been sold for one of those, the integration on new specialized bikes is leagues ahead of its competitors now
What wheels did you get?
Awesome video, where all did you test? I can spot at least Sandy ridge, great that you took these down Johnnys, most reviews I've seen only focus on DH tracks and neglect jumping all together.
Thanks John! We rode Sandy, some other nearby trails, quite a lot of riding in Bend on some rough and rocky desert trails as well.
@@TheLoamWolf Nice, definitely considering one of these two as a new dad and this is where I'd take them, and then use my normal for bigger spots in tillamook SF thrilly and BR. Would you choose these lighter ones over a full power E-bike for that mentality?
My sl expert is damn nice, but yes, wish it had more power. I'm 6'2" and 235 lbs. It is even worst for me.
I swear, Orbea must have a mole inside Specialized corporate, because they often take specialized concepts, refine them and release souped up models a year or two later after Specialized. See braced frame borrowed from the Stumpy, the SL concepts and now even the in frame storage bit. I think it's great for the customers, but Spesh must be fuming!
I own the SL and I'm happy as hell with the bike. The cool thing is that Specialized offer alloy models for these bikes, which makes the more accessible. But also the fact that you can rail them on aggressive, chunky descends is a huge plus. I think having an eMTB that's not great for self-shuttling in aggressive terrain kind of misses the point. And the short chainstay means that it still works for navigating tight, techy terrain as well.
Also, on the brakes issue, my SL Comp game with Guide REs which are not amazing, but definitely up to the job of slowing the bike down.
From what I hear SL is doing fine sales wise. It has lots of advantages over the Rise, the main lesser being lower torque. But I don't even ride the SL in highest mode except rarely. The short chainstays are everything. It's the perfect E bike IMO, except would like a little less motor whine.
The bikes for those who hate ebikes but slowly are going to regret and don't want others know about it 😁
Hahaha. if we just ride passed those guys they won't tell we're on ebikes since we called them lame mopeds last year...😂
I like most fell into that anti at one time until I found myself not riding due to my ailing knee/knees. Then one demo on the SL opened my eyes to the fact that it takes just enough pressure off my knees when the climbs get steep. Not to mention that you can clean steep and techy climbs that you're walking on your pedal bike. Then the Rise came out and the dilemma started. In short I bought the Rise and I'm more than stoked.
Did you experiment with changing volume spacers in the Rise at all to tweak the suspension progression?
which model/builds of each were you riding? What was the acutal weight
5:50 did you know that 3dB difference is twice the loudness? Loudness is logarithmic. So orbea is noticibly louder…
SL does have that shorter chainstay and on slower single track ( where I ride ) the SL would ride better on those switch back like moderate up hill/down hill where excessive power is not needed
I own an SL, and yes, the short chainstays make it as nimble as is probably possible for an e-bike. And bullet proof for 20 months and 3400 km. Great bike all around.
@@koho I think that Geo should be the first thing when comparing these bikes and the motor second, a lot of people look at the motor first. Also look at where do you ride?
My thoughts.............
The Rise could be said to be the best bike , but when you just ride these on eco and trail the power difference is not all that much more unless really going for turbo which will cut battery life and really is not going to be used. The Levo Sl on just Eco can feel like the fastest short travel 29er climbing and that is something to be said about all this motor power stuff. The short chain stay makes it more realistic at slower speeds to me, and if going to a bike park and down hilling all day the Levo SL can feel less likely to get pinged off the rocks . Reliability from a strong co. like Specialized is somewhat nice as well. I think comparing the geo first is the most important thing, not the motor.
I would own a full fat (Trek Rail) and a Levo SL (used) for the price of the Rise . My.02
Hi guys, can y please test new Giant and Rocky M
We have the new Rocky, stay tuned.
I am interested in a Specialized TURBO LEVO SL COMP which has the 320wh motor and presumably the low 35nm torque output. I don't do technical climbs or mega downhill stuff. Mainly I ride tracks and trails and some quiet lanes here in rural France. Is this bike going to be sufficient for a 64yr old duffer like me?
Hi guy I think the biggest question is what battery last longer?
That's really tough based on which power mode and terrain. The Orbea is a larger battery, so all things equal, that will last longer.
How much different is the weight on the Rise based on trim level? I'm not sure if they used the M20, M10, etc in this video - but, for example, is the M10 lighter?
Just curious of ur same tests but trying the Forestal Siryon or Cyon what ur takes may be?
Might have to drive 4 hours there and 4 hours back, just to demo a carbon one. I want to order a h15 the aluminum one, but I am not sure what size? My yt decoy I'm xxl, stumpjumper I'm s5, my Gen 2 levo and levo sl I'm xl. I'm 6'2" tall. How tall are you and what do you guys think for me.
Another solid video, loving the moped coverage 😉
Surely the SL is due an update soon? Any news/rumours lads?
Haha...mo-peds equal mo-fun! We don't have sensitive egos here.
We did reach out to Specialized prior to this review coming out and did not get any official or unofficial word, however based on tone of conversation, and my own hopes, I think something is coming...
@@TheLoamWolf Haha nor should you, ebikes are awesome! I will definitely get one to go along side my normal bikes. I don’t get the ebike hate, most of the haters are happy to get a in a chairlift/truck to get up the hill but ebikes are “cheating”?! 🤷🏼♂️😂
Interesting… I love the SL concept but the current one just seems a bit left behind now. If Spesh come out with an updated SL that is to the Stumpy Evo what the Kenevo SL is to the Enduro, they can take my money.
I want a Rise so bad. Can't seem to find the base model in a large anywhere though.
Which one would u prefer, Orbea Rise or the Fezzari Wire Peak Pro?
Any "hacks" to do for Rise? foam for motor etc?
The best bike... Is the one you ride all the time until you become like one.
This is hardly a test if you change-out the stock fork on the bloatedly priced Levo SL? What gives and Y R these bikes priced more than a new 2022 Honda CRF450? Nonetheless, I own an Levo SL.
It is a test. Haha. But as we said, the model we received came with a 34 as it was one of the first Levo SL's out. Since then Specialized has updated their offerings and they now sell a Levo SL with a 36, so we changed that particular bike, but not to something that a consumer can't buy direct from Specialized in their Levo SL lineup... As far as price and value go, we believe we addressed that pretty well in this review.
@@TheLoamWolf Thx. I hv a 22' SL comp with 34 forks. Lowest of the 4 Levo SL's. Only the top 2 come with the 36 fork. Seems you're testing the Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon. Specialized nomenclature is confusing at best. Am still waiting for a video re. insane bicycle prices generally. Way more expensive than MX.
The fit and finish of the Orbea rise and their US customer support is abysmal
Why don't you compare a gen 3 levo vs. Rise. I hear all over how great each one is. Also hear how much better it is than the sl.
How are the two bikes say on a downtown Calgary or LA bike trail, I do ride some rough stuff but I'm coming 60 so I'm not out to go racing on the mountains down hill. I'm considering purchasing a Rise h30 to ride with my wife and family at our cabin on rough dirt hard pack , broken asphalt and some sandy stuff. Then the city for regular groomed bike trails around the city's. La and Calgary. This would be a good ad on for your reviews. Not all of us want to race break neck on mountain down hills. If you could expand your review to cover these other task's that would be wonderful. Love the channel otherwise. R
Thanks for the feedback and we definitely get to cover all bases. Those bikes would certainly be fine for that type of riding! Tire selection will be a good area to look at to maximize comfort on the rod bits and not wear out too quickly on asphalt but still give the traction desired when off roading.
@@TheLoamWolf Thanks guys. Well thanks to your review I did go purchase the Rise H30 20mph, orange and black back at the end of June 2022. I have now ridden it all summer on all kinds of terrain including downtown bike paths along the bow river and basically everywhere. I could not be happier with the bike, the battery and power are amazing. You can ride it for hours and it still had 5 bar's battery. Only one day back in Aug we left at 7 am and by 3 pm getting home I was down to 2 bars left after so many hours of riding I could not believe it, we did 150 km's total that day. Now that the season is coming to a close up in Canada winter will be arriving soon, but its been an amazing summer for weather for Motorcycles and Biking around Alberta and Saskatchewan where I live. Now comes the question, what do I do with the RISE H30 battery for the sleeping season of Nov 2022 till June 2023? How should I leave the battery in my rise so I don't hurt it. Maybe you could link an article that you guys did on this question or if you don't have one maybe that would be a good new video for you to cover. Anyway thanks again. Reg Riemer
There are rumors of an alloy framed rise
Which model Rise? There are more than one.
Is the Kenevo sl better than both?
How much faster uphill (in same mode) is the rise than the Levo sl on for example a 500 ft fire road climb with an average gradient of 12%. Are we taking seconds or minutes?
500 vertical feet? over what distance? If you are climbing a hill that's over 5 minutes, i think the time difference could approach 1 minute, and at 8-10 min you could be over 1 min i think... On shorter hills you're talking seconds, but if you look at the difference in a 1/4mile drag race vs a marathon, .2 seconds or 2 seconds can be huge.
@@TheLoamWolf thanks! 500ft In just under 1 mile, which takes me about 15 minutes on my analog bike at just under 4 mph. If I understand you correctly and say I was climbing 2500 ft at a 10% incline = 4.73 miles, the RISE would be around 7 minutes faster? (All other things being equal) Very rough numbers, but does that sound in the ball park? Thank you so much for the review/response. I’m really struggling with this one and no one has either bike to demo here in SoCal. I’m leaning towards the SL for the more enduro rides I do, but I’d trade it for a couple more Downs in my short 2-3 hour riding window.
@@TheLoamWolf actually I found your power hour video at Santa’s village. I’d be curious how many laps you’d get in on the rise and Levo sl in that hour?
@@howlieboy My Rise set to 70Nm feels more powerful than a 3rd Gen Levo in Turbo I borrowed from a friend for 2 weeks. I have not lost a drag race on my Orbea against Brose, Bosch or Other EP8 motors. 85Nm feels absolutely ridiculous on the Rise due to its power to weight.
I’ve done 24mi, 5900’ in 3:08 moving time on the internal battery. I’ve also done 4600’ in 1:29 moving time with the range extender (60Nm). Longest ride to date is 31mi, 9200’ in 3:40 moving time with 2 range extenders.
150lb rider, and not in good shape but capable of 2000’ on an acoustic bike
@@mtbmike9866 thanks Mike! Great info. I love what you’ve done with your rise. I’m not quite as adventurous in making what I’d consider large changes (140->160) offset busting etc.
What is the name of the product in your hair? Most interesting question 🙂
Haha. #Sponsorme www.murrayspomade.com/products/murrays-originals
Stuff doesn't wash out for several days, making it zero maintenance. Hair stays put, but not hard or crunchy. soft and pliable but holds shape, cheap and a can will last you 3-4 months! Win win!
You upped the Fork to a 36, 150 or 160 on the SL?
160 36.
Is the MyO customizable feature available to US customers?
They do, but I'm sure inventory is gonna play a big part in availability.
@@TheLoamWolf ya for whatever reason if I try to do it on a Rise HC, it takes me to the euro site. Might just have to settle for a base model if I can find one in town and do the upgrades myself. Kind of wanted a different color, but at this point I’m just trying to buy an e bike if I can find one in stock
It doesn't look like they offer the MyO for the Hydro build, atleast not yet. Seems like it's more of an option on the higher end builds. The struggle of finding anything right now is real, good luck in your search!
@@TheLoamWolf ya that’s pretty much what I’ve gathered. I’m gonna check the LBS’s around me to see what they have
have you tested Santa Cruz eBikes?
Yes we have tested a few of them.
@@TheLoamWolf please compare to the Orbea Rise (carbon and alum)?
the 2022 SC Heckler vs. the Orbea Rise is of particular interest. Also, have you tested Husqvarna Hard Cross 7?
I’d like to know how far apart the Rise is from a full powered bike like the Rail, Levo, or new Altitude. Are you getting left immediately?
The EP8 RS ist just tuned down by software. You can easily set it to its original power of 85 Newtonmeters. Then you have a full powered lightweight bike. But then the range is melting down for sure.
Part of the reason it’s light weight though is the lower torque means standard (lighter) components are used, unleash the full power and this is no longer the case.
@@chrishurley5711 The biggest problem about using the original power of 85nm is the battery. It is made for the less power and draining so much electricity will have an big impact on the durabilty.
Can you rip through tight single track fast on one of these?
Yes absolutely
My sl would be perfect if it had 50 nm 's !
What wheels do you have on the Orbea Rise (in this test)?
Ours was spec'd with Race Face Turbine R 30
Here's my Rise with some upgrades , at Summit bike park in So. Cal
ruclips.net/video/YcKe_fTDzys/видео.html
More power and specialised would have it but with so little juice I cant help feeling you could achieve the same experience (perhaps better) with a stumpjumper and a personal trainer. So annoying as they have nailed everything else….. maybe not reliability
Specialized should realize there is no market for a 30nm bike, they lost me as a client, My Custom Rise LTD (no paint) will be here in januari.
Where are the reports re reliability? (Don't confuse with Turbo Levo.) I ride the SL rarely in full power mode, and it is plenty of power. I get to the top of our 4000 ft mountains and am fresh. And the short chainstays are critical. The perfect bike IMO.
@@koho prob hanging around the fb group. Seems to be more around components than motors. It was more a general comment about the brand though and I do like that they have offered 4 year warranty in response.
I considered the Rise til I saw a video on battery change. No thanks.
Specialized much noisy hi pitch motor &way over price ,also under power.too much a hype when they were introduced.
Had one for 20 months. The perfect bike for me. The short chainstays are critical. I do wish there was a little less whine, but don''t notice it much anymore.
sorry guys but the noise test is pure bs. so many other factors that influence the noise such as the tires. this should have been done inside in a silence room on a teststand.
Having fun with a bike shop representing Orbea at the moment, my disk has warped touching the frame in as little as 4 charges.
The shop in question has been trying to say it is not a warranty item after multiple attempts to point out the warranty says otherwise in our contract. A copy of the warranty was sent from them highlighting the contradicting text, from a shop that has dealt with e-bikes for years thats a worrying sign, and customers must have at some point had the same issue them spent money unwittingly at their establishment. They also tried to say this volume of defection is normal-.
I come from a mechanic-ing background and have also put 20,000 on mountain bikes in 5 years and have a good grasp of what is acceptable.
Orbea stepped in on Friday and hopefully this will be sorted.
And you’re not exactly a clydesdale, right ?
Throw the rotor in the trash and get a 200mm rotor. 180mm is unacceptable