The Lego SL is absolutely the right choice. I’ve owned mine for 9 months and have ridden it roughly 2,200 miles. I ride with my two adult son’s who ride Santa Cruz bikes. My Santa Cruz Carbon Tallboy was stolen and the reason I purchased to SL. At 70 years young I really enjoy the little bit of help with the smaller motor. I typically ride in Eco mode and occasionally switch to trail mode.
I own the levo SL and love every minute I've ridden, not once have I wished for a full version. I ride on my own and with full fat and haven't struggled
Just checked and I have over 1600 rocky Arizona desert trail miles on my Gen 2 Levo. Probably 1550 of those miles were in ECO. The bike is solid, super fun, and the weight is helpful on our hardpack rocky terrain. I really like the Levo SL and the new Kenevo SL but the regular Levo is what works best for me here.
I am 6'2" and weigh almost 200lbs. I am 65 years old and do a lot of big climbs in the Pacific Northwest. I started out with a Santa Cruz Heckler. Still have that bike but had big problems doing climbs on the bike. It was work keeping the front end down plus the E8000 motor was abrupt and would spin the tire. Also it seemed to drain the battery pretty fast. Last spring I added a Gen3 Turbo Levo Pro and that bike is a dream. Good range, big power, and the motor is so smooth it keeps traction really well. For me there is no better bike out there. The SL would be too weak for me.
Nice review Sam.i like my full power levo as it gives me all round flexibility. I generally ride it in eco which I have set as close to an analogue bike as I can,this means that when I ride with my mates on analogue bikes I am working as hard as them and they don't get pissed off with me.it also means that when I am out on my own and I find myself struggling,I know I have the power there to help me get home.also the fact that as I am now in my 50s I can still do the distance and pace that I did in my 20s.win win for me.👍👍
Sam, Thanks for the comparison. You should do a physical check on 25% gradient. I am in the Grading industry and most people WAY over estimate how steep that really is. For your own reference. I personally can barely climb a 30% Grade. One of the biggest overestimates people make. Both bikes are awesome, but very pricey. Rider weight is a bigger factor than the bike weight. Of course most want lighter, bike and body. Great insight. 👍
I have a 2020 Levo SL here in Albuquerque New Mexico. For the trails I ride, the SL is Perfect....Oak Flats trails in Tijeras, Elena Gallegos in foothills, Placitas and Los Alamos. Because I am short..5 ft 3 inches, I switched back wheel to 27.5. Best decision. Rides perfectly now. I wish Specialized would pay attention to us short people and produce a Mullet 29 front, 27 5 rear version or even full 27.5. Anyways, I love my 2020 Levo SL!
I think, if the Kenevo SL had at least 60 Nm and a slightly bigger battery and stayed at the same weight as it is now, you wouldn’t have picked the Levo! Also, do you think mulleting the regular Kenevo like Claudio Caluori did on his bike, would be the best all rounder long travel emtb?
the Orbea Rise has the best of both worlds, a 85nm motor (if you want),, that 60nm limit is just a setting, even lighter than the SL, and a bigger range extender (252 watts) and a LOT cheaper !
Not lighter at comparable build. And if you think two minutes it’s logical. Rise has a heavier motor and heavier battery… The ep8 alone is 700gr heavier than SL1.1. But sure the rise is still a nice bike. :)
@@leefunkera after 1000 km i still have. it heard it once. i have no idea why, maybe my software or my settings, or simply because i don’t move my feet around all the time ? either i spin my legs, or they are at the horizontal position, IMO there is nothing lose, it’s just the clutch engaging disengaging, from what i heard on the tapes, i ride normal mountain bike stuff, roots etc, not once did i hear anything.
99% of Australians have the front brake on the right side of the handlebar and rear brake on the left side. I thought Europe was the same but perhaps not? Maybe just the UK? USA seem to have it reversed. To me it makes sense to be the same as as a motorbike i.e. front brake on the right but I guess in the end it just comes down to what you are used to.
So, if I am a fit older gent who's been mountain biking for 30+ years but weigh 100kg what is the best option for a 50k ride with 1000meters of climbing?
Some questions 1 how does the levo feel above the speed limiter ? 2 levo or kenevo sl with range extender 3 if you ride the gen 3 in eco , what range numbers you get out the battery , plus minus Thanks mate
Hey thanks for your comment and kind works, unfortunately I can’t reply to everyone’s email but if you send the exact same email to my Instagram or Facebook I will reply in a voice message. Sam
Ok not a problem here you go, levo is fine about the limiter but SL is better, no difference between range on kenevo SL and Levo! Range in the gen 3 is about 1500-2000 meters depends on fitness
@@SamsBikes thanks for taking time to answer I want to ad a bike next to my levo sl pure for fun and blasting down again and again Best to go levo gen 3 ?
Y have a specialized turbo levo from 2019 with ohlins rear shock,?Do you like mullet ou normal for enduro ridíng?wich tyre do you recomend for mullet..
Hey Sam, what rotor setup would recommend now for this bike? I’m similar weight and height as you and will be rocking the Magura MT-7’s. Magura 200mm front & 180mm rear Storm HC rotors sufficient?
The BIGGEST difference between Levo SL and Levo Gen3, (owned both) is that the Levo Gen3 is NOT reliable. But I prefer Levo Gen3 waaaay more than Levo SL. Better in everything (except the reliability). The difference on the geometry of Gen3 Levo is outstanding.
@@nitraM321 I have owned two levos with thousands of miles and I didn't replace any motors, I am convinced it is abuse by the customer! Also I joined a few Shimano motor groups to see if I should get one instead. Shimano motors are breaking down everywhere, catastrophically, the crankshaft breaks off! and you have the danger of getting severely injured. Plus many other failures.
@@byronswogger no it's not, there is a design flaw, i SAW IT !!, there is a space between the main cog and the housing of the motor, the belt, if moved slightly just gets threaded to bits, you are just lucky, even specialized admited there was a problem, and made the belt less stretchy and heavier. i had to pay for the fourth motor, so i took the third appart, please don't spread lies, even the manufacturer agrees
@@nitraM321 your spreading the lies, if the manufacturer agreed they would have a recall! If there was this flaw, everybody's motors would fail, and I have not had any failures with two bikes and thousands of miles. But, I don't use turbo at 100% it's set to 85% so that may be why.
Yo brother! I just found your channel in the past week, great content! Only recently have I gained interest in e-bikes, and particularly in the Levo SL. It seems to hit the sweet spot between analogue and electric! I love riding my single speed hardtail up to black diamond trails so the SL will be perfect for my recovery days 😍 How has your carbon frame held up to the abuse so far? Do you use a wrap protection like Invis? If not, I’m particularly curious if your top tube or down tube has developed any nicks or scratches. This will be my first bike with a carbon frame (and most expensive bike purchase) so I don’t know what to expect! Thanks man
Hey Sam! I got the bike! 🤩🤘 Everything seems good except for the brakes! Magura MT7 ordered, but what rotors would you select now? You think the Comp model’s stock Sram Centerline 200mm front / 180mm rear good enough?
But the Levo is so dang heavy over 50lbs. and honestly that huge motor in the middle is pretty gruesome looking along with the huge diameter downtube which is typical with all full power emtb. I thought I wanted a full power bike because honestly its like a dose of adrenaline. Until I rode a light emtb for several weeks and got more fit and realize you will never get in shape by using 4x power on climbs. yea you can put it in eco mode or trail mode on climbs, but then wants the point of getting a full power bike instead of the lighter SL and put it in turbo mode on climbs?
@@afernadez2 My comment is for me killing two birds with one stone having fun and staying in shape at the same time. Some of us don’t have all that extra time.
@@CLe-cr4zp extra time?😂 bro I work 12 hour shifts at a oil refinery. Sometimes 7 days a week and I don’t miss workouts. If you want something you make time.
I dont get the bit where you have to ride with people same bike power or reduce your power for your friends , I drive a ducat v4 SP, I go out with people with less powerful bike , as I do with my mountain bike , great video still
i would say that the SL is for people that are NOT fit, but want to improve !, a normal Levo will do nothing for your health, i have my Rise since a week, my bloodpressure is already lower, and i lost 8 pounds
The Lego SL is absolutely the right choice. I’ve owned mine for 9 months and have ridden it roughly 2,200 miles. I ride with my two adult son’s who ride Santa Cruz bikes. My Santa Cruz Carbon Tallboy was stolen and the reason I purchased to SL. At 70 years young I really enjoy the little bit of help with the smaller motor. I typically ride in Eco mode and occasionally switch to trail mode.
thanks for the feedback Dan... I love both bikes alot.
why is it a better choice than the Rise ?
I own the levo SL and love every minute I've ridden, not once have I wished for a full version. I ride on my own and with full fat and haven't struggled
yo go Lee.... if you can keep up with the full-powered ebikes its the best
Just checked and I have over 1600 rocky Arizona desert trail miles on my Gen 2 Levo. Probably 1550 of those miles were in ECO. The bike is solid, super fun, and the weight is helpful on our hardpack rocky terrain. I really like the Levo SL and the new Kenevo SL but the regular Levo is what works best for me here.
Hey Rick i totally agree with you... the new Levo SL and Kenevo SL are amazing but sometimes you need the pure power of the Levo...
Riders I have just spoken to German and he is actually wanting to sell the Levo SL so if anyone is interested please let me know....
I am 6'2" and weigh almost 200lbs. I am 65 years old and do a lot of big climbs in the Pacific Northwest. I started out with a Santa Cruz Heckler. Still have that bike but had big problems doing climbs on the bike. It was work keeping the front end down plus the E8000 motor was abrupt and would spin the tire. Also it seemed to drain the battery pretty fast. Last spring I added a Gen3 Turbo Levo Pro and that bike is a dream. Good range, big power, and the motor is so smooth it keeps traction really well. For me there is no better bike out there. The SL would be too weak for me.
Yes, if you do huge climbs the regular Levo is for you. Otherwise, go SL.
14:16 holy crap good save on the beer!
hahaha i dont ever drop the beers...
Nice review Sam.i like my full power levo as it gives me all round flexibility. I generally ride it in eco which I have set as close to an analogue bike as I can,this means that when I ride with my mates on analogue bikes I am working as hard as them and they don't get pissed off with me.it also means that when I am out on my own and I find myself struggling,I know I have the power there to help me get home.also the fact that as I am now in my 50s I can still do the distance and pace that I did in my 20s.win win for me.👍👍
Appreciate the video, been sitting on the fence for a while, but now [finally] I have a nice shiny new one on order!
Sam, Thanks for the comparison. You should do a physical check on 25% gradient. I am in the Grading industry and most people WAY over estimate how steep that really is. For your own reference. I personally can barely climb a 30% Grade. One of the biggest overestimates people make.
Both bikes are awesome, but very pricey.
Rider weight is a bigger factor than the bike weight. Of course most want lighter, bike and body. Great insight. 👍
thanks for the imput Jeff...
Great video again mate really enjoyed it. Full of info and great views and also a little crash Keep up the great work
thanks champ....
Had two months on a 22 Levo and rode a Kenevo SL the other day. Felt broken. May as well have bought a normal bike.
Congratulations for the excelent review.
Thanks Paulo
If you could get your hands on the new alu Orbea rise an compare it to the full fat ebikes it would be awesome!!!
Thanks champ im so trying lets see...
I have a 2020 Levo SL here in Albuquerque New Mexico. For the trails I ride, the SL is Perfect....Oak Flats trails in Tijeras, Elena Gallegos in foothills, Placitas and Los Alamos. Because I am short..5 ft 3 inches, I switched back wheel to 27.5. Best decision. Rides perfectly now. I wish Specialized would pay attention to us short people and produce a Mullet 29 front, 27 5 rear version or even full 27.5. Anyways, I love my 2020 Levo SL!
Really good an honest review. Thanks!
I think, if the Kenevo SL had at least 60 Nm and a slightly bigger battery and stayed at the same weight as it is now, you wouldn’t have picked the Levo! Also, do you think mulleting the regular Kenevo like Claudio Caluori did on his bike, would be the best all rounder long travel emtb?
loannis mate lets see what happens in the future i personally would rather the leov over the kenevo its more versatile
the Orbea Rise has the best of both worlds, a 85nm motor (if you want),, that 60nm limit is just a setting, even lighter than the SL, and a bigger range extender (252 watts) and a LOT cheaper !
yep but 140mm its not enough for me!!!
@@SamsBikes What would you say is best lightweight ebike with 160+ travel that isn't stupid expensive? Specialised Keneno SL?
Not lighter at comparable build. And if you think two minutes it’s logical. Rise has a heavier motor and heavier battery… The ep8 alone is 700gr heavier than SL1.1. But sure the rise is still a nice bike. :)
How do you find the noise of the Rise when coasting?
@@leefunkera after 1000 km i still have. it heard it once. i have no idea why, maybe my software or my settings, or simply because i don’t move my feet around all the time ? either i spin my legs, or they are at the horizontal position, IMO there is nothing lose, it’s just the clutch engaging disengaging, from what i heard on the tapes, i ride normal mountain bike stuff, roots etc, not once did i hear anything.
17:01 - The names of the different models confuse me. Maybe because you're calling them different names in Australia.
What means "Breakes back to front" ???
99% of Australians have the front brake on the right side of the handlebar and rear brake on the left side. I thought Europe was the same but perhaps not? Maybe just the UK? USA seem to have it reversed. To me it makes sense to be the same as as a motorbike i.e. front brake on the right but I guess in the end it just comes down to what you are used to.
Is the audio being recorded by the Insta360 GO 2, or a different recording device?
Bro, your accent is killing me. 😂 Nice vid!
Thanks for showing! Have the rise against them. Thinking about getting the h15.
Thanks champ i will try and get the rise to do a long term test on...
objective as ever Sam. i guess it also comes down to price as well
Price is a big factor! AAAnd will the lower spec bikes be any good or should you just consider another brand..
Thanks Kevin
So, if I am a fit older gent who's been mountain biking for 30+ years but weigh 100kg what is the best option for a 50k ride with 1000meters of climbing?
I would say test both but i think you will love the Levo more
@@SamsBikes Thanks for the response - I was leaning that way due to the weight issue (mine, not the bikes).
Some questions
1 how does the levo feel above the speed limiter ?
2 levo or kenevo sl with range extender
3 if you ride the gen 3 in eco , what range numbers you get out the battery , plus minus
Thanks mate
Hey thanks for your comment and kind works, unfortunately I can’t reply to everyone’s email but if you send the exact same email to my Instagram or Facebook I will reply in a voice message.
Sam
Dont have fb or insta :D only bikes bikes bikes
Ok not a problem here you go, levo is fine about the limiter but SL is better, no difference between range on kenevo SL and Levo! Range in the gen 3 is about 1500-2000 meters depends on fitness
@@SamsBikes thanks for taking time to answer
I want to ad a bike next to my levo sl pure for fun and blasting down again and again
Best to go levo gen 3 ?
Haha more questions! The gen 3 is amazing I love it
Y have a specialized turbo levo from 2019 with ohlins rear shock,?Do you like mullet ou normal for enduro ridíng?wich tyre do you recomend for mullet..
Do Stumpjumper vs SL, so we can see the real world difference between Analog and Superlight.
Hey Sam, what rotor setup would recommend now for this bike? I’m similar weight and height as you and will be rocking the Magura MT-7’s. Magura 200mm front & 180mm rear Storm HC rotors sufficient?
Hey mate I’m running 203 storm rotors front and back and it’s perfect for me!
The BIGGEST difference between Levo SL and Levo Gen3, (owned both) is that the Levo Gen3 is NOT reliable. But I prefer Levo Gen3 waaaay more than Levo SL. Better in everything (except the reliability). The difference on the geometry of Gen3 Levo is outstanding.
My gen 3 is perfectly reliable. Over 600 miles of black trails. Crashes. No problems
@@byronswogger the motor is flawed, i used 4 on my gen2, yes they improved it, but it's not totaly fixed
@@nitraM321 I have owned two levos with thousands of miles and I didn't replace any motors, I am convinced it is abuse by the customer!
Also I joined a few Shimano motor groups to see if I should get one instead. Shimano motors are breaking down everywhere, catastrophically, the crankshaft breaks off! and you have the danger of getting severely injured. Plus many other failures.
@@byronswogger no it's not, there is a design flaw, i SAW IT !!, there is a space between the main cog and the housing of the motor, the belt, if moved slightly just gets threaded to bits, you are just lucky, even specialized admited there was a problem, and made the belt less stretchy and heavier. i had to pay for the fourth motor, so i took the third appart, please don't spread lies, even the manufacturer agrees
@@nitraM321 your spreading the lies, if the manufacturer agreed they would have a recall!
If there was this flaw, everybody's motors would fail, and I have not had any failures with two bikes and thousands of miles. But, I don't use turbo at 100% it's set to 85% so that may be why.
Love the track ,but don't forget your gloves 😁
Yo brother! I just found your channel in the past week, great content! Only recently have I gained interest in e-bikes, and particularly in the Levo SL. It seems to hit the sweet spot between analogue and electric! I love riding my single speed hardtail up to black diamond trails so the SL will be perfect for my recovery days 😍
How has your carbon frame held up to the abuse so far? Do you use a wrap protection like Invis? If not, I’m particularly curious if your top tube or down tube has developed any nicks or scratches. This will be my first bike with a carbon frame (and most expensive bike purchase) so I don’t know what to expect! Thanks man
Made definitely go the carbon frame in the SL bikes because of weight saving and 100% RideWrap them. You will love the Levo SL
Hey Sam! I got the bike! 🤩🤘
Everything seems good except for the brakes!
Magura MT7 ordered, but what rotors would you select now? You think the Comp model’s stock Sram Centerline 200mm front / 180mm rear good enough?
When are you bringing the Orbea Rise review?
35 nm??? Brakes back to front?
Hello Sam, where this trail is?
But the Levo is so dang heavy over 50lbs. and honestly that huge motor in the middle is pretty gruesome looking along with the huge diameter downtube which is typical with all full power emtb. I thought I wanted a full power bike because honestly its like a dose of adrenaline. Until I rode a light emtb for several weeks and got more fit and realize you will never get in shape by using 4x power on climbs. yea you can put it in eco mode or trail mode on climbs, but then wants the point of getting a full power bike instead of the lighter SL and put it in turbo mode on climbs?
There’s this thing called a gym and you can use it to get fit. I ride for fun not fitness.
@@afernadez2 My comment is for me killing two birds with one stone having fun and staying in shape at the same time. Some of us don’t have all that extra time.
@@CLe-cr4zp extra time?😂 bro I work 12 hour shifts at a oil refinery. Sometimes 7 days a week and I don’t miss workouts. If you want something you make time.
Dis try both , sl motor is way to loud and power less. I picked full power ebike!!
Yay! AnothervLevo video🤣
lol....Ive already watched 4 yt vids and i already own one to justify my purchase hahhaha
Parabéns pelo excelente conteúdo. Abraços
I dont get the bit where you have to ride with people same bike power or reduce your power for your friends , I drive a ducat v4 SP, I go out with people with less powerful bike , as I do with my mountain bike , great video still
wow
25 percent is ULTRA STEEP !!, you would have to hold on to your bike !! that looked more like 6 to 8 % max
If you love it - leave it )
You have the world's sexiest voice. Screw the bikes.... ❤
You can get the same effect as an SL by reducing the assist on the more powerful 85 NM bikes
i would say that the SL is for people that are NOT fit, but want to improve !, a normal Levo will do nothing for your health, i have my Rise since a week, my bloodpressure is already lower, and i lost 8 pounds
Or have both 😜
SL Bikes for Sure. Just Not With the mahle 🤣. So weak and sxreaming the whole time.