Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy – In our big 2024 eMTB comparison test under € 7,000

Specialized have become a part of the furniture in the e-mountainbiking household, having created one of the sector’s undisputed best-sellers, the Turbo Levo. Last year, the Levo secured the coveted Best Buy badge in our budget comparison test. Will it make it onto the podium for the second year running?

When you talk about eMTB stuff with your riding mates over a pint, it never takes long for the Specialized name to come up. The American bike colossus has been an integral part of our industry since 1974 and has set plenty of new standards with many of their bikes, including the 2015 Turbo Levo. For our latest comparison test under € 7,000, we picked the best Turbo Levo model we could get within the constraints of the budget. Retailing at € 6,400, the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy is the second cheapest competitor in this test. For your money, you’ll get a 90 Nm Specialized 2.2 Custom Rx Trail Tuned motor and a 700 Wh battery. For improved handling, Specialized gave the Turbo Levo a mullet haircut, which combines a 29″ front wheel with a smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear. As usual, the Levo follows Specialized’s proprietary S-Sizing concept (S1 to S6) and features a flip chip in the shock mount which, together with the adjustable headset cups, allows you to fine tune the geometry of the bike. Our test bike in size S4 tips the scales at 23.7 kg, which makes it the lightest eMTB in the entire group test, despite its aluminium frame. Read the full review to find out how it fared against the competition.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 under € 7,000 – 5 affordable models in our comparison test

Looks like a Levo! What sets the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy apart from the competition?

With its harmonious, curved frame silhouette and semi-enclosed shock, the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy is distinctly recognisable as a Specialized. The weld seams are visible, but discreetly concealed under the dark Satin Midnight Shadow paint finish, which makes them pop out a lot less than with the MERIDA. Despite being very close to entering its third generation, the Specialized Turbo Levo still looks sleek and modern. The only detail that might look slightly old-fashioned against the competition is the bulky bottom bracket area. Particularly striking is the Harvest Gold Metallic paint finish and lettering on the side of the down tube. The cables are routed neatly in the cockpit area and disappear into the frame through conventional cable ports on the frame.

The Specialized MasterMind TCU display is integrated into the top tube, directly behind the headset. This makes it one of only two bikes in this test with a full display, alongside the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 875, though Specialized offer the more neatly integrated solution. The MasterMind TCU offers a good overview of the motor system and shows all essential riding data, including battery charge status, speed, current support level and other information. At the heart of the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy sits Specialized’s in-house 2.2 Custom Rx Trail Tuned motor, which delivers 90 Nm of torque and provides up to 410% assistance. That’s the most torque of any of the motors in the entire test field. In our big eMTB motor test, you’ll find an overview of all the current eMTB drive systems.
The motor draws its power from a 700 Wh Specialized M3-700 battery, which is integrated into the bike’s down tube. This can be charged both on and off the bike using the double-sealed charging port, which is positioned right at the front of the motor and is protected from dirt and moisture by an additional plastic cover. For external charging, you’ll have to reach for your tool box because, unfortunately, the cheaper alloy version doesn’t feature the SWAT tool in the steerer tube which you get with the higher-end Levo models. To remove the battery, just take a 6 mm Allen key, loosen the bolt at the bottom of the down tube, disconnect the connector between the motor and battery, and pull the battery out from the bottom of the frame.

Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain. For the wheels, Specialized rely on their in-house Roval Traverse alloy wheelset, consisting of a bigger 29″ rim at the front and smaller 27.5″ rim at the rear. The wheels are paired with 2.6″ Specialized tires, with a Butcher in the softer T9 rubber compound at the front and an Eliminator in the harder T7 compound at the rear. This combination provides better traction at the front while at the same time ensuring lower rolling resistance and a longer service life at the rear. Both tires come in the GRID Trail casing, which should offer sufficient puncture protection for most riders.

FOX supply the suspension, consisting of a 160 mm 36 Rhythm fork and matching 150 mm FLOAT X Performance shock, which both offer excellent adjustability and deliver a solid performance on the trail. SRAM CODE R four-piston brakes with a 220 mm rotor at the front and 200 mm disc at the rear provide reliable and powerful deceleration.

Tuning tip: If Specialized are too stingy to include a SWAT tool, then why not try the competition: you could go for OneUp’s EDC tool, or Bontrager’s Bits tool.

Carefree? The Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy on the trail

The Turbo Levo Comp Alloy places you in an upright, comfortable pedalling position. On your way to the trailhead, the Specialized 2.2 Custom Rx Trail Tuned motor provides powerful assistance, propelling you over bumps and obstacles without breaking a sweat. Despite delivering more torque, Specialized’s in-house motor can’t quite keep up with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR, which might look weaker on paper but offers more usable power in real life. When the climbs get steeper, you’ll have to weight the front wheel slightly to stay on your line.

When gravity takes over, the Specialized makes you feel at ease from the get go and integrates you nicely between its wheels, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear. The Levo implements steering inputs predictably, with the intuitive handling making it an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced riders.

With its plush FOX suspension, the Levo absorbs bumps efficiently, and really irons out the trail.

When the going gets steeper and rough, the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy is reassuringly composed, with similar riding characteristics to the Propain Sresh CF and Merida eONE-SIXTY 875. On steep, demanding descents, it’s better to turn the flip-chip into the low setting, which ensures a very smooth ride. On flowing trails, on the other hand, it’s easier to pull the Levo onto the rear wheel in the higher flip chip setting, which ensures a more playful character on winding trails. If you want to alter the head angle of the Turbo Levo, you can just turn the bearing cups. Even when riding at high speeds, the Levo is as quiet as a mouse – the only noises you can hear are the tires biting into the loam.

When making your way to the trailhead on fire roads, the Specialized 2.2 Custom Rx Trail Tuned motor provides powerful assistance, allowing you to negotiate bumps and obstacles without breaking a sweat.

The SRAM CODE R brakes provide reliable and powerful deceleration, even on steep trails. The plush FOX suspension absorbs bumps with great eagerness, smoothing out the trail ahead. Overall, the Turbo Levo feels even more plush and composed than the Propain Sresh and Merida eONE-SIXTY, inspiring huge amounts of confidence and providing a soft, sofa-like ride. If you get a little too excited, you should have enough air in the rear tire to get you out of trouble, as the 2.6″ Specialized tires and smaller rear wheel quickly turn the Levo into a mean shralping machine.

Who should take a closer look at the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy and who should look elsewhere?

The Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy is a good choice if you want to switch off and ride without having to think too much. With its plush suspension and intuitive handling, the Turbo Levo almost rides by itself, doing most of the hard work for you and allowing you to focus on the trail ahead. This comes in particularly handy for beginners, who will find in the Levo a safe, confidence-inspiring gateway to the eMTB dimension. The Turbo Levo is suitable for a wide range of rider types, although sporty riders could do with a smidge more feedback, and might be therefore better off taking a closer look at the Canyon Strive ON.

Our conclusions about the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy

You can’t go wrong with the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy, which proves to be a reliable companion for most applications. Specialized have created a strong all-rounder that is suitable for both beginners and seasoned trail bums, as well as an excellent long-distance tourer. And while that’s all pretty awesome, it’s not enough to secure the podium in this year’s comparison test under € 7,000.

Tops

• Excellent trail performance for a wide range of riders and skills
• Wide area of application
• High feel-good factor
• Quiet downhill

Flops

• Little feedback for active riders
• No SWAT tool in the steerer tube

For more information, visit specialized.com

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 under € 7,000 – 5 affordable models in our comparison test

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Mike Hunger