Update 5 January 2025: It’s been a while since our initial review of the Specialized Turbo Levo, and despite subsequent advancements, it remains a top contender for the most versatile and enjoyable electric mountain bike. You don’t have to spend a fortune on the highest-spec models to experience the thrill. We’re still impressed with the alloy version, even with its entry-level components. The combination of potent power and a brilliantly engineered frame delivers unparalleled fun and extended riding sessions.
Let’s cut to the chase: the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy is simply the best e-mountain bike I’ve ever ridden. Having owned, demoed, and borrowed numerous e-MTBs, this third-generation Turbo Levo Alloy, the most affordable in the lineup, stands out. It’s the first e-bike that truly embodies the vision of seamlessly integrating the motor and bike into a unified riding experience. Moreover, it’s built upon a fantastic foundation. The Turbo Levo essentially takes the Stumpjumper EVO mullet setup and adds a powerful motor, creating an exceptional combination. Paired with Specialized’s new Turbo Full Power System 2.2, this e-bike has me questioning if I even need a traditional mountain bike anymore. While terms like “acoustic” or “analog” don’t quite capture it, “acoustic bike” feels like the most fitting term for non-electric mountain bikes.
The base alloy model of the Specialized Turbo Levo boasts impressive specifications. It features an alloy frame with a mullet wheel configuration – a 29-inch wheel upfront and a 27.5-inch wheel in the rear. Suspension duties are handled by a RockShox 35 Silver fork offering 150mm of travel and a Rockshox Deluxe Select R shock providing 160mm of travel. The drivetrain is a SRAM Eagle mix, utilizing SX and NX components. Braking is managed by SRAM G2 four-piston brakes with 200mm rotors. A Trans X dropper post, with frame-size-specific lengths, is also included. And let’s not forget the powerhouse – a 90Nm motor fueled by a 700Wh battery. This is an immense amount of power, even for a bike that tips the scales slightly over 50 pounds, depending on the size.
But how does all this translate to the trail?
The Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy delivers a ride that is balanced and neutral, inspiring confidence across various terrains. While not designed as a dedicated downhill bike, it confidently handles black diamond trails without hesitation. It’s playful in the air, holds your chosen lines with precision, and feels agile thanks to its short chainstays. This bike is ready for exhilarating rides, yet equally comfortable for relaxed cruising.
The power delivery from the Specialized Turbo Full Power System 2.2 motor is remarkably smooth. Compared to other e-bike motors I’ve experienced, this one operates with a whisper-quiet demeanor. It doesn’t feel like a conventional mountain bike with a motor simply attached; instead, it feels like a mountain bike meticulously engineered from the ground up, with every performance aspect designed in harmony with the motor. This is likely the e-MTB vision that bike designers imagined from the outset.
Whether this concept excites you or not is a matter of personal preference. However, objectively speaking, the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy undeniably makes mountain biking significantly easier and more accessible. With a Turbo Levo in your garage, excuses for not riding become scarce. Feeling tired? That’s hardly an obstacle. Too hot outside? Not a problem for an e-bike. Unlike some bulkier e-MTBs that feel excessive unless tackling extreme terrain, the Turbo Levo Alloy mirrors the ride characteristics of a Stumpjumper, but with added ease and speed. And who wouldn’t want more fun on the trails?
When bike designers first sat down at the drawing board to imagine what e-mtbs could be, this is likely what they envisioned coming far in the future.
One of the standout qualities of the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy is its versatility and enjoyable ride even for everyday use. During a rare snow day in Marin County, California, I hopped on the Levo to climb 2,000 feet and play in the snow. On my acoustic bikes, this would be a demanding afternoon endeavor. On the Levo, it became a quick lunchtime escape. If a guest needs a bike for a casual town cruise alongside my e-cargo bike and kids, the Levo is perfectly suited without feeling like overkill. Despite the advanced technology integrated into this bike, it feels more akin to a regular bike than any other e-bike I’ve ridden.
Specialized is known for its tech-forward approach, and the Turbo Levo Alloy is no exception. Mechanically, you can adjust the steering angle using swappable headset cups and modify chainstay length and bottom bracket height with flip chips. Digitally, the Specialized app provides extensive customization options for motor power delivery, including acceleration rate and power output for each mode, among other features.
Personally, I haven’t felt the need to delve into these customizations. Setting it up for my height and weight was sufficient. However, for riders who enjoy fine-tuning geometry and power settings, the Turbo Levo Alloy offers ample opportunity for experimentation. I simply preferred to ride and enjoy it.
The price of the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy, currently around $5,000 on sale at various retailers including specialized.com, is a significant value proposition. Originally priced at $5,800, this is the most affordable Turbo Levo model (the lighter Turbo Levo SL is available for under $4,000). However, venturing into the S-Works Turbo Levo range can cost around $12,000 for the top-tier model.
But why go for the top end? The base model, despite its budget-friendly components like plastic shifters, a basic dropper post lever, and lack of electronic shifting or carbon fiber, is an absolute blast to ride. It consistently brings a smile to my face. During my rides, I’ve never felt limited by any of the components and never wished for an upgraded version. Furthermore, the alloy frame is remarkably durable, a quality I can’t always attest to with carbon frames I’ve owned.
Specialized has truly cracked the code with the Turbo Levo Alloy. While e-MTBs have been impressive for some time, this model, in my opinion, is the first truly perfected iteration.
That being said, I’m not trading in my acoustic full-suspension bike for the Turbo Levo Alloy just yet. There’s still a certain intangible connection I feel with traditional bikes that I haven’t quite replicated with e-bikes. Perhaps the motor creates a slight disconnect, making them feel somewhat appliance-like. Can you truly bond with a dishwasher? Maybe it’s the absence of the physical struggle on climbs, or perhaps it’s the dependence on battery charge. The inherent reliability and readiness of acoustic bikes, the simple synergy of muscle and metal propelling you forward – there’s a certain romance to that. While I haven’t yet experienced that same deep connection with any e-bike, even the best one I’ve ridden, the Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy is unequivocally the best e-MTB I’ve encountered.
Words by Justin Housman
