In 2015, Specialized gave the go-ahead for the e-mountainbike, the Turbo Levo amazed with a high degree of system integration and a beautifully designed frame. Now the new version of the Turbo Levo is in the starting blocks: Specialized spent three years working on the new Turbo Levo in Cham on Lake Zug. The key data: 150 millimetre travel, 29er wheels, an integrated, removable 700 Wh battery on the top models and a new motor. Specialized calls this Custom 2.1, it is the new Brose Drive S Mag unit, which is a whole 400 grams lighter than its predecessor. The rider's power is boosted by up to 410 percent with the new motor and the new unit is said to deliver up to 560 watts of pedal assist and 90 smooth newton meters of torque. The Specialized engineers went their own way with the software for the motor and independently produced the electronic control of the motor.

Light(er)

In the new carbon frame of the Turbo Levo, the engineers have worked on the motor mount: This has been made smaller and lighter, resulting in a reduction of around 400 grams. The new Stumpjumper was the inspiration for the rear triangle, which is asymmetrical - showing the rear shock in all its glory on one side and covered by a carbon fiber reinforcement strut on the other. In terms of geometry, the reach in particular is a notch longer compared to its predecessor, and the head tube is a few millimetres shorter.

Following the very minimalist operating concept of the first generation, the new Levo has a display that is positioned in the middle of the stem. As before, the full range of functions can be accessed via a smartphone app, which allows you to customize the motor support and riding dynamics. This app has also been completely updated and offers more intuitive operation and connects the bike with the TCU mentioned below to peripheral devices via Ant+ or Bluetooth.

When it comes to the battery, Specialized has set an impressive mark for the models in the S-Works and Expert Carbon range: 40 cells provide 700 Wh, which should be enough for extended, hours-long tours with a long range. This powerful battery can be removed from the frame and has an elongated shape, which makes it somewhat difficult or impossible to store the power source in a bike backpack.

Smart(er)

Until now, the Levo's battery has been the bike's brain. This brain of the bike, as Specialized calls it, has moved and is now located in the top tube: The Turbo Connect Unit - TCU for short - provides information about the battery level and the level of support. The TCU can also be used to change the support modes, switch the bike on and off and the dealer can use the interface for updates or diagnostic functions.

With the YouTube clip for the new e-mountainbike, Specialized presents a small miracle. With humour ("You're grounded...") and self-irony, the company praises the motorized mountain bike and at the same time manages not to offend customers who still use muscle power to get up the mountain.

www.specialized.com