First Look: Specialized Levo Gen 4 — The EMTB That Just Changed the Game
So, picture this: you're halfway up some gnarly climb, legs spinning, heart pounding, and the bike underneath you just keeps pulling — smooth, quiet, and ridiculously capable. That’s the vibe of the new Specialized Turbo Levo Gen 4. I’ve been lucky enough to throw a leg over this beast, and let me tell you, this isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a full-on level-up!
Power That Knows No Quit
Let’s start with the motor — because yeah, this thing rips. The S-Works model is packing 111Nm of torque with 720W of peak power, and the rest of the lineup comes in at a still-beefy 101Nm. No gimmicky boost modes here — just full send, all the time. And unlike some motors that freak out when you spin fast, this one stays buttery smooth and quiet no matter your cadence.
Trail-Ready Muscle
The bike’s built for serious terrain — 150mm in the rear, 160mm fork up front, rolling on a mullet setup (29" front, 27.5" rear). The new Genie shock is the real MVP here. Think coil-like feel on small chatter and support where you need it for big hits. You’re not bouncing around — you’re planted, composed, and totally dialed.
And yeah, it's a bit burly at just over 52lbs in size S5 — but it’s not trying to be light and twitchy. This rig is for riders who want to go big — long climbs, rowdy descents, and full days in the saddle.
Geometry You Can Actually Mess With
Specialized gets it — one size doesn’t fit all. The Gen 4 Levo lets you tweak the geo six ways from Sunday:
- Flip chip on the chainstay – adjust rear center length by 9mm
- Shock flip chip – 6mm difference in bottom bracket height
- Adjustable head angle – tune it from 64.5° to a slack 63.5° for full send mode
I went slack, long, and low — and it absolutely slapped through corners and handled tech climbs like a goat with a motor.
Modular Battery Setup That Just Works
Now, the battery. You’ve got options — 840Wh, 600Wh, or a compact 280Wh range extender. Want to go mega? Stack the big battery and range extender. Want to keep it light for park laps? Pull the main battery and run just the extender.
The side-loading design is clean, simple, and locks in like a vault. No bolts rolling around in the dirt. You can pop it in and out in seconds, and it charges fast — 80% in under an hour with their smart 12A charger. Lunch break = full range.
Display & Controls: Tech That Doesn’t Get in the Way
The top tube display is slick — clean lines, easy to read, and gives you all the ride stats and power modes. No need to dig into apps unless you want to geek out. The new bar remote is a bit of a thumb adventure at first, but it makes sense once you’re dialed in. Just wish it was wireless — that cable’s a minor buzzkill.
Still, everything is super intuitive. If you can ride a bike, you can use this setup. Simple, clean, functional. Specialized really nailed it.
Find My Bike, Literally
Here’s the cherry on top — Apple’s Find My tech is built right in. No separate AirTag needed. If your bike goes walkabout, you can track it straight from your iPhone. It’s the kind of peace of mind we never knew we needed... until now.
Final Thoughts
The Gen 4 Levo isn’t just a fancy new toy — it’s the definition of refinement. It’s got power, tech, range, and ride feel dialed to the nines. Whether you’re out for a mellow spin, hammering technical climbs, or boosting big lines, this bike adapts to whatever kind of ride you're feeling.
If the Gen 3 Levo was a solid trail rig, the Gen 4 is a full-blown adventure weapon.
Stay tuned — full ride impressions are coming soon once I get a few more dirty miles on it. But early verdict? This might just be the eMTB to beat in 2025.
Catch you out there, rubber side down 🤙
