Specialized expand e-bike range with Turbo Levo trail bike

Gees, so much anger. After I had a Fat biker gap me up a hill on the 100 Miler, having a guy on a Humming bike come past would just be the last straw hope Spez never brings out those 4 wheel electric shopping carts next. But hope they make some money out of it, so they can bring back a trusty 26er for me next.

I see what you did there...and it's a bit of a strawman.  This isn't about being anti-change or anti-innovation.  It's not innovating anything.  It's just a new product that serves no real purpose (I don't buy the whole "This will get Stephen Hawking on a bike" malarky) other than "Hey look, here's something new and shiny you want.  YOU WANT IT! YOU WAAAAAAANT IT!" 

I see what you did there...and it's a bit of a strawman.  This isn't about being anti-change or anti-innovation.  It's not innovating anything.  It's just a new product that serves no real purpose (I don't buy the whole "This will get Stephen Hawking on a bike" malarky) other than "Hey look, here's something new and shiny you want.  YOU WANT IT! YOU WAAAAAAANT IT!"

 

Seems it is trail "Ripper"

 

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/First-Ride-Specialized-Turbo-Levo-The-X-Factor,9143/Slideshow,0/iceman2058,94

 

It is indeed. I've seen video footage and heard a first-hand account of it being ridden down some pretty gnarly stuff...

The MTB riders should be praising Spez really, every thread about a MTB event, all the "proper MTB'ers" complain for weeks about the dirt roadies that pass them on the uphill's and then they get stuck behind them on the single track and cannot throw down some Greg Minnaar skills.

This is obviously a bike aimed at "proper MTB" so they can get to the top of climbs in front of the dirt roadies.

Obligatory emoticon 

I touched on it earlier, but here's some more.

Where would this find application (again, I don't buy the "But, gramps will now come and rock the black runs with us" angle) - as in, on what trails?

No point in buying a heavier, more expensive bike just to climb trails you can climb on an actual bicycle - for that we have a thing called exercise and commitment.

So that leaves descents, but I don't see any trail network allowing you to suddenly climb up descending trails just because you now actually can.  It'll still be dangerous and a stupid idea.

So where do you ride this thing where it still makes sense? 

Outback rides on hiking trails?  Well that has it's own consequences and could end up giving MTB'ers a crap name since now "MTB'ers" will be seen to be shredding previous hiking sanctuaries.

Trails that aren't open to riders or hikers?  Well, I suppose, but odds are those would be seen as off limits, period and again the land owners will see it as MTB'ers tresspassing on their unspoilt land.

So seriously, where is this a good idea in South Africa?  We don't have 100's of km's of open access goat trails like in the Alps, and in any event, we rode those trails just fine last year on our actual mtb's.

Hence - what gap is this actually filling (other than the gap in some marketing companies overheads)?

The MTB riders should be praising Spez really, every thread about a MTB event, all the "proper MTB'ers" complain for weeks about the dirt roadies that pass them on the uphill's and then they get stuck behind them on the single track and cannot throw down some Greg Minnaar skills.

 

This is obviously a bike aimed at "proper MTB" so they can get to the top of climbs in front of the dirt roadies.

 

Obligatory emoticon 

Good point.

If you ever rant about other people not matching your SKILLS this is the bike for you. Those wannabee cyclist who are stealing your trail cred from all your admirers will be left behind so you can just focus on being awesome instead of begrudging someone else some fresh air and fun.

Good point.

 

If you ever rant about other people not matching your SKILLS this is the bike for you. Those wannabee cyclist who are stealing your trail cred from all your admirers will be left behind so you can just focus on being awesome instead of begrudging someone else some fresh air and fun.

Seriously.  You believe that Mr. X who weighs 140kg and sits in front of the TV all day playing Skyrim will suddenly see this and say "AT LAST! A WAY FOR ME TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS!'?

Pretty sure if Mr. X was so inclined he'd have chukked his XBox in the bin already and gone for a walk in the park or gotten his behind in the gym on a treadmill or in the pool.

As for Ms. Y, the 65 year old with a bum hip.  Why would an aggresively shaped trail shredder exactly be the bike for her?  Just because she can now pedal up that root infested rock-laded trail of doom, doesn't mean 9/10 GP's recommend she does so.

I'm not begrudging anyone their chance at a good time.  I'm not exactly picketing outside Specialised asking them to recall the damn thing.

I just seriously don't get the product.  It will either be too much bike for the places you can ride it, or you won't be allowed to ride it on trails that will make it as fun as advertised.

As an aside, I have a massive problem with this "well now that guy who was previously too fat and lazy to do it can" attitude.  It's the physical equivalent of lowering the matric pass rate.  We can't all be special little petals.

Seriously.  You believe that Mr. X who weighs 140kg and sits in front of the TV all day playing Skyrim will suddenly see this and say "AT LAST! A WAY FOR ME TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS!'?

 

Pretty sure if Mr. X was so inclined he'd have chukked his XBox in the bin already and gone for a walk in the park or gotten his behind in the gym on a treadmill or in the pool.

 

As for Ms. Y, the 65 year old with a bum hip.  Why would an aggresively shaped trail shredder exactly be the bike for her?  Just because she can now pedal up that root infested rock-laded trail of doom, doesn't mean 9/10 GP's recommend she does so.

 

I'm not begrudging anyone their chance at a good time.  I'm not exactly picketing outside Specialised asking them to recall the damn thing.

 

I just seriously don't get the product.  It will either be too much bike for the places you can ride it, or you won't be allowed to ride it on trails that will make it as fun as advertised.

 

As an aside, I have a massive problem with this "well now that guy who was previously too fat and lazy to do it can" attitude.  It's the physical equivalent of lowering the matric pass rate.  We can't all be special little petals.

I will concede. The market for this exact bike is probably your more adventurous type rather than a coach potato.

If somebody buys one of these bikes and goes to your trails and has an absolute blast of a time what is it to you?

This is not a motorbike. It's ~5kg heavier than a standard bike and has 0.5kW of power so there is no reason it can't be used everywhere a normal trail bike is used. 

I get that it doesn't appeal to you but there is fun to be had by somebody else and that is a good thing. Take the enjoyment of trails and disconnect it from the essence of cycling and perhaps there is room for something else there for somebody else.

No skin off my back.  But I will be judging them.  I'm just a jerk like that.

So a top cyclist can produce 1500w - 2000w of power at peak, right?

A normal competitive cyclist can maybe produce 1200w

A normal non-competitive trail rider? 500w - 1000w?

Add 500w to any normal folk and their power would still not match a weak pro rider. Trail damage can seriously hardly be a factor in anything here. I just don't see why everyone is so uptight about this. 

So maybe lets look at Pros vs Cons of a few bike types:

XC Racer ( EPIC) - Climbs Brilliantly, descending not so much (unless you are a Pro)

Trail bike (Stumpjumper) - Climbs okay, descending good

Enduro bike (Enduro) - Climbs hard but doable, Descends very Well

DH Bike (Demo) - Climbs terribly, Descends Brilliantly

E-Bike (Turno Levo) - Climbs Brilliantly, Descending Good(like Stumpy?)

Maybe the biggest problem is that they have applied this to a trail bike and not something much bigger like a DH bike? If you want the best of both worlds, you have to make it that way.

HAIBike with 180mm Front and Rearhttp://electricbikereview.com/wp-content/uploads/haibike-xduro-nduro-pro-electric-bike-review-670x270.jpg

V10 anyone?http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/V10-feature-complete.jpg

So a top cyclist can produce 1500w - 2000w of power at peak, right?

 

A normal competitive cyclist can maybe produce 1200w

 

A normal non-competitive trail rider? 500w - 1000w?

 

Add 500w to any normal folk and their power would still not match a weak pro rider. Trail damage can seriously hardly be a factor in anything here. I just don't see why everyone is so uptight about this. 

 

 

So maybe lets look at Pros vs Cons of a few bike types:

 

XC Racer ( EPIC) - Climbs Brilliantly, descending not so much (unless you are a Pro)

Trail bike (Stumpjumper) - Climbs okay REALLY WELL, descending good IS FLIPPING AWESOME

Enduro bike (Enduro) - Climbs hard but doable, Descends very Well

DH Bike (Demo) - Climbs terribly, Descends Brilliantly

 

E-Bike (Turno Levo) - Climbs Brilliantly, Descending Good(like Stumpy?)

 

 

Maybe the biggest problem is that they have applied this to a trail bike and not something much bigger like a DH bike? If you want the best of both worlds, you have to make it that way.

Fixed for you

Wow! Now fat people can ride bikes up mountains without worrying about that pesky thing called "weight loss".  

Im short and not fat.... Believe me i have had plenty larger people passing me on the hills in races. How they do it i dont know. Just shows that you cant judge a rider by his girth.

Fixed for you

How dare he speak of our Stumpys like that.

Damn, I thought that e bikes were great for commuting as I see them as motorized cycles with out the need to have a motorbike license!!! But to actually allow motorized bikes on a trail is now a completely different story!!

Will we now be able to make use of motocross tracks? I mean with these All Mountain E monsters, those huge doubles and triples should be easier now

How dare he speak of our Stumpys like that.

Fixed for you

Okay I guess the Stumpy climbs slightly better than "Okay".

And it does descend very well for a trail bike, but nowhere close to a DH bike.

Funny thing is that my old man has one and I have never been able to get comfortable on it. I wanted to like it. I really did.

Okay I guess the Stumpy climbs slightly better than "Okay".

 

And it does descend very well for a trail bike, but nowhere close to a DH bike.

 

Funny thing is that my old man has one and I have never been able to get comfortable on it. I wanted to like it. I really did.

Sandton isn't exactly Stumpy territory...

Sandton isn't exactly Stumpy territory...

Boet, haven't you seen the crazy Enduro course that is the Spruit?

I've tried a few low specced e-bikes, they were fun, but I can't wait to get a chance to try a proper electric mountain bike like this Spez. Looks like buckets of fun. There, I said it. 

I'm with you on this one.

Why not just get a motorbike...

Why not just get a motorbike...

Can't I have both? 

I'm with you on this one.

I'm with you on this one.