I have a 21 Turbo Levo and have had zero issues with it. Works like a charm. Specialized has a neat software feature that can custom tune your battery usage. It's hard to explain but it can adjust your battery usage based on your needs. Plus buying a Specialized bike means you can have repair work completed a bit easier due to the Specialized dealer network that runs across the US.

You mentioned Columbia River Gorge. Are you here in the PNW with some of us? I live up in WA. We have a lot of PNW riders here on the forum. @Sparticus can be your BFF!

 

You mentioned Columbia River Gorge. Are you here in the PNW with some of us? I live up in WA. We have a lot of PNW riders here on the forum. @Sparticus can be your BFF!

I split time between SF south bay area and gorge, but some life events over the past year+ have me leaning closer to moving back to the gorge fulltime (just gotta get this pesky work-for-a-living thing sorted out).

 

How about a Giant Stance as your first Eeeb? Good price, good dealer, major brand, if you hate it, easy to sell etc.

Giant Stance-E+ 2 eMTB - at Cynergy E-Bikes | Portland OR

Giant Stance-E+ 2 electric mountain bike. Full air suspension. Terrific torque. 29 inch wheels. Now with Giant's PedalPlus 6-sensor technology that can automatically add assist as you climb the steepest hills. At Cynergy E-Bikes, Portland's complete source for name brand electric bikes. CALL...

www.cynergyebikes.com

 

I have a Levo comp carbon and was looking for a Levo carbon for my son. I went up and talked to Greg "owner" about his Orbea rise.
Yes, he's full on hard sell, and I really didn't like the constant bash on the Levo.
I ended up getting a Levo carbon for 4k, out the door.
GP sports in Campbell.
They have gone up in price, but they will definitely set you up.
Talk to Carlos.
Tell him Greg from Lexus sent you.

 

There are good dirt bike trails in The Gorge, too!
=sParty

 

@Carbon 66 thanks for that Greg, I will definitely stop in there and check things out. I have an acquaintance (ex of my friend) who owns Specialized bike shops in Oregon that I'll likely reach out to as well (plus it's tax-free up there). I'm not really in a hurry (just psychologically in a shopping mood), but it looks like the Levo is likely the way I'll go, and I recognize it's cost-reduced spec. Nothing against the Orbea, but I recently built up an S-Works Roubaix and became a fanboy of the brand after just a few rides.

 

The Orbea gets good reviews too, but it looks like there are various models (H10, H20, H30) and I don't know their nomenclature. I prefer a carbon frame but that's probably decades of road riding talking. Looks like '22 closeouts are pricing downwards, around $4K-4500. Can someone help enlighten me and/or sway me?

“H” bikes are hydroformed aluminum
“M” bikes are molded carbon
10 is fancy spec, 30 is lesser spec

You should be able to buy a 2022 H10 or M30 for under $5k. I would opt for the H10 with the upgraded Fox suspension. If you search, you might get lucky and find a M10 on the cheap. The 2022 is the last year with an easily removable battery, new ones require dropping the motor to get the battery out.

the orbea is a better bike than the specialized in every way. Bosch motor, better geo, lifetime frame warranty, better components.

 

the orbea is a better bike than the specialized in every way. Bosch motor, better geo, lifetime frame warranty, better components.

65.5 HTA is better geo? Lmao maybe for fire roads

 

Thanks @underhanded , I was looking for the decoder ring! It does seem clear the Levo carbon is barely a 'get what you pay for' at $5K. The H30 is what I'm typically finding for under $5K.

I think it's also in my head that I gotta get a carbon frame but how much does that really matter on a FS bike?

 

X

 

"Do a little work" is what my boss keeps telling me too. But online shopping has made life so easy... I've found the best deal ever on an Orbea:

Man, you were right about those closeout deals!! 🤣

 

I own both of these bikes (2020 Levo and 2022 Wild FS) so here is my opinion: I started doing research on E-MTBs in 2019. After a few months of research it seemed the two best bikes would be the Levo and Wild FS based on reviews, etc. I bought the Levo April 2020 and Orbea March 2021. Both bikes came equipped with 29" wheels front and back.
.
I have since put 2000+ miles on the Wild and 1000 miles on the Levo. The Orbea has had 0 problems. The Levo motor overheats after about 9 miles and throws an error every ride (started after 500 miles) and requires the bike to be turned off and turned back on and the error goes away - this happens even on flat rides. The main use for the Levo now is take people out who are interested in getting into E-MTB for a demo ride.
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For some reason, I prefer a bike with a vertically mounted shock. It seems to give a much more linear response and make the bike more rigid when climbing. The 45 degree angle of the Levo shock seems more "squishy" and non-linear in the response and has more sag regardless of shock pressure and settings. I have experienced this on multiple bikes both E-MTB and MTB but it could just be in my head.
.
Both bikes were upgraded to Shimano XT brakes (N04C pads) and XT Ice Tech Rotors, Ergon SM-E saddle, One Up flat pedals, and One Up Carbon 35mm bar and headset. The Fox 34 fork on the Levo was replaced with a Rock Shox 38 Zeb ultimate and the Orbea came with a Fox 38 grip fit fork. So, both bikes are similar or equal in components at this point. Both bike frames are larges and have very similar dimensions.
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One advantage of the Orbea is that it has the ability to add an external 500W/hr battery which gives a total of 1100W/hr compared to the 700W/hr battery of the specialized so range anxiety greatly decreases, but it adds 10 pounds to the bike. The standard Orbea Wild FS comes with an internal 630W/hr battery. I recently converted the Levo to a mullet and that made it a bit snappier on trails and downhill. The next E-MTB I own will definitely be a mullet.
.
Bosch vs Specialized Brose Motor: The Bosch motor on the Orbea is quiet and smooth, plus it adds the EMTB mode which is something of an adaptive version of trail and turbo modes combined. It has performed flawlessly for 2000+ miles and i have had zero problems with the motor, battery, electronics, and the bike. The Levo motor has gotten louder over time and after around 500 miles started posting an error after about 8-9 miles of riding or 60-90 minutes. This happens both on pure flat and out in the hills but does happen every ride. Since it can be fixed with a reboot, it isn't enough of a problem to take it in to the dealer at this point. However, I am worried that it will eventually fail and be out of even the extended warranty Specialized handed out due to the high failure rates (4yr vs standard 2yr).
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Summary: I prefer the Orbea due to handling, extended battery option, and the Bosch motor has worked flawlessly.
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One more thing: I wouldn't buy a used E-MTB. The warranty for most brands only applies to the original owner. In most cases, this only applies to the frame because that is the only thing actually under warranty by the bike company. All other components, including the motor and battery, have a different warranty based on their manufacturer. Specialized is the exception, since they have designed there own motor and battery based off a Brose design but they warranty it so it would be good to establish a relationship with a solid dealership if you buy a Levo. GP Motorsports in Campbell, CA is where I bought my Levo and they are great if you are in the SF Bay area.
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Last, both of these bike designs are based on 2018 designs that have been slightly updated and there are now many more options that are more current with the industry. Two people I let ride my Levo both bough Canyon Spectral:ON CF8s and really love the bike. It is a mullet, looks almost identical to the Levo, but also comes with a 900W/hr battery for under $5000 and if I didn't have an E-MTB at the moment I would likely get this bike even though it doesn't have a vertical mounted shock. Giant also has some great E-MTBs using the Yamaha motor with great reviews.
-Edited for formatting issues - paragraphs disappeared.

 

@Bob Dobbss thanks, this is some exceptional information, and what I've been looking for. I'll definitely research the Canyon! The new Levo motor (2.2) is very different from the older ones from what I understand, and the Levo I'm looking at is a mullet. Is this the GP Sports you guys are talking about, on Camden Ave? https://www.gpsportsebikes.com

 

Yes, that is the correct website. Besides the Specialized E-bike line up, they also carry dirt bikes, super bikes, cruiser bikes, quads, side by sides, personal water craft, and scooters (gpsportsonline.com) - more cool things you didn't know you needed than any store around.

You may want to consider that most bike companies have excess inventory built up from the Covid shortages. I bought my Levo from them in late April 2020 with a $2K discount from the original $7k price due to the new bikes coming out shortly, which I didn't see in 2021/2022 due to shortages, but there may be even bigger discounts coming before the end of the year, starting in December with the excess inventory right now.

Note: I just looked at the discounts on the current bikes they have, not bad.

 

Thanks, I'm definitely not a motorsports guy, but still plan to swing by this weekend. So I checked out the Canyon sales last night, and it actually got me thinking about my more likely use case, which is to replace my two current CX bikes (CaadX and Nashbar/Fuji Alimara) with a modern gravel bike. The Grail closeouts looked AWESOME until I looked under the hood: the biplane handlebars are a nightmare, the fork is not tapered (so, no Lauf upgrade possible), and it's got a press-fit bottom bracket. My 2015 Nashbar CX ("The Punisher") is a fantastic frame, and I joined this forum originally to respond to a Lauf ad (in time for it to be sold), but I'll have to take it up to OR/WA with me in the early spring to test out its 'massive' 30mm CX tires.

But I recognize this is an MTB forum! eMTBs will keep getting better and cheaper, and I'll only be riding more and more. Probably spending my bonus on new hydrofoil gear this year, but I've learned so much so fast here (while being entertained), and I've got plenty more MTB questions to come. Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Update: thanks to a forum member here I checked out Fezzari bikes and got a Shafer GRX on closeout for $1600. Its 2x10 will be swapped onto The Punisher and it will then inherit a Shimano 11-speed XT Di2 drivetrain with 48/34 up front and 40-11 on the back. It has a threaded BB and 1.5" fork, meaning it'll (eventually) get a Lauf SL.

In the MTB realm I have lined up a buyer for my 26" BMC Speedfox and am negotiating a new 29" BMC, as the 26er was giving me considerable hassle wrt root and rock clearance on the trails up in Underwood and White Salmon. eMTBs will only get better and cheaper, and I need to earn one with more single-track miles... which this forum has me stoked to do.

 

i have a 2020 levo with 2600 miles, it has burned 4 motors . I gave up on it and got a Rail, 5k miles later it's going strong.