Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Review
Specialized Turbo Levo 4 in the bc comparison test: Our colleague Berno got to extensively test ride the Turbo Levo 4. Here are his findings!
Tailwind on Board: Why you'll Never get enough of e-MTBs
E-Mountain bikes are becoming increasingly popular. And there's a reason for that — no, many reasons! We're taking you on a journey of pure enjoyment.
Your buddies at the pub claiming that an e-mountain bike is not athletic? Chances are, they’ve never really ridden one. Because how sporty you ride your e-MTB is entirely up to you. Sure, you can cover a lot of ground with little effort. But you can just as well push yourself hard and feel how the drive unit simply gives you that extra boost. Or, as one manufacturer put it: the best legs of your life. Every day. And the best part: this goes for light-assist e-MTBs, full-power models — and everything in between.
What to Expect from an e-Mountain bike Mythbusting: "E-MTB is not a sport!" Why Mid-Drive? Buyer's Guide: The Right e-MTB for You Mythbusting: "E-MTBs are complex and heavy!" Buying, Leasing, or Financing? Mythbusting: "E-MTBs are way too expensive!" Why SUV Bikes are better than their reputation FAQ: E-Mountainbikes
What to Expect from an e-Mountain Bike
Modern e-mountain bikes open up whole new worlds. Today’s models don’t just ride further and longer — they ride better. Quieter motors, smarter control, and seamless software integration create a riding feel so natural, you’ll forget there’s a drive system helping out. Whether it’s a quick blast on your local trails before work, a lunch ride to clear your head, or an after-hours lap with friends — e-MTBs pack maximum trail fun into minimum time. And when the weekend calls, they’re ready for epic missions too: climbs of well over 1,000 vertical meters and ranges beyond 50 kilometres are no problem. Your adventure, your pace, your ride.
On Uphill Flow and Chairlifts
Modern batteries and range extenders offer shortened charging times and power you through epic day trips with plenty of altitude and depth meters, even without a super ambitious training program. Don't believe it? Check out what our colleague and Enduro racer Berno experienced with the Specialized Turbo Levo 4! And: e-mountain bikes make for more fun in the group. Gone are the days when the two fittest would get bored at the trailhead for ten minutes until the rest huff and puff their way in. With the built-in shuttle of an e-MTB, the ride uphill can be as fun as the two extra descents that you can comfortably fit into your tour – thanks to the motor support. And while the acoustic-bike faction is still waiting in the lift queue, you can already be tearing up the trails away from bike parks or shuttle services.
Myth busting: “E-Mountain Biking is not a sport!”
Wrong! Anyone claiming that riding an e-mountain bike is not a sport probably hasn't tried it themselves. The limits of the sporting challenge are set by nobody but you. If you want, you can pedal with burning calves pushing your max watts, while your heart rate races at the limit, and you go full into lactate. And the drive unit still adds more. Only flying is better. You just have to want it!
That famous uphill flow kicks in when your e-MTB suddenly makes riding trails uphill fun. © bc GmbH
The vast majority of true e-MTBs are equipped with a mid-drive motor. The advantages of this design are immense. © bc GmbH
Mid-Drive, Baby! The Ride Feel is Addictive
A significant part of the success story of the e-mountain bike is the mid-drive, which absolutely dominates the market. The central and low centre of gravity positively affects handling and dynamics in technical terrain. The ratio of unsprung to sprung mass improves. Sounds technical? Means: Your suspension works better. Especially in rocky terrain, many e-mountain bikes are much more planted than their bio counterparts. Even in the air, they are more stable, though admittedly, you have to work a bit harder on the takeoff. And the motor power is not just fun on gravel or in technical uphills. Accelerating out of tight turns in turbo mode and instantly being back at speed? Addictive!
Buyer's Guide: The Right E-Mountain Bike for You
These days, hardly any manufacturer skips e-MTBs in their line-up. Full-suspension trail and enduro e-mountain bikes dominate the market. The motor allows you to take a bit more suspension travel onto the home trail and to forego the last percent of uphill efficiency so that you can let it rip even more on the way down. But regardless of whether fully or hard tail, Downcountry or Freeride: First consider what you need!
- Purpose: Where do you hang out the most? Where does the e-MTB fill a gap in your mountain bike world? Which other bikes does it complement or replace?
- Suspension travel: How much do you require, how much do you want?
- Bike manufacturer: Which manufacturer do you know and love?
- Drive: Light-Assist or Full-Power? Bosch, Shimano, Specialized, or rather Fazua or TQ?
- Fit and Geo: It's gotta! Just! Fit!
Mythbusting: “E-Mountain Bikes are complex and heavy!”
Wrong! Modern e-mountain bikes offer minimalist operating concepts, so nothing distracts you from biking. Current motors and batteries have become significantly lighter, so that even full-power e-mountain bikes are scratching the 20-kilogram mark. Light e-mountain bikes are often not even much heavier than your super-enduro.
Specialized has been producing eMTBs for quite a while successfully. © bc GmbH
Maximizing Your Trail Experience
If you're new to the e-MTB game, here's an important tip: Don't fall into the trap of letting the motor do all the work with a low saddle and minimal pedalling frequency! You'd be missing out on a lot:
- Power, because even the strongest motor needs a certain RPM to deliver maximum performance.
- Range, because even electric motors have an optimal efficiency range. And it's not at 35 revolutions per minute.
- Fun, because your pedalling frequency makes the difference between an MTB and moped feel.
Honestly, you wouldn't drive a sports car in too low gear, either.
© bc GmbH
With an e-MTB, your ride includes more climbing — and more descending too! © bc GmbH
Your Paths to the Bike: Purchase, Leasing, or Financing?
It’s not 1959 anymore. You don’t need to show up at bc in Würselen with a suitcase full of cash, or mail us a Euro cheque (#LegacyPaymentTechnology), just to get your dream bike. Today, many trails lead you straight onto the saddle of your own e-MTB:
- Purchase: From classic prepayment, through credit card to Klarna, PayPal, or Apple Pay. We offer you many payment options, and the list is constantly growing. For an overview: Click here!
- Financing: If you don't want to fork out 5,000 euros or more all at once, no problem: Through our partner Targobank, you can also finance your dream bike long-term. Just select the appropriate payment method when buying!
- E-bike Leasing: Has developed into a game changer in the world of cycling in recent years. We work with market leaders Jobrad and Business Bike.
Myth Busting: “E-Mountain Bikes are way too expensive!”
Good e-mountain bikes cost a lot of money. No question about it. That's why we also offer leasing and financing options on the way to your dream bike. But, if you compare the prices to those of non-motorized quality mountain bikes, you might be surprised: Often, it's the e-mountain bikes that have the better price-performance ratio. And that, even though the power of Nino Schurter is pedalling along in the bottom bracket. The now higher quantities compared to their acoustic counterparts make it possible.
The Quirky Relatives: Why SUV E-Bikes Are Better Than Their Reputation
Despised by “real” mountain bikers, a new e-MTB genre has developed into a remarkable bestseller over the past years: The SUV e-bike. These close relatives of the trekking bike and e-MTB share the wide, off-road capable tires and the riding comfort of long suspension travels with their rugged cousins. Unlike any purebred off-road sports gear, SUV bikes are equipped with mudguards, lighting systems, and racks compliant with road traffic licensing regulations, making them suitable for everyday use, commuting and all sorts of urban riding, too. With their more upright, comfortable sitting position, they also allow for long tours, and don't give up when things get steep or rough.
Thus, this versatile mix of touring bike, e-MTB and city speedster enjoys a steadily growing fan base.
More on the topic
FAQ: E-Mountainbikes
Which drive system do I need?
The drive system is only one aspect of buying an e-mountain bike, though an important one. First, determine your area of use and find out which bike category suits you.
What's the difference between torque and power?
Torque and power are the two most significant figures to evaluate the performance of an e-bike motor. Torque is the product of force times lever arm and acts on a pivot point (usually your crankshaft). Think of it like the pulling power in a car! Power differs in rated continuous output (mechanical output, which the e-motor in your bike can continuously provide, regulated by EU law to 250 watts over 30 minutes) and maximum output (power that the motor can provide in the short term, e.g., on a steep incline. This can be significantly higher: current top drives perform up to 1,000 watts peak power).
What's the difference between Light-Assist and Full-Power?
Light-Assist drives (also known as Natural-Support or Light E-MTB) typically provide up to 60 Newton meters max torque and 600 watts maximum power. Their lighter drive units are battery savvy. The lesser power is compensated by sporty riding and high cadences, comparable to an acoustic bike. Accordingly equipped bikes can therefore come with smaller batteries (mostly up to 500 watt-hours) and can weigh significantly under 20 kilograms. Optional range extenders allow for extra range if needed. Full-Power drives provide up to over 100 Newton meters torque and over 1,000 watts maximum. With them and their batteries up to 1,000 watt-hours capacity, no limits are set for you. Except for the higher bike weight, mostly significantly over 20 kilograms.
How long does the battery last?
Particularly off-road, it's hard to say reliably. Besides battery capacity (colloquially “size”), many factors play a role: terrain, incline, elevation gain, vehicle and rider weight, maintenance condition of battery and drivetrain, your own performance, temperature, altitude, and so on. Independent editorial teams like Bike Magazine or online portals like eMTB-News.de document the ranges and altitudes achieved in their tests. This gives you an orientation. The famous range anxiety is mostly unfounded, by the way. In practice, you hardly ever run out of power. And if you do: You still have a bike!
