Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo R

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo R is a flagship full-power electric XC trail bike for experienced riders who want rapid assisted climbing without the slower, longer-travel feel of an enduro e-MTB. Its 850W, 111Nm Specialized 3.1 S-Works motor, carbon 29er chassis and 140mm front / 130mm rear travel are aimed at fast trail-centre laps, technical climbs and flowing natural trails where changing direction quickly matters as much as flattening the next ascent.

Which S-Works Levo R are you comparing?

The current UK model comes in three materially different forms, so the name on its own is not enough. The newer 900Wh RockShox build has an official UK RRP of £11,999. The 840Wh FOX build remains listed at £12,499, while the fully named S-Works Turbo Levo R Ultralight is £11,999 with a 600Wh battery. Battery capacity and suspension brand are the clearest way to separate offers, rather than relying on retailer-applied year labels.

That choice has a real effect on the ride. The 900Wh build is for riders who want the biggest fitted battery, while the 840Wh FOX bike trims claimed S3 weight to 21.16kg. The Ultralight takes a more weight-led route: its claimed S3 weight is 18.84kg, but its 600Wh battery is better suited to riders who value a livelier feel over the longest possible days between charges. Published weights are for S3 and can vary with size, colour and component variation.

Full power with a sharper trail-bike focus

This current UK catalogue model uses the Levo R / Levo G4 technical platform. The FACT 11m carbon frame has side-entry battery access, titanium hardware and SWAT downtube storage for compact repair essentials. A 2.2-inch MasterMind TCU display, Specialized app support and Apple Find My bring the practical e-bike side into the frame rather than leaving you to add separate devices.

The S-Works motor gives all three builds the same 850W peak output and 111Nm of torque. It is a serious amount of assistance for steep, awkward climbs, where getting back up for another lap is part of the fun. The motor is not silent, and riders who favour precise low-speed moves may prefer a more restrained assistance setting than Trail mode. On the right trails, though, its purpose is clear: maintain momentum, find traction and keep the ride moving.

Travel is deliberately moderate for a full-power e-MTB. The 140mm fork and 130mm rear end are intended to keep the Levo R responsive through turns and lively over trail features, rather than turn it into a bike-park machine. Its high/low bottom-bracket setting, short/long chainstay setting and headset adjustment give you useful scope to tune handling towards quicker responses or added stability. The trade-off is a lower comfort and control ceiling on repeated big hits and very rough descents than a longer-travel full-power bike.

Three builds, three ways to spend your riding time

The 900Wh RockShox build is the lead option for long, assisted trail rides. It combines its 900Wh battery with a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe Ultimate GENIE shock, SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS transmission, Roval Traverse SL II carbon wheels and FOX Transfer Neo dropper. Specialized quotes up to 4.63 hours with the optional Range Extender. That is a manufacturer claim rather than a promise for every route, but it shows where this build sits: maximum fitted battery capacity without giving up the S-Works motor or lightweight carbon wheelset.

The 840Wh FOX build uses FOX 36 SL Factory GRIP X suspension and a FOX FLOAT Factory GENIE shock, alongside SRAM XX Eagle AXS, Roval Traverse SL II carbon wheels and a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper. Its official claimed ride time is up to 4.40 hours with the optional Range Extender. It is not simply the same bike with a smaller battery: it also has different suspension, tyres and dropper, so it deserves to be judged as its own build rather than as a discounted or relabelled 900Wh version.

The S-Works Turbo Levo R Ultralight keeps the same peak motor output but pairs its 600Wh battery with FOX Factory suspension, Roval Control SL VI carbon wheels with carbon spokes, Trickstuff Direttissima brakes and a BikeYoke Revive 3.0 dropper. Specialized claims up to 3.36 hours with the optional Range Extender. This is the one for riders who notice every extra kilogram when pumping through turns, lifting the bike over obstacles or loading it into the car, and who can accept less onboard energy in return.

The two standard builds use SRAM Motive Ultimate four-piston brakes with 200mm rotors front and rear. They suit the Levo R's fast XC-trail brief, though hard-charging riders on long, steep descents may want more outright bite than a weight-conscious brake setup delivers. The Ultralight's Trickstuff brakes use a 200mm front rotor and 180mm rear rotor, another sign that its specification is designed around keeping mass down rather than copying the standard builds part for part.

Sizing, battery options and UK ownership

Standard S-Works builds are listed in S2 to S6, while the Ultralight is available from S2 to S5. Every listed size uses 29-inch wheels. Specialized S-Sizing is intended to let handling preference influence the choice between adjacent sizes, while the published geometry shows the standard builds growing substantially in reach and wheelbase through the range. The size and geometry sections set out the available figures and build availability.

Both standard S-Works builds include a 12A smart charger, with a claimed 0-80% charge in under one hour. Their stock battery arrangements can also be supplemented by an optional 280Wh Range Extender or changed to a 600Wh battery configuration, giving regular riders a practical way to favour either longer riding time or less battery weight. SWAT storage keeps small essentials out of your jersey pockets, and the UDH-compatible rear dropout uses a widely supported replacement-hanger standard.

The 900Wh and Ultralight wheel-and-tyre setups are tubeless-ready, although tubes are fitted from the factory. A suitable tubeless conversion with valves and sealant can open the door to lower pressures and better puncture sealing. Pick the S-Works Turbo Levo R when you want full-power climbing to feed more fast, involving trail riding, not merely carry you to the top of the roughest descent.