The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4 electric mountain bike earns high praise in a Wired review for its intuitive performance and advanced features. Reviewer Matt Phillips highlights its powerful motor and adjustable design after testing in Duluth, Minnesota. The bike aids riders with mobility challenges, allowing one friend to resume cycling post-accident.
Specialized released the Turbo Levo 4 a decade after its original iteration, featuring a proprietary 3.1 motor with 720 watts and metal gears that deliver 111 newton-meters of torque. The S-Works model, priced as the second-most expensive variant below the $20,000 LTD edition, includes a carbon frame with adjustable geometry and a companion app for precision tuning.
During testing, reviewer Matt Phillips collected the bike from The Ski Hut in Duluth, Minnesota. It offers adjustable headset angle for steering changes, SWAT storage above the down-tube battery, and suspension with a front Fox Float 38 fork providing 160 mm of travel and rear 150 mm, accommodating up to 180 mm. Brakes consist of SRAM Maven Ultimate four-piston calipers front and rear, paired with SRAM XX Eagle Transmission derailleur and AXS POD Ultimate Shift levers for seamless shifting.
The 840-watt-hour integrated battery supports up to five hours of ride time with a 280-watt-hour extender in the water bottle cage. Its mullet wheel setup uses a 29-inch front tire for stability over rough terrain and a 27.5-inch rear for maneuverability. Phillips rode singletrack trails along Duluth's ridgeline and to Spirit Mountain bike park, noting the motor's quiet operation during a stealthy approach on a rocky climb.
In one session, the bike climbed 3,451 feet over 22 miles in about two hours mostly in Auto mode, leaving 44 percent battery. Modes include Eco, Auto, Trail, and Turbo, displayed on the top-tube Master Mind computer. High-performance torque sensors amplify rider input for natural feel, especially in Auto mode.
US models allow toggling from Class I (20 mph limit) to Class III (28 mph) via Master Mind, aiding urban-to-trail transitions but raising trail safety concerns among non-motorized users. Phillips' friend Greg, sidelined by back pain from a cycling accident, praised the bike: “You are not going to believe this bike. It’s so intuitive. It feels like an extension of your own body.” The review notes the bike's power demands rider competence, as illustrated by a momentary bail on a rocky bridge.