From Doubt to Love: My Specialized Levo 4 Review

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From Doubt to Love: My Specialized Levo 4 Review originally appeared on BikeMag.

When Specialized Bicycles launched the new Turbo Levo 4 in April of 2025, I was a bit harsh in my criticism, and as a former eMTB hater, I unfortunately let my bias show. The unlockable class 3 mode left a sour taste in my mouth, and the considerable weight of the bike upon unboxing had me slightly confused as to why so many positive reviews had been published surrounding the new Levo 4. As someone who loves full-29 bikes, the mullet-only restrictions of the frame further added to my frustrations with the Turbo Levo 4, and things really didn't look positive for my review of this new Specialized eMTB.

After my first few rides on the new Levo 4, I was still left scratching my head, and I didn’t really understand the hype around this new addition to the line of Levo eMTBs from Specialized. But I was soon to be eating my words, and in a big way. It took a little while for the Levo 4 to win me over, but once I began to understand the improvements made from the previous generation and how the team at Specialized approached the new motor, battery, and overall ethos of the bike, everything fell into place. It turns out that not all the hype is fabricated, and the Levo 4 is actually a pretty unique offering in the world of full-power eMTBs.

I grew to like this polarizing machine.Photo: Deven McCoy

Test Rider Height: 6'2"Size Tested: S5

MSRP: $11,499.99

Build Kit Tested: Levo 4 Pro

Suspension: 160mm FOX 38 FACTORY GRIPX2 / 150mm GENIE FOX FLOAT X Factory

Drivetrain: SRAM XO Eagle T-Type AXS

Shop The Specialized Levo 4 HereTesting the new Levo 4 has been a blast so far.Photo: Deven McCoy

Related: Specialized Opens Doors to a New Class of eMTB

It’s hard to revolutionize the industry in a significant way these days. The majority of bikes are already pretty damn great, and they have been for several years, but despite the Levo 4’s weight, and mullet-only wheels, I was left pleasantly surprised by how this bike has handled a lot of varied trails and conditions without missing a beat. The handling and characteristics are impressive, as it borrows many traits from the Stumpjumper 15, but refreshingly, the Levo 4 isn't trying to pretend it's something it's not.

This photo was taken in June, btw.Photo: Deven McCoy

It’s not an eMTB that is trying to trick you into thinking you’re on a Me-Bike (not an E-Bike); it's unashamed to be a heavy, powerful companion on the trail, and I'd soon find out that all my preconceived notions about this bike were a load of rubbish. I think the main reason I was initially hesitant about it during the first few rides was due to the trails and conditions I was riding in. After taking a trip back home to Southern Oregon to explore some steeper, loamier trail conditions, the Levo 4 began to shine rather brightly as an example of modern eMTB innovation.

A Rough Start

Out of the box, the Levo 4 Pro in an S5 size was noticeably heavier than the other bikes I had been testing, and I made note of this going into the review. This is partly thanks to the larger capacity battery and the new construction of the motor. I was also entering the review with a fairly stubborn point of view, which undoubtedly influenced my initial opinion of the bike. I didn't understand how Specialized could market this bike as revolutionizing the eMTB industry with such a weight and limited wheel size versatility - it seemed as though it would behave like any other eMTB on the market.

The removable battery on the Specialized Levo 4Photo: Deven McCoy

I didn't want to like the bike, perhaps as a way to seem different or act like there was some proverbial Kool-Aid that people had been drinking, but I didn't have a taste for it. Regardless of how I felt about the Levo 4 going into the review, my opinion ultimately changed.

The build kit on the Levo 4 Pro is undoubtedly premium, featuring Fox Factory suspension, an Industry Nine/RaceFace cockpit, BikeYoke Dropper, Carbon Roval Traverse HD wheels, wrapped in T9 compound Butcher tires with gravity casing, and SRAM Maven Silver brakes.

Photo: Deven McCoy

Overall, the build kit is excellent, but I have encountered the issues known to plague the SRAM Maven brakes, namely being a wandering bite point that has required frequent piston massages and a couple of brake bleeds. While I was initially disappointed by the lack of full 29-inch wheel compatibility, riding the Levo 4 on steeper trails and larger jump lines quickly made me understand the reasoning behind the decision. My home trails in Boise, Idaho, are pretty tame and lack any serious technical riding skills. Many rides include a lot of boring road climbing or flat traverses, which make the mullet wheels seem a little overkill for most of the riding. Taking the Levo 4 to more demanding trails was precisely what I needed to experience the full benefits of a smaller rear wheel on the Levo.

One of the first few rides on the Levo 4.Photo: Deven McCoy

If you rode with me on the first few rides, you'll know how little I initially cared for the Levo 4. I didn't see the logic behind it and was still holding on to a bit of my bias. I was frustrated with the inconsistent brakes and hadn't properly tuned the assist modes to really get the most from the system.

Smoothing Things Out With The Levo 4

After tinkering with the three flip chips found on the Levo 4, the bike continued to win me over. With a lower BB, longer setting for the chainstay, and slacker head tube angle, the bike came alive on the gnarlier trails, but I could quickly swap back to a steeper, higher, and shorter setting when coming back to Boise to ride the muted trails in the foothills and Eagle Bike Park.

Riding at Eagle Bike Park, still getting a feel for the bike.Photo: Deven McCoy

One of the few shining features of the Levo 4 is the Genie shock with a piggyback design, and seeing this technology find its way to the new Stumpjumper 15 Evo is a decidedly smart choice for Specialized. The Genie is a unique example of bike brands working closely with suspension manufacturers, which is nothing unusual for Specialized, as they have collaborated with Fox many times in the past. The Genie shock feels incredible on the Levo 4. After adding some volume reducers and dropping a few PSI from the shock, the bike became an absolute weapon on steep trails, offering supple ground tracking and superb bottom-out support on heavy hits. But it doesn’t at all feel like the bike is wallowing in the travel, which is a unique feeling, especially on a big bike like this.

Some of the innovations with the Levo are more exciting than others, but there are a few details that really made me smile with the Levo 4. I do love being able to remove the battery with the included Swat tool, and the introduction of a Swat storage bag is a cool feature, although I'm unsure how practical it is, given that you need to pull the battery out to access it. It's still cool to see this on a full-power eMTB.

The MasterMind Display on the Specialized Levo 4Photo: Deven McCoy

I try to take a different approach to e-bike testing by riding them extensively with the motor off, before fully diving into the experience of riding with a significant amount of added power. However, with the Levo 4, I found myself thoroughly enjoying and appreciating the benefits of the motor. Out of all the eMTBs I’ve ridden, the motor on the Levo 4 truly feels like an extension of my power, and the tuning that Specialized has done with the 3.1 motors is something to talk about.

I was skeptical of the claims and all the superlatives used in the marketing packet, but after tweaking the assist modes and tuning the system, I began to understand what Specialized was talking about. The actual pedaling feels incredibly natural, both during climbs and while descending. Upon turning off the Levo 4, the small MasterMind screen displays a message that reads, “It’s you, only faster.” Which, at first, I found amusing and corny, but it only took a few rides to recognize how true this statement was.

Why The Levo 4 Has Seen Criticism

As someone who has recently been converted from the cult of hating eMTBs to the religion of eMTBs being super rad, I feel like my elitism was lingering when my small mind was met with the advancements made with the Levo 4. The main reason for figuratively shitting on the Levo 4 was the introduction of the new unlockable class 3 mode, which rightfully had a lot of people up in arms. After chatting with Joe Buckley, one of the masterminds behind eMTB development at Specialized, about the decision to include an unlockable class 3 mode on an eMTB, my concerns were quelled quickly.

Related: Specialized Opens Doors to a New Class of eMTB

This unlockable mode is only available on the S-Works motor, which is only found on the S-Works Levo 4, and despite being able to assist riders to reach speeds of 28MPH with pedal assist, it is still governed by the battery and power output of the motor itself, and reaching assisted speeds anywhere near the top speed will be nearly impossible when on trail, and even if a select number of bad apples are going to abuse the extra power, that only means cooking the battery life and making enemies on the trail.

Specialized S-Works Levo 4Photo: Specialized Bicycles

The majority of riders are responsible trail stewards, respectfully sharing the outdoors with other user groups. This Class 3 mode is intended only for use when grinding out garbage miles on the way to and from the trailhead. At $14,000 USD, the S-Works Levo 4 will likely only be an option for those who have a bit of respect for the areas they ride. I digress, and I’ll get back to how I feel about the Levo 4, which does not have 720 Watts and 111 Nm of torque.

Why the Levo 4 is Different

The new Specialized 3.1 Motor is the real star of the show (and the piggyback Genie shock)Photo: Deven McCoy

The battery life and motor tuning of the Levo 4 have been another topic I would like to address, as they represent a notable blend of technical accomplishments. In eco-mode, the Levo 4 feels much like a normal bike, only offering enough power to offset the added weight of the battery and motor but still giving you plenty of time to climb, descend, climb again, descend again, and climb back up for another serving of loamers. Slap on the range extender and keep it in eco-mode, and the Levo 4 is packed with enough juice to cover a serious amount of saddle time.

In Auto-mode, the brain of the motor does the heavy lifting and decides what mode is most appropriate for the grade, cadence, and intensity of output, but it never feels jolting or abrupt in these decisions. The new motor is also impressively quiet when compared to past generations of the Levo, and after riding with a friend on his older Levo, the difference in drive system noise is quickly noticeable. Even when compared to othersystemson the market from Bosch or Shimano, the Specialized motor is a pleasant humming that doesn’t distract from the sound of the tires on the dirt or the tranquil sounds of nature that surround you while climbing through the forest.

The stock 840Wh battery on the Levo 4 can be swapped for a smaller 600Wh battery, which is sold separately.Photo: Deven McCoy

In fact, in all the assist modes, the Levo 4 remains feeling very organic, depending on how you have the motor tuned. You can tailor the motor for ample power with minimal effort, or take the opposite approach and have the motor kick in only at the top end of your power band. The best way I can describe the feeling of the new Levo is that it seems as though the system is actively thinking about what you’re doing and reads the trail and your pedaling behavior to provide the most natural feeling experience of any eMTB I’ve ridden. The S-Works numbers, while impressive, are not necessarily required for most riders, and the base-level 3.1 motor will be perfectly powerful. The 666 watts and 101 nm of torque on the base-level 3.1 motor are more than enough to conquer steep climbs or cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

That brings me back to the point I made earlier about the Levo 4 not trying to put on a facade; it proudly leans into the fact that it’s an e-bike. It wants to be ridden like an ebike, and it wants you to feel faster uphill while still maintaining precise composure on the way down. Like many eMTBs, the Levo 4 is absurdly planted on descents, but it still appreciates rider input, and depending on how you have the flip-chips configured, it will be happy to gobble up any side-hits, jumps, and playful features you encounter.

Photo: Deven McCoy

After spending a considerable amount of time on the Levo 4, my opinion of the bike has shifted significantly. The weight is not noticeable on the trail. In fact, I think the way it was designed contributes to the bike's responsiveness, and with the absurdly natural-feeling motor, delightfully supple shock, and well-thought-out flip-chips, the Levo 4 is a beautifully versatile eMTB that can handle just about everything. That being said, I would not recommend the Levo 4 if you are primarily riding XC-style trails, and I would only suggest the Levo 4 models to someone who knows how to manipulate and control a bike with confidence.

Tinkering and time have made me really appreciate the Levo.Photo: Deven McCoy

It's these low-angle trails with loose and sandy conditions where the Levo 4 misses the mark, but honestly, there are very few full-power eMTBs that shine in those situations. In my findings, the added weight and big-ass brakes make most e-bikes feel much more comfortable on steeper terrain where there is less opportunity for severe understeer.

Final Thoughts & Lingering Criticism

I’m eating a bowl full of my words as I write this review, and I have grown very fond of the Levo 4 in the last few months, but I can still see both sides of the argument for and against eMTB progression. At the end of the day, e-bikes are the way the industry is going, and it’s time for all of us to accept them as a part of the culture.

Photo: Deven McCoyPhoto: Deven McCoy

eMTBs are never going to replace human-powered bikes, and I think the Levo 4 is a perfect example of that. It is not a bike that is trying to blend the two worlds; rather, it is leaning into the advancement of the category in a way that will cause other brands to innovate and do the same. Specialized opened a door with the Levo 4 that I believe should be left open for the greater good of the sport.

With all the time spent on the Levo 4, all the issues I assumed would impact my final thoughts on the bike have melted away, but I am not left without some critique of my experience. The most notable problem I’ve encountered is primarily attributed to the brakes, which won't be a surprise to anyone who has dealt with the issues associated with the SRAM Maven brakes, but this is not a fault of Specialized. Still, if I were to keep the Levo 4, I would most certainly swap the brakes out for a set of TRP Evo Pros. Other than that one problem, I can’t find any other faults with the Levo 4 Pro build kit..

Back to the Boise setting for the chips.Photo: Deven McCoy

I’m not advocating for more surrons to be on the trails, or more e-bikes to crowd trailheads, nor am I saying that everyone should get an eMTB. Ultimately, eMTBs are a luxury, and the Levo 4 is one of the most luxurious full-power eMTBs on the market that is well worth serious consideration if you’re in the market for a truly capable eMTB.

Shop The Specialized Levo 4 Here

From Doubt to Love: My Specialized Levo 4 Review first appeared on BikeMag on Jul 7, 2025

This story was originally reported by BikeMag on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.