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Expert Review

Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy (2025 – ) review

Aluminium-framed version of the Turbo Levo SL offers all the performance and latest suspension tech at a more affordable price

Dan Trent

Words by: Dan Trent

Dan Trent

Additional words by: Dan Trent

Last updated on 6 January 2025 | 0 min read

The Auto Trader expert verdict:

4

An aluminium frame rather than the fancier carbon of the Turbo Levo SL tested previously makes this Comp Alloy version a tad heavier, the flipside being it’s also a thousand pounds cheaper while offering exactly the same ride quality and components. Improvements for 2025 include new rear suspension for an even plusher ride in the toughest of terrain, the lightweight motor and battery combo saving a whole 4kg over the full-power Turbo Levo and delivering a much livelier ride if you’re willing to put a bit more legwork into the climbs.

Reasons to buy:

  • tickMuch improved suspension
  • tickSmooth motor assistance
  • tickBuild quality and parts

At a glance:

2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Design

The 4kg weight saving makes it feel more like a regular mountain bike
While the technology inside the new Genie-branded rear suspension is all-new Specialized hasn’t messed with the design or geometry of the Levo SL for this 2025 update, the Alloy using exactly the same measurements as its lighter Carbon equivalent. Nothing wrong with that, given the bike already looked good and handled even better, the Alloy a kilo or so heavier than the Carbon like-for-like and perhaps not quite as fancy looking but a lot more affordable. The motor and 320Wh battery are also carried over, the SL differing from the ‘full power’ Levo through its more modest levels of assistance. The idea being the 4kg weight saving makes it feel more like a regular mountain bike on the trail for riders coming to e-bikes with a level of fitness and riding ability and perhaps put off by the weight of full power e-bikes. Flexibility we’ve come to appreciate living with the Carbon version of this bike. There’s still a full-power option with an equivalent spec and price if that’s what you want, too.
Expert rating: 5/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Riding position

Specialized has evolved from the industry standard ‘small, medium, large’ progression into a more nuanced range of sizes
For the level of riding the Turbo Levo SL is aimed at fit is crucial, and we like the fact Specialized has evolved from the industry standard ‘small, medium, large’ progression into a more nuanced range of sizes listed S1 to S6. To help you find the right one you enter some measurements into a configurator on the Specialized website and it suggests the one to suit, which in our case turned out to be S5. On the Carbon this fit us perfectly but the design of the Alloy means you can’t put the seat down in the frame quite as far, meaning you might need to size down and compromise on fit if you can’t stretch to the fancier one. Which is a shame. In all other respects the frame angles (geometry in the jargon) and other measurements so critical to the ride quality are all bang on the money, with a long front end and wheelbase for stability and shorter rear with smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel to maintain agility. Taller riders may prefer matched 29-inch wheels, which can be accommodated with a simple switch around of parts at the rear of the bike.
Expert rating: 4/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Practicality

The bike is in its element when the going gets tough but there are better e-bikes for popping to the shops!
Forget the racks, mudguards and lights you’d want on a commuter bike, the Turbo Levo SL being a serious mountain bike built for life out in the wilds. As such the chunky tyres drag on the tarmac and you’re going to get a soaking from mud and spray on a wet day. All part of the fun for the target audience and the bike is in its element when the going gets tough. But there are better e-bikes for popping to the shops or riding to the station! Saying that we did appreciate some of the more practical features, like the hidden multi-tool concealed within the handlebar stem.
Expert rating: 3/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Performance & braking

We liked the flexibility of an e-bike that works for riding in mixed groups of assisted and non-assisted riders
The decision to go full-power Turbo Levo or lighter, lower assistance SL will be down to personal choice, where you ride and who you ride with. Based on experience there’s no escaping the fact you’ll get dropped on an SL if your mates are all on full power e-bikes and race up all the hills on Turbo mode. Each to theirs but having lived with an SL we liked the flexibility of an e-bike that works for riding in mixed groups of assisted and non-assisted riders, like going out with the family. But also has a bit of extra grunt if time is short and you want a bit of a boost for a quick lunchtime blast, or ‘2xYou’ as Specialized puts it. True, you’ll get more of a sweat on pedalling an SL up the hills than you would on a full power Turbo Levo. But if you ride for fitness that will be less of an issue and you’ll be getting the same workout – you’ll just get to the top of the hill a little faster! Brakes for this 2025 Turbo Levo SL have, meanwhile, had an upgrade from those on the previous model, the SRAM Maven hydraulic disc system looking to have come straight from an off-road motorcycle and offering serious stopping power. Which is welcome, given the speeds the SL encourages!
Expert rating: 4/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Ride & handling

If you don’t like the handling out of the box there’s a load of adjustment to tweak the geometry to your tastes
With its aluminium frame the Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy is a close match for the Orange Phase Evo we tested recently and rode back-to-back with the Carbon version. The long, low front end of the Specialized divided opinion on that test, the shorter and more agile Orange finding favour with one tester while we actually preferred the roominess of the Specialized. Worth noting that if you don’t like the handling out of the box there’s a load of adjustment to tweak the geometry to your tastes, or the local terrain where you ride. The mixed MX wheels work really well, meanwhile, the larger front rolling over the rough stuff while the smaller rear keeps it flickable and agile. The new Genie rear shock is a welcome upgrade as well, the ‘bottomless’ bump absorption making it feel like you’ve got another 20mm of rear suspension travel over the previous version for significantly increased speed and confidence on bumpy terrain. Check out the Specialized site for the full technical explanation but it seems to deliver on the promise and is the latest in a line of proprietary suspension tech the brand has developed with its component partners over the years.
Expert rating: 5/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Running costs

This puts greater demands on already hard-working components like chains, gears, tyres and brake pads
The ability to ride harder, faster and further than you might on a non-assisted mountain bike is one of the great benefits of an electrically boosted one. The flipside being this puts greater demands on already hard-working components like chains, gears, tyres and brake pads. Proper maintenance can help these last longer but you have to accept kit may wear out faster than you’re used to, and budget accordingly. At least the purchase prices have been reduced over the previous model, and the saving over the Carbon version helps the Turbo Levo SL Comp seem a little more attainable.
Expert rating: 2/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Reliability

Mountain bikes put a lot more strain on e-bike motors and batteries than normal bikes
Clattering over rocks and riding through mud means mountain bikes put a lot more strain on e-bike motors and batteries than normal bikes, and it’s fair to say this has been reflected in reliability wobbles in the past. The tech seems to be getting better, though, and we’ve suffered no issues on the Turbo Levo SL Carbon we’ve been running for the last six months. We did get a battery error warning on the Alloy after charging it up but that cleared itself after pairing the bike with the app and hasn’t reappeared since. No harm done, though even a small wobble like this can affect confidence in reliability.
Expert rating: 3/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Warranty & servicing

Beyond that the servicing requirements are the same as any other mountain bike
See above but, anecdotally, it seems faults with motors and batteries have been a fact of life for all e-mountain bikes, Turbo Levos included. Thankfully Specialized seems to take good care of its customers and, while the official warranty is a relatively short two years for the motor and battery, owners we know have been satisfied with the ongoing support when things have gone wrong. Beyond that the servicing requirements are the same as any other mountain bike, and very much dependent on how hard and often you ride but well within the capabilities of a competent home mechanic or qualified bike shop.
Expert rating: 3/5

Equipment

All things relative, Specialized offers impressive value for money
Non-cycling friends and family may look horrified at the bottom-line cost of e-mountain bikes like the Turbo Levo SL. But, all things relative, Specialized offers impressive value for money, given the foundations of the frame, motor and battery are already above average and the finishing components are all proven bits of kit. True, you can go fancier. But the new Genie rear shock is seriously trick, the SRAM gears and brakes are all solid stuff and there are no obvious short cuts in any of the Specialized branded finishing kit. There’s also slick integration with the Specialized app, through which you can keep tabs on your ride data, configure elements of the bike and more.
Expert rating: 4/5
2025 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy e-bike

Why buy?

Mid-power models like the Turbo Levo SL are a great ‘gateway’ into the world of e-bikes
If you’re a keen mountain biker, have a base level of fitness and have been weighing up the pros and cons of going electric mid-power models like the Turbo Levo SL are a great ‘gateway’ into the world of e-bikes. Power junkies are still better served with the standard Turbo Levo. But we like the SL for the fact it hops and skips over the obstacles like a regular mountain bike, rather than just bulldozing all before it. Each to theirs but to us it feels like the SL offers most of the benefits of an e-mountain bike with fewer of the compromises, backed up with the reassurance of coming from one of the biggest names in the business.
Expert rating: 5/5

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