2020 specialised levo sl or something newer, ie '23, '24

[Trash_panda]

Hello all,

I'm looking for suggestions on my next and first e-mtb. The long story short is that there's someone fairly local selling, what sounds to be a looked after canal path use type of, specialised levo sl for around 2k
https://www.ebay.de/itm/306184685350?mkcid=16&...

Alternatively I could get a bike from rebike thats a 23/24 model that's around 4k
https://rebike.com/de/specialized-levo-comp-alloy-...
(I've picked that one but could be any other brand etc)

And I can't figure out what to do, it's going to be used almost daily on forest roads with, hopefully, 2 Sundays a month doing local blue and red trails.

Part of me thinks to just get the cheaper bike and upgrade the parts as they fail

Whereas the other part thinks just get something more modern that comes with a warranty and I don't have to worry about fking around with it.

Was tempted just to say fk it and buy an amflow (cheaper in Germany for some reason and don't know why that bike but just because) but don't think my company are signed up for the cycle to work scheme

And finally, bar the levo or a cube 160, can anyone recommend a decent forest/bike park (like chicksands)/blue and red trails full sus etmb bike?

Thanks

[mattvanders]

Would this be your first ebike purchase? Age and intention for skill improvement? I only ask as to understand what is the need of the bike, I’ve recently purchased a big travel ebike for the days of Surrey for winch and plummet riding which is great. When taken on flatter trail flow trails I hated it and would much prefer my peddler so if you wanted one bike to rule them all a lighter weight would make the most about of sense. Friends have just got last years whyte ebike for a great price which has a small battery and smaller motor but both can be upgraded to larger if needed.

[Trash_panda]

mattvanders said:

Would this be your first ebike purchase? Age and intention for skill improvement? I only ask as to understand what is the need of the bike, I’ve recently purchased a big travel ebike for the days of Surrey for winch and plummet riding which is great. When taken on flatter trail flow trails I hated it and would much prefer my peddler so if you wanted one bike to rule them all a lighter weight would make the most about of sense. Friends have just got last years whyte ebike for a great price which has a small battery and smaller motor but both can be upgraded to larger if needed.

Hello,

Thanks for replying and in response to yours points;
1. New to etmb and not ridden my old tail and anger in ages.
2. Closer to 40 than 50 and not going to be a risk taker anymore as previous injuries are catching up.
3. If we use chicksands for example, I liked the flowing trails and the 4x but not interested in the bumps there. I guess my bike also limited me/my skill level isn't good enough (happy to admit that) but whilst I enjoyed the bull run, I preferred 4x types and doing jumps there

So looking to do the same sort of thing along with forest roads. Not really interested in enduro type riding. So thinking 140mm travel, I know 120mm is probably more my level but...

4. I was looking at the whytes and last years model of some description but they don't seem to popular over here (Germany) and/or expensive as there doesn't appear to be any used.

I'm hoping that work are going to sign up to the cycle to work scheme which will make a new bike more viable but given my intentions and ability, not really wanting to spend new (this years model) bike money

Thanks

[Trash_panda]

That levo sl is down to 1800 now

Local bike shop wasn't exactly singing the praises of cube or focus

[mattvanders]

Friends got that Levo sl and have done some playing around with it to turn it into a more trail/enduro set up which does make it a great bike for a lot of riding (longer fork and angle headset, over shocked). I have a kenevo which is great for the bigger, harder hitting days but a complete pig on flowing trails. Orbea rise is the only other bike I can think off that may fit your bill

[Trash_panda]

Hello,

After watching and reading various reviews, I'm kinda looking at the;

• simplon repcon pmax bosch engined as seemed to have found a 2023 at a shop with 6km on the clock but 500 battery
• scor 4060 st new (currently half price) but the shimano motor might not be as reliable as the bosch unit

Both get great reviews and the scor seems to have better specs plus more suited to my requirements, though the simplon is raved about as a good all rounder with downhill focus.

Midlife crisis in me suggests the amflow but the cheaper one (£500 cheaper than the uk somehow)

Then there's the orbea wild, mondraker chaser (but can only find entry spec 2nd hand) or crafty r or the various cube 140s. Or various treks or giants. I can't do canyon as I won't be to take delivery of it

I did do the ebike-mtb website, find your bike thing, and they suggested;
Spec turbo levo expert
Santa cruz heckler
Orbea wild m-ltd
Meridian e160 975
Ibis so
Obviously I'd ve looking at older models new or 2nd hand.

But I'm assuming that's from the bikes they've tested as I looked for reviews of the mondrakers on there and they don't have any

Edited by Trash_panda on Sunday 27th April 21:24

[APOLO1]

I would not bother with a Levo SL, they are so under-powered. Go for anyone of the full power Levos they are great fun and very reliable...

[megaphone]

APOLO1 said:

I would not bother with a Levo SL, they are so under-powered. Go for anyone of the full power Levos they are great fun and very reliable...

But they are soo heavy and unless the OP is doing lots of climbs, they are overkill.

I have a Levo SL, it does everything I want and I keep up with my mate who has a full fat Levo. I leave him behind when we need to lift them over a gate or style.

That said I still prefer to ride my peddler, far more fun unless I have a big climb.

[Trash_panda]

Fair enough, ive kind of settled on a Simplon rapcon either at 3900 euros
https://bikebox-shop.de/detail/01934eb2880a71a3ac4...

Or same an older one at 4600, which appears to have better wheels (which i won't notice really) and a carbon fibre bar

https://bikebox-shop.de/e-bikes/e-mountainbikes/fu...

Though the cheaper newer bike has the be2 engine/modes and not sure about the other.

Though still thinking I could future proof myself abit and go with the amflow as I'll be using it daily doing 20km/12 miles a day (unlessnits raining) and the bigger battery could come in useful.

Or reading up about the bosch batteries, seems like 500wh can be upgraded to the bigger capacities via bigger batteries on the same tray but no idea the costs involved.

But I guess could do the same to an on spec. Bike and swap out to the latest hardware but would have to swap everything