Short Term Review - Specialized Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon

Written By Dan Greenwood. Review period - 6 weeks

Key Specs

Frame: FACT 11m full carbon, 150mm travel
Fork: Fox Rhythm 36, 160mm travel
Shock: FOX FLOAT X Performance with Specialized GENIE Shock Tech
Motor: All New Specialized 3.1 Motor, 101Nm torque, 666W power
Battery: 840Wh
Drivetrain: SRAM S1000 Eagle Transmission, Wired SRAM AXS battery, 12 Speed
Brakes: SRAM Maven Bronze
Wheels: Specialized alloy 29” front / 27.5” rear (mullet setup)
Tyres: Rear Tire - Butcher, GRID GRAVITY casing, GRIPTON T9 compound, 2Bliss Ready, 27.5x2.3"Front Tire - Butcher, GRID GRAVITY casing, GRIPTON  T9 compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3"
Weight: Approx. 23.8kg on the shop scales
Display/Control: All New MasterMind T3 Display System, 2.2" high resolution color screen, fully customizeable with Specialized app

Overview
The first thing that stood out to me on the new Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon was the refreshed design. Specialized has done away with the bulbous motor area that defined the previous generation, and the result is a much sleeker, cleaner-looking bike. While the down tube is still on the chunkier side (as you'd expect with a full-powered e-MTB), the overall silhouette feels more refined and visually balanced.

The orange paint (Gloss Orange Tint Over Silver Dust / Dark Navy) really pops in the sunlight — it’s one of those colours that turns heads in the carpark and on the trail.

In terms of build, the base model is impressively specced across the board, with a solid, no-nonsense selection of components that gets the job done straight out of the box. That said, the one thing that did raise an eyebrow for me was the choice of fork. The Comp model runs a Fox 36 up front, and while it performs well, I feel like a Fox 38 would’ve been more fitting for the category — especially given how capable this bike is on the descents. It doesn’t seem like a major cost difference, so it may be a missed opportunity on Specialized’s part.

Fit and Setup
I’m 6'2" (188cm) and went with a size S5 — it’s a comfortable fit overall, with a roomy front end that gives good stability without feeling stretched out. That said, I’m considering a slightly shorter stem to bring the reach in just a touch for a more dialled-in feel.

Cockpit-wise, I didn’t make any immediate changes out of the box. One tweak I did make early on was to the rear shock. The Levo Gen 4 is designed to feel supple, but after the first ride, it felt like it was blowing through the travel a bit too easily for my liking. I added a Genie band to give the rear shock more support, and it made a noticeable difference — much more controlled without losing that plush feel.

Battery, Motor and Interface
One of the standout features of the new Levo Gen 4 is the updated motor and battery system. The Comp Carbon comes with a massive 840Wh battery, offering seriously impressive range — perfect for big days with lots of climbing. In my experience, even after a 32km ride with 1,200m of elevation, I still had 30% battery left, which speaks volumes about the efficiency of the system.

Powering the bike is Specialized’s latest motor, delivering 101Nm of torque (the S-Works model bumps that up to 110Nm). It’s quiet, smooth, and incredibly natural in its power delivery — there's no sudden surging or lag, just a seamless boost that kicks in when you need it.

The interface is clean and user-friendly. The top tube features a full-colour MasterMind display, which shows everything from your current mode and battery level to more detailed ride stats like cadence, power output, elevation, and even the time. You can cycle through simple or detailed data views with a quick press of the handlebar toggle.

Changing modes is intuitive, with options for Eco, Trail, Auto, and Turbo, depending on how much assistance you want. I’ve mostly been riding in Auto mode — the responsiveness is incredibly well-tuned, adjusting power output in real-time based on your input and terrain. There’s also a walk-assist mode, activated by holding down the walk button, which is handy on awkward hike-a-bike sections.

Overall, the motor system feels like a massive leap forward — it’s one of the smoothest and most refined setups I’ve used on a full-powered e-MTB.

Suspension Travel
The Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon runs a well-balanced suspension setup with 160mm of travel up front and 150mm in the rear. You get a Fox 36 fork, while the rear shock is a custom-tuned Fox Float X featuring the "Genie" technology developed specifically for Specialized.

This travel combination hits a real sweet spot for what this bike is designed to do. It’s enough to confidently tackle rough, technical descents without overdoing it and dulling the ride feel on mellower terrain. Any less travel, and the bike would feel outgunned; any more, and it would start to lose the snappy, efficient character that makes it climb and corner so well.

The rear suspension in particular feels impressively supportive — especially after fitting a Genie band to tune the progression. It soaks up hits without wallowing, giving the bike a composed, planted feel while still being playful enough to pump, pop, and change direction easily.

Ride Impressions
The motor truly shines from the very first climb. On my local test — a long, steep fire trail — the Levo just cruised. There was no power drop-off or need to dig in harder than usual.

Even on the steeper, more technical climbs, it didn’t miss a beat. The motor handled everything without fuss and still had battery to spare. What impressed me most was how smoothly the power comes on — predictable and controlled, with no sudden surges or awkward jumps in assistance.

Handling and Descending
This bike absolutely comes alive on steep, chunky terrain. The added weight down low from the motor gives it a solid, planted feel that’s incredibly confidence-inspiring — it almost urges you to push harder.

Even though the bike tips the scales at approx. 24kg, it feels remarkably nimble at trail speeds. The weight only really becomes noticeable when trying to lift or hop over obstacles — it just takes a bit more grunt on the initial pull.

Cornering is exceptional. That low centre of gravity plays a big role here, helping the bike stay composed and grippy through turns. On jumps, the Levo feels stable and predictable. It’s easy to become a bit of a passenger on this thing, but when you take control and really put the bike where you want it, it rewards you. It’s surprisingly flickable in the air — easy to get a little flat or throw a few whips when you want to.

Climbing and Traction
Climbing traction might be one of the most impressive traits of this bike. It’s not just about raw power — because if the power wasn’t controlled, the whole experience would fall apart.

The system that handles the power delivery is genuinely exceptional. It somehow knows exactly what you need at the right time. I run the bike in Auto mode most of the time, and it delivers an incredibly refined power response — even on loose, technical climbs.

It makes you want to go out and find the steepest, gnarliest sections of trail just to see what it can do. The way it grips, balances, and assists is seriously next-level.

Potential Mods
While the Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon is an incredibly capable machine right out of the box, there are still a couple of small changes I’d consider to really personalise the ride.

First up, the fork. The Fox 36 is a proven performer, but given how capable this bike is on descents, a Fox 38 would better match its aggressive potential. The added stiffness up front would give more confidence when pushing hard through rough, high-speed terrain.

The brakes, on the other hand, are spot on. Specialized has spec’d SRAM Maven Bronze brakes, and they’ve been excellent so far — plenty of power and great consistency even on longer descents. No upgrades needed there.

One thing I’m toying with is the stem length. The stock 40mm stem offers a stable, confident ride, but for a slightly more playful, responsive front end — especially on tighter singletrack — I’d consider swapping to a 33mm stem. It’s a small change but could help dial in the fit just that bit more.

Final Verdict
The new Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon is a seriously refined and well-rounded e-MTB. It climbs with remarkable efficiency and traction, handles technical descents with confidence, and delivers one of the smoothest, most intuitive power-assist systems on the market.

Visually, it’s a big step forward from the previous generation, with a sleeker design and standout finish. The geometry feels modern and well-balanced, and aside from a few minor personal tweaks and a bit of a drag from the motor on flat trails, there’s very little this bike needs out of the box.

If you’re chasing a full-powered e-MTB that can tackle long days, big climbs, handle rough descents, and leave you smiling lap after lap, the Levo Gen 4 Comp Carbon makes a compelling case. It’s the kind of bike that makes you smile… A LOT.