Issues with the Turbo Creo SL (all variants)

arnoldc

Active Member
Hi folks, as some are aware I own a Turbo Creo SL Comp Evo. My intention is for us to be able to share notes about issues with our bikes and what are the resolutions.

Here are mine:

1. Sunrace cassette

I am aware that this version of Creo SL comes with a Sunrace cassette and it is what it is. This is my first time to experience Sunrace products and it is a letdown. As I previously posted, the tuning was off and I had to tune the rear derailleur to my satisfaction. That part is now past me. However, the fact that my cassette have some minor (like 2 teeth in 2 cogs) imperfection, I am not inclined to pursue a warranty claim with Specialized because they will just give me another Sunrace cassette. At $6,500 price point, this bike deserves a Deore XT cassette.

2. Squeaking Futureshock cover [FIXED]

This is SUPER annoying! And hard to troubleshoot. If I turn the handlebar left and right, there's no noise. But the moment I ride the bike, the noise will pester me throughout the ride. I grabbed the entire cover and the noise disappeared and the moment I released it, the noise comes back. The local Specialized technician argues that the lip part maybe rubbing the frame but it does not. I can put a sheet of plastic and paper between the lip and the frame and they don't touch (maybe when riding, which I still have to test.

3. TCU still presents itself as "Levo"

This one is cosmetic. In the Mission Control (2.2.0 build 50) app, the Tune settings still show Eco, Trail, and Turbo when Trail should be Sport. Similarly, using Connect IQ of Garmin, the data field shows TRAIL. It seems to me that the TRAIL is hard coded. If the TCU generates 0, 1, 2, 3 and the developers assumed 2 = Trail then that's what causes it.

The Mission Control app do identify the TCU as Creo SL because there are no "Acceleration Response" and "Shuttle" options in mine.

4. Futureshock rocks

In our recent ride, during take off on an incline, the fork turned left while handlebar still points straight forward. Thankfully, I'm not in a downhill or something. After slightly tightening the bolts, there is a forward rocking motion every time I apply the front brake.

5. Dropper post seized

The X-Fusion dropper post no longer drops. I was told by my Specialized dealership that I am another one that has the X-Fusion problem wherein the cartridge is "wasted."
 

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fwiw - I haven't experienced an issue with 1 or 2, and I haven't noticed 3.

My biggest gripe is the gearing. 46x11 is not a high enough gear. I've asked my LBS to talk to Specialized to see if a bigger chain ring will fit. I'm hopeful that at least a 48T will fit, I doubt a 50T will fit as it looks pretty tight and I wouldn't be surprised if they told me 46T is as big as it goes. I'm planning on replacing the Shimano driver with a SRAM xD driver on my rear hub. That way I can get a 10-42 SRAM MTB cassette on the back and at least marginally increase the gearing while at the same time upgrading the quality of the rear cassette.

If I can get a 48T chain ring and a 10T on the rear then I think that gearing will be pretty good for top end. As it is I'm finding myself spun out a lot and with only a 46T up front I'm using the smallest 3 or 4 cogs most of the time. For me that's the biggest fail of this bike. It's targeted towards roadies and the gearing is not well suited. I have a motor to help me spin those big gears and now I have smaller top end than I do on my regular road bike.
 
I'm going to add another build issue where the dropper post cable is insanely short compared to the others, clearly in this photo. The cable rubs the frame when steering to the left.
 

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My SL Comp has none of those issues. No squeaks, no gearing problems. I can’t believe what a quality product this is. It’s miles above my Yamaha Wabash and I was impressed with it, just a bit heavy.
 
Dave you're making feel better about buying the Creo :) - Don't get me wrong, overall I'm happy but I just don't think it makes sense to have lower gearing on a road bike with a motor than you typically get on road bikes without a motor.
 
I managed to fix the squeaking noise with my Evo. The issue is caused by a thin gap between the "ring" inside the rubber boot and the tall headset cap. Eliminating this gap fixed the issue.
 
New day, new issue. The cable cover/seal popped out, the screw is still screwed (sic) into the frame though.
 

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New day, new issue. The cable cover/seal popped out, the screw is still screwed (sic) into the frame though.
Should have had small screws like a BH. If you glue it, you may need to open it in the future for cable change/other things .
Do it maybe with a small piece of double side tape ?

Looking closer , i notice that small hole for a screw , was there one and it popped out ?
 

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Should have had small screws like a BH. If you glue it, you may need to open it in the future for cable change/other things .
Do it maybe with a small piece of double side tape ?

Looking closer , i notice that small hole for a screw , was there one and it popped out ?
The screw is intact, still there. The cover popped out due to poor cable routing of the the brake cable. My LBS said the cable is already in when the bike was given to them, they just trimmed it. They will be routing a new cable at my convenience.

Attached is the photo showing bad routing (bent/angled) of the brake cable (top) in relation to the properly routed derailleur cable (bottom).
 

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Dave you're making feel better about buying the Creo :) - Don't get me wrong, overall I'm happy but I just don't think it makes sense to have lower gearing on a road bike with a motor than you typically get on road bikes without a motor.
I think the gearing issue is a result of having a single chainring. I have taken my Creo on some off-road trails and found the stock gearing isn’t quite low enough. While helping the road gearing, increasing the chainring would just make the low gearing worse. It’s just too bad the bike doesn’t have a double chainring.
 
Yes, a double chain ring would be better. I'm guessing the motor would need to be a bit slimmer in order to get a double chain ring. I would think it's a chain line issue. For MTB a single ring makes sense, but I'm not sold on a single ring for a road bike.
 
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