Levo SL - De-restrict?

[Gee_Whiz]

I'm curious.. has anyone derestricted an Levo SL (if its even possible)? If so, do you get any pedal "spinout" above 20mph? ie the Pedals not really engaging the gears at higher speeds? Also, what does your range look like after destricting?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hell yeah. With a 32T chainring

 

[Gee_Whiz]

Lol yes thats why im curious if people destrict and find an benefit on the Levo platform

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Lol yes thats why im curious if people destrict and find an benefit on the Levo platform

Whiz: People do not buy a premium Electric Mountain E-Bike to ride it in the city...

 

[TXPearl]

Whiz: People do not buy a premium Electric Mountain E-Bike to ride it in the city...

Some actually do (just like people drive Jeep Wrangler Rubicons that never see dirt!). Even if you use it for what it was designed, you spend a fair amount of time in transit on pavement/light trails and, if you don't need the extreme gearing for your area (e.g. Florida), you might consider modifications.

I just swapped out the chainring on my Levo SL (from 30t to 34t....that's the largest simple swap possible without reworking chain-guides, chain length etc.). Gee_Whiz, that would help some with the "spinout" issues. Stock, the pedals are spinning up pretty fast above 20mph so the derestrictor alone wouldn't do you much good. If you really want the bike to go fast, you'll need to upgrade the wheels tires to something lighter and with less drag than the stock setup (but at the risk of sacrificing off-road ability).

I'm considering de-restricting mine, but realistically it will still be limited to about 25mph because of spinout.

 

[Gee_Whiz]

Just somewhat curious if it could be made to be a psuedo XC bike, as not many exist.. Really its only the Orbea rise right now

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@TXPearl: Many people have discovered they actually didn't need an e-MTB. They needed a full suspension e-SUV. So they start spoiling their beautiful machines.

Levo SL is such a specialized e-bike! A class e-MTB for aware & strong riders, for riding technical trails as if the Levo were a trad MTB. I just want to save Whiz a lot of disappointment.

Whiz would be best of if he really bought a full power SUV e-bike, one made by Riese & Muller or Moustache. These e-bikes don't want to be lightweight though. Also, "urbanizing" a full power Levo would be more beneficial than doing same to the SL as Whiz is all about the speed, and you need motor power for that.

 

[Nubnub]

Some actually do (just like people drive Jeep Wrangler Rubicons that never see dirt!). Even if you use it for what it was designed, you spend a fair amount of time in transit on pavement/light trails and, if you don't need the extreme gearing for your area (e.g. Florida), you might consider modifications.

I just swapped out the chainring on my Levo SL (from 30t to 34t....that's the largest simple swap possible without reworking chain-guides, chain length etc.). Gee_Whiz, that would help some with the "spinout" issues. Stock, the pedals are spinning up pretty fast above 20mph so the derestrictor alone wouldn't do you much good. If you really want the bike to go fast, you'll need to upgrade the wheels tires to something lighter and with less drag than the stock setup (but at the risk of sacrificing off-road ability).

I'm considering de-restricting mine, but realistically it will still be limited to about 25mph because of spinout.

Good info on the 34t, tho I might experiment with a bit higher when I change out the chain. Looks like it adds about 3mph for the 34. Interesting that it works out that everything in green would be 0 assist on the SL Class 1. I assume derestricting will open up assist up to 28mph? I agree with your comment that there is a use for higher speeds to get to the trails. Around here can there are several trails 5-15 miles out. I could see derestricting being useful to allow power assist on the way to/from these trails.

 

[PDoz]

Just somewhat curious if it could be made to be a psuedo XC bike, as not many exist.. Really its only the Orbea rise right now

The sl is arguably more of a xcountry bike than the rise - the geometry is quicker steering and the nature of the sl motor encourages high cadence / efficient pedalling. It's easy to pedal past the speed range - almost no resistance, and it's a reasonably efficient bike to ride without assistance.

If you are willing to run the less aggressive ( lighter) x country tyres like the recons that come standard on a rise, you have a bike almost 2 kg lighter ( even more if you get the higher spec carbon wheeled version with higher spec cassette etc) ,

BUT , if you think a derestricted SL is going to punch you along at high speed like a full power derestricted bike, you are going to be disappointed. You need to spin the cranks to keep the mahle working.

BTW , I think 34 T is the max chainwheel that fits, if you are hoping to ride at higher speeds make sure you select a version with xd hub so the smallest rear cog is 10 T ( rather than the 11 on the nx cassete / hg hub that some of the base models get)

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I could see derestricting being useful to allow power assist on the way to/from these trails.

Buy several Range Extenders I rode Vado SL in 100/100% Turbo today (on the flat). With such energy expenditure, a single RE was good for 18.5 km (11.5 mi).

 

[Gee_Whiz]

The sl is arguably more of a xcountry bike than the rise - the geometry is quicker steering and the nature of the sl motor encourages high cadence / efficient pedalling. It's easy to pedal past the speed range - almost no resistance, and it's a reasonably efficient bike to ride without assistance.

If you are willing to run the less aggressive ( lighter) x country tyres like the recons that come standard on a rise, you have a bike almost 2 kg lighter ( even more if you get the higher spec carbon wheeled version with higher spec cassette etc) ,

BUT , if you think a derestricted SL is going to punch you along at high speed like a full power derestricted bike, you are going to be disappointed. You need to spin the cranks to keep the mahle working.

BTW , I think 34 T is the max chainwheel that fits, if you are hoping to ride at higher speeds make sure you select a version with xd hub so the smallest rear cog is 10 T ( rather than the 11 on the nx cassete / hg hub that some of the base models get)

Thank you PDoz!

 

[TXPearl]

Good info on the 34t, tho I might experiment with a bit higher when I change out the chain.

BTW , I think 34 T is the max chainwheel that fits, if you are hoping to ride at higher speeds make sure you select a version with xd hub so the smallest rear cog is 10 T ( rather than the 11 on the nx cassete / hg hub that some of the base models get)

I forgot to mention that the Levo SL has a somewhat rare 94BCD chainring vs the more common 104BCD in the full Levo. That also greatly limits upgrade options without changing out other components. I got a Wolftooth narrow/wide 34T.

 

[Gee_Whiz]

Hmm.. @TXPearl Is that the same on the Kenevo to your knowledge?

 

[Gee_Whiz]

This is actually really good info; I also found a similar thread here that provided perspective on RPM cadence and attributed bike speeds: https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/help-my-emtb-go-faster-tech-says-it-cant.28468/ @Timpo helped a ton in that one too!

Thank you so much all for the input and perspectives!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

FWIW, I used a 38T chainring for my full power Vado on my mountain rides and was happy. Once returned to the plains, I replaced the ring with a 42T one. The original spec on that Vado reads 48T.

As the table from Nub indicates, you get at 20 mph at cadence of 85 rpm with the 34T. Was someone here talking about derestricting a 20 mph U.S. Levo SL? To what purpose? Is anyone here a freaking Lance Armstrong to sustain the cadence of 120 for extended ride periods?! Anyone willing to replace the 11T cassette cog often as it will wear out soon, and yes, these cogs do wear out?

Any good e-bike is built for a purpose. A Levo SL is built to be a lightweight technical trail e-MTB. Period.

 

[PDoz]

T. Was someone here talking about derestricting a 20 mph U.S. Levo SL? To what purpose? Is anyone here a freaking Lance Armstrong to sustain the cadence of 120 for extended ride periods?! Anyone willing to replace the 11T cassette cog often as it will wear out soon, and yes, these cogs do wear out?

Any good e-bike is built for a purpose. A Levo SL is built to be a lightweight technical trail e-MTB. Period.

When approaching a set of doubles down hill, it's distracting to have the assistance cut in / out because you are sitting around the limit. Especially if you only have room / time for half a stroke and it's a big gap.....

An sl is the only emtb I'd de restrict - it's not as though my 65/100 support is blasting me along at super high speed!

 

[Gee_Whiz]

When approaching a set of doubles down hill, it's distracting to have the assistance cut in / out because you are sitting around the limit. Especially if you only have room / time for half a stroke and it's a big gap.....

An sl is the only emtb I'd de restrict - it's not as though my 65/100 support is blasting me along at super high speed!

This would be my reasoning as well. It makes more sense imo, to manage the level of assist in an app, vs at the pedal, since the app method seems like it would be smoother than the motor just stopping abruptly

 

[Stefan Mikes]

since the app method seems like it would be smoother than the motor just stopping abruptly

You still seem not understand. There's nothing like an "abrupt stop" of the SL 1.1 motor. Riding downhill? Just pedal if you like. Don't expect a solid assistance on the flat though.

 

[Gee_Whiz]

You still seem not understand. There's nothing like an "abrupt stop" of the SL 1.1 motor. Riding downhill? Just pedal if you like. Don't expect a solid assistance on the flat though.

Ahh maybe im thinking of how the full motor bikes have a "cutoff" and you notice right away

 

[kahn]

You still seem not understand. There's nothing like an "abrupt stop" of the SL 1.1 motor. Riding downhill? Just pedal if you like. Don't expect a solid assistance on the flat though.

Yes, when I was bombing down the North Cascades Highway, the motor did not interfere with my hitting 47 miles per hour. Obviously, it was not going to add to that speed.