Specialized Turbo Creo 28mph Electric Road Bike
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I just wish I didn't have to double and triple click to go down a mode. And that the motor was quieter.
I test rode the aluminum Creo (Erie, PA USA) at $5000. Only did a half hour on some hills near my home so I need a longer ride when the weather improves. I like it's hill climbing ability but do not like:
1. motor hum
2. the fact that to go down from a higher mode you have to double or triple click.
1. motor hum
2. the fact that to go down from a higher mode you have to double or triple click.
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Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
Here's the new E5 colors, we should be getting our stock any day! Shoot me a message with any questions.
Here's what Specialized has to say:
We have a long history of developing the world's highest performing road bikes. Tarmac, Venge, Roubaix, Allez, Diverge—each one dominates their respective category, featuring the best technologies in the industry. And while that's a tough palmarès to follow, the Turbo Creo SL redefines e-road bike performance. It's lightweight, smooth, capable, and lively—all with the power to flatten mountains, laugh at headwinds, and go farther than you ever thought possible. It's you, only faster.
The Turbo Creo SL E5 Comp features an E5 Premium Aluminum frame and a Future Shock 1.5. For the spec, we included a 1x Shimano GRX group to take on shifting and braking duties, while DT R470 Boost™ wheels get wrapped in 28mm Turbo Pro tires to keep you rolling worry-free. And for the saddle, you'll find that our fan-favorite Body Geometry Power Sport provides plenty of comfort.
Here's what Specialized has to say:
We have a long history of developing the world's highest performing road bikes. Tarmac, Venge, Roubaix, Allez, Diverge—each one dominates their respective category, featuring the best technologies in the industry. And while that's a tough palmarès to follow, the Turbo Creo SL redefines e-road bike performance. It's lightweight, smooth, capable, and lively—all with the power to flatten mountains, laugh at headwinds, and go farther than you ever thought possible. It's you, only faster.
The Turbo Creo SL E5 Comp features an E5 Premium Aluminum frame and a Future Shock 1.5. For the spec, we included a 1x Shimano GRX group to take on shifting and braking duties, while DT R470 Boost™ wheels get wrapped in 28mm Turbo Pro tires to keep you rolling worry-free. And for the saddle, you'll find that our fan-favorite Body Geometry Power Sport provides plenty of comfort.
- The Creo SL is the lightest e-bike in its class—literally kilograms lighter than the competition. Not only does the lightweight and stiff, premium E5 alloy frame inspire dancing on the pedals and diving into corners, it also reduces overall system weight and increases the range.
- The lightweight SL 1.1 motor doubles your effort with as much as 240 watts of silent and powerful assistance to amplify your ride. The motor’s responsive torque curve delivers power perfectly in-tune with your normal riding cadence and leaves no resistance when riding unassisted.
- Battery anxiety? Not on the Creo SL. With up to 80 miles of range from the internal battery, the Creo SL eats up big miles and long days. Our optional range extender provides up to 40 additional miles of mountain-flattening power.
- By connecting with our Mission Control App, you're able to tune the SL 1.1 motor to your riding style, record rides, and monitor the battery. The app can handle battery management automatically too, ensuring the battery will last as long as you need it to. The motor even has a built-in power meter that transmits to any ANT+ head unit. Don’t want to connect? No worries—the Turbo Connect Unit (TCU) on the top tube gives you all the control you need to ride.
- With the Future Shock 1.5, you'll feel a reduction in fatigue and an increase in speed, no matter the terrain. The Future Shock 1.5 is progressively tuned for road and gravel and gives you more control via a knob atop the stem. The new Smooth Boot and top cap also enhance the aesthetic, so you get a clean transition from head tube to stem.
- We’ve learned there can be more difference between two male cyclists than between a male and a female cyclist. Gender alone doesn’t provide enough data to specialize. It means that separating bikes as male or female is arbitrary and outdated. With this in mind, we've developed a geometry that's best-fit for all riders—one that's comfortable, snappy, and handles like a dream.
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I wonder what the differences are between the carbon fiber and aluminum models. I note that the CF models have the Future Shock 2.0 while the aluminum model has a Future Shock 1.5. What's the difference there? I don't see the weight of the aluminum mentioned. Does the aluminum model only come in the SL configuration or is there also the SL EVO model?
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
I would suspect it's about a pound heavier than the Comp model, maybe a little more. Wheels are the same as it's the only off the shelf road-boost wheelset available. Biggest difference from 2.0 to 1.5 Futureshock is hydraulic dampening to smooth out vibrations.
The aluminum weighs a few pounds more and has aluminum instead of carbon rims. To me the cheaper shock works just as well. Thus saving about $1200.
I logged in the Specialized Canadian site and didn't see it.
But with a bit of searching I did find it on the USA site!
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I took a short test ride on a Turbo Creo SL Comp today. I mainly wanted to compare it to my current Yamaha Wabash. The Creo definitely has a true road bike feel to it. I could feel its lightness in maneuverability compared to the 45lb Wabash, which feels more like riding a mountain bike. The Creo felt much more like my acoustic 21lb Wilier. The motor noise was much lower than the Yamaha PW-SE. It was just a soft whine. The boost levels were set to stock. When seated but climbing a mild hill, the lowest setting (ECO) at 35% felt much like the lowest Yamaha setting (ECO+) at 50%. I did notice that when I stood up climbing a hill, the Creo boost wasn't near that of the Yamaha. This may be the result of the Creo having only 35Nm of torque while the Wabash has 70Nm. I believe the Creo stock ECO setting is 35% of input and 35% of Peak Power which might also limit the response when standing. The Wabash is 50% input and 100% of Peak Power. On the Wabash I spend the majority of time in the lowest boost setting so I didn't spend much time testing the Sport or Turbo settings on the Creo but both had a noticeable higher boost than ECO. The Turbo was enough boost that on level ground it felt like I was ghost peddling. Fortunately, the color I wanted (Pearl White/Red) wasn't in stock so I had an excuse to back off and think about it some more.
It's there when you hit the 'Discover Creo' button but not if you just scroll down.
www.specialized.com
Turbo Creo SL Comp E5
We have a long history of developing the world's highest performing road bikes. Tarmac, Venge, Roubaix, Allez, Diverge—each one dominates their respecti...
On the US site you have to hit the "Shop Turbo Creo" button on the first screen, right below the "It's You, Only Faster" heading.It's there when you hit the 'Discover Creo' button but not if you just scroll down.
Turbo Creo SL Comp E5
We have a long history of developing the world's highest performing road bikes. Tarmac, Venge, Roubaix, Allez, Diverge—each one dominates their respecti...
As mentioned above, I test rode a Creo SL Comp. I currently have a Yamaha Wabash which is a drop bar gravel bike. I enjoy the Wabash as it gives me the option to ride dirt roads and poor sections of paved roads. I converted the stock 33mm tires to 38mm tubeless and run lower pressure (45-50psi) which smooths out the chip seal, road cracks, potholes, etc. That said, I discussed with the salesman the differences between the SL Comp (road bike) and the SL Comp EVO (gravel bike). Besides the color options, the EVO has a dropper post and wider gravel tires (38 vs 28). I put a dropper post on my Wabash and have only used it once on a steep downhill. I usually lower it when dismounting and mounting just so I don't have to swing my leg as high. I can do without it on the Creo. The dealer said if I bought the SL Comp he would swap out the 28 road tires for 38 gravel tires as both bikes use the same rims. Just for grins I asked him about the differences between the Comp and the Expert. Besides the color options and the $2,500 increased price, the only differences are carbon rims and SI2 shifting. While the SI2 is wonderful on a double chainring, I just don't see much advantage on the 1x11 setup. The shifting may be smoother and more responsive but without the cross chain situations with a double chainring that the DI2 automatically handles, I can't rationalize the added cost. I've talked myself into the SL Comp at $6,500. Now to start working on the wife. LOL
I'll be selling the Wabash to slightly offset the Creo's pain in the wallet. I'll be getting the SL Comp and the dealer will swap out the 28mm tires to 38mm. The Creo will replace the Wabash as my gravel bike. The only things missing will be the dropper post and the flared bars and I didn't really use either on the Wabash. This should be a nice light weight gravel bike, 17 lbs lighter than the Wabash.
Saratoga Dave
Well-Known Member
So what was your overall assessment of the Wabash? Never seen one in the wild, but they look pretty appealing.
The Wabash is a wonderful ebike. Relatively light (43lbs) for it's fairly low price (list $3,500). It's well built, comfortable to ride (if you prefer drop bars), very good motor (except it's slightly noisy) and has a 3 year warranty. With the speed, cadence, and torque sensors it's extremely smooth. There is no jerkiness at all. It reads input from the three at something like 10 times per second so it has instant response. I tend to stand on the pedals when climbing and the bike picks up the added pedal torque and seamlessly adds power. It is a class 1 so the motor cuts out at 20 mph but it does so smoothly that I never know it happened unless I glance at the speedo. I almost exclusively ride in the lowest boost setting (+ECO) and I could do over 100 miles on the 500W battery. Today I rode 52 miles with 1,600ft elevation gain and only used 26% of the battery.
The only reason I'm going to sell it and move up to the Creo is the weight factor. The Wabash is riding a mountain bike and the Creo is riding a road bike. When I ride my acoustic road bike (21lbs) it's so nimble. I can feel the weight of the Wabash.
Put down a deposit on a Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon today. The color I want (Ghost Pearl/Rocket Red) isn't currently available but they're "In Transit". Mine should be here in 2-3 weeks. I negotiated about $400 in extras to be included in the $6,500 base price so I feel good about the decision.
Guitar dave
New Member
I bought a Turbo Creo Comp Carbon a month ago thinking I would put the Evo tires on the included DT wheels, and buy a $1200 set of the upgraded carbon c38 wheels found on the upper range Creos and put my original road tires on them, and disc's. Then I could just swap out wheels for gravel vs road. Good plan, right?
Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered Specialized does not yet offer these wheels as an upgrade, and that particular hub size is proprietary! I just want to buy a set of the c38's, and can't! At least yet...
Specialized, please make these available. This is not serving your customer...
Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered Specialized does not yet offer these wheels as an upgrade, and that particular hub size is proprietary! I just want to buy a set of the c38's, and can't! At least yet...
Specialized, please make these available. This is not serving your customer...
This is what I'm doing. The dealer is doing a straight across swap from the road 28s to the EVO's 38 gravel tires. I originally wanted some 33 gravel tires but he didn't have many choices so I'm going with the 38s.
I'm currently running the 38 gravel tires on my Vado. As a roady at heart, I think they are perfect road tires. The centre smooth patch is good for smooth roads while they are also great on rough stone chip roads. Around here, the stone chip roads are the majority so personally I would just stick with the 'gravel' tires unless the extra watt of reduction is worth it to you.
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