Acme
Well-Known Member
Hydra V Turbo Levo
I’ve been riding my Hydra for the past couple months and very content but I just kept thinking to myself do I need all that power? Would it be nicer to have a bike that was 10 pounds lighter? Everyone else rides the euro spec bikes and they seem happy. Would I get more battery range using less power?
So today I went down and rented a 2019 turbo levo. They said the Brose SMag had the latest update.
First impressions
The Levo is a nice bike, it appeared to have a rockshox RL gold front and a rockshox monarch rear. These however were not even close to the mezzer pro and rockshox super deluxe I have on the hydra The brakes were struggling to stop the bike. My MT 7’s are like years better.
Power.
The levo had three modes. Assist level one was not much assist. Assist 2 was very close to eco 1 on my hydra. Great of flat ground or mild hills.
Turbo or assist three on the Levo was between eco 1 and eco 2 on my hydra.
Considering I spend the majority of my time in Eco 2 on my Hydra this is a big shortcoming.
Difficult but not very steep trail climbing.
I would give the edge to the Turbo Levo here. It is very maneuverable even with the 29s. If bounces it over rocks better than the 27.5s also. The wheelbase is noticeably shorter which adds to the maneuverability. It felt like the bottom bracket was higher with less pedal strikes.
Climbing steep loose utility roads.
We tested it on the the roads I showed my hydra climbing in an earlier video. I really was not any more impressed than the Cannondale with Shimano steps 7000 I had ridden on the same trail. It would manage well up to about 19°. After that I was pushing harder on the pedals to climb. This caused me to either stand and loose traction or turn far more than I would have liked. On my Hydra I feel much more planted and can keep the bike going in a straight line. The Hydra eco 2 is a more powerful assist which allows me to relax.
A lot of my rides involve some riding on the street coming and going
When we were on the way home from the trail the hydra which normally gets put in eco 3 and barrels down the road at 30 miles an hour was stuck waiting for the Turbo Levo to catch up.
Battery
This is by no means conclusive but at the end of the ride the turbo levo had used 4 out of 10 bars (500wh.) and the hydra and used 26%.
Given the type of riding I do which is much more in the easy trail/utility road category the hydra was definitely the right call especially with the Innotrace controller.
Long story short I am no longer seriously wondering if I want a European spec bike. I know I made the right choice buying the Hydra.
Boy am I happy I found out about Pushkar and Wattwagons.
I’ve been riding my Hydra for the past couple months and very content but I just kept thinking to myself do I need all that power? Would it be nicer to have a bike that was 10 pounds lighter? Everyone else rides the euro spec bikes and they seem happy. Would I get more battery range using less power?
So today I went down and rented a 2019 turbo levo. They said the Brose SMag had the latest update.
First impressions
The Levo is a nice bike, it appeared to have a rockshox RL gold front and a rockshox monarch rear. These however were not even close to the mezzer pro and rockshox super deluxe I have on the hydra The brakes were struggling to stop the bike. My MT 7’s are like years better.
Power.
The levo had three modes. Assist level one was not much assist. Assist 2 was very close to eco 1 on my hydra. Great of flat ground or mild hills.
Turbo or assist three on the Levo was between eco 1 and eco 2 on my hydra.
Considering I spend the majority of my time in Eco 2 on my Hydra this is a big shortcoming.
Difficult but not very steep trail climbing.
I would give the edge to the Turbo Levo here. It is very maneuverable even with the 29s. If bounces it over rocks better than the 27.5s also. The wheelbase is noticeably shorter which adds to the maneuverability. It felt like the bottom bracket was higher with less pedal strikes.
Climbing steep loose utility roads.
We tested it on the the roads I showed my hydra climbing in an earlier video. I really was not any more impressed than the Cannondale with Shimano steps 7000 I had ridden on the same trail. It would manage well up to about 19°. After that I was pushing harder on the pedals to climb. This caused me to either stand and loose traction or turn far more than I would have liked. On my Hydra I feel much more planted and can keep the bike going in a straight line. The Hydra eco 2 is a more powerful assist which allows me to relax.
A lot of my rides involve some riding on the street coming and going
When we were on the way home from the trail the hydra which normally gets put in eco 3 and barrels down the road at 30 miles an hour was stuck waiting for the Turbo Levo to catch up.
Battery
This is by no means conclusive but at the end of the ride the turbo levo had used 4 out of 10 bars (500wh.) and the hydra and used 26%.
Given the type of riding I do which is much more in the easy trail/utility road category the hydra was definitely the right call especially with the Innotrace controller.
Long story short I am no longer seriously wondering if I want a European spec bike. I know I made the right choice buying the Hydra.
Boy am I happy I found out about Pushkar and Wattwagons.
My wife wants me to have my Hydra Cerakoted Burnt Bronze. Because black or Porcsha Grey are too plain looking. I think, "Top of the line plain, if you please."
