Specialized Releases Levo SL HT - An eMTB Hardtail for Kids
Specialized has added a new pint-sized electric hardtail to their lineup that uses the same SL 1.2 motor found in the recently launched full-sized, full-suspension Levo SL. The motor provides 50 Nm of torque and is powered by a 320 Wh battery. Considering the lighter weight of the riders this bike is aimed at, they'll be ready for snacks and a nap well before the battery needs to be charged.
The idea is that the very lucky rider (especially so considering the $3,800 price tag) who receives a Levo SL HT will be better equipped to keep up with their parents or other older, stronger, riding companions on longer rides.
The idea is that the very lucky rider (especially so considering the $3,800 price tag) who receives a Levo SL HT will be better equipped to keep up with their parents or other older, stronger, riding companions on longer rides.
Levo SL HT 24 Details
• Aluminum frame
• 100mm fork
• 24" wheels
• Specialized SL 1.2 motor; 50 Nm torque, 320 W power
• 320 Wh battery
• Weight: 36.6 lb (16.6 kg)
• MSRP: $3,800 USD
• specialized.com
• Aluminum frame
• 100mm fork
• 24" wheels
• Specialized SL 1.2 motor; 50 Nm torque, 320 W power
• 320 Wh battery
• Weight: 36.6 lb (16.6 kg)
• MSRP: $3,800 USD
• specialized.com
I don't have kids of my own, but I've spent enough time riding with my niece and nephew to know that the struggle is real – even just getting to the top of a small hill can end up feeling like an epic endeavor, especially when the tears start flowing and no amount of candy bribery can stop the meltdown. The Levo SL HT doesn't come with a no-tears guarantee, but I imagine it'll help reduce the likelihood of a trailside tantrum.
And yes, I'm sure that the mere existence of this bike will cause some outrage. “Kids these days have it too easy. Why, back in my day our bikes had cantilever brakes, tubes in the tires, and we rode uphill both ways. In the snow...” Keep in mind that Specialized isn't the first company to offer a kids eMTB – Commencal, Woom, and Scott, among others have had one in their lineups for years.
Personally, I'm really curious to see the progression of riders that have access to an e-bike at a young age. Do they end up totally shunning non-motorized bikes, or does it become another option, a way to mix things up when they're not on a regular bike? Is it a gateway to dirt biking? Or do they just end up forgetting about mountain biking altogether in favor of TikTok dances or whatever the latest teen craze is?
Getting back to the bike, there's only one size, which has a 365mm reach, a 66-degree head angle with a 100mm fork, and 420mm chainstays. According to Specialized, the low standover height should allow the bike to accommodate riders between 48” - 60” tall (122 -152 cm), or approximately 6-years-old and up.
The parts kit consists of a RockShox Reba fork, SRAM Level T brakes, and an 11-speed NX drivetrain. 24” alloy rims are mounted up with 2.35” wide Specialized Ground Control tires, and there's an 80mm Trans-X dropper post. The frame is available in three colors – Gloss Blaze, Gloss Oak Green, or Satin Black.
In conjunction with the launch of the Levo SL HT, Specialized is also donating hundreds of kids bikes and helmets to various local organizations. They issued the following statement:
"Specialized believes that kids hold the power to create our future and are dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling. With the introduction of their first ever electric mountain bike for kids, their focus was to not only expand the horizons of mountain biking, but to support greater access to the love of riding for all kids. To do so, Specialized is donating over 500 kids bikes and helmets to local organizations so that youth can harness the cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical well-being benefits of cycling."
Photos: Harookz / Specialized
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@islandforlife
Same could be said for bike parks, but it’s not because the value in having them is undeniable. This will eventually be the same.
You want tranquility at home: give your kids a screen.
You want tranquility on trails: give your kids an e-bike.
...
This is the non ebike version of two kid tow
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10665139
When I'm riding with one of my daughters, I don't make that my main ride. I go and have my own ride, then come back and take them for a ride. Giving your kid pedal assist seems like a (very expensive) fix for yourself not being able (or willing) to adapt to your company. Watch Andrew Shandroo ride with is son in the (pre-Anthill) Seasons movie or watch Matt Hunter ride with his son in one of his Little Hunter videos. Those both are amazing riders, capable of amazing things most of us will never come close to. But what they can also do is adapt to their company and spread the stoke. Don't reach for tech-fixes to compensate for their perceived inadequacies but just have fun with what they can do. Don't just see it from your own perspective, knowing what we're already capable of. Because learning to ride dirt is fun every step of the way so it doesn't hurt for a kid to just actually appreciate all those little steps. If your pedal assist already drops you off at 25km/h, you don't discover that you're actually getting stronger or that you've learned to extract speed from the terrain through pumping.
TL;DR: In line with the OP, this is for the parents. Unwilling to adapt to their company and robbing these kids from the chance to experience and appreciate their own progress.
I rode dirt bikes from the time I was 7 years old.
First bike was a Honda 50, still have it actually, got it brand new in 1982, I think it was $800ish.
This seems no different to me really, gets people of all ages, shapes and sizes outside, having a blast
I was a little outraged at first, then had a conversation with myself about what my life looked like.
Does an ebike make a child potentially more "lazy' - probably.
Does it provide a solution to getting kids out on longer rides - definitely.
I think the later could lead to more enjoyment, and is a big factor to those parents who struggle to fit in personal rides in top of riding with kids. Not everyone lives next to trails and everyone has different life commitments!
I think the best of both worlds would be a bike with a removable motor - that way you can sell the benefits of both worlds, and they see the negatives too. Yes that emtb goes further, but it is also heavier and has more challenging handling (a kid is not going to cope with that weight as easily as an adult). The mtb requires more effort, but is livelier handling and better for jumps, wheelies, etc.
TL;DR: Kids like to play. They don't mind getting tired but if the main challenge is endurance and there are no other challenge they can improve upon within that single ride (like discovering they're improving on a section of trail) then you're on the wrong trail. You don't need to put your kid on a faster bike. Instead, put them on a trail where the speed they can achieve already feels fast.
It is like an ebike arguments really - if you use the assistance to ride twice as far you may get a similar workout, but if you are using the assistance to do the same loop as you used to do without assistance you're not very sensible... I'd be trying the former with my lad, if an ebike was vaguely affordable (which it's not!) and I thought it worthwhile...
What kind of crazy non-sense are you talking about.
Its no different than having a dirt bike growing up, how common were those when we were kids?
I grew up in the country, kids of immigrant parents, that moved to Canada when they were in their mid-twenties. They worked their asses off, and taught us to do the same, but they still provided for us, we didnt go without.
I had a dirt bike from the time I was 7, so did most of my friends, we still grew up to ride and race BMX and mountain bikes.
Maybe give yourself a minute to calm down, and actually think about what things were like when you were young.
This is just a more capable PowerWheels toy, that will hold value, and get sold or past down for ages.
2: this just encourages kids to put in no physical effort, and not appreciate what it actually means to ride a bike. Same thing when you see these dumb dads pulling their kids up a hill with a rope. The message there is, "don't worry, someone will always do your hard work for you!". lame AF
3. Yeah, I had a dirt bike as a kid too. I earned it by splitting and stacking firewood for 2 entire summers. Bit of a difference in your analogy, brother.
1. thats pure nonsense, and you know it.
2. In no way does it do that, you buy shoes for your kids right? you dont have them walk around in bare feet cause itll make them stronger right?
3. Its exactly the same thing, You didnt earn all the money yourself, and pay for all the gas and pay for all the maintenance, you had help, just like everyone else did.
I'm not sure why some people get off on trying their damndest to try and prove they did it all themselves. you simply didnt, and you know very well you didnt. You didnt pay rent as an 8 year old, you had food and shelter, and......you get it.
4. Whos to say the kids that get these didnt split wood all summer as well? Youre just so busy puffing up your chest thinking others have it so easy, and things are so tough for you.
You'll be ok muffin, i promise, we all think youre super tough, dont sweat it
you are not a serious person
"2: this just encourages kids to put in no physical effort, and not appreciate what it actually means to ride a bike. Same thing when you see these dumb dads pulling their kids up a hill with a rope. The message there is, "don't worry, someone will always do your hard work for you!". lame AF"
Your talking about every kid that lives within 20 miles of a bike park. Seriously? Because I think a few of them turned out to be quite good at this biking thing . . . .ROTFL
It’s interesting you can pick it out in someone else’s comments, but not your own.
All that said, I’m all for getting more people out on bikes. If it’s a pedal-assist electric bike, that’s a huge win over sitting on your butt playing video games.
Kid rides e-bike to top: “what a sorry sack, his parents really ruined him, hope he survives not knowing how to be self sufficient”
Can someone let me know how bike parks are cool/tough/gnarly and e-bikes are for whimpy/spoiled/weak people??
I fail to see any hipocrisy.
Sure I had fun slogging up and down bridleways on a rigid bike, but now the equipment is better and the bikes are purpose built.
We live in truly great times and they are getting better!
Maybe in a few years I’ll go ebike, for now I still like to pedal
if so, you are making the same argument, that is a logical falllacy FYI, of people that say only women can have an opinion on abortion.
it's lazy, rudimentary, and downright dumb.
You can have an opinion on anything my friend.
I know this is hard to believe, but you dont even need to tell everyone that you dont want to spend $4k, you just dont have to it, friggin wild eh...
I had one at 7, and still have em.
My dad and I rode and raced together all over Ontario and Quebec. It likely spawned my love for BMX and MTB, all of which I still do today.
I think we can all be a bit quick to judge, this is a great way to get people out doing things, and we should all be stoked about that.
However, I never mistook that for cycling - with ebikes people still make that mistake.
Some like to put things in boxes and join the outrage culture. Some like to participate in a variety of activities modern life offers, across various digital and analog technologies.
By all means, save our beloved children. Get them out of those cars and onto bikes. No useless rollbar, no dynamically unstable steering system, no windscreen wipers, nothing can go wrong.
if you can't see the developmental implications of one vs the other, you have either hit your head a few too many times, or are being purposefully obfuscatory.
Children become adults; you don't get the connection, or you're just carrying water for a major sponsor?
It’s not for everyone, and that’s the fun of it if you don’t want it don’t buy it, you vote with your wallet and I’m pretty sure specialised will sell out of these
I'm not buying one but I can totally get why a dedicated rider parent with cash to spend might.
-Bill Hicks.
"Oh don't worry little Billy, I can make your life just as easy as I've been making the rest of it by avoiding proper parenting and teaching life skills... here's this $4k e-hardtail... now stop whining, it makes me nervous that I may might have to learn to be a parent."
"...but I've spent enough time riding with my niece and nephew to know that the struggle is real – even just getting to the top of a small hill can end up feeling like an epic endeavor, especially when the tears start flowing and no amount of candy bribery can stop the meltdown..."
WTF... this is supposed to happen... this is when life lessons are learnt. These are the moments where too many parents are failing their children. When this happens... deal with it, go home. But come back and do it again. And again... and again. Guess what, pretty soon you have competent kids with life skills that don't fold like a wet noodle when their starbucks isn't hot enough
When my kids were little, they hated hard climbs... so guess what... teaching them to push through some tough climbs and just f*cking suck it up and muscle through most climbs... built their strength, resilience, performance and character. And now they're both 12 years old and climb like little goats and can deal with the real world. And my kids aren't some kind of jr. phenoms... just regular kids who hated climbing (still do) and had meltdowns... and now they're better for it.
If you buy this for your kid you're most likely pedaling an uber-E-bike with your dropper lowered, resting your pot belly on the top tube... raising the next entitled little pieces of shit. Sorry, this annoys the shit out of me.
It's telling that rebuttals to this sort of post always bring up activities that have long been motorized - downhill skiing or DH mountain biking using lifts, motorbikes using motors, etc. as opposed to more accurate comparables like other longtime fully human-powered activities, such as scooters or skateboards, becoming motorized en masse to make them easier.
.
*Kids who do not have the type of physical disability that would prevent them from accessing the activity without some form of motorized assistance, of course.
It seems islandforlife, and you believe that “physical struggle” is the main factor in building character and resilience. You both seem to view e-bikes for kids as a symptom of an easier life, or what you term 'soft parenting.' But it's just an overemotional way to gatekeep the sport and feed the need to be outraged by modern society.
Just because it's an e-bike doesn't mean they aren't exercising. They're still pedaling, using their muscles, and working their cardiovascular system, just with some help… Probably still burning half a day's calorie intake on a decent ride. This is still a physical activity that will build strength, endurance, mental acuity, and coordination – all while enjoying time outdoors. That’s all positive stuff.
Regarding the crappy parenting aspect – The crux here is not the bike type but the bonding and active lifestyle it facilitates. The parent's presence and commitment to shared outdoor activity outshine any e-bike vs. traditional bike debate. Remember, many kids lack even this opportunity.
Lastly, this assertion that e-bikes are part of a 'growing phenomenon of soft people raising soft children' is not only insulting but also flawed. Life is filled with challenges and struggles that cannot be avoided (outside of any type of bike riding). And it's worth mentioning the ability to overcome obstacles and build resilience is not solely dependent on physical hardship.
Character and resilience are not exclusive to struggling up a hill on a mountain bike. The parent's role is to instill these values in their children in various aspects of life. Making blanket statements about what constitutes proper parenting or implying that parents who buy e-bikes for their kids neglect their duties is a narrow-minded view of a complex issue.
We should encourage more participation in outdoor activities, regardless of whether it's on an e-bike or a regular bike. The goal is to get kids moving and get them outside.
The more you write, the more evident it is your opinions are based on a lack of experience.
Lol, lack of experience eh? I started racing cross-country mtb 27 years ago as a teenager and competed nationally, raced in open ocean swims in Hawaii, and played competitive water polo. Somehow I'm still able to logically decouple from this silly notion that a child's successful mental and physical development will be hindered by going emtb riding with their mom or dad, for one of the activities they enjoy.
The more you write, the more evident it is your opinions are based on you being stuck in a bubble of illogical outrage. Pop it and expand your thinking.
Oh, well done. Bravo!
A kid doesn't need an emtb to go riding with their parent(s). It's a silly notion as evidenced by the billions of adultsaluve or deceased, who, as children, once went riding with their parents.
It's anyone's guess how you imagine fighter pilots, and race car drivers to factor in to your argument, but I'm sure it'll be good for a laugh.
Imagine being able to do a 10 mile ride with your 6 year old, without having to break their spirit and they still want to go back out next week. So horrible. Just think of it as two different sports on a similar platform, and you'll all be less mad.
Even with an ebike, I'd wager most 6 year-olds in N.A. would not want to do a 10 mile ride based on the time alone.
I'm questioning if it's safe to have kids that young zipping along that fast if they haven't built up the handling skills. Time will tell.
clearly your expectations of children need realigning with reality. Not even on an Ebike are you keeping a kids attention that long.
you do not need to take your kid on a death march to toughen them up. It happens at their pace/speed not yours. So, you can take them on that 3 mile ride, let them struggle and fail, encourage them to try again, and then rinse and repeat another day. No broken spirit, no meltdowns(hopefully). You know what and why people don't want to do this? Largely because it's inconvenient and takes longer than the 10mi ride on an ebike. These shitty parents want their cake and to eat it too. They want to take little Johnny out and not ruin THEIR OWN ride. well, tough shit bub! You had a kid, so a lot of your personal joys will be ruined until you come to grips with the notion that you need to find joy in spending time with your kid OVER joy of a gnarly shredfest.
I wonder how many other ways we can pander to overweight/inactive kids...
Honestly though, biking is fun, but some people aren't into the whole sufferfest aspect of cycling. If e-bikes are the way to a larger cycling population then I am all for it. It will make bikeable cities, and better cycling trails more viable for city planners to make in the future.
Let these people call themselves cyclists, embrace them as our own. No one on an e-bike is saying that they are more hardcore than regular cyclists.
You just don't like getting passed, you cucks!
let's not forget the real enemy here: Surons roosting out all over our trails
No kid should have 300 watts to play with. It’s unsafe for them and other users.
I think you missed the point of my comment.
This is interesting. It came to myattention last year that it is not legal to ride an E-Bike in BC if you are under the age of 16 (see link below). At the time I had reached out to a few different individuals around the industry and to most of them, it was the first they had heard. I can find a reasonable amount of information online stating this is the case (including shops that rent E-bikes), but it’s application around the province seems patchwork.
How are brands able to circumvent this? I can't imagine they are ok with accepting the liability, or is it ok to sell them... just not purchase and ride them? Are you able to provide any insight on this?
www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/specialty-vehicles/Low-powered-vehicles/Pages/Electric-bikes.aspx#:~:text=You%20must%20be%20at%20least,or%208%20motorcycle%20learner's%20licence
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/e-bike-rules-of-the-road
More laps means faster progression and more fun.
My 9yo will do gymnastics and jiu jitsu all day cause it’s FUN, but ask her to go for a hike or a bike ride and it’s a hot no. Because going up a hill is boring AF. And she is definitely not alone.
Hey, who cares how parents spend their money, right? I mean, one season of competitive sports is close to $1,000 + now. Will I buy it? No, because my towie was cheap and it forces me to have a lot of exercise as I pull my kids. But, I've even received heckles from people as I towed my kids up hills saying they have it too easy these days.
I had a lot more love and understanding for my kid when I realized his 28lb bike was almost 50% of his bodyweight...I'm sure I'd be complaining too if I had a 110lb bike to pedal up a hill.
I've taken my kids on rides with other kids who have e-bikes and so far what I've seen is that kids that ride e-bikes don't have the skill and strength to handle the extra weight. Heck for a 6-10 year old the weight of an average bike is hard enough to handle. There is a lot of strength developed from pedaling uphill that's necessary for the rest of the ride and skill development. Yes the e-bike kids can keep up with our kids on the fire roads but the rest of the ride looks very challenging for kids on e-bikes.
Yes the quality of riding that you do with kids when they are learning is not great and yeah they get upset in the early days and yeah towing them uphill is "hard" but it's still good quality time together (that's the point of it!) and pays off when you can blast up and down trails with them only 6 years later. (my son at 13 has no problem keeping up on the climbing and endurance aspects). You can always get your personnel rides in when they are learning because the kids, in the early years, have limited endurance, don't like inclement weather and don't do night rides.
My son keeps asking for an e-bike but I keep telling him that a big part of why he is currently strong, athletic and doing well in other physical activities is the time put in pedaling his bike.
So I guess what I'm saying is;
-Physical exertion is good for kids
-Bikes are expensive and kids grow out of them very fast
-The learning curve for kids getting good at something is relatively short so savor the time you have to be the teacher
-e-bikes for able bodied kids are stupid
She's headed for dirtbikes and moto I have no doubt, but if I can nudge her towards an ebike that doesn't require trailing or plates or fuel, this type of ride will open up the choices as I think Commencal was the only 24" option for awhile.
I wonder how many of the negative comments on here are from people who actually ride ebikes, and actually have kids? I find it's still a workout. The downhills don't get easier, and I still break a sweat on the uphills because I'm chasing my buddies and/or my PR (or have my kid on the front).
Most of the kids I know on 24" bikes are probably in the 50-60lbs range. This bike is over 1/2 their body weight, that's gonna be a lot to handle for an 8 - 12 year old. That would be like your e-bike weighing close to 100lbs (assuming a 200lbs adult), that just sounds miserable. Just get the kid a dirt bike or optimize for a lighter 24" with a wide drivetrain. My 9 y/o daughter's 24" hardtail w/ Advent-X 10 - 48, 140 cranks, 30t ring and weighing ~23lbs and she can winch up just about anything she wants, and if not as I tell her "if you aren't hiking you aren't mountain biking"
Having ushered two of my boys from being little tykes to grams that now shred ( and earn their own turns) I have to say that I'm not sure about a kid's e-bike.
What worked for me from about 5 years old and on was me on a e-bike towing the kids up the climbs with a bungee.
I'd then let them lose on the descents and ride behind while coaching them.
I'm lucky enough to live in an area with a lot of varied trails with pretty long descents that are easily accessed by fire roads which made this approach work like a dream.
The key was also not skimping on good kit. A shitty bike will hold your kid back so IMHO it's worth buying decent kids bikes that work well. Commencal and Marin were my go-to brands.
- People don't hate us that much anymore.
-I have an idea.
This means it's not only illegal for an under 14 year old child to use in the UK but anyone else will also need insurance and a license to legally ride this as this exceeds the max 250w of assistance allowable by UK law.
This therefore is likely true for all of specialized's Levo's etc. Hmm very interesting.
Uhh... this is totally still very, very easy to do without dropping $4k on a kids hardtail ebike.
Yeah-this seems sooooooo great. My “core memories” of the freedom pedaling 10-15 miles to a friend’s house at 13 seem lame now. How did I endure such drudgery???
H.A.R.D. (Halt Activities of Recreational Decadence)
The first protest will be at ski resorts this winter, where the group can attempt to get ski resorts shut down for pussifying our children. After that we will take on towing activities, such as water skiing, wakeboarding, kite surfing, etc.
A 7 year old sucker is born every minute!
Without wanting to come across as a Monty Python sketch, kids today are so lucky, there’s all these awesome bikes and kit on the market for them and it’ll just make biking more fun for them because they don’t have to worry about their brakes crapping out on them, or chainstays snapping or being exhausted by the time they get to the downhill sections.
Hopefully as e-bikes get lighter they’ll become even more fun.
E-run/balance bikes are a different thing though, they are just little electric motorbikes complete with throttles. Lol.
I hope I can afford 2 of these by the time my kids are old enough to want them.
The bike industry forges on-pushing Bropeds with no concurrent commitment to trail (re)design and no concern for allowing motorized vehicles on non-motorized trails or trail user safety.
Can we go back there?